Hunting Team Enters the Mountain!

The sky gradually brightened, and with the crowing of roosters echoing back and forth, the sleeping Gu Family Village slowly awoke, wisps of cooking smoke rising from various households.

Although the New Year's sacrificial rites were over, the weather remained frigid. The long rows of ice shards hanging from the eaves of every house in Gu Family Village, as thick as a child's arm, crystal clear, and sharp as swords, were enough to feel the harshness of winter.

"Hoo" "Hoo" "Pa"

Gu Shaoshang bent his knees, his body in a semi-crouching posture. Simultaneously, his left palm extended forward, elbow slightly bent. His entire body undulated almost imperceptibly, seeming both heavy and light, both relaxed and tense.

In a straight line, Gu Shaoshang walked back and forth repeatedly, flipping his hand to punch, his power erupting and stirring the air with a whistling sound.

After a long while, he slowly retracted his fist, his mouth slightly open, and exhaled a stream of white mist. It extended about a palm's length in a column before slowly dissipating into the air as if it had run out of force.

"There's a saying in Xingyi Quan that 'all techniques originate from the Three Body Form,' it's truly not simple! Every day I practice, I feel a different understanding!" Gu Shaoshang slowly finished his movements, heat steaming from his body.

In his previous life, Xingyi Quan had been passed down for hundreds of years, with numerous schools and branches. However, regardless of the school, all revered the Three Body Form as the mother fist.

Even veteran martial artists who had practiced for decades practiced it daily without interruption.

How precious was the experience passed down by countless predecessors over hundreds of years! Even with Gu Shaoshang's master-level consciousness, he practiced diligently every day, constantly gaining new insights!

"It's getting light. Gu Lianxing is leaving for Yan Capital today, and I need to see her off. That's enough for my morning practice today!" Gu Shaoshang looked up; the sky was already bright. The rising sun dyed the morning glow at the horizon red, and a new day had begun.

Gu Family Village, South Gate.

"Haha! That's enough for today! Everyone go back!" Gu Xuanzhen and his group had their luggage packed, and the Flood Dragon Horses were fed their fill.

Almost all the clan members of Gu Family Village had come out to see them off. The crowd was a dense black mass, very noisy.

"Uncle Zhen, I'll leave the two little ones in your care from now on!" Gu Yu looked at Gu Yuer with reluctance. As one of the three most outstanding individuals during this New Year's festival, she naturally deserved a spot.

Gu Yuer was dressed in a silver-white hunting outfit and leather boots. She was tearfully bidding farewell to a middle-aged woman.

"Mom, I'll be back soon! You and Dad take good care of yourselves!" Gu Yuer's eyes were red and slightly swollen, clearly indicating she hadn't slept well last night.

The middle-aged woman wiped away tears, "Yuer, Mom is still worried about you. You must take good care of yourself when you're out alone..."

Gu Yuer hugged her mother. Even the usually boisterous girl couldn't help but feel a pang in her heart. This trip to Yan Capital would be short, three to five years, or long, seven to eight years. She had never been so far from her parents. Naturally, along with her reluctance, there was a sense of apprehension.

"You've never faced hardships, how will a child grow up!" Gu Xuanzhen shook his head slightly, but still comforted her, "Relax, whether it's the Divine Blade Sect or Yan Capital, they are far safer than Gu Family Village."

Gu Ji stood to the side, muttering to himself, "A child traveling far worries the mother. Big Brother may not say it, but he's also constantly worried and concerned. Even though I know it's for Yuer's future, I still can't help but worry."

"Alright! It's getting late, we should get on the road as soon as possible!" Gu Xuanzhen spoke softly, his voice carrying for several miles, enough to drown out the noise of over a thousand people!

The crowd immediately quieted down, all eyes fixed on Gu Xuanzhen.

"Gu Yue, Gu Shaoze, pack your things quickly!" a middle-aged guard in red scale armor said loudly!

"Yes!" The two young man and woman stepped forward and followed the middle-aged guard.

Gu Ji's heart jolted. He asked Gu Xuanzhen, who was boarding the carriage, "Uncle Zhen, aren't you waiting for Shaoshang? He's..."

Gu Xuanzhen paused with one foot on the carriage step, lifted the curtain, and got in. Only his voice echoed in the air.

"This is his choice. You wouldn't understand!"

Gu Ji was stunned.

Amidst the send-off of a thousand people, the convoy slowly set off.

Gu Shaoze and Gu Yuer exchanged glances, both feeling a bit helpless.

"Sigh, I even asked Shaoshang last night, but he was determined not to go," Gu Shaoze said with a hint of disappointment, "He's just not ambitious enough, not seizing such a great opportunity! He'll regret it later!" Gu Yuer curled her lips and scoffed, "Let's hurry up! The convoy will be far away soon!"

The two looked back at Gu Family Village and resolutely followed the convoy.

"What a shame, Grandpa gave such a clear hint, and that silly boy Gu Shaoshang still didn't come," Gu Lianxing pouted in the carriage, her face sullen. "That brat, he didn't even come to see me off! And I even shared one of the Golden-Eyed Eagle's beast eggs with him!"

"He's a child with his own opinions, much smarter than you!" Gu Xuanzhen chuckled helplessly and casually lifted the curtain, "Look, who is that?"

Gu Lianxing's gaze passed through the window. On a distant hillside, a small figure was watching the convoy.

Gu Lianxing suddenly smiled, as radiant and beautiful as a flower.

Gu Shaoshang stood on a hillside outside the village, watching the convoy gradually move away. He took the silver-white Golden-Eyed Eagle beast egg from his pocket, a slight curve forming on his lips.

After the New Year's festival, clan members who had been working outside began to leave one after another. Seven days after Gu Xuanzhen's departure, Gu Ji also had to leave.

"Big Brother! Shaoshang! Take care of yourselves! I'm off!" brandishing his saber and carrying his bow, the bald, burly man laughed heartily, mounted his horse, and galloped away, kicking up dust.

Gu Yu and Gu Shaoshang stood side-by-side, watching Gu Ji depart.

After killing the Silver Wolf King, Gu Shaoshang's status in Gu Family Village had risen sharply following the New Year's festival test. Even the Village Chief, Gu Yu, treated him with much more respect.

"Sigh, Third Brother is heading into great danger. I hope he can turn misfortune into fortune!" Gu Yu lowered his head, his hands clenched tightly.

"The village has relied heavily on his support these past few years. Otherwise, how could little Gu Family Village have over a dozen experts at the Five Stages of Foundation Establishment! It's a pity the village is still too weak to help him!" Gu Yu's voice was mournful, his burly body trembling slightly.

"Uncle Yu, what's going on? Third Uncle, he..." Gu Shaoshang frowned, feeling uneasy.

Gu Yu grabbed Gu Shaoshang's shoulders with both hands, his eyes bloodshot. "Shaoshang! You must remember! On the Vast Continent, the strong are respected! Weakness is the greatest sin!"

"Ha! Ha! Ha!" Gu Yu let out a desolate laugh and turned back to the village. His body, once like a Mighty Lion, now felt fragile to Gu Shaoshang.

Gu Shaoshang was confused, a flash of inspiration seeming to flicker in his mind, but he couldn't grasp it. His thoughts raced, but ultimately yielded nothing. He could only shake his head and put it aside for now.

Winter passed and spring arrived. The mountains thawed, all things revived, and the plants turned green.

Great Ming Mountain regained its vitality, lush and verdant everywhere. Migratory birds returned, and the roars of various wild beasts echoed continuously.

At this time every year, the villages at the foot of Great Ming Mountain would tacitly enter the mountains together. On one hand, they hunted enough food, and on the other, they cleared hidden dangers for the village.

"Qingzi, hurry up! What are you dawdling for!" On the training ground, a lean and strong middle-aged man roared loudly.

The strong middle-aged man was Gu Hao, the hunting captain of Gu Family Village. He was skilled with a spear and was an expert at the Five Stages of Foundation Establishment's "Refining Blood Mercury Paste."

Qingzi, a young man busy preparing weapons, chuckled and said, "Captain, I'll be done soon, I'll be done soon."

"Today is our hunting team's first time entering the mountains this year! Everyone be alert! The beasts that have been hungry all winter are the fiercest! You must be cautious! Even if we don't get anything, we can't lose our lives! Do you hear me!" Gu Hao shouted loudly, carrying his bow and holding his spear!

"We hear you!" Over twenty men roared in unison. Gu Hao nodded in satisfaction.

"Hunter team, enter the mountains!"

Under the envious gazes of the remaining members, Gu Hao led twenty team members into the mountains in a grand procession.

The hunter team was composed of all the strong men in the village. At least one-third of the members had to stay behind to guard the village each time they entered the mountains.

After all, in this world, some people were far more terrifying than wild beasts!

Thank you to all the book friends for your recommendations and collections, Angels Shedding Feathers, Eclair, Book Friend 20171230135717200, and This Rat Has Come for your rewards and additions to the reading list. I only saw them yesterday.