Chapter 1283

Holding Zhao Lian Yun’s hand, Ma Hong Yun takes what should be the final step out of Reverse Flow River. Water splatters underfoot instead: the river’s water has moved forward with him by a little, and he remains inside it. Stunned, he tries a second step, and the river extends again the same way. The watching immortals are shocked at a river that seems to cheat outright, but Mao Li Qiu bursts out laughing, already certain of the outcome. ^{ch. 1283}

Mao Li Qiu explains that Reverse Flow River has no end: every step taken at its final stretch only creates a new extension. During the immemorial era, Ren Zu tried to save his dead son, but fate Gu governs life and death, and reviving the dead breaks the rules of heaven and earth. Wisdom Gu therefore never told Ren Zu of this aspect of the river. The immortals, hearing an immemorial secret for the first time, wonder whether Ma Hong Yun and Zhao Lian Yun are now trapped in the river forever. ^{ch. 1283}

Fang Yuan, who never stopped swimming, has turned his perseverance into a huge opportunity, and is now very close behind the pair, his immense battle strength already proven when he fought Bi Chen Tian evenly in the river. Every other Gu Immortal has been eliminated, leaving only Fang Yuan, Ma Hong Yun and Zhao Lian Yun still able to act. Bi Chen Tian pins Central Continent’s hope on Fang Yuan overexerting himself. He warns Ma Hong Yun and Zhao Lian Yun to walk slowly, since their current pace is enough to keep them inside the river. Central Continent’s only hope is to keep them away from Fang Yuan and stall until he can no longer persevere. Fang Yuan keeps advancing and soon stands a hundred steps behind them. ^{ch. 1283}

Three offers follow, one from each side. Old Ancestor Xue Hu offers first: capture the pair and hand them over, and Fang Yuan may ask anything of him and gain an ally against anyone hunting a man both Liu tribe and Ye Lui tribe want. Wei Ling Yang counters that if Fang Yuan protects the pair he may join Central Continent, which will remake Fang Yuan’s immortal aperture for its own heaven and earth qi and outmatch Xue Hu’s offer many times over. Flood Extremity offers a third path: protect the pair and hand them to Longevity Heaven to become its external supreme elder, wanted by nobody, despite lacking the Huang Jin bloodline. ^{ch. 1283}