Truly, disaster falls from the sky upon those who sit peacefully at home.
Fang Yuan exchanged a glance with Tai Bai Yun Sheng. The latter transmitted via voice: "Burning Heaven Demon Woman is still an Eighth Transformation mighty being. She is far beyond the likes of you and me."
Fang Yuan gave an almost imperceptible nod. He understood what Tai Bai Yun Sheng meant—watch and wait.
At the level of Gu Immortals, the higher the transformation, the wider the gap between each rank.
Even if Fang Yuan, Tai Bai Yun Sheng, Shark Demon, and Su Bai Man joined forces, cooperating with absolute sincerity and regardless of sacrifice, they might not last more than a few rounds against Burning Heaven Demon Woman.
She was an absolutely formidable enemy.
In principle, only another Eighth Transformation Gu Immortal could contend with an Eighth Transformation one.
Shark Demon knew this well. That was why, even though his lair had been destroyed, he dared not confront Burning Heaven Demon Woman head-on.
Given Shark Demon's temperament, having his home ransacked like this, he would normally have exploded into fury long ago. But the one standing before him was Burning Heaven Demon Woman, an Eighth Transformation Gu Immortal. So no matter how explosive his temper, he had to swallow it.
He knew full well he was no match for an Eighth Transformation Gu Immortal. The best way to resolve the current situation was probably to negotiate using the rules of the Zombie Alliance.
Burning Heaven Demon Woman had already violated the Alliance's rules—members attacking each other, how could that be tolerated? Such brazen aggression treated the Zombie Alliance as though it didn't exist!
But Burning Heaven Demon Woman wore a smile, as though victory were already in her grasp. "Shark Demon, you want evidence? Nothing could be simpler!"
"Bu Dan, come out!" Burning Heaven Demon Woman called out again.
Gu Immortal Bu Dan stepped out from behind her.
He hung his head low, his expression full of bitterness, and bowed deeply. "Lord Shark Demon, Lady Su Bai Man—this one had no choice!"
The moment he saw Bu Dan, Shark Demon's face turned dark as thunder.
His wife, Su Bai Man, also let out a cold snort, already half-guessing at Burning Heaven Demon Woman's scheme.
Sure enough, the very next moment, everyone heard Burning Heaven Demon Woman's furious accusation: "Shark Demon, Su Bai Man—you two instructed Bu Dan to steal my Eighth Transformation Immortal material, Medicine Ice! I was in secluded cultivation and let my guard down, and you actually succeeded. Today I have come to demand justice!"
As it turned out, Bu Dan had always been living in wretched circumstances. Though still alive, he had fallen so low that he'd had no choice but to join the Zombie Alliance.
Before that, his personal sea territory had already been forcibly seized by Burning Heaven Demon Woman under threat of violence.
When Fang Yuan entered the Eastern Sea, he had assumed the identity of Star Constellation Scholar and joined Shark Demon's forces to raid the Jade Dew Blessed Land.
Bu Dan was a half-baked Wisdom Path Gu Immortal, lacking in real ability. He had been outmaneuvered by Fang Yuan's schemes.
In order to preserve his position, he had bribed Su Bai Man, presenting the Eighth Transformation Immortal material Medicine Ice with both hands in exchange for her good word.
But in the end, Bu Dan's abilities were simply too weak. Shark Demon gradually distanced himself from him.
With nowhere left to turn, Bu Dan attempted to use the Zombie Alliance to pressure Burning Heaven Demon Woman, hoping she would return his personal sea territory.
However, he was only a Sixth Transformation cultivator. Burning Heaven Demon Woman was an Eighth Transformation mighty being and the top leader of the Zombie Alliance's Northern Plains branch—a bona fide member of the upper echelon. Although the Alliance had received Bu Dan's complaint and plea for help, they had mostly stonewalled and delayed. Why would they offend the powerful Burning Heaven Demon Woman for the sake of a mere Bu Dan?
And so Bu Dan's situation grew ever more miserable—until Fang Yuan deciphered the Eight Gates Maze battlefield killer move, causing the raid on the Jade Dew Blessed Land to achieve a massive breakthrough.
Shark Demon's campaign against the Jade Dew Blessed Land had long been a matter of widespread attention.
With the Jade Dew Blessed Land on the verge of being conquered and immense profits on the line, Burning Heaven Demon Woman's covetous eye had fallen upon it.
Although Burning Heaven Demon Woman possessed exceptional cultivation, standing above all others with formidable combat power, she could not simply seize the fruits of the Jade Dew Blessed Land by brute force.
After all, this was the Eastern Sea, not the Northern Plains.
This was the Zombie Alliance headquarters, not her Northern Plains branch.
As a member of the Zombie Alliance, she could not afford to break the rules.
So she had taken the initiative to contact Bu Dan, feigning a willingness to return his personal sea territory and offer certain compensation.
Bu Dan, homeless and destitute, had received this news with overwhelming joy.
But when he hurried back, he was coerced by Burning Heaven Demon Woman into slandering Shark Demon and Su Bai Man.
Bu Dan dared not offend Burning Heaven Demon Woman, and of course he also dared not offend Shark Demon and Su Bai Man. Inwardly he cried out that he'd been duped, filled with endless regret—but having fallen into Burning Heaven Demon Woman's hands, he was no longer his own master.
In the end, he was placed under house arrest by Burning Heaven Demon Woman and brought along as she launched her assault on Shark Demon's underwater palace.
Shark Demon's gaze shifted from Bu Dan to Burning Heaven Demon Woman.
He knew Bu Dan was merely a pawn—not the key to any of this.
Such a fabrication would never withstand scrutiny.
Shark Demon suppressed the surging rage within his heart and said coldly to Burning Heaven Demon Woman: "Burning Heaven Demon Woman, if you want to pluck the fruit, just say so. Why drag innocent people into it?"
Su Bai Man also raised her voice: "Lady Burning Heaven Demon Woman, you are at least an Eighth Transformation mighty being. Such a disgraceful display—don't you think it's a bit much?"
Burning Heaven Demon Woman burst into hearty laughter.
She, too, knew perfectly well that this excuse wouldn't hold up.
But it didn't matter.
All she needed was a veneer—a pretext. That was enough.
This excuse was only meant to stave off the Zombie Alliance headquarters. It was never meant to force the Shark Demon couple into submission.