Hadn't Fang Yuan already formed an alliance with the Immortal Crane Sect? How could he dare to lay a hand on someone from within the sect?
Fang Zheng knew more about the inside story than the accompanying elders and disciples. Back when He Fengyang and Cang Yu had joined forces to attack the Fox Immortal's Blessed Land and failed, they had reached a consensus over the benefits of the Audacity Gu. As a result, both sides had signed an alliance agreement.
The agreement naturally included a clause stipulating that members of both factions were not to attack each other. This was one of the reasons Fang Zheng had felt safe.
Fang Yuan slowly withdrew his hand. Fang Zheng couldn't move, couldn't shout, and had not the slightest power to resist as he was lifted by an invisible force and delivered straight into Fang Yuan's grasp.
The Immortal Crane Sect delegation stared in stunned silence.
"What terrifying strength!"
"Elder Fang Zheng is a Fifth Transformation cultivator, yet he couldn't put up any resistance at all — he was captured just like that."
"Fang Zheng may be a Slave Path Gu Master, but this is going too far, isn't it?"
Fang Yuan's display of incredible means instantly cowed the entire group.
Fang Zheng screamed inwardly: "You lot are just going to stand there watching the show? Come save me! He's no longer my brother — he killed our uncle and aunt, slaughtered every member of our clan! He's a demon! He's a true demon!"
Meanwhile, out loud, Fang Zheng was "shouting": "I'm not going with you! Why should I listen to you? You want to lecture me again? My life is my own to control! I have my own goals — how could you possibly understand my dreams? I can fight on my own! I'll surpass you!"
He looked every bit the rebellious youth who refused to be disciplined.
After hearing his own shouts, Fang Zheng felt utterly despairing!
Fang Yuan sighed and addressed the Immortal Crane Sect group: "During this time, my useless younger brother has caused you all a great deal of trouble."
"No trouble at all, no trouble at all." The Immortal Crane Sect group hurriedly waved their hands.
Fang Yuan nodded and continued: "I'm taking Fang Zheng with me to properly discipline him for a while. I've already informed the Sect Leader about this. You just need to relay the message when you get back."
Fang Yuan was lying through his teeth — he didn't even know what the Sect Leader looked like.
The two elders finally set aside their last shred of hesitation.
Regarding Fang Yuan's affair, the Immortal Crane Sect had been fabricating lies to protect the sect's reputation. And now, Fang Yuan was using those very lies to lead this entire group of Immortal Crane Sect members around in circles.
Fang Yuan lifted Fang Zheng with one hand and strolled away in an unhurried manner.
Gu Masters along the road watched the scene with astonishment. But since the Immortal Crane Sect itself had nothing to say, why would they intervene? Besides, the target was none other than the renowned Refinement Path powerhouse, Fang Yuan.
An Exorcism Sect Gu Master, still uneasy, went over to inquire.
The Flame Hall Elder smiled and explained: "It's nothing. Lord Fang Yuan and Elder Fang Zheng are blood brothers. It's simply an older brother disciplining his younger brother."
The Exorcism Sect Gu Master accepted the explanation and left.
The entire Immortal Crane Sect group watched Fang Yuan depart, and many disciples cast envious glances toward Fang Zheng.
Someone remarked with feeling: "Even though Lord Fang Yuan speaks coldly, he clearly cares deeply for his one and only younger brother."
"Exactly. To have a Refinement Path Grandmaster personally guiding you — what a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
"Do you think that last time Fang Zheng accepted a sect mission and came back as a Fifth Transformation Elder, this time after being taken by his brother, he'll return as a Refinement Path Grandmaster?"
"That can't be right."
"That's way too exaggerated!"
"Even so, having a powerhouse like that give you pointers would be an absolutely invaluable benefit."
"Sigh. Why don't I have a brother like that?" One disciple's words struck a chord in everyone's hearts.
If only they knew at this moment that Fang Yuan was capturing Fang Zheng purely as a precautionary measure for body seizure — who could imagine what expressions they would make?
*Thud.*
Fang Yuan threw Fang Zheng onto the ground.
Fang Zheng struggled to rise, roaring inwardly: "Fang Yuan, you demon! What exactly are you going to do to me?! You formed an alliance with the Immortal Crane Sect — you can't kill me, an elder of the Immortal Crane Sect!"
Fang Yuan laughed. "I haven't killed you, have I? What are you so worked up about? Just be a good little brother and stay right here."
A look of horror appeared on Fang Zheng's face as he cried out in his mind: "Fang Yuan isn't my master, Heavenly Crane — how could he also know what I'm thinking?!"
Fang Yuan smiled proudly, looking down at Fang Zheng at his feet. "Your so-called master is nothing more than a wisp of a soul now. Even if he were alive, at his peak he was only a Fifth Transformation Gu Master."
As he spoke, Fang Yuan grasped at the air with his palm, and all the mortal Gu on Fang Zheng's body were pulled away in an instant.
The Soul Parasite Flea trembled feebly — this was Heavenly Crane fighting back with all his might.