Fang Yuan's words left Shen Congsheng silent.
The sea breeze swept through the hems of his robes as he hovered in midair, lost in deep thought.
Fang Yuan halted the Dawn Sword and allowed the man to contemplate in peace.
The future of the Five Regions' chaotic war had already been foreseen by every major power. The Shen Family, prestigious as a super force of the Eastern Sea, was nothing more than a sampan caught in a raging storm amid such upheaval.
Shen Congsheng was no fool. Like Fang Yuan, every faction leader of any real foresight was already pondering where their own forces should go from here.
This was a great upheaval. The slightest misstep, and the tidal wave of the age would swallow every person who failed to read the times!
That included super forces, of course.
Looking back through history, even during relatively peaceful eras, the number of super forces that had faded into oblivion was beyond counting. And in a great age where Venerables walked the world, the existing order was nearly overturned entirely. One after another, super forces crumbled and perished in the process. The landscape of the Five Regions was bound to become unrecognizable.
How should one navigate such an era?
Every Gu Immortal with foresight was turning this question over in their mind.
Should they cooperate with Fang Yuan?
That was the question Shen Congsheng had to consider now.
In terms of qualifications, Fang Yuan absolutely had the standing to cooperate with the Shen Family. In truth, Shen Shang had even worried that the Shen Family might not be qualified enough — because he himself was no match for Fang Yuan.
But if they rescued Shen Shang and resolved the hidden danger afflicting him, and then added the Shen Family's Immortal Gu House to the equation — only then, in partnership with Fang Yuan, would Shen Congsheng have the confidence he needed.
Shen Congsheng understood: the Shen Family needed a powerful outside ally like Fang Yuan.
During times of peace, such a possibility was slim. But in the future chaotic war of the Five Regions, the Shen Family was far more likely to face mortal peril — a moment between life and death.
At such a time... Fang Yuan was certainly no reliable ally!
It would already be commendable if he didn't kick you while you were down.
Shen Congsheng was fully aware of Fang Yuan's demonic nature.
But what if the Shen Family needed to deal with an equally powerful super force? The Xie Family, the Cai Family, the Hua Family, the Tang Family, perhaps even the Song Family...
The Shen Family sat deep in the heart of the Eastern Sea, surrounded on all sides by colossi. They were essentially trapped in an encirclement.
Without breaking out in some direction, without growing stronger, they would likely become food for others during the Five Regions' chaotic war.
Under such circumstances, if the Shen Family could pay a large sum of resources to secure a powerful ally like Fang Yuan — what was wrong with that?
Fang Yuan possessed an Eighth Transformation Immortal Gu House, multiple Venerable legacies, and had repeatedly ground even Heavenly Court beneath his heel. That kind of fighting strength was exactly what the Shen Family needed — and what every super force needed.
If they didn't court Fang Yuan now, and the surrounding powers secured his allegiance instead, what then?
The current situation was clear: Heavenly Court wanted to repair the Fate Gu, and Fang Yuan wanted to take down Heavenly Court. He needed a vast quantity of low-Transformation immortal materials. This was the perfect opportunity to win his favor!
Just as Fang Yuan had said, this was a chance for both the Shen Family and himself.
Both sides had something to gain.
Of course, there were still many concerns. Teaming up with a demon like Fang Yuan carried far too many risks.
What if he welched on the deal down the road? He roamed free, and even Heavenly Court could do nothing about him. What could the Shen Family possibly do?
Moreover, no Trust Path Alliance Pact could be forged here. Both sides lacked a foundation of trust.
But in reality, even if such a pact existed, couldn't it be broken?
What if Fang Yuan reneged in the future?
As long as both sides continued cooperating and each found profit in the arrangement, why would Fang Yuan renege?
The risk was absolutely real. But what undertaking in this world carried no risk?
Risk was secondary. Profit was primary.
Shen Congsheng had no interest in things with high risk and low return. But for high risk and high return — he had never balked!
And what Shen Congsheng admired most about Fang Yuan was not his fighting strength, but his willingness to share missions with Miao Ming Shen, and even with himself.
From this, Shen Congsheng could see: Fang Yuan was different from ordinary Demonic Path Gu Immortals! He had rationality. He had Righteous Path thinking and ideas.
After pondering at length, Shen Congsheng slowly nodded, his expression grave. "This is an opportunity — for both you and me. Heh heh, very well. Why not take the gamble? In the world to come, stand still and you fall behind! If Ancestor Shen Shang recovers his sanity, I will do my utmost to persuade him never to trouble you again."
"This is everything I can produce in low-Transformation immortal materials at the present. Please accept it." Shen Congsheng once again demonstrated his sincerity.
Fang Yuan collected every last item into his Immortal Orifice, then ceased driving the Dawn Sword's killer move and slowly withdrew. "Good! Immortal Friend Shen, I will descend now to collect the Seafloor Grand Formation."
Collecting the Seafloor Grand Formation did cost Fang Yuan considerable effort, but in the end he succeeded.
When Fang Yuan had pierced Shen Shang with the Dawn Sword, the platinum light pillar had not been stopped, but the attack had still inflicted damage upon the pillar — and through it, upon the Seafloor Grand Formation.
The Seafloor Grand Formation had already been reduced to forty percent of its power, and Shen Shang's breakout had created a massive flaw. When Fang Yuan moved to collect it, cracks filled his entire field of vision.
Had the battle continued, the formation would likely have collapsed before Shen Shang even died.
Once it collapsed, the Immortal Gu inside could very well be dragged down with it. Which specific Immortal Gu would be damaged or destroyed — Fang Yuan could not control that. If the Regret Gu were obliterated in the process, his plans would suffer a catastrophic setback.
This was one of the reasons Fang Yuan had joined hands with Shen Congsheng.
With the formation collected by Fang Yuan, the platinum light pillar that had spanned between heaven and earth dissipated. Shen Shang regained his freedom.
"Ancestor!" Shen Congsheng shouted, even as he retreated.
Fang Yuan piloted the Ten Thousand Year Battle Flying Chariot, cautiously pulling back.
Shen Shang still roared and shrieked, trapped in a state of madness, showing not the slightest sign of awakening.
"Shen Congsheng, do you need my help?" Fang Yuan asked.
"No need." Shen Congsheng stared at Shen Shang. The ancestor's condition left him at a loss, unable to act. "Let us wait for the Ancestor to awaken on his own."
"As you wish." With that, Fang Yuan steered the Ten Thousand Year Battle Flying Chariot even farther away.
At that very moment, Shen Shang suddenly moved. His figure shot off like an arrow.
"Ancestor!" Shen Congsheng cried out and hurriedly gave chase.
Fang Yuan likewise maneuvered the Ten Thousand Year Battle Flying Chariot in pursuit.