Chapter 1230

Love Gu answers that it cannot force anyone to love. A heart can only collide by its own free will. Ren Zu instead uses self Gu, which once ate a mouthful of strength Gu, to seize the feathermen and force their hearts against his, but none spark the fire of love. Love Gu warns that forcing love only creates hatred, and hatred Gu appears, filling the feathermen with hatred toward Ren Zu. They rise against him, and wild freedom Gu leave their bodies and fuse into one gigantic freedom Gu, which takes love Gu from him and declares love now free. Ren Zu’s self Gu tries to snatch it back, manages only a bite, and declares that love belongs to oneself too. ^{ch. 1230}

Zhao Lian Yun, who had always taken the legend for fiction, is struck by the elder’s serious tone. First supreme elder says the love Gu on her shoulder is rank nine but carries a major flaw: it cannot be refined, not even by rank nine venerables. Giant Sun Immortal Venerable once tried for three years straight and still failed. Love Gu, the elder concludes, cannot be controlled and answers to no one. ^{ch. 1230}

Zhao Lian Yun asks why love Gu chose her. The elder says belief in love is the foundation, and the deeper the love, the higher the chance. Zhao Lian Yun realizes it is because of how deeply she loves Ma Hong Yun, deep enough that she would give up her own life for him. Because love Gu cannot be controlled, Spirit Affinity House has ruled since its founding that whoever gains that acknowledgement, female or male, becomes the current generation fairy. ^{ch. 1230}

Love Gu also appears differently to every viewer, dazzling with rainbows to Zhao Lian Yun but grey and dull to the elder, who stopped believing in love long ago. It carries effects without limit, yet cannot be controlled, often doing nothing when wanted and unleashing itself when not. Every use takes something in payment, usually immortal essence from a Gu Immortal. Since Zhao Lian Yun is not yet one, it might instead take her beauty, her eyesight or her lifespan. ^{ch. 1230}

Zhao Lian Yun pales, then resolves to make good use of whatever time this Gu leaves her. Even at a great price, she tells the elder, she means to save Ma Hong Yun. She asks whether becoming fairy would let her draw on the sect’s power to return to Northern Plains. First supreme elder does not answer at once. ^{ch. 1230}

Heavenly Court’s Duke Long has recently awakened. He stands on Bo Qing’s level in strength and created the dragonman race alone, becoming its ancestor. Barely anyone even among the ten great ancient sects knows of him. When he woke, Fairy Zi Wei at once gave up her position as leader to him, and every other Heavenly Court Gu Immortal agreed. Duke Long ordered Zhao Lian Yun made Spirit Affinity House’s current generation fairy and gave her a phantom aperture that turns her into a Gu Immortal. He also ordered the ten great ancient sects to form a team to bring her to Northern Plains and save Ma Hong Yun. Nobody dares question his love Gu arrangements. ^{ch. 1230}

None of this reaches Zhao Lian Yun, who has been kneeling before the elder after lying unconscious for days. Seeing the elder still silent, she grows nervous, afraid the answer will be no. First supreme elder finally speaks, calling her an otherworldly demon who holds the Thieving Heaven true inheritance. She tells her the ten great ancient sects will form a team centered on her to rescue her lover, Ma Hong Yun, in Northern Plains. Zhao Lian Yun stares wide eyed, overjoyed and surprised. ^{ch. 1230}