"You just don't want to face the reality.
Hahaha, but I'm going to tell you anyway — the one you love died because of you!
Because you didn't realize she was poisoned, that's why she died!
Hahaha—"
Huo Jinchuan laughed arrogantly, deliberately provoking Patriarch Huo. He wanted to make Patriarch Huo lose his temper, so he could trigger the insect curse and drive him into madness.
But Patriarch Huo unexpectedly grew silent. The anger in his eyes slowly faded.
A mocking smile appeared at the corner of his mouth as he asked meaningfully, "Huo Jinchuan, have you always thought your slow advancement was because your temperament couldn't keep up?"
At these words, the smile on Huo Jinchuan's face vanished instantly. His eyes widened, shock and anger rising to their peak.
"You—you tampered with me?!"
Huo Jinchuan was deeply shocked. In his past life, he became ill, which caused some mental issues. That was why he always believed his slow progress was because of his weak mind, unable to break through. But Patriarch Huo's words clearly told him it wasn't his fault.
"Huo Yang! You old bastard, what exactly did you do to me?"
Huo Jinchuan's mindset collapsed for a moment. He couldn't believe all his centuries of effort had been maliciously imprisoned. Patriarch Huo only smiled cruelly.
"What could I do? I only transferred the poison inside Meng'er's body onto you. You inherited Meng'er's life, so naturally, you inherit the poison too, right?
Hahaha — you said I didn't discover Meng'er's poison, but what about you?
You've lived hundreds of years. Did you ever find out?
Hahaha—"
Patriarch Huo laughed to the sky, thinking Huo Jinchuan was a joke. Meng'er's poison was extremely hidden, otherwise it would have been discovered earlier, not just when giving birth.
The alchemist clearly said that if no child was born, the poison would not erupt.
At least she could have survived!
So how could he not hate Huo Jinchuan?
Now, Huo Jinchuan was tasting the pain of the poison himself — such great talent and Luck, but slow advancement…
He deserved it, just thinking about it made Patriarch Huo feel justified.
"Huo Yang—"
Hearing this truth, a string inside Huo Jinchuan snapped completely.
"You are not even human! Not human!"
He was their son, yet Huo Yang poisoned him the moment he was born.
It was pure cruelty.
"Hmph. I kept you alive just to resurrect Meng'er. But you conspired with outsiders to ruin her. Naturally, your death has come."
Patriarch Huo curled his lips in a smile, though his eyes looked clear, they gave off an eerie chill.
"You—you're insane!"
Huo Jinchuan roared and launched an attack at Patriarch Huo, looking utterly ridiculous.
Patriarch Huo sneered, fully intent on killing now. He raised his long sword, aiming at the charging Huo Jinchuan. If this strike hit, Huo Jinchuan would surely die.
But in the next moment, his spiritual energy suddenly went wild.
In just a breath's time, it surged uncontrollably like rushing waves, scattering everywhere. His meridians swelled instantly, pain making Patriarch Huo spit blood violently, his Primordial Soul destabilizing.
Meanwhile, the once frantic Huo Jinchuan regained clarity in an instant. He took out a treasure, broke the formation, and fled quickly.
Soon he disappeared without a trace. He had long known a falling out with Patriarch Huo was inevitable. He always carried many escape treasures.
Now, he felt his preparations were justified.
Emerging from the secret passage, he nervously scanned the surroundings, then picked a direction and ran fast.
Although Patriarch Huo's spiritual energy had gone wild temporarily, it wasn't enough to drive him mad.
That wild surge wouldn't last long.
He had to race against time to escape and must never let that old bastard catch him again. But the poison inside his body needed to be removed; otherwise, he would be restricted forever. Suddenly, an image flashed through Huo Jinchuan's mind — Song Wanníng. Her alchemy was superb and her Luck remarkable.
She definitely had a way to cure his poison.
He had to find Song Wanníng.
He would lure her with help to leave the Central Domain, and in return, she would refine medicine to cure him. She would agree — it was a matter of survival!
…
In the secret passage, Patriarch Huo finally calmed his wild spiritual energy. Killing intent thickened around him like a solid presence. His dark eyes were filled with deadly intent.
"The damned thing actually tampered with me?"
Patriarch Huo's heart sank.
His intuition told him Huo Jinchuan must have done something to him.
But he couldn't figure out exactly what yet.
This realization made his heart tighten.
If he didn't find out soon, it would be like a time bomb, ready to explode at any moment.
"It must have happened during Heavenly Punishment…"
Only then, when he was busy dealing with the Heavenly Thunder, could Huo Jinchuan have an opportunity.
Thinking of what he just said to Huo Jinchuan, his face flushed.
He mocked Huo Jinchuan for not discovering the poison, only to be slapped in the face himself.
How embarrassing!
He closed his eyes and suppressed the rage.
After thoroughly organizing his spiritual energy, he took out the map again.
The red dot was still moving rapidly but slower than before, likely because of injuries slowing down the escape.
A cruel light shone in Patriarch Huo's eyes.
He saw Huo Jinchuan as a dying beast desperately struggling to flee.
But once caught in his hands, no one would survive.
Clutching the map, he sped up his pursuit.
…
In the Demon God Tomb, Song Wanníng had found a place to rest.
The Demon God Tomb was vast but almost lifeless. After wandering for several days without any signs of life, she decided to rest.
Taking out the Three Lives Mirror from her storage ring, she finally had time to examine it carefully.
On the surface, the mirror hadn't changed much. But it could now automatically generate maps of invaders. No, more than invaders — it showed the entire Spirit Realm's map. It even clearly marked the names of places and possible dangers. It must be a function of the system.
The Three Lives Mirror had absorbed the system's energy after devouring it, evolving this new ability.
Song Wanníng's lips curved slightly. No matter where Huo Jinchuan hid, she could find him easily now. A true artifact — incredible!
But then…
Her brow furrowed as she stared at Huo Jinchuan's position.
The red dot moved quickly and jumped erratically, looking extremely panicked.
Could it be…
Patriarch Huo really went after him?