Chapter 1221

Fang Yuan does not need the treasury. Beyond rank six he already holds many rank seven Immortal Gu. For rank eight he has attitude Gu, years flow like water, and wisdom sword, though attitude Gu matters most since wisdom sword needs rank eight immortal essence he lacks and years flow like water draws immemorial year beasts. By count he holds more rank eight Immortal Gu than Wu Yong, and even a rank nine wisdom Gu, though strictly it is not his to keep. ^{ch. 1221}

What he actually needs is the dream realm: unravel dream would raise his attainment, letting him annex apertures beyond his current reach. He can annex only those his attainment matches. Enough rank seven blessed lands annexed at once could even carry him to rank eight, the power of the sovereign immortal aperture. Too few rank seven blessed lands exist across all five regions for that, though, so he sets rank eight aside for now. ^{ch. 1221}

He tells Wu Yong he already knows what he wants and names two Immortal Gu, one rank six and one rank seven. Surprised, Wu Yong feigns ignorance, noting both already serve the super Gu formation around the giant dream realm, and asks if he is certain. Fang Yuan confirms without hesitation. Southern Border’s righteous forces built that formation together, Wu clan contributing six Immortal Gu to it. These two matter most to how it runs, so owning them would give him the greatest say over it. ^{ch. 1221}

Fang Yuan appeals to Wu Yong directly: he grew up alone in Eastern Sea while Wu Yong had Southern Border’s strongest force behind him, a pain Wu Yong will never know. He admits ambitions of his own, asking which Gu Immortal has none, yet disclaims any wish to fight a rank eight brother who holds their mother’s Immortal Gu and Wu clan’s leadership. Only Qiao clan’s alliance and his mother’s dying summons brought him even this far, he says. He asks to leave Wu clan for good and cultivate at the dream realm’s site, wanting only the clan’s support in return. His eyes redden, and he bows deeply to Wu Yong. ^{ch. 1221}

Moved, Wu Yong grips Fang Yuan’s shoulders and calls him brother. He says he understands Fang Yuan’s hardships and agrees, telling him not to forget his words. Fang Yuan answers with tears that he will not forget. He promises full support, no independent action inside Wu clan’s headquarters without leave, and little contact with its Gu Immortals. The two clasp hands on the promise, and Fang Yuan leaves elated at finally being free to explore the dream realm openly. ^{ch. 1221}

Alone, Wu Yong reasons his brother knows his limits. He claimed no Immortal Gu inheritance, and leaving Wu clan’s headquarters lets Wu Yong consolidate control faster in his absence. Wu Yong judges the dream realm mostly useless for now, so he can spare many times the resources his brother asked for, provided the brother guards the formation quietly and seeks no authority in Wu clan. He notes the realm’s future is not settled, tied to a prophecy about Great Dream Immortal Venerable, so his brother’s ambitions may not be so small after all. He judges ambition itself harmless, and only ambition blind to its own limits dangerous, as with Qiao clan. ^{ch. 1221}

In Central Continent, Zhao Lian Yun kneels like a statue at Spirit Affinity House. Feng Jin Huang no longer lives there, but she keeps kneeling, her only remaining hope. Exhausted, she drifts into a memory of Ma Hong Yun bringing her wild flowers on a grassland, telling Lady Xiao Yun that women love flowers. She names them smelly fly flowers, growing on animal dung, and scolds him to take them away. He answers they grow big and strong because of it, admitting he only meant to thank her for lying to save him from execution over stolen shoes. ^{ch. 1221}

The memory fades, and she returns to the present calling him a fool. She admits she is behaving as foolishly now, though his foolishness always ends well and she is only an ordinary person. Tears fall as the grief in her overwhelms words. In her blurred sight a rank nine Gu, love Gu, flies toward her. ^{ch. 1221}