Genesis Lotus's attack was on two fronts.
One was a mental attack- his Will assaulted Fang Yuan's. Fang Yuan had little attainment in the Wisdom Path, and even if he did, there would not be much he could do against a Venerable's mental assault.
Wills were composed of thoughts, and so many methods of the Wisdom Path, in terms of attacking, involved influencing the enemies thoughts or causing them to be unable to think. Right now, Genesis Lotus's thoughts, tens of thousands of them, were bouncing around Fang Yuan's skull. Such a thing would only be possible with an Immortal Gu- though a Venerable would not lack them. On top of which, one of the 3 Venerables who had joined the Heavenly Court was Star Constellation Immortal Venerable, a Wisdom Path Venerable. No doubt he had no shortage of Wisdom Path methods.
In this state, Fang Yuan could do nothing. Moving required thoughts, and his head was too full of thoughts for him to add any more to them. He couldn't speak or even turn his head. If it wasn't for his subconscious taking over things like his breathing, they would've stopped as well.
Fang Yuan had not used any of the gu worms that Genesis Lotus had given him, but Genesis Lotus started activating them. First, the 50 Years Lifespan Gu, adding 50 years to Fang Yuan's lifespan. Next, the Rank 1 Human Potential Gu, increasing Fang Yuan's aptitude to 75%.
The second part of Genesis Lotus's attack was in the form of the small river that had appeared in the air. While the mental assault went on, the river snaked and coiled, passing through Fang Yuan's aperture.
While it did so, his aperture's rate of primeval essence generation exploded as it rapidly filled up and then emptied over and over.
"This is a time path method, as I'm sure you've already figured out," Genesis Lotus said. "It is a Painting Path method of mine that attempts to recreate the profundities of the Time Path. Without the River of Time, Fang Yuan, the world would be as still as a painting- so was said, and so I was told. Which only caused me to contemplate the reverse- if the river of time could be added onto a painting, could it move like a picture?" He repeated the motion he had done so earlier, creating a small river that entered the scenery of the lake that he had finished painting. Much like before, it was so simple and insignificant that Fang Yuan wouldn't have recognized it as an attack if he hadn't known how it worked beforehand. Whatever aura this move was supposed to leak out, it was completely undetectable- or possibly only detectable to those who had outstanding understanding of the Painting Path. Immediately, the painting that Genesis Lotus had made burst into life, as the flowers started moving along with a breeze that existed only in the world of the painting. The clouds started to move across the sky, and even animals began to wander in and out of the frame. Weirdly enough, although this painting was of a Blessed Land where there should be no day and night cycle, the sun began traveling across the sky as night fell and then day came again. It was as if Genesis Lotus had been able to transform this painting into its own little independent world.
At first, all it appeared that Genesis Lotus had done was animate the painting- as in, turning it into a video rather than something like a picture. Let alone someone from Earth, it wouldn't even impress someone in this world as you could get the same result by using Audio-Visual Gu. But there was clearly more to this technique than just that. It was as if someone could jump into the painting and the world contained within. "Ah, I was quite pleased with the results I was able to get," Genesis Lotus said. "But oh, it looks like I got a tad bit carried away, given you're far too busy dealing with whatever else is going on right now to appreciate the brilliance of my work."
Inside his aperture, Fang Yuan's primeval essence got to work nourishing its walls under the control of Genesis Lotus Immortal Venerable. With the increased rate of time that was affecting him as well as the boost to his aptitude, he quickly went from Rank 3 Initial Stage to Rank 3 Middle Stage. And then, to Rank 3 Upper Stage. Finally, to Rank 3 Peak Stage and afterwards his essence began to chip away at the crystal walls of his aperture.
Such a thing, which might've taken years under normal circumstances, went by in a flash.
At that moment, Paradise Earth's Will appeared before them. "Genesis Lotus- what are you doing? This is not part of our agreement- you are hurting Fang Yuan!"
Normally an advancement in aptitude would be a good thing... the problem in Fang Yuan's case was that the rate of time his entire body was experiencing was also affecting the Spring Autumn Cicada.
Its withered brown leaves began to regain a verdant green hue and its trunk turned into a light brown as it started to regain life.
Of course, as it did so, the pressure upon Fang Yuan's aperture increased. He could not contain the full power of a Rank 6 Immortal gu worm in a mortal aperture!
"Agreement?" Genesis Lotus asked, tapping his chin with the handle of his paintbrush thoughtfully. "Yes, you're right- I do think that we had something along the lines of not harming Fang Yuan. But tell me- what have I done to harm Fang Yuan? I am only trying to ensure that he increases his aptitude and advance in his cultivation. If anything, I'm greatly helping Fang Yuan."
The crystal walls in Fang Yuan's aperture broke, and a new light membrane appeared which began filling his aperture with golden primeval essence.
"You could do the same thing with Silver Steel Relic Gu, by doing this you're taking away his lifespan!" Paradise Earth said.
"And that's why I gave him a 50 Years lifespan Gu earlier, surely you can't say that I'm taking something away. If anything, he's gained net lifespan," Genesis Lotus said. "Though, I suppose that's enough and I'll stop helping him out then, if you're so insistent on it." He stopped the river of time's effect on Fang Yuan, though he kept up the mental assault.
It was too late though, the Spring Autumn Cicada's aura had reached a point where even with Fang Yuan's new Rank 4 aperture, it was going to burst forth and destroy him!
This was clearly a flaw in whatever arrangements Paradise Earth had made, though the only reason that Genesis Lotus was able to do so was specifically because of the Spring Autumn Cicada- such a thing would not harm anyone else in the world.
"Is this how the righteous path is supposed to act?" Paradise Earth asked. "Looking for gaps and loopholes to exploit?"
"Indeed, you've actually managed to see some of the point of the righteous path," Genesis Lotus said with a gleam in his eye.
"What is even the purpose of doing so?"
"To ensure that Fang Yuan stays upon Qing Mao mountain for what is to come. You and I both know that he must stay with his clan."
"We can do that in other ways!"
"I've seen what 'other ways' you have, and reject them," Genesis Lotus said. "I prefer a more direct approach. It's a pity - humans are the brightest of all living creatures, but I do suppose that you're only half-human, aren't you? Perhaps if you were one hundred percent human that mind of yours would've been able to see this scheme of mine from beforehand."
Fang Yuan had no choice but to activate the Spring Autumn Cicada at this moment, but Genesis Lotus's attack was ongoing, and he couldn't form a coherent thought on that matter.
His aperture really was going to burst!