Chapter 32: You Actually Poisoned Me There?! Advancement to E-Rank!
Ding! Ding! Ding!
The crisp clash of steel rang out again and again, echoing through the cramped hotel room.
Bai Xuan and Xu Yan were locked in another brutal exchange. Despite his recent boost in Strength and the new Abilities he’d awakened, Bai Xuan still found himself outmatched—forced steadily onto the defensive, unable to seize the initiative.
“Aaah~!”
Xu Yan laughed with wild abandon, her eyes gleaming with hunger. “That scent of yours... it’s simply irresistible!”
“I just love the way you smell~!”
“I’m going to devour you, bones and all. Lick you clean!”
“Freak!” Bai Xuan spat, cursing as he sprang back, his form blurring and fading from sight.
“Huh~?”
Xu Yan’s eyes widened in momentary surprise as Bai Xuan vanished, but a predatory smile soon curved her lips.
“There you are!”
Her two scorpion-tail Kagune lashed out, stabbing with deadly precision at a shadowed corner of the room.
Pshk!
Even cloaked in invisibility, Bai Xuan felt the sharp stab of her tail piercing clean through his thigh.
“So, even this doesn’t fool her—!”
His brows furrowed in frustration.
Xu Yan’s sense of smell was simply too sharp. Stealth that masked his presence and sound meant nothing before her predatory instincts.
And once she caught him, the result was always the same—Xu Yan would devour him, starting at that same spot, leaving not a trace behind.
He tore himself out of the World Mirage, gasping, clutching at the ache gnawing deep in his chest.
“Human! Are you alright?”
Mare Alera hurried to his side, her tiny hand pressing gently to his forehead. “Did someone bully you? Want me to teach her a lesson?”
“Don’t worry, I’m fine.” Bai Xuan forced a smile, offering a shaky explanation. “It’s just a trial I have to overcome.”
“A trial?” Mare Alera tilted her head, unconvinced. “Human, can I help?”
“This is something I have to face alone,” Bai Xuan said softly. “But thank you. I’ll get through it.”
“If you say so~” Mare Alera nodded vigorously, giving him a bright, encouraging grin. “Do your best, Human!”
“Mm.”
A faint smile tugged at Bai Xuan’s lips. He let out a slow breath, steadying himself.
He couldn’t deny just how vast the gulf between him and Xu Yan remained.
At this pace, his current Strength was nowhere near enough...
Wait!
A sudden memory flashed through Bai Xuan’s mind—the Toxic Potion he’d obtained earlier.
If Xu Yan was so obsessed with devouring him, perhaps he could turn her hunger to his advantage.
But there was an obstacle.
How could he get her to swallow the poison—before she killed him?
Hold on...
He recalled: each time Xu Yan consumed him, she always swallowed him whole, raw and unspoiled.
And every time, she started at the exact same spot...
As Bai Xuan pieced the clues together, he lowered his gaze, the painful memories still raw.
Damn twisted Ghoul!
But with these two key facts, he finally saw a way to bring Xu Yan down.
The Toxic Potion was colorless and tasteless!
There was a chance.
Bai Xuan dove back into the World Mirage, materializing once more at the threshold of the hotel room.
Before entering, he drew out the Toxic Potion and coated the bait—every inch of it—with meticulous care.
Only when everything was ready did he push open the door and shout, “Let go of that corpse!”
“Hmm~?”
Xu Yan looked up, still chewing on a woman’s heart.
The instant her gaze landed on Bai Xuan, her eyes lit up with delight.
His scent was intoxicating—so much so that a bead of drool slid down her chin.
“Well, well~ what do we have here~?”
“Come! Come closer!”
“Let me have a taste of you!”
Hooo—
Bai Xuan drew a long, steadying breath, then charged straight at Xu Yan.
He had to make this fight convincing—otherwise, she might grow suspicious.
Once again, he was swiftly and thoroughly defeated.
Xu Yan’s four scorpion-tail Kagune wrapped tightly around his limbs, hoisting him off the ground.
She gazed at him with fever-bright eyes, her voice brimming with delight. “You’re incredible~! Your arrival excites me more than words can say!”
“Don’t worry~ I’ll savor you slowly, one bite at a time~”
She chuckled softly, trailing a fingertip along his clothing.
In an instant, his clothes were shredded to rags.
When Xu Yan saw what was revealed, she paused, a curious gleam flickering across her face.
Then her lips curled up in amusement, and she asked with a teasing glint, “What’s this? Are you excited too?”
“Uh…”
Bai Xuan’s cheeks flushed crimson. He turned his face away, refusing to meet her gaze.
Excited? Not even close. He was just scared out of his mind!
Xu Yan narrowed her eyes, her finger gliding over the bait as she laughed quietly. “Didn’t take you for the type, kid. Hiding a treasure like this—”
“Too bad I’m not into that sort of thing. Otherwise, maybe you could’ve really conquered me~”
Bai Xuan could only listen as she rambled on, still not taking a bite. He was speechless.
Are you going to eat or not?
If not, stop playing around!
“You get cuter every time I look~”
At last, Xu Yan grinned wide and opened her bloodstained maw:
“Well then~”
“Time to dig in~”
Crunch!
Hiss—
Bai Xuan’s eyes flew wide, veins standing out in his bloodshot gaze.
But if he wanted to win, he had to grit his teeth and endure!
The pain—
Damn, it hurt like hell!
I’m gonna die, I’m gonna die!
Across from him, Xu Yan was devouring him with greedy abandon, swallowing with relish, savoring every drop. “Mmm~ delicious~ No wonder you have my favorite flavor~”
“Hey, my flesh... does it taste good?” Bai Xuan forced the words through clenched teeth.
“Isn’t it obvious~?”
Xu Yan reached out, stroking Bai Xuan’s cheek, her tongue flicking over lips stained with his blood. “Your blood and flesh are just too—”
“Pffft!!”
Before she could finish, a spray of black blood erupted from her mouth!
At the same moment, a scorching, uncontrollable agony tore through her gut, flooding her entire body.
“You—!”
Xu Yan’s eyes bulged in outrage as she glared at Bai Xuan.
“You poisoned me!”
“If you like it so much, have some more!” Bai Xuan trembled, forcing a twisted smile. “I made this especially for you!”
“You despicable bastard! I’ll—”
But before she could move, her legs buckled. She collapsed to her knees, powerless.
The venom rampaged through her body, ravaging her organs in moments—until she fell, motionless, in a pool of her own blood.
【Advancement Mission Complete!】
【Your Rating Has Increased to E-Rank!】
【Mission Reward: Combat Setting—Legendary Perspective (Blue)!】
【Your Book of Legends receives Epic Charge +30%!】
As the System Prompts flashed by, Bai Xuan realized he’d cleared the Advancement Mission!
His mind snapped back—he was out of the World Mirage, returned to reality.
“I did it!”
Bai Xuan clenched his fists, his whole body trembling with excitement. He could feel it—every Attribute had surged!
It was as if he’d been reborn, an exhilarating wave of power coursing through him.
At the same time, Serene and Mare Alera turned toward him, eyes wide with awe and disbelief.
For as Bai Xuan’s power grew, so too did theirs—their combat abilities rising in tandem with his.
“Master, you...” For the first time, a spark of genuine joy flickered in Serene’s cool gaze. “You advanced?”
“Yeah!” Bai Xuan nodded, a broad smile spreading across his face. “I’m stronger now.”
“Human! You’re amazing!” Mare Alera squealed, leaping into Bai Xuan’s arms. “We’re one step closer to destroying the world!”
“?”
Bai Xuan couldn’t help but laugh, ruffling Mare Alera’s hair. Then he turned his attention to the new Combat Setting he’d just unlocked—
【Legendary Perspective (Blue): You can now access the visual perspective of your Legendary summons, and communicate with them telepathically.】
“Visual perspective? Telepathic link?”
As Bai Xuan read the effects of 【Legendary Perspective】, a spark of excitement flashed in his eyes.
At his mental command, two blue screens blossomed before him—
On those screens, he could see through the eyes of Serene and Mare Alera—both of whom, at that very moment, were gazing intently back at him...