Although destroying the Fate Gu was still harmful to the Human Race, with the Star Constellation's Will remaining, the grand situation of the Five Regions would not change.
Because when the Fate Gu no longer existed, the Heavenly Court could not utilize it, and neither could the Heavenly Dao.
With both sides on equal footing, and the Human Race possessing such a massive advantage—how could they simply stand by and watch other races rise to power?
But Red Lotus was not an otherworldly demon—how could he completely destroy the Fate Gu?
No matter how many times he was reborn, Red Lotus still could not find a way to completely destroy the Fate Gu. This rebirth was specifically to persuade Duke Long, to bring his master to his side so they could work together.
Who would have thought the Heavenly Court harbored such secrets? Red Lotus's plans fell through.
Old ginger is spicier.
Red Lotus wanted to persuade Duke Long, but Duke Long had also been waiting for this golden opportunity to persuade his prized disciple.
"Hong Ting, stop." Duke Long spoke with earnest sincerity. "Your master has said all this because I want you to turn back. The Righteous Path is not only about glory and good name—it is often accompanied by sacrifice. For the sake of the Human Race, for the Heavenly Court, Immortal Venerable Star Constellation sacrificed herself! And you? Your parents, the woman you loved—they all died for you, paving the path for you to become an Immortal Venerable. Their sacrifice was necessary, it was meaningful. Don't you understand yet? Hong Ting! Stop!"
"No, I will never stop." Red Lotus's gaze remained unwavering. "I'm sorry, Master, for disappointing you again and again. But this is the path I must walk."
Duke Long shook his head, a bitter look crossing his face. He took a deep breath. "I am not disappointed. If you had agreed right away, I would have been suspicious instead. I knew your resolve would not waver easily—this was long within my expectations. So now, let me teach you through my own example."
"What do you mean?"
Just as Red Lotus looked puzzled, Duke Long activated the method he had prepared long ago.
Immortal Path Killer Move—Dragonman Extinction!
The confusion on Red Lotus's face quickly vanished, replaced by shock. He sensed the true nature and effect of this killer move.
Red Lotus cried out in alarm: "Ma-Master, you've killed all the Dragonmen in existence?! Among them are your own children and grandchildren! If I remember correctly, all of your descendants have been transformed into Dragonmen!"
"That's right." Duke Long's body trembled, his voice slightly quavering. "I am the progenitor of all Dragonmen—the first Dragonman between heaven and earth. When I created the Dragonman transformation method, I had already laid down contingencies, enabling me to use my status as the origin ancestor to easily eliminate all other Dragonmen."
"When the revelation of Dragonman Ascendance appeared, I wanted to use this method. But at that time, Star Constellation's Will manifested and guided me, suggesting I leave the Dragonmen be for the time being—that they would be useful in the future."
"I hesitated. I wavered. My descendants, Hong Ting—you have seen them too. Playing with grandchildren, enjoying the warmth of family—that was my greatest comfort in my later years. Sigh, I have long since grown old..."
"Master..." Red Lotus started to speak but stopped, unsure of what words could comfort Duke Long.
Duke Long's eyes reddened, tears nearly falling—a sight Red Lotus had never witnessed before.
He choked out his words: "The truth is, I understood perfectly well. Even without the revelation of Dragonman Ascendance, the Dragonman race would forever remain a threat to our Heavenly Court, a threat to our Human Race. Because unlike other races, the Dragonmen were created by me—they were transformed from humans. They are like a blood-sucking vine growing upon the great tree of humanity, constantly draining human blood to strengthen themselves."
"Dragonmen possess great longevity—it is second only to the Lifespan Gu as a method of extending life. Lifespan Gu are scarce, but how many people wish to prolong their lives? There are billions upon billions! Dragonmen will only grow more numerous, while the Human Race will grow fewer."
"What is even more terrifying is that Dragonmen are born from within the Human Race itself. They can naturally lower human vigilance. And with a teacher of my high standing supporting them, who could suppress or interfere with them?"
"If this continues, one day the Dragonmen will overshadow the Human Race. If another accident occurs—if the Fate Gu once again contains the revelation of Dragonman Ascendance—the consequences would be unthinkable."
At this point, Duke Long looked deeply into Red Lotus's eyes. "When you infiltrated the Heavenly Court this time to persuade me, I suddenly realized—this might be the very timing Star Constellation's Will had pointed toward. The Dragonman race should not exist, but its extinction must have value. And that value is to guide you, my disciple Hong Ting! I want to instill in you the spirit of sacrifice, to show you the spirit of the righteous Human Path!"
Red Lotus: "Master..."
Duke Long's mighty frame shook, and tears finally streamed down his face.
He had personally killed his own descendants with his own hands. His heart felt as though it were being cut by knives, filled with anguish—yet he harbored not a shred of regret.
His voice suddenly rose in volume as he roared at Red Lotus: "Hong Ting, my disciple! Your path will not lead anywhere! You cannot defeat the Heavenly Court!"
"Because the strength of the Heavenly Court is not merely the accumulation on the surface, not merely the Fate Gu."
"It is generation after generation of Gu Immortals who shed their heads and spilled their blood, who sacrificed themselves without hesitation! They defended the Human Path, protected the righteous tradition, generation after generation pressing forward!"
"Without such sacrifice, the Human Race would likely still be trampled upon and enslaved by other races. There would be none of the beautiful life we enjoy today."
"Hong Ting, I have taught you, the Heavenly Court has nurtured you—you are enjoying the fruits of our ancestors' dedication and sacrifice throughout all of history!"
"So come back, Hong Ting!"
"Submit to the arrangement of fate."
Red Lotus: "..."
...
The Invincible Blessed Land Battlefield.
Duke Long's memories were but an instant. His gaze once again became razor-sharp.
He looked toward the Dragon Palace from afar and smiled coldly. "How regrettable, how pitiable! Dragon Spirit, your existence was long ago calculated by Purple Violet Fairy. All of this is simply turning their own scheme against them."
The next moment, he activated an Immortal Path Killer Move.
He had once used this Immortal Path Killer Move to try to persuade Red Lotus, but it had ultimately failed.
But now, to kill Bai Ningbing—it was more than sufficient!
Immortal Path Killer Move—Dragonman Extinction!
In an instant, Bai Ningbing's body violently convulsed, her heart feeling as though someone had seized it in a crushing grip. She collapsed to the ground, vomiting mouthfuls of blood.
Dragon Spirit shrieked: "What's happening?!"
It did not know about the secrets of the past.
In truth, it had been born long after the Dragonman race had already been wiped out by Duke Long.
Under Dragon Spirit's horrified gaze, Bai Ningbing died rapidly. Her body, gradually losing its warmth, lay sprawled within the vast Dragon Palace.
Heavenly Court.
Purple Violet Fairy was stepping out of the grand formation that imprisoned the Phantom Soul Demon Venerable.
The Heavenly Court battlefield had not yet been cleared, but Purple Violet Fairy had already come to inspect the imprisonment of the Phantom Soul Demon Venerable.
"I was overthinking. No matter how powerful and ruthless the Phantom Soul Demon Venerable once was, the current Phantom Soul Demon Venerable is nothing more than a remnant soul. It has no Gu, no Immortal Essence—how could it possibly make waves? Let alone escape."
"Oh? Dragon Spirit has been exposed as well. Everything is proceeding according to plan." Having perceived this, Purple Violet Fairy smiled faintly.
Dragon Spirit's existence had been calculated by her. She had long harbored suspicions. After all, an unclaimed Dragon Palace that could actually recruit the Four Great Dragon Generals—its sentience far exceeded the norm.
After she calculated Dragon Spirit's existence, and Dragon Spirit deceived Duke Long, creating the false impression that Duke Long had refined the Dragon Palace—the Heavenly Court had been well aware of it all along.
When Duke Long sought Purple Violet Fairy's counsel, she had simply turned the scheme against its architects and laid the trap of Dragon Burial Cavern.
This trap was not only aimed at Eastern Sea Gu Immortals—it also targeted Dragon Spirit and Emperor Cang Sheng.
Without such strategic forethought, how would Purple Violet Fairy have dared to use the All Eyes Watching Killer Move to widely broadcast the final battle situation of the Invincible Blessed Land?
Purple Violet Fairy stepped into an Immortal Gu House, where the borrowed Benevolence Gu was inside.
She pondered silently to herself: "Next, I must deal with Fang Yuan's Spring Autumn Cicada."
The Invincible Blessed Land Battlefield.
BOOM!
The Dragon Palace was sent flying, Dragon Spirit screaming in panic inside, completely lost.
The Dream Path offensive Killer Move had been interrupted. The Heaven Monitoring Tower returned to its original state, exiting its ethereal form. The Heavenly Court Gu Immortals inside the tower burst into laughter—the baiting operation this time had been a complete success.
"Damn it, so all of this was within the Heavenly Court's calculations! The battle situation never left their control!" Fang Yuan's expression was as dark as water, but he was forced to admit it. "We've lost this battle!"
Bing Saichuan also realized this, but he still roared loudly, ordering Gu Immortals to charge toward the Heaven Monitoring Tower.
The Heaven Monitoring Tower retreated with tremendous speed, plunging the northern and southern immortals further into despair.
"It's time to withdraw!" Fang Yuan's eyes darted about. He possessed an Eighth Transformation Killer Move centered on Fixed Immortal Travel. If used correctly, there was still hope of breaking through the encirclement.
But at this moment, with Lu Weiyin at the lead and the Heavenly Court Gu Immortals supporting him, Fang Yuan and his allies were completely surrounded.
Fang Yuan's side fought like cornered beasts in a final desperate frenzy, utterly savage.
Lu Weiyin seized the opportunity to unleash an Immortal Path Killer Move called Eight Directions Pure Land.
This was a defensive killer move—not only could it protect oneself, it could also enhance allies.
Under the effect of Eight Directions Pure Land, sand spheres instantly formed around each Gu Immortal, blocking all the incoming Immortal Path Killer Moves with ease.
Even the Calamity Fate Altar's killer move was deflected just the same.
For a moment, both friend and foe revealed looks of astonishment. The strength Lu Weiyin displayed once again exceeded everyone's expectations.
Lu Weiyin's performance dragged the northern and southern immortals even deeper into the abyss of despair.
Meanwhile, Duke Long broke free from Emperor Cang Sheng and charged into the Dragon Palace.
Emperor Cang Sheng tried to give chase but was temporarily held back by the Heaven Monitoring Tower and the other Immortal Gu Houses.