Chapter Seventy-Five: Zhao Fan’s Strength

At some point, Zhao Fan had completely seized the initiative in the battle, a reality that was utterly at odds with Chen Qi’s understanding. Zhao Fan’s right hand gripped the body of the Hundred-Eyed Miasma Demon, a pale yellow energy continuously spreading from his palm, counteracting the poisonous miasma coating the demon’s surface.

The Hundred-Eyed Miasma Demon now appeared listless, its toxic veil reduced to a thin layer, clearly unable to hold on much longer. Nearby lay the long-snouted horned crocodile beast. Though its body bore no obvious wounds, Zhao Fan had pinned its upper jaw under both feet.

This was the crocodile beast’s fatal weak point; despite its formidable bite strength, the tension of its wide-open jaws was surprisingly weak. Thus, even as the beast struggled relentlessly, it seemed as if bound by iron chains, unable to break free.

This move not only demonstrated Zhao Fan’s profound energy and exquisite martial skill but also revealed his rich combat experience and survival knowledge.

Yet, the cost was immense. Zhao Fan’s complexion had turned a sickly yellow, reminiscent of the characters in some kidney failure ads Chen Qi had seen. His once-black combat attire was tattered, a pool of toxic miasma dripping on his chest, emitting the sound of corrosive erosion.

Beside him lay the once-embracing blue-furred great dog, now motionless on the swampy ground, half-submerged.

Zhao Fan’s expression was complex—tinged with hatred, gravitas, but above all, an undeniable sorrow. Seemingly sensing Chen Qi’s gaze, he spoke deliberately, word by word: “I will bury you all beneath Da Qing’s corpse!”

Though his voice was low, it carried a chilling resolve that sent shivers down the spine.

As he uttered the final word, a sudden burst of true energy exploded from his right hand, allowing him to clench his palm with crushing force.

“Bang!”

A resounding explosion echoed as the miasma demon in Zhao Fan’s grip burst like a water balloon, various colored fluids pouring from its shriveled body—it was clearly dying. Yet, even in death, the Hundred-Eyed Miasma Demon was not without a final act of defiance; it entwined all its tentacles around Zhao Fan’s body.

With its sudden death, the tentacles stiffened, oozing black solid particles. Upon contact with air, these particles ignited instantly, producing toxic miasma that formed a kind of poisonous armor around Zhao Fan’s body.

However, this armor was not for protection—instead, it resembled a cruel torture device.

“Ahhhhhh!”

Zhao Fan screamed in agony, sweat pouring from every pore, veins bulging in his limbs as he endured inhuman pain.

With that roar, he ended his breath-holding, inhaling visible black toxic miasma through his nostrils, which sank deep into his trachea and lungs.

As his breath-holding concluded, the once-depleted pale yellow true energy seemed replenished, surging forth anew. Knowing this state would not last, Zhao Fan swiftly used his true energy to dispel the toxic miasma on his body and raised his right foot high, delivering a powerful stomp to the crocodile beast’s long snout.

The kick fell like a falling star, enhanced by true energy, striking the crocodile’s upper jaw with brutal force. The beast’s rocky carapace flaked off, revealing patches of blood beneath.

Moreover, the blow forced the crocodile’s half-open jaws shut again, trapping it under Zhao Fan’s legs like a demon god.

The art and rhythm of this combat left Chen Qi utterly stunned, shattering his previous understanding of innate-stage warriors.

He had believed innate warriors in the toxic swamp would not be this terrifyingly powerful—like his two inner sect senior siblings, whose auras surpassed the young man before them but could only stalemate with the beasts.

From his current perspective, the youth before him was not only stronger but, now that his breath-holding was over, appeared poised for a swift victory.

Even under Chen Qi’s observation, Zhao Fan’s life force was down to 31%, still gradually declining.

Realizing this, Chen Qi dared not watch any longer, decisively calling out: “Run! Scatter!”

Based on his judgment, even if the two remained to fight the youth, the most likely outcome was mutual destruction.

Besides, without the blue-furred great dog, the youth might never find them again in the vast, treacherous swamp.

Without hesitation, Sun Ruohai dashed westward, while Chen Qi chose to run east, keeping a wide berth from Zhao Fan and vanishing into the swamp as he sprinted.

As a perceptive innate warrior, Zhao Fan quickly noticed their departure but chose not to pursue. Instead, he took a deep breath.

In his eyes, all life present was destined for burial.

Neither man nor beast would be spared; to chase after them and let the crocodile escape would betray his solemn vow.

Inhaling again, Zhao Fan lifted his foot and stomped down fiercely, causing the crocodile’s entire body to stiffen. Using the rebound, he swiftly lifted his other foot and repeated the crushing strikes.

“Bang! Bang! Bang!”

The sounds of kicking against brittle armor echoed repeatedly, vividly portraying the crocodile beast’s desperate plight.

Blood streamed from the beast’s head, its tough carapace stripped away in a large patch, the wound expanding and even exposing glimpses of brain matter.

Death for the crocodile beast was imminent.

Having run several hundred steps eastward, Chen Qi’s face flushed crimson, his brow furrowed tightly as a grave realization dawned upon him.

He had held his breath for nearly ten minutes and was about to suffocate, soon forced to inhale the toxic miasma.

Though the poison’s concentration here was far less than that generated by the Hundred-Eyed Miasma Demon, once drawn into the lungs, the toxins would assault his fragile internal organs.

This was why even innate warriors chose to hold their breath; the consequences were unbearable for an outer disciple like him.

Worse still, he carried injuries. While the bleeding from his left palm had stopped, the damage had rendered his left arm combat-ineffective, and the wound continued to ooze pus and blood, poisoned and worsening under the corrosive miasma.

Chen Qi sighed deeply and retrieved a pill from his storage space.

In his vision, the pill emitted a potent purple radiance, resembling a celestial treasure.

[Small Fetal Breath Restoration Pill]

Origin: Azure Star Continent

Quality: Purple

Category: Consumable

Effect 1: Immediately restores 20% of maximum health and continues to restore 2%–5% of maximum health every 10 seconds for one hour.

Effect 2: Releases a warm, rich fetal breath that repairs damaged flesh and muscles while nurturing internal organs, temporarily enhancing their defenses, with a small chance of permanent strengthening. The probability and duration depend on the user’s constitution and bloodline.

Note: Current use grants 42 minutes of enhanced internal organ defense with a 4.143% chance of permanent strengthening.

Rating: 320 (Maximum for purple-grade items)

Description: Crafted from the placentas of four or five top-grade ferocious beasts, combined with dozens of precious herbs, placed in a superior treasure cauldron and burned in subterranean fire for seven days. This pill provides continuous power and integrates the mysterious innate fetal breath of the beast placentas, making it a supreme elixir.

Price: 3,000 universal points

...

This pill was naturally bestowed upon Chen Qi by Elder Chi in a moment of crisis when he was gravely injured. Chen Qi had saved it then, opting to consume a blue-grade [Cloud Pine Precious Dew] instead.

The reason was its rarity; consuming it then would have been a waste, and the permanent internal organ strengthening chance was too low.

If Chen Qi remembered correctly, the initial permanent strengthening probability was 2.41%, which increased to the current 4.143% after several doses of [Black Jade Bee Royal Jelly].

Had the situation not been urgent, prioritizing survival, Chen Qi might have saved this pill for a more critical moment or sold it.

To put it in perspective, just selling it to the ‘Sprout Space’ would fetch 3,000 universal points; other contractors might pay even more.

With a mix of pain and reluctance, Chen Qi resolutely swallowed the pill.