"Wait, wait a minute! My Gu!"
Watching Zhou Ming fly away, the Wood Path Gu Master Family Elder had just reacted. When Zhou Ming left, he had also taken his Gu with him.
Unfortunately, he couldn't do anything now. He could only stand stiffly, shedding tears in the wind, looking utterly miserable... A fierce battle gradually drew to a close with Zhou Ming's departure.
All the Rank Four and Rank Three Family Elders of the three-Family allied army were killed by Zhou Ming. The remaining Two-turn Gu Masters, leaderless, quickly chose to retreat.
Several Family Elders quickly reorganized the team and continued towards their previous destination, the valley.
Although they had repelled the enemy this time, the hunting team had also suffered heavy casualties and could not make the long journey back to Warm Pool Valley.
They could only rest on the spot, deciding to guard the easy-to-defend, hard-to-attack gourd-shaped valley and await the arrival of their Family's reinforcements.
Soon, the team reached the valley, entered it, and guarded the entrance, maintaining strict vigilance.
This was because the retreating enemy Gu Masters had not left but were trailing far behind the team, constantly tracking their movements.
Clearly, the other side had not given up.
"Hmph, if they want to follow, let them! Tomorrow, the Family's support will arrive, and then we'll annihilate them in one fell swoop, ensuring the three major Families return empty-handed!"
In the valley, listening to the reconnaissance Gu Master's report, a Family Elder said with a cold laugh.
A few hours later, the Family Elders received a letter Gu from the Family, instructing them to hold out for seven hours. Elder Zhou Mang would personally lead reinforcements from the Family to provide support.
"Hahahaha, excellent! With Elder Zhou Mang making a move, all those insignificant foes will be swept away!"
The Wood Path Gu Master from before lay on his bed, laughing heartily.
Because he had used Wood Charm Gu for too long, his legs had become stiff, and he couldn't walk, so he had to lie in bed. A few leaves grew on his head, swaying with his laughter, making him look quite comical.
"Elder Zhou Mang truly cares about his grandson." A Family Elder sneered inwardly.
If Zhou Lin weren't in the hunting team, would that old fellow personally lead the team?
No, if they had sent the news of the Forest Sea Reincarnation Body back to the Family, it wouldn't just be Elder Zhou Mang who came; even the Clan Chief would probably rush over personally!
"Alas, if only Zhou Ming hadn't left..."
An unknown Family Elder suddenly spoke, causing the atmosphere in the room to quickly fall silent.
Zhou Ming, this junior whose name they hadn't even heard before, was now constantly on their lips... The hunting team set up tents in the valley, resting in small teams.
In one inconspicuous tent, Zhou Hao, with a solemn expression, called Zhou Yu and Zhou Ke over.
"What I'm about to say is very important. Remember, the Family's higher-ups will definitely ask us about Zhou Ming. No matter what they ask, just tell the truth. Do not hide anything. But if they don't ask, don't say a single word! Understand?"
Zhou Yu and Zhou Ke exchanged glances, both seeing nervousness and worry about the situation in each other's eyes.
But in the end, both nodded in unison: "Understood!"
"Very good." Zhou Hao took out the Flower Bud Gu from his Aperture, "Come, let me show you what Zhou Ming left for us in the end..."
At this time, among the hunting team, the busiest were the healing Gu Masters. The previous battle had caused a large number of casualties, and every healing Gu Master was burdened with the task of treating several patients, so tired they wished they could just collapse on the ground.
Next busiest were the reconnaissance Gu Masters. They constantly monitored every movement around the valley, as well as the enemy's movements stationed not far outside the valley.
Seven hours passed quickly, yet the Family reinforcements they had been eagerly awaiting were nowhere to be seen.
"What happened?"
An uneasy feeling arose in the hearts of the reconnaissance Gu Masters. Although they continued to stick to their posts with disciplined training, an inevitable panic gradually spread among them.
They were worried about potential enemy reinforcements at any moment and constantly hoped for their own reinforcements. They endured another two hours of anxiety when a letter Gu flew into the valley.
"What?! Reinforcements were ambushed en route, trapped at Pingfeng Mountain, and Elder Zhou Mang is severely injured?!"
The Family Elders who received the information in the letter Gu were so shocked they almost jumped up.
"Elder Zhou Mang is a dignified Rank Four high-level Gu Master, who could injure him?!"
Zhou Kangtai propped himself up from the bed, sitting up. He was so agitated he almost fell off the bed.
"Stop shouting, this is a letter Gu personally written by the Clan Chief, how could it be false?!"
Another Family Elder held the letter Gu in his hand, continuing to read the rest of the content, his expression relaxing.
"The Clan Chief has decided to personally lead the team to support us!"
"What?"
"Is that true?!"
"The Clan Chief's injuries haven't healed, how can he leave the Family and endure such a arduous journey?"
The Family Elders asked one after another.
"Alas, perhaps it's for Zhou Ming." An Elder suddenly sighed.
"What do you mean?"
"You, you sent the news about Zhou Ming back to the Family?!"
Another Family Elder pointed at that Family Elder and shrieked.
"That's right, I believe this matter needed to be reported to the Family!" That Family Elder said righteously, showing no fear.
"You! Alas... If the Clan Chief's injuries are aggravated by this matter, you will be the Family's sinner!"
The Family Elders were worried. Now, with the Clan Chief injured and the Rank Four Family Elder Zhou Mang severely wounded and trapped, the Family's top combat strength was greatly diminished.
The enemy, however, had all three major Families mobilized, with no less than three Rank Five Gu Masters and ten Rank Four Gu Masters!
Such a vast disparity between enemy and self made several Family Elders feel a sense of powerlessness, as if the tide had already turned.
Nearly six more hours passed, and the reconnaissance Gu Masters saw smoke and dust rolling in from the southwest direction, indicating a large army was approaching. They quickly sent people to investigate.
Soon, good news returned to the valley.
The reinforcement army led by Clan Chief Zhou Qitian had arrived!
When Zhou Qitian's figure appeared in the valley, the entire valley erupted in loud cheers of excitement.
Zhou Qitian appeared to be thirty years old, but his actual age was close to fifty. He was tall, with piercing eyes and a stern face, exuding a strong sense of confidence and authority from within.
He was powerful, and at fifty, for a Gu Master, he was in his prime. He was the absolute authority of the entire Zhou Family.
Zhou Qitian did not waste time making speeches. He directly ordered the hunting team to be incorporated into the reinforcement army and immediately proceed to rescue the trapped Elder Zhou Mang.
After a brief reorganization, the large army immediately set off towards Pingfeng Mountain.
However, just as the army had traveled a hundred miles, the reconnaissance Gu Masters were horrified to discover traces of enemy Gu Masters appearing simultaneously from several directions ahead.
"Enemy attack!"
The reconnaissance Gu Master's shrill warning echoed in all directions. Enemy forces from several directions had completed their encirclement, wrapping the team led by Zhou Qitian like dumplings!
Several figures emerged from the encircling army, smiling, riding on tall mounts, looking down at the Zhou Family members from above.
The appearance of these people made the faces of the Zhou Family Elders even paler, and some couldn't help but let out desperate groans.
"Oh my god, the Clan Chiefs of the three Families, and the Family Elders..."
"Wenren Yue, Kou Chi, Fu Ying, three Rank Five Gu Masters, and five Rank Four Gu Masters. How can we fight against such a lineup?"
Fear before battle, the Family Elders' hearts were quickly filled with despair, and they could no longer control the expressions on their faces.
The Gu Masters under their command, seeing such reactions from the Family Elders, even if many of them didn't recognize who the people walking out from the opposite side were, also lost their morale and fighting spirit.
The morale of the Zhou Family army quickly plummeted, as if a layer of hazy mist shrouded their heads, dark and lifeless.
"Zhou Qitian, come out. Hiding behind your clansmen is not your style."
At this moment, someone from the opposite side shouted loudly.
He was Fu Ying, the Fu Family Clan Chief, a Rank Five mid-stage cultivator.
Zhou Qitian flew out from the Zhou Family army, landing at the very front, facing the three Clan Chiefs.
His face was calm as he spoke, his voice not loud, yet it spread throughout the entire battlefield: "Three-Family allied army, what a grand display. It seems you are determined to destroy my Zhou Family today."
"Hmph hmph, the Zhou Family has occupied Warm Pool Valley for twenty years, it's time to move over and change owners!" Wenren Yue, the Wenren Family Clan Chief, snorted coldly.
"Is that so? After destroying my Zhou Family, who will take over Warm Pool Valley?" Zhou Qitian looked at Wenren Yue, "Your Wenren Family?"
Wenren Yue narrowed his eyes, knowing it was Zhou Qitian's divisive talk, but he didn't get angry, only sneered.
"Zhou Qitian, we've known each other for many years, there's no need for such nonsense. Today, your Zhou Family is ours for the taking. Even a Gu Immortal cannot save you, I say!"
"Then let's go to war." Zhou Qitian's voice remained calm, his entire being as cold and hard as stone, devoid of any emotion.
"Don't rush!" Kou Chi, the Kou Family Clan Chief, stepped forward, chuckling: "Brother Zhou, before we start, let me introduce you to an old friend for a reunion!"
"Brother Batuha, come out!"
As Kou Chi called out, the Void Realm beside him suddenly twisted into a shadow, and then a person stepped out from the shadow.
"Zhou Qitian, the taste of Heart Corroding Gu isn't pleasant, is it?"
The Gu Master's two eyes emitted a faint green light, staring at Zhou Qitian like a beast, baring his teeth in a chilling smile.
Batuha was precisely the Rank Five Demonic Gu Master who had successfully ambushed Zhou Qitian a few days prior.
Zhou Qitian remained silent, his gaze sweeping over Batuha, then Kou Chi, Wenren Yue, and Fu Ying.
"It seems, today, I cannot escape this calamity."
"However, it won't be easy to defeat me, Zhou Qitian!"
"All four of you, come at me together! Before I die, I will not let you kill a single person from my Zhou Family!"
Zhou Qitian's words were powerful and resounding, spreading across the entire battlefield, sweeping away the low spirits of all the Zhou Family members. Blood boiled in their chests, and their Battle Intent soared!
The faces of the three Clan Chiefs turned somewhat ugly. They had originally intended to demoralize the Zhou Family and wear down their Battle Intent to resolve the battle more easily and reduce casualties.
Now, seeing the rekindled fighting spirit of the Zhou Family army, the three Clan Chiefs immediately understood that if a full-scale war started now, their casualties would definitely far exceed expectations!
"Zhou Qitian must die!"
At this moment, the three Clan Chiefs instantly reached a consensus.
Only by decisively killing Zhou Qitian in full view of everyone could the Zhou Family's surging Battle Intent be shattered again. Otherwise, even a victory would be a pyrrhic one!
"Kill!"
With this thought, the three Clan Chiefs, as if of one mind, attacked Zhou Qitian simultaneously with unparalleled tacit understanding!