Chapter 1286

Outside Reverse Flow River, the watching Gu Immortals fall into dead silence as Fang Yuan, a rank seven Gu Immortal, stands unmoving in the water. Shi Zheng Yi points out that the river no longer sweeps him away. Bai Ning Bing mutters that he actually refined Perseverance Immortal Gu, while the Central Continent Gu Immortals cannot believe he has matched Genesis Lotus Immortal Venerable. ^{ch. 1286}

Fang Yuan turns his attention inward, where a brand new Immortal Gu, Perseverance, has finished forming: shaped like a monolith, huge as a giant whale, squarish and metallic black, and the largest Immortal Gu he has ever seen. Its aura marks it rank seven. Fang Yuan is glad, since a rank seven Gu best fits his own cultivation. ^{ch. 1286}

Outside, the three rank eight Gu Immortals still wait to strike, but Fang Yuan finds that owning Perseverance Immortal Gu has really conquered Reverse Flow River for him. It no longer works against him, and he can use Gu worms freely inside it and open his immortal aperture with ease. He places Ma Hong Yun’s corpse into his immortal aperture, soul inside it. ^{ch. 1286}

Ma Hong Yun’s soul still carries its portion of the luck path true inheritance of all living beings’ luck, gained alongside Zhao Lian Yun’s own share in Imperial Court blessed land, and it now belongs to Fang Yuan. He frowns slightly, since her rank nine Love Immortal Gu had already carried Zhao Lian Yun free of the river to Wei Ling Yang and Bi Chen Tian. Wei Ling Yang sighs that Liu Guan Yi has made his name this day. ^{ch. 1286}

Zhao Lian Yun screams that she wants Fang Yuan dead, her love for Ma Hong Yun turned to hatred, while Old Ancestor Xue Hu asks coldly what becoming Reverse Flow River Lord is even worth now. Mao Li Qiu vows to kill Fang Yuan in one slap the moment he leaves the river. Conquering the river wins him no initiative. With Ma Hong Yun dead and Zhao Lian Yun lost, he faces three rank eight Gu Immortals, many more, and heaven’s will. ^{ch. 1286}

Old Ancestor Xue Hu spits cold air at the river, which reflects each blow back for him to dodge. He warns that surrender buys Fang Yuan a slave’s life while resistance leaves him unable to die even when he wants to. Enough reflected attacks, he adds, will drain the river and kill Fang Yuan. ^{ch. 1286}

Fang Yuan argues that Central Continent’s Gu Immortals foiled Xue Hu’s own Gu refinement, that a Longevity Heaven trap may share the blame, and that he arrived by coincidence. Bi Chen Tian and Wei Ling Yang edge back alarmed, and Mao Li Qiu notes he is skilled at sowing discord. Old Ancestor Xue Hu counters that Fang Yuan stole his river and killed Ma Hong Yun, ruining his hope, and his anger demands death. Fang Yuan instead proposes an alliance between two Northern Plains demonic path members against the righteous path Gu Immortals around them, offering Old Ancestor Xue Hu use of the river he now commands. He admits the killing but calls it unintended, blaming exhaustion or shock. He asks whether killing him will help Old Ancestor Xue Hu survive his coming tribulation, when draining so vast a river would spend his strength and still leave Fortune Rivalling Heaven unrefined. He points out that Snowy Mountain blessed land lies destroyed, yet while Old Ancestor Xue Hu lives he can rebuild it and take materials from others for a fresh attempt. ^{ch. 1286}

Old Ancestor Xue Hu, still reasoning despite his fury, finds the argument fair. His ambitions have not wavered, and he still needs materials to refine Gu. He glances toward Bi Chen Tian, Wei Ling Yang, and Mao Li Qiu; the two men grow nervous, the ferret baring its fangs. ^{ch. 1286}

Ying Wu Xie, frustrated, thinks Fang Yuan as crafty as ever. Where once he would have urged the alliance to protect the sovereign immortal body Shadow Sect spent a hundred thousand years growing, Ying Wu Xie would now kill Fang Yuan given any chance. Ying Wu Xie stays silent at Shadow Sect’s weakest moment, Purple Mountain True Monarch asleep in his hands and briefly clear headed on waking. ^{ch. 1286}

The Central Continent Gu Immortals, having recovered Zhao Lian Yun, also dare not retreat, fearing they would become the next target. None of the five parties present holds strength enough to dominate the rest. Old Ancestor Xue Hu’s decision becomes crucial, and after a moment’s thought he agrees to the alliance. Fang Yuan is overjoyed. ^{ch. 1286}