Raising Gu

Looking at the venom gland in Niu Geng's hand, a faint, ambiguous smile hung on the corners of Lu Yuling's lips. She looked at Hua Nongying, still saying nothing, yet upon hearing Niu Geng's words, Hua Nongying froze instead, not expecting that Niu Geng, despite looking honest and straightforward, was actually an adept hand at using poison.

Poison—unquestionably, this was a terrifying yet formidable power. The utility of poison, once wielded well, was unquestionable whether in over-level challenges or in a supportive capacity.

In the Endless Mountain Range there were indeed many poisonous insects, and it was easy to get poisoned. Having someone around who understood toxins made things much safer by comparison. Thinking of this, Hua Nongying nodded, tacitly acknowledging Niu Geng's value, and the four finally formed a team together.

As Niu Geng proceeded to harvest items like the gallbladder from the Five-Colored Poisonous Python, Lu Yuling also took out a small jade bottle to collect some vital blood from the python's heart region. The group soon departed, for the bloody scent of a monster beast's corpse dispersed into the air and easily attracted other monster beasts.

Using branches to fashion a simple stand, they set up the Yin Gu Pot. Beneath the Yin Gu Pot, dry branches crackled with fire, and the gallbladder of the Five-Colored Poisonous Python inside the pot was thoroughly mashed. Niu Geng wore a solemn expression and an air of intense concentration.

Beside him lay numerous gathered poisonous herbs, venomous insects, and toxic fruits. These were mashed into juices, mixed together with the bile of the Five-Colored Poisonous Python inside the pot, and slowly simmered over the flame with practiced movements—clearly, he was extremely proficient at this kind of work...

Zhuge Xiang, Hua Nongying, and Lu Yuling all watched quietly from the side, unable to make head or tail of the venom Niu Geng was concocting. Everyone refrained from disturbing him, however, as it would be dark in less than an hour. The Endless Mountain Range after dark would inevitably become much more perilous, and managing to procure some poison would relatively increase their safety quite a bit.

Poisonous herbs, toxic fruits, and venomous insects, combined with the gallbladder bile of a python approaching One-Star High-Grade, formed a highly toxic substance. Under the simmering of the flames, waves of colorful poisonous mist rose, billowing outward and emitting a foul, pungent stench.

"Although these poisonous mists won't cause any harm to the human body, they can attract venomous things within a radius of ten lis over. Do you want to step back and avoid them?" Seeing the poisonous mist rise, Niu Geng turned his head and said this to Zhuge Xiang and the others.

Zhuge Xiang and the companions nodded and sat down upon a large tree not far away, occupying a commanding height. Knowing nothing about venomous creatures, staying behind might cause Niu Geng distractions. Besides, Hua Nongying and Lu Yuling were girls after all, and should naturally have a strong aversion to toxic creatures.

Soon enough, a venomous snake slithered out from the depths of the forest. As though stimulated by some inexplicable attraction, it swam in a straight line directly toward the Yin Gu Pot. Following the appearance of this venomous snake, other toxic creatures also emerged one after another: spiders of varying colors, venomous snakes of different sizes, scorpions, centipedes, toads...

In mere moments, the ground below was densely packed with venomous creatures. The objective of all these toxic beasts was focused entirely on the Yin Gu Pot. Whether it was poisonous snakes, spiders, or other venomous entities, their goal was to enter the Yin Gu Pot and feed on the boiling venomous juice inside.

Yet the lid of the Yin Gu Pot was specially crafted, leaving only a few intricate little holes through which even the slimmest poisonous snake could not wriggle. Nevertheless, these venomous creatures still circled the Yin Gu Pot, unwilling to leave, racking their brains in their desire to crawl inside. The rising poisonous mist held a fatal temptation for them.

Every venomous creature wanted to force its way in, and proximity to the Yin Gu Pot naturally triggered battles among these toxic beasts. All the venomous insects began slaughtering one another.

Hundreds and thousands of venomous creatures butchered each other for the sake of the utterly inaccessible Yin Gu Pot. This was completely the method of raising a Gu. Witnessing the primitive slaughter of these toxic beasts, Zhuge Xiang and the others, seated upon the tree trunk, felt their scalps prickle somewhat simply from the sheer multitude of these venomous creatures.

After a bout of slaughter, finally only a single venomous creature remained at the last. This was an unknown species of poison bee, yet upon closer look it differed from ordinary poison bees; its stinger at the tail unexpectedly flashed with a bluish hue, and just looking at it with the naked eye revealed it to be intensely poisonous.

Through the method of raising a Gu, this final surviving poison bee had evidently absorbed the toxins of hundreds of venomous creatures and undergone a mutated evolution. At that exact moment, Niu Geng opened the lid of the Yin Gu Pot, and the poison bee hurriedly drilled inside.

"Alright, let's go. As long as we cultivate it for a period of time, this poison bee can become our powerful assistant." Seeing the last surviving poison bee burrow into the Yin Gu Pot, Niu Geng put the pot away, looked up to tell Zhuge Xiang and the others, and noting that the hour was indeed growing late, Zhuge Xiang's group swiftly departed.

Roar...

As they threaded through the forest in search of a safe resting place, a sudden wave of roars rolled over. The powerful, vigorous roar clearly belonged to a formidable monster beast. With five thousand disciples fleeing for their lives, quite a few had naturally escaped into this forest, so encountering one was hardly strange.

Zhuge Xiang's four exchanged glances, mutually expressing an intent to go have a look. If it happened to be a relatively strong disciple, they would lend a helping hand given the opportunity; in this immensely perilous forest, having a few strong companions would also raise the probability of survival.

Having made up their minds, Zhuge Xiang and the others crouched low and cautiously crept over. Yet after walking barely two hundred meters or so, they finally caught sight of the battle site, though seeing the combat situation within the arena made Zhuge Xiang's eyes contract slightly.

This was a clearing. Naturally, finding a clearing amidst this dense forest was difficult; this patch had been entirely cleared away purely on account of the battle. A demon bear reared up on its hind legs, standing over three meters tall with earthy-yellow fur like stiff iron needles. Standing before a demon bear taller than three meters, its sheer size alone was enough to make one feel immense pressure.

Its massive paws swept forth with a roaring whistle of wind. Whether it was waist-high boulders or trees thick enough for two people to embrace, all could be shattered with a single swipe of its palm. If this offensive power landed on a person, they would undoubtedly be dead.

Before the demon bear, two men were locked in combat with it—unexpectedly, they were also acquaintances: Ling Wufeng and Ji Wuxue. Ling Wufeng's flying daggers flashed incessantly, while Ji Wuxue had long since activated the state of the Bloodthirsty Technique, shrouding the beast with a fierce swordsmanship. However, whether it was Ji Wuxue's swordsmanship or Ling Wufeng's flying daggers, landing on this demon bear produced not the slightest effect; all attacks were blocked, failing even to break its skin.

"Isn't this demon bear a bit too thick-skinned?" Niu Geng stared with wide eyes. The strength Ji Wuxue and Ling Wufeng had displayed at the grand tournament was unquestionable, yet their combined attacks left not even a single scratch upon the demon bear, making it no wonder people felt shocked.

"No, this can't be explained simply by thick skin." Observing the scene before her and sensing the formidable demonic aura emanating from the demon bear, Lu Yuling's gaze grew much more solemn. "This is a Two-Star Demonic Beast, equivalent to cultivators of our Body Tempering Realm."

A Two-Star Demonic Beast? Hearing Lu Yuling's words, the expressions of Zhuge Xiang and the others grew even heavier.

Compared to One-Star Demonic Beasts, Two-Star Demonic Beasts possessed an essential elevation. Much like human cultivators, if One-Star Demonic Beasts could be characterized by high offense and low defense, then Two-Star Demonic Beasts had already begun using demonic aura to temper their physical bodies, rendering the resilience and impact-resistance of their flesh extremely formidable.

Fights between One-Star Demonic Beasts and Qi Cultivation Realm cultivators allowed for the possibility of over-level combat on account of low defense, yet battles between Qi Cultivation Realm cultivators and Two-Star Demonic Beasts held zero chance of victory. Your attacks landed without effect, whereas the terrifying assaults of the monster beast were beyond what you could endure—how could one possibly fight this?

Although Ji Wuxue and Ling Wufeng possessed immense strength and their survival capability would naturally be greater if they banded together, a Two-Star Demonic Beast still made people hesitate. If they rushed out now, rather than rescuing anyone, they might just throw their own lives away instead.

Should they save them? The few discussed in low voices, unable to make up their minds. Meanwhile, under the onslaught of the Two-Star demon bear, Ling Wufeng and Ji Wuxue had already been reduced to a wretched state; any random strike from the demon bear landing on them would suffice to shatter all the bones in their bodies.

After consulting for a moment, Zhuge Xiang nodded, signaling to make a move. Confronting a Two-Star Demonic Beast, Zhuge Xiang formulated a tactical plan. Hua Nongying and Lu Yuling expressed no opposition to Zhuge Xiang's proposal; although Two-Star Demonic Beasts were strong, triumphing over it would yield two even stronger companions, making it worth the gamble. Hearing the combat plan devised by Zhuge Xiang gave them all the more confidence.

The mechanical puppet and fox demon puppet charged forward to assist in the assault. Hua Nongying deployed her Ghost Step at the Mastery Level, flitting about the demon bear like a housefly while her dagger stabbed out continuously. Though incapable of inflicting substantive damage, her ghostly figure and dagger strikes annoyed the demon bear to no end.

While it was true that once the demon bear dropped onto all fours its straight-line running speed even surpassed a human's, its reactions were rather sluggish the moment it reared upright. If anyone present could be said to be having an easy time, Hua Nongying was unquestionably that person.

With the addition of Lu Yuling and Hua Nongying, the pressure on Ling Wufeng and Ji Wuxue lightened considerably. Even so, facing a Two-Star Demonic Beast—even if it was merely Two-Star Low Grade—they still held no chance of victory.

Hua Nongying resembled a fly, driving the demon bear into a succession of furious roars. Its massive paws emitted a whirring whistle of breaking wind, yet Hua Nongying's Ghost Step was exceptionally nimble, allowing her to evade keenly beneath its paws. Facing this nimble fly buzzing around it, the demon bear could only roar in futile rage; for all its formidable strength, it was utterly helpless against Hua Nongying and her Ghost Step.

Hiding off to the side, Zhuge Xiang seized the moment while Hua Nongying and the others drew the demon bear's attention. He had already activated the Bloodthirsty Technique, lowering his center of gravity slightly as his scarlet pupils locked onto the demon bear's roaring, gaping mouth.

Though Two-Star Demonic Beasts used demonic aura to temper their physical bodies, Zhuge Xiang refused to believe it could temper even the soft oral cavity inside its mouth to be exceptionally sturdy.

Applying some of the venom from the Five-Colored Poisonous Python's venom gland onto the Blood Refinement Saber and watching for his opening, Zhuge Xiang abruptly unleashed Explosive Steps. Transforming into a bloody red streak, a shockingly vivid crimson blade-light aimed straight for the demon bear's oral cavity.

(ps: our index is over eighteen thousand while second place is barely nineteen thousand, trailing by less than a hundred index points—a mere matter of twenty recommendation votes, brothers and sisters. Crush them and surge up to second place in the new book classification!)