15: Gray fog
He saw that although the 'Burning Bottle' hit the 'Human-faced Giant Spider' squarely between the brows, the Giant Spider was also trapped in the scorching flames.
However, the layer of 'black qi' on the outer shell of the Giant Spider only slightly dimmed under the scorching heat of the great fire; this layer of 'black qi' tightly enveloped the Giant Spider, preventing it from suffering any damage!
Even as the 'black qi' dissipated, the fierce flames hissed and extinguished as if meeting heavy rain. As a large amount of water vapor dispersed, thick smoke was produced, and the oil dripped down bit by bit!
The numerical value floating beside the 'Giant Spider' also changed slightly, becoming '49~49'!
"What? Cheating, huh? Even health lock? I'm reporting this!"
'Han Yi' was a bit dumbfounded. Even though the upper limit of his attack power value, holding the 'Burning Bottle', had exceeded the lower limit of the 'Giant Spider''s defense, this layer of 'black qi' seemed to make the 'Giant Spider' immune to any form of attack, as if a 'god had descended'!
Not only that, this 'Human-faced Giant Spider' was also incredibly strong and tireless, like a robot!
How should he deal with such a monster?
Waiting online, very urgent!
"Eh?"
After the 'Human-faced Giant Spider' fell from mid-air, it remained motionless in place, like a clay or wooden statue. If not for its massive body slightly trembling, it would have looked like a complete dead object.
"It seems the 'Burning Bottle' wasn't completely ineffective," a thought flashed through 'Han Yi''s mind. "Could it be the thick smoke caused by the great fire..."
"Take advantage of its weakness to finish it off, never mind, I'll risk it!"
He gritted his teeth and reluctantly circulated his remaining vital energy.
'Swallow Flight'!
His figure was like the wind, and his finger instantly touched this layer of 'black qi'!
Waves of familiar cold energy instantly reached the depths of his mind.
Ding!
[Discover absorbable Yin Qi, absorb?]
[Yes]
'Han Yi' didn't hesitate.
Waves of coldness spread from his arm to all parts of his body.
Although he had already prepared himself mentally, his body still instinctively shivered.
In an instant, the layers of flowing 'black qi' on the 'Human-faced Giant Spider''s body instantly dissipated like thin mist under the scorching sun.
[Essence Value]: 50
"50 Essence Value? And my lifespan increased by 5 years?" 'Han Yi' was a bit excited.
And with the loss of the 'black qi', the 'Giant Spider', which had been standing there like a wooden stake, immediately became much weaker, and even its torso seemed to have thinned out slightly.
"Hmm..."
Looking at the 'Giant Spider', which remained motionless even after all the surrounding 'black qi' had been absorbed, 'Han Yi' pondered for a moment.
The numerical value floating above the 'Giant Spider''s head had changed to '30~40'.
The muscles on the upper part of his thigh bulged, and he tentatively launched a 'Flying Swallow Kick - Swallow Peck'.
Thud
'Han Yi' rubbed his somewhat sore and swollen legs. Even though this layer of 'black qi' had dissipated, the 'Human-faced Giant Spider''s shell was still astonishingly hard!
This attack seemed to awaken the 'Giant Spider'. It twisted its hideous body and suddenly lunged towards 'Han Yi'.
However, having lost the protection of the 'black qi', its strength and speed had significantly decreased. Even without using his vital energy, 'Han Yi' easily dodged it!
"Even though the 'black qi' is gone, without excellent weapons, it seems my current strength alone can't break the 'Giant Spider''s defense..."
"It seems I still have to rely on my ultimate weapon!" 'Han Yi''s thoughts turned.
Crackle crackle
'Han Yi' flashed to the side and threw all the 'Burning Bottles' around the 'Human-faced Giant Spider'.
Suddenly!
Blazing flames erupted in the cave, and the 'Human-faced Giant Spider' let out chilling screams. A smell like burnt hair wafted into his nostrils.
'Han Yi' stood at the entrance of the cave, completely unmoved. He looked at the pile of white bones on the ground, his gaze cold, his expression stern, with his hands clasped behind his back.
"Indeed, guns and cannons are the truth. Let the flames purify everything..."
"Cough, cough..."
'Han Yi' was choked by the thick smoke and coughed several times, quickly and awkwardly running outside the cave to take cover. The air of a reclusive master he had just created instantly vanished.
"These days, can't I even pretend to be a master?"
The flames gradually extinguished, the smoke slowly dispersed, and the pungent smell of ashes from things burned to completion drifted over.
The 'Human-faced Giant Spider' lay not far away, its shell burned black, without even a twitch.
"What is this?"
'Han Yi''s eyes flickered. He saw something white beneath the pitch-black ashes.
He stepped forward and kicked away the 'Giant Spider''s remains with a few movements.
A plain silk handkerchief suddenly appeared before his eyes. This handkerchief was brightly colored and lustrous, clearly made of high-quality silk. Moreover, dots of fresh blood were sprinkled on it, forming 'plum blossoms', but instead of staining the handkerchief, they blended seamlessly with the embroidered 'plum blossom branches' on the surface, creating a breathtaking beauty!
'Han Yi' was silent. This 'Human-faced Giant Spider' had protected this 'handkerchief' tightly beneath its body even before dying!
He picked up this handkerchief.
A ding sound.
[Discover purifiable demonic artifact, purify?]
[Note, purification requires consuming Essence Value]
"Eh, demonic artifact?" 'Han Yi' slightly frowned.
"That word doesn't sound like a proper weapon, and besides, I have so much Essence Value right now..." He pondered for a long time.
"Purify!"
In a trance, he didn't know what year or month it was, nor where he was. 'Han Yi' seemed to have arrived in a remote small town. Although its location was distant, the governance was clear, and the people were well-fed, well-clothed, and lived in peace and contentment.
It happened to be the Mid-Autumn Festival. The calls of peddlers selling goods on the streets were endless, the conversations of neighbors and the noise of children were clearly audible, presenting a scene of prosperity, bustling and lively.
In a courtyard, two kind-faced women were doing needlework and chatting about local gossip. One of the women occasionally looked at her daughter playing under the ancient cypress tree nearby with eyes full of tenderness.
"Nannan, be careful, don't run too fast!"
"Okay~ Mother."
The little girl replied with a playful tone. Her eyes were big, and when she smiled, they were bright like two crescent moons. Coupled with her shallow dimples, she was extremely cute.
But at some unknown time and place, wisps of gray mist slowly rose, and at first, no one noticed.
"This mist is coming strangely..."
"What's there to fear? Perhaps it's going to rain."
The gray mist gradually spread throughout the entire small town, but no one paid it any mind, simply treating it as a normal change in the weather!
As time passed, the mist slowly permeated into everyone's bodies and minds...
Within the small town,
With just an ordinary quarrel, a butcher picked up his pig-slaughtering knife and swung it at the arguing customer; just to vent his unhappiness, a down-and-out scholar set fire to the examination hall; just to satisfy his desires, a hoodlum forced his way into a private residence and committed beastly acts...
It seemed this gray mist made people lose their reason, stimulating the deepest malice in everyone's hearts!
Ministers murdered rulers, sons rebelled against fathers, younger brothers stabbed elder brothers!
The Three Cardinal Guides were in chaos, the Five Constant Virtues were out of order!
Sounds of killing rose from all over the streets, and flames rolled within the houses!
In the small courtyard, the little girl who had been playing under the ancient cypress tree cried out and ran back to her mother's side. The two huddled together tightly, hiding in a corner.
But the little girl gradually felt that her mother's embrace was no longer as warm as usual, but was gradually becoming cold.
She looked up and saw a pair of blood-red eyes faintly discernible in the gray mist...
The handkerchief fell to the ground, and dots of blood formed 'plum blossoms'...