Chapter 121: So Timid? Go Home and Drink Your Milk

The disciple of that swordsman was swept into the river of blood, immediately feeling excruciating pain spreading across his body, as if being corroded. Blood poured into his body from the wound on his shoulder, and his internal organs began to dissolve rapidly. Even though his vitality was strong and he was not dead yet, when he tried to struggle free, he felt countless hands dragging him into the blood river. Looking down, he saw countless twisted, agonized faces surrounding him, biting at his clothes and wrists, forcibly pulling him deeper inside. Despair filled his eyes as he was swallowed by the blood river.

Awakened beings were indeed powerful, but they had significant weaknesses. Their emergence was still too recent; unlike the Great Enterprise side, which had various magical artifacts, talismans, and spells, this world possessed a variety of martial arts techniques that were far more developed. Especially lacking were protective measures, relying mostly on various materials for outerwear and inner armor. Even though awakened beings matched the destructive power of Qi practitioners at the same level, they fell far behind in other aspects.

Gu Changqing watched as the two level-six awakened beings dissolved into the blood prison, then turned with a cold sneer toward the others. With a gesture, the paired Yin-Yang swords flew back into his sleeve.

“You’re insane. Do you have any idea how much trouble you’ve caused?” Wei Hong shouted angrily.

They had anticipated some conflict with the Qi Dynasty’s awakened beings upon arrival, but even if a fight broke out, no one expected Gu Changqing to strike so ruthlessly.

“The guards really have a big reputation, bullying people at home but timid and cautious abroad. Afraid of wolves in front and tigers behind—what can you bunch of useless trash do?” Gu Changqing mocked.

“If I were you, I’d go home and drink milk. It’s better than embarrassing yourselves out here.”

His words unsettled the guards, especially many of the level-four and five awakened beings, whose gazes flickered nervously.

“And then? Are you satisfied now? Do you know how many awakened beings the Qi Dynasty has? Can you bear the consequences of retaliation?” another level-six guard asked.

“Hu Zhigang, right? I remember from the files you’re usually pretty arrogant. But turns out you’re so cowardly. If you’re so afraid of dying, don’t come out to work,” Gu Changqing sneered. “Like I said, go home and drink your milk.”

“As for retaliation…” Gu Changqing shrugged contemptuously, clearly unconcerned.

Then he pointed at the level-six awakened beings. “Don’t say I didn’t give you a chance—I’ll give you two choices: come up now, or be beaten to death, and then I’ll come up myself!”

“You…” The level-six guards were furious but also secretly terrified. Gu Changqing had struck too fiercely and too quickly. Before anyone could react, within just a few moves, Gu Changqing had slaughtered the two level-six Qi Dynasty awakened beings and their companions.

No one was confident they could withstand Gu Changqing’s attack.

“There’s no point talking further,” Yan Hao said with a deep breath. “We should have been prepared before coming.”

“Let’s move up and see how things unfold.”

Gu Changqing twisted the corner of his mouth into a scornful smile, then turned to look at the mountaintop, falling into deep thought. He was pondering a serious question: why was he here?

He lacked neither martial arts nor magical artifacts. When the time came, he could return to the Great Enterprise to prepare what he needed for foundation building.

“Well then, since the time isn’t right yet, and I have nothing else to do… I’m here anyway,” Gu Changqing said, spreading his hands.

Just as Yan Hao said, they had no other choice but to continue ascending the mountain.

At this moment, the Qi Dynasty awakened beings on the mountain had not yet received any news. Gu Changqing’s swift actions left no opportunity for them; all Qi Dynasty forces had perished instantly. The others continued pressing forward.

Last night, after advancing a certain distance up the mountain, they discovered that the Southern Chu forces had not arrived. But since they were already here, they couldn’t retreat, so they pushed onward with force.

Danyang Mountain was a sacred ground for all martial artists in this world, divided into three peaks and three academies: the Outer Academy, the Inner Academy, and finally the Martial Sovereign Hall.

Each academy occupied a peak. The monsters in the Outer Academy were relatively weak, but in the Inner Academy, there were many monsters equivalent to level-five or six awakened beings, and even the weakest were comparable to level-four awakened beings.

Fortunately, the Qi Dynasty had brought many awakened beings this time, disciplined and well-organized. Moreover, the martial artists’ strength dropped significantly after transforming into monsters, allowing them to hold their ground and steadily advance.

Within one courtyard, several hundred awakened beings formed a phalanx, with level-four and five physical-strength-enhanced awakened beings at the front.

Nearly three hundred of these physical-strength types were almost all specialized in strength and hardening. Each had a small shield strapped to one arm and wielded a sword in the other.

They were like nails firmly driven into the ground, continuously repelling the oncoming monsters.

From the side, the formation appeared as two steel walls.

Behind them were ranged awakened beings, constantly raining down attacks. Though less orderly, they were divided into squads, each accompanied by fire, ice, and mental-type awakened beings.

Further back were support awakened beings.

A group of monsters dashed through a hail of fireballs but landed on a patch of icy water, slipping and falling. Many hadn’t even regained balance before being struck down by arrows formed of condensed mental energy.

Passing this barrier, they would meet the physical-strength awakened beings—hardened, immensely strong.

“Kill!”

With a roar, sword lights flashed, slashing down vast hordes of monsters, from whose bodies countless insects swarmed forth.

But then strong winds and torrents swept the insects back, while over twenty lightning awakened beings continuously sent bolts into the water.

The insects pouring from the monsters’ bodies were wiped out in an instant.

The entire battle resembled a disciplined military force—everyone was a cog in a machine, not individual fighters relying solely on personal strength.

Numerous level-six awakened beings were interspersed within. Wherever formidable monsters appeared, they struck to keep the formation intact.

Just as the phalanx approached the Inner Academy’s main hall, a spear suddenly shot out from within, like a thunderclap—violent and fierce.

Two physical-strength awakened beings felt a gust of wind and were sprayed with blood and flesh.

Turning their heads, they saw several awakened beings shattered completely beneath the spear.

Even with inner armor and body hardening, physical-strength awakened beings were as fragile as tofu before that spear.

Seven people then emerged from the hall. Unlike the other monsters, they looked almost human, dressed in ornate robes, though their bloodshot eyes betrayed their undead nature.

The spear had been thrown by a bearded man among them.

“No…” The Qi Dynasty commander’s face changed. The force behind that spear gave him a terrible premonition, something hard to believe.

“Attack!” The commander gritted his teeth, and over fifty level-six awakened beings launched their assault.

Half were physical-strength types, lightning-fast as they charged before the hall.

But before they could reach it, a dozen thick bolts of lightning struck the bearded man’s head.

Before he could react, a woman nearby drew her sword and leapt up. The lightning struck her blade’s tip, leaving her unscathed.

Simultaneously, dozens of fireballs, each over two meters in diameter, descended. These fireballs were far more powerful than aerial bombs, with temperatures reaching 8,000 degrees.

But a burly man wielding a long halberd swung fiercely, splitting the fireballs mid-air with bursts of energy, causing them to dissipate harmlessly.

“Level seven!” the Qi Dynasty commander spat through clenched teeth.

Despite the combined efforts of several awakened beings to unleash the lightning and fire, the opponents had effortlessly blocked them—undeniable proof of their level seven status.

Though these warriors’ strength had diminished after turning into monsters, level seven was still level seven.

And here, there were seven of them.

(End of Chapter)