Bai Xiang was an experienced Gu Master, and it was only natural that he was thoroughly familiar with the Gu worm Jian Long was using—the Metal Spear Gu.
It was not a rare or mysterious worm.
On the contrary, it was one of the common Gu of Rank 1, and its properties were well known among Gu Masters.
At the initial stage of Rank 1, each attack consumed about 10% of the primeval sea.
At the middle stage, the consumption dropped to 5%.
At the upper stage, it reached 2%, and at the peak, it did not exceed 1%.
As cultivation level increased, the power and speed of the metal spear also rose significantly.
Because of this, Bai Xiang did not need much time to understand.
From the strength of the spears Jian Long released, and the density of the primeval essence flowing within them, he was able to accurately determine his level.
The middle stage of Rank 1.
This meant that each spear cost him 5% of his primeval essence.
And if we assume his aptitude was C, then the maximum capacity of his primeval sea would not exceed 59%.
With a simple calculation, he could release ten… or at most eleven spears.
After that, his primeval essence would be completely exhausted.
And at that point, he would be unable to do anything.
In the world of Gu Masters, combat was not merely an exchange of attacks.
At its core, it was a precise calculation of cost.
How much you have, how much you spend, and when you run out.
The one who understood this equation determined the outcome of the battle.
And at this point, one thing was clear to Bai Xiang.
Jian Long was a beginner—he did not understand this yet.
Then the decisive moment came.
Jian Long released his tenth metal spear, and before the sound of its piercing faded in the air, he slowly lowered his hand as if his primeval essence had been exhausted.
This signal did not escape Bai Xiang.
The moment he saw it, his feet moved.
He dashed forward at blinding speed, like lightning tearing across the ground, taking advantage of what he thought was the perfect opportunity to end the fight.
But in the next moment, Jian Long's hand moved again.
It rose steadily, ready to fire.
Bai Xiang was not slow.
On the contrary, his speed was terrifying… but Jian Long, after this short battle, had begun to adapt to it.
Bai Xiang raised an eyebrow slightly when he saw that.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"So… he still has enough to release another spear."
He thought calmly.
"Not bad… but it won't change anything."
In his view, even if he released one more spear, he could easily evade it.
But in the next moment, the distance between them shrank to just one meter.
And then—
the situation exploded.
Jian Long released five metal spears at once.
They shot forward at terrifying speed, tearing through the air, sealing off every angle, cutting off all escape routes.
There was no room to maneuver.
Bai Xiang's eyes widened.
For the first time, genuine shock appeared on his face.
"Five…?!"
he exclaimed inwardly in astonishment.
"This means his primeval sea capacity is—75%! And B-grade aptitude…?! That's higher than mine…!"
But the shock did not last.
In less than a fraction of a second, his focus returned.
This was not the time for anger… nor surprise.
There was no room to evade, so he made only one choice.
He raised his hand, and in an instant, an electric barrier formed in front of him.
A flash of blue light, followed by a dull explosion.
The five spears collided with the barrier and shattered completely.
But the bear was not careless.
It seemed to have been watching for the right moment.
In the brief opening that appeared between them, it swung its claw from a distance, releasing a sharp air blade like a sword that shot toward them from behind at deadly speed.
Bai Xiang sensed the danger at that very moment.
The electric barrier disappeared instantly.
With a smooth motion, he arched his back and bent down, narrowly avoiding the blade as it passed just above him, slicing through the air with a sharp sound.
But at that same moment, Jian Long was close.
Very close.
He raised his hand, pointing it directly at Bai Xiang's head, ready to release another metal spear.
Bai Xiang's eyes widened slightly.
A sudden surge of anger ignited within him.
"He still has more?!"
he roared inwardly.
"Just how large is his primeval sea?!"
The situation was critical.
A single moment of hesitation… would have been enough to end everything.
He had no time to think.
His body moved according to pure combat instinct.
He lifted his leg and kicked Jian Long hard in the waist.
The kick struck his body like a hammer.
Jian Long was sent flying backward, thrown through the air before being blasted ten meters away.
But that move was not without a cost.
Because of that sudden kick, Bai Xiang lost his balance.
His body shook, then he fell to the ground.
In the next moment, the bear did not waste the opportunity.
It charged forward at full speed, its massive body shaking the ground beneath its feet, its mouth wide open…
ready to devour its prey.
But that did not give him a decisive advantage.
At the moment the bear charged at him, Bai Xiang had already regained his balance. He stood firmly on his feet and prepared himself for the imminent collision.
Then—
BOOOOM!
The sound of impact thundered like a clap of thunder.
The two bodies crashed into each other with terrifying force, the ground trembling beneath their feet as a dense cloud of dust rose, obscuring the scene for a few moments.
When it cleared, the two figures emerged.
The bear… and Bai Xiang, locked together.
In a posture resembling a savage embrace, each pushing against the other with all their strength, as if a purely primal struggle had erupted between them.
If it had been an ordinary person—
they would have been crushed instantly.
But Bai Xiang was not ordinary.
In the past, he had used strength-path Gu—Bull Strength Gu and Horse Strength Gu.
With repeated use, that strength was no longer temporary…
it had become a part of his body.
A permanent power rooted in his muscles and bones.
Because of this, he was able to match the bear—
and even confront it head-on.
But that was not enough.
The bear's sharp claws dug into Bai Xiang's back and shoulder, tearing flesh and sinking deep, leaving bloody wounds with every moment of contact.
The pressure was immense.
As for its jaws—
they were close… terrifyingly close to his neck.
Only a tiny distance separated life from death.
Bai Xiang could even feel its hot breath striking his ear, hear its heavy exhale, like a low growl filled with killing intent.
Any small mistake—
any lapse in strength—
and those jaws would clamp down on his neck…
ending everything in a single moment.
In such a critical moment, he had only one choice—
to unleash his full power at once.
At that instant, the primeval sea within his aperture began to boil violently. Its waves churned and shrank rapidly as his essence was consumed at a steady rate.
Lightning coiled around Bai Xiang's body. It was no longer just a barrier or a simple attack—
it became a complete aura, enveloping him from head to toe, flashing sharply and crackling with a terrifying sound.
He tightened his grip on the bear.
Then—
he released it.
Lightning erupted from his body, surging into the bear with overwhelming force.
The beast roared in agony, its massive body trembling violently as it tried to pull back and escape, but Bai Xiang's grip was like iron shackles.
The smell of burning fur and flesh spread through the air—sharp and suffocating, noticeable even from afar.
It would have only taken a few seconds—
for everything to be decided.
But—
suddenly…
he stopped.
Bai Xiang's body trembled.
Then he coughed up blood.
Warm, thick blood spilled from his mouth, dripping onto his chest.
A sharp pain pierced through him.
He looked down—
and saw two metal spears lodged in his body.
The first…
had pierced his chest, stopping just a hair's breadth from his heart.
The second—
had penetrated his side, going through his left kidney.
At that moment, the lightning around him began to fade.
His grip weakened.
His body staggered.
Using the last of his strength, he slowly turned his head backward.
As his body began to collapse…
falling to the ground—
with the bear on top of him.
There—
he saw Jian Long.
Lying on the ground, his body nearly lifeless… yet he had not fallen completely.
He had lifted himself slightly—
using his severed right arm as support.
His left hand—
was extended toward him.
Steady.
Cold.
He understood.
In that moment—
Bai Xiang's eyes widened.
"So…"
he thought with difficulty, his inner voice fading.
"His aptitude… is A-grade…!"
Silence.
Then a deep bitterness appeared in his eyes.
"Why… did I think it was C?"
"As a seasoned fighter… shouldn't I have expected the worst?"
"How… did I make such a beginner's mistake…?"
But he knew the reason.
It was not ignorance—
but pride.
He could not accept—
that this vagrant, whom he had despised from the very beginning…
possessed talent and aptitude—
that surpassed even his own.
And surpassed his clan.