Central Continent.
Three Sixth Transformation Gu Immortals were fighting an ancient cloud beast.
"Watch out!"
The ancient cloud beast suddenly shifted, its speed surging as it lunged toward the female immortal among the three.
The female immortal remained composed in the face of danger. Her white dress bloomed like a flower, and a hazy glow of light blocked the cloud beast's assault.
But the ancient cloud beast had grown desperate. Though its attack was parried, it did not retreat as before. Instead, its body transformed, wrapping tightly around the female immortal.
From a distance, it looked as though the cloud beast had swallowed her whole.
"Lady Lianyun!" Shi Zhengyi shouted, so agitated that he was about to unleash a Communication Path killer move.
But at that moment, Yu Yiyuzi called out from beside him: "Hold on! If you use that killer move, what if you pierce through the cloud beast and wound Lady Lianyun?"
Shi Zhengyi immediately stopped, gritting his teeth. "Then what do we do?"
Yu Yiyuzi, who appeared youthful like a girl, showed a grave expression. "At this point, the only option is for me to try that particular move."
"What move?" Shi Zhengyi felt uneasy. "Don't tell me you haven't practiced it to proficiency yet?"
But Yu Yiyuzi had already begun channeling his killer move.
Sensing the aura of the technique, the cloud beast — with Zhao Lianyun trapped inside — charged toward them.
Shi Zhengyi immediately deployed his own methods, doing everything he could to restrain the ancient cloud beast.
He opened his mouth wide, revealing his tongue.
A Communication Path killer move was activated, and Shi Zhengyi kept speaking.
The power of his words enveloped the ancient cloud beast, continuously accumulating an invisible force that weighed down its steps.
After holding on for a dozen or so breaths at full strength, Shi Zhengyi finally heard Yu Yiyuzi's call. Overjoyed, he canceled his move and dodged to the side.
Yu Yiyuzi aimed both palms at the ancient cloud beast, and from his palms surged two beams of light.
The beams were pale blue, shining upon the ancient cloud beast and steadily dissolving it.
Trapped inside the cloud beast's body, Zhao Lianyun had been struggling to break free. She now intensified her efforts, successfully breaking her bonds and regaining her freedom.
"Good — now it's my turn!" Seeing Zhao Lianyun freed, Shi Zhengyi immediately struck, coordinating with Yu Yiyuzi to unleash an offensive killer move.
The two techniques struck the ancient cloud beast, and with a final boom, the creature exploded.
The ancient cloud beast's remains dissolved into scattered wisps of cloud, most of which were immortal materials. After Zhao Lianyun and the other two collected them, they rested on the spot.
"My fault for getting caught in the cloud beast — the quality of the immortal materials this time isn't very high," Zhao Lianyun said apologetically.
"That's hardly a loss worth mentioning. Besides, we're all only at the Sixth Transformation. Beating an ancient cloud beast in combat is already remarkable. Anything beyond that would be asking too much," Yu Yiyuzi consoled her.
Shi Zhengyi, on the other hand, waved his hand dismissively. "Since the battle at the Reverse Flow River, we've rarely had the chance to gather together. I didn't expect the merging and chaos of the Black and White Heavens to drive beast herds down into Central Continent — and that's what let us meet again. Why fuss over such trivial matters?"
The bond between the three immortals had been forged during the battle at the Reverse Flow River.
Although Fang Yuan had been the greatest beneficiary of that battle, all three had performed admirably. With Wei Lingyang's desperate escort and the subsequent rescue by Central Continent reinforcements, they had narrowly escaped with their lives.
Upon returning to their respective sects, all three had received significant cultivation support.
Zhao Lianyun smiled, following up on Shi Zhengyi's words. "Since we're not fussing over trivial matters, then please accept this gift, Fellow Immortal Shi."
As she spoke, she handed a Communication Path immortal material to Shi Zhengyi.
Shi Zhengyi was pleasantly surprised. "Ah, is this a Babbling Petal Flower? This is exactly the immortal material I need to refine an Immortal Gu!"
He made no show of politeness, taking the Sixth Transformation immortal material directly into his hands and examining it carefully.
Zhao Lianyun then turned to Yu Yiyuzi, offering him a Gu Immortal true heritage of the Refinement Path with a smile. "I didn't fail the mission."
Yu Yiyuzi was delighted. "The Refinement Path heritage I cultivate is called the Refinement Eight Gates. I never expected the rumors to be true — that a past Fairy of Spirit Affinity Hall really did expand upon this heritage all the way to the Ninth Gate. Oh my, oh my, Lady Lianyun, how can I thank you?"
Zhao Lianyun shook her head repeatedly, smiling. "This was well within my abilities, and you were simply lucky. It just so happened that I'm the current Fairy of Spirit Affinity Hall — otherwise, I truly wouldn't have the authority to dispose of such a true heritage."
"As for thanks," she continued in a light, joking tone, "I certainly do expect them. In the future, when you become Seventh or Eighth Transformation Gu Immortals, just look after me a little."
Shi Zhengyi and Yu Yiyuzi's spirits dimmed for a moment.
They were both well aware of Zhao Lianyun's situation.
Zhao Lianyun carried Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable's Ninth Transformation killer move, God Knows Not, which prevented her from undergoing tribulation. As a result, her cultivation had no room for advancement.
In contrast, both Shi Zhengyi and Yu Yiyuzi had made considerable progress in their cultivation compared to before the battle at the Reverse Flow River.