Chapter 1280

Outside the river, Old Ancestor Xue Hu means to kill Bi Chen Tian. But the dog tail life extending ferret, Mao Li Qiu, appears, which surprises Xue Hu because it never leaves its cave. It was Giant Sun Immortal Venerable’s steed, subdued late in his life for lifespan methods, its tail shrinking toward death until it devours an immemorial desolate beast dog to regrow it, and its dao marks very numerous and mystical. It outlives Giant Sun Immortal Venerable this way, and its master’s enlightenment gave it intelligence and the use of Gu worms and immortal killer moves. Even Xue Hu is wary of it, so he drops his plan. ^{ch. 1280}

Xue Hu recognizes Black Extremity. Seeing him confirms Xue Hu’s earlier guess that Sun Ming Lu belongs to Longevity Heaven, which has targeted Xue Hu since long ago. Black Extremity greets him and names himself one of Longevity Heaven’s Eight Extremities, saying Sun Ming Lu is only the name he travels under in Northern Plains. Xue Hu holds back, since the river’s contest is unresolved and a fight now would only help a third party. Black Extremity tells Mao Li Qiu their targets are Ma Hong Yun and Zhao Lian Yun, but Mao Li Qiu says there is no rush. Outside the river they can still use Gu worms but cannot touch the river, which throws any method back at them, and draining something this huge would take far too long. Mao Li Qiu expects the river to reverse every thought of perseverance the deeper they swim, until it washes them all away. ^{ch. 1280}

Inside, Ma Hong Yun and Zhao Lian Yun still lead, Purple Mountain True Monarch second, Ying Wu Xie’s group third, Fang Yuan fourth, Wei Ling Yang’s group fifth after Xue Hu leaves. Purple Mountain True Monarch closes in, driven by his plan to capture the pair and turn Xue Hu against Central Continent. Shadow Sect kept him alive through the dangers that followed, and the sovereign immortal aperture his main body refined was stolen, leaving that body stuck in the dream realm in great danger. Heaven’s will struck ninety thousand years ago, and though he sealed himself as a purple-gold rock, it still throws him into madness at times. He nears them, then screams and falls into madness. He drifts downstream. Ying Wu Xie’s group catches him and swims back upstream, so Ma Hong Yun and Zhao Lian Yun keep first place, Purple Mountain True Monarch’s group falls second, Fang Yuan third, Wei Ling Yang fourth. ^{ch. 1280}

Bi Chen Tian is overjoyed and tells Wei Ling Yang it all rests on him, and the immortals who do not know Fang Yuan believe Central Continent’s rank eight can still win from last place. Gritting his teeth, Wei Ling Yang refuses to fail. Central Continent’s pride and Heavenly Court’s honor cannot be lost because of him. His group swims on as the biggest force in the river, and Mao Li Qiu remarks that Central Continent seems to have a huge advantage. Mao Li Qiu adds that Heavenly Court meddles too much and Ma Hong Yun is a Northern Plainsman, and Bi Chen Tian, seeing no way out even if Wei Ling Yang wins, can only watch. Time passes with the order unchanged, though the distances between them visibly shrink. ^{ch. 1280}

Mao Li Qiu quips that so many outstanding people lasting this long proves the great era is near. Bi Chen Tian memorizes the faces of the Central Continent Gu Immortals, judging that such firm determination would surely make them pillars of their sects if nothing befalls them. Bu Zhen Zi holds to his charge of protecting Fairy Lian Yun, Yu Yi Ye Zi tells himself perseverance is always rewarded, and Shi Zheng Yi refuses to retreat after Mu Ling Lan died for her. Fang Yuan, expressionless, decides the rank eight miniman who went mad must belong to Shadow Sect. He resolves to eliminate them all while the river gives him the chance. ^{ch. 1280}