Chapter 250: The Spider Emperor

Time passed slowly, and Zhou Qing and Lu Yaoyao watched Number Six with growing tension.

After all, that cave dwelling was completely empty.

“I refuse!”

Moments later, Number Six’s cold voice rang out.

The two demonic emperors looked puzzled.

Why would anyone reject such generous terms?

You’d be splitting the residence of a demonic emperor—and you might not even have to lift a finger.

“Why?” the Spider Emperor couldn’t help asking.

Number Six spoke calmly: “Because I have other matters to attend to, and more importantly, I have no affinity with you.”

The two demonic emperors were momentarily stunned.

How could someone place so much weight on affinity?

“Move aside—I’m leaving!” Number Six said, then guided the flying vessel to depart.

The Spider Emperor Yeluo and the Dragon Emperor Xuanqiu exchanged glances and rushed forward to block her.

“This matter is no trivial thing. We assumed you’d accept, which is why we revealed everything. If you swear an oath never to disclose this, we’ll let you go!”

Said the Spider Emperor Yeluo.

At that moment, Number Six’s eyes narrowed sharply, and a chilling aura radiated from her—clear skies suddenly began to snow.

“Oath of the Heavenly Dao? You’re not worthy. Get lost!” Number Six’s voice was icy and lethal.

The two demonic emperors’ faces darkened with displeasure, yet they were powerless to act.

After all, experts of the Severing Spirit realm rarely engaged in open combat, especially here, on Dragon Emperor Xuanqiu’s territory.

A fierce battle might draw the human Xuanyuan Shuo to exploit the chaos.

Yet no one noticed that as the Spider Emperor stepped aside, a strange smile curled at the corner of her lips.

Watching the flying vessel vanish instantly into the horizon, the Spider Emperor immediately sat cross-legged, her hands rapidly forming seals before her.

In an instant, a massive eight-legged spider phantom emerged violently behind her, wreathed in wisps of black mist.

Seeing this, Dragon Emperor Xuanqiu frowned in confusion and asked: “What are you doing? Did the Immortal Lady ambush you?”

Yeluo looked exasperated: “Immortal Lady? You haven’t even seen her true face—you just know ‘Immortal Lady.’ Stop wasting time and help me!”

Dragon Emperor Xuanqiu’s face flushed awkwardly, then he suddenly realized and exclaimed: “You’re going to attack her?”

At that moment, the giant spider phantom behind Yeluo was continuously spewing transparent threads, silently trailing toward the fleeing flying vessel.

Wherever they passed, space rippled faintly, like water gently disturbed.

“You think my ancestral return granted me only the [Dual Pupils] bloodline ability?” Yeluo’s lips curled in a smug smile.

Dragon Emperor Xuanqiu’s heart jolted; his gaze sharpened like a hawk’s, fixed on Yeluo with intense wariness.

The Spider Emperor Yeluo let out a light laugh, laced with an unreadable tone.

“It’s still too early to kill me. Abilities are abilities, realms are realms. Right now, the one we should truly fear is the Peng Emperor Feng Xuanling.”

“What exactly are you planning?” Dragon Emperor Xuanqiu asked, voice heavy with unease.

The Spider Emperor Yeluo gazed into the distance, speaking slowly: “Don’t you feel her appearance is fate’s doing?”

“What do you mean?” Dragon Emperor Xuanqiu pressed.

The Spider Emperor Yeluo explained: “We desperately need a Severing Spirit expert as an ally, yet after searching so long, we found none—then she appeared, right at this moment.”

“Understand this—if we delay any longer, Peng Emperor Feng Xuanling may recover his injuries and surge straight into Severing Spirit mid-stage.”

“Once he breaks through, we’ll all be doomed.”

Dragon Emperor Xuanqiu fell silent.

The Spider Emperor continued: “Don’t worry—I’ve tested this extensively using multi-headed demonic kings. I’ve mastered it thoroughly—I guarantee a single strike will succeed.”

“You… you want to control her?” Dragon Emperor Xuanqiu frowned, eyes filled with disbelief.

The Spider Emperor nodded firmly: “Not surprising, Brother Xuanqiu—you saw through it so quickly.”

“This ancestral return granted me not only [Dual Pupils], but also a bloodline ability from my forebears: [Puppet Heart Threads]. It can control others, turning them into my puppets.”

“But at my current realm, I can only manipulate someone silently for three days. Yet three days is enough to make her serve us.”

“If everything goes smoothly and we complete the task early, I’ll hand her over to you for the remaining day—how about that?”

As she spoke, the Spider Emperor Yeluo smiled meaningfully at Dragon Emperor Xuanqiu.

Dragon Emperor Xuanqiu’s heart stirred with temptation.

Yet quickly, he steadied himself, still watching Yeluo with wary eyes.

He growled: “I must admit—your methods make even this emperor feel a chill. Who knows, one day you might turn me into your puppet without me even realizing.”

The Spider Emperor Yeluo burst into laughter, her body shaking, yet her hand seals never slowed.

“Brother Xuanqiu, I know what you’re worried about—you fear I’ll control you, or worse, use you to turn against Peng Emperor.”

“But have you ever considered why I’d reveal these two abilities to you at all? Why not keep them hidden?”

“Right now, I’m pouring all my power into [Puppet Heart Threads], yet I’m leaving my back completely exposed to you.”

Dragon Emperor Xuanqiu frowned: “Why?”

The Spider Emperor Yeluo fixed her gaze on him, then smiled softly: “When I was on the verge of becoming a demonic emperor, you guarded me tirelessly, helping me overcome the crisis. I’ve never forgotten that debt.”

Hearing this, Dragon Emperor Xuanqiu’s emotions turned complex; his suspicion subtly eased.

“Enough talk—now, channel all your spiritual power into me. We’ll seize her together!” the Spider Emperor urged urgently.

Dragon Emperor Xuanqiu still hesitated.

Compared to last time, this time the veiled woman’s single “Get lost” sent an involuntary chill through his bones.

“Perhaps we should reconsider—maybe we should just let her go.”

Dragon Emperor Xuanqiu’s unease surged; after much hesitation, he spoke.

The Spider Emperor Yeluo’s face showed a flicker of disappointment.

She had planned to slip a specially crafted egg into his body while he channeled spiritual energy to her, preparing for future schemes.

But this foolish dragon—so timid, faltering at the critical moment—was no different from the demonic emperors Weilun and Qingluo.

Watching the veiled woman nearly slip beyond her control, the Spider Emperor Yeluo gritted her teeth and snarled: “If you won’t help, I’ll take her alone—even if it means suffering backlash!”

No sooner had she spoken than the ghostly demon spider behind her let out a piercing, ear-splitting roar.

Its eight eyes blazed with crimson glow, like eerie flames; its mouthparts snapped rapidly, emitting a horrifying "click-click" sound.

Simultaneously, more transparent threads erupted from the demon spider’s mouth, frantically chasing the vanished flying vessel…

On the flying vessel!

With the pressure of the two demonic emperors gone, Zhou Qing and Lu Yaoyao both exhaled in relief.

But Zhou Qing hadn’t expected Number Six to reject the allure of the Five-Colored Seal.

Then again, he recalled how, in the old Peng King’s cave, she’d faced the same-tier Five-Colored Seal and, unable to unlock it, simply tried to smash it open.

The reason was simple: if something wasn’t meant for her, she’d rather risk destruction than waste time—maybe she’d still get lucky and keep one item.

Now, cooperating with two demonic emperors to attack another’s cave? She had no interest—especially since they had their own opportunity to unlock.

“That Spider Emperor is so rude—what does she think she is, calling my sister ‘little sister’?” Lu Yaoyao fumed inwardly.

She glanced at Zhou Qing again, thinking her father was utterly useless, like mud that couldn’t be shaped into anything useful.

Such a golden chance, and he stood there like a clueless fool.

But—

If she really is my mother, I’m curious—what exactly happened between you two that led to me, such a lovely product of love?

Yet the next instant, an extreme chill flooded the entire flying vessel.

Zhou Qing and Lu Yaoyao shivered, instantly turning to look.

The vessel seemed engulfed in eternal ice, encased in layer upon layer.

Behind Number Six, a thick wall of ice had appeared out of nowhere.

Many transparent threads were frozen within it.

These threads were finer than spider silk; only their faint shimmer under sunlight revealed their presence.

The nearest thread was less than three centimeters from Number Six’s neck.

Both stared in shock, utterly bewildered.

Number Six’s eyes hardened; her chilling aura surged violently.

She let out a cold snort—the ice wall shattered, and the threads snapped back instantly.

“Die!” Number Six’s killing intent surged; she immediately reversed the flying vessel and returned.

In foreign lands, she never sought trouble—she’d always kept a low profile—but they kept pushing, taking advantage.

Meanwhile, the Spider Emperor let out a choked groan and spat blood.

The demon spider phantom behind her had instantly turned to ice.

Her face paled with disbelief.

“You fought her before—confirm she’s Severing Spirit early stage?” Yeluo demanded urgently, turning to the Dragon Emperor.

Dragon Emperor Xuanqiu stared at the frozen spider phantom, dumbfounded: “I don’t know—I only exchanged one blow.”

“You idiot dragon! You’ve doomed me!” Yeluo’s face twisted in terror; she rose to flee.

Suddenly, an invisible yet overwhelming pressure crashed down from above.

The Spider Emperor Yeluo felt as if an invisible giant hand had pinned her down—her legs buckled, and she collapsed to her knees with a thud.

Beside her, Dragon Emperor Xuanqiu, feeling the terrifying aura that made even his bones tremble, staggered backward in sheer horror.

“Slayer, late-stage Slayer Realm—”

At this moment, the Spider Empress’s face was filled with despair; she tried to struggle to her feet, but found her spiritual power being frozen at a visibly rapid pace.

Her entire body felt sealed, unable to move an inch.

Looking up, she saw the veiled woman radiating piercing coldness, like an ancient ice deity descending from the void.

With every step she took, an ice lotus instantly formed.

Until she arrived directly above her, her gaze cold and indifferent, looking down as if at a trivial ant.

“P-Prefix, this humble one meant no offense, truly regrets it,” Night Luo, the Spider Empress, trembled as she begged repeatedly.

She never imagined the woman was a terrifying late-stage Slayer Realm cultivator.

How laughable—she’d seen how young the woman looked and had brazenly called herself “sister.” She now longed to slap herself.

But why had the woman shown no sign of life back then?

This was pure deception!

The Dragon Empress beside her trembled violently, desperate to flee immediately, yet felt there was nowhere to run.

Last time, the Peng Empress Feng Xuanling returned and said that during his struggle with Xuan Yuan Shuo for the Old Peng King’s inheritance, the latter had summoned a fragment of the Old Emperor’s spiritual essence.

With just a single finger, he erased the already spirit-awakened Old Peng King.

Back then, they had been stunned by how rapidly the Old Emperor had advanced—but never imagined the Sacred Martial Empire would produce a second late-stage Slayer Realm cultivator.

This this this—

Zhou Qing and Lu Yaoyao stood on the deck, silently watching the scene, their eyes filled with awe.

The gap between each sub-realm of the Slayer Realm was like an insurmountable abyss.

Xuan Yuan Shuo, as a mid-stage Slayer Realm cultivator, had been able to severely wound the Old Peng King without anyone noticing.

And now, Number Six, with a mere gesture, could effortlessly decide the life or death of a Demon Emperor.

Looking at Number Six’s cold expression, Zhou Qing formed a completely new impression of her.

That was: if others do not provoke me, I do not provoke them; if others provoke me, I strike back with thunderous force, without mercy.

Previously, the Dragon Empress’s reckless interference and teasing, and the Spider Empress’s unbridled use of the term "sister," had not yet crossed her bottom line.

But once someone crossed that red line, the result was exactly this.

“You’ll end up like this too!” Lu Yaoyao suddenly spoke.

Zhou Qing smiled bitterly and shook his head.

This is a Demon Emperor—a Slayer Realm cultivator, rarely seen and elusive. I can’t even tell when I’ll reach the mid-stage of Soul Transformation, let alone possess such power.

Still, if one day I could casually suppress a Demon Emperor like Number Six, the scene—just imagining it felt incredibly impressive.

At this moment, the Spider Empress’s eyes were filled with terror, tears welling up but instantly freezing into ice due to the extreme cold.

“This humble one was blinded by greed! I swear I’ll never dare act so again—please, Prefix, spare my life!”

“Also, I willingly become your attendant, offering my lifeblood, and will obey your every command henceforth.”

The Spider Empress pleaded endlessly, even trying to force a submissive smile—but the smile, twisted by fear, appeared grotesque.

Number Six acted as if she heard nothing; her gaze remained icy, devoid of any warmth.

Then, she turned her eyes toward the Dragon Empress Xuan Qiu and spoke in a clear, cold voice: “I told you, we have no connection. Meeting you brings nothing but trouble.”

Dragon Empress Xuan Qiu dared not utter a single word of protest, nodding frantically, his voice trembling.

“Yes yes yes, this humble one is a cursed fool, offending the Prefix—truly deserving of death. From now on, I will stay far away and never appear before you again.”

Number Six’s expression remained unmoved; she turned her gaze back to the Spider Empress.

Coldly, she said: “First, you forced me to swear a Heavenly Oath; then, you used such vile methods to strike from the shadows. You—your crime is unforgivable. You deserve to die!”

As Number Six finished speaking, she slowly raised her right hand. In her palm, a ball of ice-blue spiritual power rapidly coalesced like a living thing, radiating bone-chilling cold.

A cluster of deep-blue flame also emerged, causing the surrounding space to violently tremble.

Seeing this, Night Luo’s terror reached its peak; she screamed desperately.

She twisted her body with all her strength, trying to break free from the ice—but it was all futile.

“Prefix, I’m wrong, I truly am wrong! I’ll serve you as your beast of burden—only please…”

Puff—

Before the Spider Empress could finish, Number Six flicked her hand. A spear of ice-and-flame instantly formed, piercing through Night Luo’s skull with chilling speed.

Instantly, Night Luo’s body stiffened violently; her terrified eyes instantly glazed over.

A bloody hole appeared in her skull; blood gushed out, instantly freezing into ice under the extreme cold.

Soon, a phantom shadow drifted out from her shattered skull—it was the Spider Empress’s Nascent Soul.

Her face twisted in terror; without hesitation, she transformed into a streak of light and fled desperately toward the distance.

Number Six’s expression remained indifferent as she calmly watched the direction of the fleeing Nascent Soul. Then, slowly, she extended her hand and gently clenched it.

Instantly, the seemingly calm space collapsed violently; a deep-blue barrier formed at the forefront.

The Spider Empress widened her eyes in horror, trying to change direction—but found all surrounding space already frozen solid.

At this moment, she was like an insect trapped in amber, with no escape.

“I don’t like leaving myself any trouble!”

Number Six spoke calmly, and amid the Spider Empress’s desperate screams, crushed her Nascent Soul into fragments, turning it into countless shimmering specks that vanished into the heavens and earth.

A generation of Demon Emperors has thus perished!

The Dragon Empress, witnessing the murder, swallowed hard, his legs trembling uncontrollably.

Standing on the deck, Zhou Qing stared at the giant spider below in its true form, and suddenly remembered something—his eyes flared with excitement.

Without a word, he leapt down, arcing through the air before landing firmly atop the now-cold corpse of Night Luo.

“Little guy, weren’t you mighty just now? Why aren’t you moving now? Got the guts to get up and fight me three hundred rounds?”

“Go look in a mirror—what are you? How dare you scheme against us? This is what you get for your own arrogance!”

Zhou Qing shouted gleefully, but inside he immediately activated the [Corpse-Seeking Scroll].

The next instant, the scroll glowed, and two-thirds of its surface instantly darkened.

Then, glowing characters appeared one after another.

【Triggered deceased’s final wish.】

【Wish One: I hope someone avenges me and kills the veiled woman.】

【Wish Two: I hope someone helps me implant the golden egg in my belly into the Dragon Empress Xuan Qiu’s body, aiding my rebirth and revival.】

【Wish Three: I hope someone sees for themselves the Peng Empress Feng Xuanling’s cave and what treasures lie inside.】

Seeing these three wishes, Zhou Qing chuckled.

The first one can’t be fulfilled by anyone. As for the second—

Zhou Qing instinctively glanced at the Spider Empress’s abdomen. After her body and Nascent Soul were destroyed, she was still alive—and had left behind a trick.

The host was none other than the Dragon Empress beside her—truly impossible to guard against.

As for Wish Three, he had already fulfilled it.

Seeing this, Zhou Qing kicked the corpse twice more, hard.

“You wanted to use the Prefix to go to that Peng Empress’s cave? Pfft—what’s so special about it? Just a damn cave!”

As he spoke, Zhou Qing strained to recall every detail of that day when he entered Feng Xuanling’s cave, wondering if he could satisfy this wish.

On the deck, Lu Yaoyao watched this scene, her face filled with exasperation; she raised a hand to press her forehead.

Embarrassing!

So embarrassing!

Total straight man!

When you should be silent, you stay quiet—but now that the person’s dead, you jump up to show off?

Your cultivation talent is so good—how can your emotional intelligence be this low?

Even Number Six stared at Zhou Qing, her eyes holding a hint of unreadable emotion.

The Dragon Empress looked awkward, his expression sheepish, his mind torn—should he step forward and join Zhou Qing in “beating the corpse”?

But no one noticed that Zhou Qing’s expression suddenly froze.

In his own private vision, a rapid stream of images flashed past like a spinning carousel.

Zhou Qing’s heart surged with joy—he had truly fulfilled the Spider Empress’s third wish.

Now, according to the rules, the system would randomly select a precious item from the deceased’s lifetime.

In a daze, his consciousness appeared inside a massive cave. Everywhere he looked, thick spiderwebs crisscrossed.

The ground was covered with all kinds of beast bones, and countless tiny spiders crawled among them.

Clearly, this was the Spider Empress’s cave.

Soon, just like last time when he inhabited Master Situ Jiuyao’s body, “his” body began glowing red, flickering like flames.

On his eight legs, runes shimmered, weaving an ancient aura.

"Double pupils—this is the ancestral talent of the Void Spider. I’ve awakened it! Excellent—looks like the divine herb I guarded for over a thousand years wasn’t wasted."

As the voice involuntarily escaped his lips, Zhou Qing felt a sharp pain in his eyes—as if a scorching force surged deep within his pupils.

The pain intensified, like countless fine needles piercing his eyeballs; the agony made his consciousness begin to blur.

Just as he could barely endure it, a soft “click” echoed—and his vision underwent a radical transformation.

The once-dark cave now appeared crystal-clear; even the intricate spiderwebs revealed every single thread’s texture in perfect detail.

As he tried to observe further, his consciousness snapped back. His body rose uncontrollably, then his feet touched solid ground—he was back on the deck.

“Didn’t expect your life to be this stubborn—truly a rabbit with three dens!”

The voice of No. 6 was cold and calm; immediately below, the corpse of the Spider Emperor was frozen solid, then began to crack in layers.

Shh!

A golden egg suddenly shot out from its abdomen, radiating a feeble life force.

No. 6 flicked his finger, utterly eradicating it, and the massive corpse shattered into dust at that moment.

Seeing this, the Dragon Emperor felt a pang of pain.

This was the body of an Emperor-level beast—had he been able to refine it himself… never mind, right now he should focus on how to protect himself.

(End of Chapter)