Dust Settles

That long-absent whistle of an arrow was even more distinct than before, yet the arrow itself was incredibly fast. The moment everyone noticed it, it had already shot toward Zhang Da's face. An ordinary bandit would have had his eye blasted apart by that arrow.

Gu Xiaojiang's bloodshot eyes widened as he prayed for a miracle.

But in the next instant—

Everyone's hearts sank.

Zhang Da, who had been leaping forward, suddenly halted. With a tap of his foot, he flew backward in an awkward posture. Then his long saber swept out, instantly severing and knocking aside the arrow aimed at his eye. He burst into laughter.

"You little rat hiding in the shadows, your grandpa Zhang had been watching out for you!"

He had been observing for quite some time.

Although the hidden man's archery was astonishing, he was definitely not a martial artist. Zhang Da's Skin Refining had reached the Iron Skin level. So long as he protected weak vital points like his eyes, even if an arrow hit him, it would at most cause a minor injury and would not be fatal. It might not even break through his defenses.

He had deliberately exposed a flaw just now to lure Gu Sheng into attacking.

Yet Gu Sheng's archery still shocked him. Those arrows were swift and tricky. Even though he had been prepared, it had still been a close call, and he could feel the piercing chill carried by the arrow.

The light in Gu Xiaojiang's eyes gradually faded.

Gu Dajiang rushed over desperately, taking a blow from the spiked club and coughing up blood. He was already close, but still too far away to help.

Zhang Da laughed as he lunged forward, with no intention of wasting any time.

But his expression changed at once. A sense of danger suddenly rose within him, and a nearly inaudible whistle slipped into his ears. Unlike the thunderous arrow whistle from before, this arrow was incomparably stealthy. It had followed directly behind the previous arrow, and he only discovered it when it was already upon him!

Gu Sheng had fired two arrows in succession in an instant!

Gu Sheng's gaze was icy.

From the start, he had never expected the first arrow to succeed. Zhang Da was far too alert and cunning; he would never reveal an opening so easily.

The first arrow had merely been bait. Gu Sheng had deliberately used a special method of exerting force to make its whistle slightly louder, then fired the second arrow close behind it!

This was the limit of what he could do.

The second arrow was his true killing move!

Gu Erniu beside him was already dumbfounded. Such archery was beyond words.

Zhang Da's scalp prickled. The arrow was too fast; he had no time to swing his saber. Gritting his teeth, he raised his left arm to shield his eyes and continued retreating.

Screech!

The spinning arrow collided with his blue-black arms. The iron arrowhead seemed to have struck refined iron and met enormous resistance. This powerful arrow, enough to pierce through a throat, ultimately only managed to sink in half an arrowhead.

A trace of regret appeared in Gu Sheng's eyes.

If his archery had broken through to beyond mastery and gained a special effect, he should have been able to tear through a Skin Refining martial artist's defenses.

Or if he became a martial artist himself and wielded a three-stone bow, or even a four-stone bow, he could have pierced through Zhang Da's arms and blown out his eyes.

But there were no ifs.

This was already the limit of what he could do.

Whether he fired a third arrow or not no longer made much difference. From so far away, it was too difficult to hit a martial artist's vital points. Perhaps if he were closer, the arrow could hit Zhang Da's eye, but Gu Sheng himself would also be in danger.

"From here on, it depends on your luck."

Gu Sheng looked at Gu Xiaojiang, who was struggling desperately to rise, then at Gu Dajiang, who was rushing over with all his might, and spoke silently in his heart.

The arrow had been coated in Black Blood Powder.

If luck was on their side, Gu Dajiang might have a chance to save Gu Xiaojiang. But Gu Sheng knew the hope was slim.

Black Blood Powder should not have taken effect so quickly.

Gu Sheng and Gu Erniu swiftly changed positions, keeping their eyes on the battlefield. If things truly became impossible, they could only flee. It was better than throwing away their lives here for nothing. He had already done everything he could, and at least his conscience was clear.

At that moment, Zhang Da's left arm had been struck by the arrow, and the tearing pain in his flesh made him let out a roar of agony.

"You despicable bastard! Don't let your grandpa Zhang catch you!"

He yanked out the arrow and roared toward the sky.

"I'm killing this little brat today! Let's see who dares stop me!"

Blood stained Zhang Da's left arm red, making him look even more ferocious. He glared viciously at Gu Xiaojiang, who was struggling to stand, his will to survive intense. Saber in his right hand, he prepared to charge in for another kill.

But his body suddenly stiffened. His blood abruptly became sluggish, while his entire body began to grow numb and rigid. The sensation only intensified.

"Poison on the arrow!"

Terror surged through his heart, and he gritted his teeth so hard they nearly shattered.

Sometimes, things were simply that coincidental.

Under normal circumstances, poison like Black Blood Powder would not take effect so quickly. But Zhang Da had earlier swallowed the Blood Boiling Pill he had held between his teeth in order to suddenly erupt and kill his enemies.

The Blood Boiling Pill was a medicine passed down by the Fire Worship Cult. After taking it, one's blood flow would increase dramatically. It could greatly enhance the strength of Skin Refining martial artists and was somewhat useful even to Blood Refining Realm martial artists.

Its downside was that it left the user weakened for some time afterward, requiring rest and nourishment. Taking too many would even damage a martial artist's foundation.

But to ordinary martial artists, it was undoubtedly a powerful trump card. A sudden burst of strength could produce miraculous results.

Zhang Da had treasured the Blood Boiling Pill Wang Chong had rewarded him with and had only swallowed it because he had no other choice. Who could have imagined that the Blood Boiling Pill would now become the thing that doomed him?

His accelerated blood flow caused the normally slow-acting Black Blood Powder to rapidly spread throughout his body, and its effects became even stronger.

His muscles were sore and numb, and his head spun. For the moment, he could not spare any thought for pursuing Gu Xiaojiang.

Gu Sheng noticed that something was wrong with Zhang Da and felt puzzled.

By all reason, Black Blood Powder should not have been this potent.

At this moment, Wang Chong had also taken a Blood Boiling Pill. The muscles across his body swelled again, and his spiked club whistled with terrifying force as he tried to intercept Gu Dajiang.

But Gu Dajiang was focused solely on saving his son and had no desire to tangle with him. His left fist turned the color of iron and stone, smashing out like a heavy hammer. Yet he was ultimately flesh and blood. Even though his Skin Refining was complete, it had not reached his tendons and bones. How could he possibly contend with such a massive weapon?

Crack!

Gu Dajiang's left arm fell limp, its flesh mangled and bloody.

Wang Chong seemed not to have expected Gu Dajiang to be so ruthless, willing to sacrifice his left arm just to save his son. Gu Dajiang seized the opportunity and shot past him in an instant.

Gu Dajiang looked at Gu Xiaojiang's miserable condition, and his eyes turned bloodshot.

"You dog, die!"

With the thick-backed saber gripped in his right hand, even an injured Blood Refining Realm expert was not someone Zhang Da could compare to, much less when Zhang Da had also been poisoned by Black Blood Powder.

Rip!

The saber descended like a waterfall. All of Gu Dajiang's fury and hatred poured into this single strike. It was unstoppable, and Zhang Da was cut cleanly in two at the waist!

Flesh, shattered bones, and organs burst forth in an instant, spilling across the ground in a horrifying sight.

Blood covered Gu Dajiang's body. This man who usually resembled an old farmer now looked as terrifying as an evil ghost.

Even Gu Sheng froze.

But he quickly snapped awake, knowing Zhang Da's death did not mean this was over. Though Zhang Da was dead, he had achieved his goal. Gu Dajiang's left arm was crippled, and he certainly would not be able to hold off Wang Chong any longer.

Seeing his capable subordinate cut in half, rage surged in Wang Chong's eyes.

Holding his spiked club, he strode forward to kill, stomping heavily with each step like a monstrous beast!

Everyone's hearts trembled.

Just then—

A figure raced in from the distance. They could vaguely make out a bald, muscular man striding like a tiger, each step carrying him a great distance.

"You bastard, come die at your grandpa Vajra's hands!!"

Though he was still far away, his savage aura had already crashed down upon the crowd. As he ran, the veins and muscles on the bald man's arms bulged, swelling to nearly twice their size. He hurled a bluestone slab half a man tall straight at Wang Chong.

It came with overwhelming, unstoppable force.

The people of Gu Family Village were greatly invigorated, and wild joy appeared on their faces.

The heart Gu Sheng had been holding in his throat finally settled, and he could not help dropping to the ground.

"Gu Jingang... you fucking finally made it..."

Gu Family Village's reinforcements had arrived. Now, things were secure.