Who is this person with such an ugly face

Late at night.

Nine Heavens Holy Domain.

The moonlight was devoured by thick black clouds, enveloping the entire holy domain in an eerie silence.

The streets, usually ablaze with lights, were now pitch black, with only the occasional whisper of wind.

A faint rustling sound mingled within, like the skittering of some multi-legged creature in the shadows.

Drip—

A viscous droplet fell from the eaves, landing on the shoulder of a patrolling cultivator.

"Hm?"

The cultivator frowned, wiping it with his hand—only for a searing, corrosive pain to shoot through his fingertips.

He looked down. His palm was coated in a black, sizzling mucus, white smoke rising from it.

"What the hell is this—Gah!"

Before he could finish, a hair-thin strand of pale spider silk lashed around his neck and yanked him upward!

Crack!

His spine snapped, his body dangling limply like a rag doll from the street corner.

Finally, the moonlight pierced through the clouds, revealing a horrifying sight—

The entire Nine Heavens Holy Domain was draped in dense, pale webs.

The silk pulsed like veins, each strand cocooning a shriveled human figure. Some still twitched weakly, oozing dark blood.

The former domain lord’s hall, once obscured by unknown forces, had now transformed into a grotesque nest of horrors.

Deep within the dark nest, the Bone Spider perched atop a throne of piled bones.

Its form had evolved into something truly monstrous—eight skeletal limbs extended from its body, each joint adorned with jagged spikes. Its obsidian carapace was etched with crimson patterns, like flowing blood.

And its head—utterly unnatural.

Its original four-parted maw had split into six, no longer lined with mere fangs, but with clusters of eyeball-like tumors, each one rolling and fixated ahead.

Right now, it was holding a phone.

On the screen—a photo of Qin Luo.

"My King… still looks the same," the Bone Spider rasped, its voice feverish with devotion. Its skeletal limb traced the screen as if caressing something sacred.

"Indeed… not a single change."

Its tone dripped with sick obsession, its six-parted head trembling as if restraining some overwhelming ecstasy.

But then—

Its gaze shifted to the other figure in the photo.

Su Muwan.

She clung to Qin Luo’s arm, her face smug.

CRACK—!

The Bone Spider’s limb clenched, shattering the phone instantly.

"Who is this bitch?!" it shrieked, its voice a metallic screech.

Its six-parted maw flared open, the eyeball tumors inside writhing in fury. A wave of rage flooded the nest.

"A mere human! A worthless insect! How dare she… how dare she defile my King?!"

"Die! Die! DIE!!!"

"What is that disgusting expression supposed to mean?!"

Its limbs slashed wildly, tearing through the bone walls around it.

Black, corrosive ooze seeped from its carapace, sizzling as it hit the ground.

Below, eleven figures knelt silently on one knee.

Among them, a man in a suit adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, a faint smirk on his lips—as if the Bone Spider’s frenzy was nothing new.

"Father, please calm down."

The Bone Spider’s head snapped toward him, its maw splitting wide to reveal the grotesque tumors within.

"Calm?! How can I be calm?! My King’s arm—is she worthy to touch it?! IS SHE?!"

The suited man shrugged. "I merely suggest that your anger won’t aid our plans."

The Bone Spider’s limbs creaked, but eventually, its fury subsided.

"Tch… You’re right."

It settled back onto its throne, its maw sealing shut, leaving only two crimson eyes exposed.

"Still, you surprise me," it sneered, eyeing the suited man.

"Even after evolving to Gluttony-class, you cling to this human form. What, attached to this skin?"

The man smiled, straightening his tie.

"I find it… convenient. Easier to blend in among them, to learn their ways."

He lifted his gaze, coldness flashing behind his glasses.

"To kill them, one must first understand them."

The Bone Spider chuckled darkly. "Hah… Fair enough."

It turned its attention to the other abominations below.

"Report."

A scaled monstrosity stepped forward.

"My lord, the River Styx’s forces have infiltrated the Frost God Domain. They, too, seek the King."

"And the Heavenly Dao’s dogs have appeared in the mortal world."

With that, it opened its maw and retched violently—

Squelch!

A bloodied Heavenly Dao operative tumbled out, trembling on the ground.

"Y-You… Who are you?!" the man stammered, eyes wide with terror. "My comrades will make you pay!"

The Bone Spider grinned. "The Heavenly Dao? Pathetic."

Its limb shot out, impaling the man’s chest.

Splat!

Blood sprayed as the operative gasped, staring in disbelief at the bone piercing his body.

"In three days," the Bone Spider hissed, its voice dripping with madness,

"I want them all DEAD!"

"Bring my King… BACK TO ME!!!"

"YES, MY LORD!!!"

The eleven figures roared in unison, their voices shaking the nest.

——

River Styx · Dark Hall

Little He sat perched on the River Styx Lord’s lap, swinging her legs as she admired a photo of Qin Luo.

"Grandpa~ Qin Luo is sooo handsome!" she cooed, looking up with pleading eyes. "When can we go get him?"

The River Styx Lord chuckled, patting her head. "Soon, my dear."

Just then, a robed figure hurried into the hall, kneeling.

"My lord, the abominations are making their move."

The River Styx Lord’s eyes darkened. "Speak."

"The Bone Shepherd has possessed a Gluttony-class abomination. In three days, they will launch a full assault on the Frost God Domain."

"Oh?" The lord smirked. "Three days? Perfect."

He glanced down at Little He. "Three days, my dear. Grandpa will take you to fetch your Qin Luo."

"Really?!" Her eyes sparkled.

The River Styx Lord nodded, then gazed into the distance, his voice low.

"In three days…"

"Let’s see who wins this game."