The golden fruit was dazzlingly radiant, resembling the shape of a plum but now glowing like a miniature sun, its brilliance almost blinding.
An intoxicating fragrance wafted through the air, disorienting the mind, as if one could lose themselves in its allure—akin to the fatal spiritual temptation opium held for ordinary folk.
Shi Hao’s hand was mere inches from the golden branch, about to pluck one of the golden fruits. The shimmering light rain had already cascaded onto his arm.
Suddenly, an icy chill gripped him, his skin tightening and hair standing on end as he swiftly retreated. Runes ignited across his arm, forming a radiant barrier!
This place had been tranquil and sacred, filled with serenity and fragrance—everything was perfect. Yet, in an instant, Shi Hao sensed a terrifying danger.
It was like a dream where one suddenly realizes a venomous serpent is near, its maw gaping, fangs bared, ready to strike. In that moment, paradise turned into a nightmare, plunging him into hell.
Shi Hao moved fast, but several streaks of golden light still tore through the void, reaching his arm and biting down viciously.
*Clang!*
The metallic clash was deafening—a brief yet perilous collision. Several grotesque golden insects gnawed at Shi Hao, clashing with his runes, sparks flying as they shattered his protective barrier.
It was horrifying. The runic defenses formed by his treasure spells were being devoured, crumbling under their assault. What kind of technique had Shi Hao not mastered, renowned across the world?
Though the runes were shattered, they still slowed the creatures. Shi Hao dodged away, expanding his divine aperture and standing ten zhang away, scrutinizing them carefully.
There were four insects, each half a chi long, their bodies gleaming gold. When motionless, they blended seamlessly with the branches of the yellow spring fruit tree, indistinguishable. Only when they moved did their malevolent aura erupt.
As they left the medicinal tree, the four insects unfurled translucent wings, revealing snow-white fangs, hissing like vipers.
*Whoosh!*
Their speed was terrifying. Their wings sliced through the void effortlessly as they lunged at Shi Hao, spewing a cloud of yellow mist.
The mist corroded space itself, and their fangs were even sharper, capable of snapping the bones of heavenly deities and even wounding the flesh of sect masters.
The four insects attacked relentlessly, transforming into beams of light, striking hundreds of times in mere moments.
Shi Hao’s expression darkened. These creatures were savage, their every bite tearing through the void, distorting his divine aperture.
He was certain—any other heavenly deity here would be instantly slain by even one of these insects, without a shred of doubt!
Truly, creatures born in extraordinary lands were anything but ordinary. How could mere insects be so powerful and ferocious?
Of course, if other renowned experts were present, they wouldn’t dismiss them so lightly. These were the legendary Yellow Spring Insects, birthed from the depths of the Netherworld—one of the ten most infamous insects since ancient times!
These creatures possessed limitless potential, capable of ascending to become insect immortals.
These particular insects weren’t born in a place of horror but near divine medicine, making them a variant. Though corpses lay nearby, they were the remains of immortals, exuding a sacred aura. Thus, the insects, when motionless on the tree, carried an air of sanctity.
*Ssshh!*
The four golden streaks shot toward him again, shrieking with an unearthly wail—unimaginable for mere insects, like the cries of vengeful ghosts, chilling to the bone.
Shi Hao retaliated, summoning willow branches woven from bone inscriptions—manifestations of order—to entangle and crush the insects.
The Yellow Spring Insects buzzed, their wings resonating with the void, causing space itself to collapse.
*Boom!*
A divine explosion erupted, a tempest of energy annihilating the surroundings. It was terrifying, a sight that would leave any witness dumbstruck—how could mere insects unleash such devastation?
Golden branches of order lashed out, clashing with the insects. The creatures, shedding their earlier serenity, radiated an infernal aura as they fought back relentlessly.
*Thud!*
One insect was sent flying by the willow god’s chains of order, splashing into the golden river, sending up waves and mist.
The remaining three shrieked, their wings vibrating with renewed ferocity.
*Boom!*
Shi Hao unleashed the Kun Peng technique. As he formed seals, divine avian apparitions tore through the void, assaulting the three insects, throwing them into disarray.
After testing several techniques, Shi Hao found the Kun Peng method most effective—birds naturally preyed on insects.
The insects erupted in blinding light, their bodies swelling before spewing white silk like spiders, weaving a net to ensnare the Kun Peng apparitions and even attempting to refine Shi Hao himself.
*Snap!*
Shi Hao grabbed the net, tearing at it with all his might, but it was unnaturally tough. Only two strands broke under his immense strength.
*Crack!*
Lightning arced as he invoked the Thunder Emperor’s technique, bombarding the three insects.
Meanwhile, he continued summoning Kun Peng apparitions, abandoning those ensnared to focus on other bone inscriptions to attack the remaining Yellow Spring Insects.
Shi Hao hadn’t expected three insects to force him into such a prolonged battle without securing victory.
Yet, others would shudder at the thought—even one of these creatures could spell disaster. Once matured, they devoured flesh and souls, unstoppable and deadly.
*Whoosh!*
Suddenly, a golden streak shot from the river, aiming for Shi Hao’s abdomen—the insect he had earlier repelled.
His eyes turned cold. He retracted his divine aperture into his abdomen, luring the insect in before unleashing an explosive burst of power at the critical moment.
During his enlightenment, he had grasped the concept of extreme compression—releasing it created an unstoppable force.
True to form, the insect was caught in the eruption, torn apart by the clash of yin and yang, life and death.
*Splat!*
The first Yellow Spring Insect was obliterated, its remains splattering into the river.
The remaining three panicked briefly before regaining their ferocity, shrieking as they lunged at Shi Hao, their net shielding them as they aimed to burrow into his flesh.
*Clang!*
A sword shot from Shi Hao’s brow—the Great Luo Immortal Sword, peerless in sharpness. It cleaved one insect in two mid-air.
The other two faltered. One hesitated, while the other shot straight for Shi Hao’s heart.
*Snap!*
Shi Hao’s hands clapped together, catching the insect with a metallic screech, sparks flying as it struggled to pierce his flesh.
The creature writhed, its fangs grinding against his bones with a sickening *creak*. Blood trickled from Shi Hao’s palm.
The last insect, seeing an opening, rushed to join the assault.
*Squelch!*
Shi Hao crushed the first insect in his grip, reducing it to pulp. His bones, tempered by the Divine Warding Bamboo, were unyielding.
The Yellow Spring Insect’s venom? Useless.
The Divine Warding Bamboo repelled all curses, toxins, and malevolent forces.
A drop of Shi Hao’s blood, glowing with divine light, sent the last insect into a frenzy of fear—the scent of the bamboo terrified it.
*Ssshh!*
Shi Hao seized it, examining the creature closely. A divine insect, yet…
“Would the Emperor Butterfly command these if it awakened?” he mused briefly before crushing it without hesitation, then mincing it with his sword to ensure no revival.
Silence returned. Shi Hao scanned the area—no more threats. Only three golden, banana-like plants remained, radiant with light and fragrance.
The first bore no fruit, only stems—likely devoured by the insects.
The second held three golden fruits, the third five, all glowing brilliantly, their aroma soothing the soul.
After thorough inspection, Shi Hao plucked one, studying it before consuming it.
“Does this relate to the Yellow Spring?”
The fruit was too divine, its aura pure and uplifting, nothing infernal about it.
Compared to the Divine Warding Bamboo, this place felt safer.
As he bit into the fruit, its essence flooded his body, converging at his brow—his divine sense expanded rapidly!
This was the Yellow Spring Fruit’s true power: nourishing the soul.
His Soul (primordial spirit) glowed, a radiant figure seated before his brow, chanting scriptures, growing stronger by the second.
Shi Hao seized the moment, refining his spirit with cultivation techniques.
The Yellow Spring Fruit was a treasure for the soul!
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