Wang Junfei's face turned铁青 (livid) with rage. He had been so close to success, only for a spirit sable to ambush him. Worse, just as he was about to kill the sable, this brat he'd dismissed as dead appeared, wielding a treasure weapon.
He tried to summon the twelve silver needles, but the Purple Light Pagoda's overwhelming power pinned them in place, leaving him unable to retaliate. Gritting his teeth, he channeled his remaining energy into a bronze ferocious beast—vivid and dripping with凶栗 (fierce) energy, shattering the vacuum.
"Again?" Daoling's eyes twitched, then he snorted. Clenching his fist, starlight surged. Wang Junfei was exhausted; this divine ability held no real threat.
"Die!" Wang Junfei roared as the Barbaric Ox charged, its claws ready to maim.
Daoling's golden fist slammed into the ox, blood energy exploding. In the same instant, he flicked his sleeve, recalling the pagoda to hover above him, wrapping him in purple energy.
The collision between fist and ox detonated the cave, rocks shattering and crashing down. Daoling, drained, swallowed a Blood Soul Pill and began refining it frantically.
"Your life is mine!" Wang Junfei, wild-haired and consumed by怨 (resentment), staggered into the smoke.
Suddenly, a golden fist emerged from the haze, accompanied by the tolling of bones. It smashed into Wang Junfei's chest.
"Ugh…" He collapsed, vomiting blood, his chest caved in. Terror filled his eyes as he saw Daoling approach. "I'm Wang Junfei of the Wang Clan! What do you want?"
"To send you on your way." Daoling's eyes chilled as he stomped down, nearly tearing Wang Junfei apart.
"You… you're courting death! The Wang Clan will destroy you—let me go now!" Wang Junfei snarled through bloodied teeth.
"Hmph. You were so bold when you sent others to kill me. Now you beg?" Daoling sneered. He showed no mercy to those who sought his harm—he repaid tenfold.
After killing Wang Junfei, Daoling sat to recover, drained from consecutive battles.
"Uwoo…" The bloodied sable scampered over, nuzzling his arm, ruby eyes bright with gratitude.
"Thanks, little guy." Daoling smiled, hugging the sable and rubbing its head.
The sable chirped, pawing at the twelve silver needles.
"Go on—take them." Daoling laughed. The sable was clearly a heavenly spirit creature.
Excited, the sable scooped up the needles, exhaling white mist that made them hover. It played with the needles, adorable as it pointed at them.
After recovering, Daoling searched Wang Junfei but found nothing—until he noticed a silver bracelet. "Is this a Void Bracelet?"
Void pouches, made from rare ancient beast hides, were precious. Void bracelets or rings, crafted from Void Stones found only in starry skies or special realms, were even rarer.
Channeling golden energy into the bracelet, Daoling's mind entered a separate space. "It is a Void Bracelet!" he marveled. Such treasures were nearly impossible to buy.
With a clatter, he emptied the bracelet. The sable froze, then dashed to the pile of 130+ tokens, ores, and trinkets.
"So many tokens!" Daoling gasped. He stored them, ignoring the ordinary ores. "Even clan members don't have much real treasure." But the bracelet made it all worthwhile.
"Uwoo!" The sable pointed to a purple flower on its head, which shed mist. "A treasure too," Daoling noted, recognizing the rare jade flower.
He picked the Spirit Enlightened Fruits, handing one to the sable, which sniffed it, then munched happily. "What a waste," Daoling sighed—the fruit was worth a Purple Heart Yunling Elixir.
Gazing deeper into the cave, he took a breath. The sable whined, fearing what lay ahead.
"Opportunity and danger coexist. Missing this might mean never finding the divine beast's true blood." After half an hour of meditation, Daoling advanced with the pagoda, the sable following with its needles.
The cave grew darker. Daoling's golden eyes lit the way, revealing a messy mine with rusted shovels and pockmarked walls. "An old mine—why would divine beast blood be here?"
As they ventured deeper, the sable trembled on his shoulder, fur standing on end. "Uwoo!"
A阴冷 (dismal mood) aura struck. Daoling's golden fist shattered the black mist, but阴煞之气 (yin-fiend energy) clung to his skin. Thunderous roars within him incinerated the energy.
"What is this?" Daoling tensed. The aura was deadly. Then, he saw a shadow ahead, his aura spiking.