"All right, it's time to talk about your business now, Fang Yuan." Fairy Li Shan turned to face Fang Yuan, a cold smile playing on her lips.
Fang Yuan's heart tightened.
But Burning Heaven Demoness said, "No rush. I still need to wait for someone."
"Oh? Who?" Fairy Li Shan asked, surprised.
"That would be me." A sudden voice rang out without warning.
Everyone's pupils contracted sharply. They spun around like lightning, facing the newcomer.
The newcomer's strength was extraordinary. Had he not spoken of his own volition, none of them would have sensed someone approaching so closely.
But when they caught sight of the newcomer's appearance, everyone felt it was only natural.
"Old Ancestor Snow Whisker!" Hei Loulan growled in a low voice.
"Ch-Chief…" Fairy Li Shan's voice was dry, her expression one of shock.
The newcomer had an aged face yet vigorous spirit. A snow-white beard, thick and luxuriant, trailed all the way down to his feet.
At this moment, he had suppressed his aura entirely. Not the slightest hint of imposing presence lingered about him—he could have been an ordinary old farmer tending his fields.
But no one let their guard down. Every single one of them was on maximum alert.
Because he was none other than the number one Demonic Path Gu Immortal in the Northern Plains today, the master of the Great Snowy Mountain Blessed Land, and after the great war among the Eighth Transformations, the man reverently hailed as "the strongest of all Eighth Transformation Gu Immortals"—Old Ancestor Snow Whisker!
Facing Old Ancestor Snow Whisker, only Burning Heaven Demoness maintained her composure: "Snow Whisker, the haul was pretty good this time, wasn't it?"
Old Ancestor Snow Whisker nodded and said, unhurriedly: "The Hei Family has weakened over the years, but they're still a superpower with deep reserves. This time, infiltrating the Iron Eagle Blessed Land yielded quite a lot."
So that was what had happened. The Four Elders of the Hei Family had deployed the ancient battle formation Qingcheng Zongheng to pursue Hei Cheng, leaving their stronghold hollow.
Old Ancestor Snow Whisker, eager to plunder Gu refinement materials, had sneaked into the Iron Eagle Blessed Land and raided it on a grand scale.
By the time the Hei Family's four elders rushed back in alarm, he had already completed his work and withdrawn.
"The Great Snowy Mountain and the Zombie Alliance have been at each other's throats, with conflict erupting ceaselessly. Yet this time, Burning Heaven Demoness actually teamed up with Old Ancestor Snow Whisker to take on the Hei Family?" Fang Yuan narrowed his eyes, unable to help but regard Burning Heaven Demoness in a new light.
Burning Heaven Demoness was domineering and overbearing, but what truly made her formidable was her mind.
Had she not arranged for Old Ancestor Snow Whisker to strike, the Hei Family's four elders would have pursued them relentlessly. Burning Heaven Demoness would never have extricated herself so easily.
And Old Ancestor Snow Whisker—his combat strength was arguably the greatest in the Northern Plains, yet he willingly submitted to Burning Heaven Demoness's arrangements.
In the final analysis, it was because Burning Heaven Demoness had pinpointed Old Ancestor Snow Whisker's weakness. He desperately needed Gu refinement materials, and even knowing full well he was being used, he was perfectly happy to go along with it.
"Here. These are the Blazing Thunder Marsh Immortal Zombies and the other zombie corpses. I used a few, but the vast majority are intact. I'm returning them all to you." With a wave of Old Ancestor Snow Whisker's hand, dozens of Immortal Zombie corpses appeared on the ground, including one sleeping Immortal Zombie—the Blazing Thunder Marsh, without a doubt.
Old Ancestor Snow Whisker cast a somewhat regretful glance at the Blazing Thunder Marsh Immortal Zombie.
He knew the Blazing Thunder Marsh zombie possessed several Immortal Gu.
But over these past days, despite his utmost efforts, he had ultimately been unable to extract those Gu.
This Blazing Thunder Marsh Immortal Zombie had numerous means at its disposal. Through some unknown Immortal Killer Move, it had fallen into deep slumber. The moment Old Ancestor Snow Whisker's movements became even slightly forceful, the zombie displayed signs of self-destruction, and the Immortal Gu within its immortal orifice likewise threatened to destroy themselves.
Burning Heaven Demoness collected all the zombie corpses and nodded solemnly: "Old Ancestor Snow Whisker is indeed a man of his word. Then, as agreed, I pledge that the Zombie Alliance will cease its full-scale war against Great Snowy Mountain. Both sides will stand down!"
Old Ancestor Snow Whisker's eyes gleamed as he looked Burning Heaven Demoness up and down. He smiled: "It seems your trip to the Eastern Sea bore fruit, Demoness. Your strength has improved considerably. However, the injuries from the Dao of Time still plague you. Now that the Hei Family's four elders have returned to guard the Iron Eagle Blessed Land, after this incident, they certainly won't venture out easily again. If you wish to obtain Hei Fan's Time Dao inheritance from within the blessed land to resolve your injuries, I'm afraid it's going to be more difficult than ever. If in the future you decide to attack the Hei Family's main stronghold, this old man would be happy to lend a hand once more."
Burning Heaven Demoness laughed aloud and clapped her hands: "Good! I too look forward to working with you again, Old Ancestor."
Old Ancestor Snow Whisker nodded, and his form gradually dissipated. After a few breaths, like mist dissolving under sunlight, he vanished completely from the spot.
From beginning to end, Old Ancestor Snow Whisker had not once cast a glance at Hei Cheng's headless corpse on the ground.
Not long ago, Burning Heaven Demoness and Old Ancestor Snow Whisker had been locked in fierce battle. Yet in this moment, the two were already on good enough terms to discuss their next collaboration.
To turn one's hand into clouds and the other into rain—such were the ways of these great powers at the Eighth Transformation.
Old Ancestor Snow Whisker was arguably the greatest Gu Immortal in the Northern Plains, his combat strength truly surpassing that of Burning Heaven Demoness. Yet on this occasion, he had voluntarily conceded, handing back both the Immortal Zombie captives and the corpses.
The face of the number one powerhouse—he seemed to care nothing for it.
But Fang Yuan felt not the slightest surprise.
Face was actually a very minor thing. There was one thing in this world that could move nearly everyone.
That was profit.
Gu Immortals were human too. They also operated on the basis of self-interest.
In fact, compromise between Gu Immortals was the norm of cultivation.
To have cultivated to this stage was no easy feat. Why throw your life away in pointless battle?
Unless there were special circumstances, Gu Immortals would never do so.
Every Gu Immortal wished to develop in peace, because above their heads hung a blade that never ceased to threaten.
This blade would descend at regular intervals, falling upon their necks.
If they could not endure it, they would perish—body destroyed, Dao extinguished. If they endured it, they would still be grievously wounded.
This blade was the Heavenly Tribulation and Earthly Calamity.
The stronger a Gu Immortal's cultivation, the more terrifying the tribulations became. The difficulty of surviving them skyrocketed, and hope grew ever more faint.
For those at the level of Old Ancestor Snow Whisker and Burning Heaven Demoness, both at the Eighth Transformation, it was truly like walking on thin ice, in the most precarious of positions. The slightest carelessness, and they would lose their lives to the tribulations.
This was why Eighth Transformation Gu Immortals were all extremely cautious.