In this dreamscape, every wound dealt was a devastating blow to the soul.
The more severely the soul was damaged, the more muddled one became. Irritation would gradually stir in the heart, making it easier for emotions to be provoked, plunging one deeper into the dream with no way to escape.
Seeing the Black family Gu Master charging in, the two Su family Gu Masters felt their hearts sink to rock bottom.
The Black family Gu Master fought with formidable strength. Even if they joined forces, they would struggle to hold their own. Fang Yuan, as a Medicine Hall Elder, was not particularly powerful in combat. All the Su family Gu Masters could hope for was that Fang Yuan could hold out long enough for them to arrive and provide backup.
But the Black family Gu Master had clearly been planning this for a long time. Willing to take injuries just to kill the healing Gu Master, he surely possessed some devastating lethal technique.
"Get out of the way!"
"Hold on for just a few breaths, we're coming!"
The Black family Gu Master rapidly closed the distance to Fang Yuan. Fang Yuan stood rooted to the spot, completely motionless, watching the two Su family Gu Masters behind him burn with anxiety.
Fang Yuan showed not a trace of panic. He even wore a cold smile.
He had not entered Hei Loulan's dreamscape on a reckless whim — he had come prepared, with a trump card.
That trump card was an Immortal Killer Move — Unravel Dream!
"Unravel." Fang Yuan slowly extended his right hand, palm facing the Black family Gu Master.
At the same time, a flicker of cyan-purple radiance flashed through both his eyes before vanishing.
A surge of intense despair erupted from the Black family Gu Master's heart. His body grew increasingly faint, his speed dropping steadily, until finally, just several steps from Fang Yuan, he dissipated entirely, vanishing without a trace.
"What— what kind of technique was that?" The two Su family Gu Masters who rushed over moments later stared in stunned disbelief.
"A killer move I devised myself. Nothing worth mentioning." Fang Yuan lowered his right hand and offered a casual brush-off.
"Nothing worth mentioning?!" One of the Gu Masters bulged his eyes like a bull, staring at Fang Yuan as though he were some kind of primordial beast.
"He took him out in a single move. If we'd known it would be this easy, why did we have to fight tooth and nail?" The other Gu Master sighed, his tone complicated — part relief, part grievance.
"Enough. Let's move out and reinforce the other groups. The priority right now is to kill Hei Cheng," Fang Yuan reminded them.
The two Su family Gu Masters nodded repeatedly. This was not the time to dwell on Fang Yuan's killing move. The three of them set off immediately, heading deeper into the grasslands.
Fang Yuan followed the two Su family Gu Masters. After a few strides, the scenery shifted once more.
The night was thick and heavy, the moon absent from the sky. Only sparse starlight sprinkled the darkness.
Fang Yuan and the Su family Patriarch — four in all — pursued in the direction Hei Cheng had fled.
"I can see him. Once we cross that hill, we'll catch up to Hei Cheng." During the rapid advance, one of the Elders activated a scouting Gu insect and spoke up.
"I told you long ago — he was hit by my tracking Gu. No matter how many times he changes direction, he can't escape," the Battle Hall Elder said with unmistakable pride.
"The Academy Elder has fallen. We must avenge her."
"Battle is battle, and it brings both victory and death. The Academy Elder sacrificed herself for the clan and will be honored accordingly. As for Su Xian'er — she actually dared to betray our clan and help that boy Hei Cheng escape! Her crime is unforgivable!"
At these words, the Su family Patriarch's face turned dark as a cauldron bottom. "Su Xian'er may be my adopted daughter, but where the greater good is concerned, I will show no favoritism. Once we capture her, she will be punished according to clan law!"
Hearing this, the other Elders breathed a collective sigh of relief and said in unison, "The Patriarch is wise."
"Wise, is he? Heh heh heh." A cold laugh suddenly drifted down from the hilltop above them.
"Who goes there?" Everyone halted at once.
A figure gradually materialized on the hill.
The Su family Patriarch and the others felt their hearts plummet — the newcomer meant trouble. Just the stealth technique alone was extraordinary. Had the person not revealed themselves voluntarily, their scouting methods would never have detected them.
The question was — what kind of Gu insect or killing move had been used?
"I didn't expect there to be a hidden expert of your caliber protecting Hei Cheng!" The Su family Patriarch deliberately stalled, while the Elders at his sides immediately spread out, flanking left and right as they ascended the hill together.
The mysterious Gu Master glanced at them but did not move, remaining standing in place.
Without warning, combat erupted on the hilltop.
Two more mysterious Gu Masters appeared — they had been lying in ambush. Their methods were ruthless and vicious. In an instant, one Su family Gu Master was gravely wounded, and another suffered minor injuries.
The gravely wounded Su family Gu Master immediately retreated, while the lightly wounded one continued fighting halfway up the slope.
"There are more of them!" The Su family Patriarch's heart lurched. Things were looking dire.
Three Gu Masters had appeared out of nowhere, each one a formidable fighter with impressive combat strength. They had clearly laid extensive preparations for this ambush. Breaking through their blockade and catching up to Hei Cheng seemed almost hopeless!
"Hei Loulan!" Fang Yuan, as the healing Gu Master, had been standing behind the Su family Patriarch the entire time. Now, seeing the Gu Master fighting on the slope, his eyes lit up sharply.
Hei Loulan's appearance here was the disguise used during her time as the Black family Patriarch — broad-backed, bear-waisted, fierce and domineering.
She was locked in combat with the lightly wounded Su family Gu Master, her presence overwhelming, her fighting prowess savage. In short order, she had beaten her opponent into a panicked retreat.
She was nothing like Fang Yuan.