Seeing Gu He Again

Beyond the woods lay more woods. The climate on the far side of the Magic Beast Mountain Range was far more complex. The moment they crossed the ridge, it was as though they had gone from a temperate zone into the tropics, leaving relatively clean woodland behind for rainforest. Snakes, insects, rats, and ants began appearing frequently, and poisonous magic beasts became more numerous as well.

Shnk! Huo Yuhao pulled his long blade from the head of a massive lizard. The lizard's body was covered in charred burn marks and purple-black claw wounds. Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor stood beside it, gasping heavily.

"Ha, even fourth-tier magic beasts are no longer our match!" Xiao Yan said after catching his breath, grinning broadly with excitement in his eyes.

"I don't think it had much to do with you. We only killed that Blackwater Demonic Lizard thanks to Brother Yuhao."

Xiao Yan was unconvinced. "No, if my Whirlwind Fire Fist hadn't shattered the scales on its head, how could Yuhao have taken it down so easily?"

"But we still had to rely on Brother Yuhao's spirit weapon."

"And what about you? Without those gauntlets, your Frenzied Poison Claw would only have scratched the Blackwater Demonic Lizard's itch."

After breaking through to the Da Dou Shi realm, Little Fairy Doctor had secretly pulled Huo Yuhao aside several times to check herself. The Seven-Colored Hidden Thread had remained essentially unchanged, and the Calamity Poison Qi within her body was still as obedient as an arm or finger. As a result, Little Fairy Doctor had grown increasingly lively lately.

Huo Yuhao peeled off the intact scales one by one and carved the magic core from the magic beast's body. Only then did he turn back to mediate between the two.

"Xiao Yan's fire and Xian'er's poison both inflicted considerable damage on it." During this period, under Little Fairy Doctor's persistent demands, Huo Yuhao had finally started calling her by her pet name. That was also one of the reasons she had been so happy lately.

"Let's go." Huo Yuhao waved his hand. Little Fairy Doctor and Xiao Yan noticed that although there was clearly no fluctuation of ice-attributed energy, the flames on the surrounding trees silently went out, while the scattered shards of ice quietly melted away.

Yao Chen, who had been closely watching them since the battle began, noticed this as well. Doubt filled his heart. Could the unity of man and nature realm accomplish something like this?

"Hm?" Little Fairy Doctor used the Qi Control Art to draw a gu insect up from a leaf. "Strange. I think I've seen this thing before."

Looking at the creatures they had occasionally encountered along the way, Huo Yuhao finally could not help asking, "Teacher, we've seen quite a few of these gu insects along the way. This shouldn't be what you were thinking of, right?"

Yao Chen's figure appeared. He stared intently at the gu insect, his voice somewhat hesitant. "At first, I thought it was a method left behind by that fellow in the cave, that Gu Demon, to evade pursuit by the Ice Phoenix Clan. But now, it seems that is not the case. This gu insect has not been here for long."

"Gu Demon?" The three of them were puzzled.

"A rather unusual type of magic beast. Its clan lives in Demon Saint Valley in the Central Plains."

"Demon Saint Valley? Is it a place where magic beasts gather? With 'Saint' in its name, could there be a Dou Saint expert there?" Xiao Yan asked curiously.

"There are no Dou Saints there. There isn't even a single magic beast." Yao Chen smiled.

"Huh?"

"Hehe." Yao Chen showed a trace of reminiscence. "That place used to be the ancestral land of the Demon Clan. The Demon Clan was a force formed by magic beasts born with intelligence. The Gu Demon clan was one of its main branches. Back then, the Demon Clan had a good relationship with our Medicine Clan."

"Then how did—"

Before Xiao Yan could finish, Yao Chen continued, "Unfortunately, after experiencing a great war, the Demon Clan left."

"So the Demon Clan migrated elsewhere?" Little Fairy Doctor asked.

Yao Chen shook his head and stared at Huo Yuhao and Xiao Yan for a long time, making both of them feel a little uneasy.

"They went to another world."

"Another world!" The two were stunned. Huo Yuhao clenched his fists and urgently asked, "Teacher, do you know a way to reach another world?"

"Alas!" Yao Chen let out a long sigh, his voice somewhat low. "If only I did."

Seeing the two of them grow dejected, Yao Chen gave them a burst of encouragement. "I've told you before that once one reaches the Dou Zong realm, one can wield the power of space. Upon breaking into the Dou Saint level, one's control over spatial power becomes exceptionally refined, enough to open small worlds, travel through the void, and even reach other worlds. If you two want to return to the worlds of your previous lives, then work hard and become Dou Saints."

Huo Yuhao and Xiao Yan fell silent, while Little Fairy Doctor helplessly pressed a hand to her forehead.

"Hey! Haven't we gone off-topic a little? We can talk about that stuff later. The question now is, what is going on with these gu insects?"

Huo Yuhao, Xiao Yan, Yao Chen: "..."

"Ahem." Yao Chen coughed twice and brought the topic back. "There should be someone skilled in using gu insects and poisonous creatures active in the Magic Beast Mountain Range. Judging by the condition of this gu insect, the person who raised them should not be too far from us. We must be careful from here on and stay hidden."

"Yes, Teacher."

For the rest of the journey, they became more cautious. Huo Yuhao once again activated Spirit Probe at full strength, remaining alert to every rustle of wind and grass.

Boom! A violent surge of Dou Qi suddenly erupted and exploded not too far away. A wave of oppressive energy swept toward them, making Xiao Yan's and Little Fairy Doctor's legs go weak as they nearly collapsed to the ground.

"There are experts fighting over there. They should be at the Dou Huang level." After roughly judging the energy's intensity, Yao Chen spoke solemnly to the three. At the same time, he quietly felt half-relieved. Poison-attributed Dou Qi. It seems the one raising those gu insects is this Dou Huang. At that level, he still can't use the gu insects to sense his surroundings.

Sensing the Dou Huang's energy level, Huo Yuhao made his judgment. He was much weaker than Teacher's current strength, probably comparable to an Ultimate Douluo?

He swiftly cast a spiritual barrier, helping Xiao Yan and Little Fairy Doctor, who were trembling, resist the pressure.

Xiao Yan swallowed hard and murmured, "Is this what a true expert feels like?"

"This is nothing. He's only a Dou Huang. Didn't you just resolve to make becoming a Dou Saint your goal?" Yao Chen smiled. "Well? Want to go take a look?"

"We'd better avoid him..." Huo Yuhao had no desire to join in on this excitement.

At that moment, another, slightly weaker burst of Dou Qi erupted and began opposing the earlier Dou Huang's pressure. Feeling the second wave of Dou Qi, Huo Yuhao frowned and swallowed the words he had been about to say to urge everyone to leave.

"Your Brother Gu He happens to be over there too. From the looks of it, he's in trouble!" Yao Chen shook his head, his tone teasing. "The dignified Pill King Gu He may very well die in this godforsaken place. What a tragic death in the prime of his life!"

"Master, Yuhao, Little Fairy Doctor, let's go help Brother Gu He!" Xiao Yan immediately sought their opinions, his expression serious.

Little Fairy Doctor did not state her position. She merely looked at Huo Yuhao, waiting for his decision.

After hesitating for only an instant, Huo Yuhao made up his mind.

"Teacher, if there's danger later, take Xian'er and Xiao Yan and leave first."

At those words, Yao Chen's smile immediately widened. "Don't worry. Even if a Dou Zong is present, your teacher can still keep you safe—and conveniently pull that brat Gu He out as well."