The old Gu Master, already gaunt with protruding eyes, now widened his eyes even more, his face tight against his cheekbones.

“I won’t kill you...”

Around his body, a cloud of multicolored mist formed, bursting into bloomingGu Flowers. “I’m going to turn you into aGu Puppet.”

Before the mist could spread, Lei Jun’sFire Vault Thunderexploded, dispersing it once again. But from the roaring flames, a streak of golden light broke free, flashing instantly toward Lei Jun.

It was theGolden Silkworm Gu!

Fortunately, Lei Jun was prepared. Even before releasing theFire Vault Thunder, he had already activated anotherSpirit Talisman.

Golden light enveloped him, forming a shield on all sides. The ferociousGolden Silkworm Guhit the golden barrier but couldn’t immediately bite through it.

“AnExceptional Golden Barrier Talisman,” the old Gu Master muttered, unsurprised. When he fought Li Zhenchang and Chu Andong earlier, he’d encountered similar situations. Disciples of Tianshi Mansion often carriedExceptional Talismansor protective treasures bestowed by their elders.

Not to mention, Lei Jun’s cultivation and strength seemed unusual...

Blood oozed from his wounds, dark and corrupt. With a wave of his hand, the filthy blood turned into a mist and spread toward Lei Jun’s golden shield.

“Sssssssss!”

White smoke hissed into the air. The toxic blood, combined with the relentless gnawing of theGolden Silkworm Gu, gradually eroded a hole in the shield.

ThisGolden Barrier Talisman, though gifted by Yuan Mobai, was limited by the materials used and couldn’t last indefinitely. But Lei Jun had already layered an additionalSuperior Golden Barrier Talismanof his own design.

TheGolden Silkworm Gu, exhausted now, kept biting at the golden light but couldn’t break through.

At this moment, Lei Jun finally saw theGolden Silkworm Guclearly—it was as tiny as a spring silkworm, but its entire body was pure gold and oddly shaped.

He flicked his finger, activating aDark Thunder Talisman. Black lightning water surged over theGolden Silkworm Gu, silently exploding and knocking the Gu to the ground.

But the old Gu Master took advantage of this opportunity to release more Gu insects.

The swarm rushed forward, breaking through Lei Jun’s second layer of defense provided by theSuperior Golden Barrier Talisman.

As the Gu swarm closed in, Lei Jun calmly activated anotherFive Thunder Talisman. This time, the five-colored light vanished, leaving only gold.

In the next moment, golden lightning enveloped Lei Jun like a protective barrier. From a distance, it looked similar to theGolden Barrier Talisman, but up close, arcs of lightning danced across its surface.

This was theMetal Thunderform of theFive Thunder Talisman—strong in defense and offense. The Gu insects were blocked by the lightning, many of them electrocuted into blackened husks.

I’m running out of Gu insects. I can’t keep this up. I need to break through his turtle shell quickly...The old Gu Master gritted his teeth and charged forward, a rare move for him.

As he surged ahead, his remaining Gu insects gathered in front of him, forming a monstrous creature that was neither fully insect nor fully canine. It had six eyes on its head and six legs beneath its body.

The Tengu Gu!

Unlike other stealthy and subtle Gu, theTengu Guwas ferocious and overpowering. It smashed through Lei Jun’sMetal Thunder Barrier, its jaws opening wide, swallowing the lightning as though it were nothing. Its six blood-red eyes glared fiercely, and it lunged at Lei Jun.

Then—

“Smack!”

TheTengu Guslammed into a shield of light.

In the center of the shield was a strange black scale—theDragon Horse Scale—radiating light outward into a sturdy shield. The shield wobbled slightly but didn’t break.

How many layers of defense does this guy have?!

The old Gu Master’s eyes bulged in disbelief.

Then, the light shield of theDragon Horse Scalevanished.

No one was behind it.

The old Gu Master’s hairs stood on end, a chill crawling up his neck.

Crap!

He was too close now.

Just as the thought flashed in his mind, a short staff with one thick end and one thin end struck the back of his head.

“Who goes into a battle without a helmet these days?” Lei Jun remarked calmly, wielding anUpper Qing Golden Bamboo Staff. He gave the old Gu Master another solid whack on the head.

The old Gu Master screamed, falling forward.

But as he did, his frail, shrunken body suddenly swelled.

A moment later, his skin burst apart, spraying filthy blood and poisonous gas in a massive explosion.

Life Gu!

A Gu Master’s final desperate move—taking the enemy down with them!

Lei Jun’s expression remained unchanged.

TheBreath-Taking Flagunfurled, its earthy yellow light forming layers of stone and dirt to protect him, blocking the toxic explosion.

“You... still have more?!”

The old Gu Master’s eyes filled with horror and disbelief as blood streamed from his face. Unable to hold on any longer, he collapsed backward, dead with his eyes wide open.

In that brief moment, the once-ferociousTengu Gulooked back, confusion and helplessness on its grotesque face.

With its master dead, theTengu Gulost control, breaking apart into a swarm of Gu insects. They swarmed the old Gu Master’s corpse, devouring it.

Before they could do more, Lei Jun threw aChain Flame Talisman. The raging flames reduced the insects to ashes.

He followed up with aWarding Talismanto purify any lingering toxins, preventing them from spreading.

After confirming no one else was around, Lei Jun checked his surroundings.

Chu Andong was badly injured but alive, though unconscious. Li Zhenchang was trapped in an ice formation, struggling but safe.

Lei Jun stabilized Chu Andong’s injuries before turning his attention to the old Gu Master’s belongings.

Though the body was devoured, his belongings remained intact. The tools and herbs related to witchcraft piqued Lei Jun’s academic curiosity, but that could wait.

He was more concerned about why theBreath-Taking Flag’sTianshi Sealhad reacted to the old Gu Master.

Though the Gu Master came from the Witch Sect'sYin Mountain, he didn’t seem to possess a treasure as significant as theTianshi Seal.

Lei Jun sifted through the items carefully.

Finally, a strange bone plate caught his attention.

“This thing...” Lei Jun murmured, puzzled.

The bone plate was long and narrow, resembling an envelope. Its material seemed unremarkable, but an intricate talismanic seal was etched on its surface.

It resembled the seal Lei Jun had found in the depths ofQiántiān PeakonTianxu Mountain.

Could it be connected to theTianshi Seal?

The bone plate had been inert, but when Lei Jun brought out theBreath-Taking Flag, the seals resonated.

Suddenly, the bone plate flared with purple lightning.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by lotustale.com