Ancient, Eerie, and Fierce

Under the wash of the vitality of heaven and earth, the wounds to Fang Han's body soon healed completely.

But Fang Han stared gravely at his forehead in the mirror.

A black mark remained there, as though branded into his skin.

It looked exactly like the nine-headed beast he had glimpsed in his daze.

"What is this...?"

Fang Han recalled an ancient text he had once read and found the corresponding passage.

"On Fuli Mountain, gold and jade abound above, and whetstones below. There is a beast there, shaped like a fox with nine tails and nine heads, and the claws of a tiger. It is called Crab Nephew. Its cry sounds like an infant's, and it eats people."

"Those places where the energy of heaven and earth gathers—are they ancient vicious beasts themselves? Or..."

"Martial grandmasters awakening divine abilities?"

Fang Han took out the map again and marked each point he had seen.

"There's no particular pattern."

"Some are cities, while others are deep in the mountains."

"The closest one to Heavenly Eye City..."

"Emerald Plume Lake."

Fang Han's eyes flashed.

Emerald Plume Lake had once been a famous resort, but years ago, dozens of people had suddenly vanished there in quick succession.

Many martial artists had gone to investigate, yet none had found anything.

In the end, it had become a forbidden place that made people blanch at its mention. Few people ventured there now.

"Just one clash of wills across the distance left a mark on my body. Whatever's at these energy nodes is no small matter." Under the vitality drawn in by Azure Wood Invocation, the black mark on Fang Han's forehead faded steadily until it disappeared.

The faint sense that someone had locked onto him vanished with it.

"I'm no match for it now. But..."