The air, previously thick with the screams of frightened citizens, now pulsed with the terrifying roars of the black worm, a guttural sound that vibrated through the very ground. More monstrous forms, thick and writhing, erupted from the very earth itself, tearing through homes with sickening crunches, their horrifying screeches echoing across the small peninsula, a symphony of destruction and desperate fear. Chaos reigned, a suffocating blanket over Cloud City.
Many hunters, those who had not seen the horrors of the Hero War, stood paralyzed, their faces mirroring the blank terror of the ordinary Cloud City citizens. They simply stared, helpless, at the colossal, writhing worms, their minds unable to comprehend the nightmare unfolding before them.
"Ah Bao, send the retreat signal!" Guo Baiyu commanded, his voice sharp and clear above the din, cutting through the chaos like a blade. He turned to a young disciple, his gaze firm. "Everyone, lead the people to Peach Blossom Mountain! Get them to safety, now!"
"Yes, Master!" the disciple shouted, his voice trembling but resolute, already moving, urging the terrified citizens.
Zhao Renshu looked at Ping'an, his expression serious, a rare moment of gravity. "You take the two boys and Dachin to Peach Blossom Valley, Ping'an. Ensure their safety. This is no place for them."
Yang Bao, moving with practiced speed, tore a talisman from his inner robe and sent it soaring into the sky, a brilliant flare of light. Moments later, a surge of people from Cloud City began to rush uphill, a desperate exodus towards the perceived safety of Peach Blossom Mountain, their cries echoing.
Zhao Renshu's gaze swept over the other clans and sectors, a smirk playing on his lips, a subtle challenge in his eyes. "If you haven't dealt with such monsters before, you can always stay in our school," he quipped, his words laced with a subtle challenge, an invitation to cowardice. "It's safer there."
Guozhao Zhiqiang, his face pale and strained, looked at Deming, his eyes filled with worry. "Go back to your room, Deming... you're not well enough to fight." He was cut short by a harsh cough, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the ground, a stark reminder of his injury.
"You don't have the conditions to fight now, Zhiqiang," Guo Baiyu stated, his voice firm and unyielding, his gaze stern. "Just stay here and wait for us. You and a group of juniors stay here in case another worm emerges. No worm will venture past this medicine shop. This is your post."
"I understand, First Master," Guozhao Zhiqiang conceded, his jaw tight, his eyes fixed on the chaos.
"Xiao Mei and Ah Qiu, you two stay here," Zhao Renshu ordered, then looked at the remaining apprentices. "The rest of you, follow us. We have a city to save."
With grim determination, the Guozhao hunters split. Guo Baiyu led Tam Kun, Tam Liang, Zheng Yaozu, Zheng Tingfeng, and twenty other disciples towards the left side of the city, a formidable force.
Fang Yaoting, a formidable presence, took Yang Bao, Guozhao Bolin, Guozhao Shaquan, Guozhao Zhaohui, Tian Xiang, Yu Lei, and forty disciples to the right side, a larger, more spread-out group.
Zhao Renshu, ever unpredictable, led Lee Nianzu and twenty disciples straight into the middle of the city, directly confronting the heart of the chaos. One by one, the Guozhao hunters disappeared into the swirling dust and debris, swallowed by the chaos, their forms becoming mere blurs.
Leader Fu, watching the Guozhao disappear, exclaimed, his voice filled with urgency, "We should go and help them! They're outnumbered!"
"Have you dealt with these monsters before, Leader Fu?" Leader Hu questioned, his voice wary, a hint of fear in his eyes.
"During the Hero War, we were the Guozhao Hunters' backup," Leader Fu explained, his voice grim. "We stayed outside of Immortal Valley and saw one, but we didn't actually fight. We only observed."
"We haven't dealt with these monsters," Leader Yi declared, a note of self-preservation in his voice, his face pale. "So we can't help much. It seems that the Guozhao hunters are experts at dealing with these kinds of creatures. We shouldn't steal their merits from them. Let them handle it."
Leader Huang, however, stood firm, his eyes resolute. "We have dealt with these kinds of monsters before. Therefore, we will follow the Guozhao hunters to fight these monsters! We will not stand idly by!"
"We are going to the school," Leader Wong decided, unwilling to risk his own disciples, turning to retreat.
Just as the six sectors continued their heated discussion, the pitch-black sky above them was suddenly streaked with brilliant blue flashes of light, a testament to the battle already raging, the clash of power.
Guo Baiyu, his eyes sharp, assessed the unfolding chaos, his mind working swiftly. "Ah Liang, Ah Kun, use your arrows!" he commanded his apprentices, his voice ringing with authority. "Tingfeng, Yaozu, use your icicles! Attack the heads!" He then turned to the other disciples. "The rest of you, go help the injured citizens! Get them to safety!"
"Yes, Master!" they chorused, scattering to assist, their faces grim.
"Ah Liang, Ah Kun, nail that monster's tail down!" Guo Baiyu ordered, his gaze fixing on a monstrous worm tearing through a building. "Pin it to the ground!" He then looked at Zheng Tingfeng and Zheng Yaozu. "You two, attack the middle. I... will attack the head! We will sever it!"
Tam Liang and Tam Kun sprinted forward, moving with astonishing speed through the narrow gaps between crumbling houses. They reached the enormous hole where the black giant worm had first emerged, its impossibly long tail still buried deep within the earth, thrashing violently.
"What do we do, Brother Liang?" Tam Kun shouted, frustration in his voice, seeing the unyielding tail. "We can't pin his tail to the ground! It's too strong!"
"We have to improvise for our benefit!" Tam Liang roared back, thinking fast, his eyes gleaming with a daring idea. "Use the golden threads!"
"How?" Tam Kun asked, confused.
"Nail him with golden arrows!" Tam Liang yelled, a daring plan forming, his voice ringing with excitement. "Then use the threads to pull!"
Tam Kun's lips curved into a smirk. "Good thinking, Brother Liang! Brilliant!"
In a synchronized movement, Tam Liang and Tam Kun conjured their bow swords and began to unleash a volley of shimmering golden arrows at the giant black worm.
Huang Hualing, leading twenty disciples from the Huang Sect, ran over, her voice anxious. "How can we help you, Guozhao hunters?"
"Grab the golden thread!" Tam Liang shouted, pointing to the shimmering arrows, now trailing luminous threads. "Pull them taut!"
"Everyone, grab a gold thread!" Huang Hualing commanded her disciples, her voice firm.
The disciples of Guzheng Sector hurriedly grabbed the golden threads waving in front of them, their faces a mix of awe and determination, their hands gripping tightly. Even some male citizens, fleeing past, instinctively reached out and grabbed the luminous threads, drawn by their glow. Tam Liang and Tam Kun, meanwhile, continued their relentless assault on the giant worm, their arrows finding their marks.
Zheng Tingfeng and Zheng Yaozu launched themselves onto nearby rooftops, their movements fluid. Standing on the two opposite roofs, the Zheng brothers took out their talismans and began to send a relentless barrage of razor-sharp icicles raining down on the giant worm, striking its middle section.
The black giant worm, its head rising high, pivoted and launched a furious attack at Zheng Yaozu and Zheng Tingfeng, its maw gaping, spewing corrosive acid.
"Be careful!" the Tam brothers yelled a warning, their voices strained.
Huang Hualing, witnessing the danger, called out to the Tam brothers, "Go! We got this! We'll hold the threads!"
"Thank you!" the Tam brothers shouted back, a flash of gratitude in their eyes. They rushed forward, each shot from their bow swords finding its mark in the middle section of the giant worm. They held onto their golden threads tightly, running towards Guo Baiyu, pulling the worm taut, stretching its immense body.
Zheng Tingfeng and Zheng Yaozu lashed out with their whips, wrapping them around the midrib of the black giant worm, their grips iron-strong. With a powerful tug, they flew down from the rooftops, pulling the struggling worm onto the street below, its massive body slamming onto the cobblestones.
The Zheng brothers then sprinted towards Guo Baiyu, and at the same moment, multiple golden arrows pierced the head of the black giant worm, pinning it. The colossal creature swayed violently, twisted, and then slowly began to fall, its roars turning into pained shrieks.
Zheng Tingfeng and Zheng Yaozu quickly loosened their magical ropes, soared high into the air, and drew their swords. Zheng Tingfeng, a blur of motion, flew from the left, slashed deeply into the worm's neck, a clean, precise cut, and landed gracefully on a roof to the right. Zheng Yaozu, mirroring his brother's precision, immediately swung his sword from the right side of the worm's neck, severing it, then landed on a roof of the left house. With a sickening thud, the severed head of the giant worm landed on the street, a mere thirty feet from Guo Baiyu, its eyes still staring blankly.
"Third Master, all evacuated!" Guozhao Shaquan reported, landing beside Fang Yaoting, his face grim.
"Good, Shaquan," Fang Yaoting acknowledged, his eyes scanning the battlefield, assessing the remaining threats. He looked at Guozhao Zhaohui, Guozhao Bolin, Tian Xiang, and Yu Lei. "Shaquan, Bolin, use the net to capture him! Zhaohui, Ah Xian, and Ah Lei, shoot him down with your icicles! Pin him!"
"Yes, Third Master!" they responded, ready for action, their faces set with determination.
Fang Yaoting then addressed the other disciples. "You five stay here, and the rest will send the injured villagers back to the medicine shop for treatment. Be swift!" The five brothers stood steadfastly beside Fang Yaoting, observing their peers attacking the black worm from all directions, learning from the battle. "Look carefully and study their offensive tactics," he instructed, his voice firm.
"Yes, Third Master!"
"No matter how strong the enemy is," Fang Yaoting declared, his voice resonating with conviction, "if we work together, there is no enemy stronger than our combined efforts! Unity is our greatest weapon!"
Yang Bao, his determination etched on his face, cut his index finger, letting blood flow freely. He then wiped the blood onto his forehead, casting a powerful spell that marked him as a target, drawing the worm's attention. With a cry, Yang Bao rushed forward, intending to lure the giant worm away from the city. The enormous black giant worm, sensing its prey, surged forward, chasing Yang Bao relentlessly, its roars echoing. Yang Bao deftly sent four icicles, striking the black giant worm's neck. The creature shrieked in rage and redoubled its pursuit. From its increasingly wild behavior, Yang Bao knew the worm was starting to lose control, its focus solely on him.
"Quickly, deploy the net!" Yang Bao shouted, his voice strained, his breath coming in ragged gasps.
Guozhao Shaquan and Guozhao Bolin took out their talismans. Guozhao Shaquan immediately set up the first magic net, its shimmering threads appearing instantly, then quickly leaped onto a roof, rushing to a higher ground for safety.
A few houses away, Guozhao Bolin placed the second magic net on the ground and then also leaped onto a roof, finding his vantage point, ready to spring the trap.
Yang Bao, running at full speed, dashed towards the magic nets, luring the colossal beast. He flew over the first magic net, and the giant worm's massive head stretched forward, its maw snapping, attempting to bite him, narrowly missing. Yang Bao expertly vaulted over the second magic net, and with a monstrous thud, the black giant worm's head landed precisely within the confines of the magic net, entrapped.
"Zhaohui, now!" Yang Bao roared, his voice triumphant.
Guozhao Zhaohui leaped high, smashing four talismans onto the black giant worm, binding it further. He landed on top of the magic net, conjuring and sending icicles plummeting straight down onto the entrapped creature, a relentless assault.
Tian Xiang and Yu Lei joined the assault, relentlessly attacking the black giant worm with their icicles, their faces grim. The giant black worm twitched, twisted, and thrashed violently within the magic circle, its roars turning to pained whimpers. After a desperate struggle, the black giant worm finally went limp, its massive body falling silent, defeated.
Not far away, Zhao Renshu looked at Lee Nianzu, a smirk on his face, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Nianzu, you stay here and be my backup with the other disciples. I will take care of this. I've got this one."
Lee Nianzu smiled and shook his head, a fond exasperation in his eyes. "Second Master, be careful. Don't overdo it."
"I know. I know." Zhao Renshu dismissed his concern with a wave of his hand. He drew his long sword, its blade glinting, and strode directly towards the black giant worm that had just appeared in his sector, its monstrous form tearing through buildings. As he flew, Zhao Renshu cast an icicle, sending it straight towards the monstrous creature, a single, precise shot. All the icicles he conjured struck their mark, piercing its tough hide.
Lee Nianzu shook his head, murmuring softly, "Second Master's childishness has not improved with age. Still showing off."
"Extend!" Zhao Renshu bellowed, and his sword, impossibly, lengthened, stretching out with magical force, glowing with icy power. With a single, powerful sweep, he slashed through the middle of the black giant worm, splitting the colossal creature cleanly in half. He landed on the ground, completely unharmed, his face triumphant.
The two halves of the black giant worm slowly pressed down onto the roofs of the nearby houses, crumbling them under their immense weight, leaving a trail of destruction.
"Second Master is amazing!" one junior hunter exclaimed, awe in his voice, his eyes wide.
"He killed that big worm with one move!" another shouted, their voices filled with adoration.
"No wonder Second Master is still the strongest hunter known to everyone!"
Lee Nianzu cleared his throat, and the juniors immediately fell silent, snapping to attention. He looked at his juniors, a gentle warning in his voice. "Remember to be restrained. If other hunters hear you, they may look down on us for boasting."
"Yes, Senior Brother Lee!" they chorused obediently.
"Let's go see if anyone needs our help," Lee Nianzu directed, his voice firm. "There's still work to be done."
"Yes, Senior Brother Lee!"
The juniors quickly dispersed into the damaged houses, eager to assist, their earlier awe replaced by a sense of duty.
Zhao Renshu walked back from a distance, a slight limp in his step, his bravado fading slightly. Lee Nianzu approached him, a worried frown on his face. "Second Master, are you injured? You're limping."
Zhao Renshu offered a bitter smile, a wince of pain. "No..." he lied, clearly in pain, trying to hide it.
From the left and right, Guo Baiyu, Fang Yaoting, the Guozhao apprentices, disciples, and the Guzheng Sector, all returned, their faces grim but victorious, having completed their tasks.
"Let's go back to the medicine shop first," Guo Baiyu announced, his voice tired. Everyone began to move, but Zhao Renshu suddenly grabbed Guo Baiyu's left arm, leaning on him. "What's wrong, Renshu?" Guo Baiyu asked, looking at Zhao Renshu's strained face.
Zhao Renshu leaned closer to Guo Baiyu, murmuring, "I seem to have hurt my back, Baiyu. It's quite painful."
Guo Baiyu sneered, a knowing look in his eyes, a hint of amusement. "Stop showing off. You're too old for that. You want me to carry you?"
"No way," Zhao Renshu retorted, though a hint of pleading was in his voice, a rare vulnerability. "Just walk slowly beside me, Baiyu. Please."
Guo Baiyu and Zhao Renshu, bickering softly, a familiar comfort in their exchange, followed the others, slowly making their way back towards the relative safety of the medicine shop, their bond evident even in their complaints.