Huo Ling’er felt somewhat uneasy. However, recalling Chi Yao’s repeated assurances, she gradually relaxed.

Especially after glancing at the furry suit covering her body, which made her embarrassed but whose defensive capabilities were undeniable, she couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Carefully, she ventured deeper into the tunnel, remaining vigilant against any possible ambush.

Little by little, the light from the collapsed entrance grew fainter behind her.

Ten feet. Fifty feet. One hundred feet.

Huo Ling’er continued walking deeper, standing on her tiptoes as if afraid that even the slightest sound would alert the demon.

Before long, the narrow passage widened into a spacious cavern.

A rhythmic snoring reached her ears.

As she raised her head, Huo Ling’er came face-to-face with its source.

It was the spider demon. Hanging upside down from a massive web attached to the ceiling, it was fast asleep.

Looking at this terrifying creature, which could blow her to smithereens with a single breath, Huo Ling’er hesitated. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

But moments later, she steeled her resolve. Determination flashed in her eyes.

Crouching down, she picked up a large Spirit Stone and hurled it toward the demon.

The moment the stone left her hand, she turned around, ready to flee.

Yet...

Clack!

The Spirit Stone bounced off the demon’s body and rolled across the ground.

Much less injure it; it didn’t even wake it up.

Only a small tremor rushed through its enormous body, evidence that the demon was still alive.

Seeing this, Huo Ling’er felt strangely calm.

She didn’t flee, but rather grabbed several more Spirit Stones and launched them one after another.

Clack! Clack! Clack!

The situation filled Huo Ling’er with twisted excitement.

Standing on the edge of death seemed to awaken something inside of her, causing her movements to grow increasingly enthusiastic.

Yet, just as she was about to grow immersed in that feeling, a deafening screech jolted her awake.

The spider demon had awakened!

More importantly, dozens of blood-red eyes were now fixed directly on her figure, glowing with hunger and killing intent.

Huo Ling’er nearly froze.

But suppressing the instinctive fear within her, she turned around and fled.

Boom!

The spider demon crashed onto the ground.

Its shiny limbs pierced deep into the stone floor, producing an eerie shrieking noise.

Then, the demon vanished.

"Roar!"

Huo Ling’er heard a furious roar come from behind her, as shattered chunks of Spirit Stone shot in her direction.

Several struck her back, nearly causing her to stumble.

Fortunately, the panda suit reacted on its own, absorbing and nullifying the impact.

Yet, feeling the spider demon rapidly close the distance between them, Huo Ling’er was far from pleased.

She gritted her teeth and accelerated.

’I hope that witch didn’t trick me. Otherwise I’ll be in danger...’

As soon as that thought surfaced, a faint light appeared ahead.

Huo Ling’er’s eyes brightened. She knew that she was growing closer to her destination.

Ignoring the rapidly approaching demon spider, Huo Ling’er poured every ounce of strength into her legs.

One hundred feet. Fifty feet. Ten feet.

At last, she burst into the opening where the previous sneak attack had taken place.

The moment she moved past a certain point, the clanging of chains echoed once again, followed by an enraged shriek.

"Aargh!" The spider demon lashed out with its limbs, desperately trying to nail her to death.

Unfortunately, the chains prevented it from moving any further.

Huo Ling’er finally breathed a sigh of relief. Sadly, her moment of celebration was cut short.

Without her noticing, Chi Yao had already appeared beside her.

She held several large chunks of Spirit Stone in her hands.

With a casual motion, she fired them at the spider demon.

Just as the demon and her companion were puzzled, Chi Yao pressed a match against Huo Ling’er’s skin, lighting it up.

Then, just like the Spirit Stone before it, she hurled it at the demon.

The spider demon failed to understand the danger. But Huo Ling’er did.

Her pupils shrank in fear, realizing that Chi Yao had lied about her real plan.

"You! Damn you!" she cursed furiously and threw herself to the ground, crawling forward in search of somewhere to hide.

However, it was too late.

The moment the Spirit Stones touched the flame.

BOOM!

A terrifying explosion erupted, several times more terrifying than the earlier tunnel collapse.

The loud, agonized scream of the spider demon soon echoed, though it was not the only one.

Two female voices soon joined it, carrying as much, if not even more, panic.

--

Chen Xuan knew nothing about his disciples’ adventures, let alone that they were seeking death, not only encountering an unknown demon but also blowing themselves up in the process.

At that moment, he sat within his room, examining his condition with a satisfied smile.

’I only absorbed one-thousandth of the total Blood Essence. Yet, it was enough to upgrade my Physique.’

"Yin-Yang High-Grade Spirit Body..." he murmured, recalling the evaluation of the System.

He knew the transformation was largely due to the supreme bloodlines of the Azure Dragon and Nirvana Phoenix.

But at the same time, the Heaven-Swallowing Scripture had played an equally important role.

Perhaps an even greater one.

’Its reputation is well deserved. If someone truly masters this technique, swallowing the Heavens may not be a mere boast.’

A surge of confidence rose within him.

His combat prowess had advanced once again.

If he entered the Seven Trials Tower now, he would be able to resist for a longer time.

Chen Xuan did not stay in theory. He decided to put his idea to the test.

With a thought, the miniature Seven Trials Tower appeared in his palm.

Yet, just as he was about to enter it, his vision turned crimson.

Countless notifications flooded his sight, while alarm bells rang inside his mind.

[Attention! Attention! The Host’s disciples are currently in danger!]

[Mission issued!]

[Mission—Locate and save your death-seeking disciples (Huo Ling’er and Chi Yao)!]

[Rewards: 1x Treasure Chest, 1x Nine Origins Seas Map.]