Fang Tian retreated rapidly while shielding Jun Yun behind him. His massive, powerful body managed to block most of the incoming attacks—but not without paying a heavy price.
The number of vines lashing at his enemies had dwindled to mere dozens. The jade-like bark covering his body had been shattered in several places, breaking apart into fragments. Fresh red blood flowed from the gaps, revealing the severity of his injuries.
"This won't work… I have to escape, or I'll die. My stock of primeval essence is steadily declining, and I can't keep up with the regeneration…"
"Flying Blade Gu!"
A Yang Clan member roared in rage, as if proclaiming Fang Tian's death sentence. A single-edged blade, three meters long, materialized in midair, aimed straight at Fang Tian.
"Retreat! Retreat!"
The urge to flee flared violently within him. But when he tried to move, he found his body sinking into a poisonous mire. The flying blade streaked toward Fang Tian's heart at terrifying speed.
Fang Tian forcefully tried to cancel his killer move, suffering a violent backlash that nearly knocked him unconscious. Clinging to the last threads of awareness, he managed to dispel the killer move in the nick of time.
But the flying blade had already reached him.
In the next instant, Fang Tian's left arm was severed cleanly from the shoulder, sent flying through the air. Blood gushed out like a fountain.
"Damn you, cursed bastard!"
Grass-like spring pads formed beneath his feet. With a single powerful leap, he dodged further attacks from the pursuing Gu Masters behind him. As he twisted his head, he caught sight of the shattered Gu formation behind him—and the exposed resource point.
As well as the Gu Masters giving chase.
Ahead of him, Jun Yun fled like the wind. His robes had been torn into ragged strips, dyed crimson with blood. Their condition was miserable, but at least they had managed to survive—for now.
Fang Tian's bleeding stopped as he activated Small Buds Gu. However, to regrow another arm, he would need some special Rank Three Gu worms—or a Rank Four Gu worm outright.
"You look terrible."
Jun Yun transmitted his voice to Fang Tian, laughing through the pain.
"It's fine. It's just one arm. At least I still have the other—and it's not like I won't get it back."
"Yeah, you can regrow it. But first we have to survive the Rank Four Gu Master behind us!"
Fang Tian almost spat blood when he heard that. He tried to glance backward—and saw exactly what he had feared.
In the air behind them, a Gu Master was flying, metallic wings growing from his back as he pursued them at high speed.
"Damn it… we can't even escape! Jun Yun, we fight!"
Jun Yun did not reply and continued fleeing. Fang Tian was slower than Jun Yun and could not keep up, which meant he would be left behind with the Rank Four Gu Master—buying time for Jun Yun to escape.
"So that's what you're thinking?"
Fang Tian let out a bitter laugh and glanced at the Rank Four Gu Master who had drawn very close. He could not detect any Rank Three Gu Masters following them, which meant the Rank Four Gu Master was alone.
"But even if he's alone, I'm already severely injured. Without the support of the rest of the group, I'll only die… But it's just death, right? Is that really the worst outcome?"
The idea of merely dying seemed to carry little weight to him now. Thus, at this moment, he decided to turn around and face this worthless possibility head-on.
"He's only at the initial stage of Rank Four. What am I even afraid of?"
"You bold brat—turning around to face your death instead of fleeing like a rat. I admire that!"
Fang Tian laughed and decided to savor this miserable challenge.
"Seed Swallow!"
The Seed Swallow shot forward at tremendous speed toward the Rank Four Gu Master flying in the air. The Gu Master dove downward, evading the attack.
The Seed Swallow exploded midair without dealing any damage, causing Fang Tian to frown slightly.
The Rank Four Gu Master looked up and smiled. Now that the distance between them had shrunk to just a few meters, Fang Tian could finally make out his features clearly—an oversized nose, a gray beard covering his face, a frail-looking body, and dark skin.
The Rank Four Gu Master stretched out both hands and launched his attack.
Nine circular metal rings burst forth from the ground, clamping down on Fang Tian from all directions, trying to tear him apart. Yet hundreds of vines ripped the rings away and shattered them instantly.
"If you really want to kill me, old man, then use Rank Four Gu worms. Otherwise, you'll regret it."
The Gu Master paid him no heed. He lunged forward, his mouth suddenly expanding grotesquely, then spewed molten lava from within.
Fang Tian dodged the lava swiftly, but he was still slower than the Rank Four Gu Master. The old man appeared before him in a flash and threw a punch that sent vibrations echoing through Fang Tian's bones, forcing out a painful groan.
Even so, Fang Tian managed to grab hold of the old man. Though the old man's strength was astonishing, it was still inferior to Fang Tian's.
"Eat this, grandpa!"
From Fang Tian's severed shoulder stump, an icy blade grew and carved a shallow wound across the Rank Four Gu Master's arm.
"Hmph, just a Rank Two Gu worm—and you dare play tricks on me?"
The ground beneath them transformed into a sea of lava. Fang Tian clenched his teeth, released the old man, and unleashed everything he had.
Killer Move — Twisting Vine Manifestation!
Fang Tian transformed into the familiar wooden giant and caught the Rank Four Gu Master off guard. Hundreds of vines, empowered by the killer move—each strike comparable to a Rank Two Gu Master's attack—slammed into the old man's defenses. The old man's confident expression quickly collapsed, yet he still launched a painful counterattack.
Nine massive golden bells descended from the sky, crashing down onto Fang Tian with overwhelming force. The old man broke free, but he was now injured.
The old man extended his arms, which fully transformed into metal, and seized an iron mask, placing it over his face. His body expanded, transforming into a giant that towered over Fang Tian in both height and strength.
The vines lashed out like serpents, wrapping around the giant's limbs and yanking him violently toward the ground. Dozens of vines were torn apart instantly, but more quickly sprouted forth, coiling around the giant and dragging him down.
The giant stretched out his arms, grabbed hold of the vines, and lifted them upward.
Along with the vines, Fang Tian was dragged into the air by the giant's hand.
"Boy, you are talented and impressive. But I have cultivated the Iron Mask inheritance my clan obtained from the Tie Clan—how could you possibly compete with me, flailing about with such crude attacks? I will spare your life if you tell me who you are, and why you are attacking my clan's resource points."
The old man's voice rumbled like a roaring river crashing against rocks below, making Fang Tian frown in pain as he replied in an inhuman voice:
"Rank Four and Rank Three truly are worlds apart. Perhaps if I were at the peak of Rank Three, I could have made you a joke of a man. But this… is the decree of fate."
The old man laughed contemptuously at Fang Tian, his laughter transforming into thunderous booms.
"Strength Qi Arm!"
A woman's voice rang out from afar. With it came the shrill howl of wind surging toward the giant—followed by a massive arm, nearly as large as the iron giant's face, slamming toward the old man with its enormous palm.