Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...
The river tides surged and receded as night descended.
In the fading twilight, the shallows were stained red with crocodile blood. Hundreds of six-legged crocodile corpses surrounded two young men.
Beside a massive crocodile carcass, Fang Yuan slowly rose to his feet.
When the pack of six-legged crocodiles attacked, Fang Yuan had never once considered fleeing. Though his cultivation was only at the Initial Stage of the First Transformation, Bai Ningbing was at the Peak Stage of the Third Transformation!
With her cultivation level combined with his Third Transformation Gu, wiping out a beast herd of several hundred was well within reach.
On one hand, he needed to use the pressure of the six-legged crocodile pack to force Bai Ningbing into submission, seizing the opportunity to discipline her. On the other hand, he needed Gu that were suited to himself.
"Though I'm only at the Initial Stage of the First Transformation, with Grade A Aptitude and the Tian Yuan Bao Lian, my True Essence recovery speed is extremely fast. That's why I can use Second Transformation Gu. But neither the Crocodile Strength Gu nor the Back Armor Gu are particularly ideal." Fang Yuan sighed inwardly.
The Tianpeng Gu was at the Third Transformation, and he had already lent it to Bai Ningbing. Fang Yuan truly needed a defensive Gu suited to his current state. But the Back Armor Gu could only protect his back — its coverage was far too small.
The Crocodile Strength Gu was precious, but at this point, the power of his twin Pig Gu was already formidable enough. Increasing his strength any further would actually endanger his body.
Below the Sixth Transformation, a Gu Master's body was still mortal, with a limit to what it could endure. Strength couldn't be increased indefinitely.
Fang Yuan had previously used the Black and White Pig Gu to modify his body, fundamentally enhancing his own strength. Using the Crocodile Strength Gu now would exceed what his body could handle and actually harm him instead.
In other words, unless he found other supplementary Gu to use alongside the Crocodile Strength Gu, activating it would be an act of suicide.
"In the inheritance of White Bone Mountain, there's a Jade Bone Gu that can increase a Gu Master's skeletal strength. If he used that Gu first, then the Crocodile Strength Gu would pose no problem. But White Bone Mountain was still some distance away — it would take ten days to half a month at least to reach."
Fang Yuan glanced toward the southeast, then shifted his thoughts and summoned the Crocodile Strength Gu.
He handed the Crocodile Strength Gu to Bai Ningbing while recalling his own Tian Yuan Bao Lian.
"With this Crocodile Strength Gu, you can increase your strength by an additional crocodile's worth of force. The process is somewhat grueling — continuous activation for about a month should complete the transformation," Fang Yuan instructed.
Bai Ningbing nodded, secretly pleased.
With the Crocodile Strength Gu, she could compensate for her lack of physical strength. Back at the Bai Family Stronghold, she had searched for one as well, but bad luck meant she never found such a Gu. She hadn't expected to obtain this Gu she had long yearned for while wandering the wilderness as a fugitive.
When Gu Masters ventured into the wilderness, it was fraught with danger — yet also brimming with opportunity.
"Let's go. The scent of blood is too strong here, and the cliffs on three sides have mostly collapsed. It will definitely attract some fierce beasts. Camping here would be unsafe."
Fang Yuan's suggestion was met with Bai Ningbing's approval.
Before leaving, however, Fang Yuan gathered as much crocodile blood and meat as he could, storing them in his Tushita Flower.
The Crocodile Strength Gu fed on crocodile meat. Fresh crocodile blood could be used to nourish the Blood Skull Gu and the Blood Moon Gu.
The sun had already sunk below the horizon as night began to fall.
In the distant sky, stars flickered into view.
The cliffs, collapsed by the male crocodile king's charge, had become easier to scale. After he and Bai Ningbing climbed up, a lush, dense forest spread out before them.
The forest stretched endlessly into the distance, distant mountains shrouded in silhouette, the depths of the woods dark and murky. Who knew what dangers or fierce beasts lurked within.
Chirp chirp, trill trill...
A strange chorus of sounds — whether bird calls or ape cries — drifted into their ears.
The two exchanged a glance, both knowing that wilderness forests were rife with danger. Especially at night, with insufficient light, stepping into such a forest was far more perilous than during the day.
But they had no choice.
"Let's go." Fang Yuan gestured to Bai Ningbing.
Bai Ningbing gritted her teeth and dragged her utterly exhausted body forward, clearing the path for Fang Yuan.
The trees around them towered at least four meters high. Close to the riverbank, the air was thick with moisture, and the ground was softer than mountain soil.
The damp, warm climate encouraged thick growth of moss, blanketing the ground and rocks, clinging to every tree trunk.
The deeper they ventured, the dimmer the light and the colder the air.
Fang Yuan managed well enough, but Bai Ningbing couldn't help but shiver. She had just been through an intense battle, her entire body drenched in sweat. Now the chill hit her full force, and she naturally felt even colder.
"I say, once we set up the stove, let's build a fire to warm ourselves," Bai Ningbing said from ahead, scouting the way as she spoke.
Her voice drifted through the forest, making the silence feel even deeper.
"A fire? Heh heh." Fang Yuan chuckled. "Don't you think this forest is a bit too quiet? Stop — take a good look at the trees ahead."
Bai Ningbing slowed her steps and focused her gaze forward.
The trees ahead were short and stout, their roots twisted and gnarled, spreading across the ground. At the tip of every branch grew tendrils like green serpents, some coiling around each other, others hanging limply to the earth.
The ends of the tendrils resembled Venus flytraps — or perhaps the two halves of a river clam's shell lying wide open, waiting patiently for prey to arrive.
"Beast-Catching Trees!" Bai Ningbing recalled what she had been taught at the Academy and identified them.