Chapter Twenty: If You Have the Guts, Come Out

Feng Shang moved step by step, drawing closer to the miniature palace. At this moment, even if something were thrown at him, it would simply pass through his location without ever truly touching him. Strictly speaking, he had already become one with the void—he was the void itself.

By harnessing the power of creation from nothing, Feng Shang merged with the emptiness; within the entire spiritual universe, only those who had mastered the primordial laws and comprehended the true essence of spatial dao could see through this.

Such beings had taken the most crucial step. Perhaps there were some, or perhaps none at all.

The Nine-Tailed Cosmic Spirit was still deep in slumber, her expression serene, elegant, and lazy. Her beautiful head rested sideways upon a slender, snowy leg, those enchanting eyes still closed.

“It’s about time,” Feng Shang murmured, reaching a distance of ultimate safety. At this range, even if this cosmic spirit possessed powers that could shake the heavens, he would have ample time to tear open the black prison realm and make a calm escape.

From afar, the miniature palace shimmered with radiant light, brilliance surging forth ever more dazzlingly. Anticipation flickered in Feng Shang’s eyes; the palace likely hid treasures beyond value, such as the Ancient Seed, the Divine Scroll, and others of priceless worth.

Even if danger lurked, it was worth the risk. Should he succeed, it would be his greatest opportunity in recent times.

“Go,” Feng Shang commanded.

A small cluster of creation gas split off. Almost simultaneously, a ball of white light appeared above the miniature palace, transforming into a giant hand, silently reaching for the radiant palace.

It would take but a millionth of a second!

The treasures collected by the peerless cosmic spirit—whether they could be seized depended entirely on the power of creation from nothing.

Hoo, hoo!

The hand formed from creation gas finally touched the treasure hall. Suddenly, two snowy claws slammed down hard upon it. The light around the palace boiled, laws exploded, tearing open hundreds of thousand-foot-long rifts from sky to earth.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

In an instant, explosions shattered the silence of space, their thunderous roar deafening, as if heaven and earth were collapsing.

At that moment, the black prison world trembled in fear.

Rivers abruptly ceased their flow, and the arrogant black-and-white spirit fish within, caught in the aftermath, had their scales burst open, blood leaking out, trembling uncontrollably.

An unforeseen situation had occurred.

So close!

Feng Shang looked again—what he saw chilled him to the bone.

A bottomless giant pit, piled with countless charred ashes, threads of scorching heat rising from its depths.

Under such an assault, everything had been obliterated.

---

“This is ruthless! You really want me dead. I knew it wouldn’t be so easy.” Feng Shang gritted his teeth.

This cunning cosmic spirit had been feigning sleep, long aware of his presence, prepared and deliberately revealing the palace to lure him in.

Her strike was merciless—she had left no room for escape!

Had it not been for the power of creation, if he had gone himself, he would now be nothing but dust.

The Nine-Tailed Cosmic Spirit lazily rose, opening her violet eyes.

They were indescribable—lively and beautiful, crystal-clear, their rare violet irises flowing with purity and allure, exuding both enchantment and elegance, a contradiction that created a deadly attraction.

At that moment, heaven and earth lost their color, the air seemed to freeze, and even time itself slowed.

Even the angry Feng Shang found his brow slightly furrowed. The charm of this cosmic spirit was truly uncanny!

If she took human form and became a peerless beauty, showing her face in the spiritual universe, countless powerful beings would willingly set aside their pride, kneel at her feet, and be utterly at her mercy.

The thought was terrifying.

The Nine-Tailed Cosmic Spirit yawned, her mesmerizing violet eyes sparkling dreamily, now tinged with a lazy interest as she glanced around, seemingly searching for Feng Shang.

She detected no trace of him.

He must be dead, she assumed.

Bored, she lay back down, her snowy, soft celestial tail gently wrapping her pure head, adorably beautiful, as if the previous fierce intent had nothing at all to do with her.

“Ugly hag, you are ruthless!” Suddenly, the boy’s voice, laced with anger and mockery, echoed throughout the world.

The lazy Nine-Tailed Cosmic Spirit was first stunned, then froze, and then every strand of her snowy fur stood on end, her celestial tails whipping up a furious wind!

She frowned, a chilling cold flashing in her violet eyes.

She could not tolerate being called a hag.

Even more so, to have the loathed word “ugly” placed before it—a combination that was the most venomous of insults!

“You brat,” Qing E shook her head. Though she had suffered a setback, it was unnecessary to enrage this cosmic spirit.

“If I hadn’t been prepared, I would have perished here today,” Feng Shang shouted angrily.

Where was he?

The Nine-Tailed Cosmic Spirit’s violet eyes shot out a beam of light. The boy’s voice echoed from all directions, yet with her terrifying divine senses, she could not find a single trace.

It was truly strange.

“Ugly hag, can you only hear me but not see me?” Sensing her thoughts, Feng Shang found it rather amusing.

At his words, the cosmic spirit’s exquisite face gradually turned dark. She was born flawless, enchanting without end. Objectively, she should be called a goddess of the stars, peerless and magnificent—how could she possibly be connected to the word “ugly”?

---

“Ugly hag, outrageous!” If he appeared, she would surely crush him!

“Old woman, staying in this gloomy place all day, your mind must be twisted.” “Feigning sleep to lure me in, then launching a sneak attack—you truly are sinister. Not only are you ugly, you’re wicked as well!” Feng Shang mocked, his words relentless and scornful.

This was like pouring oil on fire.

As expected, the Nine-Tailed Cosmic Spirit exploded in rage.

With a rumbling sound, she stood tall. Nine dreamlike, gorgeous snowy tails soared into the air, murderous intent blazing in her eyes as she searched everywhere, terrifying beyond measure.

“If you’ve got guts, come out!” she called, her voice soft and clear, very pleasant to hear, yet tinged with a hint of killing intent and coldness.

“Bah! Shameless! Knowing you’re wicked and murderous, you still want me to come out? You think I’ll listen to you? You think I’ll stand before you and let you kill me? How stupid!” Feng Shang sneered, tongue sharp and words flying. He was not usually so unruly, but having suffered a setback, his mood was sour and needed venting.

It might seem hard to understand—even angry, one wouldn’t usually resort to such low blows.

But consider that his rare misfortunes had all been caused by cosmic spirits. With his anger doubled, it was only natural for him to vent so fiercely.

The Nine-Tailed Cosmic Spirit was furious, her breathing rapid, eyes nearly aflame. Upon her flawless snowy forehead, three faint black lines emerged. She had never before heard such terrible insults.

Shameless? Wicked? Stupid?

“You…scoundrel!” Her clear voice quivered with suppressed rage.

“Hey! Your voice is quite nice. Say it again for me,” Feng Shang teased, making the most infuriating expression possible, now thoroughly enjoying her anger.

Grinding teeth echoed.

The Nine-Star Cosmic Spirit’s violet eyes burned with ferocity. She swept a claw sideways, like a blazing sun exploding, divine markings filling the sky, endless laws crashing down.

It was a total, indiscriminate bombardment.

Even if he turned into a pebble or a speck of dust, he would perish in this destruction.

Centered on her, energy went wild, forming a storm that touched ancient lingering laws, triggering a chain reaction.

It seemed this place would be overturned.

The unlucky ones, of course, were not Feng Shang, but the spirit fish in the black-and-white river.

The power of law penetrated every corner of the prison, causing even the fish hiding deep within the river to suffer. One by one they flipped belly-up, foaming white at the mouth, floating to the surface—nearly wiped out.