CHAPTER 136: ABANDON QUEST

The Nine-Segment Crimson Yang Centipede burst into flames.

Rather than being hit by a flame spell or technique, it was closer to self-immolation—though it didn’t seem harmed by its own fire.

"Ugh! O-Oh no...!"

"H-Hot...!"

"Fuck! I can’t get close...!"

Jehanne, Achilles, and Arthur cried out in turn, quickly leaping away from the monster’s body.

"This is... Yang-Soul Devouring Flames!" Zetian exclaimed after analyzing the burning centipede. "Oh no! My Emperor, please escape from there!" she shouted in panic.

Yang-Soul Devouring Flames was extremely dangerous. If engulfed by it, one’s soul would literally burn.

Jehanne and the others were lucky—they moved quickly. The flames hadn’t touched them at all. Had they been caught, it would’ve spelled their end. Yang-Soul Devouring Flames would not extinguish until its target was fully consumed.

"Sir Tao!"

"Master Tao!"

The two—Jehanne and Yifa—cried out in alarm upon hearing Zetian’s panicked warning. They surged forward, ready to save Xu Tao when—

"Don’t mind me, I’m fine! Rather, all of you, retreat to the tower first!"

—he shouted.

At the same time, he pulled a particular ring from his storage and tossed it toward Arthur.

"Use that ring! I believe it should help you enter that place...!"

Arthur caught the ring and, though confused, nodded firmly.

"I understand!" With that, he turned and dashed off—just as ordered.

Jehanne and the rest hesitated, torn between staying to help or following orders. But with Xu Tao’s added command—"Go!"—they had no choice but to comply.

"Disciples of the Azure Dragon Sect, let’s retreat!"

"Follow the Saint! Don’t fall behind!"

Even Jehanne’s five soldiers and the five outer sect disciples began running, obeying as soon as the command was given.

Xu Tao sighed in relief. The centipede didn’t chase those who retreated—its focus was locked on him, still clinging to its back.

Of course, he wasn’t unaffected. He was slowly being burned by the Yang-Soul Devouring Flames. He wasn’t immune, but through experience, he knew how to fight against flames of this kind.

His body wasn’t burning per se.

Before the flames could reach him, he coated himself with a thin film of Yin Qi—a frosty barrier that prevented the flames from directly touching his skin.

For now, he was safe... but not for long. His Qi reserves were finite.

He had to escape too. It wasn’t that he was too proud to retreat or determined to finish the quest first. Rather—

’This Gleipnir... it’s not coming off...!’

The ribbon he’d used to anchor himself to the giant centipede’s back turned out far sturdier—and more stubborn—than he expected. Even as he fumbled to undo the knot he’d tied himself, the ribbon refused to budge!

Nothing worked. Not even slashing at it with his sword could sever it!

SCREEECH!

Almost as if sensing his predicament, the Nine-Segment Crimson Yang Centipede intensified its flames. The heat spiked sharply—hot enough to melt metal on contact.

"Kugh...!"

With the increased intensity, Xu Tao had to pump even more Qi per second just to maintain his protective shell.

’At this rate, I won’t last a minute—much less survive until the Heaven-Defying Sword finishes its loading...!’

He was truly in a pinch.

No backup. No cavalry. He could only survive on his own!

With no other option, he improvised. In a flash, he grabbed a bottle from his storage ring and downed its entire contents—all the Concentrated Qi Pills he had left.

Qi exploded inside him, surging like a raging river, nearly rupturing his meridians and Dantian. But with precise, practiced control, Xu Tao distributed the influx evenly throughout his body. One small mistake, and he’d have blown apart from the inside.

"Hehe..." Xu Tao chuckled, sounding half-mad.

"Will your flames burn through my Qi reserve, or will my sword erase your cheat first—let’s see whose fate is stronger...!"

A chicken race—no, an endurance contest—had begun.

Since he couldn’t escape from the centipede’s back anyway, Xu Tao gambled everything on lasting until the debug completed.

’These Yang-Soul Devouring Flames... their destructive power is incredible. Without its cheat, this worm should burn in its own fire!’

Yes... Even though he had analyzed its weaknesses earlier, there was still a small chance the centipede could survive its own flames. If that were true—then he really would be out of luck.

But Xu Tao trusted his fate. He believed in his own karma. He was certain: he would not die here.

"Let’s burn together, see who burns better, you ugly worm!" he roared like a wounded beast.

SCREEEEECH!

The centipede screamed back in defiance.

Three minutes had passed since the fight began, and two minutes since he started being grilled by soul-devouring flames. His Qi was rapidly draining, but at his current rate of consumption, he could last ten more minutes—maybe.

The grin on his face was devilish. He was pretty confident in his victory.

However, the centipede seemed to realize it was losing ground. Time was no longer on its side. So, it decided to act more... directly.

SCREEE!

BAM!

The centipede went berserk!

It began rolling over the sand like a drill gone mad—rampaging with reckless abandon.

"Ugh...!"

Xu Tao now had to endure not just the raging heat, but also several dozen tons of monster mass crashing down on him, plus the coarse sand scraping at his body like sandpaper.

His frozen shell cracked instantly. Repairing it required even more Qi—doubling his per-second consumption.

"Damn it...!" he growled, clutching the Heaven-Defying Sword (Error 404) tighter.

The loading bar had just passed 80%. Only a fifth remained.

But at this rate, even with the extra Qi from the Concentrated Pills, he could only last another 30 seconds.

He’d fall half a minute short.

"No choice!"

Xu Tao reached into his ring once more and pulled out another bottle. He had been saving this one for a rainy day—but survival came first.

He uncorked the bottle and downed it in one go, biting through the contents. A mix of herbal bitterness and sweet honey spread through his mouth. Traces of heavenly Qi trickled down his throat, reigniting his dying reserves.

"Recovery Pills! Fill me with Qi...!"

The residual divine energy from the pill surged into him—less potent than the Concentrated Qi Pills, but still effective.

However, he was now out of options.

He had burned through everything in his possession.

If he couldn’t last long enough now... then the loading bar would be the last thing he ever saw.