Chapter Forty-Eight: Shi Bai Makes His Move

Chapter Forty-Eight: Shi Bai Takes Action

Zhao Tianming was infamous for his cruelty. Relying on the Black Blade Sect’s overwhelming numbers, he wreaked havoc throughout Shanyin, seizing wealth by force and even abducting young women. His name had long become notorious among the Nine Great Sects.

Murong Yan cursed him bitterly, “You wretched villain! Your crimes are countless—you’ll meet a terrible end!”

Zhao Tianming sneered, “A villain I may be, and a bad end may await me, but before I die, I’ll make sure to have my way with you first!”

The Black Blade disciples burst into sinister laughter.

Murong Yan gritted her teeth, wanting to curse him further, when suddenly a rustling echoed from within the mine shaft.

Everyone whipped around in alarm—and to their horror, the bloody fragments strewn across the ground began to writhe and move!

Within moments, every hunk of flesh twisted and transformed—turning into countless small centipedes. Densely packed, they covered the ground in every direction.

Terror struck the group, cold sweat soaking their backs. They had already burnt through their strength—exhausted to the point where even standing was impossible. How could they possibly resist such a swarm of monsters?

Murong Yan shuddered in fear, goosebumps rising on her arms. This monster defied all imagination—even Zhao Tianming’s attacks couldn’t kill it, let alone her and her fellow disciples.

Her gaze dimmed with despair. “It seems my grave will be here today…”

But then, the host of centipedes began gathering together, merging into a single writhing mass. Amidst a chorus of crackles and snaps, they started devouring one another!

Stunned, no one could fathom what these fiends were doing.

One centipede after another was consumed; and with each bite, the devourer grew larger. In this way, their numbers dwindled rapidly until only one remained—back to its original, monstrous size.

It was the centipede from the very beginning.

A gasp swept through the crowd. “After all that, we’re right back where we started!”

Who could have imagined the creature’s regenerative power—it could revive itself from mere scraps.

Now the monster raised its head, jaws agape, its abdomen rippling. A sickly green glow began to gather in its maw.

Panic seized everyone—they all recognized the posture. It was about to unleash its breath!

Dragons have nine sons, each unique. Though this creature resembled a centipede, its features bore the mark of a dragon—particularly its eyes, which no centipede could possess.

And where there are dragons, there is breath. Each dragon breathes something different—fire dragons breathe fire, water dragons, water. This earth dragon, centipede-like as it was, would surely spew venom.

With this realization, every person began dragging themselves backward—even the Duanshan Sect disciples, crippled by the Soft Tendon Powder, summoned all their will to move.

But human strength was limited; fate was unyielding. The Black Blade Sect men were too weak even to stand, much less crawl away quickly.

The Duanshan disciples fared no better—they couldn’t even lift their arms, let alone run.

As the monster’s mouth glowed brighter, despair etched itself across every face.

Someone cried out, “Uncle Master, save me! I don’t want to die!”

“I’m only nineteen—I haven’t lived enough yet!”

...

Murong Yan, too, was overtaken by despair. Who would have thought, the proud daughter of the Duanshan Sect’s master, that a moment’s mischief following her elder brothers would lead her to die here?

“Stay put!”

But at that instant, Shi Bai suddenly sprang to his feet.

Everyone was stunned.

“What is he doing? Has he lost his mind?”

“Wait—wasn’t he paralyzed by the Soft Tendon Powder?”

“What is he planning?”

Just then, the monster’s throat convulsed and it spat a torrent of green slime. A nauseating stench filled the air.

A collective cry rose up as everyone squeezed their eyes shut in despair.

Tears streamed down Murong Yan’s cheeks. “Father, forgive your unfilial daughter—I won’t be able to bid you farewell…”

But just then, Shi Bai waved his hand—a massive golden wing appeared, shielding them from the monster’s venom. The slime splattered against the ground, sizzling fiercely as clouds of steam rose.

Stunned into silence, the crowd watched as Shi Bai floated gently into the air, bathed in golden radiance, the light forming the shape of a great fiery bird.

Zhao Tianming’s face twisted in disbelief. “That’s… a Phoenix!”

The Phoenix’s presence turned the pitch-dark mine into a hall of blazing light—even the smallest insects on the ground were visible in its glow.

No one could utter a word.

The monster, sensing mortal danger, turned to flee. The Phoenix gave a piercing cry and swooped after it, seizing it in its beak as easily as a child snatches a worm. The beast writhed helplessly.

The Phoenix’s eyes flashed coldly. Suddenly, it spat a gout of searing flames—like burning grasshoppers in a wildfire. The blaze filled the chamber with the stench of charred flesh. When at last the flames died down, nothing remained of the monster but a heap of drifting ash.

With a flick of its beak, the Phoenix released a brownish orb that floated gently into the air. Shi Bai reached out and caught it in his palm.

Murong Yan and Zhao Tianming exclaimed in unison, “An Earth Dragon Pearl!”

“Main quest completed. Failure points awarded: 50,000.”

Shi Bai let out a long breath. “At last, it’s over.”

He studied the pearl in his hand. He didn’t know what it was for, but at least the journey hadn’t been in vain.

“A new main quest: Earn ten million within three months.”

“Ten million?” Shi Bai mused. “But didn’t my second uncle promise me ten million for eliminating this monster?”

The system replied, “That’s right. But your quest is to lose ten million, so the money from your uncle is your starting capital.”

“I see!” Shi Bai nodded. “The system’s missions are truly connected—one after the other.”

At that moment, the Phoenix turned, seized Zhao Tianming, and pronounced, “Vile men, how dare you covet heaven’s treasures!”

Its voice boomed through the mine, echoing in mighty waves.

A burst of flame followed—Zhao Tianming was reduced to ashes.

Panic gripped the onlookers, especially the Black Blade Sect disciples, whose souls seemed all but frightened out of their bodies.

Murong Yan’s heart was in turmoil. “This unremarkable youth—how does he possess such terrifying power? Who is he, truly?”

Her second uncle and Old Fu stood frozen, wide-eyed, unable to believe what lay before them, murmuring, “Young Sir… He truly is no ordinary man!”

The golden light faded from Shi Bai as he descended to the ground, calm and composed once more.

He had summoned the Vermilion Bird—a divine beast—to destroy the centipede. Only a celestial firebird could deal with such a monster.

In truth, he had only meant to try his luck; he hadn’t expected the system to follow through.

As for Zhao Tianming, Shi Bai had used the Vermilion Bird’s power to eliminate him. A villain such as that could not be allowed to plague the world.

With the dust settled, the mine returned to silence. Yet none dared speak—a hush fell as all eyes fixed upon Shi Bai.

Shi Bai smiled and walked over to Murong Yan, patting her cheek. At last, she snapped out of her daze.

“You—!”

But she managed only a single word.

Shi Bai gave a faint smile and, suddenly, pinched her cheek hard.

“Little vixen, you really pinched me hard earlier!”

Murong Yan snapped back to her senses and shouted, “What are you doing? Let go of me!”

Shi Bai chuckled, “Let you go? Did you let me go earlier?”

He tugged her smooth, delicate cheek upward.

Murong Yan yelped in pain, but, weakened by the Soft Tendon Powder, she was helpless to resist.

“You brat, let me go now!” Murong Yan yelled, “I am Murong Yan, daughter of Murong Ba, master of the Duanshan Sword Sect! If my father learns you bullied me, he’ll have your head!”

Shi Bai feigned surprise, “Murong Ba?”

Murong Yan smiled smugly. “What, scared now? If you are, best release me at once!”

Shi Bai hesitated, then replied, “Not at all,” and pinched even harder.

“Aaaah!”

Two minutes later, a small red bump had formed on Murong Yan’s tender cheek.

Collapsing to the ground with tears glistening at the corners of her eyes, she whispered, “You scoundrel—don’t you know how to cherish a lady at all?”