Immortal Crane Sect

In the past year, Gu Guangzhi hadn't made progress in just conventional refinement. He also made progress in his cultivation. He was on the edge of breaking through to the upper stage of Rank 3. However, his set of gu insects hadn't substantially improved. He was still working on refining better versions of them. His Nether River Wolf was about to fully grow as a mutant beast. It would soon be comparable to a Rank 4 gu master.

Gu Guangzhi used Rank 2 Hybrid bear arm Gu to transform his arms. With his increased strength, he wanted to use the explosive strength from Rank 3 Rock burst Gu to snap the neck of the crane. However, his team suddenly spoke up.

"You still under estimate us!", said Tie Yue Sen using Rank 2 Trap jaw Gu. Iron jaws materialized near the crane and clamped it's wings.

"Don't worry about us, we can take care of this.", said Tie He Xi as he further reinforced the jaws using Rank 2 Heavy anchor Gu. These attacks weren't enough to stop the crane beast king but Tie Ruo Nan used multiple Rank 2 Thunder spear Gu in quick succession.

A thousand beast king would definitely not get devastated by a few measly Rank 2 attacks. After all, thousand beast kings had the strength of Rank 3 gu masters, sometimes even reaching Rank 4! But due to being born in the Central Continent, the crane was being suppressed in Southern border and had its strength reduced. The synergy of the Rank 2 attacks was very high and it achieved an effect comparable to an attack from a Rank 3 gu master. The crane lost its momentum and was about to fall on the spike field.

"Damn it! This crane is a loan from my uncle! I can't let it die.", saying so the intruder who was riding the crane, leapt from the crane and forcefully broke the iron jaws, sending the crane back into a storage type gu for enslaved beasts. "You damn brats!", he continued, "With just your Rank 2 cultivation, you wanted to face off against a peak stage Rank 3 gu master like me? I'll show you the power of our Immortal Crane Sect!"

He proceeded to use a Rank 3 Raging twister Gu. A whirlwind formed inside the cave clearing the spike grass on the ground. This made it even more dangerous than it should already be. The dust and debris made it difficult for the team to counter this attack. It was at this moment that Gu Guangzhi used his Bamboo swamp Gu to effectively dampen the twister to neutralize the situation. The Rank 3 gu master from Immortal Crane Sect was still angry but he prioritized rescuing his junior brother rather than continuing the fight. Gu Guangzhi was also not interested in escalating this fight. A cornered rat will bite the cat. He didn't want his team to get into a deadly fight without knowing fully about the Rank 3 gu master and his companions.

As the fight came to a halt, the gu master spoke up, "If you know what's good for you, you'll let us pass. You don't want to make enemies out of the Immortal Crane Sect!"

Tie Yue Sen spoke up, "My Tie clan isn't afraid of your sect! Let alone Immortal Crane Sect, even if the Ten Great Ancient Sects come together, we aren't afraid."

Gu Guangzhi chuckled after hearing this. Tie Ruo Nan continued, "You've blatantly trespassed into the Southern border and are plundering resources not belonging to you. Is your sect now raising thieves and hoodlums? Can you even call yourself a member of the righteous path?"

The gu master was enraged when these youngsters disrespected his sect. He bellowed, "The regional walls are constantly changing. Fifty years ago, a part of this resource cave used to be a part of Central continent. We too, have a right to them!"

"Don't spout nonsense! The resource cave is far enough from the regional walls that there is no way of that happening in the last fifty years.", countered Tie He Xi.

Gu Guangzhi stepped in at this moment. "There is no need to squabble over such details now. This is Tie clan property because we say so! You are trespassing so leave immediately before lives are lost for such petty things!"

"Leader!". Tie He Xi was taken aback. He didn't want to let these intruders leave without paying the price.

"Enough!! I am the leader of this team and my say is final." He then turned to the gu master, "Don't think that we're incapable of fighting you. I just believe life is more precious than any resources you can find here! Consider this you last chance and don't let us find you again in these areas."

"Hmph!", the intruder snorted coldly but was relieved that they were let go. His cultivation was suppressed to Rank 2 peak stage and he wasn't confident in taking down a gu master with Rank 3 cultivation without help from the crane beast king. He quickly left along with his fellow disciples.

"Gu Guangzhi! I didn't think you were such a coward! Don't call me your uncle ever again!", said Tie Yue Sen angrily.

Gu Guangzhi bonked Tie Yue Sen's head, "Who calls whom uncle?" After making sure, they weren't being spied upon, he said, "We weren't called here for just a few intruders. There must've been others in their group. I let them go so that we can catch them all in one swoop."

Tie Yue Sen froze for a second. "But how are you going to find them in these caves?", he asked.

"Did you forget how we first came down to this place? We were following the shrill noises from the cave. They must've captured the queen of a Herculean dung beetle herd and placed it in a storage type gu. However, the Herculean dung beetle queen usually marks its scent on its attackers in situations like these. Seems like these Central Continent gu masters didn't fully know about the beasts of our Southern border. Tie He Xi, use you Long nose Gu to see if you find the unique scent." Meanwhile, Tie Ruo Nan also used her investigative gu insects to reach the same conclusion.

"Yes! I can sense it.", said Tie He Xi after a while.

Tie Yue Sen grumbled, "You were just lucky. What if they manage to erase that scent? Won't we have lost them for nothing?"

"Don't worry. My Tremor Sense Gu is already working as a backup!", replied Gu Guangzhi.