Chapter 13: Chapter 13 — Conspiracy

“What is the Heavenly Wolf Seven-Calamity Smoke? That face is catching up!”

Fang Han lay flat against the Crane Maiden’s back, peering through gaps in her feathers. Behind them, the ferocious human face formed of black smoke pursued relentlessly—its maw wide open, fangs jagged, emitting faint, demonic laughter that echoed through the wind.

At such altitude, even solid bodies were torn apart by violent air currents—yet this mass of smoke did not disperse in the slightest. It maintained its form, as if it were truly a living demon. The sight made Fang Han’s scalp prickle.

Though he was no longer a mere stable slave of the Fang household and had seen more of the world, he had never encountered anything so sinister. His heart climbed into his throat.

“The Heavenly Wolf Seven-Calamity Smoke is a poison-smoke artifact—a spirit implement,”
the Crane Maiden cried while flying at full speed. “Its power is terrifying. Only exceptionally gifted inner disciples of the Demon God Sect are granted such a thing. If it envelops us, we’ll melt into pus and blood. Only Yuhua Sect’s Azure Rainbow True-Qi Talisman can restrain it—but even those are possessed only by elite inner disciples!”

The Crane Maiden tore through clouds and lightning, the smoky face chasing close behind. In moments, they had crossed hundreds of miles.

“What is the Demon God Sect?”
Fang Han asked urgently. Seeing that the crane was still faster than the smoke, he steadied himself slightly.

“The Demon God Sect is a great demonic faction, comparable in status to the Yuhua Sect. Long, long ago, their sect master cultivated divine abilities, achieved longevity, entered the Longevity Realm, transformed flesh and blood, and took human form. His divine powers were boundless—he stood alongside the Great Emperors of the Demonic Path and was honored as the Demon God!”

The Crane Maiden shouted as she flew desperately.

“The demonic path, the monster path, and the immortal path have coexisted in relative peace for years. By all logic, people of the Demon God Sect should never appear near Yuhua Mountain!”

Some beasts, after consuming peerless spirit herbs or undergoing rare transformations, could awaken their minds and cultivate divine abilities—such creatures were called demons. After all, the human body was not inherently stronger than every beast.

Yet few demons ever reached the Longevity Realm. Those who did could regenerate from a drop of blood, freely alter their form, and transform into humans—establishing sects, becoming gods and ancestors, standing alongside immortal sect leaders.

Then—

Danger struck.

The smoky face let out a piercing shriek and suddenly accelerated, lunging forward.

“No! We’re going to die!”
the Crane Maiden screamed, her body trembling like a terrified child.

Fang Han’s vision darkened. A nauseating stench flooded his nose and lungs; violent poison surged into his organs, threatening to dissolve his body.

The black-smoke face bit down toward them.

Poisoned—reduced to pus and blood!
That was Fang Han’s only thought.

But then—

His heart suddenly burned.

The Heavenly Wolf poison stimulated the Nine-Orifice Golden Elixir. It began to spin violently, releasing a fragrant aura that instantly dispersed the poison smoke.

At the same time, the Dragon Lurking in the Yellow Springs Map hidden within his clothes stirred. A vortex-like force erupted—

Zi zi zi—

The surrounding black smoke vanished, sucked entirely into the Yellow Springs Map.

The sky cleared. Fresh wind filled their lungs. The stench was gone.

The Crane Maiden regained control, flapped her wings violently, and shot back toward Yuhua Mountain.

“What just happened? We were about to die—how did the Seven-Calamity Smoke vanish?”
she cried.

Violet-Light Peak soon came into view. Once near Yuhua Mountain, even the Demon God Sect would not dare to kill openly.

The Crane Maiden was baffled. She could not understand how the smoke had disappeared upon contact.

Fang Han, however, understood faintly—it had to be the Dragon Lurking in the Yellow Springs Map. That mysterious diagram possessed powers far beyond his imagination.

Naturally, he said nothing.

“I don’t know either,”
Fang Han replied calmly. “Maybe our pursuer withdrew, afraid of being discovered by Yuhua Mountain.”

The Crane Maiden, whose intelligence was no more than that of a young girl, was easily fooled.

“Maybe so… We were lucky. That was terrifying,”
she said, landing on Violet-Light Peak’s mid-slope. They rested for a long while before she finally calmed down.

“I’m exhausted, Fang Han. I need to rest.”
She stretched her long neck and yawned, more crane saliva dripping down.

“Good. It’s dangerous outside. Don’t let the other cranes leave Yuhua Mountain for now.”

After watching her leave, Fang Han slipped back to his quarters to secretly inspect the Dragon Lurking in the Yellow Springs Map.

---

Meanwhile…

Far beyond Yuhua Mountain, within the ancient Minggu Mountains—

The seven pillars of black smoke slowly descended, converging into a dark green gourd no larger than a palm. The gourd was covered in layered talismanic inscriptions, forming intricate grand arrays as the smoke poured back inside.

A cold-faced young man in black picked it up and gazed into the sky.

“How did that crane escape? Even part of my Heavenly Wolf Smoke was absorbed… What happened?”

“Brother Wang Molin—what are you doing skulking around like this?”

The forest rustled. A streak of emerald light descended from the air, stopping before him.

“Jin Shitai! Wolf-Smoke Sphere!”

Wang Molin immediately waved his hand. Smoke burst from the gourd, forming a dark green sphere that enveloped him, lifting him into the air and shielding his body.

The newcomer was none other than Jin Shitai, the true disciple of Green-Flame Peak who had clashed with Fang Qingxue.

“It seems Brother Molin hasn’t entered the Divine Ability Realm yet,”
Jin Shitai sneered. “Otherwise you wouldn’t rely on the Seven-Calamity Gourd to fly. That Wolf-Smoke Sphere—impervious to blades, immune to flying swords—excellent, excellent.”

“Enough mockery,”
Wang Molin said coldly. “My breakthrough is inevitable. With this Seven-Calamity Gourd, unless one reaches the fifth Divine Ability level—the Heaven-Human Realm capable of forming grand arrays—even Divine Ability experts can’t overwhelm me.”

“If not for your father being an elder of Yuhua Sect’s Alchemy Hall—if he hadn’t secured you a Yin-Yang Longevity Pill years ago—do you think you’d have become a true disciple? You’d still be scraping by among inner disciples.”

Jin Shitai laughed darkly. “Your intelligence network is impressive. Enough talk. I summoned you for one reason: your Seven-Calamity Gourd can withstand Fang Qingxue’s Purple Lightning Yin Thunder Blade.”

“You’re certain the Nine-Orifice Golden Elixir and Dragon Lurking in the Yellow Springs Map are in Fang Qingxue’s possession?”
Wang Molin pressed. “If not, I won’t risk provoking a true disciple. Killing one could reignite war among the immortal, demonic, and monster paths.”

“Of course,”
Jin Shitai replied softly.

“Bai Haichan of the Star Sect found a meteorite at Yellow Springs Mountain. It blasted open a cavern containing the Nine-Orifice Golden Elixir and the Yellow Springs Map. The elixir can help you enter the Divine Ability Realm. The map is said to be the Yellow Springs Emperor’s Dao Edict—a Dao Implement holding immense secrets. Whoever unlocks it could reunite the shattered Yellow Springs Sect and become a new Demonic Emperor.”

“Only the Fang family knew Bai Haichan had those treasures. He vanished months ago in Dragon Abyss Province. Where else could they be if not with Fang Qingxue?”

“You take the elixir. We study the map together.”

“You want to kill Fang Qingxue?”
Wang Molin hesitated.

“I won’t kill her,”
Jin Shitai said slowly, his voice dripping with malice.

“I’ll conquer her—body and mind—and make her offer everything willingly.”

A vast conspiracy unfolded in his words.