The sky of the world was dyed black, and the droning cries of cicadas flooded Mount Shu Jian. Outside Yan Zu Village, the atmosphere was lively—tents had been set up everywhere, and a large market had opened, attracting great numbers of mortals and Gu Masters alike. Deep within the mountain, a Gu Master emanating an oppressive aura was locked in battle with a bird the size of a horse.
Inside one of the rooms within the walls of Yan Zu Clan Village, Fang Tian sat cross-legged on his bed, pouring his scarlet red primeval essence into Horse Strength Gu. Horse Strength Gu emitted a green light that surged outward, spreading through Fang Tian's entire body from within.
If one were to look at him, they would see a green glow radiating faintly from his skin and muscles. A tingling numbness overtook him, accompanied by an unbearable itch; he could barely restrain himself from scratching. His body began to change in ways too subtle to perceive, yet he clearly sensed that his strength was slowly increasing.
Before long, the itch and numbness turned into mild pain, which then escalated into something akin to blades slicing through his flesh. Unable to endure it any longer, Fang Tian stopped channeling his primeval essence into Horse Strength Gu and opened his eyes.
Cold sweat soaked his body completely, even dampening his hair so that his green strands fell over his brown eyes. The sight made him appear striking and attractive, but Fang Tian paid it no mind.
He had been preparing since noon to sneak out and gather information. Now that night had fallen, he could move under cover of darkness to carry out his objective. Rising from his bed, he donned the Yan Zu Clan Gu Master robes, stepped out of his room, and locked the door behind him.
Within his aperture, his primeval essence once again surged into Shadow Slip Gu. After consuming ten percent of his primeval essence, Shadow Slip Gu trembled.
Fang Tian adhered to the wall's shadow and immediately felt that he could literally slip within the shadows without making a sound—and at remarkable speed as well. Perhaps he could cover twenty meters per second, or something close to that.
Thus, he slipped through the shadows, silent and swift. Wherever he passed, faint currents of wind trailed after him. Shadow Slip Gu was weak during the day but powerful at night; in fact, at night it surpassed most Rank Two Gu worms.
Fang Tian did not fear exhausting his primeval essence. His recovery speed was extremely fast, and with Heavenly Essence Treasure Lotus, he could keep two Rank Two Gu worms activated at all times without worry. He then infused his primeval essence into Air Vibration Gu, and immediately, he could hear every sound within a twenty-meter radius.
He heard mortals eating dinner inside their homes, the distant footsteps of Gu Masters patrolling the area, and even violent tremors coming from beneath the earth. Especially the last—it sounded less like a natural phenomenon and more like the vibrations of battle.
A sudden tremor shook the ground beneath him, causing Fang Tian to stumble forward. He barely managed to brace himself with his hands and regain his balance.
"What was that just now? It sounded like battle beneath the ground—violent tremors. But perhaps it was only the prelude to a minor earthquake."
He rose and continued spying on Yan Zu Clan. Several times, he passed close to Rank Two Gu Masters and discovered something astonishing—none of them could perceive him, even at close range.
Fang Tian had assumed he might be exposed due to the aura of his Gu worm, but his concern proved unfounded. Because of this, he managed to gather valuable internal information. Yan Zu Clan was not as stable as it appeared; one could say it was gradually collapsing under the strain of internal strife and external attacks.
This was what Fang Tian learned from eavesdropping on a conversation between Rank Two Gu Masters. Unsatisfied with such vague information, he decided to take a risk and sneak closer to the clan leader's pavilion.
At the very moment he intended to move, the ground shook again—far more violently than before—and he nearly stumbled once more. The buildings around him trembled, though they were too sturdy to collapse from the shock.
"Something isn't right… This isn't an earthquake. Something strange is happening within the mountain itself!"
Curiosity overcame caution, and he swiftly slipped toward the clan leader's pavilion. Yet the closer he got, the stranger it became—more and more Rank Two Gu Masters were rushing in the same direction.
All of them were Rank Two, their faces tense and unable to conceal their anxiety. One spoke to his companion while running:
"Do you know why we were summoned? I was told that the War Hall Elder and several other elders ordered all Rank Two and above Gu Masters to gather at the clan leader's pavilion immediately."
"No, I have no idea. I simply followed the others when I sensed the disturbance."
Fang Tian listened, his curiosity rising alongside his vigilance. Though infiltrating in front of multiple elders was extremely dangerous, if he could uncover the reason behind this sudden chaos, perhaps he could reap some benefits.
Seventy Rank Two Gu Masters gathered before the clan leader's pavilion, anxious murmurs rising into the air. They had been summoned from all corners of the village without explanation. Despite their experience, this was the first time such an event had occurred.
"Do you think the clan is in danger?"
The question sparked unrest among the crowd, but it was swiftly suppressed when seven Rank Three elders appeared—five at middle stage and two at upper stage. Their combined strength was enough to suppress any disturbance.
But where was the clan leader? And Caravan Leader Bao Qing Ming? As a leader of the righteous path, shouldn't he at least act to preserve his reputation?
Fang Tian had already blended seamlessly into the crowd of Gu Masters. From their complaints and anxious speculation alone, he gleaned considerable information.
"Silence! The clan is now on high alert. We have gathered you to proceed to the caravan and, together with the clansmen, suppress them until matters are clarified. The seven elders will lead you to the southern gate. Move out!"
Deep beneath Yan Zu Village, within the mountain's belly, a brutal battle was underway between man and beast.
"Earth Net Gu!"
Bao Qing Ming shouted inwardly as a massive stone net rose and ensnared the red bird before him. His opponent was ferocious—far stronger than he had anticipated. He was fighting a mutated beast with peak Rank Four battle strength!
The stone net imprisoned the savage bird, but it continued to struggle violently, sending tremors through the entire mountain. The net glowed red as steam rose from it; the rocks began to melt under the intense heat until the bird finally broke free.
Its head burst through first, followed by its full body. The bird, with savage black eyes, glared at Bao Qing Ming with hatred before opening its beak, unleashing a torrent of flames.
Bao Qing Ming swiftly evaded using his movement Gu, but the bird's claws struck him mid-air, sending him crashing into the cave walls.
Blood flowed from every part of his body, yet he rapidly treated his injuries and activated one of his trump cards.
"Killer move—Withering Forest Serpents!"
His primeval sea plummeted as over ten Gu worms were activated simultaneously. The cave, already reduced to ruins from their battle, became a forest of stone pillars rising from the ground. Their branches transformed into countless small serpents—hundreds of them!
The savage bird lunged, smashing dozens of serpents to dust. It shrieked in pain and retreated, blood dripping from its legs. Though the serpents lacked overwhelming battle strength, each destroyed serpent turned into corrosive dust that gnawed at flesh. After crushing dozens, the bird suffered wounds that could not be ignored, giving Bao Qing Ming a moment to breathe.
"Li Ping, lend me a hand! I will reward you generously!"
No response came. Bao Qing Ming gritted his teeth and activated another Rank Four Gu.
"Thunderball Gu!"
Thunderballs the size of carts formed and shot toward the bird at extreme speed.
The bird screeched as fiery qi formed a barrier around it, blocking the thunderballs. Bao Qing Ming's expression darkened—the defensive Gu on the bird was extraordinarily powerful.
"It's fine… In nature, snakes always devour birds. What happens now is nothing more than the cycle of life."
The stone forest collapsed, and from it emerged thousands of stone serpents. They swarmed toward the bird from all directions.
The bird flapped violently, shattering many serpents, but they were quickly replaced. Attempting to escape through the tunnels, it was blocked by a towering stone wall erected by Bao Qing Ming. Hundreds of serpents sacrificed themselves against the fire qi barrier, corroding it and leaving gaps in its defense.
Enraged by pain, the bird charged toward Bao Qing Ming, who smiled wearily, his robes soaked in blood.
"Come, beast! Let us see whether your arrogance is justified! Killer move—Stone Forest King's Arm!"
His primeval essence was nearly drained as seven more Gu were activated. The stone forest beneath him transformed into a massive arm the size of a house, slender yet colossal, colored earthen yellow.
This was the killer move that had earned him fame within Bao Clan—Stone Forest King's Arm!
He focused entirely on controlling the giant arm, driving it against the torrent of flames. He could clearly see the bird—flame-colored feathers, black hateful eyes, bloodied talons. It looked almost divine.
But Bao Qing Ming showed no hesitation. He rolled up his sleeves, extended his fists before his chest, then opened them wide, ready to seize the bird.
In the distance, Yan Zu Li Ping watched from concealment. Even without an investigative Gu, he could discern the battle clearly. A sinister smile formed on his lips as he released the aura he had been hiding.
"This is the price for meddling with my clan. So what if your clan rules dozens of mountains? Do you think I would spare a demonic path scum like you simply because of the Bao name?"
A Rank Four aura spread through the cavern, drawing Bao Qing Ming's attention—his expression turning utterly unsightly.