Chapter 145: Just Chasing You

The indomitable Heavenly Crystal Bullets exploded upon impact but only blasted a fist-sized hole in the outermost layer of the “Cocoon,” causing barely any damage. Responding to the thunderous sound, Fire Red Hermit’s burning staff and Clear Snow’s Water-Splitting Wolf Tooth Dagger both launched attacks, yet neither inflicted any harm.

Lei Xiang was stunned—this was his first failure with the Celestial Shooting Spear. Renowned throughout the cultivation world, his spear couldn’t even pierce a single “Cocoon.” Fire Red Hermit was equally dumbfounded; even with his late-stage Golden Core cultivation at its zenith, he couldn’t tear through the outer defense. What level of cultivation could this fiend possibly possess?

Clear Snow remained composed, retrieving a sound-transmitting talisman and whispering a few words before tossing it into the air. She then turned to Lei Xiang, who suddenly produced a long Celestial Shooting Spear from somewhere. He slammed two black bullets into it with force but did not hold the spear in his hands—instead, he braced it on his back. Fire Red Hermit anxiously continued to monitor the “Cocoon”’s condition.

The roughly one-foot-long “Cocoon” began to rhythmically contract and expand. Although the scale of movement was small, the aura of pressure radiating from this subtle motion was extraordinary. Lei Xiang and the others retreated a hundred feet to observe from a distance.

The “Cocoon” pulsed steadily when suddenly a bolt of lightning flashed from the sky, striking it with a blinding white light. The “Cocoon” only trembled slightly, showing no substantial change. As the light dimmed, a man dressed in plain cloth appeared midair—it was the accountant from the Ru family inn. Lei Xiang’s heart skipped a beat—how could it be him? It seemed Clear Snow had summoned him with the talisman.

The accountant’s expression shifted slightly as he looked at the “Cocoon,” but he said nothing. Instead, Clear Snow, with a pleased smile, spoke: “There’s no need to panic. This fiend is evolving, and now is the time to eliminate it. On behalf of the Laughing Fang Organization, I announce that the reward for this mission has been doubled. Oh, I forgot to introduce—this is Mr. Wisdom Tooth, one of our Laughing Fang’s Dharma Protectors. With his assistance, our chances of success increase greatly.” At that, Clear Snow casually tossed two pouches of spirit stones toward Lei Xiang and Fire Red Hermit. “These are the agreed one thousand premium spirit stones; another thousand will follow upon completion.”

Mr. Wisdom Tooth said nothing but carefully took out a jade-green pouch, raising it above his head as a talisman, then sat cross-legged with hands clasped, eyes closed in silent incantation. Clear Snow continued, “Mr. Wisdom Tooth is activating an ancient treasure called the Jade Ghost Pouch. The needles it releases are a hundred times stronger than the King Granny’s Ghost Trace Needles. Our task is to protect him and monitor the myriad changes in the target. Once Mr. Wisdom Tooth’s activation succeeds, we will assist him in striking together.”

These words dispelled Lei Xiang’s urge to flee. Helping the Dharma Protector and watching over the scene was acceptable—he had no desire to be cannon fodder for a few thousand spirit stones. He shouldered his Celestial Shooting Spear, its blue glow flickering in his eyes as he observed the “Cocoon.”

There was no wind over the sea, yet the “Cocoon” swayed rhythmically, as if moving to an unseen cadence. Still, no change came from Wisdom Tooth. After a long while, the “Cocoon”’s movements grew violent, causing tension among the group. Suddenly, a sharp whistle echoed throughout the sky and earth. Wisdom Tooth, who had remained motionless, now rose, clutching the Jade Ghost Pouch as he flew up to hover three yards above the “Cocoon.”

The jade-green pouch inverted, releasing a cloud of white mist that instantly enveloped the “Cocoon.” Wisdom Tooth’s hand gestures never ceased. Fire Red Hermit looked at Clear Snow in confusion, but Lei Xiang, through the blue glow in his eyes, saw clearly: the white mist was actually tens of thousands of needles as pure and white as snow. These needles relentlessly pounded the “Cocoon”’s outer skin, causing intense ripples. The outer layer became noticeably thinner, faintly revealing something writhing inside.

Wisdom Tooth’s face paled considerably, clearly drained by the huge spiritual energy this treasure demanded. He concentrated the tens of thousands of jade ghost needles on the upper half of the “Cocoon,” leaving the lower part to Lei Xiang and the others. Clear Snow’s Water-Splitting Wolf Tooth Dagger struck first, piercing a tiny white dot in the thinned skin. Fire Red Hermit’s Starfire Staff left a shallow red mark, but Lei Xiang’s Celestial Shooting Spear remained unused—he was still waiting.

Surrounded by their combined efforts, the “Cocoon” shifted from mere rippling to violent trembling, as if wracked by unbearable pain. Wisdom Tooth, face ashen, urged, “Everyone, push harder! We’re about to succeed. Stop holding back.” He glanced sideways at Lei Xiang, who sighed inwardly and finally unleashed the Infinite Sword Formation with twelve flying swords slicing up and down with tremendous force. Yet even this did little to scar the “Cocoon.”

The greatest power lay with the Jade Ghost Needles—nearly a thousand had already embedded in the upper part. The “Cocoon” emitted moans of distress, seemingly about to collapse. At that moment, Lei Xiang acted. Twisting the Celestial Shooting Spear from his shoulder around his neck, he aimed its muzzle at the “Cocoon”’s lower half and pulled the trigger. A streak of black light flashed, followed by a sharp explosion that sent seawater surging tens of feet high.

A non-human wail echoed. As the black smoke dissipated, the true form of the “Cocoon” was revealed. Its lower half had been blown away by the Celestial Shooting Spear, exposing a tangled mass of pale skin. With most of the “Cocoon” eroded and Lei Xiang’s use of a more powerful spear and newly developed black crystal bullets, the final defense had been breached. Suddenly, a head emerged from the upper half.

Lei Xiang stared in shock—it was a woman’s head, with smooth, rosy plump cheeks. The Witch Qianqian? He nearly called out in surprise, but Clear Snow beat him to it. “Qianqian! Could you be the missing Qianqian?”

The Witch Qianqian shook her chubby face and, to everyone’s astonishment, spoke human words: “I am not Qianqian. Qianqian was killed by you all. I am the Myriad Changes Trace—haha—you cannot harm me.” As she spoke, her catfish-like mouth opened, spitting out a foul-smelling green pill the size of a watermelon. The pill spun rapidly, absorbing all tens of thousands of Jade Ghost Needles conjured by Wisdom Tooth. Wisdom Tooth instantly felt severed from his treasured weapon, coughing up several mouthfuls of blood.

Qianqian chuckled, “It’s over for you now. Your greatest reliance is gone. Now I will deal with you properly. You ruined my advancement to eighth level. After I devour you one by one, I will steadily advance. Oh, and Lei Xiang, I must thank you!”

“Thank me?”

Lei Xiang was utterly baffled. Qianqian patiently explained, “You shot me twice today. The first shot helped me regain control over the Myriad Changes Trace body, and the second awakened my past memories. Truly, I thank you. Shall I finish you off now?”

Lei Xiang lowered his head, still shouldering the Celestial Shooting Spear. He now understood—the black and green souls he’d seen were two separate entities. The black soul was the Myriad Changes Trace itself, devoured by Qianqian’s green soul. This Myriad Changes Trace, controlled by Qianqian, had yet to break the eighth-level beast threshold but was close. Not fleeing now would be foolish. “Run!”

The four split, fleeing in different directions. Suddenly, the half “Cocoon” exploded completely, releasing a blinding white light. Behind Wisdom Tooth and Fire Red Hermit, a massive white tail slammed down like a collapsing mountain. Without hesitation, Wisdom Tooth spat out a translucent small white tooth—unlike the rotten one that had spewed before, this tooth had no black cavities nor crawling green worms.

The tooth enlarged and met the Myriad Changes Trace’s colossal tail head-on. Fine cracks appeared across its surface, but it held, blocking the devastating sweep. Fire Red Hermit was less fortunate. His Starfire Staff’s flickering embers couldn’t slow the tail’s advance. The staff shattered into several pieces. The tail struck his chest, shattering bones completely, and the gust from the impact tore Fire Red Hermit apart, his soul unable to escape.

Lei Xiang ran, relieved that Qianqian hadn’t attacked him—until a sudden gale arose behind. Quickly activating the Divine Thunder Slash, his eyes flickering blue light, he glimpsed a broad, pancake-like face at the center of the wind. It was the Witch Qianqian’s plump visage. “She’s chasing me. Why not Clear Snow or Wisdom Tooth? Why me?”

In the blink of an eye, the distance between Qianqian and Lei Xiang shrank to seventy miles. A triumphant voice echoed in his mind, “Lei Xiang, you can’t run anymore. I’m coming for you!”