Gu Sheng chuckled: "Congratulations, you got it right! Hereâs your rewardâan axe to the head!"
Faced with the aggressive Gu Sheng, the man turned pale with fear and hastily grabbed several throwing knives to hurl at him. Gu Sheng, having battled countless foes in Canghe County, could be considered a seasoned fighter with razor-sharp combat instincts. With a casual swing of his Thirsty Blood Battle Axe, he effortlessly deflected all the knives.
"Donât just stand there like idiots! This kidâs a sneaky bastard, playing dumb to catch us off guard. Letâs gang up on him and finish this! Donât let him screw us over!"
The other two members of the Thousand Poison Sect, realizing Gu Shengâs strength, immediately joined the fray.
The one with the deepest breath drew a long knife from his waist and handed it to the guy wielding the curved blade earlier: "Use mine for now! You two lead the charge while I cover him from afar. Make it quickâthis place is too close to the Holy Pill Sect. If their people show up, things will get messy!"
"Got it!"
Accepting the long knife with a light grunt, he charged at Gu Sheng once more. As he launched his attack, one hand gripped the blade while the other discreetly reached into his robe to retrieve a pouch of powder hidden within.
The man wielding the pitchfork also realized he couldnât afford to hold back anymore and rushed at Gu Sheng with everything he had.
"Die!"
Confronting the incoming long knife, Gu Sheng calmly lifted the Thirst Blood Axe to block. However, just as he raised it, the attacker revealed a triumphant smirk, unleashing the contents of the powder pouch straight at Gu Shengâs eyes.
The powder seemed to act as a signal â the person holding position in the distance also pulled out a whistle arrow, aiming at Gu Sheng and blowing it toward him.
The pitchfork-wielding man smirked coldly, slapping the staff of his weapon lightly. To everyoneâs surprise, the originally short pitchfork extending just five or six tens of centimeters suddenly popped out an additional segment, instantly turning it into a long-range weapon!
As the saying goes, "longer is stronger." Initially near-range weapons were constrained by Gu Shengâs Thirsty Blood Axe and often suffered in battle. But after witnessing his strength, the three of them resorted to activating the hidden mechanisms of their weapons for an edge in combat!
Members of the Thousand Poison Sect were known for their cunning and viciousness, with virtually every trick tied to their mastery of poison. The powder hurled at Gu Shengâs eyes was not exempt. If it fell into his eyes, blindness would be immediate!
Luckily, Gu Sheng had noticed the manâs subtle movements beforehand. Raising the Thirst Blood Axe to block the long knife had merely been a feint. When he saw the attacker prepare to scatter poison powder, Gu Sheng suddenly performed a dazzling spin, wielding the axe sideways like a fan to create a powerful gust of wind. The powder was blown back instantly.
Being an expert archer, Gu Sheng had keen sensitivity to the sound of ranged weapons. Locating their positions by ear was one of his signature skills. Upon hearing the whistle arrowâs noise, he sidestepped two paces to clear the line of fire.
The poisoned whistle arrow whizzed past Gu Shengâs body, missing its mark entirely. With the steel pitchfork thrusting straight toward him, Gu Sheng used the handle of his axe to block its path!
"Ah! My eyes! My eyes!"
The Thousand Poison Sect disciple wielding the long knife screamed in agony as the poisonous powder hit his own eyes. He dropped the blade to the ground, clutching at his face frantically.
The powderâs toxicity was extremely potent. Gu Sheng shivered involuntarily upon hearing the sizzling sound of the manâs eyes being burned.
"Damn, that must hurt!"
"Hah! Karma at its finest! You rely on petty tricks â easily dealt with!"
Gu Shengâs words enraged the remaining two attackers, as if he had insulted their very faith. Their faces turned crimson, their eyes burning with fury as they charged at Gu Sheng, recklessly determined.
The two were both in the Bronze Bone Realm, and the one with the deepest breath was a top-tier fighter in the realm. Their combat strength was formidable. Facing both at once, Gu Sheng, for the moment, found himself struggling to keep pace.
The main challenge was the venomous nature of their weapons. Gu Sheng had to exercise extreme caution, forcing him to hold back from fully committing to the fight. In contrast, the pairâs suicidal ferocity put him at a distinct disadvantage.
After a brief moment of chaos, the poison-blinded man calmed down and retrieved an antidote to apply.
Though his life was spared, his eyes were effectively ruined, leaving him practically incapacitated in combat. This alleviated the pressure on Gu Sheng somewhat. Had all three attacked simultaneously, the situation would have been far graver!
The remaining two fighters attacked with relentless ferocity, their coordination seamless. Their offensive and defensive techniques showed remarkable synergy, pushing Gu Sheng into a precarious position.
They werenât mere pawns either. Their skill and array of tactics forced Gu Sheng to expend considerable effort to cope, trading dozens of blows in just two or three minutes.
Such high-intensity combat drained both physical strength and mental focus rapidly. Within moments, Gu Sheng felt the strain setting in. Prolonged use of the Snake Breath Skill was taking a toll on his mental stability, leaving his head somewhat dazed. Meanwhile, the Thousand Poison Sect pair remained vigorous, their synchronized attacks consuming far less energy. The more they fought, the bolder they became!
Noticing a significant weakening of Gu Shengâs force as the Thirst Blood Axe was deflected, the pitchfork fighterâs face revealed a gleeful expression.
"Senior Brother Zhou, this punkâs about to burn out! Letâs finish him in one sweep!"
Zhou, the elder disciple, also sensed this opportunity and smirked cruelly: "For someone so young to reach Bronze Bone Realm, he has to be some bigwigâs protĂ©gĂ© from the Holy Pill Sect. If we bring back his head and report to the Elder, the steward might forgive our transgressions. Hell, we might even earn a hefty reward!"
The two of them laughed heartily, their attacks escalating in frequency. Gu Shengâs pressure rose sharply.
Faced with their relentless assault, Gu Shengâs expression darkened. "Did you think Iâm a sick cat just because this tiger hasnât roared yet?"
The two snorted, exchanging mocking looks. "Even if youâre a sick cat, what can you possibly do about it?"
Gu Sheng could distinctly feel his strength dwindling rapidly. If he didnât settle the battle soon, he risked being worn down completely by the pairâs sheer exhaustion tactics!
"Blood Activation Skill!"
Unleashing the locked energy from the Blood Activation Skill, Gu Shengâs once-flagging vitality surged back to full strength. His aura not only recovered but grew more imposing than before.
When Gu Sheng struck again, his attacks carried increased force and intensity!
"Three Forms of Wrathful Blood!"
Though the Blood Activation Skill had only reached the Small Success realm, the stored energy was limited. If Gu Sheng couldnât defeat the pair quickly, his situation would once again deteriorate!
Unleashing the Three Forms of Wrathful Blood, Gu Shengâs assault took on a frenzied quality. With a single swing of his axe, he shattered the pitchfork in its wielderâs hands. Seizing this advantage, he spun the Thirst Blood Axe in a wide arc, forcing back the other fighter before immediately launching the second form.
The first formâs power was already overwhelming, but the second form doubled its force. The pitchfork snapped again as its wielderâs face turned deathly pale. Just as he attempted to flee, the massive axe descended upon him!
Against Gu Shengâs unleashed fury, the pitchfork wielder didnât even have time to scream before his skull was split open by the axe!
Now, only Senior Brother Zhou remained among the combat-ready Thousand Poison Sect fighters!
After dispatching the pitchfork wielder, Gu Sheng wasted no time, turning deftly toward Zhou to unleash the third form of Wrathful Blood, sweeping forward with a wave of sickening wind.
Zhou, sensing Gu Shengâs sudden transformation into this ferocious warrior, immediately reconsidered his stance. Abandoning his blinded junior brother, he flung a cluster of iron caltrops at Gu Sheng before turning tail and fleeing.
Rather than chasing blindly after the retreating figure, Gu Sheng turned his attention to Mo Buwen. Picking up the Stone-breaking Crossbow, he skillfully loaded an arrow and then resumed the pursuit.
The Red Cloud Mountain Range beyond the pond was dense with forests, offering plenty of obstructions. Gu Sheng fired multiple shots, but none found their mark.
With Mo Buwen badly injured and another enemy still lurking in the vicinity, Gu Sheng dared not venture too far in pursuit. Realizing his shots werenât landing, he chose instead to double back.
"Senior Brother Zhou? Senior Brother Zhou? Where are you, Senior Brother? Donât leave me behind! I... I donât want to die!"