Chapter 43: Pond

"Is this... the Heaven-Slaying Lotus?" Hua Sheng, who was leading the group, suddenly recognized the lotus and exclaimed in surprise.

"Heaven-Slaying Lotus? What's that?" Many, of course, had no idea what it was, only sensing that the flower was unusual.

"Hehe, this lotus is rare," Hua Sheng said. "It can be used to refine a detoxifying pill. If we find the right buyer, it could fetch a high price."

"How much?"

"I think selling it for dozens of spirit stones should be no problem."

Hua Sheng chuckled, his face beaming as if he had found a treasure.

The others immediately lost interest. With over a dozen people sharing a mere few dozen spirit stones, each person wouldn't get much. They had already agreed upon entering that any spirit herbs they found and harvested would be divided equally.

As Xu Yang looked at the seemingly harmless lotus, his brows suddenly furrowed. He noticed something unusual about it. When his spiritual sense probed the pond, he indeed found something amiss.

"Hurry up and pick it," some urged. "Don't waste time; we have important matters to attend to."

Hua Sheng nodded, took a step forward, and was about to enter the lotus pond to pick the flower.

"Stop! Don't go there, it's dangerous!" Xu Yang suddenly interjected.

Hearing "danger," Hua Sheng quickly recoiled. He turned to look, only to see that Xu Yang was merely a low-level Qi Condensation cultivator. He couldn't help but feel annoyed. "You're just a Qi Condensation cultivator; what do you know? Stop shouting nonsense!"

Xu Yang shook his head. "There really is danger in there."

Hua Sheng sneered. "What danger could there be in such a small pond? Any danger would only be to you, a Qi Condensation cultivator. I'm a Core Formation expert. I advise you not to speak carelessly in the future, or I might just kill you." Hua Sheng warned Xu Yang.

Xu Yang felt a wave of speechlessness. Why was it that no one believed him when he spoke the truth? Some ponds, though seemingly small, were unfathomably deep.

Although Hua Sheng had chastised Xu Yang, as he prepared to step into the center of the pond, he felt an inexplicable unease. He suddenly picked up a human-sized rock and hurled it towards the middle of the pond. With a splash, the rock landed in the water, sending ripples several people high. However, the pond quickly returned to calm, and nothing happened.

Hua Sheng shook his head and glared fiercely at Xu Yang.

Seeing this, the others laughed. "What's wrong? Are you really afraid a monster will pop out of this tiny pond and eat you?"

Hearing their words, Hua Sheng gritted his teeth, pushing aside his ominous premonition. He decided they were right; such a small, calm pond couldn't possibly harbor any danger. He immediately took a step, lightly tapped the water a few times, and leaped towards the Heaven-Slaying Lotus.

Hua Sheng looked at the pure white lotus, now within reach, and smiled. *See? Nothing here.* He had been far too cautious, scared by a mere Qi Condensation cultivator. It was truly embarrassing. When he returned, he would certainly teach that little Qi Condensation cultivator a lesson.

With that thought, Hua Sheng bent down to pluck the lotus. He pulled once; it didn't budge. He pulled again; still no movement.

"Hmm?" Hua Sheng was puzzled.

Suddenly, the pond stirred, and when it did, it moved with earth-shattering force. A black, hairy leg agilely extended from beneath the water. It instantly gripped Hua Sheng's shoulder. The leg itself was as thick as Hua Sheng's entire body. A pure black head also emerged from the water. A pair of blood-red eyes on its head glowed like lanterns, radiating an evil aura.

Soon, its entire body surfaced from the water. It was a massive black eight-legged spider. Its body appeared as large as a house. Most strikingly, a pristine white lotus swayed in the wind on its head. The spider's eight long legs were like tree trunks.

Hua Sheng was hoisted into the air by the spider's long leg and thrown into its mouth. With a crunch, blood splattered as the giant spider quickly chewed him up and swallowed him.

Those on the shore were stunned, never imagining that such a seemingly unremarkable small pond harbored such deadly peril! They immediately felt immense relief, grateful that it was Hua Sheng, and not them, who had gone. Otherwise, they would have been the ones to die.

However, they soon realized they had rejoiced too soon.

The black spider suddenly turned its gaze towards the shore, and then it moved. From its mouth, it shot out a white silk thread, like a beam of light. A woman standing near the pond didn't have time to react before she was swiftly enveloped by the white silk. The next second, she was in the black spider's mouth. Crunch, crunch. The giant black spider chewed with relish, flesh and blood flying. In just three seconds, the woman was swallowed.

"Run! Run! Hurry, it's a monster!" Zhong Qi's hair stood on end as he roared and was the first to flee. Judging by his energy while running, even a young man might not have been as fast as him.

Xu Yang's mouth twitched. In fact, he desperately wanted to say, "Those who don't listen to elders suffer setbacks." As an old monster who had lived for a hundred thousand years, his words were the truth. Listen, and you'd be fine; ignore him, and you'd be guaranteed misfortune.

Suddenly, the giant spider fixed its gaze on the fleeing Zhong Qi. Among all the Core Formation cultivators present, he was the only Nascent Soul cultivator, naturally standing out and drawing exceptional attention. The spider unhesitatingly extended its eight massive legs and pursued Zhong Qi. Although the black spider was enormous, its long legs allowed it to move surprisingly fast. In just a few strides, the distance between it and Zhong Qi was halved.

"You go and stall it for me!" Zhong Qi suddenly grabbed Xu Yang, then abruptly threw him backward.

"Hmm?" Xu Yang raised an eyebrow, observing the old man's actions. Suddenly, Xu Yang yanked Zhong Qi, lifting him up. Then, he walked step by step towards the giant spider.

Zhong Qi was dumbfounded by Xu Yang's immense strength and this suicidal act. "You... what are you doing? Let me go!" Zhong Qi began to struggle, but Xu Yang's strength was overwhelming. The spiritual energy radiating from Xu Yang firmly restrained Zhong Qi's own energy, leaving him utterly powerless.

"You're not a Qi Condensation cultivator!"