The Heavenly Court harbored concerns, but what exactly those concerns were, the Star Constellation Heavenly Will did not clearly reveal.
After giving its instructions, the Star Constellation Heavenly Will dissipated into the air.
"Ziwei, don't look at me. Though my lifespan is long, the secrets I know are not as many as you might imagine. To tell you the truth, this is only the second time in my life that I have witnessed the Star Constellation Heavenly Will descend of its own accord." Long Gong let out a deep sigh.
After a pause, he continued, "We must trust the Star Constellation Heavenly Will and do as it instructs. Our expedition will surely end in victory — it is fated to be!"
Long Gong's unwavering resolve infected Fairy Ziwei.
From that point on, all of the Heavenly Court's actions followed the Star Constellation Heavenly Will's directives, and Long Gong and the others did not deviate in the slightest.
As the Monitoring Heaven Tower traversed the daytime sky, it encountered several obstructive moves from Zishan Zhenjun. Carrying Long Gong, Fairy Ziwei, and many Gu Immortals from the Ten Great Ancient Sects, it joined this pivotal battle.
None of Fang Yuan's analysis had been wrong.
Even though Fang Yuan could not figure out why the Heavenly Court had not dispatched more Gu Immortals, this did not prevent him from seeing through their hand.
It was precisely because of this that Fang Yuan had made his decision — to use the Super Gu Formation to aid Ying Wuxie, thereby influencing the great battle between Zishan Zhenjun and Long Gong.
Through Bao Huang Tian, Fang Yuan had successfully obtained a Communication Path Gu Insect from Ying Wuxie.
This Communication Path Gu Insect could communicate directly with Zishan Zhenjun.
Fang Yuan had helped Ying Wuxie initially gain the Shadow Sect's trust — otherwise, how could he have obtained this Gu Insect?
This Gu Insect was closely linked to Zishan Zhenjun. With it, he effectively held a crucial clue, making it far easier to deduce and track Zishan Zhenjun.
Such items had always been kept under strict guard.
It was only under these extraordinary circumstances that Zishan Zhenjun would hand the Communication Path Gu Insect over to Fang Yuan.
Under normal circumstances, the two parties would have been required to forge a Communication Path alliance pact first.
The very moment Fang Yuan received the Communication Path Gu Insect, Zishan Zhenjun proactively reached out to him: "Fang Yuan, I must thank you. The name 'Zishan Zhenjun' is quite fine — thank you for giving me this title. I am fond of it."
Fang Yuan himself had not anticipated that a lie he once used to deceive Tai Bai Yunsheng would one day become reality.
Zishan Zhenjun's social skills were remarkably seasoned — this single opening remark dissolved the barrier between him and Fang Yuan, greatly drawing them closer.
Fang Yuan smiled. "Then I shall address you directly as Zishan Zhenjun. You have already received my sincerity. Our cooperation is not one-sided — now, it is time for you to show yours."
Zishan Zhenjun answered while launching fierce attacks against Long Gong: "Very well. What do you want?"
He knew that the power Fang Yuan commanded was critical in the current situation, so he did not hesitate in the slightest.
Fang Yuan immediately said: "Heaven Crystals! I need a large quantity of Heaven Crystals."
Heaven Crystals were an immortal material that was simply too difficult to obtain. Though Bao Huang Tian had them for sale, they were extremely rare and available only in tiny quantities — nowhere near enough to satisfy Fang Yuan's needs.
But the Shadow Sect had them.
Fang Yuan had no doubt about this.
Though the Shadow Sect was battered and had suffered devastating losses, it was not lacking in resources. This was something Fang Yuan had clearly perceived from his repeated pursuits and clashes with Ying Wuxie and the others.
Sure enough, Zishan Zhenjun immediately agreed: "Very well. I do indeed have a large quantity of Heaven Crystals in my possession. All of these can be yours, to demonstrate our sincerity."
"You want the Heaven Crystals to ripen the Supreme Sky Eagle, correct?"
"Your thinking is very prudent — the Reverse Flow Body Protection Seal indeed cannot be used carelessly again. However, even if the Supreme Sky Eagle is ripened into a true Primordial Desolate Beast, I fear it would not be under your control. Your Slave Path methods, I know well."
"But rest assured, I still have a method in my hands that would let you control the Supreme Sky Eagle."
These words from Zishan Zhenjun made Fang Yuan both elated and inwardly awed by Zishan Zhenjun's cunning.
Zishan Zhenjun was remarkably magnanimous — he parted with the Heaven Crystals without a moment's hesitation to secure Fang Yuan's support.
He had originally been in a passive position, yet by offering the method to control the Supreme Sky Eagle, he turned defense into offense, seizing the initiative from a place of disadvantage.
As expected of an Eighth Transformation Wisdom Path Gu Immortal, his words brimmed with intelligence, making Fang Yuan sense the presence of a formidable opponent.
Fang Yuan fell silent for a moment, then said: "An additional method to control the Supreme Sky Eagle would not go amiss. However, right now, there is something even more pressing that must be done!"
He spoke as though he truly possessed some method of controlling the Primordial Supreme Sky Eagle.
This way, Zishan Zhenjun was made to feel that his bargaining chips were not all that significant.
Zishan Zhenjun chuckled: "What could be more pressing?"
"It is to have both our sides stop fighting first!" Fang Yuan said.
This matter benefited the Shadow Sect and benefited Fang Yuan, but benefited the Heavenly Court not at all.
Without delay, Zishan Zhenjun began issuing orders, recalling the Shadow Sect's remaining Gu Immortals.
Fang Yuan issued his own orders simultaneously. Though the Southern Border Gu Immortals were puzzled, they chose to obey — mindful of Wu Yihai's identity and the fact that he controlled the Gu Formation.
Both sides began withdrawing, separating from each other.
The Shadow Sect had suffered greater losses, with only Ying Wuxie, Bai Ningbing, Hei Loulan, Fairy Miaoyin, and a few others remaining.
On the Southern Border Righteous Path side, though there had been some losses, it was nothing serious — their lineup was still considerable.
However, the Shadow Sect's Pure Dream Truth-Seeking Bodies continued to emerge from their cocoons ceaselessly. Their forces were growing ever stronger, while the dreamscapes kept eroding and vanishing.
This situation was most disadvantageous to the Heavenly Court alone.
"The gap between the two sides' strength is beginning to narrow. How will the Heavenly Court respond at a time like this?" Fang Yuan kept his attention fixed on the Heavenly Court's movements at all times.
Long Gong continued to sleep, while Fairy Ziwei accelerated her erosion of the Super Gu Formation.
The Monitoring Heaven Tower was still entangled with Zuo Yehui.
Boom!