"Miscalculated." Mei Gemu watched Wang Qi sitting on top of the Queen Bee's head, a flicker of hatred passing through his eyes.

Unexpected... who would have thought that the heterodox spell could be used like this!

Fifty thousand demon bees! Less than an hour, and just like that, they're gone!

Based on the habits of the bees in this realm and the size of this hive, Mei Gemu could deduce that this beast herd species consisted of at least thirty to fifty thousand individuals. Apart from some larvae, the weakest of the demon bees were at the Core Formation Stage. Mei Gemu had thought that even if it were fifty thousand pigs, it would take Wang Qi two to three hours to catch them, let alone Golden Core Stage demon bees.

But he never anticipated that this swarm of demon bees couldn't even hold out for an hour!

However...

"I admit, I underestimated you. Even I couldn't tame this beast herd species in such a short amount of time. My original plan was merely to take advantage of the swarm guards being entangled by you and, with the help of this Divine Separation Stage cultivator beside me, head straight for the Central Palace to refine the Queen Bee in one strike... but to think that you not only gathered these demon bees amidst the combat but completely subdued them. That's something I truly couldn't achieve."

"But... a small accident won't impact my plan." Mei Gemu sneered, "On the contrary, I should thank you, mortal!"

"Thank you for capturing this beast herd species and offering it to me, and thank you for delivering your disgusting heterodox spell into my hands for study!"

Wang Qi, sitting on the Queen Bee's head, appeared absent-minded. He seemed indifferent to Mei Gemu's words, even provocatively picking at his ear with his little finger, his attention apparently not on Mei Gemu at all.

To this, Mei Gemu only responded with a cold laugh.

Then, he leaped out of the river of time.

In an instant, it seemed as if he was detached from everything around him, existing on a completely different level. Everything was clearly beside him but also seemed infinitely distant, not on the same plane as him. The movements of heaven and earth gradually slowed, becoming stagnant.

Jumping out of the river, mastering oneself, means mastering one's own experience of space and time.

With this layer of protection, many low light speed events in the universe would more often than not have no effect on you.

Even among immortals, this ability is profoundly skilled.

"You are still too arrogant, mortal."

"Yes, being able to subdue a beast herd species equivalent to a Body Integration Realm cultivator in such a short time, increasing your overall combat power by a hundredfold, is indeed outstanding."

"But don't forget, it's the consequence of your heterodox spell! You yourself are still that weak Core Formation Stage cultivator!"

"A powerful outer object, but inherently weak, no matter how strong the combat power, it's still void, still false!"

"You are too weak yourself. I can completely bypass these demon bees and easily kill you!"

"Your biggest mistake was appearing before me now."

Mei Gemu's steps even had a leisurely touch. At this moment, he actually held some anticipation—anticipation for Wang Qi to, like before, exhibit the ability to leap out of the river and enter this domain to contend with him.

Then he could watch this insect's final struggle.

Killing this mortal like this would be too lenient for him.

Unfortunately, Wang Qi showed no signs of breaking free—although from Wang Qi's own thoughts, he very much wished to declare under these circumstances, "From the ninth minute, it is my Wang Qi's time." But in this span that belonged to Mei Gemu, he couldn't react at all.

Mei Gemu lightly tapped with his toes, shooting his body forward.

But suddenly, he stopped.

"What's happening?" Mei Gemu looked around confused. Just as he got close to Wang Qi, a premonition arose in his heart. As if getting closer to Wang Qi would bring danger.

—Am I afraid of him? Impossible?

Mei Gemu found it inexplicable. He decided to ignore this premonition, directly approach Wang Qi, and then use the most violent means to kill him at once, grinding his bones to dust. In this way, no matter what myriad means Wang Qi had, he wouldn't be able to use them.

But for some reason, the closer he got to Wang Qi, the more terrifying it felt, and he felt... disgusted.

It felt as if I was being submerged in putrid corpse fluid.

"Hmm?" Mei Gemu suddenly recalled this possibility and quickly moved away from Wang Qi's vicinity, returning to his original position.

Then, time resumed its flow in his field of vision.

Lian Yichen knew nothing about the earlier attack. He hadn't even detected Mei Gemu's assault. Lian Xingling and Lian Xinjie, these two Golden Core Stage cultivators, even less so. Only Wang Qi glanced at Mei Gemu meaningfully.

Only he, in that instant, had sensed the slight fluctuation of gravity.

Only by understanding what "gravity" is can one perceive it. If one believes that the aggregation of matter towards Earth is a matter of course, that the operations of heaven and stars are driven by unseen forces, then even cultivating for a million years may not unravel its mysteries.

"Hey! You! Yes, you!" atop the Insect Queen's head, Wang Qi stood up, shouting at Mei Gemu without regard for decorum: "You, Banished Immortal, think you're quite the big deal, huh? Your arrogant stench is detectable even here... Face turning sour? Getting angry? Hey, hey! Don't think just because your three subordinates couldn't see it, it means nothing happened. I saw it clearly and distinctly. You, despite looking all proper in front of these three Ancient Method monkeys, dare approach me? Dare you? Dare you?"

Mei Gemu sneered, "You..."

"Ah! I'm just asking if you dare to stand here like me!" Wang Qi nearly sang: "Do! You! Dare!"

Mei Gemu maintained his sneer, continuing his previous statement: "Impressive indeed. I underestimated you, mortal. You actually laid out a powerful Alien Spell Power around you and released it with that externalized purple thunder, focusing all our attention on that purple thunder, neglecting your true intentions."

Heart Demon Curse Power exists in two forms. One is tangible and substantial. For instance, the green ghostly fire manifested by the Netherworld Fire Spell, or the purple thunder manifested by the Ruyi Thunder Spell.

The other is intangible and insubstantial "Divine Power", which is Quantum Radiation of Spirit Power.

Around Wang Qi, it appeared as if there was nothing, yet in reality, there was a high density of Heart Demon Curse Power. This Heart Demon Curse Power was so intense that even a Banished Immortal could not ignore it. However, what was more terrifying than this intangible and insubstantial power was its "content"—Wang Qi was not planning to use the Heart Demon Grand Curse as his killing move. To him, these Heart Demon Grand Curses were even merely a "Belief", the truly lethal aspect was the Divine Plague Curse Technique mixed within these Heart Demon Curse Powers.

The Divine Plague Curse Technique is a "virus" of the mind, unconcerned with mana, only focused on the Dao Heart.

If this Heart Demon Curse Power invaded one's body, then Mei Gemu would face the dual erosion of both the Heart Demon Grand Curse and the Divine Plague Curse Technique.

Wang Qi used only a quarter of an hour to subdue this swarm. More time was spent in adjusting this swarm, establishing the Divine Tao, shaping the Heart Demon, creating the Divine Plague, hardly a moment of idleness. The Beast Herd Species' innate "Demon Qi Unity" had been replaced by his Divine Tao collective, with the Heart Demon Grand Curse circulating within these demon creatures, faintly forming a formation.

His "combat power" was also rapidly increasing. This growth was not merely due to him acquiring the combat power of the swarm.

To him, the powerful strength of this Beast Herd Species was not meant for enemy confrontation. They were merely "tools," used as "tools" to practice his own spell-casting through real combat.

And now, he was using this tool to display his newly forged "weapon," deploying the strongest attack.

"Don't think that just because I can't approach you, I am helpless against you!" Mei Gemu roared, a sword qi spanning hundreds of feet unleashed straightforwardly, combining into a sea-like mana surge that transformed an abyss into a towering mountain.

He intended to use sheer force to overwhelm.

However…

"Compete in strength, huh..." Wang Qi raised his sword, Yue Luo Liu Li activated the demon energy of his entire essence, and then, with the momentum of pouring oceans, released all essence, also forming a sword qi.

The two mighty torrents collided midair, rushing against each other, then their momentum converted into a spinning force, like a tornado. The two sword qis gradually canceled each other out, turning into nihility.

Mei Gemu did not attempt again. He withdrew his long sword and snorted, "It seems you think you've got it all figured out… Indeed, I dare not come into contact with those mysterious spell powers. But as long as I don't approach you, what can you do to me?"

"In simple terms, you lack the guts, afraid to come over." Wang Qi sneered.

"As long as the number of demon bees is reduced to a certain level, the power of your strange spell will diminish, breaking its cycle on its own," Mei Gemu smiled, ignoring Wang Qi and instead whispered to Lian Yichen: "My Law is not suited for wide-range attacks, so later you'll focus all your strength on killing the demon bees—this kid can only be arrogant for a moment."

Lian Yichen instantly comprehended Mei Gemu's intention. The Sword Cultivator drew his sword, several sword lights accompanying a single sword swing, **** out from the long sword, dividing in mid-air from one into two, two into four, four into eight, multiplying several times in an instant. Each sword light seemed to have life, operating independently in the air, turning intricately, slaying demon bees at all sorts of impossible angles. As the sword lights passed through the waists or necks of the demon bees, they immediately severed them.

Lian Yichen, no matter how weak, was still a Divine Separation Stage Cultivator. Wang Qi, not understanding Beast Herd Species cultivation or capable of unleashing their power, was simply leading a group of Golden Core Demon Beasts.

Golden Core Demon Beasts, no matter the number, could not surpass a Divine Separation Stage Cultivator.

"Oh, oh, you actually intend to kill all these demon bees," Wang Qi feigned surprise, "Huh? To my knowledge, Immortal Alliance's Primordial Spirit Cultivators will arrive soon… If you kill too many demon bees, what will you use to resist the Primordial Spirit Cultivators later? Isn't there a fundamental difference between you and me, the weak one? I suggest you abandon such thoughts and quickly escape to find other power—that would be more reliable."

"No need to kill them all, just weakening the spell power around you is sufficient." Mei Gemu looked at Wang Qi, waiting for the moment to strike.