"Feng Jiuge is universally acknowledged as the strongest fighter among the Ten Great Sects, and he is also the leader of this Northern Plains expedition. His request is one we have no grounds to refuse. You know full well the state of our sect's combat strength. Even if we flatly refuse, the other nine great sects would surely band together to pressure us with excuses like not needing any deadweight dragging them down."
Hearing the Supreme Grand Elder's words, Hei Fengyang's face turned ashen.
Lei Tan smiled silently, making no effort to conceal his schadenfreude.
Hei Fengyang was so furious his lungs felt like they were about to burst. He forced himself to keep reading, but suddenly his expression froze. A complicated mix of emotions surged through him as he said, "This… Feng Jiuge actually volunteered to lend me the My Self Immortal Gu? And he's already elevated it to the Seventh Transformation! The Sixth Transformation My Self Gu is a consumable-type Gu that can only be used three times. But the Seventh Transformation version can be used repeatedly—it just demands far more Immortal Essence."
"What? I recall Hei Fengyang's My Self Gu only had one use remaining. I didn't expect Feng Jiuge to actually refine it all the way to the Seventh Transformation! No wonder he asked for the My Self Immortal Gu—he'd planned this all along."
"But his luck really is something. Immortal Gu are incredibly difficult to refine, with an extremely low success rate. My Self Gu isn't even his Life Gu, and yet he actually succeeded," Gui Li remarked.
Shu Zhige, however, said, "Ling Yuan Zhai is wealthy and powerful, with extremely close ties to the Heavenly Court. Their foundations run far deeper than our Immortal Crane Sect's. Refining a Seventh Transformation Immortal Gu isn't exactly surprising."
"With the My Self Gu, one can resist Blessed Land suppression and freely use mortal Gu," Sang Xin Furen said, looking toward Hei Fengyang.
"Feng Jiuge has played this well. On one hand, by borrowing the My Self Gu, once our sect successfully seizes the Fox Immortal's Blessed Land, it'll be convenient for him to intervene. On the other, by pulling Canyang Ancestor away, he's effectively weakened our sect's offensive strength for this operation," the Supreme Second Elder analyzed.
The Supreme Third Elder, Demon Conquering Master, drained the bowl of Feather Transformation Wine and crushed it in his hand. "Despicable! The nine great ancient sects have been secretly obstructing our sect over the Fox Immortal's Blessed Land more than once. Hei Fengyang! You are the one handling the Fox Immortal's Blessed Land affair personally. I hope you succeed this time—don't leave any opportunity for the other nine sects. Make them eat their words! I want them to shamelessly come crawling to us for the Courage Gu!"
"Understood, Third Elder," Hei Fengyang said with a nod.
The Gu Immortals' deliberations lasted an entire day and night, setting the Immortal Crane Sect's direction and plans for the coming months.
Two days later, Fang Zheng pushed open the stone door and entered the Blood Pool.
"Fang Zheng, through so many rounds of grueling training, we've finally reached this moment. Today you will avenge your kin, earn merit for the sect, and benefit all living beings. We must succeed!" Within his Empty Orifice, Soul-Transmitting Flea trembled as the voice of Heavenly Crane Master rang out.
"Yes, Master! We will absolutely succeed!!" Fang Yuan clenched both fists tightly, his expression one of unwavering resolve.
He walked to the center of the Blood Pool, letting the scalding blood rise to cover most of his body.
Then he took several deep breaths and began activating the Iron Blood Gu. The blood turned dark and heavy, and his skin blackened in response.
Next, Fang Zheng simultaneously activated the Blood Blade Gu.
Sssssss…
Hundreds of iron-blood flying blades erupted from every part of his body, shooting outward in all directions.
Hundreds of wounds opened across his skin, and blood flowed out like molten iron.
An intense wave of pleasure crashed over his mind. Fang Zheng gritted his teeth and took the critical step—he activated the Blood Mixing Gu…
And at the same time, on Heavenly Ladder Mountain, two Gu Immortals arrived.
One appeared as a youth, gentle and refined as jade, clad in a green robe with a jade pendant hanging at his waist. Most striking were his eyebrows—slender, emerald green, and sweeping all the way down to his waist. This was none other than the Immortal Crane Sect's Sixth Transformation Gu Immortal, known as the Crane Feather Flying Immortal, Hei Fengyang.
The other was young and beautiful, with a slender, graceful figure. Her face was lovely as a peach blossom, her eyes deep as autumn waters. She wore a pink-blue floral dress whose hem drifted with the breeze. She too was a Sixth Transformation Gu Immortal of the Immortal Crane Sect—Cangyu Fairy.
The two immortals walked leisurely up Heavenly Ladder Mountain until they reached the landing point of the Fox Immortal's Blessed Land.
Before them stretched a verdant, lush forest, entirely ordinary and unremarkable.
The Fox Immortal's Blessed Land was a separate small world, distinct from the vast Central Continent. As long as the Blessed Land had no flaws or its gates remained closed, there was absolutely nothing unusual to observe from the outside. Even another Gu Immortal passing by would have no idea a Blessed Land lay hidden here—unless they knew the secret.
Cangyu Fairy looked around. Green mountains rose on every side, and the occasional birdsong only deepened the silence. Not a single person was in sight.
Yet she smiled at Hei Fengyang and said, "Quite a few people have come today. I spot quite a few familiar faces."
She and Hei Fengyang had made no effort to conceal their tracks. In truth, once things got noisy, there would be no concealing it anyway. So from the moment they departed Crane Mountain, the other nine great ancient sects had already received intelligence.
Nine Gu Immortals from those nine sects were already concealed above and below the sky, watching Hei Fengyang and Cangyu's movements, gathering firsthand intelligence.
Hei Fengyang deployed Gu insects as he walked, remarking, "I've long heard that the Fairy possesses a reconnaissance killer move called Subtle Thought. It can fetch five Immortal Stones in Treasure Yellow Heaven—its effectiveness truly lives up to its reputation."
"The Flying Immortal flatters me. It was merely a lucky encounter years ago, obtained by chance from a reincarnation battlefield," Cangyu Fairy replied with a delicate laugh.
"Today's battle will rely heavily on the Fairy's efforts," Hei Fengyang said, his manner entirely courteous.
"The Flying Immortal is too kind. My humble tricks can hardly compare to the Crane Feather Flying Immortal's Ten Thousand Cranes Soaring Together. If only I could witness it today, that would be wonderful," Cangyu Fairy said with admiration.
Hei Fengyang laughed.