It was a pitch-black monster with long whiskers on its head and six limbs resembling blades.
This creature was nearly as large as the blood-red puppet, its body covered in steel-like bristles. Its two narrow eyes glowed with a sinister red light, and four dark wings flapped on its back. It was another enormous insectoid monster.
Both this insect and the purple-blood puppet, despite being so close to the shadowy insect, remained unharmed by the piercing shrieks. Their movements were ghostly and elusive—each red beam that seemed to pierce their bodies only struck afterimages they left behind.
While dodging, the purple-blood puppet summoned a massive axe in its hand, slashing out crescent-shaped axe beams one after another.
The black giant insect’s attacks were even more bizarre. As its six limbs blurred in motion, countless black spikes, sharp as awls, shot out densely.
Most of their attacks were obliterated by the sweeping red beams. The few that slipped through the net were blocked by an invisible force a dozen yards from the shadowy insect, exploding harmlessly.
“What is this? Could it be a Tianfu-level entity?” The beautiful woman gasped in shock upon seeing the insectoid shadow.
“Compared to that, I’m more interested in Six-Legs’ true form,” Mu Qing murmured, her pupils narrowing.
“Mu Daoyou, now is not the time for debate. A Tianfu-level being is second only to the True Spirits among the Ephemera. If one truly appears here, none of us will escape its pursuit,” the beautiful woman said grimly, recovering from her shock.
“Don’t worry, Sister Lan. Can’t you see? This is merely a projection of a Tianfu-level being. It seems that puppet Six-Legs was chasing used some secret technique to forcibly summon it here. Once its energy is exhausted, it will vanish. Six-Legs and Earthblood must know this—that’s why they’ve been stalling!” Mu Qing said with icy calm.
“A projection!”
The white-haired woman froze, then scrutinized the distant, fly-like shadow. After a long moment, she exhaled in relief. “Indeed, it’s just a projection—likely only 20-30% of a true Tianfu’s power. Moreover, it’s only a projection of energy, not the main body’s divine sense. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have lasted this long. Still, its attacks are formidable. Neither the puppet nor Six-Legs dare take a single hit.”
“Naturally. Even as a mere energy projection, a Tianfu-level being is second only to the True Spirits among the Ephemera. How could we handle it?” Mu Qing smirked.
Having understood the shadow’s origin, the two women no longer rushed forward. They merely watched the distant battle from afar, waiting for the projection’s energy to deplete.
Han Li listened quietly, his expression flickering with intrigue. None of these events were within his power to intervene in, so he remained silent.
At that moment, the beautiful woman glanced at the high-level demons still writhing on the ground. Frowning, she flicked her sleeve downward.
A wave of black light swept out, enveloping all the demons. Instantly, their minds cleared, and they stopped rolling—though they remained too weak to rise.
Satisfied, the woman turned her attention back to the distant insectoid shadow.
Just as Mu Qing had predicted, after the time it took to finish a meal, the shadow erupted with blinding red light. With a thunderous roar, it shattered into fragments before dispersing into nothingness.
The countless red beams vanished instantly.
The black monster insect and the purple-blood puppet, who had been frantically dodging, finally relaxed, freezing in place. Their respective purple and black auras flickered as they recovered some strength before flying toward Mu Qing and the others.
Moments later, the puppet and the insect arrived overhead.
Though they had already suspected the insect was Six-Legs, Mu Qing and the beautiful woman still studied it warily.
Then, blood-red light flashed on the puppet’s shoulders as two blood-robed figures slowly emerged—they had been hiding inside the puppet all along.
Meanwhile, black light swirled around the insect as it shrank rapidly. With a flash of spiritual light, it transformed into a human figure—Six-Legs, clad in black robes.
His hood was gone, revealing his true face for the first time.
Han Li’s heart skipped a beat.
Six-Legs’ lower face was that of an ordinary man, his skin smooth and youthful. But his upper face bore a pair of emerald compound eyes, their green glow sending chills down the spine.
“So it really is Six-Legs Daoyou,” the beautiful woman exhaled.
“What? Did Lan Daoyou doubt me?” Six-Legs asked nonchalantly, hands clasped behind his back.
“Brother Six-Legs, you’re actually an insectoid spirit. Do you have any connection to the Ephemera?” Mu Qing interjected, her eyes glinting.
“The Ephemera? I was originally one of them. Does that answer satisfy you?” Six-Legs replied lightly.
The revelation made Mu Qing and the white-haired woman’s expressions shift repeatedly.
“So you knew about this place and deliberately led us here? And those Ephemera puppets—are they related to you?” the woman asked coldly.
“You’re mistaken. While I knew of our sacred land’s existence, my lowly status in the clan meant I never learned its exact location. I’ve been trapped in the Abyssal Depths for countless years, stuck at my current cultivation level. Had I known of the entrance earlier, why would I wait until now to bring you here? I truly stumbled upon the connection between the Abyssal Depths and the Netherworld River by chance. As for the Ephemera puppets, I had no idea they’d be here. The sacred land usually opens only once every few millennia. Our last entry was merely centuries ago. Running into these puppets is sheer bad luck. If I still had ties to the Ephemera, why would I only send puppets? I know full well the power you all possess,” Six-Legs explained calmly.
The two women exchanged glances. Though they couldn’t pinpoint flaws in his words, their centuries of experience told them he wasn’t being entirely truthful—yet they had no immediate rebuttal.
“Earthblood Daoyou, what do you think?” Mu Qing suddenly turned to the blood-robed figures.
The two had remained silent since emerging. Now, their eyes glowed crimson as they exchanged a glance. One spoke flatly:
“I believe Six-Legs speaks the truth. He’s been in the Abyssal Depths longer than most. There’s no need for such schemes. Do you two intend to turn back now? We’ve already provoked the Ephemera. Without the Netherworld River’s divine milk, would you be content?”
His words clearly sided with Six-Legs.
The women shared another look. Finally, the white-haired woman relaxed slightly.
“Since Earthblood Daoyou vouches for you, we naturally trust Brother Six-Legs. But if the Ephemera knew of intruders, why not send more forces—or even a Gold Ephemera? That would leave us no escape.”
“Simple. They likely found traces of our last intrusion but didn’t know when we’d return, hence the puppets stationed here. This sacred land is deadly to ordinary Ephemera—prolonged stays weaken or even kill them. If we faced their true insect horde…” Six-Legs smirked grimly.
At the mention of an “insect horde,” the woman shuddered before forcing a laugh.
“Brother Six-Legs, such jokes are unnecessary. While the Ephemera are obscure to most of the Spirit Realm, nearby races fear them as much as major clans. They wouldn’t mobilize a horde just for us.”
“Indeed,” Mu Qing added, regaining composure. “Their horde can repel even True Spirits, but at great cost. They’d only deploy it in dire straits—not for mere pests like us.”
Six-Legs chuckled. “You know much of our ways. True, a single Tianfu would suffice against us—no need for extremes. Now, let’s move quickly. Even if the Ephemera send reinforcements, reopening this place will take months. That’s enough time to secure the divine milk and retreat. The ghosts ambushed us, but we’ve slain many high-level Netherworld beings. The path ahead should be easier. Speaking of—how many shadow soldiers and puppets do you still have?”
His gaze swept over them, demanding an answer.
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