Free Web NovelChapter 300: Chapter 212: White Jade Celestial Spider
A gray-white spiderweb covered the sky.
As the three Foundation Establishment Elders from Thousand Spider Ridge formed their techniques, the web pulsed with a faint, hazy light, as if it were breathing.
"The Hundred Gu Festival has begun!"
Shi Wei looked up at the sky and murmured.
The auras of the Gu Insects sealed within countless spider cocoons were drawn out by a strange fluctuation, passing through the cocoon walls to be projected onto the web above.
They appeared as motes of light in various colors.
At first, most of the motes were a faint white or gray, representing ordinary potential.
Soon, some of the motes began to change color.
Outside the spider cocoon of Wu Yuanji’s Green Scorpionfly, a shimmering green light had already become quite conspicuous.
Someone exclaimed in a low voice, "That Green Scorpionfly from the Poisonous Miasma Forest... the Poisonous Fiend it contains is truly pure! The green light has actually reached three inches!"
"My Fire-Melting Insect from Red Flame Slope is not bad either! Its blazing crimson light is approaching four inches!" another Gu Cultivator said excitedly.
Qin Xuan glanced over and saw that the light from Qin Xin’s Fire-Melting Insect was dazzling, radiating a scorching aura.
Elsewhere,
in the direction of Shi Wei’s Baixi Village, a crystalline Cyan Ice Crystal Silkworm was emitting an icy blue radiance that had also exceeded three inches.
A smug look appeared on Shi Wei’s face, and he shot a deliberate glance at Qin Xuan.
More and more Gu Insects began to display their potential.
There was the cyan of wind, the heavy yellow of earth, and even a silver glint carrying the sharp aura of metal...
However, the one with the strongest aura was the White Jade Spider at the very center of the web.
"Heavens, its light has reached seven inches! This Second-Turned White Jade Spider is about to break through the tier and become a Third-Turn Gu General!"
A series of low gasps of amazement echoed through the valley.
Unfortunately, the spider cocoon of the Golden Threaded Centipede only ever showed a faint, barely perceptible golden halo, almost blending in with the gray-white web.
It was struggling to even manifest a stable light, let alone one of any size.
Among the increasingly brilliant motes of light, it appeared exceptionally dim.
"Sangjila, your Golden Threaded Centipede..."
Shi Wei, who was standing beside him, couldn’t help but speak up. "It doesn’t seem to be in good shape, does it?"
At his words, inquisitive gazes immediately shot over from all around—some mocking, others indifferent.
Qin Xuan’s expression remained calm, but his thoughts were racing.
Although the Golden Threaded Centipede excelled at sneak attacks and blood-sucking, it was indeed at a disadvantage when it came to manifesting its Lifebound Divine Techniques in this kind of passive inspection.
Its sinister nature even caused it to be somewhat suppressed by the web’s fluctuations.
’Let me think... which method of cheating would be the hardest to detect?’
’The *Blood Poison Plague Scripture* can corrupt spiritual energy and forcefully stimulate its potential, but it leaves too obvious a trail and would be easily noticed...’
’The Flame Demon’s Positional Divine Techniques have conflicting attributes; I’m afraid they would destroy this insect outright.’
’The Star Technique, Big Horn, could draw upon the power of slaughter. It might be worth a try, but its fluctuations are unique, which also carries risks...’
Qin Xuan weighed his options.
「Meanwhile, deep within the Ten Thousand Gu Sect.」
Inside a magnificent grand hall, five figures with unfathomably deep auras sat around an enormous Jade Insect Table.
At the head of the table sat an old man with a simple, ancient face, dressed in a Five-Colored Insect Robe. freewёbn૦νeɭ.com
The Sect Leader of the Ten Thousand Gu Sect—the Golden Core Gu Cultivator, Yan Poshan.
Below him were four others, three men and one woman, all at the Purple Mansion Cultivation realm.
A brawny man with fiery red hair and eyebrows to match spoke in a booming voice, "Sect Leader, with the Thousand Gu Sacrifice approaching, selecting the Gu King is our top priority. In my opinion, we should choose the one with the greatest potential and use a Secret Technique to accelerate its growth for immediate combat strength!"
Across from Zhu Yan, a woman in a water-blue dress with a gentle face slowly shook her head. An ice crystal dragonfly hairpin was pinned in her hair bun.
"I must disagree, Senior Brother Zhu. While potential is important, disposition and compatibility are even more crucial. Forcing its growth will lead to an unstable foundation. I fear it would turn on its master and be unworthy of the great responsibility of a Gu King."
Another man, an elder with a sallow complexion and a withered frame, as if he had been long afflicted by illness, coughed twice before speaking slowly.
"Junior Sister Lan’s words are reasonable. The Gu King... COUGH, COUGH... must be able to become one with its future host’s mind. I believe that Nightmare Ghost Moth discovered in Ghost Stream is a good choice. It excels at weaving illusions and controlling minds silently and without a trace. Though its potential isn’t the absolute best, it is treacherous and difficult to defend against."
The last one, a middle-aged man in a gaudy, multi-colored robe with a vibrant little butterfly resting on his finger, chuckled and said,
"Brother Huang, you always go for the insidious ones. I say, choosing a Gu King also depends on a bit of fate. Look at my Enchanted Immortal Butterfly, fluttering about... isn’t it beautiful? And its potential isn’t half bad, either!"
The butterfly on Hua Nongying’s fingertip flapped its wings, scattering specks of mind-bewitching phosphorescent powder.
Yan Poshan tapped his fingers lightly on the insect table, making a dull "TAP, TAP" sound that quelled the group’s debate.
"Potential, disposition, affinity... none can be neglected."
Yan Poshan’s voice was calm, yet it carried an unquestionable authority.
"The Thousand Gu Sacrifice is not a simple contest of raising Gu and making them fight; it is for our Ten Thousand Gu Sect to select a future Guardian Insect. This ’heart-questioning by the web’ at Thousand Spider Ridge is one part of that selection. All of you, be patient and just watch... Hmm?"
He paused mid-sentence. His gaze seemed to pierce through space itself, landing on Thousand Spider Ridge, and a look of surprise appeared on his placid face.
"How interesting."
Upon hearing this, the expressions of the several Purple Mansion Gu Cultivators in the hall shifted, and they all extended their Divine Senses toward Thousand Spider Ridge.
In the Valley of Ten Thousand Spiders, the very instant Qin Xuan made his decision, a sudden change occurred!
The Mysterious Blue Jade Order in his sleeve, the one he had gotten from Grandma Jade Spider, began to grow warm on its own, without being activated.
"What... what is that?"
"The Gu Insect from Black Stone Village? What’s going on?"
"This kind of aura... I’ve never seen it before!"
The valley erupted in an uproar. All eyes, including those of the three Thousand Spider Ridge Elders, turned in shock toward the spider cocoon that had become bizarrely dark and mysterious.
Shi Wei’s eyes went wide. He stared at the still-expressionless "Sangjila" beside him and cried out, "You... what did you do to the Golden Threaded Centipede?!"
