“Boom!” With just a single strike, the sky erupted into chaos. Crimson runes densely covered the heavens as a Vermilion Bird soared proudly, its resplendent feathers gleaming like molten magma. The Golden Spider sighed inwardly, steeling itself for battle. It knew full well that its so-called “brothers of the Dao” wouldn’t lift a finger to help—this was merely a game of mutual exploitation, each hoping the other would strike first so they could fish in troubled waters.
The Golden Spider opened its maw, unleashing a divine river—a shimmering, crystalline expanse that spanned the sky, intercepting the crimson divine bird with an overwhelming surge of power. A flash of red light followed as the Vermilion Bird’s flames descended, igniting the “river” and turning the battlefield into a sea of roaring fire, crackling and hissing. Clearly, this was no ordinary river but strands of spider silk—translucent, resilient, and nearly indestructible. Yet, tragically, the Vermilion Bird’s flames were its bane.
The Golden Spider’s eyes turned icy. Though in human form, it continued spewing silk like an unending river. This time, however, the silk was different—no longer pristine white but tainted with a bloody mist, crimson threads weaving into a dense, fog-like shroud. Golden Spiders were typically non-venomous, revered as sacred beings, but when pushed to extremes, they could manifest terrifying mutations. The bloody mist twisted into eerie runes, writhing through the void, aiming to ensnare Shi Hao’s Vermilion Bird manifestation.
This was the Golden Spider’s trump card—refined Golden Spider blood fused with ancient corpse poison, a lethal technique capable of slaying even a Supreme Being without a trace. Shi Hao’s heart skipped a beat. At this level, poison was beneath contempt, but once employed, it was undeniably devastating. Cautiously, he summoned a magical artifact to test the waters. The moment it touched the bloody silk, it corroded instantly with a sizzle.
“Such potent venom—formed from runes, capable of destroying treasures and flesh alike,” Shi Hao muttered, evading the mist and summoning divine flames. The Four Strikes of the Primordial Vermilion Bird erupted, unleashing a torrent of crimson fire to incinerate the fog. Yet the flames proved ineffective; though the bloody silk burned, it refused to dissipate entirely.
The Golden Spider shrieked, manipulating the bloody silk and corpse poison to entrap the Vermilion Bird. Simultaneously, it reverted to its true form—eight spider legs rigid as golden spears, thrusting forward with blinding speed. Shi Hao countered with his right arm, transforming it into a flaming Vermilion Bird wing. A metallic clang echoed as golden runes clashed, forcing the Golden Spider to stagger back in shock. A single near-miss had sent searing pain through one of its legs.
Shi Hao dove through the mist, his body wreathed in crimson light, launching a relentless assault. “Bang!” Their clash sent the Golden Spider reeling, one leg cracking under the impact, nearly shattering. Spectators gasped—this battle had barely begun, and the Golden Spider was already at a disadvantage, nearly crippled by Shi Hao’s overwhelming physical might.
Dozens of exchanges later, the Golden Spider coughed blood, barely surviving another devastating blow. It was now clear to all—whether “Little Shi” or “Big Shi,” both were terrifying forces, capable of slaying Supreme Beings with ease at the same cultivation level.
Desperate, the Golden Spider spat out a treasure—a golden shield clanging loudly to block Shi Hao’s strikes. But Shi Hao, burdened by severe injuries, sought a swift end. Channeling the Four Strikes of the Primordial Vermilion Bird, he transformed into a humanoid divine bird, erupting with crimson radiance.
“Crrack!” The golden shield shattered, sending the Golden Spider flying. “Even gravely wounded, Little Shi fights with such ferocity. At his peak, how unstoppable would he be?” The thought chilled every Supreme Being present.
“Die!” Shi Hao roared, pressing his advantage. The Golden Spider’s defenses crumbled, and with a final strike, one of its legs was severed, eliciting a bloodcurdling scream. Victory seemed imminent—until golden light flared across the battlefield.
Eight radiant spheres materialized, spewing golden silk in unison. “The Eightfold Spider Formation!” someone gasped. The formation, also known as the Eight Trigrams Golden Spider Array, was a notorious killing matrix from the Demon Spirit Lake lineage, famed for slaying deities in ancient times. Though not the original, this variant still housed a formation spirit, unleashing gale-force winds and divine might.
“Shhhiing!” Beyond the glowing web sealing the heavens, golden spider hairs—needle-thin—shot from the eight symbols, filling the void. Shi Hao’s eyes narrowed. These were the same projectiles that had nearly killed him during his battle with Shi Yi. Had his Supreme Bone not awakened, he’d have perished.
“No time to waste. I must end this now,” Shi Hao muttered, blood trickling from his lips. His injuries were worse than anticipated, and the relentless use of the Vermilion Bird’s power strained him further.
In a flash, he plunged into the formation, unleashing Dao flames and Vermilion Bird fire to incinerate the golden array. Yet the formation resisted both water and fire, its eight symbols eroding anything within. Trapped, Shi Hao faced mounting peril.
The Golden Spider sneered, activating the array’s deadliest mechanism—chains of order manifesting to crush Shi Hao. “Youth is impetuous,” it taunted. Had Shi Hao not rushed in, it would’ve stood no chance.
But then—its smirk froze. Shi Hao’s body radiated light as ten heavenly caves materialized around him, ancient patterns intertwining. “What—?!” The Golden Spider gasped, its own caves igniting uncontrollably, resonating with Shi Hao’s.
“Boom!” Its caves erupted in flames, divine energy surging toward Shi Hao’s. “Living Sacrifice!” someone screamed. The Golden Spider howled, its caves collapsing as it burned alive, essence siphoned into Shi Hao’s ten caves.
The sight horrified onlookers. “This… resembles the ancient Blood Demon Tree—stealing others’ divine essence to empower itself!” The comparison sent shivers down spines. The Blood Demon Tree had once bathed the world in blood, requiring a united effort from all sages to vanquish.
“No—!” The Golden Spider’s cries were futile. Trapped in the formation, bound by its own silk, it was the perfect sacrificial offering. Its body and caves dissolved into radiant streams, absorbed by Shi Hao.
As the last wisp of its soul tried to escape, Shi Hao crushed it with a Soul Suppression Pagoda, extinguishing it completely.
Silence.
The Golden Spider was dead.
Shi Hao sat cross-legged atop a treasure, bathed in divine light as his ten heavenly caves nourished him. The battlefield, once chaotic, fell eerily still.
This was a gravely wounded youth who could barely walk—yet he’d just sacrificed a Supreme Being alive. And worse—he seemed to have gained immense benefits from it, his body glowing with newfound vitality.
“Has Little Stone truly become invincible?” Sect masters trembled. Those who’d secretly struck earlier now feared retribution.
Soon, Shi Hao stood—only to cough blood again, his frail appearance mocking their terror. Was this a taunt, or was he truly on death’s door?
Either way, it was humiliating. Even in this state, none dared challenge him.
Elder Xi Hua’s face darkened. “Elder Zhong, can you handle him? I never wish to see this boy again. He’s no ally—just a future calamity.”
A prodigy like this, indifferent to the Seamless Heaven Sect’s overtures, was a threat. The more she observed, the more certain she became—this youth would shake the world, perhaps even alter the fate of an immortal sect.
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