Following the path of the little rabbit, after a short while, I arrived at a mountain valley.
However, by this time, the sun had already set, and a deep darkness was slowly encroaching.
Using the fading light, I looked around, and for a moment, I couldn't tell which mountain was Huan Shan.
So, I had to resort to a game of chance.
Raising my finger, I began to point at the mountain peaks before me.
"Pick a soldier, pick a general, whoever is pointed at, that's the one."
My finger landed directly in front of me, on a peak that seemed several feet higher than all the others.
Instantly, I was overjoyed and filled with excitement.
"It's this one."
So, I dashed off, following the small path up the mountain.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, I indeed saw specks of firelight in the darkness.
As I slowly approached, I discovered it was a mountain stronghold.
On the wooden plaque at the entrance of the stronghold were inscribed the three large characters "Que Shui Zhai."
There were also patrolling soldiers, exactly as the old man had said.
It seemed this was the place; I hadn't expected this game of chance to be so useful at a crucial moment.
I hid in the bushes by the side of the path, carefully observing the situation ahead.
My plan was to wait until dawn before making a move.
Unexpectedly, with an inadvertent flick of my hand, a surge of inexplicable power erupted from me.
It sent a soldier on the ramparts flying backward.
"Who!"
Those nearby shouted, and upon hearing the commotion, the people within the stronghold became alert.
Soon, a small group of about a dozen people, armed with weapons, rushed out from the stronghold gate.
I had intended to hide and prepare myself.
Suddenly, I heard someone shout.
"Who's there?"
I hadn't expected to be discovered so quickly, so I couldn't afford to hesitate.
I leaped out from the woods and, without preamble, launched into a flurry of punches.
I beat them all to the ground, where they lay groaning in pain.
I had to admit, the power of the Wan Gui Wang was truly effective.
Then, I kicked open the main gate of the stronghold and strode in boldly, shouting without restraint.
"Who among you is the Huan Shan Da Wang?"
The surrounding soldiers quickly surrounded me, but no one answered.
Empowered by the strength of the Wan Gui Wang, I clenched my fist arrogantly and smashed it onto the ground.
Instantly, an invisible force, like an earthquake, shook them so violently that they lost their footing.
Seeing this, I couldn't help but feel a surge of joy.
With a touch of arrogance, I prepared to put on a show.
Just as I raised my hand to punch again.
Suddenly, a silver chain flew through the air, wrapping around my arm.
I immediately grabbed it and pulled hard, dislodging a huge boulder.
At this moment, I was fearless. I leaped up, put all my strength into a punch, and shattered the boulder.
I couldn't help but exclaim.
"Even such a massive stone was shattered by my punch. I must thank you; it feels great to have power."
At this moment, a woman's voice came from the wind.
"Who are you, to dare cause trouble here?"
After the few impressive exchanges, I became even more arrogant and said without fear.
"Quickly, call out your Huan Shan Da Wang. Tell her that I am the hero here to end her life."
Hearing my arrogant tone, the woman couldn't help but laugh.
"Hahaha, what a bold statement! What is this place that even you, a junior, dare to trespass?"
"Naturally, I dare to come here because I have the strength. Enough talk, quickly call out your Da Wang to face her death."
"Hahaha..."
Another burst of disdainful laughter followed.
After the laughter subsided, a strong gust of wind blew.
Several white cloths flew out from the wind, binding me tightly.
At this moment, a woman wearing a white dress and long sleeves descended from the sky.
Her subordinates immediately surrounded me, holding knives to my throat.
I smiled slightly and calmly looked at the woman before me, saying.
"What, is your Da Wang afraid and hiding? Sending a mere woman to fight me?"
One of my subordinates suddenly spoke.
"How dare you speak so disrespectfully to our Da Wang!"
"Your Da Wang?"
It was then that I realized the woman before me was the Huan Shan Da Wang. How novel.
However, this did not deter my proud demeanor.
"You are Huan Shan Da Wang? I thought Huan Shan Da Wang would be a man."
Seeing me say this, the woman raised her hand to cover her mouth and chuckled.
"A man? Hahaha, who says a Da Wang must be a man?
I see you, little girl, are quite bold to have designs on my stronghold."
"If you weren't so wicked, I wouldn't have come here to find you."
She laughed again, then suddenly remembered something.
"Two days ago, I sent my capable subordinate to bring some rain to that village, but he was injured.
That person, was it you?"
It seemed she had guessed correctly.
I made no attempt to hide it and stated directly.
"I am a person who stands by my actions. Yes, it was me."
"Good, you have courage. It saves me the trouble of looking for you. Tell me, how do you wish to die?"
"I think it's you who will die."
Seeing my arrogance, she became even more amused.
However, she suddenly felt a bone-chilling coldness.
Seeing the woman's face covered by a strange veil, I became wary and asked.
"Who are you, and why is it so cold?"
I sneered and did not answer her. I leaped up and broke free from the cloth bindings.
Then, I landed, snatched a soldier's saber, and attacked her.
She hastily flicked her sleeves, entangling her sword with mine, and then flicked her sleeves again, binding me, which I then cut with my saber.
Seeing this, she suddenly tore open her sleeve, revealing a sharp sword, and thrust it at me.
I swung my saber to block, but it shattered instantly. I dodged to the side, but she still managed to swipe off my veil and slash my cheek.
A drop of blood trickled down.
She looked closely and saw that the person before her had purple lips and dark eyebrows.
The entire person seemed enveloped in a dark, demonic aura. She exclaimed in shock.
"Such potent demonic energy! Who exactly are you?"
"You don't need to know who I am. However, I advise you.
If you know what's good for you, leave this place now and never return.
Otherwise, I will take your dog's life."
She seemed to understand something and, instead of fear, burst into laughter.
"Hahaha, you are the reinforcements sent by those spineless rats from down the mountain, aren't you?"
"So what? Get lost now, or you will die here."
Her eyes narrowed, and she suddenly had an idea. She spoke softly.
"Alright, I'll go, I'll go."
She pretended to turn and leave.
Taking advantage of my inattention, she flung out her long sleeves, wrapping them around my neck, and then threw a flying dagger at me.
I dodged frantically, then spun around and severed her sleeves.
Then, I leaped up behind her and swung the broken saber with all my might, plunging it into her back.
She let out a mournful cry and collapsed.
Seeing that she remained motionless for a long time, I cautiously approached to check.
Unexpectedly, she suddenly sprang up and spat venom, which I blocked with my hand.
In an instant, my hand turned black and became numb and unresponsive. It seemed I had been poisoned.
She suddenly became triumphant and laughed heartily.
"Hahaha, this is a one-in-a-million potent poison. You are dead for sure."
I clutched my arm, seeing her smugness, and glanced at the broken saber nearby, an idea forming.
Suddenly, I crouched down, grabbed a handful of soil, and threw it at her, seizing the opportunity to kick fragments at her.
I heard a cry of "Ah!" as she clutched her face, screaming in pain.
It seemed the fragments had struck her face. This would surely disfigure her.
Huan Shan Da Wang screamed and fell to the ground. In an instant, she transformed into a large, black venomous scorpion.
I hadn't expected her true form to be a venomous scorpion.
Before I could react, she swung her two large pincers at me.
I flipped over and jumped onto her.
Gathering my focus, I clenched my fist and delivered a powerful punch to her carapace.
Punch after punch, the force of my blows penetrated the ground, beating her into submission.
I leaped off her and looked at the dying scorpion before me, offering a final plea.
"While you still have breath, leave quickly. Never return again."
I turned to leave, but unexpectedly, she gathered her last ounce of strength, raised her tail stinger, and fiercely stabbed my back.
Instantly, venom entered my body and spread throughout me, making me black and numb.
Suddenly, a wave of dizziness washed over me. I shook my head desperately, but the pain was unbearable, and I collapsed, unconscious.
Ultimately, I had been too careless.
Seeing me fall, she let out a relieved, hearty laugh.
"Hahaha, if I am to die, you will accompany me! Hahaha."
As she spoke, she raised her scorpion tail again, preparing for a fatal blow.
The consciousness of Wan Gui Wang seized my body, and I stood up like a wooden plank.
Under the astonished gaze of the venomous scorpion, I raised my left hand, slightly opened my fingers, and turned them towards her.
Instantly, a suction force was generated, drawing away all her demonic energy.
She shrieked and screamed, finally letting out a long howl, "No!"
Then, in terror, she transformed into a pile of white bones.
Afterward, Wan Gui Wang retreated, and my body heavily collapsed onto the ground.
In my sleep, a bright light struck me. I raised my hand slightly to block the dazzling light.
As I slowly opened my eyes, I saw that the sky was bright, and the sun was shining high.
I slowly stood up, shaking my head, feeling completely refreshed.
It was as if I had truly had a good night's sleep.
Recalling that I had been poisoned last night, yet now I was unharmed.
With a hint of confusion, I looked around. The surroundings were desolate, and no one was present.
Not far away lay a bleached skeleton.
Filled with questions, I wondered if the woman had escaped. But who was that skeleton?
I distinctly remembered not seeing such a skeleton last night.
With a sense of bewilderment, I slowly approached to examine it closely.
I saw that the skeleton was clad in a white, long-sleeved garment, which looked somewhat familiar.
Recalling carefully, the woman from last night seemed to be wearing the same attire.
Instantly, a fearful yet bold thought arose in my mind.
That woman hadn't escaped; she had turned into a skeleton.
But how could this have happened? I clearly remembered not killing her, and she had almost taken my life.
Could it be that after I fainted, she fought with someone else?
Besides myself, a master of this place, who else could it be?
Who else could have injured her to this extent?
Could it be, could it be Wan Gui Wang?
Thinking this, I became somewhat apprehensive and cautiously asked him.
"Wan Gui Wang, did you kill her? Did you?"
He gave no response.
I became even more confused. If it wasn't Wan Gui Wang, then who could it be? Could it be me? Impossible.
After racking my brain, I couldn't figure out how she had ended up like this.
However, I should leave quickly. There was only a corpse here, and I assumed the others had long since fled.
I wondered if they would seek revenge on the villagers. I needed to go back and check.
With these thoughts, I leisurely descended the mountain and followed the original path back towards the village.
Halfway back, I encountered the little white rabbit who had been waiting by the roadside for a long time.
Seeing me return, she looked incredulous and exclaimed in surprise.
"You! You're still alive?"
"Yes, I am still alive."
"Then what about Huan Shan Da Wang?"
"She's dead."
"Dead? Did you kill her?"
"No, I don't know who killed her."
Upon hearing that I hadn't dealt with Huan Shan Da Wang, she became somewhat contemptuous and said indifferently.
"Then you truly got lucky. You'll be hailed as a great hero this time."
I chuckled and said.
"Not at all, it was just a coincidence. But it's strange, you know.
After I fainted, Huan Shan Da Wang fought with someone, and when I woke up, she had turned into a pile of bones.
It was quite terrifying."
The little rabbit frowned slightly and asked me.
"You didn't see clearly who killed her?"
"I didn't see clearly."
"Then you're doomed."
"How am I doomed?"
"According to what you said, who could turn a living person into bones in an instant?
If others discover this, they will surely convict you. I think you should run."
"Why would they convict me? I didn't kill her, and I didn't intend to kill her in the first place."
"Do you know who the killer is?"
"No."
"Then why did you go to Huan Shan?"
"I..."
What she said seemed to have some logic.
The little rabbit snorted a few times and kindly advised me.
"I think you're a good person, which is why I'm telling you this. If Huan Shan Da Wang had simply died an ordinary death,
it would be one thing, but she inexplicably turned into a pile of bones.
Who in this world could have such power? This will surely be taken seriously.
Before they find out, you should run."
I hadn't expected a little rabbit to know so much.
What she said made sense, and I should indeed run quickly.
But what about the villagers if I left? I became worried and asked the little rabbit.
"Little rabbit, you say, Huan Shan Da Wang is dead.
Will her subordinates seek revenge on the villagers?"
Hearing this, the little rabbit burst into laughter.
"Hahaha, you are truly naive. As the saying goes, when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter.
They will be busy finding new livelihoods, why would they bother with trouble?"
Hearing her say this, I was suddenly enlightened and thanked her repeatedly.
"Thank you, little rabbit. I can only repay your great kindness in the future. I'm off to escape!"
"Mm, have a safe journey."
"Alright!"
As I responded to her, I quickened my pace and ran.
The sun was shining brightly at this moment, and I suddenly felt the chill on my body recede slightly.
My cold body felt the warmth of the sun.
I suddenly remembered that I was originally going to Wangyang Sea.
This was a perfect opportunity, so I fled south all the way towards Wangyang Sea.
The death of Huan Shan Da Wang, as the little rabbit had predicted, soon reached Nanhai City.
Because her death was extremely gruesome, her demonic energy was completely absorbed, and she died as a pile of bones.
This was something unheard of and unseen in the past thousand years.
For a time, it caused widespread discussion among people.
This technique was only used by the Wan Gui Wang a thousand years ago, named "Soul Snatching Star Absorbing Great Technique."
Soul Snatching Star Absorbing Great Technique:
The Soul Snatching Star Absorbing Great Technique is a secret art within forbidden techniques.
It is a secret art that absorbs the essence of others to increase one's own demonic energy.
The person whose essence is absorbed will instantly turn into a pile of bones.
This secret art originally belonged to Qiongqi, one of the Four Fierce Beasts of ancient times.
It was later passed down to the Demon King Mo Ye. After Mo Ye's death, only parts of this secret art remained in the world.
Therefore, what Wan Gui Wang learned was not the complete essence.
When this secret art was in Qiongqi's possession, it reached a terrifying peak of absorbing multiple people at once.
As a result, it became one of the terrifying demons of ancient times.
The Soul Snatching Star Absorbing Great Technique ranks eighth on the list of the Ten Great Demonic Artifacts.
Terror Index: ☆☆☆.