Now that the Earth Spirit was dead, Fang Yuan couldn't see what was happening outside the hall. But he had his past-life memories, so he didn't need to look to get a general idea.
"Of the rank-fives still in this blessed land, only Xiao Mang and Demon Immortal Wu Tian are left. Right now, they're probably being stalled by the two Hound Kings. There are plenty of rank-four Gu Masters, but only one could fight his way here at this time. That's the young master of the Flame Lord Manor, Yan Jun. He inherited the ancient Void Path and specializes in dodging attacks. Getting past the Hound Beast Formation to get here isn't hard for him."
Fang Yuan's thoughts went exactly along these lines, and the facts proved him right.
Void Path had once been all the rage in ancient times. Its philosophy was to be free and easy, to avoid danger and be invincible. As long as you could dodge every attack, it was a form of "invincibility" in its own right.
In his past life memories, Void Path's Yan Jun had also made a big splash on Yi Tian Mountain. He challenged demonic Gu Masters and gave the demonic side a huge headache. It wasn't until Demon Immortal Wu Tian showed up that Yan Jun was heavily wounded and forced to retreat.
"This blessed land's defenses are weak! The central area is so important, and all they did was build a Bronze Hall. It can store things, but its defenses are thin — it's just a showpiece! If it were like the Fox Immortal Blessed Land, protected by the Soul-Searching Mountain, that would be a natural moat. Even a Gu Immortal would have a headache dealing with it. Even my old blessed land, the one I built with a sea of blood, was way better than this broken hall." Fang Yuan silently fumed. He walked over to Feng Tianyu and kicked him awake.
"Get the hell up!" Fang Yuan's voice was cold.
Feng Tianyu had worked hard and made great contributions. If he hadn't voluntarily taken most of the pressure, Fang Yuan never could have refined the Gu this far.
"Uh, M-Master..." He woke up, his eyes bloodshot, his hair a tangled mess, his face pale. He tremblingly bowed to Fang Yuan.
"Go out of the hall right now and block that rank-four Void Path Gu Master, even if it costs you your life." Fang Yuan gave the order coldly.
"Yes, this subordinate will do his best!" Feng Tianyu bit his lip and immediately accepted the order, withdrawing.
His true essence was almost completely drained. He didn't have the combat strength to work with, and as a Refinement Path Grandmaster, he wasn't good at direct combat. This was essentially a suicide mission.
But Fang Yuan still had to take the final step. He didn't have any other power on hand, so he had to throw him under the bus.
"The most important thing right now is the Second Aperture Gu. Sacrificing a Refinement Master isn't a big deal." Fang Yuan sat back down cross-legged and looked at the resplendent, changing light in the air.
At this point, the Second Aperture Gu was already mostly completed. It was between substance and void, form and formlessness. It couldn't be moved or touched, and it could only exist for three hours.
If he didn't finish the final refinements within three hours, the radiance would fade, and all previous efforts would be wasted.
"There's no turning back now. As long as I complete the final step, I'll obtain the Second Aperture Gu! But..."
Fang Yuan subconsciously touched his abdomen, his expression serious.
Inside the blessed land, time flowed three times faster than the outside world. The Spring Autumn Cicada was recovering very quickly, putting immense pressure on his aperture.
Even though Fang Yuan's aperture was now at the peak of rank four, it couldn't bear the load. Faint cracks were appearing on the surface of the aperture wall.
Next, he had to use two Third Watch Gu, stacking them. This would create a ninefold time flow.
Could his aperture withstand it?
Fang Yuan wasn't someone who took reckless risks. Before refining the Gu, he had carefully calculated.
The odds in this gamble were very favorable. As long as he got the Second Aperture Gu and left the blessed land in time, he could buy himself a few more months of breathing room.
By then, he naturally had a backup plan.
"Third Watch Gu, go." He calmed his mind, concentrated fully, and began the final stage.
Under the influence of the Third Watch Gu, the cluster of radiant clouds began to change faster. The light was dazzling, emitting an indescribably profound aura.
"The Wandering Soul Gu expands space, and the Third Watch Gu condenses time. This is the law of space and time in motion. No wonder it's a Gu path passed down from ancient times..."
Practice leads to true knowledge. Fang Yuan vaguely began to understand.
Time passed, and the effect of the first Third Watch Gu was nearing its end. The radiant clouds faintly solidified, showing signs of completion.
The sounds of battle outside grew louder, but neither Demon Immortal Wu Tian, Xiao Mang, nor Yan Jun had managed to break in.
"Good, now use the second Third Watch Gu..." Seeing that success was practically guaranteed, Fang Yuan couldn't help but feel his excitement growing.
But right then!
Bai Ning Bing sent a sound transmission: "Fang Yuan, be careful. Tie Ruo Nan broke through the defenses. She's coming for you!"
Fang Yuan's expression changed.
At this moment, he was completely focused. He couldn't move or draw back. How could he fight an enemy? Feng Tianyu had already been sent out. He was completely defenseless.
What should he do?
"Bai Ning Bing, what the hell are you doing? Get in here and protect me! I can't move! If I die, you'll die too under the Poison Oath Gu!" Fang Yuan furiously transmitted.
He was desperate. He had no choice but to pull Bai Ning Bing away.
Without Bai Ning Bing's command, the dog pack outside would inevitably be leaderless and fall into chaos. Before long, the assembled heroes would break in.
But Fang Yuan couldn't care about that anymore!
Right now, he was a fish on the chopping block, waiting to be carved up. He had no strength to fight back. Without someone to protect him, he would be easily killed by Tie Ruo Nan.
Fortunately, the Gu refinement was already in its final stage. He just needed the second Third Watch Gu.
Fang Yuan could only place his hopes on time.
If he could race against the clock and finish the refinement, relying on the many rank four and rank five movement Gu in his possession, he could break out of the encirclement and escape.
As for Bai Ning Bing?
Heh. She was just right for staying behind to block the enemy. Using her to the fullest. As for her fate, that wasn't something Fang Yuan had the leisure to consider right now.
Bang.
The doors of the main hall were slammed open.
Tie Ruo Nan stepped inside. She was stunned for a moment by the scene, then quickly reacted. Surprise and joy mingled on her face: "Little Wolf King, today is the day you die!"
Before she had even finished speaking, she charged forward. Raising her hand, countless golden needles shot out.
"Bai Ning Bing!" The stench of death was thick, rushing straight at him. Fang Yuan had to roar via sound transmission again.
Swish!