Gu Yue Qing Shu and Gu Yue Yao Hong against Bai Ning Bing

Qing Shu commits without restraint to Wood Charm Gu, taking a tree spirit’s form that draws on the mountain path’s own natural essence and, narration says, amplifies his Green Vine Gu and Pin Needle Gu beyond an ordinary rank three Gu Master’s reach. Bai Ning Bing commits Icicle Gu, a reformed ice blade storm, and Blue Bird Ice Coffin Gu, whose ice crystal traps Qing Shu but cannot hold against his tree-spirit strength; both fighters spend primeval essence as though it were unlimited, wrecking the surrounding mountain path. ^{ch. 141}

The same uncontrolled Wood Charm Gu that grows Qing Shu’s ruined hands into a wooden cage around Bai Ning Bing also corrodes his own body, spreading to his organs and his mind, and he can no longer tell friend from foe. Bai Ning Bing is left trapped inside that cage. ^{ch. 142}

Bai clan Gu Masters fell Qing Shu’s mindless tree-spirit body, split the wooden cage open, and save Bai Ning Bing, who has fainted after the loss of his right arm. Qing Shu is dead; Gu Yue Gu Masters carry his corpse and Gu worms back to the clan. Reinforcements from both clans reach the mountain path, and the two sides retreat from the battlefield in mutual caution rather than fight further, with the ongoing wolf tide pressuring both toward restraint. Fang Zheng’s attempt to reach Qing Shu is driven back by Pin Needle Gu, since Qing Shu’s blurred mind treats any approach as an enemy’s. ^{ch. 143}