Fang Tian lay on his bed, spitting out many sharp thorns and bloody chunks of flesh onto the floor. He had suffered a backlash two days ago while attempting to activate a killer move.
The activation itself had indeed been successful, but the killer move was unstable—or rather, it had failed. Fang Tian was not sad or depressed because of the failure; on the contrary, he was happy about it.
And why would he be happy about failing? Well, everything had gone smoothly ever since he became a Gu Master all the way until he reached Wu Clan City. Success was beautiful, yes—but those who never face failure never come to know the value of success.
Throughout the time Fang Tian kept succeeding in his attempts without any major setbacks, he never truly tasted the flavor of success. But now, after encountering a major failure that threatened his path, he felt excitement and a little joy. That attempt was not entirely meaningless—although he still did not possess the killer move, he had gained greater and better insights, along with many ideas to put into practice.
"But unfortunately, I have to fight Wu Ji in three days. Although I really want to create a killer move, this will have to wait… Even though my attainment level in the Wood Path is rising extremely fast, this attainment level is intangible, and I don't truly understand what it is…"
Fang Tian knew what attainment level was—indeed, all Gu Masters knew what attainment level was—but did they truly understand what it really was? Only those who had become masters in their paths could comprehend attainment level through intuition; people like Fang Tian could only accumulate knowledge without truly understanding it.
Thus, although Fang Tian had an advantage in Wood Path attainment level, it could only provide him with very limited help in his killer move.
In the following days, Fang Tian focused on fully recovering so that he would be in his best condition. On the third day, people from the Wu clan came to his courtyard.
"You, boy, Lady Wu Ji wants us to make sure you don't run away, so we'll escort you to the combat arenas reserved for our clan members."
A short young Gu Master with slightly dark skin and coarse hair pointed at Fang Tian with his finger. Fang Tian did not care and only said to the youth:
"I understand. If you have nothing else, you may leave."
The youth snorted in displeasure and left the lakeside wing. After confirming that the youth had gone, Fang Tian decided to focus on his aperture, as he was about to break through to the peak stage.
The process was extremely fast and smooth. Waves of primeval essence slammed against the walls of his aperture, increasing the pressure on the aperture walls that already needed only a final push to break through. Cracks spread across the stone walls of the aperture and were quickly replaced by crystal walls of the peak stage.
Fang Tian let out a long breath and walked out of the white-brick wing. Outside the wing, two Gu Masters from the Wu clan were waiting for him. When they sensed the change in his aura, their eyes widened slightly. However, the dark-skinned youth laughed disdainfully as he led the way.
"Don't think you can defeat Big Sister Wu Ji just because you reached the peak stage… Do you think you're her equal?"
The other Gu Master walking beside him spoke:
"Of course he isn't. Big Sister Wu Ji has already broken through to Rank three. Just the thought that you'd have a chance to defeat someone in a higher realm than you is pure foolishness."
This was unexpected information for Fang Tian, but it did not change much for him. Right now, he was only focused on the strange feeling welling up inside him—the name of this feeling was death.
The higher the cultivation of the Ten Extreme Physiques, the greater the power they could display—and with that, the closer death drew to them. The danger of self-detonation hung over Fang Tian's head like an executioner's blade.
"This won't do. I must deepen my relationship with Wu Ji, or head to Shang Clan City. The chances are equal either way. If I can form a relationship with Wu Ji, I can certainly obtain some methods to delay my self-detonation. The same applies to Shang Clan City."
After leaving his private courtyard, the Wu clan Gu Masters led Fang Tian deeper into the city—or rather, into the heart of the mountain. Within the mountain's core, powerful air currents circulated, and Wu clan members were stationed everywhere. The mountain's heart had been carved out using Gu worms, forming luxurious mountain dwellings reserved for clan members.
Fang Tian received several glances from Wu clan members, but they quickly lost interest in him and continued with what they were doing. The two Gu Masters took a turn, and after moving about a hundred meters or so, they pointed to the entrance of a hall. The dark-skinned Gu Master spoke:
"Big Sister Wu Ji is waiting for you inside. I hope you lose quickly and without pain."
For the first time, Fang Tian found that the dark-skinned man was not entirely rude. Fang Tian rushed through the entrance, and the moment he was inside, his vision went white.
The environment around him changed completely, turning into a plain filled with dead yellow grass, while the scorching sun blinded Fang Tian. He quickly adapted after using Heat Snake Gu and managed to catch sight of Wu Ji's body shooting toward him like a projectile. Fang Tian instinctively injected primeval essence into Jade Skin Bark Gu and countered with a punch toward Wu Ji. Wu Ji laughed happily, and before their fists collided, she shouted:
"Tenacious Strength Gu!"
The phantom of a massive bull appeared behind her, and Fang Tian was caught off guard. Wu Ji's punch slammed into Fang Tian's side, and before his fist could reach her, he was sent flying. The bones on his side shattered completely under the blow, but he was not overly worried.
He poured his primeval essence into Sprout Gu, and his injuries were quickly healed. However, Wu Ji attacked again, but this time he was prepared. A swallow the size of an eagle shot out, releasing a powerful explosive force.
Fang Tian did not waste the opportunity and created a forest of vines beneath both himself and Wu Ji. Hundreds of vines shot forth, binding Wu Ji's limbs while others struck her defenses. Fang Tian could not help but smile, yet Wu Ji remained steady.
"Absolutely wonderful! The power infused in these vines excites me—you're incredible to last this long!"
Wu Ji tensed her body forcefully, and her fair skin gradually turned red, while the sweat and blood evaporated into steam. The sound of tearing rose from the vines with every movement she made, and Fang Tian could not help but take in a cold breath at the sight.
He understood the terrifying power possessed by these vines; with the reinforcement of Wood Origin Gu, it should have been impossible for a Rank three Gu Master to tear them apart—yet Wu Ji did exactly that. However, he had been prepared for such a situation.
"Wood charm Gu!"
Half of his primeval sea dropped as Wood charm Gu erupted into a green light that covered most of his aperture. The vines gripping Wu Ji mutated, and the terrifying power they exerted increased. Yet Wu Ji continued advancing, although she became slower, with even more steam rising from her body.
Giant swallows shot out in rapid succession, smashing into Wu Ji with loud explosive sounds. Laughter rang out from both of them.
"You're amazing, Wu Ji. I've never faced an opponent as tough as you before. Knocking you down will be incredibly fun!"
"You too, you bastard whose name I've forgotten—you're slippery as hell. I can't wait to squeeze your head into a bloody pulp."
Fang Tian was truly enjoying this fight.
The vines were finally torn apart. Wu Ji, covered in blood, charged toward Fang Tian with a crazed smile, charging her fists. A qi fist several times larger than a normal human fist shot out and slammed into Fang Tian, who activated Palm Canopy Gu.
The qi fist shattered against the palm-leaf-like barrier surrounding Fang Tian. However, dozens more qi fists followed, slamming into the barrier. Fang Tian clenched his teeth and chose to collide head-on. Using multiple Rank three Gu worms was a burden Fang Tian could not sustain, even with his fast primeval essence recovery.
Fang Tian's defenses collapsed, leaving only Jade Skin Bark Gu covering his body like a second layer of skin. The qi fists smashed into him from all directions.
In one of the Wu clan's private halls, several Rank three Gu Masters were watching this battle with amazement and admiration for both participants.
"This Wu Ji is a genius not seen in our clan for twenty years. To be able to display power close to the upper stage of Rank three while still in the initial stage—she's simply outstanding in every aspect. In terms of cultivation talent, she's a first-grade talent, but that's not what truly distinguishes her. What sets her apart is her combat intuition and her coordination between Gu worms."
"Indeed, she is. But what I find even more astonishing is this young Gu Master. He's fighting Wu Ji evenly—one could even say he holds a slight advantage. He's slippery like a snake and just as dangerous. Give him a single opening, and you'll find yourself covered in blood… But what I don't understand is how he possesses such a vast amount of primeval essence."
"That's right. Moreover, it seems he's using Rank two Gu worms, yet all of them possess Rank three-level power. It's as if he has a Gu worm that amplifies the effects of Wood Path Gu—and from the power displayed, it should be more than one Gu worm."
The battle below was extremely fierce. Giant swallows crashed everywhere and exploded with tremendous force, forcing Wu Ji to retreat. At the same time, qi fists chased Fang Tian, whose arm hung limp with bone protruding from the flesh. Fang Tian was like a mantis, leaping from place to place and attacking from afar, while Wu Ji chased him everywhere yet was still forced to retreat.
Blood covered her entire body, half of her face was smashed in, deforming the right side of her face, and her right shoulder was broken, sending waves of pain into her mind. Yet she still wore an ugly, crazed smile of pleasure.
"More! More! Show me what you can do!… Come closer!"
She shouted, demanding that Fang Tian approach and fight at close range, but Fang Tian did not do so. He would be a complete fool if he did. The advantage and most common method of the Strength Path was close combat—only a fool would fight a Strength Path Gu Master at close range.
Although Wu Ji possessed those strange qi fists, they were merely mid-range attacks. From time to time, Wu Ji released phantoms of strength in the shapes of wolves, bulls, horses, even snakes and crocodiles—of all kinds of beasts. The number was enormous; Wu Ji had probably implanted more than ten Strength Path Gu worms into her body, making her extremely dangerous in close combat.
"Now I think it's time to reveal my trump card… I didn't want to draw attention, but this Wu Ji is way too masochistic. Even after getting beaten, she's still enjoying herself."
Fang Tian was only in slightly better condition than Wu Ji, but he had long grown accustomed to pain, though it was still annoying.
"Wood charm Gu! Vine Garden Gu! Exert Strength Gu! Jade Skin Bark Gu!!"
With intense focus, Fang Tian poured his primeval essence in sequence—first into Wood charm Gu, then Vine Garden Gu, then Exert Strength Gu, and finally Jade Skin Bark Gu. After his previous failure, Fang Tian had not been without gains; he had obtained many insights, from which he created his first killer move. Although it was inferior to what he wanted and looked like a simplified version of his original goal, it still met his requirements.
Fang Tian transformed into a tree with human-like limbs made from hundreds—perhaps thousands—of giant vines overflowing with terrifying power. With a loud, inhuman roar, Fang Tian shouted toward Wu Ji:
"Didn't you want to come closer? Come—let's fight up close!"
Fang Tian was now three meters tall, his body covered in jade bark, his green hair transformed into a torrent of leaves that reached his current waist height. Hundreds of vines extended from every part of his limbs, forming shapes like hands and legs. Wu Ji responded with bitter, excited laughter:
"So this is what you were hiding. I don't want to be rude, but I have something similar too."
Wu Ji's body swelled to over two meters in height, while the density of steam pouring from her pores increased. Her skin turned completely red, her horrific injuries healed, and two hands of qi appeared behind her, acting as extra limbs.
Fang Tian did not hesitate and extended hundreds of vine limbs toward Wu Ji. But instead of grabbing or binding her, the vines slammed into the ground, producing a terrifying shockwave that cracked the earth. Wu Ji did not understand what Fang Tian was doing and charged toward him, determined to stop him.
Her speed was astonishing, creating a sonic boom, and the force of her charge alone created a half-meter-deep crater at her previous position. Wu Ji leapt into the air and extended her four fists toward Fang Tian, who had transformed into a tree. Fang Tian responded by forming two gigantic fists from vines—one opened into a palm, the other clenched, ready to strike. Fang Tian laughed in delight; he felt the tremendous power surging from his body and now unleashed it fully toward Wu Ji.
"What?!"
Fang Tian was shocked when Wu Ji changed direction midair, and with a magnificent movement and terrifying force, struck the air, her attack piercing through the vine palm that Fang Tian had formed.
One of Fang Tian's palms collapsed, leaving him with only a single fist to collide with Wu Ji.
The collision of their bodies created a thunderous shockwave, the ground beneath Fang Tian trembling as a deep crater formed around him. Wu Ji was sent flying, while Fang Tian's arm shattered completely, the impact transmitting into his main body.
Cracks spread across the jade bark, and blood-colored sap flowed out from within. Fang Tian let out a loud roar as he panted, looking at Wu Ji lying on the ground, already returned to her normal form.
Her body had been shattered like a broken doll by the battle, collapsing on the brink of death. Fang Tian was in better condition; he managed to stop activating his killer move and collapsed onto the ground, exhausted. Still, he managed to form a brilliant smile on his face, which was covered in mud, blood, and dirt.
In the end, he won—just as he had hoped.