Eastern Sea, the Jade Dew Blessed Land.
Just as in his previous life, Fang Yuan and Tai Bai Yunsheng followed the azure wandering Immortal Zombie Sha Nanjiang through the portal of the Jade Dew Blessed Land and entered within.
"Brother Tai Bai, we meet again! Hahaha!" Sha Mo greeted Tai Bai Yunsheng with considerable warmth.
He stepped forward to welcome the man, affectionately patting him on the shoulder.
Though Tai Bai Yunsheng hadn't spent long in the Eastern Sea, he had earned quite a reputation through his two Immortal Gu — Human As Before and Landscape As Before.
Previously, when Tai Bai Yunsheng had aided Sha Mo's group in conquering the Jade Dew Blessed Land, his Human As Before Gu had proven of great help to everyone.
After greeting him, Sha Mo turned his gaze to Fang Yuan. "This must be the close friend you mentioned in your letter — the Wise Strategist Chen Dao? If he's a close friend of Brother Tai Bai, then he's a friend of mine, Sha Mo!"
"A wandering mountain cultivator. I'm flattered." Fang Yuan nodded with a modest smile.
His bearing was upright and refined, a feather fan in hand, a silk band around his brow — the very picture of a handsome young scholar.
His skin was fair and luminous, his nose straight and proud, and beneath thick brows his eyes were as deep and still as dark pools. With a gentle smile playing at his lips, he was the very image of youthful grace — a jade tree standing in the wind, a pleasure to behold.
In his previous life, Fang Yuan had assumed the identity of the Star Seer. In this life, he had taken on the guise of the Wise Strategist.
The power of "Meeting as Old Acquaintances" far surpassed that of "Meeting as Familiar." In their previous life, Sha Mo and the others had failed to see through Fang Yuan's true identity. In this life, the odds were even slimmer.
Sha Mo's wife, Su Baiman, studied Fang Yuan for a moment before speaking. "I hear you primarily cultivate the Wisdom Path, with the Star Path as your secondary pursuit, and that Mr. Tai Bai has given you a strong recommendation. Might you demonstrate your abilities for us?"
In his previous life, Fang Yuan had posed as the Star Seer, claiming to primarily cultivate the Star Path with the Wisdom Path as secondary. But in this life, his Wisdom Path attainment had already reached the Grandmaster level. Even without Immortal Gu of the Wisdom Path, he was brimming with confidence. So he simply swapped the primary and secondary paths.
Fang Yuan nodded and addressed Sha Mo and the others. "It's only natural that you'd want to test my abilities. Very well — I'll put on a small demonstration for your consideration."
In his previous life, Fang Yuan had been modest. In this life, his words were polite enough, yet his demeanor radiated unmistakable arrogance.
Sha Mo and Su Baiman exchanged a glance, their anticipation deepening.
Tai Bai Yunsheng harbored worry in his heart, but his expression betrayed nothing.
Among the immortals, Bu Dan wore a dark scowl. Fang Yuan's arrival had placed his standing in the group in serious jeopardy, his interests being severely encroached upon.
In an instant, all eyes converged on Fang Yuan.
He held a faint smile on his lips, one hand clasped behind his back, the other leisurely waving a feather fan before his chest.
He raised his gaze and surveyed the surroundings.
At this point, the battlefield still bore the effects of the Ice Rain Frozen Earth killer move. Everywhere one looked, there was nothing but a vast white expanse — a world of ice and snow.
At regular intervals, torrential ice rain would descend from above, forming countless snow demons that brought tremendous trouble to everyone.
Fang Yuan observed for only a brief moment before declaring, "I've finished calculating."
Sha Mo and the others were greatly surprised. They had expected Fang Yuan to be preparing some kind of Immortal-level killer move, yet he had finished so quickly!
Su Baiman offered a more earnest compliment. "Your cultivation truly is remarkable. To have calculated the flaw in this battlefield killer move without so much as batting an eye — truly admirable."
"Not at all." Fang Yuan waved his hand with a smile. "You flatter me, Madam. Calculating the flaw in this battlefield killer move would require considerable effort. What I just calculated wasn't that."
An Immortal Zombie immediately asked, "Then what did you calculate?"
Fang Yuan answered composedly, "I calculated some of the underlying structure of this battlefield killer move. For instance, the one we currently find ourselves in is called Ice Rain Frozen Earth."
At this answer, the immortals all fell silent in stunned bewilderment.
Then Sha Mo's brow furrowed, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. His violent nature was about to erupt, but Su Baiman discreetly held him back.
The Gu Immortal Bu Dan let out a derisive laugh. "Chen Dao, are you making a fool of us? Who doesn't know this battlefield killer move is called Ice Rain Frozen Earth? I never imagined someone of your meager abilities would have the audacity to mock Lord Sha Mo and Lady Su Baiman!"
Su Baiman laughed lightly to ease the tension. "Bu Dan, hold your tongue. Surely Brother Chen is merely joking — his real skill is about to be revealed."
Fang Yuan shook his head. "Madam, that is precisely what I calculated."
Su Baiman's expression stiffened, her gaze gradually turning cold.
"What?!" Sha Mo let out a cold snort, his patience spent. He glared and strode forward menacingly.
At that moment, Tai Bai Yunsheng stepped forward, placing himself before Fang Yuan to block Sha Mo.
He cupped his fists in salute and greeted Sha Mo with a bitter smile. "Lord Sha Mo, the fault is entirely mine. I failed to make things clear beforehand — my brother Chen Dao is simply this way. He always says half and keeps half, and it's been a source of great vexation for me."
"Oh?" Sha Mo's expression softened slightly as he turned his gaze upon Fang Yuan.
"Come now, dear Brother Chen, just tell them everything you calculated!" Tai Bai Yunsheng said with a show of exasperation.
Fang Yuan laughed heartily. "Everyone, what I calculated was indeed the origin of this battlefield killer move. But it wasn't just Ice Rain Frozen Earth. Beneath Ice Rain Frozen Earth lie, in order, the Battle Soul Sandy Field, the Eight Gates Maze, and Standing Firm."
"Battle Soul Sandy Field, Eight Gates Maze, and Standing Firm... Is this true?" Sha Mo was immediately captivated, his eyes gleaming as he stared eagerly at Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan casually waved his feather fan. "With me doing the calculations, how could there be any mistake?"