Chapter 663: Four Venomous Spines

The massive divine spear, carrying an unparalleled storm-like force, crashed down upon the sandy ground.

A powerful energy wave blasted the sand within a thousand-zhang radius into the air, vaporizing it instantly.

These vaporized sands transformed into scorching magma that flew outward in all directions.

By the time the magma landed, it had solidified into patches of glassy material.

Dust rose everywhere, darkening heaven and earth.

Yet, despite He Pingsheng's overwhelming strike, he still failed to dislodge the black venomous insect.

No choice left!

But He Pingsheng could sense that the giant insect was nearby.

It hadn't fled—it was playing hide-and-seek beneath the desert sands with him!

"Now… come out on your own, and I won't take your life!" He Pingsheng stood calmly in midair, fixing his gaze on a patch of sand below: "Otherwise, when I dig this place up to three feet deep, your end will come!"

"Hahaha…"

From beneath the earth, a brazen voice echoed: "Human brat, I admit you're strong. If I keep fighting you, I won't gain anything—might even get crushed by you!"

"But as long as I don't come out, you can't touch me!"

"Hehehe…"

"Come on, try hitting me!"

"I'm Void Refinement, you're Soul Transformation—I've got ten thousand years to waste on you!"

He Pingsheng smiled: "You're quite bold."

"Fine… see how I force you out!"

He'd made big talk, but in truth, He Pingsheng had no way to deal with this creature.

What to do?

Though I can't handle it, I can call for help!

He Pingsheng waved his hand and pulled out the Hongmeng Purple Gold Rod again.

"Zhou Qingmei… come out!"

The next instant, a woman clad in black stepped out from within the magic treasure's space.

Zhou Qingmei was now a Body Integration cultivator.

Though, only at the first layer of Body Integration.

"There's a rat beneath this sand—it tried to kill me and steal my treasures, then fled underground after I defeated it. I can't pull it out yet!"

"Help me drag it out!"

He Pingsheng gestured toward a specific patch of ground below.

Boom…

The next moment, Zhou Qingmei's spiritual sense surged forth, engulfing the entire area.

She was a corpse ghoul—originally without any spiritual sense.

But after entering Body Integration, she underwent a transformation, gaining not only the cultivation base of Body Integration, but also its spiritual sense.

Thus, her spiritual sense was now stronger than He Pingsheng's.

"Hehehe… insignificant insects…" After two breaths, Zhou Qingmei's eyes revealed a flicker of contempt: "Come out on your own, or shall I force you out?"

"No…"

"Elder, don't act! I… I'll come out myself!"

Perhaps sensing Zhou Qingmei's overwhelming pressure, the venomous insect cried out: "Elder, I'll come out willingly—can you spare my life?"

Zhou Qingmei said: "You have no right to bargain. Come out now!"

Hearing her harsh tone, the insect decided not to emerge at all.

It not only remained buried, but burrowed even deeper into the earth.

"Trying to run?" Zhou Qingmei thrust her right hand straight down into the sand.

Whoosh…

Her arm instantly transformed into a thousand-zhang-long white bone, plunging into the ground with a wet thud.

The next instant, she yanked her arm back—and the massive insect was dragged straight out of the earth by her grip.

"Damn thing… still dare to stab me?" Zhou Qingmei's sharp gaze sharpened.

"Elder, spare me! Elder, spare me!"

The insect lost all its earlier arrogance: "I didn't mean to stab you! I didn't even release poison at you just now!"

Zhou Qingmei nodded, then tossed the insect into midair.

He Pingsheng said: "So… not so bold now?"

"No no no…" The insect grinned nervously at He Pingsheng: "Dare not be bold! I'm a fool who didn't recognize greatness—my lord, overlook this lowly creature, just let me go like a fart!"

"Fine!" He Pingsheng looked at the insect and said: "Now, give me a reason to let you live."

The insect's face darkened.

Just moments ago, he'd intended to kill and steal.

From that perspective, killing him outright would incur no karmic consequence.

Moreover, the other party clearly had the power to kill him.

After all, Zhou Qingmei stood right beside He Pingsheng!

Thud…

Realizing the stakes, the insect was decisive—he knelt before He Pingsheng and said: "I offer myself as your servant!"

"No," He Pingsheng waved his hand.

Servant?

This thing can't even beat me—what use is such a servant?

In future battles against stronger foes, it's useless except for its poison.

But as for poison—I don't lack any.

My poison is stronger than yours!

Thus, this insect has no value to He Pingsheng.

If I took it, I'd have to spend resources to feed it.

Not worth it!

"Great sir, spare my life! I was blinded by greed—I made a mistake!"

"Just don't kill me—do anything you want!"

The insect nearly wept.

He'd thought today was his end.

"Alright," He Pingsheng said calmly, staring at the insect: "I won't kill you—hand over these four venomous spines. We're even."

"Otherwise, I'll crush you outright."

"This… this this this…" The insect's face twisted in anguish: "Brother, please show mercy—these four spines are the foundation of my Dao! Without them, I'll lose all combat power!"

He Pingsheng said: "That's your problem, not mine."

"I'm giving you a choice, not asking for your pleas."

"Pleading won't help."

"Honestly, I think your carapace looks decent—could probably be forged into a magic treasure."

"No!" Hearing this, the venomous insect shuddered: "I give! I give! I give!"

Gnashing his teeth, he yanked out all four venomous spines at once.

Each spine was about a foot long.

But extremely thin.

Thinner than a finger.

He Pingsheng held the four spines in his hand—they felt incredibly hard and razor-sharp.

When they pierced his palm and calf earlier, he'd already sensed these spines were no ordinary weapons.

"Fine. For the sake of these four spines, I spare you," He Pingsheng said, tucking them away: "Go. You should be grateful—had this been anyone else, I'd have killed you already."

After slight refinement, these spines could be paired with my own poison.

Then, they'd be utterly unpredictable.

Hiss…

The venomous insect immediately burrowed back into the sand.

"Let's go," He Pingsheng said, unfolding the Silver River Sky Shuttle and rising again. He sat cross-legged atop it and said to Zhou Qingmei: "Strange—knowing this is Tian Mao Shen Jun's territory, why do these venomous insects dare cultivate here?"

"Aren't they afraid the big rooster will come and swallow them?"