High above the cavern—
The Core Formation cultivator stood suspended in the air.
Blood soaked his robes.
His breathing was ragged.
Slowly—
The sword in his remaining hand faded—
Disappearing.
His hand rose.
Fingers trembled—
Yet continued forming seals.
One after another.
His eyes closed.
The air began to tremble.
Spiritual energy surged wildly—
Gathering toward him.
Violent.
Unstable.
Cracks formed along his skin.
Thin lines of blood seeped out.
Yet he did not stop.
Above him—
A shape began to form.
Faint at first—
Then solid.
A massive spear.
Golden.
Condensed from pure spiritual force.
Faint runic patterns flickered along its surface.
It hovered in silence—
But carried terrifying pressure.
The entire cavern grew heavy.
Oppressive.
Below—
The Six-Eyed Venom Spider shifted.
Its six red eyes flickered.
Restless.
Uneasy.
Then—
The cultivator's eyes snapped open.
A yellow aura ignited within them.
Sharp.
Resolute.
"This… ends here."
His voice was low.
Final.
He pointed forward.
The spear trembled—
The air screamed—
Then—
It shot forward.
Like a streak of golden lightning.
Tearing through the cavern—
Straight toward the spider.
At the same moment—
The spider reacted.
Its mouth opened wide.
A violent green glow gathered—
Swelling rapidly.
Then—
A beam erupted.
Corrosive.
Fierce.
The two attacks rushed toward each other—
Closing the distance—
In an instant—
The golden spear and the green beam collided in mid-air.
They did not explode.
They held.
Locked in place—
Power grinding against power.
The space between them twisted.
Distorted.
Neither side yielding.
High above—
The Core Formation cultivator trembled.
Blood spilled from his mouth.
Still—
He pushed forward.
"Go—!"
More energy surged into the spear.
Its golden light flared—
Sharper.
Brighter.
Below—
The Six-Eyed Venom Spider shrieked.
Its six red eyes burned violently.
The green beam thickened—
Pushing back.
The clash shook the cavern.
Cracks spread through the air itself.
For a moment—
It seemed endless.
Then—
A change.
The spear trembled—
Then surged.
A sudden burst of power erupted.
The green beam flickered—
Collapsed—
Shattered.
The golden spear pierced through—
Straight toward the spider.
A final screech echoed—
Then—
Boom!
A violent explosion swallowed the cavern.
Light.
Sound.
Force—
All at once.
Smoke spread everywhere—
Thick.
Blinding.
Silence followed.
Slowly—
The smoke faded.
Revealing the aftermath.
The cavern lay in ruins.
And at the center—
The Six-Eyed Venom Spider lay collapsed.
Its body torn open.
Blackened.
Its six eyes dim.
Dead.
High above—
The Core Formation cultivator looked down.
At last—
It was over.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Tired.
Satisfied.
The aura around him faded.
His body swayed—
Then he fell.
Thud—
He hit the shattered ground.
Dust rose.
He lay there—
Broken.
Barely breathing.
"Heh…"
A weak laugh escaped him.
"That fight…"
"…was worth it."
His voice was faint.
He glanced at his missing arm.
"I lost an arm…"
A pause.
His breath grew shallow.
"And soon…"
"…the rest will follow."
Yet—
There was no fear.
Only calm.
"I didn't run…"
"That's enough…"
His eyes slowly lifted—
Then closed.
His breathing weakened—
Faded—
And finally—
Stopped.
Silence returned.
A warrior had fallen.
Beneath the rubble—
A faint tremor passed through the stone.
Dust shifted.
Then—
Li Xuan's eyes snapped open.
Darkness surrounded him.
Crushing.
Heavy.
Pain surged through his entire body.
For a moment—
He could not breathe.
The weight of the rocks pressed from all sides.
(…Alive…)
The thought flickered faintly.
He tried to move.
Nothing.
His body refused to respond.
Every muscle burned.
Blood soaked his torn clothes.
Stone cut into his flesh.
He gritted his teeth.
Forced himself again—
Still nothing.
The pressure tightened.
Death—
Close.
Then—
His eyes hardened.
(…I won't die here…)
A spark of will ignited.
He gathered the last of his strength.
Pulling together what remained of his spiritual energy.
Slowly—
His fingers twitched.
A breath.
Then—
Another.
"Move…"
His voice was barely a whisper.
He pushed.
The rocks above him trembled.
Shifted—
Slightly.
Not enough.
His vision blurred.
Darkness creeping in again.
But he did not stop.
With a low growl—
He forced everything into one final effort.
"Move!"
Crack—
The stones broke.
Then—
Boom!
The rubble burst apart.
Li Xuan forced his way out—
Collapsing to one knee.
He gasped for air.
His body trembled violently.
Wounds covered him.
Clothes torn.
Blood everywhere.
Even standing felt difficult.
But his eyes remained clear.
With a flick of thought—
Several medicinal pills appeared in his hand.
He swallowed them immediately.
Warmth spread through his body.
Slow.
Faint.
But real.
The pain dulled.
His breathing steadied.
Strength returned—
Little by little.
Not enough for a fight.
But enough to move.
Li Xuan lifted his head.
His gaze sharpened.
The scent in the air—
Still present.
Stronger now.
Guiding him.
Step by step—
Unsteady but determined—
He moved forward.
Toward the depths of the cave.
Toward the source.
Toward what remained—
After the battle.