Chapter 198

Chapter 198: Beheading to Cure the Poison

When Fang Lie heard Longxing Tianxia had suffered heavy injuries, his expression instantly darkened. He pushed through the crowd and witnessed an enraging sight.

His sworn brother Longxing Tianxia now lacked both legs, with torn clothes and disheveled hair – a picture of utter misery.

Ice Second Brother remained physically unharmed but appeared filthy and distraught. He wept uncontrollably while pleading with a golden-robed Cultivator: "Please save him!"

The sixty-year-old Cultivator at Golden Pool cultivation level shook off Ice Second Brother’s grasp with visible contempt. "Are you deaf? Shadow Sting’s venom has no antidote!" he snapped before striding away, leaving Ice Second Brother paralyzed with shock.

Fang Lie approached, shot Ice Second Brother an angry glare, then knelt beside the wounded man. "What in blazes happened?" he demanded through gritted teeth.

"Big Brother!" Ice Second Brother threw himself at Fang Lie, sobbing. "This is my fault! He got bitten saving me from that Shadow Sting demon beast!"

"Third-rank demon beast?" Fang Lie paled. "Weren’t you supposed to be in second-rank Low-Level Beast territory?"

"We were!" Ice Second Brother wailed. "But this four-to-five Hundred Years cultivation monster appeared – third-rank strength at minimum! Three died instantly… two more critically wounded…"

The unconscious Longxing Tianxia suddenly stirred. Seeing Fang Lie, he rasped: "Big Brother… glad to see you… before the end. Thank you… for keeping me alive… all these years…"

Bystanders wiped away tears as the wounded man spoke. Fang Lie roared: "Shut your mouth! Who said you could die?"

"The Poisonous Gas… reaches my heart…" Longxing Tianxia coughed weakly.

"Bullshit! Only fools surrender to poison!" Fang Lie barked. "Fourth Brother, listen! I need your fighting spirit! Will you make us – Ice Second Brother, Third Brother, Mao Mao – live with regret?"

"Big Brother… can you truly…?" Hope flickered in Longxing Tianxia’s eyes.

"Don’t question me!" Fang Lie thundered.

"I trust you!" The wounded man rallied. "Do whatever’s needed!"

"Good!" Fang Lie growled. "First – your head!"

Before anyone reacted, Fang Lie’s hand flashed. Longxing Tianxia’s head tumbled free, blood fountaining from the neck.

The crowd screamed. Ice Second Brother stood frozen in horror as Fang Lie lifted the severed head.

"Stay with me, Fourth Brother!" Fang Lie roared, hands blazing with Divine Light. Nirvana fire engulfed the disembodied head.

Spectators watched awestruck as flames coalesced downward, forming shoulders, torso, limbs. With final flash, the flames vanished – revealing fully restored Longxing Tianxia standing whole.

Gasps erupted: "A body regrown from just a head?"

"Unheard of! Limb regeneration, yes – but this?!"

Even Longxing Tianxia stared dumbly at his renewed body. Fang Lie tossed him clothes and cuffed his head: "Stop gawking! Get dressed!"

"Ah!" Longxing Tianxia finally snapped back to reality, hastily pulling on his clothes to avoid exposure.

Ice Second Brother rushed over tearfully, clutching Longxing Tianxia while crying, "Fourth Brother! You’re really alive! You’re truly okay?"

"Completely fine!" Longxing Tianxia exclaimed excitedly. "My body’s nearly identical to before, but my cultivation has actually increased slightly. Big Brother, how is this possible?"

"The terror between life and death often leads to enlightenment of the Dao’s essence, advancing one’s realm," Fang Lie explained. "Your physical form adapts to your cultivation level, hence the minor improvement."

"If that’s the case," Ice Second Brother said eagerly, "Big Brother, why not give me the same treatment?"

"Scram!" Fang Lie smacked him aside, roaring, "Do you think this flesh-reviving divine skill is as common as cabbage? You can’t just demand it whenever!"

"Heh, just joking!" Ice Second Brother hastily backtracked with an awkward grin.

Longxing Tianxia couldn’t resist asking, "Big Brother, what exactly is your divine-"

"Ahem!" Fang Lie cut him off with two deliberate coughs and a meaningful glance. "Your body’s newly healed. Return to rest immediately."

Understanding the need for secrecy, Longxing Tianxia nodded. "Right. Let’s go back, Big Brother."

As the trio turned to leave, a lavishly dressed young Cultivator blocked their path. "Fang Lie! Save my brother! He’s been bitten by a Shadowfang Serpent!"

Despite pleading, the family disciple’s arrogant demeanor made Fang Lie’s lip curl in distaste. Before he could respond, Ice Second Brother exploded: "You snake-hearted cur! I ought to kill you where you stand! How dare seek our help after what you did?"

Longxing Tianxia quickly explained, "During our hunt, these scoundrels deliberately led a Shadowfang Serpent toward us. Sister Juan’s team lacked escape treasures, forcing us to fight while they fled!"

"Why not retreat?" Fang Lie frowned.

"We could’ve escaped using your treasures," Longxing Tianxia said bitterly. "But they targeted us specifically – clear attempted murder!"

"Lies!" the disciple shouted. "We merely sought help from comrades! With your treasures, aiding us would’ve been simple!"

"You wore third-tier magical items yourself!" Ice Second Brother countered. "Yet you fled while we battled? Where’s the comradeship in that?"

"I was tending my injured brother!" The disciple turned to Fang Lie impatiently. "Heal him! I’ll pay one hundred thousand spirit stones!"

"Keep your coins," Fang Lie sneered. "Begone."

"Two hundred thousand! Three hundred! Name your price!"

"No amount suffices," Fang Lie said coldly. "Those who harm my brothers choose death – whether by poison or my hand."

"Fool! I’m from the Ouyang family! Refuse us and-"

"Let your family come." Fang Lie shoved past him. "I’ll be waiting."

The defeated disciple wailed, "How will I face my clan now?" as bystanders snickered.

Mo Wanfang materialized, demanding, "What occurred here?"

The disciple poured out his version, emphasizing Fang Lie’s "heartlessness". Mo Wanfang stared incredulously. "Madman! Who survives decapitation? Is your target some regenerating worm?"

"It’s true! Ask anyone!"

After verifying accounts and Inspecting the poison-ravaged corpse, Mo Wanfang’s eyes gleamed with curiosity. "I’ll investigate. Wait here."

"But my brother-"

"If Fang Lei refuses, no plea will move him." Mo Wanfang vanished, reappearing outside Fang Lie’s spiritual mansion. "Fang Lie! Mo Wanfang seeks audience!"