The battlefield was drenched in blood, corpses piled high as the battle between First Gen Gu Yue, Lord Sky Crane, and Tie Xue Leng raged on. The Blood Curtain Skyflower Gu stood firm, separating the conflict from those inside the barrier. Fang Yuan stood amidst the scattered Gu Masters, his expression unreadable as he eyed the Blood Skull Gu that lay just within reach.
The seal on the Blood Skull Gu flickered weakly. The Problem Nipped in the Bud Gu had perished, its influence fading, leaving the Blood Skull Gu and Yin Yang Rotation Gu without a master. At this moment, First Gen Gu Yue was preoccupied, locked in battle with Lord Sky Crane and Tie Xue Leng, unaware of what was happening within the barrier.
Fang Yuan moved.
With practiced precision, his hand shot forward, gripping the Blood Skull Gu before it could escape. The moment his fingers wrapped around it, he released a surge of his own primeval essence, quickly refining the Gu worm in an instant. The aura of the Spring Autumn Cicada, hidden deep within him, surged for a brief moment, overwhelming the weaker Gu worm, forcing it into submission.
Outside the Blood Curtain Skyflower Gu, First Gen Gu Yue suddenly froze.
His face twisted in horror as he turned, eyes wide with disbelief. "No! My Blood Skull Gu! How is this possible?!"
A surge of killing intent erupted from his body, and he shot toward the blood barrier like a madman. His hands crashed against the translucent shield, but it held firm, preventing his entry.
Inside, Fang Yuan smirked. "Senior ancestor, it appears you have greater concerns than me."
First Gen Gu Yue roared in rage. "You ungrateful wretch! Give it back!"
But before he could continue his rampage, Lord Sky Crane and Tie Xue Leng seized the opportunity. Their combined attacks landed, slashing into First Gen Gu Yue's side. Blood splattered across the frozen battlefield, and First Gen Gu Yue stumbled backward, barely maintaining his balance.
"Old ghost, your arrogance will be your downfall!" Lord Sky Crane sneered, pressing his advantage.
First Gen Gu Yue turned back toward the battle, his expression one of pure wrath. "Fang Yuan! I will kill you!" His voice echoed across the battlefield, a promise of vengeance.
Within the blood barrier, the remaining Gu Masters trembled. Their so-called ancestor had shown his true nature, using them as pawns in his scheme. Now, with Fang Yuan having taken his most precious Gu worm, there was no hope for mercy.
Bai Ning Bing stood beside Fang Yuan, his icy gaze locked onto the chaos outside. "You're truly ruthless, master," he remarked. "Stealing a Rank Four Gu right from under a rank 5 powerhouse nose."
Fang Yuan chuckled. "Opportunities like this come once in a lifetime."
Bai Ning Bing shook his head. "So, what's the next step? master"
Fang Yuan turned to him, his smirk widening. "We kill them all."
Without hesitation, he activated the Blood Skull Gu. A crimson glow spread through his fingers, and the Gu began to pulse, hungry for blood.
"You traitorous dog!" One of the surviving Gu Masters inside the barrier screamed, lunging toward Fang Yuan.
A flick of Fang Yuan's wrist, and his Chainsaw Golden Centipede was already in motion. The Gu Master's body split apart in a shower of blood, his lifeblood instantly absorbed by the Blood Skull Gu. The crystal-like skull glowed brighter as it feasted.
Screams filled the air as Fang Yuan moved methodically, cutting down the remaining Gu Masters one by one. His actions were swift, precise—an executioner harvesting his due. Blood soaked the ground, and the scent of iron filled the air as the Blood Skull Gu pulsed with power.
"Demon! Monster!" The last of the Gu Masters cried before Fang Yuan silenced them with a final slash.
Bai Ning Bing merely watched, unfazed. "Efficient."
"No need to waste resources," Fang Yuan replied, examining the Blood Skull Gu, now fully refined in his grasp.
Fang Yuan felt his aperture's aptitude surge as the Blood Skull Gu's power coursed through him. A flood of pure essence rushed into his core, his once-limited potential expanding like a dam bursting open. He felt it—his primeval sea deepened, its walls strengthening, allowing him to store even more primeval essence than before.
Fang Yuan's gaze flickered toward him, and with a silent nod, Bai Ning Bing moved.
Fang Yuan simply smiled. "Now for the final act."
The blood barrier flickered, the Blood Curtain Skyflower Gu reaching the end of its duration. The translucent shield wavered before shattering entirely, exposing them to the outside battlefield.
Fang Yuan cleaned his blade, his gaze cold. "Now, only two remain."
Lord Sky Crane, First Gen Gu Yue, and Fang Yuan stood in a deadly triangle, each assessing the other.
Fang Yuan raised the Blood Skull Gu, now brimming with energy. "Gentlemen, let's see who dies first."
The battlefield rumbled as the final clash began, the air thick with killing intent and the scent of blood. The war was not over—only the strongest would walk away alive.