The three parties in the arena remained in a tense standoff. As time passed, the Qingxin Pendant in Leng Hanyuan’s hand grew increasingly unable to resist the power of the Qianhuan Stone, and a trace of struggle flickered across his face. The Ghost Spirit Sect disciples seemed somewhat steadier, but the clenched teeth revealed that the formation was beginning to strain.
The Ghost-Faced Spiders lingering at the perimeter hissed hoarsely toward the center. Out of instinctive fear of the Qianhuan Stone, they dared not advance directly. Yet the scent of food proved irresistible to creatures that had not eaten in who knew how long. Though these monsters did not possess the intelligence of spirit beasts, their simple cunning was enough to make choices.
A dozen of the spiders at the front tentatively crawled toward the Qianhuan Stone. Before they reached the center, three suddenly turned and viciously lunged at their fellows. Under the influence of the stone, the group began to see each other as prey, slaughtering one another. The outer spiders, drawn by the bloodshed, grew more agitated, preparing to surge toward the center.
Xiao Lingyu watched calmly. He was determined to acquire the Qianhuan Stone but was wise enough not to act rashly. Both the monsters and humans in the arena were displeasing to him; letting them fight to the death while he reaped the reward was precisely his plan.
Unable to remain silent, Xiao Hezi edged forward, curiosity bubbling. “Xiao Lao Da, do you recognize those monsters below?” Before Xiao Lingyu could answer, Xiao Hezi let out a surprised “huh,” then looked at him, his expression briefly strange, yet he said nothing.
Xiao Lingyu ignored the reaction, assuming Xiao Hezi had merely sensed Leng Hanyuan’s suspicion. The old ghost then said, “Leng Hanyuan has discovered Xiao Hezi’s spirit perception.”
Sure enough, Leng Hanyuan’s spirit sense swept over them. The old ghost shielded Xiao Lingyu and Xiao Hezi, and after several puzzled sweeps, Leng Hanyuan withdrew.
Suddenly, Leng Hanyuan stepped forward, shouting anxiously toward Xiao Lingyu, “Senior Brother, beware of the monsters around you!”
The words startled not only Xiao Lingyu but also the remaining Ghost Spirit Sect disciples. Instinctively, they stepped forward to look. In an instant, Leng Hanyuan grabbed the nearest disciple and flung him forcefully toward the Ghost-Faced Spiders at the edge of the arena.
Due to the previous disruption of the formation and Leng Hanyuan’s sudden action, the disciple fell almost immediately into the spider cluster, causing chaos.
Without waiting for reactions, Leng Hanyuan formed sword seals and charged in the opposite direction of Xiao Lingyu, apparently convinced someone was hidden there.
Xiao Lingyu’s eyes flashed with killing intent. The title of “Senior Brother” had provoked him; if Leng Hanyuan wanted to drag him into danger, he would not disappoint.
The arena had become a scene of carnage. Leng Hanyuan, guiding flying swords with hand seals, hacked at the Ghost-Faced Spiders, while the surviving Ghost Spirit Sect disciple struggled to defend against both the monsters and potential betrayal from Leng Hanyuan. The bloodied spiders, stimulated by the carnage, attacked frenziedly.
It was at this moment that Xiao Lingyu finally understood why the beautiful-faced spiders were called “Ghost-Faced.” Their exterior faces were illusions; when ready to spray black silk, the outer face split to reveal the true grotesque visage beneath, from which the black silk was expelled. Even Xiao Lingyu, with two lifetimes of experience, felt a shiver at the sight. He could not fathom the aesthetic taste of the ancient demon clans.
Xiao Hezi watched Xiao Lingyu carefully approach the spiders with confusion. In his eyes, these creatures were far beyond the two of them. Moreover, the white-clad man in the arena, though a disciple of the Cloud Sky Sect, held no apparent bond with Xiao Lingyu. Why approach the monsters at all?
Xiao Lingyu paid no mind to Xiao Hezi’s doubts. He had no intention of bringing him along. His reliance was entirely on the Qianhuan Stone. With the old ghost’s guidance, the stone had been briefly tempered and posed no danger to him—but for Xiao Hezi, holding it amid danger would be too risky.
The meaning of his refusal was obvious, and Xiao Hezi stopped with a bitter smile. Though he understood his cultivation was insufficient, the clear rejection stung. Watching Xiao Lingyu move toward the spiders, Xiao Hezi’s thoughts drifted to Ying Jiuhua—if he could not even keep up with Xiao Lingyu, there was no chance with that person.
Unaware of Xiao Hezi’s musings, Xiao Lingyu concealed his form and edged toward the perimeter of the spiders. Only Leng Hanyuan and a single surviving sect disciple remained in the arena.
Leng Hanyuan’s eyes flashed a feral light as he faced the last disciple. At this point, he no longer cared if someone lurked elsewhere. Splitting another spider with a swipe, he roared, black energy surging through his body. His form expanded, transforming from a handsome human man into a three-zhang-tall muscular fiend, eyes savage, black aura enveloping him.
Xiao Lingyu was stunned. The old ghost, uncharacteristically, called out, “Demonic cultivation… Leng Hanyuan possesses demonic techniques!”
In an instant, Xiao Lingyu understood Leng Hanyuan’s purpose for appearing in Wucheng: he sought the remnants of the demon clan. Before Green Mountain appeared, Leng Hanyuan had known of this place. Coupled with the Qingxin Pendant, Xiao Lingyu narrowed his eyes—Leng Hanyuan not only knew of the site but likely also of what lay within. Whatever it was, he had come meticulously prepared. Xiao Lingyu resolved that Leng Hanyuan would not succeed.
As Leng Hanyuan unleashed his demonic power, the last surviving Ghost Spirit Sect disciple fled in terror, ignoring the surrounding spiders. Leng Hanyuan pursued, avoiding attacks and ripping the disciple apart, blood splattering everywhere, a living demon amidst the carnage.
Though his demonic aura intimidated the spiders, they continued to assault him, undeterred. Leng Hanyuan abandoned his flying swords entirely, relying on brute strength to tear through the spiders. Their black silk had no effect on him, and the battlefield became a grotesque panorama of dismemberment and blood.
Xiao Lingyu, unconcerned with the carnage, carefully concealed himself under the old ghost’s guidance. Circling the half-human-high stone, he laid a supplementary illusion array, placing the Qianhuan Stone on his person as the array’s eye. As another spirit stone fell, the combatants became momentarily disoriented, and the remaining spiders tore each other apart.
Leng Hanyuan stood in the center, unaffected by the surrounding chaos, struggling against the power within him. Soon, his eyes lit with ecstatic madness as he knelt before the half-human-high stone, shouting, “Ancestor!”
Xiao Lingyu was astonished. “Ancestor?” Could his deepest desire truly be for some “Ancestor”? Two Qianhuan Stones were enough to evoke this inner yearning.
As Leng Hanyuan continued bowing and shouting, the black aura receded, his form returning to human—but his expression was no longer gentle. His eyes glinted with arrogance and supremacy.
Everything before Xiao Lingyu exceeded expectation. Resolving his doubts, he formed sword seals and thrust straight toward Leng Hanyuan.
No matter the schemes or mysteries surrounding him, if Leng Hanyuan fell here, everything would be settled.
Xiao Lingyu sensed that Leng Hanyuan’s death would avert a far greater problem.
The Shadowless Sword flew at lightning speed under its master’s control, only to be deflected by a flash of white light. Then a familiar voice rang out: “Stop!”