Supreme True Ascending Den.
Little White Day, Cloud Cover Continent.
"So, have you all reached a decision?" Fang Yuan's Sixth Transformation Time Dao clone, acting on behalf of his main body, had come to meet the surviving variant human Gu Immortals after the great battle.
Among these variant human Gu Immortals were the Snowman Gu Immortal Bing Yuan, the Stonemen Gu Immortals Shi Zong and Shi Shi Cheng, and the Inkman Gu Immortal Mo Qi Yi.
Because of Fang Yuan's scheming, only these four variant human Gu Immortals remained.
Three days ago, after shaking off Crown Prince Feng Xian's pursuit, Fang Yuan had asked these four Gu Immortals to give the matter serious thought. He suggested they join the Lang Ya Sect and granted them three days to consider.
Now, the three days were up.
Fang Yuan's Time Dao clone arrived at the location together with the Lang Ya Earth Spirit.
Bing Yuan and the others exchanged glances. No one spoke, and looks of difficulty surfaced on their faces.
Inside, the Time Dao clone let out a cold snort, but a warm smile appeared on his face. He spoke gently: "Everyone, whatever is on your minds, you can speak openly. We are all allies — we're all family! Even though I'm now an Eighth Transformation Gu Immortal, it won't change how I treat any of you."
Fang Yuan employed both soft and hard tactics, pointing out the fact that he was an Eighth Transformation cultivator with a beaming smile, yet the deeper meaning in his words was unmistakably heavy.
Hearing this, the four variant human Gu Immortals looked even more grim.
Fang Yuan had previously hung up True Monarch Thunder Ghost's three sternum bones for sale, already elevating his reputation and commanding the variant humans' respect.
Now, having taken charge of the overall situation, he had just repelled the Heavenly Court invasion and personally slew two Heavenly Court Eighth Transformation Gu Immortals right before the variant human Gu Immortals' eyes!
Fang Yuan's prestige had skyrocketed hundreds of times over, and in the hearts of the variant human Gu Immortals, it was like a mountain holding up the sky.
Had he said these words before the battle versus after, the meaning would have been entirely different.
Every syllable was as weight as a mountain range, pressing down upon the hearts of the four variant human Gu Immortals.
Seeing the four remain silent, Fang Yuan smiled again: "I'm doing this for your own good. Right now, you participated in the joint defense. Feng Jiu Ge has already fled, and your involvement has leaked. Given the Heavenly Court's accomplishments in Wisdom Dao, they will certainly be able to deduce your identities. Staying here is the best option for all of you."
The four variant human Gu Immortals exchanged glances, their faces full of bitterness.
Fang Yuan wasn't wrong.
But once they joined the Lang Ya Sect, they would lose their freedom.
This was fundamentally different from the equal alliance they had before.
Who would willingly give up their freedom?
Fang Yuan spoke so eloquently — joining the Lang Ya Sect? The four variant human Gu Immortals could see clearly: even the entire Lang Ya Sect had already been swallowed by Fang Yuan. So-called "joining the Lang Ya Sect" was merely a thin veneer. In essence, it meant joining Fang Yuan's ranks and becoming his subordinates!
If Fang Yuan were a Fur Man, that would be one thing.
But he was a human Gu Immortal.
The four variant human Gu Immortals were naturally unwilling to serve under a human Gu Immortal.
Yet the current situation was delicate, and circumstances were pressing.
Refusing Fang Yuan would likely lead to a miserable outcome!
The smile on the clone's face gradually faded. He spoke in a light, indifferent tone once more: "Everyone, you're overthinking this. If I truly wanted to harm you, I could simply kill you right here and now. What ability would you have to resist?"
These words were strikingly direct and naked, causing all four variant human Gu Immortals' expressions to change.
They could not refute what Fang Yuan said.
Fang Yuan's combat strength was absolutely at the Eighth Transformation level, and with Tian Po Suo Luo as well, even though the Stonemen still had one Primordial Stone Dragon remaining, what use was it?
Fang Yuan's gaze swept over them as he continued: "Though I am a human Demonic Path Gu Immortal, it was truly not by choice. The Heavenly Court wants to kill me — what else could I do but fight back? You are all my friends and family. I would never do anything to harm you. After joining the Lang Ya Sect, we can unite more closely together. If we scatter, the Heavenly Court or Longevity Heaven will come after you and weaken our strength!"
Fang Yuan's seemingly sincere words brought a measure of calm back to the four variant human Gu Immortals.
But the Lang Ya Earth Spirit standing nearby was filled with a chill.
"Master Fang Yuan speaks as though it were all true! He was the one who schemed against them before — if not for him, how could so many Gu Immortals from these three clans have died?"
"If I were to reveal the truth, I wonder what expressions these four variant human Gu Immortals would wear?"
In truth, the four variant human Gu Immortals were no fools — they were shrewd. The fact that they had led their clans to survive in the cracks among the human race for so many years was testament to their intelligence.
They harbored suspicions and conjectures about Fang Yuan as well, but they kept every last one buried deep in their hearts, never letting a trace show on the surface.
The current Fang Yuan was simply too dominant!
His combat strength was terrifying, and with Eighth Transformation cultivation to boot, there was nowhere across the Five Regions he could not roam freely.
Even the Heavenly Court had been forced to retreat in disgrace. It was harder still for anyone to bring him to heel.
Dragon Lord was a special case — not worth mentioning.
Faced with such a Fang Yuan, the variant human Gu Immortals felt a mixture of fear and, to some degree, reliance.
"If we pledge ourselves to Fang Yuan, things should be more secure than before, right?" All four variant human Gu Immortals harbored this thought, though to varying degrees.
As the saying goes, it's good to rest in the shade of a great tree.
Pledging themselves to other human Gu Immortals would be far too dangerous. But pledging themselves to someone like Fang Yuan — that, at least, seemed feasible.