Chapter 34: The Ancient Style Revives, Ambushing the Spirit Master

Gu Feng sat in the resurrection waiting space, gloomily watching everything unfold outside. He hadn’t expected that a single assault on the Thousand Peaks Territory would bring so much trouble. His sister, Gu Yan, was nearly always in danger, and this filled Gu Feng with deep regret and reflection on how careless and reckless his decisions had been.

There were still two hours and ten minutes left before he could revive. Gu Feng was uncertain whether the ten first-level spirit wielders from the Four Great Families, together with one from each of the other two factions—making twelve spirit wielders in all—could withstand the eleven spirit wielders of Thousand Peaks Territory. Although the numbers favored the Four Great Families by one, the enemy had a second-level spirit wielder.

Even an ordinary second-level spirit wielder could handle at least two first-levels, and stall three to four at once. By this calculation, the Four Great Families faced a high likelihood of defeat.

Those who tried to break out were surrounded and slaughtered; some retreated back inside. The burly man with a bristling beard, witnessing this, wore a cruel smile. Wielding two massive axes, he began a frenzied massacre.

Cries and screams erupted all at once, chilling the weaker souls in the cave and soaking them in cold sweat. This time, the bearded giant stormed inside, swinging his axes.

Outside, the ten spirit wielders watched him slaughter his way in, worried about being ambushed or outflanked. Their leader commanded, “We go in too.”

Thus, the ten spirit wielders strode into the cave, stepping over corpses as if wandering the streets. Outside, four to five thousand bandits blocked the entrance, ready at any moment. A few began stripping the bodies, collecting anything of value.

As the bearded giant carved his bloody path deeper, he let no one escape; everyone became a bloodied corpse on the ground. The dead piled a meter high, mixed with fresh blood. Anyone entering now had to tread upon the corpses, though the cave was tall enough not to hinder progress. The squishy feeling underfoot was unsettling, but spirit wielders, empowered by their energies, hardly noticed.

With eleven spirit wielders entering the cave, the passage echoed with cries of terror and despair. The thick stench of blood tainted the air, and under its sharp assault, Gu Yan slowly awoke.

Outside, the eleven spirit wielders reached the cave’s depths. The two sides faced off. Looking inward, the spirit wielders saw a sheer cliff, a pool of water, and—ah—a peerless beauty.

Their gaze lingered on Gu Yan. Though spirit wielders, they still coveted her beauty. Kill indiscriminately, plunder and abuse—such evil was ingrained in the bandits’ bones.

The eleven spirit wielders surveyed the fewer than thirty survivors, puzzled. The cave held nothing of value; why had these people gathered here?

“Hand over your treasures, or die.”

No matter what, the bandits’ nature was to rob. Such a golden opportunity demanded not only slaughter and pillage, but also the abduction of any beauties to serve as captive wives.

One spirit wielder, not from the Four Great Families, looked at the eleven bandit spirit wielders—especially the second-level leader—his voice trembling, “What treasures? We have none.”

“No treasures? Then why are you all here?”

“Because of that woman—her, she’s the reason so many died.”

He pointed, and everyone looked at Gu Yan.

Gu Yan, just awakened and still held by Liang Zi, felt the weight of everyone’s gaze and showed her terror. In her heart, she pleaded, “Brother, where are you? Why haven’t you appeared? Yan’er is so afraid. Yan’er doesn’t want this to happen every time. Sob, sob.”

The bandit spirit wielder’s eyes lit up. “This woman is just an ordinary person. What’s so special about her that you’d risk so much?”

In the waiting space, Gu Feng watched Gu Yan awaken, now coveted by the bandits, and clenched his fists tightly. Too long, far too long—the resurrection wait was unbearable. In such a short time, Gu Yan had suffered so many trials.

“No, I must revive.”

“System, I want to revive.”

“Ding! Sensing the protagonist’s revival willpower, intensity one thousand, permission granted for early revival. Revival imminent. Please confirm revival location. Revival countdown: 10, 9, ...”

Gu Feng eyed the second-level bandit spirit wielder—his strongest foe. He shouted, “Revive next to him!”

In an instant, a white light flashed, and Gu Feng revived behind the second-level bandit leader.

Everyone was startled by the white light. Only Gu Yan, her eyes fixed on it, was overwhelmed with excitement. “Brother, you’re back!”

“Die!”

The second-level bandit spirit wielder, equally stunned, turned—only to meet the blade of a short sword.

A great danger loomed.

“Not good!”

The second-level spirit wielder thought only of retreating.

The Liang family spirit wielder, born of the first family, seized the opportunity. Seeing Gu Feng attack the bandit leader, he understood Gu Feng’s intent and pressed his own assault, forming a pincer attack.

The other spirit wielders were still shocked and confused.

“Damn it!”

The bandit leader roared in fury.

Slash!

He dodged Gu Feng’s sneak attack, but not the Liang family’s deadly thrust to the chest. Luckily, he shifted just in time, avoiding a fatal wound to the heart.

“Chop!”

Gu Feng seized the moment and attacked again.

“Courting death!”

The other bandit spirit wielders finally snapped out of their stupor. Seeing Gu Feng assault their leader, rage overwhelmed them.

“What are you waiting for? Kill these bandits!”

With the furious shouts from both sides, the Four Great Families’ spirit wielders also sprang into action. Now that the strongest enemy was in crisis, this was their chance—if they didn’t fight now, they’d have no chance later.

“Kill!”

More than twenty spirit wielders struck. The narrow cave afforded little space to maneuver; in an instant, the cave suffered immense destruction, stones flying and dust billowing.

Liang Zi and the others could only hide at the base of the cave, pressed against the wall, pale-faced. Still, their eyes were locked on one man—Gu Feng.

They had already guessed his identity; surely, he was the brother Gu Yan had been waiting for. They hadn’t expected him to survive, let alone to be so powerful.

“Courting death.”

The second-level bandit leader, though wounded, had avoided vital injury. Sensing that Gu Feng’s cultivation was only at warrior eighth level—though his strength was astonishing, rivaling the ninth—it was reckless for Gu Feng to attack. He prepared to cut Gu Feng down with a single blow. However, the Liang family spirit wielder attacked again, always aiming for fatal spots. If he insisted on killing Gu Feng, he’d surely succumb himself—not worth it.

With a casual wave, a powerful surge of spirit energy struck at Gu Feng, while his blade slashed at the two family spirit wielders, easily handling both.

Thud!

Gu Feng was hit by the energy wave, suffering internal injuries.

Gu Feng’s heart raced in shock—the second-level spirit wielder was too powerful. He knew clearly: this spirit wielder must die, or everyone here except himself would perish.