Chapter 175: Retreat
Twelfth Hair and Thirteenth Hair stood beside Qin Bai Sheng.
The two hairy man Gu Immortals who had been left to guard Refinement Cauldron's core now bowed toward the enemy.
Inside Heavenly Giant Solor, the hairy man Gu Immortals fell into chaos.
"Twelfth Hair! Thirteenth Hair!"
"How could you betray us?"
"This has to be fake. It must be an illusion!"
Their thoughts shook, and the silver giant's movements became sluggish. Heavenly Giant Solor was already difficult for them to control. Now, with their minds shaken by betrayal, the formation's rhythm almost broke apart.
Lang Ya land spirit's face darkened.
"Kill them!" he roared. "Kill those two traitors! Refinement Cauldron still has my will. It has not stopped working. Lang Ya blessed land is at the edge of life and death. If you do not fight now, when will you fight?"
His anger struck through the formation like thunder.
The hairy man Gu Immortals trembled, but they slowly stabilized.
No matter how sheltered they were, they understood one thing clearly.
There was no retreat.
The silver giant moved again.
Dark Prison flew over like a black meteor, trying to block its path. The silver giant raised its arms and struck back. Silver light flashed, and the two massive bodies collided repeatedly in the air.
At first, Heavenly Giant Solor was still clumsy.
There were too many Gu Immortals inside it, but only a few could truly fight. Fang Ming, Fang Yuan, Mo Tan Sang, and Lang Ya land spirit carried most of the battle decisions, while the hairy man Gu Immortals provided immortal essence, soul foundation, and formation support.
The formation was powerful, but power alone was not enough.
It needed practice.
It needed assigned roles.
It needed a commander.
Fang Ming felt this more clearly than anyone. Heavenly Giant Solor was not weak, but the users inside it were not familiar with each other. Their timing was poor. Their thoughts crossed awkwardly. Several times, the silver giant had an opening but failed to use it because the formation's response was too slow.
This was another important lesson.
A battle formation could not reach its peak just because it was assembled.
Even if the structure was excellent, the people inside had to be trained. They needed repeated drills, fixed responsibilities, and enough experience to move as one body. Fang Ming could solve this better than most because he controlled clones, eagles, formations, and subordinates often, but even for him, a formation like this would still require preparation.
The fight continued.
With every clash, Heavenly Giant Solor became smoother.
The silver giant's arms no longer moved as separately as before. Its steps became steadier. Its attacks began linking together. Twice, it found openings and sent Dark Prison flying.
Hei Cheng's face twisted inside the Immortal Gu House.
Dark Prison had already suffered heavy damage, but he could not stop. Qin Bai Sheng was still taking Refinement Cauldron's Gu worms. Hui Feng Zi and He Lang Zi also joined from the side, helping to delay the silver giant. Twelfth Hair and Thirteenth Hair moved around Heavenly Giant Solor like flies, disturbing the formation from time to time.
The battlefield became chaotic.
Dark Prison rammed from the front.
Hui Feng Zi used his speed to interfere from the side.
He Lang Zi transformed and attacked whenever he saw a gap.
The two hairy man spies continued harassing the formation.
All of them were buying time for Qin Bai Sheng.
But Heavenly Giant Solor was also growing more familiar with itself.
The silver giant took a heavy step forward, broke through Dark Prison's obstruction, and rushed toward Qin Bai Sheng.
Qin Bai Sheng was pulling Gu worms from the broken sky. His expression changed slightly, and he was forced to stop. He dodged aside, avoiding the giant's attack.
Lang Ya land spirit shouted excitedly, "Again!"
The silver giant pressed forward.
Qin Bai Sheng's collection was interrupted a second time.
Then a third.
Although Heavenly Giant Solor could not fully suppress him, it was already threatening his objective. Qin Bai Sheng could no longer take Refinement Cauldron's Gu worms calmly.
Inside the formation, Fang Yuan's eyes suddenly flashed.
He had kept a low profile for some time.
Now, he bared his fangs.
Immortal killer move — Myriad Self Giant Hand.
Four arms of the silver giant rose at once.
The strength path giant hands formed through Heavenly Giant Solor were far larger and heavier than usual. Their shadows covered the battlefield as they slammed down fiercely.
Boom boom boom boom!
The air burst.
Hui Feng Zi's expression changed drastically, and he used wind escape without hesitation. His speed was worthy of his reputation; he barely escaped before the giant hand landed.
He Lang Zi transformed into a giant wolf and retreated quickly, but one strength path giant hand grazed him. The flesh and bones on the touched part of his body were crushed into paste, forcing him to howl in pain.
Hei Cheng hesitated for an instant.
That instant was enough.
Two strength path giant hands clapped together from both sides.
Dark Prison was caught between them.
Rumble!
The two giant hands shattered after the strike, but Dark Prison was also sent flying like a broken black star.
Its surface had changed.
The once-round Immortal Gu House was squeezed from both sides, and a huge crack split across its body. Thick smoke poured from the crack, sparks flashing within the black fumes.
The hairy man Gu Immortals cheered.
Even Mo Tan Sang was shocked by the power.
Fang Ming watched carefully.
Strength path giant hand had become far stronger after passing through Heavenly Giant Solor. The ancient battle formation amplified the killer move's body, output, and range, turning one Gu Immortal's attack into a strike delivered by a giant combat entity.
This confirmed once more that Heavenly Giant Solor was not merely combining immortal essence. It could take a user's method and enlarge it into something much more terrifying.
But Dark Prison did not collapse.
It was badly damaged, but it was still an Immortal Gu House. As long as its core Immortal Gu remained and the Gu structure did not fully break, it could continue functioning. The exterior could crack, smoke, and deform, but that did not mean it was destroyed.
Fang Ming recorded this too.
Against an Immortal Gu House, breaking the shell was not enough.
One had to attack the Gu structure.
Lang Ya land spirit was overjoyed at first, but his gaze quickly shifted toward Fang Yuan.
That strike had been too powerful.
For a moment, suspicion flashed in his eyes.
Fang Yuan's face immediately turned pale. Sweat covered his forehead, his body trembled, and his aura weakened sharply. He looked as if the amplified killer move had caused a severe backlash.
Lang Ya land spirit stared for a breath.
Then his suspicion faded.
"Hmph, at least you were useful," he muttered.
Fang Yuan lowered his head slightly, hiding his expression.
Fang Ming saw this from the side but did not comment.
Qin Bai Sheng had already moved away from his original position. One of the giant hands had forced him to interrupt the collection again. His aura was no longer as overwhelming as before. His old injuries and the pressure from Heavenly Giant Solor had accumulated.
For the first time, his expression became truly grave.
Then his gaze shifted.
A message had arrived.
Luo Po Valley was under attack.
The Immortal Gu being nurtured there was almost complete. That Gu was crucial to Shadow Sect's larger arrangement. Compared to taking the remaining parts of Refinement Cauldron, protecting Luo Po Valley had become the higher priority.
Qin Bai Sheng's eyes turned cold.
"I will stop here today," he said. "Next time, it will not end like this."
Lang Ya land spirit roared and urged Heavenly Giant Solor to chase, but Qin Bai Sheng's side had already prepared their retreat.
Fairy Jiang Yu, the black-robed Gu Immortal, Hui Feng Zi, He Lang Zi, Hei Cheng, and the two hairy man spies gathered quickly. Space tore open around them.
Before leaving, Qin Bai Sheng glanced back at Lang Ya blessed land.
They had not taken all of Refinement Cauldron.
But they had taken half.
And one mole still remained hidden inside Lang Ya blessed land.
The next moment, Shadow Sect's group vanished through the spatial tear.
Lang Ya land spirit could not leave the blessed land. He could only watch them escape, his face twisted with fury.
"Damn it!"
The silver giant stood in the sky for a few more breaths before the silver light gradually scattered.
Heavenly Giant Solor dissolved.
Fang Ming, Fang Yuan, Mo Tan Sang, Lang Ya land spirit, and the hairy man Gu Immortals reappeared above the damaged cloud layer.
Below them, the true Lang Ya blessed land was still shaking.
The seas had not calmed. Several regions had collapsed. Hairy man cities were in panic. The loss of half of Refinement Cauldron had torn away a part of the blessed land's foundation.
Lang Ya land spirit's expression was ugly.
After a long silence, he said, "We move."
Fang Yuan's eyes changed slightly. "Move?"
Lang Ya land spirit snorted. "You think Long Hair Ancestor's foundation is that simple? Lang Ya blessed land can relocate. But the price is not small. Heaven and earth qi will be disturbed, the loss will be heavy, and many arrangements must be remade."
He looked at the broken sky and the damaged land below.
"But staying here is worse."
No one refuted him.
Shadow Sect had already found this location. Refinement Cauldron was damaged. There was still at least one mole hidden inside. If Lang Ya blessed land stayed here, the next attack would only be worse.
Lang Ya land spirit turned around.
"This time, we repelled the enemy. You all contributed."
His gaze first landed on Fang Yuan.
"You performed well."
Then it shifted to Fang Ming.
"You too. Earlier, you killed an enemy Gu Immortal, and during Heavenly Giant Solor, your methods were stable. You did not waste immortal essence like these fools."
The hairy man Gu Immortals lowered their heads again.
Mo Tan Sang cupped his fists. "Lord land spirit, Inkman City will remember this battle."
Lang Ya land spirit waved his hand. "Enough. Contributions deserve rewards. I am not that stingy old fellow. If you work for me, I will naturally pay you."
Fang Yuan's eyes moved.
Mo Tan Sang also became attentive.
Fang Ming, however, did not speak immediately.
Lang Ya land spirit looked at him. "What do you want?"
Fang Ming smiled faintly.
"I have not decided yet. Keep the account for now. I will return for it later."
Lang Ya land spirit frowned. "You do not want a reward now?"
"Not now."
Fang Ming's tone was calm.
He had already used his current copy chances during Heavenly Giant Solor. Asking for a reward now would not bring the greatest value. Formation inheritance was not necessary either. He was already a formation path grandmaster. Smaller formation structures could be replicated or improved by himself with enough observation and time.
What he wanted from Lang Ya was not a random reward.
He wanted the right Gu.
The right method.
The right chance to copy what he needed.
Waiting for the cooldown to reset was better than asking blindly.
Lang Ya land spirit stared at him for a moment before nodding.
"Fine. I will keep the account."
Then his expression became pleased.
"This time, I am satisfied. Especially Fang Yuan, and you, Fang Ming. Without proper grass, no horse would move. Even a dog needs a bone to be enthusiastic. If I want you to keep working for me, I naturally have to feed you properly—"
He suddenly stopped.
His face stiffened.
"Damn it. Why did I say my thoughts out loud again?"
Fang Yuan's expression remained calm.
Mo Tan Sang coughed lightly.
Fang Ming smiled this new Lang Ya land spirit was rather adorable.