Chapter Eighty-Seven — The Trap

“What’s wrong with you?”

Song Qian stared at Zhuo Fan’s strange expression and asked softly.

Zhuo Fan scratched his head awkwardly.

Then coughed lightly.

“About that…”

“I can’t force the poison out normally.”

“There’s only one option left.”

“I’ll need to… extract it by mouth.”

Before he even finished speaking—

Song Qian already understood.

A blush spread slowly across her pale face as she lowered her head shyly.

“Then…”

“…I’ll trouble you.”

Her voice was barely audible.

Soft.

Trembling.

The embarrassed expression on her face made her look genuinely fragile for the first time.

Zhuo Fan swallowed unconsciously.

Then slowly reached toward her wound.

RIIIP!

Her clothes tore open slightly beneath his hand, exposing smooth pale skin beneath.

Song Qian trembled violently.

Her eyes shut tight instantly while her face flushed bright red.

Even though she already knew what was coming—

The moment her clothes tore—

A faint gasp still escaped her lips involuntarily.

And for some reason—

That sound made Zhuo Fan’s heartbeat stutter unexpectedly.

“Song Qian…”

“…excuse me.”

His voice sounded unusually stiff.

Then slowly—

He lowered his head toward the wound.

The moment his lips touched her shoulder—

He activated his spiritual energy and began drawing out the poisoned blood.

One mouthful.

Two.

Three.

Again and again.

Yet the more Zhuo Fan extracted—

The more his brows furrowed.

Normally, poisoned blood carried bitterness, burning heat, or some abnormal sensation.

But Song Qian’s blood tasted completely normal.

No poison reaction whatsoever.

Still—

To be safe—

He continued extracting until the blood finally returned fully bright red.

Only then did he stop.

“Most of the poison should be gone now.”

“You’ll be fine.”

Zhuo Fan exhaled softly.

Yet the suspicion in his eyes only deepened further.

Something felt wrong.

Very wrong.

Then suddenly—

A soft warm body threw itself directly into his arms.

Zhuo Fan froze.

Before he could react—

Two slender arms wrapped gently around his neck.

“Song Qian…”

“…what are you doing?”

“Shh…”

She breathed softly beside his ear.

Her voice carried intoxicating warmth.

“Zhuo Fan…”

“Do you know…”

“…I liked you from the very first moment I saw you?”

Zhuo Fan’s eyes shifted slightly.

“Your brother will return soon.”

“Forget him.”

Song Qian’s tongue lightly brushed across the side of his face.

Zhuo Fan’s entire body stiffened instantly.

“Tonight…”

“…I only want you.”

Before he could even process the words—

Song Qian suddenly grabbed his face and kissed him directly.

Zhuo Fan’s pupils contracted violently.

His brain went blank instantly.

In both his previous and current life—

He had devoted everything toward cultivation.

Women?

Romance?

He’d never truly experienced either.

The forced kisses from Luo Yunchang and Lei Yuting earlier already caught him completely off guard.

But this?

This was far worse.

Damn it.

He’d been a virgin for two entire lifetimes.

How the hell was he supposed handling something like this?

Then suddenly—

Zhuo Fan’s eyes sharpened violently.

A flash of fury exploded inside them.

BOOM!

He shoved Song Qian away instantly.

“What did you put in my mouth?!”

Even in that chaotic moment—

He clearly sensed something entering his mouth.

The strange object melted instantly after entering.

Definitely suspicious.

Song Qian cried out softly after falling backward.

But before she could answer—

A loud laugh suddenly echoed from above.

“Hahahaha…”

“Of course something good.”

WHOOSH!

A black shadow dropped from the sky instantly.

At the same time—

The newcomer waved one hand.

A massive transparent bell slammed downward over Zhuo Fan with a deafening crash.

BOOOOM!

The ground shook violently.

Zhuo Fan’s expression changed instantly.

“A fourth-grade defensive spirit weapon?!”

The black figure slowly landed before him.

Then turned around fully.

An old man.

Sharp eyes.

Cold smile.

And terrifying Heaven Profound pressure.

“So you’re the Heaven Profound expert guarding the Qi Clan.”

Zhuo Fan narrowed his eyes and attempted standing.

But the moment he moved—

His head spun violently.

His body dropped back down onto one knee immediately.

Poison.

He’d really been poisoned.

The old man burst into laughter.

“Correct.”

“You’ve been poisoned by the Qi Clan’s secret toxin…”

“…Soul Devouring Powder.”

“This poison specifically attacks the soul.”

“Anyone beneath Radiant Stage dies within one hour.”

“Even Radiant Stage experts won’t survive three days without the antidote.”

Zhuo Fan stared coldly at him.

Then suddenly spoke calmly:

“You’re wondering how I got poisoned?”

The old man grinned viciously.

“The dagger earlier never carried poison.”

“The blood discoloration was fake.”

“The real poison…”

“…was hidden on Song Qian’s shoulder.”

“The moment you sucked the blood…”

“…you inhaled the first half.”

“Then during that kiss…”

“…she placed the second half into your mouth.”

Only now did two more figures walk slowly into the room.

Song Yu.

And Qi Tianlei.

Both moved beside Song Qian and helped her up carefully.

The siblings avoided Zhuo Fan’s gaze completely.

Only Qi Tianlei glared at him with pure hatred.

“You killed my father.”

“I’ll carve you apart piece by piece for that.”

Zhuo Fan laughed coldly.

“Your Qi Clan truly has no shame.”

“If I guessed correctly…”

“…Qi Ganglie was disposable from the beginning.”

“He existed purely to lure me into this trap.”

“You already planned sacrificing him long ago.”

Qi Tianlei’s face twitched violently.

Because Zhuo Fan was correct.

Completely correct.

The room fell silent awkwardly.

Finally—

Zhuo Fan looked toward the old man again.

“Using your own son and nine clan elders as bait…”

“…that’s a pretty ruthless move.”

The old man raised his chin proudly.

“So what?”

“I can sacrifice one son.”

“I still have a grandson.”

“As long as we obtain your head…”

“…the Qi Clan becomes Nether Valley’s number one affiliated clan.”

“One family beneath Nether Valley.”

“Above countless others.”

“A few sacrifices mean nothing compared to the clan’s future.”

Zhuo Fan slowly nodded.

“Not bad.”

“You have the temperament of a true tyrant.”

“Cold enough.”

“But your vision’s too small.”

He sneered dismissively.

“You sacrificed everything…”

“…just to become Nether Valley’s favorite dog.”

“If it were me?”

“I’d at least aim for conquering the entire continent.”

Silence.

Everyone stared at him like a lunatic.

Conquer the continent?

Was this bastard insane?

Even ruling Tianyu Empire alone was nearly impossible.

The old man suddenly laughed loudly.

“So that’s why you dared offend Nether Valley.”

“You’re insane.”

“Completely insane.”

“How could ordinary people possibly conquer the continent?”

Zhuo Fan smiled faintly.

“A sparrow can never understand the ambition of a roc.”

Then his eyes narrowed thoughtfully.

“Still…”

“One thing confuses me.”

“I’m extremely familiar with poisons.”

“If poison truly existed on her shoulder…”

“…I should’ve detected it immediately.”

The old man grinned proudly.

“That’s why this poison was specially prepared for you.”

“The Soul Devouring Powder contains two separate harmless substances.”

“Neither is poisonous alone.”

“But once combined…”

“…they become lethal.”

“The substance on Song Qian’s shoulder activated only after mixing with what she fed you during the kiss.”

“Even your spiritual energy couldn’t detect it beforehand.”

Zhuo Fan nodded slowly.

“So that’s how it worked.”

Then he suddenly laughed.

“No wonder.”

The old man smirked proudly.

“I investigated you thoroughly before setting this trap.”

“I heard you offended Nether Valley because of a girl.”

“So I knew one thing immediately.”

“You’re soft toward women.”

“That’s why I prepared this honey trap personally.”

“You’re cautious, Zhuo Fan…”

“…but there’s always a blade hanging over a man’s lust.”

Hearing this—

Zhuo Fan nearly laughed aloud.

The rumors outside had apparently transformed his clash with Ghost Seven into some romantic story about him risking everything for a woman.

Though honestly…

Thinking about it carefully—

Every major conflict since his rebirth really had started because of women somehow.

Luo Yunchang.

Lei Yuting.

Xue Ningxiang.

And now Song Qian.

Zhuo Fan suddenly felt like a complete idiot.

Still—

He glanced toward the old man thoughtfully.

“Your schemes really are impressive.”

“You’re not inferior to Ghost Seven.”

The old man instantly straightened proudly.

“Of course.”

“If I’d been born into one of the Seven Houses…”

“…my achievements would never have been lower than his.”

Then he smirked arrogantly.

“Remember this name.”

“Steel Lock Across the River—”

“Qi Weilin.”

Zhuo Fan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

Then suddenly—

He smiled.

“Steel Lock Across the River?”

“Half-dead.”

“Neither alive nor dead.”

The old man froze.

Then burst into delighted laughter.

“Excellent!”

“You’re the first person hearing my title who truly understood its meaning!”

“If your head weren’t worth so much…”

“…I almost wouldn’t want killing you.”

“Kill me?”

Zhuo Fan suddenly sneered.

“You?”

Then slowly—

He raised one finger toward his forehead.

WHOOSH!

Blue flames ignited instantly between his brows.

The next moment—

Black smoke began pouring from the flames continuously.

The Soul Devouring Powder was being burned away completely.

Qi Weilin’s smile froze instantly.

Zhuo Fan slowly stood back up.

Then lifted his cold eyes toward everyone present.

Murderous intent flooded the room instantly.

“When I killed Ghost Seven…”

“…I told him something.”

“Now I’ll say it again.”

His lips curled upward coldly.

“Before absolute strength…”

“…every scheme is meaningless.”

[End of Chapter Eighty-Seven]

 

Chapter Eighty-Eight — Cold-Blooded Extermination

Impossible.

Everyone stared at Zhuo Fan slowly rising back to his feet in complete disbelief.

Especially Qi Weilin.

Shock flooded his eyes so violently that his face nearly twisted apart.

The Qi Clan’s inherited Soul Devouring Powder was infamous even against Radiant Stage experts.

Yet Zhuo Fan had erased it almost instantly.

“What…”

“…what exactly was that thing?”

Qi Weilin’s pupils trembled while staring at the blue flame that had appeared on Zhuo Fan’s forehead moments earlier.

“That flame…”

“…it dissolved the poison?”

Zhuo Fan casually tapped his forehead.

The blue flame vanished again instantly.

Then he smiled coldly.

“A dying man doesn’t need answers.”

The moment those words fell—

Everyone instinctively stepped backward.

None of them had forgotten Zhuo Fan’s terrifying strength earlier.

Even now—

The fear still lingered deep in their bones.

Qi Weilin himself grew visibly tense.

Yet after glancing toward the 紫金琉璃盏 trapping Zhuo Fan—

He forced himself calm again.

“Don’t panic!”

“He’s still trapped inside the fourth-grade spirit weapon!”

“There’s no way he can—”

ROOOOAR!

A deafening dragon roar exploded through the hall.

Before Qi Weilin could finish speaking—

A black beam tore directly through his chest.

PFFT!

His body jerked violently.

Blood poured endlessly from his mouth.

Yet his face remained completely blank.

“What…”

“…just happened to me?”

He lowered his head slowly.

Only then did he finally notice the fist-sized hole through his chest.

Blood streamed endlessly from both front and back.

As though something had pierced straight through his body instantly.

Qi Weilin touched the wound blankly.

His hand came away soaked red.

Then slowly—

He raised his eyes toward Zhuo Fan again.

Inside the cracked spirit weapon—

Zhuo Fan stood there breathing heavily.

His aura had weakened drastically.

But one hand remained extended forward in a clawing motion.

And directly before that claw—

The fourth-grade spirit weapon itself now contained a fist-sized hole identical to the wound in Qi Weilin’s chest.

Qi Weilin’s pupils contracted violently.

“A monster…”

“You pierced…”

“…a fourth-grade spirit weapon…”

“…with bare hands…”

THUD.

Before he could finish—

His corpse collapsed lifelessly onto the floor.

Even until death—

Terror remained frozen inside his eyes.

He never imagined Zhuo Fan could kill him instantly while still trapped inside a spirit weapon.

What kind of monstrous strength was required for that?

The Qi Clan…

Was finished.

That final thought filled his mind completely before darkness swallowed him forever.

AHHH!

Song Qian screamed in terror.

She, Song Yu, and Qi Tianlei retreated frantically while staring at Zhuo Fan like a demon from hell itself.

Meanwhile—

Zhuo Fan grinned excitedly.

His eyes burned with exhilaration.

The second form of the Three Absolute Demon Slaughters—

Ghost Dragon Claw.

Even using only one technique—

It still consumed over half his spiritual energy instantly.

If he attempted another attack immediately afterward—

He might completely exhaust himself.

But the power…

The power was absurd.

The Three Absolute Demon Slaughters were originally designed specifically for body cultivators.

The stronger the body—

The greater the martial art’s destructive force.

Yet even Zhuo Fan himself never expected the combination of a fifth-grade demonic body and Profound-rank martial arts would create something this terrifying.

Originally—

He merely wanted testing whether Ghost Dragon Claw could break the fourth-grade spirit weapon.

But instead—

It pierced through both the spirit weapon and a Heaven Profound expert simultaneously.

One strike.

Instant kill.

Zhuo Fan’s lips curled upward slowly.

“So this…”

“…is true power.”

BOOM!

Thundercloud wings suddenly spread wide behind him.

Then snapped outward violently like two giant whips.

CRASH!

The already damaged fourth-grade spirit weapon exploded into fragments instantly.

Zhuo Fan’s eyes locked onto the fleeing trio.

Murderous intent surged within them.

Then—

Lightning exploded beneath his feet.

Within moments—

He appeared directly before the three fleeing figures.

“Run.”

“Go ahead.”

“Let’s see whether you’re faster…”

“…or I am.”

The moment they saw him appear—

Qi Tianlei collapsed directly onto the ground.

His face turned deathly pale.

“Senior Zhuo!”

“Our Qi Clan was blind!”

“You already killed my father and grandfather!”

“Please spare me!”

Zhuo Fan smiled coldly.

“You already said it yourself.”

“I killed your father and grandfather.”

“So what difference does killing you make too?”

Before Qi Tianlei could even scream—

Black demonic energy surged from Zhuo Fan’s body and entered him instantly.

Moments later—

Qi Tianlei’s body crumbled into fine ash and scattered into the air.

Song Qian and Song Yu nearly fainted from terror.

They had never witnessed such horrifying killing methods before.

Zhuo Fan slowly turned toward them.

“So?”

“Anything left you want saying?”

The siblings exchanged trembling glances.

Fear filled both faces completely.

Finally—

Song Qian bit her lip hard and stepped forward weakly.

“Brother Zhuo…”

“We truly had no choice.”

“The Song Clan is only a small family.”

“We couldn’t afford offending the Qi Clan.”

“Much less Nether Valley.”

“If you hate someone…”

“…then kill me instead.”

“But please…”

“…spare Little Yu.”

“He’s the only remaining male heir of the Song Clan.”

“Sis!”

Song Yu burst into tears immediately.

Song Qian looked toward him gently.

Her eyes overflowed with tenderness.

Zhuo Fan watched the scene silently.

Then slowly sighed.

“You really are similar to them…”

“…family trapped by circumstances…”

“…forced into desperation…”

His gaze drifted toward the distant sky.

For the first time in a long while—

A trace of loneliness crossed his eyes.

“I wonder…”

“…how the Luo Clan is doing now.”

Song Qian stared at his back softly.

“You mean…”

“…the Luo Clan?”

Zhuo Fan nodded slowly.

“You resemble them.”

“That’s why…”

“…I almost couldn’t bring myself killing you.”

Hope instantly appeared on Song Qian’s face.

Even Song Yu looked relieved.

But then—

Zhuo Fan suddenly laughed coldly.

“Unfortunately…”

“…there’s one difference.”

“One very important difference.”

SHHHK!

Without warning—

Thundercloud wings swept outward instantly.

Two heads flew high into the air.

Then crashed heavily onto the ground.

Yet even after death—

Hope still lingered faintly on both their faces.

Zhuo Fan never looked back.

He simply spoke coldly while walking away.

“They were genuinely simple people.”

“But you two…”

“…were far too clever.”

“You deliberately acted out that emotional little performance after learning my background.”

“You wanted manipulating my sympathy.”

“So stop pretending.”

“You were never like them.”

His laughter echoed faintly through the empty streets.

Then slowly disappeared into the night.

Behind him—

Only two headless corpses remained silently on the ground.

And soon afterward—

Screams erupted throughout the entire Qi Clan estate.

One month later.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Three gray-robed elders descended directly into the ruined Qi Clan courtyard.

At the front stood Nether Valley’s Second Elder himself.

The moment he landed—

His brows immediately furrowed.

“Something’s wrong.”

“Why is the Qi Clan completely silent?”

Another elder snorted coldly.

“They invited Nether Valley personally.”

“And now nobody even welcomes us?”

“A second-rate clan truly doesn’t know its place.”

But the Second Elder suddenly narrowed his eyes.

“Third Brother.”

“Fourth Brother.”

“Search the area carefully.”

“This place feels wrong.”

The two elders exchanged glances.

Then vanished instantly.

Moments later—

A horrified shout erupted from the rear courtyard.

“Second Brother!”

“Come quickly!”

The three elders arrived instantly.

Then froze completely.

The entire rear courtyard had become a mass grave.

Nearly a thousand corpses were piled together like a mountain of rotting flesh.

The stench alone nearly suffocated them.

Flies swarmed endlessly above the bodies.

The Second Elder’s face darkened immediately.

“That little monster…”

“He exterminated the entire clan.”

Even the other elders felt chills run through them.

Complete extermination.

No survivors.

Even among demonic cultivators—

This level of ruthlessness was terrifying.

The Second Elder clenched his jaw tightly.

“Burn everything.”

“Don’t let this spread.”

“Why?”

“Idiot!”

The Second Elder roared furiously.

“If word spreads about how terrifying Zhuo Fan truly is…”

“…who’ll still dare opposing him?”

“How are we supposed finding him afterward?”

Then he sneered coldly.

“Qi Weilin always considered himself the second Ghost Seven.”

“He definitely wanted taking Zhuo Fan’s head personally for merit.”

“People die for wealth.”

“Birds die for food.”

“He brought this upon himself.”

Soon afterward—

Massive flames engulfed the entire Qi Clan estate.

The corpses.

The buildings.

Everything burned together.

Lanling City’s greatest family vanished from existence completely.

As the flames rose behind them—

The Second Elder slowly looked into the distance.

“Third Brother.”

“Fourth Brother.”

“We split up here.”

“One of us will eventually find him.”

The Fourth Elder frowned slightly.

“What about the road toward Blossom Rain City?”

The Second Elder smirked coldly.

“No need.”

“If that brat dares taking that road…”

“…then Fifth Brother will personally deal with him.”

Then—

The three elders vanished in different directions beneath the night sky.

The hunt for Zhuo Fan had truly begun.

[End of Chapter Eighty-Eight]