Chapter 770: The Death of Gu Ren (Part 1) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]

"How can we say we have no clothes? We share the same robes. The king is raising an army; let us prepare our spears and shields. We will fight together against this common enemy!"

Beneath the sky, ancient chants faintly echoed. The outline of the owner of the three giant arms became clear. It was a giant with only an upper body. The rainwater, upon touching "its" almost transparent body, was scorched into wisps of fine white mist.

【How can we say we have no clothes? We'll share our garments. The king is raising an army; let us prepare our spears and halberds. We'll fight together!】

The ancient chants continue.

Mysterious patterns gradually emerged on the giant's skin. As the Gu Ren army was enveloped in the chanting, their already high morale surged two levels higher. The almost tangible morale gathered into clouds in the sky, which then transformed into the giant's upper body armor.

"How can we say we have no clothes? We will share our garments with you. The king is raising an army; let us prepare our armor and weapons. We will march together!"

Finally, the giant's aura stabilized.

It suddenly opened a pair of golden, gleaming eyes.

Two beams of golden light shot from his eyes, striking directly at Huang Lie's vanguard. Huang Lie's generals led the charge while simultaneously conjuring shields from their own energy. The moment the golden beams clashed with the shields, a series of cracking sounds assaulted everyone's eardrums. Even after the massive shields dissipated, the remaining force of the two golden beams continued to cleave the ground with devastating force.

The vanguard heavy shield warrior, cut and crushed head-on by the golden pillar, couldn't even let out a scream, and evaporated on the spot.

Huang Lie looked up at the hundred-foot-tall giant that seemed to reach the heavens and the earth. Wherever the golden pillar passed, the heavily shielded warriors appeared utterly powerless. However, he remained completely calm, a mocking smile playing on his lips. Because he knew where this giant had come from.

With Gu Ren at its core, it is a manifestation of burning morale and fighting spirit.

Gu Ren's army was a desperate, desperate force, with high morale and unwavering fighting spirit. Nearly 20,000 soldiers, united as a war god, were not to be underestimated. Even a sixteenth-rank Grandmaster would only meet their demise in a head-on confrontation.

but--

Skills that require relentless effort never last.

The distance between the vanguard of the two armies was completely erased in a matter of moments under the full force of the charge. In the instant of the clash, the deafening roar of weapons clashing could be heard everywhere. The shouts of battle filled the entire battlefield. The heavy shield warriors felt no pain and were fearless of death. Even when enemy spears pierced their foreheads, cut their limbs, or stabbed into their eye sockets, they did not even bother to dodge or scream.

Gu Ren, the sixth brother, had seventy to eighty percent of his Danfu literary energy depleted.

He was both a scholar and a physician.

The power of words in cultivation is mostly for activation. And because he has a thorough understanding of the meridians, the effects of his words are exceptionally powerful, but the cost is significant side effects. In today's battle, he held nothing back, using his words to activate the full potential of his sworn brothers.

This move will undoubtedly lead them to their doom.

As a cloud of blood mist exploded, his face grew even more deathly still, and he whispered, "Big Brother, Eighth Brother is just gone—"

Even if one were to unleash their full potential, burning their lifespan and dantian, it would be impossible for a seventh-rank duke to gain strength comparable to a sixteenth-rank grand master. As the weakest link in the attack, even with hasty support from giants, they would be extremely vulnerable to a fatal blow.

He sat on horseback, his straight back swaying almost imperceptibly. Gu Ren's mind was connected to the giant; how could he not have seen that scene? He could no longer hold back; a spasm clenched in his throat, escaping with a glaring red thread, which he forcibly swallowed back.

With tears in his eyes, he said, "My eighth brother went ahead to scout the way."

The brothers will eventually reunite on the road to the underworld.

This is just a brief separation.

He appeared calm and composed, yet the giant controlled by his words betrayed his true inner turmoil. His lowest hands rose high, fingertips cracking, spewing forth spheres of boiling blood. Countless crimson spears shot forth from these spheres.

There is only one target—

That warrior in black!

Puff puff puff puff—

Countless spears followed in quick succession.

Seeing that the six-armed giant's attention was on him, the black-clad warrior couldn't help but reveal a provocative sneer. The battlefield beneath his feet raged violently, like an earth dragon turning over, with mud and sand flying up and transforming into a proud dragon head under the condensation of martial energy, charging head-on towards the crimson spear.

"Gu Ziyi—"

Huang Lie watched the battle with a cold gaze.

Although the black-clad warriors were surrounded by several attackers, their lives were not in immediate danger, while the heavy shield warriors were at a slight disadvantage. This scene displeased Huang Lie greatly, as the heavy shield warriors were his prized trump card. As long as he did not order a retreat and allowed them to attack with all their might, even with an enemy's blade at their neck, their steps would not falter for a moment, striking fear into the hearts of all.

Gu Ren's troops, however, managed to hold out.

If one-for-one doesn't work, try two-for-one, or even three-for-one.

They trampled over the corpses of their comrades, advancing tirelessly one after another. Their fervent morale transformed into sharp spears in their hands, piercing through the giant shield in front of the warrior with a thud. Gripping the spears tightly, they roared as they continued to pierce through the flesh and blood hiding behind the shield.

Huang Lie only managed to build such an elite force through his methods.

He went to great lengths to win over the refugees, wearing a mask and pretending to be their savior. The so-called "Hercules Pill" created these living puppets, and he used Gu worms to make these heavy shield warriors work for him. Gu Ren did nothing, so what right did he have?

So many people are willing to risk their lives for him!

In that instant, an unspeakable jealousy, like a black liquid oozing poison, gurgled out from the shadows, seeping into his body. Huang Lie watched as yet another person fell to the hands of the black-clad warrior, a chilling smile playing on his lips.

"I'll see when all your brothers die!" They've already lost two brothers, and instead of begging for their lives, they dare come to their deaths. In that case, this will be their brothers' graveyard!

He had to watch helplessly as his brothers died one by one before his eyes!

Archers advanced in waves.

Wave after wave of arrows rained down on Gu Ren's troops.

Countless burning fireballs, propelled by catapults from the rear, flew into Gu Ren's formation. Most were blocked by the giants and archers, but a few still landed within the formation. These were stones over ten feet in diameter, instantly turning anyone struck into a flat, lifeless pancake.

"Tsk, annoying ants."

As the saying goes, "Birds of a feather flock together," the black-clad warrior naturally understood Huang Lie's thoughts. He spread his five fingers, and with his other hand, a large sword, taller than a man, appeared. The blade met the gaze of one of the men, reflecting several ferocious faces already bloodthirsty.

Buzz——

The blade of light cleaved through the air with overwhelming force, striking the next target with devastating force. After piercing the air, the explosion caused people to lose their hearing for a moment.

"Tenth Brother!"

The second brother, covered in blood, offered a reminder.

Immediately afterward, the black-clad warrior seized the moment when he was distracted, and with a gust of wind, the illusory palm transformed into a sharp claw, striking straight at his face.

Pfft—

The tenth brother was locked on and could not escape.

Just when he thought he was about to die, the giant raised his long arm to protect him, taking the blow from the black-clad warrior head-on.

The long arm appeared somewhat illusory to the naked eye.

At this point in the fierce battle, the battlefield was littered with the corpses of heavy shield warriors, but even more so with the heavy losses suffered by Gu Ren's troops.

With fewer soldiers, morale naturally plummeted. But the losses brought not only a decline in morale but also a sudden surge in pressure, pushing the Titans, built upon this foundation, to the brink of collapse. At this moment, Gu Ren's sleeves were soaked with thick, warm blood; his wounds were deep, revealing bone and tearing flesh. The balance of power in the battle was visibly shifting towards Huang Lie's side.

At this moment, Huang Lie's eyes turned cold.

He ordered a full-scale attack on the six-armed giant.

Old Six, focused on commanding the vanguard, was naturally the first to notice Huang Lie's troops' change in battle strategy. He inwardly cursed, and just as he feared, his worst fears came true. The black-clad warrior, despite his minor injury, instantly absorbed the surrounding energy, gathering power for a powerful strike against the giant. The giant stretched out its hand, conjuring a nearly transparent shield. At the moment of impending collision, Old Six's expression changed drastically.

Because he sensed two familiar presences.

"Why did Twelve and Thirteen wake up so quickly?"

It wasn't just the sixth brother whose expression changed; the black-clad warrior also did, for he clearly saw a disheveled youth approaching from the horizon, blocking the giant's path. His hands, seemingly sprouting beast-like claws, tore through the slashing attack.

The other path headed straight for the black-clad warrior.

The second son was so angry he almost cursed his ancestors.

"Twelve, what are you doing, you brat!"

Not only was it sharp, but it also cracked.

Why did these two arrive at this time?

Chao Lian's eyes reddened as he looked at his brother, who was covered in wounds and blood: "I don't ask to be born on the same day, month, and year—"

[I only wish to die on the same day, in the same month, in the same year!]

These thirteen brothers, though from all corners of the country, with different family backgrounds, ages, and experiences, shared one thing in common: none of them were cowards who feared death. When Chao Lian awoke, besides grief, he was filled with resentment at being abandoned.

Even if they all died without a complete corpse—

Please also mix their remains together.

The second brother was also nearing the end of his life when Chao Lian's appearance gave him a brief resurgence of energy, infuriating him to the point of wanting to swear. The eldest brother entrusted his family and thirteenth brother to Chao Lian, and instead of stopping the thirteenth brother, Chao Lian brought him along to meet his death?

"Twelve, wait till we get to the Yellow Springs, I'll beat you up!" At this point, there was no other way. The second brother gritted his teeth in anger, and in a flash, a thought crossed his mind—first, he'd practice on the disobedient Chao Lian, then he'd beat up Huang Lie, who had been brought down!

Chao Lian was completely unafraid.

Who can say for sure what happens in the underworld?

"Brothers, let's go!"

The black-clad warrior paid them no heed; his attention was entirely focused on Shao Chong, who had suddenly charged in. The latter's aura was vaguely familiar to him, and as Shao Chong, who resembled a wild beast, landed on all fours and charged like a cannonball, he suddenly remembered.

"malicious thoughts?"

The black-clad warrior's pupils trembled violently in shock.

Shao Chong's aura was clearly that of an embodiment of malevolence, yet he possessed only a mortal body, not martial energy. What did this mean? It meant that Shao Chong had failed in his attempt to reach the sixteenth level of the Grand Supreme Realm, was consumed by malevolence, and had lost all reason, becoming a puppet driven only by killing. Considering his current environment, the black-clad martial artist felt like cursing...

Throw evil thoughts into the battlefield filled with blood and corpses...

It's tantamount to giving Shao Chong a hundred or eighty literary scholars. Even if he can no longer break through the bottleneck, he still has a constant supply of resources! No matter how many injuries, even fatal ones, are left on him by the black-clad warriors, he can recover instantly.

The black-clad warrior was already exhausted from fighting the seven self-igniting warriors, and even with the help of his own scholars, he was still very weak. Shao Chong's appearance could very well drag him down to his death! Unlike the black-clad warrior's worries, Huang Lie narrowed his eyes.

"What a perfect masterpiece!"

Shao Chong's current state was naturally not his fault, but he roughly knew who was responsible. He also knew that what appeared to be a widespread, low-quality Gu worm outbreak, seemingly just a small-scale plague, had unexpectedly produced such a superior specimen!

"This is what a heavy shield warrior should look like!"

He kept muttering to himself.

Huang Lie has created so many heavy-shield warriors over the years, which outsiders believe are his trump cards, but only he knows that they are nothing more than failures and defective products! His teacher's lifelong wish was to artificially create high-level martial arts masters, so that talent would no longer be a shackle binding the common people. Even without talent, a single Gu worm could completely crush these arrogant faces underfoot.

Unfortunately, the teacher died before he could see it.

The highest-level creation he made was the Heavy Shield Warrior, but even that had a high failure rate. Before his death, he passed on his skills and knowledge to Huang Lie, entrusting him with his legacy. Initially, Huang Lie didn't intend to use these skills on people; he simply wanted to be a humble traveling healer. He never even considered gaining fame, status, or wealth through saving lives; a simple life was enough.

Huang Lie only wanted to live a mediocre life with his wife, children, and brothers.

But fate had other plans, and he was forced to rebel!

His wife and children died tragically in the massacre of the city! How could he not hate those high-ranking martial artists and scholars! Since they regarded themselves and the common people as ants on the roadside, he could also regard them as fish on a chopping board!

"The pain of the executioner's blade only comes when it falls on oneself."

Let's get rid of Gu Ren first, and then we'll deal with the rest one by one!

Huang Lie and the others noticed Shao Chong's unusual behavior. How could Gu Ren, who had raised Shao Chong for so many years, not have noticed it?

He sighed softly, "Twelve and thirteen..."

These two younger brothers really make him restless even in death.

Especially the child number thirteen.

Given Thirteen's temperament, how could his evil intentions so easily turn against him? Gu Ren didn't need to think to know what this fool had done.

They probably didn't even put up a resistance.

Since that's the case—

Thirteen brothers may go to the Yellow Springs, but their sworn brotherhood will not have been in vain!

Thinking of this, Gu Ren's hesitant gaze gradually hardened. At this moment, morale was no longer enough to support the six-armed giant. After blocking dozens of incoming fireballs one last time, Gu Ren finally couldn't help but spit out a mouthful of blood. A shrill wail escaped from the half-giant's mouth, and with a bang, he scattered like flames. The battle line retreated again and again as the heavy shield warriors pressed closer.

At this moment, Gu Ren's troops had suffered more than 60% casualties.

Some soldiers in the rear were also losing their morale and considering desertion.

Gu Ren seemed oblivious to the wound on his arm, resolutely drawing his sword and unleashing a spell, "Chasing the Wind and Stalking the Scenery," before spurring his horse towards the enemy. The remaining troops followed him in a final charge!

When his personal guard fell from his horse, the sixth brother grabbed his sword and took his place.

Upon seeing this, Huang Lie's smile became maniacal.

"Whoever takes Gu Ziyi's head will be rewarded with a thousand taels of silver!"

Gu Ren's literary energy was completely exhausted, and he couldn't even condense a barrier of literary energy. He could only rely on his movement techniques to dodge the oncoming arrows. As he charged, blood stained his sword, and he killed several people. Inevitably, several stray arrows were stuck in his body.

He gathered his strength in his dantian and roared, "Huang Xiguang, your ancestor has arrived!" Martial arts practitioners can burn their martial spirit to fight to the death, and scholars naturally have similar methods of mutual destruction.

Better to be a shattered jade than a whole tile!

Do you want his head?

Are you still daydreaming?

(σ)σ:*☆

Gu Ren will be completely offline in the next chapter (whispering, he's on the "Investiture of the Gods" list).

(End of this chapter)