Having gained considerable proficiency with his new techniques through days of intense practice and live combat, Gù Tiānháo resumed his journey towards the edge of the Black Mist Forest with renewed confidence. His 3rd Level cultivation felt solid, his Qi flowed smoothly through the pathways of the Profound Rank arts, and his senses were sharper than ever, constantly scanning the misty environment. It was this heightened awareness, perhaps combined with a cultivator's innate sensitivity to unusual Qi fluctuations, that drew his attention to an anomaly several days later – a cave entrance partially concealed by thick, thorny bushes on the side of a rocky hill.
Ordinarily, he might have bypassed it, focused on his goal of reaching civilization. But something felt different about this cave; a faint, almost imperceptible pulse of energy emanated from its depths, accompanied by a strange, slightly acrid scent that tickled his nostrils. Curiosity warred with caution. Recalling the unexpected boon of the Spiritual Ginseng found in the Mist Panther's valley, Tiānháo decided the potential reward warranted a careful investigation. Opportunities in the cultivation world often hid behind danger.
He cautiously cleared the thorny bushes, revealing a dark, damp opening. Activating Shadow Steps, he slipped inside, his movements silent, his eyes adjusting to the gloom. The cave tunnel sloped downwards, the acrid scent growing stronger, mingling with the damp, earthy smell of the underground. Faint, sticky strands brushed against his clothes – spider webs, far thicker and stronger than any ordinary web. His vigilance spiked.
He proceeded deeper, his knife drawn, Qi subtly circulating for Gale Palm and Divergent Fist. The tunnel opened into a larger cavern, dimly lit by phosphorescent moss clinging to the walls. And there, suspended in the center of the cavern by a network of thick, rope-like webs, was the source of the scent and the Qi fluctuations: a monstrous spider. It was easily the size of a large wolf, with eight multi-faceted eyes gleaming malevolently in the dim light, and a bulbous abdomen pulsating slowly. 24 Its legs were long and spindly, tipped with sharp claws, and its fangs dripped a viscous, greenish fluid that sizzled faintly where it touched the stone floor. A Venomous Mist Spider, Low-Level 3rd Rank – a beast perfectly suited to this dark, enclosed environment.
The moment Tiānháo entered the cavern, the spider sensed him. Its eight eyes swiveled to fix on him, and it let out an unnerving series of clicks. Without warning, it spat a glob of the greenish venom directly at him. Tiānháo reacted instantly, employing Wind Steps to dodge sideways as the venom struck the cave wall behind him, dissolving the stone with a horrifying hiss.
The battle was joined. The cavern floor was littered with webs, hindering movement. The spider scuttled across its network with terrifying speed, spitting venom and attempting to ensnare him with sticky strands shot from its abdomen. Tiānháo relied heavily on Nine Mist Steps – Shadow Steps to navigate the treacherous floor, Wind Steps for quick dodges, and Mist Steps to confuse the spider's aim in the dim light. He used Gale Palm's sharp wind force to slash through incoming webs and deflect smaller venom spits, the Qi expenditure significant but necessary.
Getting close was dangerous due to the venom and the spider's powerful bite, but Tiānháo knew he needed to land decisive blows. Seeing an opening as the spider reared back to spit again, he used Wind Steps to close the distance rapidly and unleashed a Bone Shattering Fist aimed at one of its spindly legs. The Qi-infused punch connected with a sickening crack, shattering the limb. The spider shrieked, a high-pitched, grating sound, and retaliated with a furious barrage of venom. Tiānháo used Mist Steps to evade the worst of it, but a few drops splashed onto his arm, burning through his sleeve and searing his skin with intense pain. He gritted his teeth, channeling Qi to suppress the venom's spread.
Knowing he couldn't afford a prolonged fight, especially injured, he pressed his advantage. While the spider was momentarily unbalanced by its broken leg and fury, Tiānháo dashed in again, dodging a clumsy bite attempt. This time, he didn't hold back, channeling the maximum Qi he could muster into the second move of the Divergent Fist – Flash Fist. A blur of punches rained down on the spider's vulnerable head and thorax, the rapid impacts stunning the beast. Before it could recover, he followed up with another, even more powerful Bone Shattering Fist aimed directly at its cluster of eyes.
The final blow landed with devastating force. The spider convulsed violently, its legs flailing, before collapsing into a broken heap on the cavern floor, its multifaceted eyes shattered. Tiānháo sagged against the cave wall, panting heavily, his arm throbbing with pain from the venom burn. He quickly applied some basic detoxification herbs from his pack to the wound, knowing spider venom could be insidious.
Once he caught his breath and ensured the spider was truly dead, he cautiously explored the rear of the cavern, where the beast had clearly made its nest amidst a thicket of webs and bones. Pushing aside the grim detritus, his eyes caught a patch of unusually dark, almost blood-red soil hidden beneath a loose rock slab. And growing from this soil, pulsing with an incredibly rich, vibrant life force and blood-red Qi, was a single ginseng root, significantly larger and more potent-looking than the Spiritual Ginseng he'd found earlier. Its form was intricate, almost resembling a miniature, blood-veined human heart.
His breath caught in his throat. Consulting the Bead's knowledge confirmed his suspicion. This was no ordinary ginseng; it was a Blood Ginseng, likely nurtured by some unique mineral deposit or perhaps even the life force of creatures killed by the spider over centuries. And judging by its size and Qi intensity, it was easily 300 years old. Such an item was incredibly rare, a prime ingredient capable of dramatically boosting the effectiveness of body-tempering or, more importantly for him, Meridian Opening Pills. The danger had been immense, but the reward was beyond his expectations – another crucial piece for his future cultivation path, found in the spider's deadly lair.