Chapter 91 – Tang Hao's Worth, Devouring the Spirit Gold (Fajin)

Because Tang Hao had never fully recovered from his previous injuries, the forced detonation of all nine Spirit Rings for a last-ditch attack caused his wounds to drastically worsen. In utter despair, his face turned ghostly pale as he coughed up blood and plummeted from the sky.

If his Great Sumeru Hammer had struck Ye Yu, maybe he could have suppressed his injuries and fled. But unfortunately, Ye Yu had dodged with ease.

This left Tang Hao in complete hopelessness—his body no longer able to withstand the toll.

Bang!

A heavy crash echoed through the forest as the severely injured Tang Hao slammed into the ground. The impact deepened his wounds, and he spat out several more mouthfuls of blood, now on the brink of death.

Yet Ye Yu remained calm and methodical.

Even with Tang Hao in this near-death state, Ye Yu kept his distance. He cautiously summoned a net of Blue Silver Spiritjade Trees to tightly bind Tang Hao.

Then he activated his sixth spirit ability—Parasitic Devour.

Once he confirmed that Tang Hao truly had no spirit power left, and that the man's severe injuries were no bluff, Ye Yu finally approached.

He gave the fallen man a swift kick and sneered coldly.

"Weren't you gonna smash me to death?"

"Doesn't seem like you're up to the task."

"So this is the mighty Clear Sky Douluo? Pathetic."

After throwing a few barbed words, Ye Yu thought for a moment and summoned the mother body of the Pumo Fluff from his External Spirit Bone. He extracted a strand of the fluff and placed it onto Tang Hao's body.

Activating the bone ability Pumo Parasitism, the fluff drilled into Tang Hao's body. With no strength left to resist, Tang Hao could only lie helpless as countless thread-like roots burrowed deep into his flesh and meridians.

The Pumo Fluff would now continuously drain his spirit power and life force.

Given Tang Hao's current physical state, he would never recover. He'd be trapped in a perpetual near-death condition.

Ye Yu had no intention of killing him right away.

With Tang Hao alive, once Ah Yin's cultivation reached the tens of thousands of years, Ye Yu could use Tang Hao as leverage—forcing her to offer herself in sacrifice.

Moreover, locked inside Tang Hao's mind were the Clear Sky Clan's Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer, the Clear Sky Nine Absolutes, and the Great Sumeru Hammer—all self-created spirit abilities.

Ye Yu was particularly interested in the mysteries of the Ring Detonation technique.

Later on, he even planned to use Tang San to pressure Tang Hao and extract those secrets.

As for Tang San? Ye Yu wasn't planning to move against him just yet.

For one, he suspected Tang San might be the Shura God's chosen piece. If Ye Yu made a move now, it could provoke the attention of that deity.

And right now, he didn't want to cross paths with any gods—especially not the Shura God, a divine enforcer who could break rules at will.

For another, he was counting on Tang San to follow the original storyline—to encounter the Man-Faced Demon Spider and obtain the External Spirit Bone, Eight Spider Lances.

Only then could Ye Yu take it from him and gift it to his grandfather, Dugu Bo.

Because of that, Ye Yu didn't want to disrupt the main story too much just yet.

However, to ensure Tang Hao was completely neutralized, Ye Yu drew a sharp longsword—and directly severed all four of his limbs.

Tang Hao's blood-curdling screams echoed through the forest.

From each severed limb, a glowing orb burst forth—revealing four Spirit Bones.

"Not bad. Not bad at all," Ye Yu murmured, eyes lighting up with satisfaction. He gathered the four Spirit Bones and stashed them in his Jade Dragon Bracelet.

If Tang San ended up not obtaining the Eight Spider Lances, Ye Yu could always give one of these bones to his grandfather Dugu Bo—for poison storage or personal use.

Next, Ye Yu rifled through Tang Hao's belongings and retrieved his storage-type soul tool.

Inside, after a brief search, he found an aged sheepskin scroll—a faded map.

Judging by the markings, it was very likely the map to the Blue Silver King's Forest.

Ye Yu nodded in satisfaction.

Then, glancing at the unconscious Tang Hao, who had passed out from the pain, Ye Yu had the Pumo Fluff extend its tendrils and reattach his limbs, sealing the wounds.

Otherwise, he feared Tang Hao might bleed to death before he could be put to use.

Once stabilized, Ye Yu stored Tang Hao inside his Ruyi Treasure Bag.

Since it could preserve plants, storing a person wasn't out of the question—though the space was admittedly cramped.

But Ye Yu didn't care.

With Tang Hao dealt with, he returned to Suotuo City.

Back at the Zirui Grand Hotel, Ye Yu retrieved the Spirit Gold Crystal (Fajin) he'd purchased from the Owl Shop.

The crystal was as large as a human head, transparent but riddled with swirling, murky gold threads—far from beautiful.

Earlier, on his way back, Ye Yu had also stopped by a blacksmith shop and picked up a small iron hammer.

Now, raising it high, he brought it down on the crystal.

Clang!

With a sharp crack, the Spirit Gold Crystal (Fajin) shattered.

Inside, the golden threads splintered into tiny golden particles, scattering like falling rain.

But Ye Yu had anticipated this—he activated Electromagnetic Titan Form, and the electromagnetic field pulled every fragment back from midair into his hand.

"So this is Spirit Gold… spirit power-conductive and capable of piercing energy defenses."

"But... this isn't nearly enough."

Frowning, Ye Yu looked at the meager handful of particles. It seemed like there was only enough to modify the tip of his Thunderhowl Infernal Lance.

With that, he summoned the lance from his External Spirit Bone, drawing it out from his spine.

Activating the spirit bone technique Devour of Thunder, he fed the Spirit Gold to the lance.

First, he reforged the lance tip—now gleaming like purple crystal, laced with a gleaming layer of gold that shimmered with metallic brilliance.

Ye Yu tested its energy-piercing effect.

Even with the defense of a Title Douluo-level spirit power barrier—boosted further by his own spirit core—the lance tip enhanced with Spirit Gold still pierced right through.

"This piercing effect... it's insane."

Ye Yu was visibly stunned.

But this was undeniably a good thing.

After feeding all the Spirit Gold into the Thunderhowl Infernal Lance, he returned it to his spine.

Still early in the day, Ye Yu headed outside Suotuo City, looking for a patch of Blue Silver Grass to cultivate his internal energy method.

He had to admit—this wild grass didn't compare to the enhanced Blue Silver Grass he'd planted near the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well.

Still, he noticed something.

Thanks to the Full Moon Wearing Autumn Dew he'd consumed earlier, his spiritual power had undergone a refinement and breakthrough.

Now, when he used his inner energy method to attune with the surrounding Blue Silver Grass, it seemed to enhance their sentience much more efficiently.