Under the power of a Rank Three Gu Worm, Qing Shu's eyes turned emerald green.
At this moment, his aura abruptly changed. From a lively air, it transformed into the deep, quiet aura of a forest.
"Hm?" Bai Ning Bing couldn't help but show a slight look of surprise, a careless curl tugging at the corner of his mouth. "It seems it's been a long time since we last fought. You've picked up some interesting tricks."
Ice Spike Gu.
With a thought, five sharp ice spikes condensed out of thin air.
"Go." Bai Ning Bing pointed, and the ice spikes shot out.
Pa pa pa.
From the center of Qing Shu's palms, two vines sprouted. The vines lashed through the air, as agile as two green snakes, effortlessly deflecting the ice spikes.
The ice spikes changed direction, grazing Qing Shu's shoulder and shooting into the frozen ground, the hard rocks, and the ice-sculpted forest.
Qing Shu used skill to overcome brute force, making Bai Ning Bing's attack ineffective.
Bai Ning Bing sneered: "Your whips are getting more and more pleasant to watch. But I want to see exactly how many ice spikes you can block!"
As he spoke, a faint blue light blossomed in Bai Ning Bing's eyes.
Ten ice spikes appeared simultaneously, floating before him, and then shot towards Qing Shu like lightning.
Then, another ten ice spikes condensed...
Over and over, in the blink of an eye, it formed a rain of ice spikes.
Swish swish swish...
The ice spikes pierced the air, making a spine-chilling sound.
Qing Shu dodged while swinging the green vines in his hands, their movements becoming a blur.
His whip technique, honed through countless trials, had reached a level of complete mastery, as if they were an extension of his arms.
But there were simply too many ice spikes. In a protracted defense, one was bound to make a mistake. Qing Shu's shoulder was ultimately hit by an ice spike.
The ice spike pierced his right shoulder, the tip emerging from his back.
Pine Needle Gu.
Enduring the pain, Qing Shu flung back his hair, and countless emerald pine needles shot out from his hair tips.
The pine needles showered towards Bai Ning Bing, who promptly raised his Water Shield Gu. His Water Shield Gu had also been strengthened, becoming much thicker, reaching a defensive power not inferior to a Rank Three Gu Worm.
The pine needles pierced the water shield, their speed gradually stopping before being expelled by the constantly flowing currents within the shield.
But this also forced Bai Ning Bing to stop his ice spike attack.
Seizing this opportunity, Gu Yue Qing Shu, gritting his teeth against the pain, forcefully pulled the ice spike from his shoulder.
Not a single drop of blood flowed out. This was partly due to the cold of the ice spike, and partly because his body was constantly transforming into wood.
Bai Ning Bing dispersed the Water Shield Gu, and his gaze was immediately drawn to Gu Yue Qing Shu's wound.
Through the tear in his clothes, he could clearly see Qing Shu's wound, which showed the texture of wood, healing at a visible rate. On the newly grown skin, a ring resembling a tree's growth ring was formed.
At the same time, Gu Yue Qing Shu's ears began to elongate, his long hair turned emerald green, and leaves sprouted from the ends of his hair. His hands also changed from the lively color of normal flesh to a dull, restrained hue. The skin all over his body hardened, turning into brown bark.
This was the first time he had used the Wood Spirit Gu so recklessly!
The Wood Spirit Gu was causing him to continuously transform into a tree spirit. At the same time, Gu Yue Qing Shu could sense the abundant natural essence permeating the air.
Ordinary Gu Masters could not sense this essence. Only special beings like tree spirits could sense, absorb, and utilize it.
Gu Yue Qing Shu felt as if he were immersed in a primordial fluid, thick essence enveloping him, bringing an extremely comfortable sensation.
His Moon Spin Gu remained unchanged, but the Green Vine Gu, Pine Needle Gu, and Vital Leaf all radiated a sense of flourishing vitality. When Qing Shu, in his identity as a tree spirit, activated these Wood-type Gu Insects, their power would be amplified!
Gu Yue Qing Shu took a deep breath. He had never felt so powerful! The abundant natural essence around him provided him with an inexhaustible supply of true essence. This was the might of the Wood Spirit Gu.
But a sense of fear also rose in his heart.
He knew that if he craved this strong and comfortable feeling and used the Wood Spirit Gu without restraint, he would ultimately become a dead treant.
Everything has a price.
Gu Yue Qing Shu quickly suppressed this fear. He stared at Bai Ning Bing and said two words: "Let's fight."
And so, a fierce battle erupted.
Green vines tangled with ice blades, ice spikes and pine needles shot at each other!
On one side was the Northern Dark Ice Soul Physique, regenerating true essence at an extremely fast rate. On the other side was the Wood Spirit Treant body, using natural essence for its needs.
This battle had already surpassed the level of ordinary Rank Three Gu Masters.
Fang Zheng stood on the distant slope, watching dumbfounded.
He had never seen such an exhilarating fierce battle!
Generally speaking, a Gu Master's true essence was limited. They had to calmly calculate the use of every bit of it. They were cautious, as if walking on thin ice.
But now, both Bai Ning Bing and Gu Yue Qing Shu were using their true essence almost without restraint, as if it were inexhaustible.
The entire mountain path was torn apart by their fight. Huge trees fell and were destroyed, rocks collapsed and shattered.