"Hmph... Your arrogance will cost you! Do you think you're safe just because you saw through my plan?" Chi Mu mocked. "Vice Qiu, act now!" he commanded without hesitation.

Vice Qiu lunged at Chen Zheng like a tiger descending a mountain, and at the same moment, a dense swarm of Gu insects materialized, flying toward Chen Zheng like bees.

CRACK!

The ground split open, and a dazzling light shot out like an arrow.

Chi Mu glanced coldly and sneered, "Hmph... Die!"

Vice Qiu, the Lifespan Gu King, and the dense swarm of insects surged toward Chen Zheng like a violent storm, on the verge of devouring him. However, Chen Zheng stood as still as Mount Tai, his expression unperturbed. A brilliant energy barrier suddenly materialized before him.

Vice Qiu's attack was like a pebble striking a lake; it only caused the barrier to tremble slightly before he was thrown backward. The dense swarm of Gu insects froze as if magically bound, unable to advance another inch. The strongest force of all, however, was the dazzling light, like the first ray of dawn piercing the darkness.

Just as the attack was about to connect, the protective barrier in front of Chen Zheng vibrated gently, like ripples on a lake's surface. Then, everything fell silent. The light paused for a moment as if struggling with confusion before shooting back like an arrow and landing quietly atop Chi Mu's head.

"What is the meaning of this?" Chi Mu stared in astonishment at the Gu insect above him. It was the source of his life, sharing his very existence. The insect's sensations were directly reflected in the depths of his own mind. To the Gu insect, that protective barrier was an insurmountable mountain.

"Is this the extent of your power?" Chen Zheng's voice rang out coldly. He waved his arm, and a chill emanated from his fingertips. The Gu insects blocked by the barrier seemed to freeze in time before turning into ice sculptures and falling to the ground. The icy force, like a harsh winter wind, mercilessly stripped them of their lives.

Chi Mu's face turned deathly pale as he watched Chen Zheng in horror. But Chen Zheng had already stepped forward without hesitation.

Chi Mu shouted in desperation, "Spare me, spare me! We can talk this out!" He added frantically, "Don't you need medicinal herbs? I'll give them to you! I'll give you half of the herbs on Mount Yuanqian, how about that?"

Chen Zheng smiled faintly. "Not necessary."

Chi Mu roared in fury, "Damn it, do you really think I'm afraid of you?! Vice Qiu, get him!"

Powerless to resist the command, Vice Qiu charged at Chen Zheng once more.

Chi Mu suddenly spat a mouthful of fresh blood that congealed in mid-air. His Lifespan Gu leaped from his head and devoured it completely. Immediately after, the Gu insect spewed a bloody light—a bizarre and eerie interweaving of crimson and gold. The next second, the blood-gold beam shot toward Chen Zheng.

"Your life ends here!" Chi Mu's voice thundered as a bizarre power flared around his body. His once-stooped figure instantly straightened, becoming like a drawn sword pointed directly at Chen Zheng.

Chen Zheng, however, was like a calm swordsman. He slowly extended his palm, and the air around him began to swirl as tiny streams of Sword Qi congregated. Guided by his will, the Sword Qi shot out like a torrential storm. A sharp whistle filled the air as the black Sword Qi instantly reached Vice Qiu. He tried to dodge, but his speed was no match for it.

The thought had barely formed in his mind before the Sword Qi pierced his body. This time, Chen Zheng didn't hold back. All the Sword Qi entered Vice Qiu's body, exploded, and shot out again.

PFFT! PFFT! PFFT!

Vice Qiu distinctly heard the sound of his own flesh being torn apart, like the gentle plucking of instrument strings. Then, his consciousness began to fade like a thin mist. He didn't even feel pain in his final moments, a testament to how swiftly it all happened.

BANG!

The Lifespan Gu slammed violently into Chen Zheng again, but his Endless Defense automatically blocked it. The insect didn't stop, however. After being repelled, it soared into the air and changed its trajectory. The blood-gold radiance began to revolve around Chen Zheng like a brilliant star, attacking him at incredible speed.

BANG! BANG! BANG! The sound of the impacts echoed like the rousing beat of war drums.

Chen Zheng's gaze swept past Chi Mu as if he were nothing but air. Chi Mu stepped before him, his hands flickering with a blood-red light like a demon's claws. With eyes wide, he struck at Chen Zheng with a ferocious palm. In addition to raising Gu, a Gu Master's own strength is fed back by their insects, so Chi Mu's power was not to be underestimated. In fact, he was several times stronger than Vice Qiu. Yet, this still failed to pique Chen Zheng's interest.

Chen Zheng raised his hand and lashed out with his palm.

BOOM!

In that instant, it was as if the very colors of heaven and earth changed as a terrifying power erupted. For a split second, Chi Mu felt as though he were facing a monstrous tidal wave.

BANG! With a world-shaking boom, an utterly terrifying force exploded in front of Chi Mu. The palm strike that contained all his strength was instantly crushed into nothing. His body, like a broken kite, was flung through the air and slammed hard against the solid rock of the mountain wall. Rubble rained down, and Chi Mu was left embedded within the cliff face.

He felt a heart-wrenching pain tear through his body as he spat out a large mouthful of fresh blood. Lifting his head, his eyes flickered with terror.

At that moment, the Gu insect was still attacking, its blood-gold radiance filling the sky. But no matter how fast it moved, it could not break through Chen Zheng's Endless Defense.

"Cease." Chen Zheng's voice was like a winter wind, bone-chilling and sharp. His gaze was like a frozen lake, deep and merciless.

Frost descended once more. The blood-gold light dissipated, replaced by a fist-sized block of ice that hovered silently in the air, exuding the cold aura of death. The Gu insect was completely frozen inside the ice, the extreme cold having grievously wounded its body.

Chi Mu, whose life was linked to the insect, spat another mouthful of blood. He trembled as he asked, "Who... who in the world are you?"

Chen Zheng didn't answer, simply walking slowly toward him with the deliberate pace of the Grim Reaper. Chi Mu's face clouded over. Gritting his teeth against the intense pain, he struggled to free himself from the mountain wall.

Watching Chen Zheng's steady approach, he said in a trembling voice, "Please, spare me! I'm willing to give you all the medicinal herbs on Mount Yuanqian!"

Chen Zheng, however, replied as indifferently as a cold stone statue, "I can get everything I want by killing you."

Chi Mu's face turned white as a sheet. "No!" he roared. "If you kill me, the Gu Chi lineage will never forgive you! And it won't just be you—even the surrounding villages will suffer their wrath!"

Chen Zheng's steps halted. Chi Mu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

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