Chapter 102 Clearing the Foot of the Mountain to Protect "Family"

"If you don't want to die, look away..."

This powerful Aura and the mysterious Crimson Sky Sword immediately suppressed those who were beginning to stir.

Most of these people's strength was below five-star Dou Huang; compared to the nine-star Dou Huang strength emitted by Gu He, the gap was simply too vast.

Everyone gazed at Gu He's murderous eyes; he firmly protected the girl holding the white fox behind him, and with just one sentence, he silenced the crowd, making them afraid to step forward.

"..."

A faint sense of terror welled up in their hearts; they looked at each other, yet not a single person dared to be the first to attack.

Suddenly, a voice rang out again,

"Once he successfully enters the maze, we will have to wait three years for another chance.

However, if we can successfully overcome this hurdle, there might still be a slim chance of survival.

As long as we can enter the Tianshan Blood Pool, everything will be worth it. At that time, the Families and Sects you belong to will surely cultivate us with great effort, and our treatment will far exceed what it is now!

If we are timid and hesitant, how can we achieve great things?!"

The voice was full of instigation, sharp and shrill; it was the same person who had earlier pointed out the white fox in Qing Lin's arms.

He immediately shouted loudly again: "What are you all still standing there for? Even though this person is a nine-star Dou Huang, he is definitely no match for us if we join forces."

Gu He chuckled softly, his indifferent gaze shifting toward that face which was not long for this world.

His figure flickered like a ghost, moving with incredible speed,

Immortal Steps!

Just as the man was about to continue shouting, Gu He grabbed him by the throat, as if he were clutching a small chick,

"You talk too much..."

His left palm condensed, white-blue flames carrying a bronze hue and the severity of a heavy tripod cauldron,

He struck down fiercely with a palm!

"Slap—"

With the scorching temperature, this talkative man didn't even have time for blood to spray out.

One palm strike directly incinerated his heart and lungs; then, the flames surged from the inside out, burning the man's body, along with the indelible greed in his eyes, into ashes.

The twelve people who were about to act froze in unison upon seeing the flying ashes,

"So fast..."

"He's too strong!"

"But what that man said makes sense; if we can enter the Blood Pool, we can rewrite our destinies!"

"Charge!"

Greed is seductive, causing the eyes of the strong to lose focus.

Several streaks of brilliant Dou Qi quickly sealed the cave entrance that only one person could pass through as twelve Dou Huang experts charged forward.

Gu He pushed Qing Lin toward the arriving Yun Yun, letting Qing Lin stay with them to ensure her safety.

"I'll handle this."

He faced the enemies alone.

The Crimson Sky Sword in his hand absorbed half of his Dou Qi, and blue-white flames coated the blade, possessing the majestic and sharp Aura of a bronze vessel.

His eyes narrowed, and he slashed sideways!

A massive blue-white sword soul, half a wall high and resembling a Profound Sky Azure Dragon, let out a high-pitched cry and shot out wildly—Thousand Fires Banquet!

"Ah!—"

Groans filled with terror rang out one after another, with less than a second between them.

At that moment, the entire ground in front of the maze shattered, becoming so messy that there was nowhere to stand.

Gu He calmly put away the Crimson Sky Sword,

The twelve people on the ground were either dead or crippled, completely losing their ability to compete for the Blood Pool.

Gu He turned and walked toward Yun Yun and the others; Yun Yun quickly took out a clean white handkerchief and wiped away the non-existent sweat for Gu He.

"Gu He, following you in, I can't even show off my skills even if I wanted to." Yun Yun pursed her lips.

She was, after all, once the master of a Sect, accustomed to taking responsibilities upon herself, but now Gu He took on the tasks of protection and clearing the path alone, leaving her with almost nothing to do.

She felt a bit helpless yet warmed at the heart.

Gu He chuckled softly and gently, only to hear Xiao Yi Xian suddenly speak,

Her voice was ethereal,

"Sister Yun Yun, I didn't know you wanted to... well... show your strength so much. If there's a next time, I won't stop you!"

It turned out that before Gu He even acted, Yun Yun had wanted to summon her natal sword and step forward, but Xiao Yi Xian had stopped her.

Yun Yun raised her hand and could just reach the top of Xiao Yi Xian's head, so she did,

Xiao Yi Xian's moonlight-like white hair was like a waterfall, silky and smooth to the touch.

"You weren't wrong either."

Meanwhile, the silent Qing Lin, holding the little fox, quietly winked at Gu He.

Gu He nodded to her.

"Let's go. Halfway up the mountain is the Tianshan Platform. There, the Gold-Devouring Rat Clan has set up some trials. Only those who successfully pass these trials are qualified to reach the Tianshan Blood Pool at the summit and obtain the opportunity."

He looked toward the mountainside, his gaze deep.

Then, the four of them walked toward the entrance of the maze.

Yun Yun raised her hand, and wind-attribute Dou Qi surged out; three wind butterflies fluttered their wings and crashed into the cave entrance that had been sealed by the people on the ground.

The seals at the entrance, made of crisscrossing wood-element vines and earth-element yellow walls, instantly turned to ashes.

The four of them didn't even look at the twelve defenseless people on the ground and walked straight into the cave entrance one by one.

...

After entering the maze, Qing Lin found that she was not affected by it. She happily stroked the soft fur of the fox in her arms and then began looking for the others.

With just one glance, she saw that familiar black-robed figure, standing tall like a pine tree.

"Actually, Master, you should have held the Spirit-Communicating White Fox yourself... Do you trust me that much, Master?" Qing Lin murmured in her heart.

Immediately, she jogged over and took hold of that large palm; the warmth from his palm made her cheeks flush slightly, as always.

"Master, Qing Lin has found you!"

The Spirit-Communicating White Fox emitted a faint silver glow, as if it were performing its function.

As Qing Lin took Gu He's hand, his vision cleared, like someone who had been in darkness for a long time finally adapting to light.

Gu He's voice was gentle and slow. "Yes, Qing Lin has found me."

The maze of Tianmu can obstruct vision; even if people are very close to each other, they cannot clearly see one another's figures. However, with the Spirit-Communicating White Fox as a guide, getting out is very simple.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the two of them found Yun Yun and Xiao Yi Xian.

The four of them moved slowly through the thick fog; after nearly half an hour, the fog finally began to thin.

"We're about to exit the maze..." Gu He said.

"Phew~" Qing Lin breathed a sigh of relief.

Yun Yun and Xiao Yi Xian were also relieved.

The feeling in this fog was no different from encountering a storm on a space ship, or perhaps even more oppressive.

But fortunately, there were others by their side, their familiar companions... especially Gu He.

The three women thought so.

Suddenly, a breeze blew toward them; the surrounding thick fog instantly began to fluctuate violently and then receded as fast as an arrow.

As the fog dissipated, the scenery around them gradually became visible.

What appeared before the four of them was a majestic and grand mountain peak.

They were currently standing halfway up the mountain peak; on both sides were steep mountain paths, with golden-furred giant rats scurrying past from time to time.

"These are the Golden Devouring Rats."

Gu He sighed, shaking his slightly aching arms, a hint of eagerness flashing in his eyes.

"At the mountainside is the Tianshan Platform. From here, the Gold-Devouring Rat Clan will set up a series of trials. Only those who successfully pass these trials will be qualified to continue forward and finally reach the Tianshan Blood Pool at the summit."

"Yun Yun, Xian'er, Qing Lin, we must obtain that Blood Pool...!"

...