Thread Gu

The reason these people didn't go to Wu'an Mountain and instead tried to snatch the cultivation art directly from Zhao Ping'an was simple: Qinggong!

Zhao Ping'an had previously revealed his Human Grade Perfection Qinggong, which made him too fast for these people to catch.

This included the Great Grandmaster leading them; he also couldn't catch up to Zhao Ping'an.

The reason was simple: that Great Grandmaster didn't have a Profound Grade Qinggong martial art. His Human Grade Qinggong had only reached Great Accomplishment Grade, and he couldn't improve further.

"Thank you, City Lord Zhou, for delivering the letter. I have matters to attend to, so I won't keep you any longer!"

Zhao Ping'an crushed the letter in his hand and dismissed Zhou Ruiming.

Without waiting for him to leave, Zhao Ping'an flashed into his Master's study, picked up a brush and ink, and began to write.

What he was writing was the Internal Cultivation Art he was currently cultivating, the Four Symbols Gathering Essence Art. As a top-tier Profound Grade Art, cultivating it to perfection would allow one to directly break through to the Martial King Realm, completely meeting the other party's requirements.

As for whether the other party would live to cultivate it after receiving the art, only heaven knew.

Profound Grade Arts were very complex. Zhao Ping'an spent more than half an hour to finish writing, filling nearly a hundred pages. Each page was covered in dense Tiny Characters and thumb-sized Figure Diagrams.

It was already around 2 PM. Zhao Ping'an used his True Essence to dry the ink, casually found two iron nails to fasten the pages together, tucked them into his embrace, and left the city alone.

His four Senior Brothers and Sisters knew nothing about the letter's contents, and Zhao Ping'an didn't tell them. He only instructed them to guard his Master well and that he would bring his Mistress back safely.

Just as Zhao Ping'an's figure appeared at the city gate closest to Thousand Guts Valley and he left the city, a Young Master carrying a birdcage near the city gate also quickly followed him out.

After leaving South Ridge City, the birdcage in his hand was opened when no one was paying attention. A Little Bird, only palm-sized, shot out like an arrow, disappearing into the forest a thousand meters outside the city.

Its speed was so fast that even a Great Grandmaster would have trouble catching up.

And the direction it went was precisely the direction of Thousand Guts Valley.

"My bird!!!"

As for the Young Master, he stood outside the city, shouting anxiously for a while, attracting the attention of many passersby.

About fifteen minutes later, he returned to South Ridge City dejectedly, carrying an empty birdcage.

This scene happened silently. The Young Master was a notorious Profligate Son in South Ridge City, skilled in all sorts of debauchery and vice. He wouldn't attract anyone's attention.

Zhao Ping'an also didn't have the time to pay attention to a Profligate Son. Of course, as he left the city, he had sensed several gazes upon him, but he didn't care.

In the central area of Thousand Guts Valley, inside a newly excavated Stone Cave, several figures were quietly sitting around a Bonfire.

At the deepest part of the Stone Cave, Zhao Ping'an's Mistress, Zhao Xiuyun, lay motionless on the cold ground, clearly unconscious.

From her gently rising and falling chest and her neat clothing, it could be seen that these people had not done anything to her, except...

Outside the Stone Cave, twenty figures stood silently, motionless like mannequins.

"Chirp!..."

Suddenly, within the mist above, a rapid and clear birdsong broke the silence.

"Hmm? My treasure is back!"

Inside the stone cave, Scorpion Woman Qian Yingying suddenly opened her enchanting eyes, looking towards the mist outside with a joyous expression, and spoke happily.

Then she immediately walked out of the stone cave, emitting a series of rapid and clear birdsongs from her mouth.

"Chirp!..."

Soon, a yellow and green little bird rushed out of the thick fog overhead and landed directly in Qian Yingying's outstretched palm, pecking at a small nut resembling a melon seed.

Qian Yingying took a rolled-up piece of paper from a slender bamboo tube on the little bird's leg.

After opening it, it only had four small characters written on it: "Zhao Has Left City!"

"Has Zhao Ping'an already left the city?"

Behind Qian Yingying, an ancient voice suddenly sounded. It was the strongest Great Grandmaster among them.

"Yes, Lord!"

"Very good, Guan Liang, go to the valley entrance and bring him to the second stronghold. We'll wait for you there!"

"Yes!"

Guan Liang cupped his fists in a salute and quickly disappeared into the thick fog.

If one could see his palm clearly, they would find a completely black insect clinging to his right palm. If observed carefully, one would notice that on the black outer shell, there were green fine lines continuously emitting fluorescence.

As Guan Liang moved, the insect, which was smaller than a pinky finger, kept adjusting its direction.

This was the key for these people to navigate within the mist: the Gu Worm—Thread Gu!

A nest of Thread Gu worms consisted of one Worm King and one Worm Queen, with the rest being Child Worms.

When the Child Worms were fully mature, their heads would always point towards the Worm King, and their tails would always point towards the Worm Queen. When the Worm King and Worm Queen gathered, they would shrink into a ball.

Furthermore, the twelve green fine lines on their bodies could connect with twelve other Child Worms, but this required activation with internal energy (Gang Qi) beforehand. Each worm could only be activated once, and it would last for three days, after which it would surely die.

The true power of the Thread Gu was not in navigation, but in control. Child Worms could control Innate Experts, the Worm Mother could control Grandmasters, and the Worm King was the core controlling everything.

If the Worm King dies, the worm swarm is destroyed!

Following the guidance of the Gu worm, Guan Liang walked in a winding path for a quarter of an hour before finally emerging from the mist, appearing at the exit of Thousand Guts Valley near South Ridge City.

Zhao Ping'an was already waiting there. He had even arrived earlier than the little bird.

If it weren't for his Mistress's safety and the fact that there was still plenty of time before the deadline, he would have already charged into Thousand Guts Valley.

As for the Mist within and the stone paths that even ordinary Grandmasters found difficult to damage, they had no effect on him whatsoever.

If he wished, he could completely level the place in a short amount of time.

"I hope Mistress is safe, otherwise..."

Looking at the valley ahead where the Mist churned, Zhao Ping'an's eyes were terrifyingly cold.

Suddenly, he saw a tall figure emerge from the Mist, looking around as if searching for him.

"Grandmaster Peak?"

Sensing the unhidden aura emanating from the other party, Zhao Ping'an whispered and flashed out from behind a nearby tree, appearing not too far in front of him.

"Are you looking for me?"

Zhao Ping'an, who suddenly appeared behind Guan Liang, asked in a hoarse voice like a Fierce Ghost.

Guan Liang jumped several zhang away like a startled Kitten, much faster than his peak speed, clearly terrified.

"Zhao Ping'an? Hiss... Huff..."