Chapter 1278

A loud sound rocks the sub formation again, its light now halved. Flood Extremity is no longer surprised. An unknown voice comments on the formation and freezes him completely, though he is one of Longevity Heaven’s Eight Extremities. A huge, hill-like beast reveals itself: the dog tail life extending ferret, once Ancestor Giant Sun’s steed, sent to help Longevity Heaven. It gives its own name, Mao Li Qiu, and tells Flood Extremity to call it Grandpa Mao instead of steed. Intense winds burst from its claws, and an immortal killer move breaks the sub formation apart. It declares they will retrieve Ma Hong Yun and the love Gu from Reverse Flow River, then carries Black Extremity and Flood Extremity there on its breath. ^{ch. 1278}

Reverse Flow River calms fully after the intense change. Gu Immortals who cannot fight the current go downstream, the only way out. Fang Yuan, still without Ying Wu Xie, keeps pushing forward. Bi Chen Tian watches from the sky, where the immortals who could not keep swimming have gone, though leaving the river makes them outsiders whose methods reflect back on them. He finds Fang Yuan and asks him to hand over affection Immortal Gu instead of fighting. Fang Yuan ignores him, warning that they should worry about themselves before he is swept away, since this is not Central Continent. Bi Chen Tian goes cold at having his concern named and turns upstream, counting Fang Yuan a small matter beside Zhao Lian Yun and Ma Hong Yun. ^{ch. 1278}

Five groups are now visible in the river. Mu Ling Lan, Zhao Lian Yun and Ma Hong Yun lead, followed by Old Ancestor Xue Hu, Purple Mountain True Monarch and Lady Wan Shou. Next comes Wei Ling Yang’s group, then Ying Wu Xie’s gang with the Snowy Mountain peak lords, and Fang Yuan trails alone. The floating mound is swept away, forcing Ma Hong Yun and Zhao Lian Yun to keep swimming. Both groups behind them hope to stall Old Ancestor Xue Hu and Purple Mountain True Monarch long enough for the pair to escape. ^{ch. 1278}

Hei Lou Lan spots Fang Yuan behind them. Ying Wu Xie is alarmed that he has chased them this far. Fang Yuan still does not know Purple Mountain True Monarch rides unseen on Old Ancestor Xue Hu’s shoulder, so he believes killing Ying Wu Xie’s gang will end his crisis with Shadow Sect. A Snowy Mountain peak lord urges the group to gang up and kill Fang Yuan while he is alone. Ying Wu Xie is tempted, but decides against the risk, keeps Fang Yuan’s foundation to himself, and steers the group toward Old Ancestor Xue Hu, calling Central Continent the greater enemy. The Snowy Mountain immortals cannot leave downstream either, since a rank eight Central Continent Gu Immortal waits above. None of them expect to match Ren Zu, who failed at the last step here, but each group has its own reason to stay. ^{ch. 1278}

Mu Ling Lan and Ma Hong Yun drag Zhao Lian Yun forward as Old Ancestor Xue Hu’s group closes in. Wei Ling Yang shouts for Fairy Lian Yun to hold on, while Ying Wu Xie pushes forward too, wary of Fang Yuan behind him. The first Snowy Mountain peak lord runs out of stamina and floats back, pale. Fang Yuan avoids him rather than lose ground, since stopping even briefly would greatly cost his progress. Bi Chen Tian shouts a warning as Old Ancestor Xue Hu finally catches up, right behind Zhao Lian Yun’s group. Zhao Lian Yun knows her strength is gone and that she would only burden Ma Hong Yun. She gives him one last look, then breaks free from his grasp and swims toward Old Ancestor Xue Hu instead. ^{ch. 1278}