"That White Demoness… she's a Great Asura!" Fang Han's voice tightened. "A master of the Mystical Power Realm. And that blade of hers… are we even capable of facing her?"
Though he had cultivated the foundation of the Yan Luo Golden Body, he still felt a deep apprehension toward such experts. His senses were razor-sharp — and what he felt emanating from the woman was pure, lethal danger.
A Mystical Power expert was no trivial opponent. Though Yan could match the first or second level of that realm, Fang Han wasn't sure how much of that translated into real combat strength.
"That child," Yan murmured, "he's surrounded by powerful treasures — I even sense a true treasured artifact. That's not something ordinary disciples could wield. 'Nebula Baby'… he must hold a high position in the Star Gate. But no matter his lineage, without true Mystical Power cultivation, relying on a few trinkets won't save him here. The demons guarding this crystal vein are all royal-blooded fiends. This is no place for mortals or fledgling disciples."
Princess Hongyi frowned. "Then what do we do? This mine vein must stretch for thousands of miles, guarded by entire legions. If that Great Asura mobilizes the border troops, we'll be buried here."
Yan chuckled coldly. "Not quite. The mine's too vast — like a kingdom's border. The legions are scattered to patrol different sections. Even a Great Asura cannot summon them all instantly. What we're facing is only a border garrison."
"Even so," Crane Fairy whispered, "there are hundreds of those white-haired fiends — and that Great Asura. Can we possibly win?"
Yan's tone turned tempting. "If we killed all these white-haired Yakshas, the blood pills we could refine would be priceless. And if we subdued that Great Asura… she'd be worth more than an army."
Fang Han snorted. "If you can't swallow the prey, you choke on it. Let's not get ahead of ourselves."
But then Yan's voice sharpened. "Too late — she's noticed us."
Crane Fairy and Princess Hongyi exchanged alarmed looks. Both wanted to retreat immediately. To fight a Great Asura armed with a spiritual weapon was madness. Yet Fang Han's calm, cutting tone froze them in place.
Before them, the child known as Nebula Baby was encircled by a storm of demons. In his small hand gleamed a bracelet that pulsed with cosmic radiance, forming a shimmering orb of light — a Starlight Sphere.
The hundreds of white-haired fiends slashed at it with their Gale Demon Sabers, but each strike only sent sparks flying. The steel blades chipped and cracked under the impact.
The orb hung motionless, heavy and immovable as a planet — a true artifact, far superior to any spiritual weapon.
Inside the light, the little boy was wailing. "Waaaah! I just came to pick a few shiny stones! Why are you trying to eat me? Don't eat me, I'll give them back! Waaah—!"
He was no disguised elder or immortal in child form — just an actual boy, weeping helplessly inside a cosmic shell.
The White Demoness turned slowly, her laughter like shards of ice. "More self-righteous disciples come buzzing like flies. Fine. I'll put the child's flesh aside for now — let me deal with you first."
She turned her gaze toward Fang Han and his companions.
In that instant, Fang Han's mind roared like a struck gong.
She was devastatingly beautiful — eyes like dark stars, her face flawless enough to topple kingdoms. Her allure was a weapon in itself. Even an emperor would abandon his throne for her. Even a celestial immortal would fall to mortal dust just to touch her.
Fang Han's heart jolted. "A demonic charm spell!"
Fortunately, he had once trained in the Heavenly Demon Battlefield — otherwise, he would have fallen under her spell instantly. He forced his mind clear, just as a faint whistle split the air—
A flash of silver death was already at his throat.
So fast!
The Sound-Killing Demon Blade!
The saber flew faster than thought — a streak of lethal sound that sliced the air itself.
The Great Asura had struck without hesitation, her killing intent pure and precise.
Fang Han's Blood Cotton Demon Robe flared crimson, absorbing the impact for a fraction of a second before the red light shredded apart like torn silk.
A hair's breadth more — and he would be cleaved in two.
The Sound-Killing Demon Blade was a supreme-grade spiritual weapon, and in the hands of a Mystical Power Realm Asura, its might was catastrophic. To cut through Fang Han's defense was effortless.
His robe's protective essence was shattered — and it would take days to recover.
"If only I had the Seven Fiend Gourd," Fang Han thought grimly. "Then I could fight her head-on. But now… Yan, it's all on you!"
In a flash of will, he abandoned defense and went for a full counterattack.
The ten Shura puppets unleashed their swords in a burst of killing light. Sword qi wove together in a blinding storm, converging into a strike that could level mountains.
The Great Asura's eyes narrowed. Her white hair flared like a nest of silver serpents as waves of power radiated from her body, halting the incoming blades midair.
"Yellow Springs Net!" Yan's voice boomed through Fang Han's consciousness.
Streams of sacred Yellow Springs Water burst from the Diagram, fusing with pure energy to form a net of divine corrosion that dropped over the Sound-Killing Demon Blade.
Hissssss!
The moment the holy water touched the blade, black smoke erupted from its surface, as if it were burning under acid.
The White Demoness shuddered violently. The divine water was eating away at her weapon's spirit!
For all her power, she could not resist the Yellow Springs' corrosive force — it eroded the spiritual imprint on the weapon, stripping her bond with it.
Even immortals coveted this sacred water — Hua Tiandu himself had once sought it in vain.
The Great Asura's expression froze in horror as the Sound-Killing Demon Blade trembled, gave one last keening cry — and vanished into the swirling Diagram.
Yan's laughter echoed faintly. "Mine."
And with that, Fang Han stood free — the deadly edge of the Sound-Killing Blade now trapped within the Yellow Springs.
He had survived the strike of a Great Asura.