Woof Woof

Thud!

That was the sound of a spear piercing flesh.

Ghost Hidden's heart was directly impaled by Gu Qingfeng's Nethergod Spear. The spear released terrifying black lightning imbued with annihilating energy, instantly obliterating Ghost Hidden's life force.

Of course, Gu Qingfeng didn’t waste anything—the mana of an Earth Immortal was far too valuable to discard. He immediately activated Devouring Heaven and Earth, draining Ghost Hidden’s entire cultivation dry.

After dealing with Ghost Hidden, Gu Qingfeng turned his sinister grin toward Fa Xu, the monk whose face was now twisted in terror.

Fa Xu was utterly terrified. Ghost Hidden had been a powerhouse no weaker than himself, yet even such a formidable expert had been nothing more than a plaything in Gu Qingfeng’s hands. How could he not be afraid?

Sometimes, it wasn’t the strong who feared death the least—in fact, the opposite was true. The more power one possessed, the more they clung to life.

When you had nothing, death might seem trivial—just the end of a worthless existence.

But when you were like Fa Xu—an immortal who had attained eternal life, able to indulge in all the pleasures of the world—you feared death. You couldn’t bear to lose everything you had spent countless years striving for. Who would willingly accept annihilation after such effort?

This was exactly how Fa Xu felt now.

"Heh heh heh... Your turn."

Gu Qingfeng strode toward him, his grin widening.

Fa Xu broke out in a cold sweat. His expression flickered through a dozen emotions before finally settling on a forced, ingratiating smile.

"My lord... would it still be possible for this humble monk to become your dog? Woof! Woof woof!"

The battlefield fell into stunned silence.

Even Fairy Miaohua and her enemies, locked in fierce combat, stopped mid-strike, their eyes widening in disbelief as Fa Xu’s barks echoed through the air.

Everyone felt their worldview shatter. Their eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

A renowned Earth Immortal—a powerhouse feared throughout the middle reaches of the Star River—was barking like a dog?!

Fa Xu noticed their shocked and disdainful gazes, but he didn’t care. What was wrong with being a dog? What was so bad about it?

He had cultivated for centuries to reach this pinnacle. How could he let it all end here? If barking a few times could preserve everything he had, he’d bark for eternity!

"Heh heh heh... I admire your shamelessness. But your two previous refusals have displeased me."

Thud!

Fa Xu dropped to his knees, kowtowing like a devout worshipper.

"My lord, this lowly monk was blind before! Please grant me another chance! I swear to repent and dedicate myself to being your loyal hound!"

Gu Qingfeng shook his head.

"I already gave you an extra chance. But you wasted it. So... be more careful in your next life."

Fa Xu shot to his feet in panic, waving his hands frantically.

"Wait, my lord! I’m still useful! I can reveal the mastermind behind this!"

Gu Qingfeng continued advancing, his grin turning even more sinister.

"Not interested."

Fa Xu stumbled backward, forcing a smile.

"My lord, this involves a grand conspiracy related to the Feather Transformation Immortal Dynasty!"

Gu Qingfeng’s reply remained unchanged.

"Still not interested."

But Shangguan Qing, who had been listening nearby, suddenly stiffened at the mention of the Feather Transformation Immortal Dynasty.

"Wait! This is too important to—"

"Shut your mouth, you bitch!"

Gu Qingfeng whipped his head toward her, his demonic eyes freezing her spine with terror.

"Did I give you permission to speak? Did you think I fought off these pests to save you? Once I’m done with them, you’re next. Clean yourself up and wait."

Fa Xu nearly burst into tears. Why wasn’t this man following the script?! Anyone else who got assassinated would at least spare someone to interrogate! Did he have no curiosity at all?!

In truth, Gu Qingfeng wasn’t uninterested—he just didn’t care.

Ants were meant to be crushed. Did he need to know their names?

"It was the Second Prince!" Fa Xu blurted out, desperate to save himself.

"I knew it was him!"

"No... Second Brother would never..."

Shangguan Wan'er and Shangguan Qing spoke almost simultaneously, their words reflecting their starkly different personalities.

"This entire Taiyi Secret Realm was a trap set by the Second Prince! Otherwise, how could both Your Highnesses coincidentally learn that the secret realm contained the Eternal Night Lamp Technique? The Second Prince was the first to discover it. He suppressed the news, then deliberately leaked it to lure you both here—so he could eliminate you in one stroke!"

Shangguan Qing staggered as if struck by lightning, her face pale with disbelief.

"That’s impossible! Second Brother has no reason to do this! I’m about to marry into the upper reaches of the Star River—I won’t even compete for the throne! Why would he...?"

"Because you’re closer to the Crown Prince. Once you marry into the upper reaches, your influence in the Feather Transformation Immortal Dynasty will grow—enough to sway the succession. That’s why—"

Boom!

Gu Qingfeng’s fist lashed out, cutting Fa Xu off mid-sentence. Honestly, he really didn’t care to listen.

Fa Xu’s face twisted in horror and fury.

"I told you everything, and you still won’t spare me?! Fine! I’ll fight you to the death!"

With a furious roar, he yanked the Buddhist prayer beads from his neck.

The beads scattered into the air, each one erupting with blinding golden radiance. They formed a massive halo of sacred light, crashing down toward Gu Qingfeng’s fist like a falling sun.

The power was overwhelming—a final, desperate gambit.

But Gu Qingfeng’s eyes gleamed with greed as he sensed the immense energy within the beads.

His fist transformed into a claw.

Trillions of years’ worth of mana surged forth, manifesting as a colossal demonic hand that snatched the beads out of the air.

The beads, moments away from unleashing their devastating might, instantly dimmed, their power suppressed effortlessly.

Fa Xu’s jaw dropped. He had never imagined Gu Qingfeng still possessed such unfathomable reserves of power.

"Damn it! Blood Demon Escape!"

In a last-ditch effort, Fa Xu detonated his own blood vessels, his body erupting into a crimson mist as he transformed into a streak of blood-light, fleeing at breakneck speed.

At the same time, the True Immortals besieging Fairy Miaohua realized the tides had turned. Seeing Fa Xu’s escape, they assumed Gu Qingfeng would chase him—giving them the perfect opportunity to scatter.

Like shooting stars, they bolted in all directions.