Chapter Forty: I’m Going to Risk My Life Against You
As Gu Xiaopang swept across the battlefield, his arrival preceded by a cacophony of shouts from countless disciples and the shrill cries of sand scorpions, his curiosity was piqued. Dragging a long chain of scorpions behind him, he charged towards the distant circle of combat with great enthusiasm.
Rumbling sounds echoed through the air.
“Look, what’s that?” Some disciples, distracted in the midst of battle, caught sight of the rolling dust storm approaching from afar like a gigantic serpent.
At that moment, the giant scorpions in the fray seemed to sense something and suddenly became several times more ferocious. Their massive pincers struck at the distracted disciples, sending them flying, blood spurting from their mouths as they collapsed to the ground, gravely wounded and clearly unable to fight any longer.
This sudden turn of events filled the disciples with fear; from being scattered across the battlefield, they quickly regrouped, forming a defensive circle and retreating together.
Those who had steeled themselves for a last stand, weapons clutched tightly as they surrounded their injured comrades, were stunned when the furious giant scorpion didn’t even glance at them. Its enormous form soared into the air, screeching as it rushed towards the incoming sandstorm serpent!
“Senior brother, what’s happening?”
“What is that sandstorm serpent? Why did the sand scorpion ignore us and head straight for it?”
“Are we all going to be wiped out here?”
“Sister Li, how are you?”
“Brother Song, are your injuries severe?”
“I have a mid-grade restorative pill—take it quickly.”
“Everyone, stay on guard. Do not relax for a moment.”
…
Gu Xiaopang, who could already see his fellow disciples ahead as he hurried forward, was about to shout his arrival when, suddenly, a massive sand scorpion with a terrifyingly oppressive aura descended from the sky, its huge pincers crashing down upon him.
“Damn it!” Gu Xiaopang cursed loudly, narrowly dodging the blow, but the shockwave from the pincers striking the ground sent him flying a great distance.
…
“Ah, that serpent isn’t a mystical beast—it’s one of us!”
“Judging by the voice, isn’t that Senior Brother Gu Xiaopang?”
“Junior Brother Gu?”
“Yes, it’s him. I remember his tone distinctly.”
“At a time like this, isn’t he just courting death?”
“Don’t say that, Senior Brother Ma. Senior Brother Gu is courageous, rushing to our aid when disaster looms, heedless of his own safety.”
…
“This is bad. Junior Brother Gu hasn’t even reached Foundation Establishment yet…”
“All who are able-bodied, follow me to the rescue!”
“We must act quickly!”
…
Even before seeing him, the disciples recognized Gu Xiaopang by his voice. Leaping into the air or racing across the ground, they sped like lightning towards the new battlefield.
“Senior Brother Gu, are you alright?!” A disciple reached him and quickly helped up Gu Xiaopang, who had been flung far by the scorpion’s blow.
The rest finally saw clearly what they had previously thought was a thousand-meter-long serpent.
“What is this?”
“It’s entirely made up of sand scorpions?”
“How many are there—three or four hundred at least?”
…
“Not just that, open your spiritual senses and see for yourselves.”
“These…these are all Foundation Establishment sand scorpions?”
…
Everyone turned, awe-struck, to look at Gu Xiaopang, who was being helped up and was loudly complaining about his injuries.
“Damn it! So you’re in the Core Formation stage, and you think that makes you special?!”
“Ah? Core Formation? That actually is pretty special!”
“But it still doesn’t matter!”
“You hurt me, and I’m going to fight you to the death!”
…
Bruised and nearly broken, Gu Xiaopang, utterly enraged, pushed aside the disciple helping him, stomped the ground and vanished. He flashed beneath the shadow of the giant scorpion, lightning-fast, both hands gripping his rhino double-horn, channeling his entire true energy, fire blazing outward, and stabbed straight towards the broad abdomen of the Core Formation sand scorpion.
…