Chapter 480

Chapter 480: Nine Fang Lies

"Haha, that Fang Lie finally died for once!"

"Serves him right! Losing an eighth-rank top-grade treasure in one go—let’s see if he keeps strutting around!"

"All that big talk about earth-shattering skills, and he gets wrecked by Ten-Thousand Gu Sect’s third-ranked disciple? What a joke!"

The surrounding crowd joined in the jeers. Demonic Path cultivators especially relished the moment, openly mocking the Mo Sect disciples. Even those from righteous sects smirked with thinly veiled envy.

Mo Sect disciples scowled, fists clenched. Huo Wufang’s face darkened as he muttered, "Why challenge the arena if you’re this weak? Now the whole sect’s a laughingstock!"

Suddenly, seven-colored flames erupted where Fang Lie’s corpse lay. A figure soared upward—golden wings glinting, unharmed. It was Fang Lie himself!

"What?! He’s alive?!" The crowd gaped. Wan Nianqing nearly choked, jabbing a finger at the sky. "You—you were shredded! How?!"

Fang Lie snorted. "Mo family secrets aren’t for fools like you."

"Don’t get smug!" Wan Nianqing spat. "I’ll kill you again and again! Let’s see how many times you crawl back!"

"You?" Fang Lie scoffed. "Only caught me off guard once. Try touching me now."

"Enough chatter! Fight me properly!" Wan Nianqing barked. His poison Gu swarm surged, encircling Fang Lie.

"Hmph. Watch closely," Fang Lie taunted. "Behold the Mo family’s blood clone technique!"

Eight identical Fang Lies materialized around him—each with golden-silver eyes, golden wings, matching auras.

Chaos erupted. "Nine Fang Lies?!"

"Illusions? But Thunder Tribulation Immortals are here—they’d see through fakes!"

Wan Nianqing froze, Gu insects hovering aimlessly. The nine Fang Lies teleported simultaneously, reappearing miles apart to flank the swarm. Arms raised, they unleashed nine blazing Soulfire Lances.

The crimson spears struck like lightning. Five pierced the roaring toad, igniting it instantly. Fang Lie’s Three-thousand-mile Qi Sea amplified the attack to Wind Tribulation Immortal-level force—a single strike fueled by Original Essence Blood.

The toad crumbled to ash, spirit soul obliterated. Two other Gu insects took headshots, shrieking before collapsing.

Fang Lie didn’t relent. The nine clones kept teleporting, launching volley after volley. To onlookers, dozens of golden-winged figures flickered across the sky, overwhelming the Gu swarm in flashes of fire.

Wan Nianqing was dumbfounded. With just one Fang Lie, his divine sense could easily track the target through any flickering movements and launch immediate counterattacks. But facing Nine Fang Lies at once? Locking onto nine targets simultaneously stretched his divine sense to its limits, and their constant teleportation made proper tracking impossible.

Whenever he managed to lock onto a target, it would vanish before he could strike. The nine figures darted around chaotically, their movements erratic. He couldn’t distinguish the real body from the clones. How could he fight when he couldn’t even identify his enemy?

Fang Lie had it easy. He simply stopped moving, launched a Soulfire Lance, teleported, then repeated the process. Though lacking precise targeting – a method that would fail against nimble cultivators – it worked perfectly against the sluggish poison Gu insects. Their massive bodies made them easy targets, and their dulled minds from Wan Nianqing’s refinement left them helpless against the barrage.

Fang Lie fought dirty too, always striking from behind where the mindless creatures couldn’t defend. Though Wan Nianqing sensed the attacks through his connection with the Gu insects, reacting in time proved impossible. Coordinating evasive maneuvers for dozens of Gu insects against countless Soulfire Lances required impossible speed.

Helpless, Wan Nianqing watched his precious Gu insects fall like flies. Dozens perished within moments, though each clone only eliminated five or six targets. When the last insect fell, the Nine Fang Lies encircled their prey and spoke in chilling unison: "Bald devil – choose your death."

Wan Nianqing stood paralyzed. His prized technique had been shattered with embarrassing ease. The surrounding crowd buzzed with disbelief: "Nine identical clones! Same aura, same combat power as the original!"

"What divine skill is this? It defies the heavens! Ninefold combat power? Who could oppose that?"

"One teleporting, undying Fang Lie was trouble enough. Nine? This changes everything!"

"No wonder he demanded a deathmatch! With this clone technique, he’s invincible among peers!"

"Strange… The Mo Sect’s millennia-old inheritance never mentioned such a skill!"

"Could it be another ancient legacy, like his undying nature?"

As speculation swirled, Wan Nianqing composed himself. Swallowing hard, he rasped: "Impressive clone technique. My Ten-Thousand Gu Insect Nest amplifies power fivefold at best. Yours achieves ninefold. My defeat was inevitable."

"But I choose life." His mental message carried desperate sincerity. "Let me serve you."

Fang Lie rubbed his nose. "Were you at my father’s final battle?"

"No!" Wan Nianqing blurted. "By the Heart Demon Oath, I was in closed-door training mastering the Insect Nest. No involvement!"

Fang Lie’s killing intent faded. "That Ninth-Rank Great Demon corpse you gifted me buys this opportunity. But cheap offers won’t suffice."

Wan Nianqing transmitted urgently: "The scorpion came from a Secret Realm created by an ancient great one – a Gu breeding ground housing five poison colonies. Each colony contains a Ninth-Rank Great Demon corpse. I alone possess its space coordinates."

Fang Lie’s eyes gleamed. "This realm belongs to the Ten-Thousand Gu Sect?"

"Discovered by chance. The coordinates are mine alone." Wan Nianqing pressed. "Will this purchase my life?"

"Perhaps." Fang Lie narrowed his eyes. "But how do I verify your claims? What prevents you from reselling these coordinates later?"