Crimson fur danced wildly, as red as fresh blood. A violent whirlwind surged like the undulating waves of a vast ocean, painting a scene of eerie malevolence in this place. The air was filled with roars and howls.
A mighty *Zunzhe*—a revered expert—had been swept into the maelstrom without resistance. No one could see the figure of the demonic spider, only terrified screams echoing from within. “Ah—!” The spider was in dire straits, seemingly on the verge of annihilation, shrieking in terror. Deep, guttural growls reverberated from the depths, as if countless demons were howling in unison.
The onlookers shuddered, their hair standing on end, cold sweat pouring down their backs. This *Zunzhe* had hailed from the ancient Divine Mountain, yet now he was reduced to a pitiful wretch, screaming in agony like prey on a butcher’s block. No one could see the true horrors within the crimson whirlwind, but everyone knew it must be unspeakable—otherwise, why would a *Zunzhe* abandon all dignity and cry out so desperately?
Even the golden flames radiating from the central Heavenly Palace dimmed, nearly extinguishing. The Human Emperor of the Stone Kingdom was visibly shaken, yet he remained silent, watching calmly.
“Kill!” Finally, the demonic spider’s battle cry erupted from within, only to be drowned out by another agonized scream. It struggled fiercely, yet could not break free.
A shadow of an azure dragon cut through the crimson cyclone, followed by divine flames igniting the sky as a vermilion bird streaked across the heavens. The red whirlwind stretched endlessly, reaching the very horizon.
The onlookers glimpsed these visions and trembled even more. Were these… ancient spirits? How else could so many divine beasts and savage creatures manifest? Legends spoke of those who could summon the souls of fallen warriors to fight once more—though at a terrible price, often requiring life itself as sacrifice.
This scene seemed to be exactly that—a forbidden art, summoning the dead, binding their spectral forms into battle once again!
The crimson whirlwind grew even more terrifying, yet the spectral figures multiplied, flickering in and out of sight.
“That’s… a *Zhen Hou*!” someone shrieked in terror as a colossal beast emerged from the crimson storm, its body covered in blood-red fur, its visage monstrous. It vanished as swiftly as it appeared.
Were the crimson strands in the wind its shed fur? It was said that a *Zhen Hou* at its peak could slay gods, its ferocity unmatched, its might shaking the heavens. Some among them even proclaimed themselves divine. In ancient times, they carved a legacy of terror, tearing through demonic hordes and feasting on divine blood, their deeds so horrifying they made the world tremble.
The *Zhen Hou* flickered away, only to be replaced by a *Pixiu*, equally massive, its scales and fur drenched in crimson before it too vanished.
“By the heavens, even that azure dragon is blood-red!” someone gasped, their voice trembling as they witnessed the dragon streaking across the sky. “What is happening? Why are they all crimson?”
“I know of an ancient ritual called the Blood Sacrifice,” another murmured. “It was like this.”
“These… invincible creatures—were they sacrificed? How is that possible? If even beings of such power could be offered, what hope do the rest of us have?”
Were these vengeful spirits conjured by blood sacrifice? Was this a reenactment of some forgotten atrocity?
Deep within the crimson whirlwind, Shi Hao himself felt a chill. Spectral figures swarmed the spider, tearing it apart limb by limb, a gruesome sight.
He had never imagined the little pagoda could be so sinister, capable of unleashing such horrors. These were all phantoms emerging from within the tower.
“*You… what are you?!*” the demonic spider shrieked in terror, but its voice could no longer escape. The heart of the whirlwind had become a sealed realm, isolating it from the outside world.
Before Shi Hao, the small pagoda gleamed like flawless jade, radiant and pure. With every tremor, another spectral beast emerged.
“It must have treasures on it—quick, seize them!” Shi Hao whispered.
The pagoda agreed. A flash of light, and several luminous materials flew from the spider’s body, each pulsing with runes—undoubtedly priceless artifacts.
Shi Hao grinned, reaching out eagerly—only for the pagoda to tremble and swallow them whole, leaving not a scrap behind.
“*You ate them?!*” The little tyrant was furious. Items from a *Zunzhe* were no ordinary trinkets!
“Such things are useless to you. They would only bring calamity,” the pagoda replied.
“*What kind of demonic artifact are you?!*” the ancient spider wailed, its arrogance from moments ago utterly shattered.
“Finish it quickly, before anything unexpected happens,” Shi Hao urged.
To the spider, these words were a death sentence. Not long ago, it had looked down on this human child, certain it could crush him with a finger. Now, it was the one facing annihilation.
The pagoda glowed, the spectral figures vanishing one by one, imprinting themselves onto its surface as intricate runes. Then, a black void opened beneath it, sucking the spider inside.
Half its body vanished in an instant, and the spider’s soul nearly fled in terror. *What kind of artifact is this? Forged by a god?* Even the Golden Spider Deity of its lineage paled in comparison. How could such a thing still exist in this world?
“*Spare me! I am a *Zunzhe* of the Demon Spirit Lake! My ancestor is a deity!*” it screamed, its arrogance crumbling in the face of death.
The pagoda ignored it. With a sickening *crack*, half its body shattered, absorbed into the tower’s light. A spider-shaped rune appeared on its surface.
“*NO!*” the spider howled.
At the same time, Shi Hao bellowed, “*Hey! Leave some for me!*”
The entire spider was being devoured, and he hadn’t gotten a single scrap!
Yet the pagoda paid him no mind, continuing its leisurely feast, runes blazing around it.
By the end, Shi Hao was howling louder than the spider itself, much to the spider’s bewildered horror. *What kind of madness is this?*
“*GIVE IT!*” The little tyrant lunged forward, activating his ten heavenly apertures, seizing two of the spider’s legs and yanking with all his might.
“*You can’t hog everything!*” he roared.
The spider, now mostly obliterated, its head still intact, felt a surge of humiliation amidst the agony. A *Zunzhe*, reduced to this—tugged at by a child like a piece of meat!
Shi Hao and the pagoda engaged in a bizarre tug-of-war over the spider’s remains.
The spider laughed bitterly. After a lifetime of dominance, this was its end—pathetic!
Not long ago, it had scorned Shi Hao as an ant. Now, that very ant was fighting over its corpse. The irony was unbearable.
In the end, the entire spider was consumed, refined into nothingness. A fresh spider rune gleamed on the pagoda’s surface.
“*I’ll fight you for this!*” Shi Hao fumed, flailing dramatically.
“The world operates on balance. Equivalent exchange,” the pagoda intoned, unmoved, its voice as emotionless as ever.
When the crimson whirlwind dissipated, the onlookers saw the little tyrant panting in frustration, kicking pebbles on the ground.
“*So unlucky! Not even a single hair left for me?!*” he ranted.
The crowd stared in bewilderment. Who was he even talking to?
“Where… where is the ancient spider?” someone dared to ask.
“Naturally, it was slain by the spirits of my Supreme Hall,” Shi Hao declared loftily. “Who did it think it was, daring to challenge my sect? Just a measly spider.”
A stunned silence, then uproar.
Though many had suspected the spider’s fate, confirmation still sent shockwaves. This boy was terrifying! Had he truly summoned spirits to slay a *Zunzhe*?
“There must have been help—some powerful being intervened,” someone muttered.
“Could he really be from the Supreme Hall? With elders hidden nearby? I thought only one disciple walked the earth per generation?”
Shi Hao, having vented his frustration, glanced around. “That bird must’ve fled in terror.”
High above, an azure-feathered raptor hovered, its expression icy—yet laced with fear. It *had* tried to flee, only to be dragged back by an unseen force.
*What is happening? This brat is too unnatural!*
The death of the ancient spider had shaken the Azure Roc *Zunzhe* to its core. It longed to return to the Divine Mountain and never leave again.
“*Ah! Hiding in the clouds, are you?*” Shi Hao suddenly shouted.
“*BOOM!*”
The roc struck first. If escape was impossible, it would attack!
A torrent of azure energy, vast as an ocean, cascaded toward Shi Hao. No mere *Hualing* realm cultivator could withstand this—he should have been obliterated instantly!
“*O wandering spirits of the void, heed my call! Punish this sinner!*”
The crowd groaned. This kid sounded like a charlatan!
Yet, against all odds, an overwhelming force surged forth, shattering the azure energy.
A divine platform materialized beneath Shi Hao, lifting him skyward. Golden ripples expanded, followed by a sea of sacred power, vast and boundless.
The onlookers gaped. This was nothing like the earlier crimson horror. Now, the scene was radiant, as if gods themselves had descended.
Two entirely different styles—first demonic, now divine.
“*How is he doing this? Who’s helping him?!*” Princess Huo Ling’er’s eyes widened in disbelief. She knew Shi Hao couldn’t possibly wield such power alone.
“*Can he truly summon spirits? First demons, now gods?*” Zi Shan Yun Xi mused, her violet eyes gleaming with curiosity.
The light intensified until the world was blinding radiance.
Then—a shrill cry from the roc.
Another *Zunzhe* had fallen.
“*This time, split it with me! Half is mine!*” Shi Hao’s voice rang out from within the divine tempest, arguing with the pagoda.
“The world is balanced. Our pact stands. You cannot bear this karma. You are already tainted,” the pagoda replied.
Shi Hao’s blood ran cold. He *hated* when it said that.
“*Are you… shifting your debts onto me?*” he demanded.
“To gain, one must give,” the pagoda said simply.
“*Like what?*”
“Many possibilities. If the Spider Deity still lives, it may seek you. If the Roc Divine King awakens… or if Heaven itself comes for you.”
Shi Hao’s head spun.
“*AH—!*” The roc *Zunzhe* screamed, realizing its fate. Dragged into this, it stood no chance.
“*BOOM!*”
It activated its sacred artifact—the Azure Heaven Wheel—unleashing boundless radiance to crush both boy and pagoda.
Instead, the wheel vanished into the pagoda without a trace.
“*HOW?!*” the roc howled.
Meanwhile, Shi Hao wailed, “*My heart! The pain! That was a sacred artifact!*”
Such waste! Such shameless gluttony!
The roc, in desperation, prepared to self-destruct—denying its body to the enemy.
The pagoda pulsed. A slash of primordial sword light severed the roc’s head clean off.
No amount of defensive runes could save it.
Head and body fell separately.
Shi Hao clutched his chest in exaggerated agony. “*You… you…!*”
The pagoda remained silent, absorbing the roc’s essence. A new rune formed.
The world fell into stunned silence.
Two *Zunzhe*—slain in succession.
By a child.
And his mysterious, terrifying little tower.
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