Chapter 29: Slaying the Queen Bee

Chapter 29: Slaying the Bee King

Mo Fan was dumbfounded.

The mist was thick with a swarming, pitch-black mass. Thousands of Red-Refining Bees formed a dark cloud that blotted out the entire sky. The force that had sent him flying moments ago had originated from this crushing swarm.

*Hiss, hiss!*

Wherever the swarm passed, ancient trees were devoured instantly, leaving not even a scrap of residue behind. Descending like a localized apocalypse, the swarm acted as a living harvester, reducing the towering trees in the mist to nothing in the blink of an eye. The sheer speed of their destruction was chilling.

A fierce glint flashed in Mo Fan’s eyes, and he clenched his fists. The path he had chosen had already begun; there was no turning back now. The only way forward was to fight.

What others thought of him did not matter. Mo Fan had never cared much for the opinions of others. If people looked down on him, so be it—the most important thing was that he never looked down on himself. Even if he were to die here in this ancient forest today, Mo Fan would not regret walking this path alone. From the moment he set out to find a cure for his toxic affliction, he had understood that the road would be difficult, and the one he had chosen to walk was harder still.

Others were born with everything, living lives of leisure and comfort. He, however, had been abandoned by his parents as a child and left an orphan. If he ever met them again, he would stand before them without hesitation and demand to know why.

And Little Yi... his brother might have to break his promise. If he were lucky enough to survive today, he vowed to find her. *Do not lose, do not forget! Fan-Yi!*

Mo Fan’s strength was nearly exhausted. Using his own blood as a weapon had left him so weak he could barely stand. Yet, the many burdens in his heart—things he could not let go of—forced him to stand tall, fighting for one final second of life against the encroaching swarm. It was a testament to his sheer force of will.

At this moment, it was simple: whoever was faster, whoever was more ruthless, would survive.

"Here it comes!"

With his final ounce of strength, he unleashed the "Ten Kills in One Step" technique from his Shadow-Slaying Fist, hurling himself with everything he had toward the Red-Refining Bee King.

*Boom!*

Mo Fan struck cleanly and decisively, leaving no path of retreat for himself—or the Bee King.

*Bang!*

His fist tore through the void. He missed the Bee King but shattered the boundary between the misty Western Ridge and the forest. Mo Fan instantly found himself deep within the thickest part of the fog. It was exactly as Xiahou Ji had described: even in broad daylight, the sun could not pierce this gloom. Everything before him was pitch black, obscuring whatever dangers lay hidden within.

*Whoosh!*

A ball of flame surged toward him, intent on incinerating him. The fierce fire engulfed Mo Fan in an instant. The massive flames, vast as a rolling landscape, wrapped tightly around him.

The Bee King had cultivated for who knew how long and possessed a rudimentary consciousness. As it held Mo Fan trapped in the fire, it beat its wings continuously, fanning the flames to forge him in its heat. Under its ruthless intensification, the temperature of the fire grew significantly more terrifying.

The flames were laced with fire poison, though that had no effect on Mo Fan. What terrified him now was that the Bee King’s fire was actually melting his physical body, which he had tempered to the level of a Body Refining expert. The pain was excruciating. The flames acted like relentless flying blades, searing away his skin.

"Ah!"

Mo Fan’s agonizing scream shook the forest, startling the birds and beasts in the distance. Some of the smaller creatures, who had begun to develop a sliver of spiritual awareness, wept as they heard it; the visceral, tragic sound filled them with sorrow and pain.

Far away, Lin Xiaojun and the other girl shivered in terror at the wretched cries, instinctively cowering in places they hoped were hidden. Xiahou Ji, however, had remained unconscious ever since escaping the sea of fire. His skin was festering, revealing the writhing muscle beneath. It was strange, as he had not been burned by the bees like Mo Fan. It seemed Xiahou Ji harbored many secrets of his own.

Meanwhile, the powerful experts who had reached the edge of Panlong Mountain were stunned by the scene. They could hardly believe that any madman would resort to such extreme measures just to enter the mountain—did he intend to burn the entire range to the ground?

That was easier said than done. The Western Ridge was said to be ten times larger than the Qinglian Mountain Range. A mere fire, even one that could destroy heaven and earth, could never consume the whole place—especially since the fire-and-water-resistant Panlong Mountain stood right in the center. Everyone laughed, mocking the ignorant fool who had come up with such a stupid plan.

Back at the scene, Mo Fan knew nothing of their thoughts. The agonizing pain of his body decaying left him on the brink of death. He was failing to hold on; his already weak frame could not withstand the Bee King’s onslaught. He was moments away from being reduced to ash, as he felt the bone-melting pain in his left hand.

*Am I to die here? I still have so many unfulfilled wishes!* Mo Fan asked himself in a daze. He was filled with resentment. He had yet to carve out his own desolate territory, he had not yet found his sister, and he had not yet cleared his name. How could he die like this? When he faced the King of Hell, what answer could he give?

"I am not reconciled to this!" Mo Fan screamed from the depths of his soul.

But it was too late. His life was hanging by a thread. He died with regret, his eyes unable to close.

In the darkness, Mo Fan felt lost and unsteady. He did not want to die.

"Where is this?" Mo Fan asked, his panicked gaze darting around.

"Do not panic, little friend. I am an old acquaintance. This is my world, and I have summoned you here."

A primitive, ancient voice echoed throughout the darkness.

"An old acquaintance?" Mo Fan was surprised. How could he have such an old friend? "Could you be... an old master?"

"Heh, ten years. This is our first meeting. I have been waiting—waiting for you to come to my world."

"Waiting for me? Why?" Mo Fan calmed himself, remaining wary as he boldly asked.

"The Heaven-Swallowing Sun Art, defying the heavens... even if you do not carve out a desolate territory..."

"Wait, you are the mysterious black scripture!" Mo Fan interrupted, recognizing the familiar rhythm in the ancient voice.

"You remember. Very good!" The mysterious scripture seemed satisfied, giving Mo Fan a high assessment. But Mo Fan did not know why he had been brought here.

Composing himself, Mo Fan asked, "Tell me, why did you bring me here?"

"Heh, you are still the same. Ten years ago, I asked you if you would cultivate if a peerless technique were placed before you. Do you remember your answer?" the scripture asked leisurely.

"I do not accept what I have not earned; I do not wish to reap without sowing!" Mo Fan blurted out.

"And now? It is the same question—how would you answer?"

Mo Fan thought for a long time. His original intention remained unchanged. "I stand by my choice. It has never changed. It did not change ten years ago, and it will not change today."

"Even if it means death, you will not change?"

"Even if it means death, I will not accept charity!" Mo Fan’s will was iron; once he decided on a path, he never wavered.

"Good, good, good! It is you!" The mysterious scripture exclaimed as soon as Mo Fan finished speaking.

The space began to twist, and a powerful devouring force swallowed the darkness, revealing the original scene. It was a peaceful, tranquil world of clear streams, bird songs, and fragrant flowers.

"The Heaven-Swallowing Sun Art is only for the nine heavens; do not walk in the mortal world. Little one, today, in the name of the Swallowing Immortal Lord, I bestow upon you the Heaven-Swallowing Sun Art. This technique has nine heavens; each level mastered will unlock different cultivation methods."

With a sudden boom, dense text flooded Mo Fan’s mind. As the long scripture finished, a page of glowing black light appeared in his palm.

"The Heaven-Swallowing Book!" Mo Fan was startled. The mysterious black scripture was actually a page from a book. The Heaven-Swallowing Sun Art and the book were one.

*Swallow the world, devour the ten thousand realms, until the mountains and rivers lose their color.*

A small line of text was inscribed on the book, shimmering with dazzling black light.

"What is the point of swallowing the world if I am about to be buried in a sea of fire and vanish from existence? Swallowing..."

Wait! *Swallowing!*

Mo Fan’s eyes lit up. He slapped his own forehead, cursing, "Why am I so stupid!"

He moved slightly, and the black page of the book passed through his body, appearing amidst the flames the Bee King had trapped him in. With a gentle vibration, a vortex appeared. A powerful, terrifying devouring force erupted, swallowing all the flames the Bee King had spat out in an instant. The devoured flames were converted into spiritual power and absorbed by the black scripture.

Excitement—unparalleled excitement!

He clenched his fist, and the Heaven-Swallowing Book entered his body, settling in his Dantian. He leaped up and charged at the Bee King once more.

Without the support of its flames, the Bee King was no longer arrogant. Its own strength was merely that of a Body Refining expert, no different from the common bees. The "King" was only special because it could spit fire.

"Phantom, Ghost Step, Heavenly Technique, Ten Kills in One Step!"

Mo Fan unleashed his Shadow-Slaying Fist and lunged at the Bee King.

*Bang!*

With an explosion, the fireless Bee King, unable to withstand the strike, was easily hit by Mo Fan and fell from mid-air. From the moment he used the Heaven-Swallowing Book to the moment he unleashed his fist, only a few seconds had passed.

The fallen Bee King struggled, trying to fly up and spit fire again, hoping to reach the approaching swarm. But would Mo Fan give it that chance?

The answer was no. Before the Bee King could spit another flame, a massive fist descended and crushed it.

*Bang, bang!*

Two explosions echoed through the forest. As the Bee King was obliterated by Mo Fan, the swarm approaching from the distance also erupted, popping and crackling like a string of firecrackers.

*Thud!* Mo Fan sat down on the ground, his heart still pounding. He gave a silly smile.

Glancing at the forest beyond the mist, he dragged his scarred body and walked inside.