C17 Insect Man

In the underground black market, inside the Azure Dragon Cultivation Room.

"Ugh."

Qiao Gao suddenly spat out a mouthful of black blood. The incredibly hard floor was corroded into a large pit, and a stench like rotting flesh filled the air, making anyone nearby feel nauseous.

Qiao Gao was in shock.

This was the Azure Dragon Cultivation Room, where a day's use cost a hefty sum. Constructed with the finest materials available in Great Flame City, it was designed to withstand the powerful strikes of any Soul Connecting Stage master!

Rumor had it that the Azure Dragon Cultivation Room could even endure the fierce attacks of a Life Connecting Stage expert for a few seconds. Such experts were not just prominent in Great Flame City but were among the elite in the entire North Star Country. The fact that this room could withstand their attacks for a few seconds spoke volumes about its strength.

Yet, despite its resilience, the Azure Dragon Cultivation Room was still corroded by the foul-smelling black blood, leaving a large pit.

After spitting out the black blood, Qiao Gao's face turned pale, and he gasped for air, as if he had suffered a severe injury.

Despite his internal injuries, Qiao Gao's eyes emitted a cold gleam, locking onto the shadow within the black blood.

“Gurgle, gurgle...”

A shadowy figure emerged from a pit of dark, viscous liquid, revealing a sinister little head. It was a palm-sized worm, glistening with a cold, black sheen, its body covered in sharp, backward-facing barbs. The head was particularly menacing, with dark golden spikes that suggested a lethal poison.

This disgusting creature was the "Yin Fiend Corpse Worm," which had been lurking within Qiao Gao's energy channels.

“Squeak, squeak...”

The worm paddled through the dark liquid, seemingly aware of Qiao Gao's hostile gaze. It immediately raised its grotesque head and emitted a piercing screech, brandishing its claws.

Qiao Gao frowned at the sight. The repulsive worm displayed a disturbingly human-like defiance, indicating it had developed a significant level of intelligence.

“Whoosh!”

Suddenly, the Yin Fiend Corpse Worm leapt into the air, transforming into a streak of black lightning, darting toward the door.

“Trying to escape, are you?”

Qiao Gao's eyes flashed with determination as he activated his body-strengthening technique. Pushing his physical speed to the limit, he swung his hand with force, attempting to catch the vile Yin Fiend Corpse Worm barehanded.

Despite its unimpressive name, the Yin Fiend Corpse Worm originated from the awe-inspiring Yin Fiend Sect, known for its influence across the realms.

The Yin Fiend Sect was notorious for its bloodthirsty nature and mastery in dark arts, particularly in controlling beasts and casting deadly curses. In ancient times, no one dared to provoke them, as their reputation alone was enough to instill fear.

Anyone who angered the Yin Fiend Sect would find themselves cursed, transformed into a mindless puppet, with no idea how they would meet their end. According to the memories of the Myriad Tribulation Pill Monarch, those who crossed paths with the sect rarely met a good fate. Once cursed, victims would slowly become mindless drones, enduring excruciating pain and a tragic end.

Legend has it that the Yin Fiend Sect once dared to curse a celestial emperor, inciting the wrath of a powerful race. Consequently, the sect vanished from the realms. Yet, unexpectedly, the sect's infamous curse, the "Yin Fiend Corpse Worm," has resurfaced in a remote corner of the world.

It seems the Yin Fiend Sect is not entirely extinct. For ordinary warriors, once cursed, there is no escape. They become mere puppets, their bodies decaying while under the control of the curse. When the Yin Fiend Corpse Worm matures, the victim's body begins to rot, piece by piece, even as they regain their consciousness, unable to halt the decay.

The process of dying is excruciatingly painful and drawn out, lasting up to a year, even for those at the lower levels of the Vein Connecting Stage.

"Who could it be? So malicious, planting a worm in my body!" Qiao Gao's face was filled with anger, his intent to kill unmistakable.

Clearly, the sinister worm had been inside Qiao Gao for quite some time, developing a certain level of intelligence. It knew Qiao Gao was not someone to be trifled with and tried to escape quickly. But when it saw Qiao Gao attempting to catch it with his bare hands, the grotesque creature's face twisted into a cruel smile...