Chapter 1042

Fighting Qi Zai, Fang Yuan finds flying sword Gu cannot defeat a yin qi rope that disperses and re-gathers at will, since he lacks a killer move able to scatter its attacks. He retreats with sword escape Immortal Gu, but Qi Zai has a movement killer move to give chase, and Fang Yuan falls into disadvantage against a rank seven cultivator higher than his own. He judges two Immortal Gu cannot match Qi Zai’s greater rank. He flies into the sky. ^{ch. 1042}

Qi Zai means to drain him and drag the fight out, since a broken rope’s aura disperses and the battlefield turns further to qi path over time. Fang Yuan flees to a new spot after each clash. Qi Zai cannot build his advantage. Fang Yuan slaughtered Ni clan village, a place in Qi Zai’s charge, and Qi Zai would answer for it if he let the killer go. His main fear is that Fang Yuan descends from a rival clan in Qi clan’s ancient bet with the other Five Xiangs. ^{ch. 1042}

He can only retreat while fighting, striking with flying sword Immortal Gu before falling back with sword escape. Over many rounds he learns that the rank six Gu Immortal beside Qi Zai, likely newly ascended, calls him great-uncle, so he takes the two for kin. She never attacks. Qi Zai in turn learns Fang Yuan wields two rank seven Immortal Gu, rare even among rank six Gu Immortals, and settles into attrition. Fang Yuan keeps requesting immortal essence stones from Lang Ya land spirit until his sect contribution points near zero. Neither side can gain, and Qi Zai, startled Fang Yuan has held on this long, is certain he hides a huge secret, perhaps the biggest fortuitous encounter of his life. ^{ch. 1042}

Qi Zai then spots the Five Regional Mountain Range ahead. He realizes this is Fang Yuan’s plan, one he cannot allow. The range was built by Tao Zhu, a rank eight Southern Border Gu Immortal called the Restriction Expert because he was his generation’s expert in restriction path, which branches from rule path as emotion path branches from wisdom path. He had researched the regional walls seeking an easier crossing, and after he died the range remained as a special area of Southern Border. ^{ch. 1042}

Fang Yuan flees toward the range and reaches it by sword escape after hundreds of thousands of li. Qi Zai, freshly out of seclusion, had not thought of this area, and his attempt to block Fang Yuan fails against two rank seven Immortal Gu. He tells Qi He to wait behind, guarded by the qi grand lion, and chases Fang Yuan in. Inside, Qi Zai feels a strong repulsive force pushing him out, since the range imitates the regional walls themselves. Fang Yuan enters through the golden-light area, a copy of Central Continent’s saint wall, and Qi Zai, a Southern Border Gu Immortal, knows his rank seven cultivation bears more pressure inside than Fang Yuan’s rank six. Both continue on foot. ^{ch. 1042}

In Central Continent’s Earth Abyss, a separate battle has already concluded. Ying Wu Xie, Tai Bai Yun Sheng and Hei Lou Lan search an ancient soul beast’s corpse for its soul core, egg sized and holding many soul path dao marks, a top tier refinement material. The rest of the corpse will disappear in time, with no other use. The Gu formation here killed the beast despite its soul howl Immortal Gu. ^{ch. 1042}

Ying Wu Xie stays silent. He is aware heaven’s will lured the beast here and that killing it still risked exposure to Heavenly Court. Prompted by a secret transmission from Shi Nu, he reasons that Lang Ya land spirit had sent Fang Yuan dark limit Immortal Gu, once Shadow Sect’s before it perished with Jiang Yu. Lang Ya land spirit had refined it afterward so Lang Ya Sect members could move more easily, and it conceals aura, hiding from heaven’s will. This casual guess, that Fang Yuan may already face an assault from Gu Immortals too, lands on the mark. ^{ch. 1042}

Back in the mountain range, Qi Zai fails to kill Fang Yuan, who, heavily injured but freer at his lower cultivation, escapes. Qi Zai, too weakened to continue, turns back and finds Qi He waiting. She rushes to him. He scolds her sharply for leaving the lion’s protection, and she lowers her head and apologizes. ^{ch. 1042}

Qi Zai grunts that the man is already heavily injured and only escaped through luck, and starts to vow what he will do if their paths cross again. The words break off. He cries out, staring wide eyed, as a dark flying sword pierces his forehead, its tip emerging from the back of his skull. The one wearing Qi He’s face turns back into Fang Yuan’s own and smiles at him. Shock, regret and fear fill Qi Zai’s mind, but it is too late, and with a soft sound he falls to the ground, dead. ^{ch. 1042}