Generally speaking, Third Transformation Gu Masters fighting against beast packs relied on guerrilla tactics — constantly drawing on Yuan Stones to replenish the True Essence in their Empty Orifices. The fact that Bai Ningbing had fought head-on like this and held out until now was already quite remarkable.
If a Gu Master's True Essence ran dry, their combat power would plummet to rock bottom.
Bai Ningbing began glancing back repeatedly at the cliff face behind her, searching for any possibility of climbing to safety.
When she saw Fang Yuan lounging against the cliff with a leisurely expression, she exploded in fury. "Fang Yuan, I'm fighting for my life up here, and you're just watching the show?!"
Fang Yuan gave a cold snort. "The former Northern Dark Ice Soul Body — the great Bai Ningbing — can't even handle a single Hundred Beast pack now?"
Bai Ningbing seethed. "If you've got the guts, you go fight them yourself!"
Fang Yuan smirked. "If I had a Third Transformation cultivation base, I would've wiped out these Six-Legged Crocodiles long ago. There wouldn't even be a need for you."
Bai Ningbing gasped for air, so furious smoke might have poured from all seven orifices.
Fang Yuan said gravely, "Bai Ningbing, you're too accustomed to spending freely. When you had the Northern Dark Ice Soul Body, your True Essence recovered quickly. Now that you've fallen to ninety percent Grade A, you're still using it the same way — of course you're running short. A competent Gu Master rations every drop of True Essence and never wastes it. From now on, fight the way I tell you. Your combat technique is far too crude. It needs refinement."
"What?" Bai Ningbing's lip curled. "My technique needs refinement? Do you know how many times the clan leader and the Elders have praised me to my face? I'm the number one combat specialist in the entire Bai Family Stronghold!"
"What's there to compare against a bunch of ordinary people? Listen to me carefully..."
Bai Ningbing laughed coldly three times, but Fang Yuan continued speaking regardless.
His voice inevitably drifted into her ears. At first she paid no attention, but gradually her expression began to change — from dismissive contempt, to a serious set of her features, and finally to deep concentration.
Every word Fang Yuan spoke was a gem, every sentence incisive, penetrating to the core with exquisite precision!
This was the distilled summary of five hundred years of experience from his previous life — the essence accumulated over centuries. How could someone like Bai Ningbing — no, this young girl — not be stunned?
Fang Yuan had lived five hundred years in his previous life; an old man turned sage. This depth of experience was something even Gu Yue Yi Dai or the Immortal Crane Master could not match.
Those two old monsters might have nominally lived close to a thousand years, but the vast majority of that time had been spent in slumber, barely clinging to existence. Their actual active years amounted to perhaps two or three centuries at most.
Under normal circumstances, Bai Ningbing would have listened to Fang Yuan's instructions and promptly ignored them. She was proud and haughty — even if inwardly shaken, she would never deign to follow another's lead. But now, pressed by the crocodile horde, her body instinctively carried out his words, and the effect was immediate.
Six-Legged Crocodiles fell one after another, while her condition steadily improved.
She clearly had almost no True Essence or stamina left, yet by conserving them — cutting down on wasteful attacks and increasing the effectiveness of each strike — her reserves actually began, slowly, bit by bit, to accumulate again in the midst of battle.
After a quarter of an hour, the Six-Legged Crocodile pack had lost over half its numbers. More than two hundred corpses littered the ground, and the horde finally halted its assault, beginning to gradually retreat.
Then, a massive figure rose slowly from the surface of the river.
It bared its fangs, each tooth sharp as a blade. Its yellow slit pupils reflected Bai Ningbing's silhouette, radiating a bone-deep killing intent.
This was the king of the Six-Legged Crocodile pack.
A Hundred Beast King — a male Crocodile King!
Distinct from the other Six-Legged Crocodiles, this Crocodile King was far larger, its body rivaling that of a yak. It did not walk on all six legs but moved upon only its two hind limbs.
It strode upright like a human, its shoulders and back as broad and thick as a bear's. A tail covered in armored plates dragged deep furrows across the sand.
The remaining four limbs had transformed into claw-like appendages — effectively four arms. They were thick and muscular, the flesh hard as stone.
Bai Ningbing couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh.
If she faced this Hundred Beast King at full strength, she would certainly have a chance of winning. But now, after the fierce battle just past, her remaining stamina and True Essence were far too depleted. Defeating this Hundred Beast King in peak condition seemed nearly impossible.
But at that moment, Fang Yuan's voice came from behind her: "Catch."
A streak of blue-white light shot into her Empty Orifice, taking the form of a lotus and planting itself at the very bottom of her orifice sea.
Instantly, the surface of her True Essence sea began to rise rapidly!
Bai Ningbing was startled and delighted. "What Gu is this?"
"The Celestial Origin Treasure Lotus," Fang Yuan answered.
"So this is the Celestial Origin Treasure Lotus! No wonder even Gu Yue Yi Dai wanted it." Bai Ningbing gasped in admiration, then immediately flew into a rage. "If you had this Gu, why didn't you lend it to me earlier?!"
Fang Yuan chuckled lightly and spoke only to himself. "Good thing this Crocodile King is still only at the Hundred Beast level. Remember — its weak point is the patch of white skin on its chest."
With that, his entire body shivered like light rippling through water, and his figure gradually faded into invisibility.
He had activated the Concealed Scale Gu.
"Cunning and sinister!" Bai Ningbing cursed Fang Yuan under her breath, then focused her gaze on the Male Crocodile King.
Indeed, there was a patch of white skin on its chest — but it was only the size of a washbasin. Moreover, it was partially shielded by the creature's four clawed arms. Hitting that spot would be far easier said than done.
ROAR!
The Male Crocodile King let out a furious bellow and charged headlong at Bai Ningbing.
She had no choice but to rely on herself. She threw herself into a clumsy sideways roll, barely dodging the charge, and swung her arm as she came up.
The Sawtooth Gold Centipede smashed into the Male Crocodile King's back.
Sparks flew in every direction. The Sawtooth Gold Centipede bounced off with such force that it nearly dragged Bai Ningbing down with it.
A white mark was imprinted on the Crocodile King's shell. Other than that, it was completely unharmed.