Deep within the Embroidery Tower, immortal essence circulated amidst layers of Restrictions.
At this moment, the only people presiding over the tower were the Heavenly Court Rank Eight Gu Immortal Li Huang and another Rank Eight Heavenly Court Gu Immortal with profound cultivation.
The rest of the Heavenly Court Gu Immortals had all been hit by that mysterious and unpredictable Soul Leading Into Dream Killer Move, sinking into a boundless dream Realm, completely oblivious to the slaughter and struggles of the outside world.
Even so, in Li Huang's eyes, dealing with Yuan Fang's group was still as easy as reaching for something in one's pocket—utterly effortless.
At the same time, within the Embroidery Tower, Li Huang's mood had already calmed down considerably.
The injuries left from his previous battles with Thin Green and various powerful enemies had improved by seventy to eighty percent under the nourishment of a healing Killer Move fueled by massive amounts of immortal essence.
His body, half of which had been severed by a single sword strike, was also reconnected with the help of an exquisite Fire Path Killer Move; flesh and blood regrew, and his bones and sinews were reshaped.
Although his combat strength was somewhat diminished because of this and was no longer at its Peak, his cultivation Realm remained firmly at the level of a Rank Eight Gu Immortal, with his true combat power roughly on par with Northern Plains' Rank Eight Medicine Emperor.
He stood before the window of the Embroidery Tower, gazing coldly at Yuan Fang outside the tower, a hint of an interested smile curling at the corner of his mouth.
When he clearly sensed that the Aura circulating within Yuan Fang's body was only at the Rank Seven level, that smile grew even more pronounced.
Because on Yuan Fang's person, he smelled an Aura associated with Sword Path.
Speaking of which, it seemed as if Li Huang had been born with an irreconcilable blood feud against Sword Path throughout his life.
His Yang Mang Back Fire Robe, which he relied on for his fame and took great pride in, was usually indestructible and possessed towering fire power; ordinary Immortal Path Killer Moves falling upon it could hardly leave even a trace.
Yet, it had been broken by Sword Path Gu Immortals with a single sword strike on several occasions; the sword light was incomparably sharp, almost resulting in his death and the scattering of his Soul every single time.
Following this series of crushing defeats and humiliations, his Yang Mang Back Fire Robe, which once shook the Heavenly Court and awed the Five Regions, was actually mocked in secret by some ignorant people of the world, who gave it an extremely insulting nickname—the Mourning Garment.
Li Huang's heart was filled with towering resentment and heart-burning indignation.
The world only knew that he, Li Huang, had once been defeated by Thin Green in a single move, becoming a pathetic laughingstock.
But no one knew that before a Sword Path Prodigy like Thin Green emerged, he, Li Huang, was the undisputed strongest among the Ten Great Ancient Sects, his combat power Supreme among his peers and invincible.
But fate toys with people, and providence mocks them.
Every time he, Li Huang, stood out, every time he wanted to restore his prestige, he would run into a Heaven-Defying Sword Path figure like Thin Green.
Under that peerless sword light, the Yang Mang Back Fire Robe was shattered time and again, turning into ashes repeatedly.
He still remembered the light, yet heart-piercing and bone-deep evaluation Thin Green had given him just now:
"No mechanics, no stats."
Li Huang clenched his teeth until they creaked, frantically cursing in his heart:
"This is definitely not a problem with the Fire Path! Nor is it a flaw in my Yang Mang Back Fire Robe! It's that Thin Green is too strong! He is a Pseudo-Venerable!"
"Hehehe... I don't believe that I, a dignified Rank Eight Gu Immortal, would lose to a mere Rank Seven Sword Path Gu Immortal!"
Thinking of this, he no longer hesitated and turned to the Heavenly Court Gu Immortal beside him, instructing in a low voice:
"You control the Embroidery Tower to pin down the immortal gu house. I will personally go out to meet this Sword Path junior and wipe them all out as soon as possible to eliminate any future trouble!"
Yuan Fang watched the slowly shifting Embroidery Tower, which was filled with killing intent, and alarm bells rang in his heart.
He subconsciously protected the immortal gu house in front of him, using it as a shield to block any sneak attack that might arrive at any moment.
Immediately, he sent a hurried and cold voice transmission to Fang Zheng inside the Embroidery Tower:
"Bring the sleeping Fang Yuan over! Fast!"
Fang Zheng did not dare to disobey in the slightest and did as he was told, bringing the sleeping, motionless body of Fang Yuan before Yuan Fang.
Yuan Fang looked at the sleeping Fang Yuan before him and let out a low shout:
"Aren't you coming back yet!?"
The moment his voice fell, all the Gu insects in Fang Yuan's immortal aperture, whether they were ordinary immortal gu or that spring autumn cicada which could not leave the immortal aperture, all turned into streams of light and frantically flew into Yuan Fang's immortal aperture.
As it turned out, the Soul within this body that appeared to be Fang Yuan's original self was not Fang Yuan's at all, but Shadowless Evil's!
Long ago, from the moment Shadowless Evil used the Soul Leading Into Dream Killer Move to knock Fang Yuan unconscious, Fang Yuan had already used the power of the soul swap immortal gu deep within the Star Constellation Dream Realm to swap Souls with Shadowless Evil.
Therefore, the one currently occupying Fang Yuan's Physical Body was Shadowless Evil's Soul.
Fang Yuan's true Soul, meanwhile, resided within Shadowless Evil's original Physical Body, waiting for an opportunity.
After Yuan Fang received all the Gu insects, he immediately activated the heaven connecting gu to communicate with Treasure Yellow Heaven and transferred all these Gu insects to the real Fang Yuan.
As for how to deal with the Embroidery Tower and the fiercely flaming Li Huang before him, Yuan Fang naturally would not choose a foolish, hot-blooded counterattack; he had already made up his mind—
Delay first, then run away.
Just then, Li Huang's voice suddenly rose, ringing out clearly in all directions:
"Junior! I am the Heavenly Court Rank Eight Gu Immortal Li Huang! Today, I will not bully you for your low cultivation; I will give you five moves! If you can break my Yang Mang Back Fire Robe within five moves, I will turn around and leave immediately, and I will never pursue you again!"
Hearing this, Yuan Fang's thoughts whirled, weighing the pros and cons in an instant.
According to their previous agreement, Fang Yuan would use Fixed Immortal Travel to teleport here and lead everyone out of danger.
If he fled rashly now, he would have to trek on foot, making a difficult journey back to the Northern Plains, which would surely be fraught with danger.
Since Li Huang had taken the initiative to offer a five-move agreement, he would temporarily face this Heavenly Court Gu Immortal mocked by the world as wearing a "Mourning Garment," using the time of these five moves to stall and wait for Fang Yuan to arrive and provide backup.
Thinking this, Yuan Fang immediately nodded and replied: "Fine! But you must first have the Embroidery Tower move further away from us. This is a battle between the two of us; do not let external objects interfere!"
"Very well."
Li Huang agreed readily, and then, holding nothing back, he violently activated his famous Immortal Path Killer Move—Yang Mang Back Fire Robe!
In an instant, the hair on his head turned into raging flames that soared into the sky, just like the Great Sun Yang Mang of old who ascended directly into the ancient Nine Heavens to refine Fixed Immortal Travel under the ancient glory light.
The flames surged and expanded frantically, covering his entire body in an instant, finally condensing into a fire robe that burned incessantly with vast fire power, enveloping his person.
"Come! If you can break my Yang Mang Back Fire Robe within five moves, I will turn around and leave, no longer pursuing you! After five moves, I will surely take your life and make your Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering!"
"Then let us fight! Immortal Path Killer Move—Ancient Sword Flood Dragon Transformation!"
In the next instant, Yuan Fang's body expanded explosively, and white light soared to the heavens as he transformed into an incredibly massive white dragon with crystalline scales and a cold Sword Qi Aura.
It was precisely an Ancient Sword Jiao among the Ancient Desolate Beasts!
"Not bad, this Transformation Path Killer Move is quite realistic, possessing some of the charm of an Ancient Sword Jiao."
"Unfortunately, compared to our Heavenly Court's Lord Duke Long, it is far inferior. His Dragon Greeting Banquet is a truly top-tier Killer Move of heaven and earth; this little path of yours is not worth mentioning."
Li Huang's gaze was indifferent as he gave a faint evaluation, his tone filled with high-and-mighty disdain.
After Yuan Fang transformed into an Ancient Sword Jiao, he did not stop for a moment, immediately following up with his second move:
"Immortal Path Killer Move—Peoples Hearts Are Drawn To!"
As soon as this move was performed, Yuan Fang's Aura suddenly surged, and human will and human qi diffused majestically, causing even Li Huang to reveal a hint of surprise.
His Yang Mang Back Fire Robe was originally derived from comprehending the legend of human ancestor, containing deep Human Path colors.
Yet this move of Yuan Fang's was actually also a Human Path Immortal Rank Killer Move; it was exquisite and profound, with far-reaching meaning, not at all inferior to his own signature skill.
The third move followed closely without the slightest interval: "Immortal Path Killer Move—Auspicious Fortune Bestowal!"
An incredibly thick golden pillar of light crashed down from the sky, shining directly onto Yuan Fang, causing his Aura to surge once more and his momentum to climb steadily.
Within that giant golden pillar, there was also a mysterious and unpredictable Luck Path power, constantly extracting the Luck of Li Huang and the others to turn it into his own use, making Yuan Fang's fortune rise step by step.
"This... is a Luck Path Killer Move? To actually be able to weaken the enemy's Luck and strengthen oneself, not bad, not bad. It seems you have pinned all your hopes on the fifth move."
"If I'm not mistaken, your fourth move should also be an amplification-type Killer Move, right?"
Li Huang's eyes flickered, as if he had seen through Yuan Fang's entire plan at a glance.
After all, the advantage of Sword Path lay in ultimate offensive power.
Using the first four moves to constantly sharpen the sword, accumulate power, and amplify, only then could the fifth move erupt with world-destroying Peak power.
If Li Huang were in Yuan Fang's position, he would have made the same arrangement.
The Ancient Sword Jiao that Yuan Fang had transformed into nodded slightly, silent confirmation of Li Huang's guess.
His next move was indeed a Supreme Killer Move used for comprehensive amplification.
"Senior Li Huang, watch closely! Immortal Path Killer Move—Law-Heaven Phenomenon-Earth!!"
In the next moment, golden light surged from the Ancient Sword Jiao's body, dazzling to the eyes, and its body expanded at a terrifying speed.
Finally, a giant a thousand feet tall, standing between heaven and earth, loomed before Li Huang, his pressure majestic and awe-inspiring in all directions.
This giant was Yuan Fang's Law-Heaven Phenomenon-Earth Physical Body, adorned in immortal robes and sashes, majestic and grand. Behind him was a Great Dao halo, circulating with infinite Dao rhyme.
Under the enhancement of a massive number of amplification Killer Moves, his dao marks had reached as many as forty thousand, comparable to a Gu Immortal who had just advanced to Rank Eight!
"This Killer Move is quite ingenious; it doesn't essentially change the attribute of the dao marks, so it doesn't affect the strength of the Ancient Sword Jiao. After the transformation, the sword path dao marks remain pure and unchanged."
"It seems this is the source of all your confidence. Come, use your fifth move, and let me see exactly how much ability you have!"
Li Huang looked up at Yuan Fang from a distance, but because the other's body was too massive, his head was hard to discern with the naked eye, so he flew into the air to reach a height where he could meet Yuan Fang's gaze.
"Watch closely! This is the fifth move! This move will surely break your 'wearing mourning clothes' Yang Mang Back Fire Robe! If you're afraid, you can leave right now and go back into seclusion for three hundred years; no one will laugh at you!"
Yuan Fang laughed arrogantly, his voice amplified by the Law-Heaven Phenomenon-Earth, so loud that even Yi Tian Mountain a hundred miles away could hear it clearly.
Li Huang furrowed his brows, suppressed the anger in his heart, and said coldly, "Hmph! You are just as arrogant as Thin Green! Unfortunately, you are not a Pseudo-Venerable; you are doomed to defeat!"
However, his words gradually weakened, and even his voice began to tremble.
Because he saw on Yuan Fang's body a movement that was both familiar and terrifying, engraved deep within his Soul.
Yuan Fang restrained all his surging Aura, internalizing all the Sword Qi and immortal essence around him.
His hands formed palms and slowly came together in front of his chest, like an old monk in meditation, while he slowly lowered his head and closed his eyes.
"You... you also know this move!?" Li Huang turned pale with fright, his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering.
Yuan Fang said nothing, his Aura deathly still, as if he had turned into a stone statue devoid of joy or sorrow.
Slowly, the five fingers of his right palm pressed against his left palm, as if he were pinching some rare treasure, while his left palm gradually clenched into a fist.
"It really is that move!"
Li Huang's legs went weak, and he involuntarily took half a step back, the fear in his heart already spreading throughout his entire body.
Yuan Fang's left palm remained in place, while his right fist slowly rose, fixed directly above his head.
"It really, really is..."
Before Li Huang could finish speaking, the first sword of the Five Fingers Fist Heart Sword had already come tearing through the air!
The sword light was like green snake-like lightning, reaching the extreme of speed, striking right onto the Yang Mang Back Fire Robe!
The fire robe, which had originally been blazing with towering flames, immediately dimmed a bit, and many of the flames dissipated.
"It really is the Five Fingers Fist Heart Sword! But... but how is this possible!? How could you know Thin Green's ultimate skill! Impossible! No!!!"
The second sword followed closely behind. The sword light swept past, grazing Li Huang's right shoulder. Although it missed its mark, it continued to fly rapidly, too fast for the naked eye to discern, instantly piercing through a massive mountain range spanning hundreds of miles, shearing off the entire mountaintop with a cut as smooth as a mirror!
Strong! Too strong! Fierce! Too fierce!
Li Huang's face showed extreme terror, his mind dazed, as if he saw Thin Green's cold, sword-like figure before him once again.
"What Yang Mang Back Fire Robe? In my view, you are just wearing mourning clothes for yourself! Surrender your head on the spot within one move, otherwise, I will commit suicide right here!"
Thin Green's icy sneer echoed in his mind, lingering and impossible to shake off.
The third sword had already cleaved its way before his eyes!
The sword light swept across, hitting Li Huang squarely in the neck.
If not for the protection of the Yang Mang Back Fire Robe, he would have already been decapitated, his head separated from his body.
The shadow of death completely enveloped his body. Li Huang seemed to see Thin Green holding his right fist high, slashing at him—it was an ultimate Sword Qi that could shatter heaven and earth and annihilate the people of the world!
"Thin Green! Don't even think about killing me!!!"
Li Huang roared shrilly, looking like a madman, charging recklessly toward Yuan Fang and striking out several Fire Path Immortal Rank Killer Moves.
But these Killer Moves fell upon the phantom of the Law-Heaven Phenomenon-Earth like stones sinking into the ocean, only scattering a bit of Yuan Fang's Luck without leaving even a single scratch.
"Weak Fire Path Gu Immortal, the fourth sword is here! Hand over your head!!!"
In the next instant, the fourth sword of the Five Fingers Fist Heart Sword shot forth!
Li Huang turned pale with fright and tried desperately to dodge, but the sword light was simply too fast, so fast it transcended time and space, making it impossible to evade.
"Shua—"
The sword light swept across Li Huang's waist and abdomen. Any "Yang Mang Back Fire Robe" or "wearing mourning clothes" collapsed instantly under the pressure of this peerless sword light, becoming completely useless!
Li Huang was nearly cut in half at the waist, with only a layer of skin and a few layers of fat and flesh barely connecting his upper and lower body, blood gushing out in a gruesome sight.
After piercing Li Huang, the sword light continued to fly, slicing through a massive pillar of the immortal gu house. The entire immortal gu house shook violently, suffering heavy damage.
"I..."
Li Huang's face was full of shock, his hands clutching the horrific wound as he stared blankly at Yuan Fang's massive Law-Heaven Phenomenon-Earth body, his voice trembling:
"I... I will die... No! I really will die... die... No! No no no! I can't die! Can't die! Thin Green! Don't even think about killing me... Hehe, haha! You can't kill me!"
Li Huang had gone completely insane, his mind collapsed, and his Battle Intent was entirely gone:
"No! He will kill me! No! No no no... Hehe, hahahaha! I have to run! Run! Hahahaha!"
He turned to flee, and at this critical moment, a green light flashed beside Yuan Fang, and a naked man appeared out of thin air.
This naked man was handsome, about sixteen or seventeen years old, with black hair like a waterfall falling to his waist. His skin was smooth and fair, his features were regular, his nose was high, and his eyes were as deep as an ancient pool. There was not a shred of excess fat on his body, and his lines were perfect to the extreme.
It was exactly Fang Yuan, who had utilized the Rank Nine Supreme Immortal Fetus Gu!
At this moment, his appearance even far surpassed that of Bai Ning Bing during her male period.
Compared to Fang Yuan's former Myriad Gold Wondrous Flower Physique, the current Fang Yuan with the Supreme Physical Body was like the bright moon in the night sky or a pearl in the dust—the most perfect Physical Body in heaven and earth!
And on Fang Yuan's shoulder sat a fluttering butterfly. The butterfly was emerald green, exquisitely beautiful and extraordinarily agile; it was precisely the Rank Seven immortal gu Fixed Immortal Travel!
Not long ago, on the Yi Tian Mountain battlefield, Fang Yuan had successfully plotted to obtain the Rank Nine Supreme Immortal Fetus Gu, and Spectral Soul Demon Venerable had also been put to sleep by him using the Soul Leading Into Dream Killer Move, losing all power to resist.
Subsequently, he immediately activated Fixed Immortal Travel to teleport here.
"Yuan Fang! Let's go quickly! The Heaven Overseeing Tower is coming!" Fang Yuan shouted anxiously while looking back frantically.
In the direction of Yi Tian Mountain, a tattered but still immensely powerful white tower was rapidly approaching; it was precisely the Rank Nine immortal gu house Heaven Overseeing Tower!
Behind the Heaven Overseeing Tower, ten top-tier immortal gu houses, including the Immortal Crane Sect, Spirit Affinity House, War Immortal Sect, Wind Cloud Manor, Heaven Envy Manor, Heavenly Lotus Sect, and Ancient Soul Gate, followed closely behind, covering the sky with a terrifying Aura!
"Boom—"
The insanely fleeing Li Huang was struck dead on the spot by the charging Heaven Overseeing Tower. He couldn't even let out a scream before turning into a cloud of blood mist, his life and path ending there.
(Purely collateral damage)
And in an instant, the Heaven Overseeing Tower also rushed in front of Yuan Fang, only inches away!
Yuan Fang also wanted to escape immediately, but unfortunately, the fifth sword of the Five Fingers Fist Heart Sword had not been fully unleashed. If interrupted midway, he would suffer a violent backlash from the Killer Move.
Therefore, if he suffered the backlash, he wouldn't have time to use Fixed Immortal Travel before being violently crushed by the Heaven Overseeing Tower!
Seeing this, the Gu Immortals inside the immortal gu house immediately exerted all their strength to drive the immortal gu house to collide with the Heaven Overseeing Tower, attempting to stall for a moment.
However, it was instantly pierced by the embroidery needles of the immortal gu house and tightly bound by seven red threads, unable to move.
"human sovereign banner!"
The human sovereign banner had just flown out when it was knocked away by the Ancient Soul Gate, its power dissipating.
"near water pavilion!"
The near water pavilion was forcefully knocked aside by Spirit Affinity House, losing its effect.
"Black Prison!"
Black Prison was even more vulnerable, being destroyed on the spot by the Heaven Overseeing Tower and turning into fly ash.
"Fifth sword!"
Yuan Fang was overjoyed as the long-prepared fifth sword shot toward the Heaven Overseeing Tower like a world-destroying lightning bolt!
But before the sword light could arrive, a hand came through the air—it was precisely Dragon Duke!
With a single slap, he easily swatted away the fifth sword of the Five Fingers Fist Heart Sword, which was powerful enough to kill a Rank Eight!
"Holy crap! It's over!!!" Yuan Fang turned pale with shock, his heart and gallbladder splitting.
In the next instant, the Heaven Overseeing Tower, carrying endless pressure, ruthlessly ran over Yuan Fang!
The thousand-foot Law-Heaven Phenomenon-Earth body shattered on the spot!
Yuan Fang was crushed to death, his flesh and bone fragments flying everywhere, and his Soul was directly annihilated!
At the same time, not far away, because of Yuan Fang's death, the connection between their Souls was forcibly severed. Fang Yuan's own Soul began to dissipate rapidly, and his life Aura withered away swiftly.
At the final moment of his life, a cold light flashed in Fang Yuan's eyes, without a hint of fear.
He resolutely sacrificed his entire cultivation to activate the Rank Seven spring autumn cicada!
With an earth-shaking roar, Fang Yuan directly self-detonated!
Next Chapter: Starting Over from the Beginning