Chapter 1388

A middle-aged Gu Immortal appears, his expression touched with melancholy. He is Feng Jiu Ge, a Central Continent pillar of Spirit Affinity House and a rank seven sound path cultivator famous for being able to battle rank eight. A man of the ten great ancient sects, he is believed by all to be a certain future member of Heavenly Court. Wu Yong has never met him but recognizes him at once by reputation, and turns hostile toward the newcomer. Heavenly Court took many Immortal Gu from Southern Border’s righteous path during the dream realm battle, and Feng Jiu Ge, as a Central Continent Gu Immortal, is implicated by that grievance. Fang Yuan also fixes on him warily, demanding to know if Heavenly Court sent him to ambush him. ^{ch. 1388}

Fang Yuan has seen him before, in his first life and again after rebirth. In his first life, Feng Jiu Ge’s radiance in the five regions chaotic war had surpassed ordinary rank eight Gu Immortals before he died in Lang Ya blessed land, a death that shook Central Continent while the other regions celebrated. After his rebirth, Fang Yuan unintentionally saved Feng Jiu Ge’s life inside the Thieving Heaven true inheritance’s strange space in Luo Po Valley, when Qin Bai Sheng’s suicidal attack would otherwise have killed him. Feng Jiu Ge explains he came from Central Continent chasing an Immortal Gu once used by Thieving Heaven Demon Venerable and stumbled onto this fight by accident. Wu Yong calls that hypocritical, saying Feng Jiu Ge could have left when the battlefield killer move went up, and Feng Jiu Ge answers that he entered by choice because he owes Fang Yuan his life, astonishing both men. ^{ch. 1388}

Wu Yong laughs in disbelief. He grows solemn once he realizes Feng Jiu Ge is serious, reflecting inwardly that unlike himself, Feng Jiu Ge was once a demonic path cultivator and such demons cannot be reasoned with. Fang Yuan recalls the old story: an unknown Feng Jiu Ge once sang in a valley with two strangers. They turned out to be demonic Gu Immortals whom Black Heaven Temple accused of seizing a rank seven Immortal Gu, and the ten great ancient sects hunted them for it. Trusting the character their song revealed, Feng Jiu Ge went to their aid anyway, telling them he decides his own life and death regardless of being branded a demon for it. He fought off Black Heaven Temple’s Immortals repeatedly until the other nine sects backed it with public pressure, then defeated every champion the ten sects sent before striking their headquarters directly and routing them. Spirit Affinity House’s fairy of that generation, Fairy Bai Qing, later won his heart and brought him into her sect. ^{ch. 1388}

Fang Yuan realizes the earlier sigh meant Feng Jiu Ge had wanted to help him, likely in secret out of concern for his wife and daughter, until Wu Yong sensed him and forced a choice. Feng Jiu Ge makes the same choice he made long ago. The words he spoke back then hold now: neither demonic nor righteous, he alone decides whether to leave or stay and whether to live or die. His resolve comes from his own heart alone, and neither faction nor identity can restrain him. ^{ch. 1388}