The Gold-Eating Centipede—a creature so rare that even in ancient times it was a legend—thrived on metallic veins buried deep underground, drinking poisonous waters that would kill any mortal beast. Its body was born of venom and tempered by ore; no blade or spell could pierce its armor. A single bite could fell even a Divine Transformation cultivator on the spot.
"The Seven Fiend Gourd is a treasure of pure Yin," Yan hissed gleefully. "With such energy nourishing them, the centipedes' shells are harder than refined steel! Look—Jinshi Tai's blue flames can scorch them, but not destroy them. His cultivation is lacking. Were his true energy refined into Gang Qi, he might have a chance. But as he is now—he'll fail!"
As a swarm of centipedes shot into the blue inferno, sizzling shrieks filled the air. They writhed but did not fall. Yan, the dragon spirit, cackled from within Fang Han's mind.
Next came another horror—a squadron of Forty-Nine Enchantress Bees. Their bodies shimmered like polished metal, every hair gleaming gold. From each tail protruded a long, needle-thin stinger, so sharp that even steel plates would yield. The tail tips bore the tiny, grotesque faces of women—eerily beautiful, seductively smiling even as they pulsed with venom.
Demonic Enchantress Bees.
Fang Han had heard of them in whispers—poisons from the age of demons, capable of paralyzing a man before he could scream.
Then, from the depths of the gourd, emerged yet another swarm—Bloodpool Mosquitoes. At first, each was no larger than a thumb, translucent crimson like carved blood jade. But as soon as they tasted air, they began to swell, their bodies ballooning until they were larger than fists. Their wings beat the air with a deep, droning hum.
"These," Yan crooned, "are the Bloodpool Mosquitoes—one of the Seven Ancient Poisons. They were bred only in the Infernal Bloodpools of the demonic Bloodshadow Sect. One bite drains a man's body dry in an instant. But that's not the worst of it…"
Yan's laughter rasped like grinding bone.
"What's worse?" Fang Han demanded.
Before the spirit could answer—boom!
A deafening explosion ripped through the smoke. One of the Bloodpool Mosquitoes had flown too close to the blazing green fire. The flames engulfed it, and with a shriek like a dying banshee, it detonated.
The blast tore the air apart. Even Jinshi Tai's divine flames flickered, scattering like shredded silk.
Fang Han's jaw dropped. "They… explode?"
Yan chuckled darkly. "When the Bloodpool Mosquitoes are pushed to the brink of death, their bodies ignite all the blood essence they've absorbed. The resulting blast is called Blood Thunder—a force strong enough to shatter divine barriers. Compared to this, mortal gunpowder is child's play."
Fang Han recalled the times he'd seen officials use explosives to blast open mountains for irrigation. But even a barrel of that powder couldn't match the devastation before him. The wave of pressure nearly snuffed out the Heavenly Wolf Smoke entirely.
In the sky, Jinshi Tai's composure cracked. His expression twisted in disbelief. "The Ancient Seven Poisons… there are Bloodpool Mosquitoes in the Seven Fiend Gourd?!"
He was still channeling his Sevenfold Greenfire Divine Lights, intending to burn through Fang Han's defenses. To him, Fang Han was nothing—a mere outer disciple. But the moment those blood-colored creatures burst forth and one detonated near him, the explosion almost shattered his spiritual focus. His divine power faltered; his body wavered midair.
Cursing under his breath, Jinshi Tai shot upward, seeking safety in the higher sky. He needed altitude—the poisonous swarms could not follow far. Yet fear flashed behind his arrogance. Those creatures could destroy even divine tools if provoked.
Yan's voice slithered through Fang Han's thoughts. "Now you see, boy? The Blood Thunder shatters even protective qi and gang energy. As long as two of these mosquitoes—male and female—remain in the gourd, fed with fresh blood, they'll reproduce endlessly. That was a secret art traded by the Demon God to the Bloodshadow Emperor himself."
Fang Han's eyes gleamed. So this gourd truly contains the power of an ancient era…
He steadied his breathing and turned the gourd in his hands. The surviving creatures, at his command, swirled back inside one by one—the centipedes, bees, and mosquitoes slipping into their sealed compartments like obedient soldiers returning to their nests.
"Never chase the cornered," he murmured. "Better to hold the ground and guard Qingxue until she wakes."
As the air settled, a cold, serene voice rolled across the horizon:
"Jinshi Tai, step aside. I will speak with Fang Shimei myself."
A streak of golden light tore through the sky like a divine blade, splitting the clouds clean in half.
Before Fang Han could react, the light descended, landing ten paces before him. It faded to reveal a man in flowing gold robes, his eyelids gleaming faintly with metallic sheen. His expression was calm, but his eyes—those eyes—were utterly emotionless, sharp enough to cut air.
Yan's tone changed at once. "Careful. This one's no ordinary True Disciple. He cultivates the Grand Freedom Golden Sword Qi—as lethal as the Heavenly Frost Profound Yin Force. If he strikes, someone dies."
The man inclined his head slightly. "I am Shi Longzi, True Disciple of Stone Dragon Peak. And you are?"
"Outer disciple—Fang Han," Fang Han replied cautiously.
"Step aside," Shi Longzi said, his brow furrowing slightly.
Fang Han straightened his back. "May I ask why you seek to harm Fang Shijie? Is Yuhua Sect now a den of demons, slaughtering its own? Even an outer disciple knows the sect's laws. Our master—the Supreme Immortal of the Feathered Gate—sees all. Do you not fear his judgment?"
Shi Longzi's tone remained even. "I do not intend to kill her. I seek only an artifact in her possession—something of immense consequence to both Immortal and Demonic Paths. If she refuses, I will take it for the elders' safekeeping. As for you—though you wield the Seven Fiend Gourd and could form the Seven Killing Sword Array—it would not avail you against me."
He paused, then added almost kindly, "Jinshi Tai was hasty. If you resent his behavior, I can offer compensation—a flying sword of my own forging."
Yan's whisper came again. "See that? That's the bearing of a true cultivator—polite, poised, and utterly dangerous. Don't trust the calm ones, boy."
Fang Han's grip tightened on the gourd. "Then we wait. When Qingxue Shijie wakes, she can decide. We're all disciples of the same sect—why spill blood?"
Jinshi Tai, descending from above, landed with a scowl. "You insolent wretch! How dare you speak so casually to True Disciples?"
"Peace, Junior Brother," Shi Longzi said with a flick of his hand. "I do not strike down those beneath me."
"But—"
"No buts." Shi Longzi's golden eyes glinted. "Even if that artifact truly lies with Fang Qingxue, I have little interest. I came only to see another—one who walks beside her. The demon prodigy born once in a millennium… the son of the Heavenly Demon Emperor—Ying Tianqing."
At that name, the air itself seemed to darken.
Shi Longzi's voice rose, infused with golden energy that pierced the clouds. "Ying Tianqing! I know you're here. As long as Fang Qingxue draws breath, you'll be near. Will you not show yourself? Do you think my Golden Sword Qi cannot pierce her purple lightning shell?"
His cry echoed for miles, ringing like divine thunder.
For a long moment, there was silence.
Then—
A cold snort rolled down from the heavens, shaking the very sand beneath their feet.
"Shi Longzi," the voice said, low and chilling, "touch one hair on her head, and you will know what eternal damnation feels like."