Third Transformation: Heavenly Origin Treasure Lotus Gu.
Fourth Transformation: Heavenly Origin Treasure Lord Lotus.
Fifth Transformation: Heavenly Origin Treasure King Lotus.
Above the Fifth Transformation... the Heavenly Origin Treasure Emperor Lotus!
The Immortal Gu obtained from the Langya Sect — the Heavenly Origin Treasure Emperor Lotus — had finally, at this moment, been refined by Fang Yuan all the way to the Ninth Transformation.
This Ninth Transformation Immortal Gu took the form of a verdant lotus leaf, its surface glazed and smooth like polished jade. At its center rested a single lotus bud.
The lotus petals were white as flawless jade, pristine and unblemished, radiating a purity entirely untouched by the mortal world.
Once refined to the Ninth Transformation, the Heavenly Origin Treasure Emperor Lotus activated on its own, continuously drawing in the surrounding qi and condensing it into drops of transparent dew.
The dew rolled down the green-ink-glazed surface of the lotus leaf, growing heavier and larger, before dripping one by one into the white jade bud at the center.
The white jade bud silently absorbed the transparent dew, and from its very tip, a faint blush of pink began to emerge.
Fang Yuan, having personally refined this Immortal Gu, knew exactly what would happen: the white jade bud would absorb more and more dew, its color shifting from white to pink, and then from pink to a vivid crimson.
Once the petals had fully turned red, they would bloom open to reveal the emerald lotus seedpod within.
Inside the emerald seedpod were eighty-one lotus seeds, each one a golden yellow — pure Yellow Apricot Immortal Essence!
After the Yellow Apricot Immortal Essence was harvested, the blooming lotus would close once more, the crimson fading until only white jade petals remained. Then it would begin absorbing transparent dew again, endlessly cycling through blooming and closing.
"Ninth Transformation Heavenly Origin Treasure Emperor Lotus Gu — Yuan Lian Immortal Venerable's Life Gu, ranked sixth on the Immortal Gu Ranking..." A cascade of related information surged through Fang Yuan's mind, all confirming the extraordinary value of this Immortal Gu.
But in truth, Fang Yuan knew that the sixth-place ranking was a significant underestimate of the Heavenly Origin Treasure Emperor Lotus's true worth.
Why?
Before the Fate Gu was destroyed, Venerables were invincible — each ruling over an era, and two could never coexist.
Although Yuan Lian Immortal Venerable, by virtue of possessing the Ninth Transformation Heavenly Origin Treasure Emperor Lotus Gu, had been the most abundantly supplied with Immortal Essence of any Venerable in history, this advantage had never truly been put to its fullest use during his lifetime.
Because his era had only a single Venerable. He had far more Ninth Transformation Immortal Essence than he could ever spend. Having no rival — that was the loneliness and regret of the truly powerful!
But now things were different. The Fate Gu had been destroyed, three Venerables coexisted, and perhaps even other Venerables might revive.
"Heavenly Origin Treasure Emperor Lotus — in my hands, you will shine with even greater brilliance!"
Fang Yuan's heart swelled with joy.
Having obtained his goal, this adventure had been entirely worth it.
Even though he had paid a terrifying price.
Multiple failures during Gu refinement had directly consumed thirty percent of his stockpile of Ninth Transformation Wood Path Immortal Materials!
"But the current crisis is far from over." Fang Yuan quickly sobered.
Around him, the Dark Soul River churned ceaselessly.
"Break!" Fang Yuan bellowed, activating his killer move and shooting forward like a meteor to break through the encirclement.
Without the refinement process consuming his mental focus, he now had far more leeway.
The Spectral Soul Demon Venerable lunged at him once more, and Fang Yuan retreated violently.
"Friend Fang Yuan, join forces with us to attack him." Star Constellation Immortal Venerable spoke up.
Great Sun Immortal Venerable's gaze was also locked tightly on Fang Yuan, his Fortune Path techniques probing furiously, as if trying to verify exactly how much Immortal Essence Fang Yuan had in reserve.
Fang Yuan snorted coldly, his expression ashen, and said in an exasperated tone: "Are the two of you bullying me for being young? We agreed the three of us would join forces, yet when I was caught in the Soul Path offensive, not only did you fail to lend me a hand — you even let the Spectral Soul Demon Venerable go and stood here watching the show? This is your idea of an alliance?"
As he spoke, he activated a composite killer move, erupting with a burst of yellowish-brown light that blocked the Spectral Soul Demon Venerable's attack.
Star Constellation Immortal Venerable was silent for a moment, then smiled faintly: "Friend Fang Yuan, you misunderstand. Although we are allied, our dao marks repel one another. Acting rashly would do more harm than good."
As soon as her words fell, she waved her hand and scattered a shower of stardust onto the Spectral Soul Demon Venerable, directly shattering several of his massive arms.
Great Sun Immortal Venerable struck as well, his golden sand-like radiance constantly eroding the Spectral Soul Demon Venerable's fortune.
Fang Yuan felt a small measure of relief and couldn't help but secretly marvel: this Heavenly Secrets Confusion killer move really was effective.
The situation just moments ago had actually been extremely perilous.
If the two Venerables had detected even the slightest hint of what was going on, they would have immediately launched a frenzied assault on Fang Yuan. And at precisely this moment, his Immortal Essence reserves were pitifully low — a critical vulnerability.
Had the two Venerables attacked, Fang Yuan would have had no choice but to temporarily yield before their onslaught.
Though Fang Yuan had lost his White Day Heavenly Spirit, from this perspective alone, it had been entirely worth it.
Of all Fang Yuan's arsenal, only this killer move — which had consumed the White Day Heavenly Spirit as its price — could conceal the truth from the two Venerables at such close range.
But how long he could maintain the concealment, Fang Yuan could not say.
The Spectral Soul Demon Venerable roared and activated his Soul-Burning Fortune-Exploding killer move, blocking Great Sun Immortal Venerable's golden sand erosion.
But the Spectral Soul Demon Venerable still charged toward Fang Yuan!
Fang Yuan had destroyed the White Day Heavenly Spirit — for the Spectral Soul Demon Venerable, the hatred ran too deep.