At the same time, he secretly activated his Whirlstep Gu and Gale Gu.
The white storm of ice blades rose once more!
At first it was only a small vortex, but soon it swelled in size, the icy gale howling as frost and snow spilled outward. Solid ice spread across the ground, effectively countering the Sawtooth Golden Centipede's underground assaults.
This ice blade storm was a technique of Bai Ningbing's own creation. It was a testament to the Northern Dark Ice Soul Body's combat ingenuity.
It was the combined use of the Ice Blade Gu, Whirlstep Gu, and Gale Gu, forming an offensive and defensive ultimate art. Without at least two defensive Gu working in concert, it was simply impossible to withstand.
The gale roared, the blades froze everything in their path, and the white storm whirled forward like a great beast awakening, its maw gaping wide to swallow Fang Yuan whole.
This was the simultaneous activation of three Gu, and the fierce, violent offensive momentum could freeze all life. Even with the Celestial Canopy Gu for defense, Fang Yuan would likely struggle to hold.
The storm surged toward him, yet a look of disdain crossed Fang Yuan's face.
His Thunder Wings spread wide, and he shot backward in a streak of lightning, putting a vast distance between himself and the ice blade storm.
Things were different now. In the past, his movement speed would never have kept pace with this storm, but now it could not catch him.
A sharp gleam flashed in Fang Yuan's eyes. His body executed a deft mid-air turn, and he flew toward the valley.
The ice blade storm behind him gave chase relentlessly.
"Don't come over here!"
"Get away!" Whether they were Bai Family Gu Masters or members of the Guye Clan, all were cursing and shouting.
Fang Yuan sneered in silence, charging ahead without hesitation.
From within the thunderous ice blade storm behind him came the faint sound of Bai Ningbing's laughter as he pursued Fang Yuan with unyielding tenacity.
"You shall not advance another step!" A Bai Family Gu Master planted himself in Fang Yuan's path.
Fang Yuan hooked a finger, and a thick golden line leapt from the ground onto his right arm, coiling around it like a great sword.
Bzzzzzz!
The frenzied sound of the sawtooth grinding sent a shiver through the Bai Family Gu Master's eyelids.
In his right hand Fang Yuan wielded the Sawtooth Golden Centipede. His left hand flickered with crimson light. The Blood Moon Gu hovered, held in reserve. His entire body was shrouded in a layer of white phantom armor, the Thunder Wings behind him beating wildly, his black hair whipping in the wind, and behind him towered the mountainous white storm.
His imposing presence was simply overwhelming. His eyes blazed with piercing killing intent, as though he had become a general charging across the battlefield, entering and exiting seven times over, trampling every enemy into pulp and hacking every foe to shattered bone.
"Aaargh!" The Bai Family Gu Master felt an unbearable pressure bearing down on him. The veins on his forehead bulged. Suddenly he roared, bolstering his own courage.
But even as he screamed, watching Fang Yuan barrel toward him without a shred of hesitation, he abruptly fell silent, turned on his heel, and ran.
He was afraid!
Cowardice in his heart shattered his fighting spirit.
Fang Yuan paid him no mind, storming past with overwhelming force. He made straight for the Thunder Crown Alpha Wolf, which lay dying on the valley floor.
The wind howled, his charge ferious. Wherever he passed, Gu Masters scattered and fled.
The Thunder Crown Alpha Wolf mustered what remained of its strength. It turned its head to face Fang Yuan. Lightning crackled between its razor-sharp fangs, and the dignity of the King of Ten Thousand Beasts would not allow it to accept death meekly — even in its final moments, it would fight back!
Just as Fang Yuan was about to collide with the Thunder Crown Alpha Wolf like a meteor striking the earth, at the very last instant he stamped off the ground, soared skyward, and flew out of the valley at an angle.
He had barely cleared the valley when a thunderous boom erupted behind him.
The Thunder Crown Alpha Wolf's screams of agony intertwined with the howl of the ice blade storm.
A technique like the ice blade storm could be called Bai Ningbing's masterwork of ingenuity, but it also had its flaws — it was difficult to rein in once unleashed.
Of course, the storm crashing into the Thunder Crown Alpha Wolf also owed something to Bai Ningbing's temperament.
The Thunder Crown Alpha Wolf was crushed beneath the white storm.
It had already been gravely wounded and on the verge of death, and now it could barely resist at all. Its scales were sliced to shreds, flesh and blood spraying in every direction, white bones jutting out in grotesque relief — only to be ground into bone fragments by the ice blades almost instantly.
"Damn it!" Watching this scene, every member of the Guye Clan cursed under their breath.
The Bai Family Gu Masters also showed pained expressions.
With Bai Ningbing carrying on like this, after the Thunder Crown Alpha Wolf died, there would likely be precious little of value left on its body.
But Bai Ningbing was unconcerned. If anything, he spun the storm faster, seeming to savor the thrill of vivisecting the King of Ten Thousand Beasts.
One by one, Gu Insects turned into streaks of light and shot out from the Thunder Crown Alpha Wolf's body.
These wild Gu Insects had all been parasitic on the Thunder Crown Alpha Wolf, engaged in mutual benefit, cooperating to survive. Now that the Thunder Crown Alpha Wolf was on the brink of extinction, they were like crew aboard a sinking ship — they naturally had to abandon the vessel and flee for their lives.
"Grab them!"
"Hurry, cut off those Gu!"
Both Patriarchs bellowed at nearly the same moment.
The scene descended into chaos once more. The Elders clashed with one another, each trying to hold the other side back. Neither Patriarch could break free, and in the end only two or three Elders who possessed movement Gu managed to slip out of the valley.
The wild Gu Insects scattered in every direction. Fang Yuan focused his gaze, straining to identify them.
"A pity my scouting Gu is only the Earth Listener Flesh Ear Grass — it can't enhance my eyesight. There's definitely a healing Gu among those parasitic on this Thunder Crown Alpha Wolf. Whether I can catch it comes down to my luck!"
This was pure guesswork, but Fang Yuan had no other option.
Scouting Gu came in countless varieties, and at present the only one in his possession was the Earth Listener Flesh Ear Grass.
His Thunder Wings spread wide, and he shot toward the nearest Gu.
The creature was enveloped in a layer of blue luminescence, hurtling into the distance at full speed.
Fang Yuan caught up to it and reached out with a massive hand to seize it.