Feng Jiu Ge immediately rushed forward and grabbed his shoulders, shaking him urgently. "Tell me!" he demanded. "Where is that bastard?"
His voice rose in fury. "My daughter's entire life was ruined because of him! Now that he's supposedly dead, she can't get her revenge. She's lost the will to fight—all because of those ridiculous rumors your Ten Great Sects have been spreading!"
Tang Jian, still being shaken, let out a sigh. "It's not like I had any part in that."
"Then what have you done?" Feng Jiu Ge snapped.
Tang Jian sighed again. "I know Jin Huang has suffered deeply. But I once glimpsed a powerful fate within her. Her future potential is far greater than we imagined."
"But this lad... Fang Yuan," he paused, thoughtful. "His fortune is no less remarkable. I believe his destiny might even surpass your daughter's."
Feng Jiu Ge scowled. "If his fortune is really that extraordinary, then we must destroy this demonic Gu Master while we still can."
"Rid the world of his evil before he becomes unstoppable."
Tang Jian raised a brow. "And how do you intend to do that?"
Feng Jiu Ge replied without hesitation, "I'll kill him myself."
Tang Jian exhaled slowly. "During my recent cultivation, I received an insight. Then, I once again divined Fang Yuan's fate."
Feng Jiu Ge leaned in quickly. "Where is he?"
Tang Jian answered, "Northern Plains."
"Where exactly?" Feng Jiu Ge pressed.
Tang Jian explained, "He was in Northern Plains. Then I sensed his presence in Western Desert... after that, Eastern Plains... then Southern Border."
"And now," he added with certainty, "he's entered the borders of Central Continent. He seems to be searching for something and is wandering through the region."
Feng Jiu Ge laughed coldly. "Perfect. I owe you one for this."
Tang Jian shook his head with a faint smile. "You once saved my life—that's more than enough."
Without another word, Feng Jiu Ge turned and hurried out, making his way toward the Central Continent's border in pursuit of Fang Yuan.
...
Just moments ago...
Fang Yuan stood calmly, staring at the smoldering ashes of the wolf corpse—Chang Shang Yin now reduced to dust along with it.
Suddenly, an Immortal Gu within his second aperture—a grotesque and monstrous-looking one—began to tremble violently.
Feeling the disturbance, Fang Yuan furrowed his brows. "This Gu should be shielding me from all prying eyes," he muttered. "Even Heaven's Will shouldn't be able to affect it like this."
"After all, to Heaven's Will, everyone is just a pawn on its board."
So why was he sensing such a powerful, invasive gaze?
He turned and scanned his surroundings but found nothing out of place.
Then, as he looked up, his expression immediately darkened.
Dark clouds had begun forming overhead, and arcs of lightning crackled ominously in the sky.
"A tribulation?" he said, eyes narrowing. "No… this is a Myriad Tribulation!"
Without hesitation, Fang Yuan activated his Fixed Immortal Travel Gu and vanished from the spot just as the lightning began to surge. The dark clouds gradually dispersed without striking.
He reappeared in the Western Desert. But as he glanced upward again, storm clouds were already starting to gather above him.
Without waiting, he used the Fixed Immortal Travel Gu again, jumping to the Eastern Sea. Yet again, tribulation clouds began forming in the sky above him.
Fang Yuan moved next to the Southern Border—only to see the same ominous scene unfolding.
Gritting his teeth, he teleported to the edge of the Central Continent, near the sacred Saint Wall.
Looking up, he noticed the skies were calm.
"Heaven's Will wants me dead," he murmured coldly, "but it won't risk damaging the regional walls."
To test his theory, Fang Yuan moved into the heart of the Central Continent.
As soon as he arrived, the skies above him began swirling violently, forming tribulation clouds at an alarming speed.
This sudden shift in the atmosphere didn't go unnoticed.
Feng Jiu Ge, on his way toward the Saint Wall, stopped in shock. "A Myriad Tribulation…" he whispered, eyes locked on the growing storm.
Behind him, Tang Jing appeared silently. Taking in the sky, he muttered, "Someone's trying to ascend… to become a Venerable."
The entire Central Continent was abuzz. Everyone who saw the storm clouds forming in the heart of the city felt a chill run down their spine.
"No… this is bad!" Feng Jiu Ge cried out. "Bai Qing and Feng'er are still in the city!"
He dashed toward the city, but just as suddenly as they had appeared, the clouds began to fade.
The terrifying lightning tribulation vanished in silence, leaving the stunned onlookers in disbelief.
Back near the Saint Wall, Fang Yuan reappeared, eyes scanning the now-clear sky.
"So… that's how it is," he murmured coldly.
Without wasting another moment, he activated the Fixed Immortal Travel Gu and vanished once more.
....
"Hm, hm!" The treasure spirit hummed softly to itself, eyes closed as it lounged lazily in a chair. It barely spared a glance at the constant stream of transactions taking place across Yellow Treasure Heaven, while immortal stones steadily piled up beside it.
Suddenly, a flash of bright light illuminated the grotto heaven. The treasure spirit instantly snapped upright, its eyes widening.
"Master, you're back!" it exclaimed.
But upon seeing Fang Yuan's grim expression and the unmistakable killing intent in his eyes, the treasure spirit instinctively gulped. Still, it didn't press too hard.
"Didn't you say you'd be gone for a few months?" it asked cautiously. "It's not even been a full day."
Fang Yuan gave it a cold glance. "The plan has changed," he said flatly.
"I'm done hiding."
His gaze shifted toward the distant void—beyond which lay the Gu World. His voice grew icy.
"If Heaven's Will wants me dead… it had better understand one thing—I am not like the venerables of the past."
He sneered. "Even Spectral Soul, reborn and wielding his slaughter path, was nothing but a child playing with fire compared to what future venerables are capable of."
"Does it truly believe I have no means of eradicating it?"
Snorting in disdain, he turned back to the treasure spirit. "Bring out every Immortal Gu in your possession."
"Buy up all the finest wine in Yellow Treasure Heaven. And find out if anyone possesses a Rank 8 Liquor Worm Immortal Gu."
His eyes burned with fierce resolve.
"If Heaven's Will chooses to treat me as its enemy…"
"Then it should be prepared to lose everything it's ever controlled."