Wang Qi's throat was pierced through.
It was not because he had been caught off guard. The "Nascent Soul aura" had indeed been one of this creature's disguises, but its true speed and strength were no greater than the Yellow Crystal Devil's. Yet Wang Qi had happened to fail to stop the insect's raised "hand" from thrusting forward.
That was the gap in technique. This insect seemed to see through every one of Wang Qi's movements, or perhaps it had predicted his resistance. Exploiting the traits of its insect body, it slipped precisely past Wang Qi's block, drove straight into the weak point of his protective aura, and pierced through his throat.
To a cultivator, the throat had long ceased to be a fatal weakness. At Wang Qi's level, even if his spine were severed, he could still command his flesh through his Primordial Spirit. But a force had sealed his power, temporarily suppressing his resistance.
Yet only seconds later, the banished immortal insect pulled back its forelimb, rubbed it curiously against the breathing opening on its flank, then tasted it.
In that single instant, this creature's bearing underwent another earth-shaking transformation.
Wang Qi's back seemed to explode. Regardless of the cost, he burst through the seal, rolled on the spot, tumbled beyond the top of the crystal pillar, and rushed downward along the pull of gravity.
Too dangerous. I have to get out...
But in the next instant, dozens of crystal blades sprang from the pillar at once. Neither early nor late, they thrust out exactly as Wang Qi passed, piercing his flesh. Three of them struck vital nodes through which his mana circulated, disrupting his cultivation and slowing him sharply.
Then a black figure charged over.
Wang Qi hastily raised his sword to meet it, while the shadow