Chapter 26: Chapter 26 — The Crimson Prince

Crack!

A desert scorpion as large as a fist was dug out of the sand by Crane Fairy, pecked to death in one strike, then tossed straight into the fire. It burned with a sharp, foul smell, crackling loudly.

Crane Fairy was having a wonderful time. She kept digging out scorpion after scorpion, killing them and throwing them into the flames.

Desert scorpions were huge and vicious. They came out at night to feed and absorb dew. Their poison was lethal—any ordinary person bitten would die on the spot.

Fortunately, the Yuhua Sect disciples wore spirit robes that repelled insects. Scorpions, centipedes, ants, and venomous mosquitoes all avoided them, so these nuisances posed no threat.

Fang Han sat quietly, contemplating the mysteries of the Primordial Star Spirit Art.

Ever since he practiced it the previous day, he felt that this was the true path of cultivation—the key to opening the Gate of Divine Abilities.

Whenever he had time, he pondered its profundities and became increasingly familiar with the internal rhythms and structure of his body.

When one reached the Spirit Communion Realm, the spirit remained inwardly focused, and all internal organs, bones, and marrow would be as clear as lines on one’s palm. Fang Han had not yet reached that level, but the more he cultivated, the more his body felt transparent, like crystal slowly being cleansed.

Only his brain remained unclear—a vast darkness, like a sealed gate that refused to open, refusing to release its divine powers.

Liu Kang and Princess Hongyi were also seated cross-legged, nurturing their spirit and circulating their blood and qi.

Though water was scarce in the desert, they possessed Pure Garment Talismans and True Water Talismans, allowing them to replenish moisture and cleanse themselves at will. Without such artifacts, even a tenth-realm cultivator would wither in this environment.

The camp was silent. Everyone cultivated quietly. The atmosphere was as still as the moment before a storm.

The desert wind wailed, causing the flames to flicker.

Aoo— Aooo—

From the distant dunes came the eerie howls of wolves and foxes, chilling to the bone.

“What was that?”

Fang Han’s heart tightened with an unexplainable sense of dread. He opened his eyes.

Yuan Jiankong had risen to his feet.
Senior Sister Mo stood as well.
The inner disciples followed.
The Dade royal heirs stood.
Liu Kang and Princess Hongyi stood.

The immortal cranes all took flight. Even Crane Fairy shot into the sky.

Through the Beast Command Token, her voice rang out:

“Fang Han, enemies are closing in. Extremely dangerous. I’m going up to the sky to avoid them!”

Immortal beasts fled instinctively—they would not calmly stand and die alongside humans.

“Enemies?”

Fang Han rose and looked toward the dunes.

Shadows surged. Hoofbeats thundered.

Under the moonlight, a tide of figures poured over the dunes—sand bandits, clad in scale armor, mounted on white desert camels, wielding massive curved blades, bows strapped to their backs. Hundreds—no, thousands—closing in from all directions.

Those camels were White Dragon Camels, faster and stronger than warhorses. Riding them was like sailing with the wind.

“So these are the legendary desert bandits…”

Fang Han had heard of them—man-eating monsters who brewed wine from children’s blood.

And among them… He saw creatures with horns, scaled skin—identical to the sect’s Demonic Puppets.

True underground demons.

Whiiiish—!

A storm of arrows darkened the sky.

The bandits halted at five hundred paces and unleashed a devastating volley.

Fang Han drew his Demon-Slaying Sword, spinning it into a protective blur. Many arrows struck his spirit robe and bounced harmlessly away.

Still, the impact left his body aching—without the reinforced flesh of the Heroic Realm, he would have been crushed.

“Back to back!”
Princess Hongyi shouted.

Their swords became silver storms.

Then—

A blinding bolt of sword-light ripped across the battlefield.

Dozens of bandits were cut in half. Blood and entrails scattered.

“That flying sword… Stronger than mine.”

Fang Han’s eyes narrowed.

A booming laugh echoed across the desert.

“So it’s you, Yuan Jiankong—ranked tenth on the Mountain–River Rankings. Your Silver Serpent Sword, forged from thousand-year serpent blood and Ten-Flame Crimson Copper… I’ve lost countless disciples to it. Today, I finally meet you in the Vast Sea Desert.”

A pink, demonic radiance surged upward.

A crimson blade intercepted the Silver Serpent Sword midair.

The sky exploded with sword qi.

The two swords withdrew.

The bandits scattered like flowing sand.

A figure in crimson robes rose from the dunes.

The Crimson Prince of the Red Dust Demon Sect.

Yuan Jiankong’s expression hardened.

Fang Han stared.

Kill him… And earn the Yin–Yang Longevity Pill.

The Crimson Prince’s eyes glided over the women—Mo, Hongyi, the princesses—with predatory hunger.

“So Yuhua Sect wants my head badly enough to offer a Longevity Pill? Even I’m tempted to kill myself and claim the reward.”

Mo replied coldly:

“You’ve walked into our trap.”

The Crimson Prince laughed.

“And I’ve walked into yours on purpose.”

He raised his hand.

Ten colossal shadows rose from the dunes.

They unfolded massive wings.

Flying Yaksha Demon Generals.

Mo’s face changed.