Chapter 1698

On the Central Continent regional wall, a group of Western Desert Gu Masters runs as the ground behind them tears open into an Earth Trench. A small group at the back falls in, most are smashed to bits, and any who survive will die eventually. Zhang Ping, newly a rank two Gu Master, has run out of primeval essence, so his father Zhang Quan, a rank three Gu Master, has to carry him. Zhang Quan deeply regrets bringing his son to the Central Continent Refinement Path Convention. Earth vein tremors are shrinking all five regional walls, so crossing between regions now takes under half the old time. They pass the wall into Central Continent, but the slowed pair is almost devoured before a mystical light lifts the remaining Gu Masters into the sky. ^{ch. 1698}

The survivors, extremely excited, guess that a great Gu Immortal saved them. The rescuer is a Spirit Butterfly Valley Gu Immortal who watches unseen. He belongs to the ten great ancient sects and received a compulsory mission to patrol against demonic path trouble, as did many other Gu Immortals. Heavenly Court holds this convention, so security is extremely strict and unprecedented. ^{ch. 1698}

A few days later Zhang Quan and Zhang Ping sign up at Scorpion Needle Sect, an ordinary sect known for scorpion needle Gu. The test has four questions on basic skills. Those trying their luck are turned away, and the two pass and each receive a token. Names can be false and sects and paths hidden, so lone cultivators, demonic path members and even Gu Immortals join in disguise. Central Continent Gu Masters who placed in the previous convention sign up directly, but Zhang Quan, who also placed last time, must pay because he is not from Central Continent. ^{ch. 1698}

In Heavenly Court, Duke Long, still pale from the injuries of obtaining Dragon Palace, watches Central Continent and says that fate Gu will be fully restored after this convention. He recalls the past. His disciple Hong Ting, Red Lotus Immortal Venerable, had designed Spring Autumn Cicada to start everything over. Shivering with anger, Duke Long let him try, predicting failure. Many days later a badly injured Hong Ting reported that love Gu, inspired by The Legends of Ren Zu, would change fate, since love is a type of fate. Duke Long was furious and called it heresy. When Hong Ting said that his generation needed no restrictions, Duke Long cut him off, unwilling to exterminate him in the name of justice. ^{ch. 1698}

Breathing deeply, Duke Long regains clarity, though his memories are kept away and a sense of guilt remains. He holds that fate Gu will always protect humanity, and that he failed as a teacher. He will atone for his disciple’s mistakes. He has little time left and will wait until fate Gu is repaired, allowing no one to ruin the convention. ^{ch. 1698}

Scorpion Needle Sect erupts in an intense explosion, and countless Gu Masters at the convention die or are injured. An ancient desolate year snake hisses in the rubble and slaughters more of them. Fang Yuan leaves with a cold smile for the next location, using an immortal killer move with Fixed Immortal Travel as its core. Heavenly Court must hold the convention to gain success dao marks for repairing Fate, and he will not let them succeed so easily. A merciless slaughter has begun. ^{ch. 1698}