"Gu Tao!"

Upon seeing Gu Commander, Gu Han's eyes instantly reddened.

"Let her go!"

"Gu Han?"

Gu Commander released his grip, eyeing Gu Han up and down with a slight frown.

"Your injuries, they've really healed!"

"I'm saying..."

Gu Han advanced step by step.

"Release her!"

"Indeed!"

Gu Commander suddenly burst into laughter.

"Gu Han, still the same old Gu Han! Capturing this girl is akin to holding your life in my hands!"

As he spoke.

He gently placed his hand on Ah-Sha's neck.

The implication was clear!

"You!"

Gu Han suppressed the murderous intent in his heart and halted his steps.

"What exactly do you want!"

"Your life, of course!"

Gu Commander spoke leisurely, "The young master has decreed that a month from now, he will depart for the Martial Academy. During this time, he does not wish to be troubled by you, a patricide. Do you understand?"

"Patricide?"

A trace of sorrow flashed in Gu Han's eyes.

"Do you believe such talk? You were raised by my foster father, his trusted confidant. Since childhood, I've always regarded you as an elder. Do you really think... I would be so deranged as to kill my own foster father?"

"Gu Han."

Gu Commander shook his head.

"You're still as naive as ever!"

As he spoke.

He swiped his hand, pulling out a long spear from his Storage Ring. The spear was crimson, engraved with countless runes, and far more impressive in appearance than the long sword in Gu Han's hand.

"The Fire Cloud Spear!"

Gu Han was greatly shaken.

"My foster father's Fire Cloud Spear, why is it in your hands!"

"No reward without merit!"

Gu Commander's face was expressionless.

"This spear is naturally my deserved reward!"

"So that's it!"

Gu Han now fully understood his meaning, his voice filled with bloodied sorrow, word by word.

"You had a hand in harming my foster father!"

"People always strive for higher places. I've diligently followed Gu Tian for so many years, not for some minor position of commander!"

"You ungrateful cur, I'll kill you!"

"Stop right there!"

Gu Commander applied a bit more force with his hand.

"If you come any closer, she dies!"

Although he was at the eighth level of Meridian Opening, Gu Han always gave him a dangerous feeling.

Being as cautious as he was.

He naturally wouldn't let go of Ah-Sha, an important bargaining chip.

"Young Master!"

Ah-Sha sobbed uncontrollably.

"Wuuu... don't worry about me, you... you run!"

In her simple mind, Gu Han, still recovering from severe injuries, was no match for Gu Commander.

"Speak."

Gu Han suddenly calmed down.

"What do you want!"

"Your death, of course!"

Gu Commander sneered.

"First, put down the sword, then yourse... Ah!"

Suddenly.

He cried out in pain.

Ah-Sha had bitten down on his hand with all her might!

"Fool!"

He flew into a rage.

"I'll slaughter you!"

With a slight exertion of his hand, Ah-Sha's face instantly turned red, but she, determined to die, did not let go. Instead, she bit down even harder than before.

She hated!

Hated her own helplessness!

And hated Gu Commander's despicableness even more!

All the grievances and sorrows of these days erupted at this moment!

Her clear, black and white eyes stared dead at Gu Commander, now with less of a dazed look and more depth and eeriness.

Suddenly meeting her gaze.

Gu Commander's expression became dazed for a moment!

At this very moment!

"Gu Tao!"

A cold voice rang out from the opposite side, like ice from the ninth circle of hell!

"How dare you!!"

As the voice fell, a light suddenly shone from the dark forest!

Gu Commander also snapped back to reality!

But...

The light was too fast!

So fast that he couldn't react in time, and as soon as he caught a glimpse of it from the corner of his eye, the light had already reached him!

Great Expansion Sword Qi!

In the blink of an eye, the sword qi swept past his left shoulder, then disappeared into the depths of the forest, gone without a trace!

"This..."

He was completely stunned.

"What on earth is this..."

Before he could finish speaking, blood gushed out, and his left shoulder and arm were completely severed from his body!

"Ah!!"

Only now.

Did he feel the intense pain, his body slumping to one knee on the ground!

And Gu Han.

Took the opportunity to step forward and gently hold Ah-Sha in his arms.

"Young Master..."

Ah-Sha's voice was weak.

"I'm sorry, I've dragged you down..."

"It's my fault for leaving you alone here."

"Young Master, Ah-Sha is so tired..."

"Then sleep for a while."

Gu Han gently stroked her head.

"When you wake up, I'll make you something delicious!"

"Okay..."

Before she could finish.

She had already fallen into a deep sleep.

Gently laying her down, Gu Han slowly approached the pale-faced Gu Commander.

"You... deserve to die!"

"Gu Han, I..."

"Do you think you're worthy of wielding my foster father's spear?"

Pfft!

With a flash of the sword, the spear and Gu Commander's right arm fell to the ground!

"Gu Han..."

He endured the excruciating pain, struggling to lift his head, his pale face covered in cold sweat.

"I know I was wrong!"

"I also know I deserve to die!"

"But... after all, we've had so many years of camaraderie. When you were little, you used to ride on my neck... haven't you forgotten?"

"So."

Gu Han's face was expressionless.

"You want me to let you go?"

"..."

"Fine! Lend me something, and I'll agree!"

"What?"

Gu Commander's face lit up with hope.

"Anything you want, I can give you. The Fire Cloud Spear? Take it, I'm not worthy of it!"

"That's not it!"

Gu Han shook his head.

"I want to borrow your head to pay homage to my foster father!"

Pfft!

As his words fell.

A sword qi flashed by, and Gu Commander's head fell to the ground, his eyes still holding a trace of joy.

"Foster father!"

Gu Han bowed deeply to the spear.

"This is the first one!"

"None of those who harmed you will escape!"

"Want to go to the Martial Academy?"

He looked into the distance, his face stern.

"In a month, you'll all pay with your lives for my foster father!"

...

"Waste!"

"Scoundrel!"

Inside the Gu family's main hall.

Gu Yang, watching the corpse of Gu Commander laid before him, was furious.

"Can't even handle a Gu Han, what use is feeding you all!"

Below.

Several guards trembled, not daring to even breathe.

"Enough!"

Above.

Gu Zhang gave Gu Yang a cold glance.

"A calm mind is needed in times of great events. Have you forgotten all the teachings?"

"...Yes, Grandfather!"

"I ask you!"

Gu Zhang's gaze shifted to the guards.

"Did you witness Gu Han killing Gu Tao with your own eyes?"

"This... we didn't see it, but the wounds on Gu Commander..."

"Father!"

Beside Gu Yang.

A middle-aged man suddenly spoke up.

"It's strange! Gu Han was still a cripple yesterday, but today he has the strength to kill Gu Tao, then..."

He was Gu Yang's biological father, Gu Cheng!

"Step back!"

Gu Cheng waved his hand, dismissing the guards.

"If it really was his doing, to have his strength fully restored in just one day and even possess the power to slay Gu Commander, it must be because of that Golden Seal!"

"But..."

Gu Cheng frowned deeply.

"We all saw it that day, Gu Tian went mad, recognizing no one. How could he possibly give the Golden Seal to Gu Han?"

"We were careless!"

Gu Zhang's gaze was deep.

"We only saw his madness, but we didn't know the extent of it. Perhaps... he was still lucid at the end, and we were all deceived!"

"Father! If the Golden Seal really is in Gu Han's hands, could he also become as mad as Gu Tian?"

"Possibly!"

Gu Zhang's gaze was deep.

"Of course, whether he's mad or not, this menace must be eliminated. I made one mistake, I cannot afford a second!"

"Immediately issue a bounty to the loose cultivators in the Barbaric Wilderness Forest. Gu Han is guilty of patricide and indiscriminate killing of clan members, and shows no remorse! Anyone who captures him, dead or alive, will be rewarded with two thousand Yuan Crystals and a high-grade Spiritual Instrument!"

"Grandfather!"

Gu Yang felt a pang.

"So much..."

Two thousand Yuan Crystals was nearly half a year's resource allocation for him.

And in the world of treasures, there are different grades.

Magical Instruments, Spiritual Instruments, Treasure Instruments, Mysterious Instruments... each with lower, middle, upper, and extreme grades.

And a high-grade Spiritual Instrument was something that even if one searched the entire Gu family, only a few could be found.

"It's nothing!"

Gu Zhang waved his hand.

"The Barbaric Wilderness Forest is too vast, and our Gu family's manpower is far from enough! Besides, if you can successfully go to the Martial Academy, this expenditure can be repaid tenfold, a hundredfold!"

"Grandfather, rest assured!"

Mentioning the Martial Academy, Gu Yang regained his confidence.

"My cultivation is on the verge of a breakthrough, and I'm about to master the Blazing Flame Burning Technique to the level where form and spirit are one. This spot is mine!"

"Good!"

A smile finally appeared on Gu Zhang's face.

"Worthy of being my Gu family's Kylin!"

"The future of our Gu family rests on you alone!"

...

Barbaric Wilderness Forest.

As always, the deeper one went, the dimmer the light.

Amidst the heavy shadows.

Two figures, one in front and one behind, proceeded forward at an even pace.

The one in front.

With white hair and a youthful face, he was vigorous and benevolent in appearance.

Half a step behind him was a man with a pale, beardless face and a stooped waist.

"Manager Li, are your injuries alright?"

"Cough cough... thank you for your concern, Old Xue. I was careless, not expecting that Fire Toad to have evolved to the sixth rank!"

"You've worked hard."

"Old Xue, how could I? I came here to ensure your safety. The Seventh Prince's Cold Poison is getting worse, and we'll have to trouble you."

"Sigh..."

The man in front sighed.

"My methods can only treat the symptoms, not the root cause. If my master were here, none of this would be a problem!"

"The Ghost Doctor's whereabouts are unpredictable, wandering without a trace. It's been decades since he last appeared. With the vastness of the Eastern Desolation, where can we find him? Sigh... Why must the Seventh Prince be so unfortunate!"

"Fortunately."

Doctor Xue seemed somewhat relieved.

"We've found quite a few spiritual medicines this time. After we return..."

"Hmm?"

"What's wrong, Old Xue?"

"This fragrance... could it be the Fierce Sun Fruit?"

"Fierce Sun Fruit?"

Manager Li's face lit up with joy.

"Isn't that one of the spiritual medicines we need?"

"Exactly!"

"Good, good, good. Old Xue, wait here. I'll go ahead and scout!"

"Be careful. Where the Fierce Sun Fruit is born, there must be Red Flame Snakes. Once they mature, they become sixth-rank Demonic Beasts, and their Fire Poison is not to be underestimated!"

"Don't worry, Old Xue. I know my limits!"

As they spoke.

Manager Li moved swiftly, disappearing in an instant.

Along the way.

Following that faint fragrance, it didn't take long for him to find the oddly shaped tree, the very spot where Gu Han had battled the Little Snake.

"Hmm?"

His smile froze on his face.

"Gone?"

The tree was bare, leaving only a faint fragrance, but where was the Fierce Sun Fruit?

"Damn it!"

He cursed under his breath, his gaze sweeping around, and immediately landing on a newly excavated cave not far away.

"Person inside!"

"Come out to me!"

His voice was sharp and harsh, carrying far and wide.

After a moment.

A young man, holding a shabby long sword and with a wary expression, walked out.

It was Gu Han!