Chapter 14 – After the Battle
The fighting gradually subsided.
Neither side chose to pursue the retreating enemy.
The human Gu Masters and the beastmen each withdrew deeper into the forest, disappearing among the ancient trees.
...
Zhao Ming led the squad several kilometers away before finally stopping.
"This place is suitable."
Several Gu Masters immediately spread out to inspect the surroundings.
After confirming there were no hidden enemies or wild beasts nearby...
Everyone finally relaxed.
Some leaned against tree trunks.
Others sat directly on the ground.
Storage Gu flashed one after another.
Water.
Dried meat.
Biscuits.
Dried fruits.
Medicinal herbs.
Various supplies appeared before the exhausted Gu Masters.
Everyone silently ate while recovering their primeval essence.
The healers immediately became busy.
Healing Gu worms glowed one after another.
Broken bones were reset.
Deep wounds slowly closed.
Poison was neutralized.
Torn flesh gradually knit back together.
Several Gu Masters had lost an arm or suffered deep wounds that ordinary medicine could never heal. Fortunately, the healing Gu Masters managed to stabilize their injuries, though some would require weeks or even months to fully recover.
The air was filled with groans of pain as the healers moved from one injured person to the next.
Fortunately...
Although more than half of Zhao Ming's squad had suffered injuries, ranging from light cuts to life-threatening wounds...
Only a few of the rookies had died in the first clash.
Compared to many other squads that had already lost a third of their members...
They could already be considered fortunate.
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This...
Was the reality of the battlefield.
Every day, people arrived.
Every day, people died.
For many young Gu Masters...
Their very first battle...
Was also their last.
...
After nearly an hour of rest...
The atmosphere gradually became livelier.
One young Gu Master laughed.
"I finally killed my first beastman."
He proudly raised his wrist.
The number on it had changed.
1
Beside it was another small mark indicating the slain enemy had been a Rank One beastman.
Several people looked over enviously.
Three hundred contribution points.
Equivalent to three hundred primeval stones.
That was already a considerable reward.
Another youth scratched his head awkwardly.
"I nearly killed one too..."
"But he escaped."
Everyone laughed.
"It doesn't matter."
"You'll have more opportunities."
Soon...
Everyone began comparing their achievements.
Some had one kill.
Some had none.
One Rank Two Gu Master had killed two Rank One beastmen while heavily wounding another Rank Two opponent.
His gains immediately attracted many admiring looks.
Eventually...
Someone looked toward Li Tianyu.
"Brother Li..."
"How many kill points did you earn?"
Li Tianyu glanced at the mark on his wrist.
The number remained unchanged.
0
"I didn't kill anyone."
For a moment...
The surroundings fell silent.
Then everyone recalled what they had witnessed during the battle.
One youth suddenly burst into laughter.
"You didn't kill anyone..."
"But you robbed a beastman clean."
The others immediately laughed as well.
"Hahaha..."
"I've never seen anything like that."
"That tiger beastman looked ready to vomit blood."
"Losing every Gu worm..."
"That's worse than death for a Gu Master."
Everyone instinctively nodded.
Every Gu worm represented years of effort.
To lose them all in a single battle...
Was enough to make anyone despair.
...
At that moment...
One of the Rank Two Gu Masters finally asked the question everyone had been wondering.
"Brother Li..."
"How are you able to keep using those killer moves?"
"They should consume an enormous amount of primeval essence."
"Even an A-grade aptitude shouldn't allow that."
Everyone immediately looked toward Li Tianyu.
Throughout the battle...
He had unleashed killer move after killer move without pause.
Although they couldn't determine the exact amount of primeval essence each move consumed...
They knew powerful killer moves always required a tremendous amount of primeval essence.
Naturally...
None of them realized Li Tianyu had been using compound killer moves rather than ordinary killer moves.
Li Tianyu had already prepared his explanation long ago.
He smiled faintly.
"My master left me with a Rank Two primeval essence recovery Gu before I came to the battlefield."
"It specializes in restoring primeval essence."
"As a Rank One Gu Master using a Rank Two recovery Gu..."
"I naturally enjoy a great advantage."
Everyone nodded.
The explanation sounded perfectly reasonable.
After all...
The current Gu World possessed astonishing primeval essence recovery compared to the ancient era.
Possessing a Gu worm that further accelerated recovery was not impossible.
"As for those killer moves..."
"They were also created by my master."
Silence.
No one questioned him further.
Such profound methods...
Could never have originated from an ordinary Rank One Gu Master.
One youth swallowed nervously.
"Could your master..."
"...be a Gu Immortal?"
Li Tianyu merely smiled.
Neither confirming...
Nor denying it.
The others immediately understood.
Some things...
Were better left unasked.
...
This was the battlefield.
Unlike peaceful times...
Humanity now faced powerful external enemies.
Talented Gu Masters were welcomed.
Protected.
Encouraged.
They were symbols that inspired morale throughout the human armies.
No one here wished to pry into another person's fortuitous encounter.
Li Tianyu quietly sighed inwardly.
Had he displayed these abilities within Black Stone Clan...
Things would have ended very differently.
The clan possessed absolute authority over its members.
They would undoubtedly have demanded he reveal every one of his secrets.
Here...
The battlefield belonged to the great super clans.
Even Gu Immortals stood behind them.
Although his performance had attracted attention...
He hadn't massacred enemies single-handedly.
He had merely supported the battlefield by stealing his opponents' Gu worms.
An unusual Thief Path Gu Master.
Nothing more.
At least...
That was how everyone viewed him.
Even Zhao Ming glanced at him before calmly speaking.
"Whatever opportunities you've obtained belong to you."
"As long as you use them for humanity..."
"No one here will covet them."
He paused briefly before adding,
"However..."
"I would advise you to specialize in a single path."
"Trying to cultivate killer moves from several different paths will only divide your attention."
The others nodded in agreement.
Naturally...
None of them realized that every killer move Li Tianyu had used was actually a compound killer move centered around Flame Lotus Gu.
To their understanding...
He was simply using ordinary killer moves from different paths.
Only Gu Immortals with exceptionally high attainment in their respective path could easily distinguish the difference.
Li Tianyu cupped his fists.
"Thank you for your guidance, Captain."
Zhao Ming waved his hand.
"Rest well."
"We continue our mission tomorrow."
The forest gradually fell silent.
Some Gu Masters meditated to restore their mental energy.
Others took turns standing guard.
Many simply lay against the trees and fell asleep.
Li Tianyu quietly sat beneath a giant ancient tree.
His consciousness entered his aperture.
There...
Sixty-three newly stolen Rank One Gu worms floated silently.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Contribution points...
Could wait.
These Gu worms...
Were his true harvest.
Every one of them would eventually become Dao fragments.
And every Dao fragment...
Brought him one step closer to his next deduction.