C13 A Terrifying Scorpion Group

"Ah! Scorpions! So many of them!"

Wang Xiaohua's scream pierced the air after a moment of stunned silence.

Indeed, scorpions! Countless scorpions, resembling purple crystals, were emerging from the cave they had entered earlier, crawling out from the surrounding flowers like a horde of tiny specters.

These scorpions, glistening like gemstones, were mostly palm-sized, yet their speed was astonishing. Their tails sported an eerie black and purple hue, a species unrecognizable even to Qin Xiaotian. In an instant, they had encircled the group.

Oddly enough, a similar swarm of ghostly purple scorpions surrounded Zhang Lieh, but these creatures behaved as if they were tame, showing no aggression even as they skittered over his body.

"Haha, at last, they've arrived. The Purple Poison Nether Scorpions detest fire. Are you prepared to meet your end?" The trap was set, and Zhang Lieh's eyes brimmed with murderous intent, no longer concealed.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

The sound of metal striking metal rang out as Qin Xiaotian's body shone with a golden radiance, his sword forming an impenetrable barrier. Wang Xiaohua, Faang Qiong, and the others engaged the Purple Poison Nether Scorpions leaping from the rock walls.

A bizarre purple blood sprayed, casting a faint purple haze into the air.

"Heh, resorting to using scorpions as your weapon? These little creatures are your final resort?" Qin Xiaotian scoffed, effortlessly dispatching several Purple Poison Nether Scorpions.

"Hahaha, let's see if you can survive before you boast," Zhang Lieh retorted with a hearty laugh. He settled himself comfortably on a small mound, the epitome of leisure.

Qin Xiaotian was fuming with urgency, but they were now completely surrounded by the Purple Poison Nether Scorpions. Zhang Lieh was too far away to be reached.

The Scorpion Group surged, their incessant chittering filling the air, quickly transforming the ground into a sea of insects.

Qin Xiaotian bellowed, "Just you wait, kid. I'll make sure you endure a fate worse than death! Faang Qiong, let's break out using the Four Spiritual Arrays!"

After delivering a stern warning, Qin Xiaotian immediately turned his full attention to directing his team. Faang Qiong and three other teammates unleashed their Origin Power, activating the Illusory Soul Jade within them to transform into Lava Tigers, Thorns Snakes, Wind Fire Birds, and Earth Tortoises—four extraordinary Genetic Beasts. In an instant, the air was filled with the sounds of roaring tigers, hissing snakes, crying birds, and bellowing tortoises.

Though their transformation sacrificed the agility and finesse of their human forms, their increased size signified a substantial boost in strength. At that moment, their every action carried immense power. The Four Spirits raged, inflicting numerous casualties upon the Purple Poison Nether Scorpions. Yet, these scorpions seemed utterly mindless, continuing their relentless assault regardless of their losses, without any hint of retreat.

The Four Spirits quickly assembled into an unusual quadrilateral formation, shielding Qin Xiaotian, Wang Xiaohua, and the rest of the team at its center. They began to advance slowly, pushing through the onslaught of the Scorpion Group.

Most Purple Poison Nether Scorpions were ordinary Gene Life forms, with only a few exhibiting mutated genes. The most powerful among them possessed the Super Gene. Regardless of their genetic makeup, all Purple Poison Nether Scorpions shared two core abilities: the power of near-perfect invisibility and their notoriously extreme poison.

The team had previously encountered their invisibility, which proved undetectable even to Qin Xiaotian, a bearer of the Super Gene. The poison, however, was even more dreadful, being the Purple Poison Nether Scorpion's trademark skill.

Their venom came in two forms. The first originated from their poison sacs, released through their stingers. Once it entered the bloodstream, it would rapidly spread, causing cellular breakdown at an alarming rate. Without an antidote or the suppression from a powerful Gene Origin Force, it could be lethal in under ten seconds.

The second type was the bloodborne poison of the scorpions themselves, which was so peculiar that it could quickly vaporize into a toxic mist in the air.

After contact with other living organisms, the substance would penetrate through pores and epidermal tissue, ultimately leading to paralysis.

"Watch out for the poison!"

In the midst of the relentless onslaught by the colossal Four Spirits Illusionary Body, the purple haze in the air grew thicker. Qin Xiaotian, holding his breath, couldn't help but call out a warning.

Qin Xiaotian might be a second-generation figure, but he was far from foolish. He knew that scorpions, whether ordinary or genetically modified Gene Life forms, were invariably linked to poison.

Regrettably, by the time they noticed the toxic mist, it was already too late.

Having led them here, Zhang Lieh had evidently prepared the next act of their grim scenario.

The Team fought valiantly, pushing forward in an attempt to break free, but the resistance was overwhelming. The Scorpion Group's assault was nothing short of frenzied.

This was particularly true for Faang Qiong, who, despite being fully aware that his body was charged with fiery Origin Power, was still relentlessly targeted, with scorpions thrusting their purple-black tails at him.

Of course, with the protection of the Mutated Level Soul Jade, the ordinary Purple Poison Nether Scorpions couldn't inflict any damage.

Their attempt to escape the Four Spirits Battle Array was stalled, but the Purple Poison Nether Scorpion swarm couldn't penetrate their defenses in the short term.

However, the Illusory Soul Jade was a significant drain on their Origin Power, and they couldn't sustain a prolonged battle.

"Xiaotian, we can't break through. Let's fall back. These scorpions are too ferocious. We can't withstand the Scorpion Group's onslaught for much longer!"

"Exactly, boss. This kid is a pushover. We can deal with him anytime. No need to dig our heels in here!"

Inside the Four Spirits Battle Array, Wang Xiaohua and the rest of the team members began to urge Qin Xiaotian.

Xiaohua's voice even carried a plea.

Ever since she first spotted the scorpions, she'd felt an extreme sense of danger, which only intensified under Zhang Lieh's murderous glare.

Right now, all she wanted was to get as far away from this place as possible.

"Hmph, you think you can outsmart me? Think again! I won't let this slide without teaching you a lesson. Do you really believe I'm powerless against you?"

Qin Xiaotian's voice was tinged with arrogance and frustration. A flash of golden light in his hand revealed a resplendent golden spiral spear.

"Vajra Subduing Demon Spear, meet your end!"

With a low shout, Qin Xiaotian's hand erupted in a brilliant golden aurora.

"Whoosh!"

The golden light shot towards Zhang Lieh at an incredible speed, almost instantly reaching him.

But to everyone's astonishment, as the golden light from Qin Xiaotian's hand flickered, a thick, glass-like wall materialized in front of Zhang Lieh with a shimmer.

"Thunk!"

The formidable spear struck the glass wall, piercing halfway through with a swift motion before dissolving into a scatter of golden light.

Zhang Lieh remained unscathed, not even bothering to lift an eyelid.

The crowd was stunned, and so was Qin Xiaotian.

"How... How can this be?"

"I used a Mutated Level disposable spear, with an attack power strong enough to penetrate the defenses of an ordinary super creature. How could it fail against that thin glass wall?"

"Could it be that..."

"No, it's impossible. With his abilities, how could he possess such high-grade Soul Jade? There's got to be a mistake!"

"Xiaotian, enough with the speculation. We need to retreat now, or we're done for!"

"Right, boss. Look at Zhou Ming's transformation into the wind and fire bird; he's starting to look sluggish. Something's off, boss!"

Qin Xiaotian's mind was a whirlwind of chaos, while Wang Xiaohua and his subordinates, after a brief moment of shock, were frantically urging him to withdraw, resembling ants scurrying on a hot surface.

The poison fog was beginning to take effect. Qin Xiaotian was acutely aware that if they didn't leave soon, they'd be in real danger.

Casting a resentful glance at Zhang Lieh, Qin Xiaotian conceded with great reluctance, "Retreat, let's get out through the same tunnel we came in!"

He wished it were that simple, to come and go through the same entrance, but the Purple Poison Nether Scorpion Group had other plans.

The Scorpion Group emitted an excited cry, sensing the shift in tactics. Their frenzy intensified, pushing their madness to new heights. More alarmingly, the Mutated Level Purple Poison Nether Scorpions, previously concealed within the group, began their stealthy assaults.

The wind roared. With a flurry of its short wings, the fiery bird-like creature summoned razor-sharp wind blades that swept away all the Purple Poison Nether Scorpions in its path.

Yet, just as it believed the path was clear and prepared to advance, a glint of purple light, akin to a darting firefly, shot towards a teammate from beneath its feet.

"Chi!"

"Ah!"

A piercing scream erupted within the Four Spiritual Arrays. Behind Zhou Ming, who had taken on the form of a fiery bird, a teammate's Origin Power dispersed as he collapsed lifelessly.

"He Feng!"

"Ah Feng!"

Qin Xiaotian and another team member cried out in unison.

With no response, He Feng fell to the ground like a felled tree. A gaping purple wound on the right side of his neck festered and spread rapidly.

"Be careful, a Mutated Level Scorpion has breached our formation!" warned a member on the left, having narrowly escaped a streak of purple luminescence.

As his warning faded, the purple light burst into a blood mist right by his ear.

Qin Xiaotian's expression darkened. His exquisite alloy sword traced a blinding arc through the air. "Stay alert, there's more than one infiltrator!"

This young man's prowess was impressive. The Mutated Level Purple Poison Nether Scorpions rarely showed any vulnerability, except during their swift attacks. Yet, he managed to dispatch one with a single stroke of his sword, indicating that his Super Gene Count must be at least 20 points. Otherwise, his Origin Power wouldn't be strong enough to instantly vanquish a Mutated Level adversary.

Witnessing this, Zhang Lieh was even more relieved he hadn't opted for a direct confrontation.

But slaying a Mutated Level Purple Poison Nether Scorpion was hardly a triumph; this was their lair, after all. Eliminating just one or two would have no significant impact on the battle's outcome.

Just because he could handle the Mutated Level Purple Poison Nether Scorpions didn't guarantee that Wang Xiaohua or any of his team members could manage the same feat.

He might have rescued his teammates once or twice, but that didn't ensure he could do so every time.

"Chi!"

Another soft noise signaled the fall of yet another team member. The Four Spirits Battle Array was on the verge of collapse, rapidly losing members.

If they didn't devise a plan to stabilize the situation quickly, Qin Xiaotian, Wang Xiaohua, and the entire Xiaotian's Heart Forged Team would perish right there.