As Cold Iron Blood met his end, with the will of "rather being a shattered jade than a whole tile," all the Gu worms in his body self-detonated on the spot.
In an instant, the mask on his face suddenly flew up, shooting straight toward the distant Tie Ruo Nan; in the next moment, the mask transformed into a giant hand, grabbing Tie Ruo Nan and whisking her away into the distance.
Yuan Fang ultimately failed to eliminate the threat of Tie Ruo Nan in advance.
Perhaps this was Heaven's will. He extracted the Gu through blood, taking all of the Gu Yue First Generation's Gu worms, refining those below Rank Five in an instant, and even finding a Rank Four Soul Search Gu.
Afterward, Yuan Fang plucked the heavenly origin treasure lotus, causing the origin spring to be ruined on the spot, no longer able to produce primeval stones.
Through the Soul Search Gu, Yuan Fang gained insight into all the secrets of the Gu Yue First Generation; the Blood Path Gu recipes and the secrets of the Central Continent's Immortal Crane Sect were all learned by him, a bountiful harvest.
"Hahaha, with these, my Blood Path Realm might even be able to take another step forward!"
Fang Yuan laughed loudly, while Yuan Fang immediately recorded everything he had gained into the bookworm.
"Fang Yuan! Look, someone's there!"
Bai Ning Bing suddenly pointed into the distance.
"What? Could it be that Heavenly Crane Venerable has returned? No matter, Bai Ning Bing, you will self-detonate in a moment, and I will use this Gu to save you."
As Fang Yuan spoke, he showed Bai Ning Bing two Gu—one white and one black—the white one was the White Armored Yang Gu, and the black one was the Black Armor Yin Gu. One Yin and one Yang, they were precisely the Yin Yang Rebirth Gu.
"It's not that white-bearded old man, Heavenly Crane Venerable... it's... it looks like a group of people?"
Bai Ning Bing pointed her finger, and Fang Yuan looked in that direction, only to see a handsome and elegant man holding a severed head, with several Gu Masters following behind him.
Fang Yuan looked closely; that head had a long white beard—it was indeed Heavenly Crane Venerable. And the person holding the head was none other than the Shang Clan Chief, Shang Yan Fei.
Behind Shang Yan Fei, capable subordinates like Wei Yang, Shang Bu Li, and Yan Tu were also present.
"Shang Yan Fei actually came as well, and even killed the fleeing Heavenly Crane Venerable! How is this possible!"
Yuan Fang was pale with shock and immediately ordered Bai Ning Bing to self-detonate. Bai Ning Bing gave Yuan Fang a deep look, lent him all her Gu worms, and then triggered the self-detonation!
In an instant, Qing Mao Mountain, which spanned hundreds of miles across the Southern Border, was transformed into a frozen dead zone.
The power of the Ten Extremes Physique's self-detonation was indeed world-shaking, but Yuan Fang never expected that Shang Yan Fei and the others seemed to have been prepared, even using Gu Immortal methods to block it effortlessly.
"Fang Yuan! Hurry and use the Yin Gu!" Bai Ning Bing urged anxiously.
"Black Armor Yin Gu."
Fang Yuan threw the Yin Gu out, and Bai Ning Bing instantly transformed into a female form.
She stood in the wind and snow, her silver hair falling like crushed moonlight, every strand tinged with ice shards, yet it did not diminish her striking beauty in the least.
Her snowy skin was white to the point of being nearly transparent, which only served to highlight a pair of ice-blue eyes as cold as poisoned ice crystals; wherever her gaze swept, the air seemed to freeze into blades.
Her plain white robes fluttered, and a faint smile played at the corners of her lips—a smile devoid of any warmth, containing only contempt and disregard for life—like crushing an eyesore of an ant, not even worth the effort of her fingertips.
"As expected, it solved my Ten Extremes limit..."
She raised her eyes to look at the surging clouds in the sky, her blue eyes swirling with a haughty arrogance that looked down on the world, as if all living beings were but dust, and only she stood at the Peak.
"Wait... my voice... wait... my chest..."
"Aaaaaah!"
With a startled cry, Bai Ning Bing stood dazed on the spot. Dammit, Yuan Fang hadn't mentioned that this would change his or her sex!
"Fang Yuan! You f***ing tricked me!"
"This is the Yang Gu; it can return you to being male. Do you want it?"
"Fang Yuan! Just what do you want before you'll give me the Yang Gu!"
"I don't know, we'll see in the future."
"Holy shit! Are you even speaking human? I... I've f***ing changed sex! How am I supposed to feel about this, and these two goddamn lumps of flesh!"
Bai Ning Bing rubbed her chest with a look of utter disgust.
"So what?"
"You..." Bai Ning Bing's teeth were gritted.
"Don't try to take it by force. The Gu worm has already been refined by me; it only takes a single thought to make it self-destruct."
"Fang Yuan! You!" Bai Ning Bing was getting desperate.
"Hmph! Now that you've boarded my 'thief's boat,' don't think you can just leave. Help me break through this encirclement, and I might consider the matter of the Yang Gu." Yuan Fang began to make empty promises.
In truth, Yuan Fang was originally unwilling to waste this Yin Gu on Bai Ning Bing—he had the Killer Move "Human Flyer," composed of the Bone Wing Gu, direct impact gu, Arm Bone Wing Gu, and Fierce Wind Gu, and believed it was impossible for him to die in Bai Ning Bing's self-detonation. Bai Ning Bing couldn't have kept him there at all.
But the appearance of Shang Yan Fei forced Yuan Fang to save Bai Ning Bing. Relying on himself alone, it would be extremely difficult to escape Qing Mao Mountain.
After Bai Ning Bing was resurrected, Fang Yuan not only returned all her Gu worms, but also lent her the heavenly origin treasure lotus, fearing that she now only had A-grade aptitude and insufficient primeval essence.
(Using the Yin Yang Rebirth Gu causes Aptitude to drop by ten percent.)
Once the handover was complete, Yuan Fang returned control of the body to Fang Yuan. Bai Ning Bing was momentarily stunned, feeling as though the current Fang Yuan had become a different person:
Previously, his expression was vivid, but now it was as if he had facial paralysis, leaving only a void of indifference.
(Rank Nine Facial Paralysis Gu—Refined)
As Shang Yan Fei and the others drew closer, Fang Yuan immediately picked up Bai Ning Bing, the bone wings on his back unfurled, and he activated the Killer Move "Human Flyer."
The flight speed of this move was extremely fast, approaching the level of a Rank Five flying Gu; it looked as though the two were about to soar over the heads of Shang Yan Fei and the others.
"Blood Handprint Gu!"
With a low shout, Shang Yan Fei instantly activated a Gu worm. A giant blood-colored hand crashed down from the sky, swatting the two of them like mosquitoes and slamming them hard into the ground.
With a flash of blood-light, Shang Yan Fei's figure suddenly vanished, and in the next instant, he teleported in front of the two.
Shang Yan Fei and the others were already before them. With a wave of his hand, countless blood swords tore through the air—this was the Rank Five Blood Sword Gu.
Bai Ning Bing immediately activated the Killer Move Ice Blade Storm. A water-blue tornado suddenly swirled up, and her form transformed into a Frost Demon as she met Shang Yan Fei's group, her voice cold but resolute:
"Fang Yuan, live on for me and witness the myriad wonders of this world!"
Fang Yuan felt no shame whatsoever as he once again activated the "Human Flyer" Killer Move, unfurling his bone wings and soaring into the high sky.
Seeing this, Wei Yang immediately activated the Light Evasion Gu and Blade Light Gu, his body turning into a stream of light as his blade light slashed directly at Fang Yuan.
"Thunder Shield Gu."
With a slight thought from Fang Yuan, electric light suddenly appeared around him, forcefully blocking the blade light. He countered with a Bone Dragon, blasting Wei Yang away.
"As expected of the 'White Light Swordsman' Wei Yang. To think he didn't die after taking a hit from me with only Rank Three cultivation."
Fang Yuan thought to himself, only to see a strange-looking person suddenly blocking his path—the man had a half-red and half-blue face. It was Shang Bu Li, who had reached Rank Four Peak by cultivating both the Water and Fire paths.
"Even you think you're worthy of blocking my path? direct impact gu!"
Fang Yuan charged out, his body like a speeding heavy truck, slamming into Shang Bu Li and sending him flying. At that moment, Shang Bu Li felt as if he were seeing his great-grandmother.
Just then, a scream from Bai Ning Bing came from behind.
Fang Yuan looked back and saw that a blood sword had already pierced through her body. Seeing Bai Ning Bing on the verge of death, he immediately threw out the White Armored Yang Gu, and Bai Ning Bing transformed from female to male, resurrecting once more.
"No! Fang Yuan! What the f*** did you do! You actually gave the Yang Gu back? Aren't you afraid Bai Ning Bing will turn on you!"
Yuan Fang's startled shout came, and Fang Yuan's pupils constricted. Awakened by those words, he suddenly realized his mistake.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Shang Yan Fei held a Rank Five Wisdom Path Gu worm in his palm—the Goodwill Gu.
He activated this Gu, combining it with other Gu worms to form a Killer Move, invading Fang Yuan's mind with his own "goodwill," causing Fang Yuan to mistake this external goodwill for his own true intent, thereby muddling his thoughts.
This was similar to Mo Yao's fake will.
"Damn it! I was actually plotted against by that fellow Bai Ning Bing! She had already colluded with Shang Yan Fei!"
Fang Yuan gritted his teeth. With Bai Ning Bing's battle talent, even without the Ten Extremes Aptitude, she would definitely not be killed so easily.
Fang Yuan raised his hand and knocked away the blocking Wei Yang, Yan Tu, and the others, turning to flee for his life.
"Hmph! Still want to escape? Blood Lock Gu!"
Shang Yan Fei laughed loudly. Fang Yuan felt his heart sink as countless blood-colored iron chains suddenly surged from his sides, coiling like venomous snakes and instantly binding him tightly.
"How is this possible! Shang Yan Fei, when did you plant this Blood Lock Gu in my body?"
"Hehe, how is that hard? Bai Ning Bing and I have long since joined forces. Speaking of which, I was only able to find this place thanks to your 'good companion' Bai Ning Bing!"
"What? Bai Ning Bing, you were acting from the very beginning!"
"It's nothing. Fang Yuan, you and I are the same kind of people, but if it were me, I would never have done as well as you. I must say, you are a terrifying enemy."
"You should know that I never like having my fate controlled by others."
Bai Ning Bing's lips curled into a slight smile, cold light flickering in her blue eyes, but Fang Yuan also curled his lips—he still had the spring autumn cicada!
With a thought, the aura of the spring autumn cicada suddenly leaked out, and the Blood Lock Gu bound to his body was instantly refined and automatically released.
"This Blood Lock Gu ultimately cannot compare to the Tie Family's Demon Suppressing Iron Lock Gu! Shang Yan Fei, Bai Ning Bing, I'm off!"
Fang Yuan leaped to fly, but just as he rose a few feet, his body suddenly froze in mid-air, his wings no longer able to flap.
"This... how is this possible!" Fang Yuan's eyes were full of shock.
"Hahaha, Fang Yuan, your flight speed is so fast that it even made me a bit afraid. That's why I already used a Gu to seal your Bone Wing Gu!"
A look of triumph at his successful scheme appeared on Shang Yan Fei's face.
"No matter... without the Bone Wing Gu, I still have the Footless Bird!"
Before his voice had even faded, a massive white figure suddenly dove down, grabbing Fang Yuan and soaring straight into the sky at an incredible speed.
Bai Ning Bing, Shang Yan Fei, and the others were all dumbfounded at the sight.
The Footless Bone Bird, soaring high!
"It's the Footless Bird! The Footless Bird travels ten thousand miles a day, how can we catch up!" Wei Yang was dazed.
"Damn it! He actually escaped!" Yan Tu gritted his teeth. Seeing this, Bai Ning Bing smiled:
"It really is getting more and more exciting. Fang Yuan, you truly haven't disappointed me."
"Hmph! It's just a lowly Rank Three Gu!"
Shang Yan Fei roared, finally revealing his trump card:
"Blood Handprint Gu, Blood Droplets, Blood Shadow Gu, Blood Flood Dragon Strength Gu..."
As he spoke, he pulled a Gu worm and a bead of green grape immortal essence from his robes.
"Holy shit! This... this is an immortal gu! This is green grape immortal essence! Could it be that Lady Shang Qing Qing gave them to you in advance?"
Shang Bu Li was both shocked and delighted, his voice trembling.
"Immortal Path Killer Move—Blocking the Sky with One Hand!"
Boom!
Fang Yuan crashed heavily to the ground. This "Blocking the Sky with One Hand" was not an offensive method, but it could firmly pin down an opponent; if not for this, Fang Yuan would have already lost his life.
"Fang Yuan! Hand over the blood sea true inheritance obediently, and I will spare your life!" Shang Yan Fei shouted sternly.
"As long as you surrender, Lord Shang Yan Fei might spare your life; you can spend the rest of your days peacefully in a dungeon."
"Fang Yuan! You murdered the ancestor, today I shall enforce justice on behalf of Heaven!"
"Fang Yuan, you have committed too many injustices and will surely bring about your own destruction. Today the situation is decided, surrender quickly!"
Surrounded by enemies, an inescapable net had already been laid. Fang Yuan sighed softly, knowing the situation was settled; he was likely doomed to die today.
Exhausted of all schemes, trump cards spent, the situation decided—today he would surely die! Fang Yuan was covered in blood, looking terrifying, yet his expression was extremely calm:
"Green mountains and setting sun, autumn moon and spring breeze; truly, in the morning one has silken black hair, by evening it has turned to snow. Success or failure, right or wrong, all is empty once you turn your head."
(In fact, it was already early morning; they had been fighting since the night before.)
"If this spring autumn cicada is still effective, in the next life, I shall still be a demon."
Even in death, the demonic heart does not regret!