Behind the Bamboo Formation Army, on a distant low hill, sat three men of varying heights and thin builds, with a Gu Bowl placed in front of them.

"Not good..."

Upon sensing something amiss with the gu insect, the three men were visibly alarmed and sprang to their feet.

Circumventing the Gu Bowl, they performed a strange dance and swiftly chanted incomprehensible spells, while one of them cut open his palm and scattered fresh blood into the Gu Bowl.

Yet within the Gu Bowl, the mother insect remained restless and screamed, banging against the Gu Bowl with a loud thud.

The three men exerted all their efforts to endure, but not for long — not even for the duration of a smoke — when cracks began to appear on the Gu Bowl; two of the men turned pale and slowly collapsed to the ground.

Only the last man, gritted his teeth, raised a curved saber, chopped off his own arm, and then fled into the deep forest, shouting frantically as if he had seen a ghost.

...

...

"Killed all eight hundred Gu Soldiers in the time it takes to smoke a pipe?"

On the other side, even Bald Zhang, despite being poisoned by the gu, trembled in his voice as he watched Monkey Wine, who was sitting on the ox cart, slowly put away his smoking pouch.

His men spread out, discovering one bamboo formation corpse after another, some ventured further and already spotted two Gu Gong corpses on the hillside, and a broken Gu Bowl.

He was puzzled, as this exceeded his understanding of jianghu's ways, causing an unknown fear.

"Their gu is too rigid."

Monkey Wine politely explained, but a hint of bafflement could be heard in his voice: "They only rely on ancestral skills to refine gu, failing to understand that the world's many anomalies are brought by Tai Sui, and ancestral skills can only utilize part of it."

"They learn without adaptability, adhering strictly to rules; isn't it obvious that they're handing their lives over to the opponents?"

Everyone listening had perplexed expressions.

Though this white-robed gentleman seemed courteous, without putting on an air of a jianghu person, answering questions freely.

Yet the answers were incomprehensible.

The more calm and courteous he appeared, the more intimidating it became.

Only sweet potato, with a bit more courage, realized that the white-robed chap was somewhat different from what she thought, but Sister Gua was proud and obeyed no one except Hu Ma.

So she led people to scout around the forest for a while and soon emerged from it.

Several soldiers dressed in white linen helped drag two "Gu Gong" corpses beside her, and she remarked, "Brother Wu, the job isn't done thoroughly. I see three old men's footprints on the slope but only two dead, one ran back..."

"Left him to report back."

Monkey Wine slowly lifted his gaze, looking towards the direction where the Gu Gong fled, saying, "To let others prepare."

Sweet potato paused: "Eh?"

The soldiers beside, including a few bold strategists, were completely baffled at this point.

War requires surprise and speed.

Attacking the opponent before they react guarantees victory; announcing beforehand, is there such a thing?

If the forces were equal, it wouldn't matter, but it's clear we're outnumbered...

Monkey Wine noticed their bewilderment and kindly explained, "The Ten Thousand Great Mountain is vast, and finding them one by one is troublesome, so I need them to gather first."

...

...

Indeed, as Monkey Wine predicted, the Gu Gong who fled risked losing a hand to return to the Mixed World King Army and reported.

The Mixed World King was startled, rising in the middle of the night to inquire and learn about the situation in the mountains, causing him to angrily drop the teacup in his hand, exclaiming, "Eight Hundred Bamboo Array Army, gifted by Zhu Family Grandpa, the most formidable troops for vying for domination..."

"You say they died in the forest without even clearly seeing the opponent?"

"..."

"Someone broke their defense method, causing the gu insects to backfire..."

This returning Gu Gong not only lost an arm, but turned ashen, with stars swimming in his vision, feeling as if all his bones would shatter, as all the gu insects burrowed uncontrollably into his Five Organs.

Exhausting his strength, he barely shouted, "It's the evil spirit... the evil spirit... they've brought the Huzhou Army into the mountains..."

Aiming to warn the Mixed World King about the dangerous evil spirit entering the forest, but after those last words, felt his organs tear, and his body lost control, collapsing.

"They're seeking death!"

The Mixed World King watched the Gu Gong die before him, furious, and slammed the table.

The Eight Hundred Bamboo Array Soldiers, not difficult for him to sustain, consistently achieved military exploit, just eight hundred men terrified Huzhou locals with mass dispersion of troops, prized as his heart's flesh, suddenly perishing in the mountains, how could he not be enraged?

Upon hearing the opponent dared enter the mountains, he clenched his teeth, and commanded, "Assemble troops, depart at dawn, into the mountains!"

"Zhu Family Grandpa, teach me Mountain Awakening Skill, Ten Thousand Great Mountain, for my use!"

"Let's see how they seek their own demise!"

"..."

Stringent orders were issued, and the Fire Head Army immediately got up, cooking meals, preparing for dawn when the entire army filled their bellies, hoisted grand flags, generals led troops, all entered the mountains, while he personally cast Magic at the mountain's edge, banging the drum.