The Bone-Melting Fan and a Social Trap

With each wave of the fan, a thick purple mist surged from its surface, shooting straight toward the green-robed freak across from him. After seven or eight such waves, the purple mist had already enveloped the opponent in an impenetrable, dense cloud, forming a great violet sphere!

The green-robed man, however, had concealed his entire body within a mass of black qi, keeping the green mist at bay.

The black qi and the green mist rolled and writhed against one another, tearing at each other as though both were alive. But regardless of how one looked at it, the green mist, under the control of the Yan Clan member, had gained the clear upper hand, compressing the black qi into an ever-smaller space.

“This Bone-Melting Treasure Fan of my cousin’s is one of the Yan Clan’s famous top-grade magical tools. The poisonous mist it drives will melt flesh and dissolve bones at the slightest touch—it’s utterly unmatched in lethality. However, my cousin has always found this fan too sinister to use lightly. But now that he’s gotten serious, he’s brought it out immediately. It seems he’s made up his mind not to let that man walk away intact!” Yan Yu, seeing this, grew visibly excited, explaining to Dong Xuan’er at his side.

“Oh! Is this fan really that famous? I wonder how it compares to the renowned Wind-Thunder Fan?” Dong Xuan’er gave a light laugh, the corners of her mouth lifting slightly, revealing a bewitching fox-like charm that stirred the heart.

“In terms of sheer power alone, it might not surpass the Wind-Thunder Fan. But this magical tool can be wielded by any cultivator with a Wood Spiritual Root. It’s not like the Wind-Thunder Fan, which requires both a Wind and a Thunder Element mutated spiritual root to unleash any real power! So this Bone-Melting Fan is actually more valuable than the Wind-Thunder Fan.” Yan Yu, his heart racing from Dong Xuan’er’s seductive smile, forced himself to suppress his wandering thoughts and explain carefully.

“Nonsense. How dare you compare such an ordinary top-grade magical tool to the Wind-Thunder Fan? Even if it had a tenth of that fan’s power, that would be generous. In fact, I’d wager this fan isn’t even as powerful as my own Purple Light Cymbal.” Senior Brother Feng, seeing Dong Xuan’er and Yan Yu chatting so pleasantly, showed clear jealousy on his face and deliberately sneered.

“You dare to look down on a magical tool refined by our Yan Clan? Fine! Then let me see just how powerful your Purple Light Cymbal really is!” Yan Yu, angered by the other’s belittlement of the Bone-Melting Fan, was now ready to test his mettle.

“Excellent! I’ve been wanting to experience the skill of a distinguished Yan Clan disciple!” Senior Brother Feng let out a cold laugh and agreed readily.

For a moment, the two seemed to have completely forgotten about Han Li, their common adversary.

“Ah, let’s just forget it. Little Sister only asked casually! Why get so upset? Can’t both senior brothers each give a little ground?” Dong Xuan’er said, seemingly trying to mediate. But in truth, her words only made the two men, eager to show off in front of their beloved, even less willing to back down. Neither wanted to lose face before Dong Xuan’er.

Of course, getting them to actually duel immediately was unlikely. After all, this was merely a spat over a woman, and most of what they’d said was just angry words. Their hearts were still heavy with misgivings. However, if Dong Xuan’er provoked them with a few more teasing remarks, things might not end so cleanly.

Though Han Li was still concerned with the battle, his ears clearly registered everything happening around him. He couldn’t help but shake his head secretly. He felt that this spoiled girl was truly a magnet for trouble—wherever she went, a storm seemed to follow. No wonder Red Robe had repeatedly told him to keep a tighter leash on her.

But that fellow Feng and Yan Yu didn’t look stupid. How could they be so impulsive and hot-tempered? Was Dong Xuan’er’s bewitching charm truly that powerful? Could it even unknowingly affect the minds of Foundation Establishment cultivators?

Thinking this over, Han Li felt a chill run down his spine.

Still, Han Li couldn’t be bothered to concern himself with these two hot-headed fools. Who cared if one killed the other?

What Han Li found strange, however, was this: no matter how Dong Xuan’er flaunted her charms, leaving other men utterly infatuated, she still held no appeal in his eyes. He didn’t feel even a hint of attraction.

In truth, this puzzled not only Han Li but also frustrated Dong Xuan’er immensely. For some unknown reason, her bewitching charm—which usually worked flawlessly—had absolutely no effect on the one person she despised most. Otherwise, she would have already had him dancing on her strings, and he would never have been able to threaten her so thoroughly throughout their journey.

Just as Han Li and Dong Xuan’er were lost in their own thoughts, the scene in the arena underwent a drastic change.

The black qi, which had been surrounded by the green mist, suddenly began to contract and thin out. In the blink of an eye, the green-robed man hidden deep within was exposed. Several skulls hovering beside him were opening and closing their mouths, madly inhaling the surrounding black qi—they were the very cause of the black qi’s depletion.

Seeing this, the Yan Clan member opposite was uncertain of his opponent’s intention. But since the man had willingly dismantled his own defense, he naturally wouldn’t be polite. He immediately pointed his treasure fan, and the green mist surged forward while the black qi was too weak to resist.

“Kid, showing off a bit of poisonous mist in front of me is asking for death! Don’t you know that people like me are the ancestors of poison-play?” The green-robed man let out a strange laugh, then extended a hand and rapidly struck the crowns of those skulls.

The skulls instantly swelled to the size of carriage wheels. Their stark white bone gleamed, faintly wrapped in a layer of black qi, making them appear even more ferocious and grotesque.

In a single motion, they absorbed all the remaining black qi. Then, opening their giant mouths wide, they began to inhale the green mist that had been blocking them from the outside. With each gulp, they grew even larger, as though they were being nourished.

The Yan Clan member’s cousin was shocked. He hurriedly tried to recall the green mist with his treasure fan, but it was already too late. Only about a third of the poisonous mist could be retrieved in time; most of it had already been devoured by the opponent’s skulls.

The fan’s surface, once a vibrant blue-green, had become dull and lusterless. The Yan Clan member felt a pang of grief, knowing that from now on, the Bone-Melting Fan’s power would be greatly diminished.

Before he could even recover from the shock of his magical tool’s destruction, the suddenly ferocious giant skulls, under the green-robed man’s control, came howling straight toward him. In an instant, they were right before his eyes. Startled, he hurriedly reached for his storage pouch.

But the skulls opened their mouths simultaneously and spat out several pitch-black beams of light. These converged into a single massive pillar of light, which pierced straight through the Yan Clan member’s yellow protective wind barrier, leaving a gaping hole. With a dull thud, he fainted and fell from the air.

The other Yan Clan disciples nearby naturally wouldn’t let their kin fall to his death. One of them immediately flew out, caught the unconscious man, and flew back.

“The Ghost Spirit Sect’s profound techniques are truly exquisite. Our Yan Clan has lost four out of five matches. Shall we proceed with the sixth match now?” An elder Yan Clan member, his face aged but his eyes sharp and bright, stepped forward and addressed the Ghost Spirit Sect representative coldly.

“Let’s call it a day for now. As for the remaining five matches, it would be better to wait until your Yan Clan’s Life-and-Death Hall disciples arrive. I’ve long heard of the Yan Clan’s Blood Cultivators’ great reputation!” The leader of the Ghost Spirit Sect faction also stepped forward—a mysterious figure wearing a silver ghost mask. His voice was cultured, resonant, and that of a very young man.

“Very well! Since the Junior Sect Leader has such an interest, our Yan Clan naturally accepts the challenge! Let today’s competition end here for now.” The old man was startled at first, but then responded without backing down. With a flick of his sleeve, he turned and went back.

The Junior Sect Leader didn’t seem bothered. He let out a soft laugh, turned around coolly, and led his team away.

The other observing cultivators, having enjoyed a fine spectacle, also silently vanished without a word.

Han Li gently shook his head. Just as he turned, he heard Yan Yu muttering to himself:

“How is that possible? Even my cousin lost? He’s a master of our Martial Arts Hall!”

“Master? He was taken down in just a few moves.” Senior Brother Feng curled his lips, naturally not missing the chance to taunt his rival.

“You?” Yan Yu’s face flushed with anger, and he seemed ready to lash out. But Dong Xuan’er’s next words immediately cheered him up.

“Senior Brother Yan Yu, I’ve been traveling for several days and am rather tired. Could you arrange a comfortable room for this little sister to rest? As for other exchange activities, let’s wait until tomorrow.” Dong Xuan’er suddenly stretched her slender waist, displaying a lazy charm.

“Of course! Junior Sister Dong, I’ll take you to the guest rooms prepared for female cultivators. Junior Han and you, sir, please feel free to make yourselves at home.” Yan Yu said delightedly, with a hint of triumph in his tone.

Han Li smiled faintly and had no objections.

He had safely delivered Dong Xuan’er to Yanling Fort—that was the completion of his mission. As for the rest, he couldn’t care less and didn’t want to. With a casual remark about wanting to look around, Han Li left the group on his own.