Elder Hua Yu was persuaded. Gritting his teeth, he asked: "Does Heavenly Court possess a method to transfer my blessed land?"
Qin Dingling smiled faintly: "Of course we do. Our Heavenly Court's reserves are far beyond what Eternal Life could ever match, let alone Fang Yuan. Trust me — pledging yourselves to Heavenly Court is absolutely the wisest choice you could make!"
Elder Hua Yu let out a long sigh: "This matter is far too weighty. Please forgive this old man for returning to my blessed land to convene a court assembly and discuss it with the other Gu Immortals."
"Then we shall wait here for our esteemed friend's good news." Qin Dingling was every bit as magnanimous as one would expect.
Elder Hua Yu returned to his blessed land, gathered all the immortals, and laid out the situation.
The assembled immortals were shaken. After three days and three nights of deliberation, they all resolved to follow Elder Hua Yu and defect to Heavenly Court.
Li Xiaobai, hiding among them, likewise declared his allegiance to Heavenly Court, though inwardly he was consumed with anxiety.
If Immortal Venerable Xing Su were to examine him, she would very likely discover the connection between Li Xiaobai and Fang Yuan's true body. But he was just one man, powerless to stand against the tide. Defecting to Heavenly Court had already become the consensus among the immortals.
Elder Hua Yu led the assembled immortals out through the blessed land's entrance and bowed in greeting to Qin Dingling and Jun Shenguang.
"Good, good, good." Qin Dingling accepted them with a smile. "All of you have forsaken the darkness for the light. This benefits not only your own futures, but also secures a bright tomorrow for your entire clan."
Elder Hua Yu spoke up: "Indeed — such a blessing should be shared with others. I humbly ask that Lord Qin Dingling and Lord Jun Shenguang lend me your aid. This old man is willing to take the risk of rescuing more fellow immortals from that demonic den known as the Alliance of Heaven and Earth's Great Love."
Qin Dingling and Jun Shenguang both laughed with unrestrained delight at these words.
With Elder Hua Yu serving as their guide, Liang Jingjing's example already set before them, and of course Qin Dingling's previously deployed Luck Path killer move to assist, the subsequent recruitment and defection work proceeded with the wind at their backs.
Several days later.
Nearly every human faction within the Two Heavens blessed lands had betrayed Fang Yuan and defected to Heavenly Court.
Truthfully, Qin Dingling had originally only intended to turn Elder Hua Yu. But after she actually set things in motion, she never expected the harvest to be so bountiful.
Unsurprisingly, this news could not possibly be kept under wraps. The moment it spread, it sent shockwaves through the entire Five Regions' Gu Immortal world.
"Heavenly Court really is still Heavenly Court!"
"Fang Yuan's taken another loss."
"Back in Western Desert, it was already Heavenly Court's victory that forced the Fang Family to sell off all their resource points and flee with their entire clan."
"Now Fang Yuan's forces in the Two Heavens have been almost completely uprooted by Heavenly Court."
"Granted, Fang Yuan is an Immortal Venerable, but his primary path is Refinement. Heavenly Court's Immortal Venerable Xing Su is a Wisdom Path specialist — her greatest forte is scheming and exploiting human nature."
"To be honest, I can fully understand why the Two Heavens factions defected to Heavenly Court. Fang Yuan never made any moves, simply letting Ghostly Concealment Demon Venerable invade and slaughter at will. That's not the behavior of an alliance leader who takes responsibility. And there are even rumors that Liang Jingjing offered up the Light Heaven Gu, Fang Yuan accepted it, yet still didn't lift a finger!"
The Gu Immortals buzzed with discussion.
Any action taken by an Immortal Venerable, no matter how small, was a major event in the Five Regions' Gu Immortal world, constantly drawing the attention of the entire realm.
Many began to speculate about what Fang Yuan would do next.
Would he retaliate? Personally set out to hunt down those blessed land forces that had betrayed him?
Or would he simply swallow this bitter pill?
"If it were me, I'd definitely make my move! Traitors must be punished severely. If they end up living better than before, what would that make the other members of the Alliance of Heaven and Earth's Great Love think?"
"They betrayed him just like that — they clearly don't take the title of Immortal Venerable Great Love seriously at all."
"Maybe they're just bullying Lord Fang Yuan because he's the newest Immortal Venerable."
"How could an Immortal Venerable's dignity tolerate such provocation?"
Before long, a wave of public opinion had been whipped up, becoming the dominant voice in Treasure Yellow Heaven.
"Heh." Wu Yong of the Southern Border sneered. He didn't need to guess — he knew full well that this was Eternal Life pulling strings behind the scenes.
If it could lead Refinement Demon Venerable and Immortal Venerable Xing Su into a direct clash, that would be immensely beneficial for Immortal Venerable Ju Yang.
"Fang Yuan won't make a move. I know him all too well." Wu Yong gazed toward the Eastern Sea and let out a long sigh.
If it were him, he would have let them die as well.
Once Fang Yuan intervened, he would have to fight Ghostly Concealment Demon Venerable, and for Fang Yuan that was clearly far more harm than good.
"Looking at the current standoff among the three Immortal Vurableables, Ju Yang Immortal Venerable is clearly a head above the rest, holding the greatest advantage. Both Xing Su and Ju Yang have massive base camps to defend. Fang Yuan has the thinnest foundation and the least Immortal Essence."
"In a situation like this, he should be even more cautious and measured. Acting rashly could easily allow his opponents to widen the gap."
"The rumors are probably true — Fang Yuan accepted the Light Heaven Gu but never moved to help. Just looking at that alone, I am not his equal."
Wu Yong compared himself to Fang Yuan, then reflected inwardly, feeling that in terms of shamelessness, he still had much to learn from Fang Yuan.
What did face and reputation amount to?
They were merely one factor among many that served survival and victory.
If face and reputation hindered survival and victory, then cast them aside without hesitation.
When it was time to be shameless, one must be shameless decisively!
"The time has come."
"It's time to join the Alliance of Heaven and Earth's Great Love."
Wu Yong's eyes glinted with sharp brilliance.