The River of Time flowed onward with its unstoppable might, beyond the will of men.
As time passed, the day of Hei Lou Lan's immortal ascension finally arrived.
Fang Yuan and Tai Bai Yun Sheng used Fixed Immortal Travel to appear at the location Hei Lou Lan had chosen.
According to the Snowy Mountain Alliance, all members were obligated to aid one another in times of danger. Thus, both Fang Yuan and Tai Bai Yun Sheng were required to protect Hei Lou Lan during her immortal ascension.
The location Hei Lou Lan had chosen was a barren icy plain, exactly as it had been in Fang Yuan's memories. Fairy Li Shan and Hei Lou Lan had arrived long ago and were merely waiting for Fang Yuan and Tai Bai Yun Sheng.
Fang Yuan revealed an ugly smile toward Fairy Li Shan and Hei Lou Lan before speaking.
"Northern Ice Plain… The amount of heaven and earth qi in this region is far lower than in other places…"
Hei Lou Lan did not conceal the reason.
"I possess one of the Ten Extreme Physiques, and the difficulty of my immortal ascension is more than ten times greater than that of ordinary Gu Masters. Other Gu Masters may hope for stronger tribulations and calamities because they represent greater future potential, but for me, the weaker the tribulations are, the better."
She explained why she had chosen Northern Ice Plain.
"Little Lan is clever. Northern Ice Plain is an excellent place for her immortal ascension. We can first test the strength of the earthly calamity and heavenly tribulation of one of the Ten Extreme Physiques. If they prove manageable, we can increase their strength using this Gu."
Fairy Li Shan revealed a Gu worm to Fang Yuan and Tai Bai Yun Sheng.
Fang Yuan pretended to be surprised.
"A Qi Path Gu worm?… Rank five Lesser Family Qi Gu? It is said that Lesser Family Qi Gu can absorb all kinds of heaven and earth qi and store them. Furthermore, when rank five Lesser Family Qi Gu advances into an Immortal Gu, it becomes Greater Family Qi Gu."
Fairy Li Shan had been about to explain, but she was astonished by Fang Yuan's vast knowledge.
"Fang Yuan, you truly are well-informed. Not bad, not bad at all."
Tai Bai Yun Sheng's eyes lit up upon hearing this.
"What an incredible Gu worm! Heavenly tribulations and earthly calamities are formed from dense heaven and earth qi. If we can use this Gu worm to store or release heaven and earth qi during earthly calamities and heavenly tribulations, then we can control their strength!"
"The immortal ascension of one of the Ten Extreme Physiques comes with terrifying heavenly tribulations and earthly calamities. Honestly, if it weren't for Lesser Family Qi Gu, I wouldn't have been completely confident in Little Lan's immortal ascension. Fortunately, the only thing we need to worry about is helping Little Lan withstand the heavenly tribulation and earthly calamity. We don't need to concern ourselves with that old bastard Hei Cheng or Xue Song Zi anymore… I suppose I should thank you, Fang Yuan."
Fairy Li Shan's tone was completely sincere. She genuinely wished to thank Fang Yuan.
Had Fang Yuan not seriously injured Hei Cheng and Xue Song Zi, there would have been many more dangers to worry about. Because of him, both Hei Cheng and Xue Song Zi had suffered severe injuries and would need time to recover. The latter, especially, had been wounded by an immortal killer move and would have to spend a great amount of time and wealth healing himself.
"Fairy, consider it a favor. If you truly wish to thank me, you can repay it in the future."
Fang Yuan did not hesitate to take advantage of the situation, feeling no shame whatsoever.
If Fairy Li Shan wished to owe him a favor, why shouldn't he accept it?
Fairy Li Shan smiled. She already understood Fang Yuan's personality, so she did not hesitate.
"I will do my best to repay it. If Little Lan succeeds in her immortal ascension, I will investigate Qin Bai Sheng and Ma Hong Yun more thoroughly."
Tai Bai Yun Sheng's eyes gleamed with delight, while Fang Yuan merely nodded expressionlessly before directing his attention toward his immortal aperture.
Inside his Time Path immortal aperture stood a will identical to Fang Yuan himself. However, this will was illusory and weak, as though it could collapse at any moment. Surrounding it was an immortal Gu formation that continuously supplied the will with the minimum amount of thoughts necessary to maintain its existence, while also ensuring that anything transferred into the immortal aperture would immediately enter the formation.
This was the result of Fang Yuan's research into transforming Reckless Savage's true meaning.
Although the formation remained inactive for the moment, once activated, Fang Yuan would have to expend an enormous amount of thoughts to maintain complete control over it.
Fang Yuan returned his attention to reality before looking toward Hei Lou Lan, who walked some distance away before stopping.
"Since that old bastard Hei Cheng is unable to come, the danger of my immortal ascension has been cut in half…"
Hei Lou Lan looked toward the three figures standing some distance away.
Fang Yuan gestured toward her.
"I understand. You may begin now."
Hei Lou Lan nodded and closed her eyes.
The first step toward advancing to a Gu Immortal was shattering the aperture.
The immortal apertures of the Ten Extreme Physiques differed from those of ordinary Gu Masters. The latter required a continuous surge of primeval essence to shatter, whereas the apertures of the Ten Extreme Physiques were already strained by their completely filled primeval seas and would break from even the slightest push.
Hei Lou Lan released the seal upon her aperture.
The aperture of the Ten Extreme Physique shattered the instant the seal was lifted.
A vortex immediately formed at the center of her body, drawing in heaven and earth qi.
The deep blue sky began gathering tribulation clouds. As the icy plain trembled, cracks spread across the thick layer of ice. The rumbling of heaven echoed through Fang Yuan's ears, signaling the formation of the earthly calamity and heavenly tribulation.
Hei Lou Lan relaxed her body, allowing the invisible force of heaven to lift her into the air. Her skin was pale as snow, while her long black hair flowed behind her. She wore tight black clothing that accentuated the sharp and graceful curves of her figure.
The winds began to blow, and within a few dozen breaths, the gentle breeze had transformed into a violent storm.
The clouds merged together, covering the sky and horizon above Hei Lou Lan. From the cracked surface of the frozen ground, smoke began rising, a sign that earth qi was being drawn from beneath Northern Ice Plain.
Soon, snow began to fall, and the gray clouds turned completely black. The entire surrounding region was swallowed by darkness.
Icy winds carrying bone-freezing frost swept across the land. At the same time, the earth burst apart with deafening explosions as torrents of earth qi surged upward like fountains.
Tai Bai Yun Sheng and Fairy Li Shan retreated far away from Hei Lou Lan, concealing themselves.
"As expected, the tribulations of the Ten Extreme Physiques are extraordinarily powerful… The heaven and earth qi here is already extremely sparse, yet the tribulation clouds are still so dense. Had this taken place anywhere else in Northern Plains, it would simply have been unimaginable."
Tai Bai Yun Sheng hid himself in the distance. Witnessing this scene left his heart deeply shaken.
Fang Yuan remained where he stood, silently gazing at the heavens with an inscrutable expression. His towering body resembled an uncarved stone statue. Neither the violent winds nor the falling snow could move him in the slightest.
Fang Yuan was a Strength Path Gu Immortal with a body so powerful it bordered on the impossible, unlike Tai Bai Yun Sheng and Fairy Li Shan, whose bodies were comparatively frail.
Thus, he did not move at all. The snowstorm and the freezing winds meant nothing to him.
He merely waited for the heavenly tribulation and earthly calamity to descend, ready to repel them.