Chapter 64: Severed Arm
“Why have Fang Bao, Xu Wei, and the others taken so long? It’s already been two hours.”
In Qing Ya Valley, Gu Hong, Yin Ruguang, and their group were resting in the valley at this time.
There were about twenty of them, gathered around two campfires. Most had already fallen asleep, but Gu Hong and Yin Ruguang along with a few others had furrowed brows.
“Gu Hong, is that powdered medicine of yours really effective?”
Yin Ruguang was already doubting the effectiveness of the powdered medicine.
“Impossible, this is what our Little Mountain Association invited from Bailu County City.”
Halfway through his words, he suddenly stopped and only said, “We’ve seen the effects too. They were probably delayed on the road. After all, this place isn’t deep into the Desolate Mountains yet, so there might not be too many feral beasts.”
“Roar”
A ferocious roar suddenly rang out. The forest swayed, and a Thorn Vine Beast abruptly jumped down from the valley wall on one side, smashing heavily beside the campfire.
In an instant, two completely unprepared guards were smashed to death on the spot.
“Scatter quickly!”
Yin Ruguang ordered everyone to disperse immediately. He charged forward right away, having already drawn the curved saber at his side.
The Thorn Vine Beast’s eyes were bloodshot. It swung its spike-covered arms, immediately shooting out several pitch-black spikes toward Yin Ruguang.
“Damn beast, you dare!”
Yin Ruguang’s saber light formed a curtain, encompassing all the black spikes within his saber light. With one slash, he cut them in two, blocking them all.
How could a late First-order Thorn Vine Beast appear here?
He cursed inwardly, but right now this thing was almost equivalent to Blood Moving or Spirit Nurturing Realm strength. Apart from him, probably only Gu Hong and a few others could hold their own against it.
He had no choice but to stride forward, shifting his body and slashing out saber light, aiming to deal with this Thorn Vine Beast in short order.
However, things did not go as planned.
Within Qing Ya Valley, high and low roars rose and fell. From the cliffs on both sides and the paths ahead and behind, sounds of feral beasts came.
Striped ranked tigers, vicious Bronze Fox Apes, claw crocodiles with scaly backs…
Feral beasts attacked, charging toward the people from Seven Kill Martial Arts School and Little Mountain Association, intent on tearing them all apart.
The campfire was smashed by the Thorn Vine Beast, and the firelight immediately dimmed. The feral beasts surrounded them at this moment.
Under the dim and unclear light, Gu Hong and the others could only steel themselves and fight the feral beasts.
Roars rose and fell one after another, and the figures clashing back and forth swayed and intersected.
It was unclear whether it was because Li Jinshan and the others had used too much medicine or because of the terrain, but the beasts gathered even more.
Soon, a bloody scent filled the valley.
“Hmph, serves them right.”
With such a commotion, even without seeing the dire straits of Yin Ruguang and the others with his own eyes, Li Jinshan already knew they were bound to lose people.
He only glanced a couple more times, then moved and slipped back into the forest. According to the prior agreement of the four, he immediately headed back to Wa Shan Pass.
In the mountain valley, Yin Ruguang’s curved saber had already severed the Thorn Vine Beast’s breastbone.
Blood and flesh gushed out openly, and the Thorn Vine Beast was merely a matter of time from death.
Yet the more this was so, the more cautious Yin Ruguang became.
A cornered beast fights back, let alone a beast on the verge of death.
At this time, Gu Hong and the others were also continuously fighting the feral beasts, with unlucky guards dying one after another.
“Damn it, how are there so many feral beasts?”
Someone was still cursing as Gu Hong punched back the Bronze Fox Ape in front of him.
“Brother Yin, it’s probably those bastards from Golden Ape Martial Arts School. Let’s get out of here first and guard against ambushes.”
Gu Hong shouted his suggestion to Yin Ruguang. Yin Ruguang slashed off the Thorn Vine Beast’s head with one strike and immediately nodded.
“Everyone, mount up! I’ll cover the rear.”
The group immediately found their horses. Yin Ruguang’s face was cold, full of killing intent as he charged ahead of the many feral beasts.
A Striped Tiger pounced. Yin Ruguang immediately thought of that annoying guy from today and slashed out with one strike.
The Striped Tiger died instantly. The remaining feral beasts were numerous, but under Yin Ruguang’s airtight saber light, they struggled to approach.
Unlike Seven Kill Martial Arts School, Little Mountain Association, and Golden Ape Martial Arts School who had brought large amounts of supplies into the mountains.
They were all one person per mount, so withdrawing now was naturally convenient.
Gu Hong took the lead, riding a black-scaled Scaled Horse straight ahead into the forest.
“Golden Ape Martial Arts School!”
His eyes were full of hatred. Humiliated in the daytime and now suffering such an attack—this grudge, Gu Hong would surely repay one day!
“Whoosh”
Several pale white bone nails suddenly burst from the soil.
The bone nails came abruptly, instantly embedding into the Scaled Horse’s belly.
The Scaled Horse cried out in pain and immediately collapsed to the ground, heavily throwing Gu Hong off.
By the time Gu Hong reacted, his body had already lost balance.
He barely adjusted in midair, managing to land without injuring himself.
The White Bone Poison Centipede burst out fiercely, its pale white color causing dread in the dim night.
Not good!
In his haste, Gu Hong caught sight of this white terrifying figure from the corner of his eye, and his heart panicked.
His arm shook as he hurriedly slapped out with one palm, wanting to swat the thing away and buy himself some time to respond.
But how could this action hit the White Bone Poison Centipede that had been lying in ambush here for half the night?
The White Bone Poison Centipede shifted its body and dodged the attack.
Its elongated body coiled and climbed up along Gu Hong’s arm.
The White Bone Poison Centipede’s appendages were sharp and icy cold. Just touching Gu Hong’s skin made him feel a chill run down his spine.
Crack
The sharp mouthparts bit down, severing even the bone inside.
“Ah!”
Gu Hong’s miserable scream immediately echoed through the forest.
“Quick, save Young Master Gu!”
As the White Bone Poison Centipede was about to attack further, the other disciples and guards from Seven Kill Martial Arts School and Little Mountain Association had already rushed up.
Even Yin Ruguang’s expression changed as he abandoned the feral beasts and charged straight over.
“Slash”
Saber light came assaulting. The White Bone Poison Centipede’s attack was blocked. Its hard carapace was cleaved by the saber light, and its body tumbled down.
Rustle rustle rustle
The White Bone Poison Centipede immediately burrowed into the shrubs, dodging and vanishing from sight.
Yin Ruguang hurried over and slashed open Gu Hong’s sleeve with one strike. At the bite mark, the flesh and blood were mangled, bone splinters protruded, and the flesh was pitch black.
He frowned: ‘What a poisonous feral beast!’
“Brother Gu, sorry.”
Yin Ruguang’s hand rose and saber fell. The blade swiftly slashed across, severing Gu Hong’s arm at the root.
Others immediately pressed forward to stop the bleeding, stuffing life-saving pills into his mouth to preserve his life.
The White Bone Poison Centipede kept threading through, finally arriving in the forest two li outside the mountain valley.
“Such fierce saber work. The White Bone Poison Centipede is still somewhat inferior to Spirit Nurturing Realm… But it’s close.”
Surviving one exchange meant it had lost some health. As long as the White Bone Poison Centipede continued to grow stronger—to Growth Stage or even Mature Stage—Spirit Nurturing Realm would only be a matter of time.
Su Yan looked at the ferocious saber wound on the White Bone Poison Centipede, took out a Poison Dragon Pill, and fed it to it.
After devouring the poison pill, the medicinal potency converted within, stabilizing the White Bone Poison Centipede’s injuries. Only then did he store it into the Insect Realm Space.
Su Yan departed swiftly, even faster than when he came.
He finally rendezvoused with Li Jinshan and the others at Wa Shan Pass. As dawn broke hazily, the team was already prepared and headed straight into the depths of the Desolate Mountains.
