The terrified, human-faced fiend

When the Jade Spirit Flower with a human face bloomed, all who gazed upon it would fall under its enchantment—including the flower itself. Thus, in the instant it looked into the bronze mirror, it too was captivated, lost in an intoxicated trance.

Seizing this opportunity, Lin Bei, standing behind, unsheathed his sword to sever the flower’s stem. As long as he plucked the blossom, the task would be complete. But at that very moment, an unexpected change erupted!

A white shadow flashed down from the sky, landing beside the Jade Spirit Flower and Lin Bei. With a vicious swipe, it lunged for Lin Bei’s throat—swift, ruthless, and deadly. Fortunately, Lin Bei’s reflexes were sharp; he hastily raised his sword in defense. Sparks flew as blade met claw, and he was forced back several steps. Had he hesitated for even a moment, he would have been slain on the spot.

Only then did the three maintaining the perimeter sword formation turn to see what had happened. Before them stood a bizarre creature, child-sized, its whole body resembling white jade, topped with an enormous head.

“It’s a Human-faced Ghoul!” Fang Ting’s expression shifted instantly as he drew his sword.

Such a rare creature was not within his expectations.

Yet the monster moved with astonishing speed. Having driven Lin Bei back, it snapped off the blooming Jade Spirit Flower and twisted away, preparing to flee.

Fang Ting’s reaction was equally swift. He raised his Thunderclap Sword high, forming an incantation with his left hand. In an instant, golden dragons of sword energy filled the field, encircling above and below, forming a prison of sword qi like a thunder pool, trapping the creature within.

But the monster didn’t even attempt to dodge. It leapt upward, its form turning transparent for a fleeting moment, passing through the sword energy prison and springing into the air. With a foot planted on an overhanging boulder, it continued its escape.

In the blink of an eye, it had disappeared dozens of yards away.

“Fiend, halt!” Fang Ting shouted in fury, mounting his sword. In a flash, his blade transformed into a raging golden dragon, pursuing the creature.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

But the valley was filled with jagged, overhanging rocks, and the white shadow was agile beyond belief, always choosing the most treacherous paths. Sword-riding was fast, but excelled at straight, unobstructed travel—here, maneuvering was clumsy, and Fang Ting’s sword crashed against stones repeatedly. If these had been ordinary rocks, it would have mattered little, but the valley’s stones were exceptionally hard. At such speeds, repeated impacts were perilous, and even a fourth-realm cultivator like Fang Ting found it hard to endure.

Soon, he changed tactics, abandoning sword-riding for wind-assisted movement on foot. His Thunderclap Sword sped ahead, aiming to strike the monster from afar. But this slowed his pace even further, widening the gap, and his flying sword could never quite lock onto its nimble target.

All this transpired in the space of a heartbeat, both sides streaking like the wind, and before he realized it, Fang Ting had chased the creature into the depths of the valley. Focused solely on the white shadow ahead, he failed to notice the thunderous wind overhead—a massive black shadow loomed down.

With a crash, he halted abruptly, realizing it was a gigantic branch. He had arrived before a towering tree of unimaginable height, its canopy blotting out the sun, as though every plant in the valley had sprouted from its roots. Thick branches circled its trunk, whipping at any living thing that ventured near.

Clearly, this colossal tree was the demon king of the valley.

Fang Ting dodged the first branch but was struck squarely by the second, sent flying more than ten yards. Tumbled to the ground, he looked up to see the white shadow weaving through the lashing branches, not a single leaf brushing its body.

It was simply too agile.

Fang Ting’s thunderous sword technique was famed for its speed, but it was more suited to open, direct combat. On flat ground, he had no doubt he’d have caught the Human-faced Ghoul in moments, but in this rugged, complex valley, he found himself utterly at a loss. With the great tree present, he dared not pursue further.

He could only watch as the creature’s figure leapt farther and farther away.

“Damn it!” Fang Ting cursed bitterly.

A Golden Core cultivator leading the team, yet he had failed the mission. How could he return to the mountain now? What would his master think, Senior Brother Ziyang, Junior Sister Ziqing… Hm?

Just as he was consumed by regret, a nearly imperceptible black shadow flashed past him, darting after the monster. It was even faster, even more agile! The great tree’s branches didn’t even react to it—the shadow had already slipped through before they could strike.

Rustling, rustling, rustling!

The Human-faced Ghoul was an exceedingly rare mountain spirit, born when a Jade Spirit Flower matured and was devoured by a ghost at the precise moment of blooming. The ghost would then grow a new body, becoming a Human-faced Ghoul.

These spirits were known for their incredible speed and agility.

The one in the valley had been lurking here for ages. To any human who dared touch the Jade Spirit Flower it had found, it harbored endless hatred. Yet these humans were frighteningly powerful, so it could only snatch the flower and flee. If it could just reach its cave and refine the blossom, its cultivation would double. Then… heh heh heh, just imagine!

Lost in fantasies of newfound power, the Ghoul let out a strange, gloating laugh.

As for the tenacious human in pursuit, it felt nothing but disdain. No matter how strong he was, he’d only ever eat its dust. The Ghoul knew every inch of the valley and could easily shake off any pursuer. As for sword-riding here—ha, he’d smash his own head to pieces!

Once within the great tree’s domain, the Ghoul knew it was safe. No other demon could move so freely among the branches, and certainly no humans.

It moved with effortless ease, gliding and leaping as if strolling through a garden. After a while, it felt it could finally look back to savor the human’s frustrated expression—any further and he’d be out of sight.

Thinking so, the Ghoul turned its head with a mocking grin.

But in that moment, its enormous human-like face contorted in horror—its eyes bulged as if witnessing something truly terrifying.

What was that?

Its feeble mind whirled in confusion.

For, looking back, it saw a black shadow right behind it, only a body’s length away, keeping perfect pace.

In a flash, that shadow soared overhead, then alongside, matching its every move stride for stride.

Impossible!

Have I met a ghost? But wait—I’m the ghost here!

In all its memory, never had anyone matched the speed of a Human-faced Ghoul.

What was happening?

Because both were moving at such high speed, relative to each other they seemed almost still. Thus, the Ghoul got a clear look at the true form of the black shadow.

It was a youth in elegant attire, sleeves bound tight, remarkably handsome, with a gentle, scholarly air.

How could he possess such fearsome movement skills?

As the Ghoul stared at him, the young man met its gaze—then stuck out his tongue, licking his palm. His eyes gleamed with a fierce, wild light, as if relishing the thrill of the hunt.

The Ghoul’s mocking grin instantly shattered.

Heavens, this one’s a maniac!