“Now that is a difficult question,” Axel coughed, his expression one of bloodied teeth and a vicious grin. “I have been called by many names, most I care not to remember. But Demon suits me well, no?”
“Don’t give me that nonsense,” the Eldarin snapped. “That skill you used just now, where did you get it?”
“Hmm… A dark place. Somewhere between life and death?” he mused.
The blade sank deeper, cutting the skin of his neck. Lune was not amused by his lev...
2025-07-06 11:03:06 +0000 UTC
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Fire claimed the valley.
It was a heat that was ravenous in its intensity. The shockwave alone would have shattered bones and boulders, but the cascade of fiery explosions incinerated anything mundane within the epicentre. Stone melted instantly. Sand turned to glass.
For the trolls, whose flesh was unyielding and their regeneration vaulted in legend, their deaths took agonising seconds.
Their screams were gurgles, made wet by boiling blood and searing meat. The heat washed ...
2025-07-06 11:02:38 +0000 UTC
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Unlike before, Axel didn’t just blindly charge into the fray.
For one, the sheer mass of the troll stampede would just crush him anyway, so standing in front of the foe with no plan wasn’t bravery or madness, it just was suicide by stupidity.
And Axel had already established with his Reaper that he would not accept such a pointless death. On the day he returned to her embrace, he would bring her the gift of slaughtered souls. Anything less would be an insult to her.
So i...
2025-07-06 11:02:07 +0000 UTC
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Axel didn’t wait to see if the alchemist understood. He turned back, rushing to help Lune.
One of the assisting maidens was already dead, trapped in the Troll King’s grip, her fists feebly beating against the beast’s arms. She let loose a final scream as the King crushed her spine in his hands, before swallowing her entire body whole.
Lune was badly wounded. One of her arms looked to have been ripped off, and even the Health Potion could not fix that up immediately. Her rema...
2025-07-06 11:01:30 +0000 UTC
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An hour before Axel and the alchemists set out…
“How do these rune things work anyway?” Axel asked, crouched before one of the distilleries.
Around him, the Venombrew Maidens were hard at work preparing the soporific brews and the vast quantities of drugged meat. Their leader, Lune, stopped overseeing their tasks for a moment to scowl at him.
“Stop touching them,” she scolded. “What are you, a child?”
“Merely curious. I didn’...
2025-07-06 11:00:48 +0000 UTC
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All around the camp, fighting began in earnest.
Lune’s pack of Venombrew Maidens had emerged from their shelter behind the blasted boulder. They dashed across the field with incredible speed, their masks torn free and female faces exposed. Empty potion vials shattered against the ground as the seven Eldarin women tossed them away after ingesting their empowering contents.
It was a sight that would have stopped the heart of any hot-blooded male. Predatory beauties one and all, th...
2025-07-06 10:59:03 +0000 UTC
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Axel watched from a rocky perch up high as the group of eight alchemists, Leader included, made their way down the ravine, their carts laden with yet more barrels of drinks and stores of meat.
Lune had made the preparations, but more than that, she was bringing her entire force with her, too. Those seven other assistants trailing behind her were all Level 15 and above. A commendable force, under most circumstances, but against the army they were going up against, they would be slaughter...
2025-07-06 10:42:17 +0000 UTC
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She was not human.
Axel did not let the shock of her familiar features override his analytical gaze. From the moment he had ripped off her mask, he had been studying the woman’s every detail.
It was undoubtedly similar to a person’s, though perhaps too perfect in every facet. As if sculpted to life with an artisan’s touch, rather than one of nature’s make.
Axel's second thought had been that she was a gene-modified human like him. Still, even the intricacy of biologi...
2025-07-06 10:40:45 +0000 UTC
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~~~
They moved away from the estate, their pace light and easy.
The night sky shone with its usual auroral hues, though the jade colours were less oppressive that night, for the mountain was lit bright in lanterns, songs, and festive cheer.
The celebration of the Beheaded Phoenix Sect was in full swing, for the arrival of the Split-Headed Carnivore Sect had prompted even greater cheer and festivities. The distant light of fires and the fading melodies of musical instruments ...
2025-06-22 08:00:05 +0000 UTC
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~~~
After Dai was done panicking, and Patriarch Shang was informed of the debacle involving Feng and Matriarch Chen Zijing, the Young Master returned to his estate, going once more over his preparation for the night ahead..
In the midst of his work, his mind went over the conversation he had with Lianshi and why she chose him.
Superior in the only way that mattered… That was what she said. It was why she loved him. But what did that mean?
Red and green flashed in the...
2025-06-21 08:00:04 +0000 UTC
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“The term, Feng (封), was once used to describe a certain, fantastical creature of legend. It is, in essence, an edible lump of meat with no discernible features. It has no head, limbs, or bones to speak of. Neither was it sentient, aggressive, or beholden to any defensive principles.
“It did, however, possess an absurdly powerful regenerative ability. The quality of its flesh is also superb: addictively delicious, and Panacean to tho...
2025-06-20 08:00:07 +0000 UTC
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~~~
“Alright, how many fingers am I holding up?”
Feng stared at Lianshi, a touch confused and a little insulted. “This feels… extremely basic.”
The two of them were alone back in his estate. Lianshi had both hands behind her back, obstructing them from Feng.
“Feng, if you can’t even get this right, then there’s no point continuing,” she stated bluntly. “Just get your wraith to tell you how many fingers there are behind me.”
“I loathe b...
2025-06-15 11:00:14 +0000 UTC
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“You once stood by my side as we faced an entire mountain of Spirit Beasts,” Lianshi bitterly laughed. “You were ready to give your life for me then, even if it was for a cause you did not fully understand. You merely saw how desperate I was and decided you would die to see my ambitions fulfilled. And now you tell me you are too cowardly to confess a truth I already know?”
Feng grimaced. “If you already know, then why do you need me to say it?”
“Do not be obtuse,” ...
2025-06-14 11:00:07 +0000 UTC
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~~~
“Women… Quite frankly, I think you would be better without them, Boss. Most of them’re definitely gonna try and kill you one day.”
— The words spoken by a drunk alchemist to a certain Master, many centuries ago
----------------
Lianshi’s aura was suffocating.
Even if her wrath was not directed at him, it was impossible not to be affected by her rage. Her qi was a flood of bloodlust. It made his body turn upon itself, organs...
2025-06-13 12:00:16 +0000 UTC
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“I take it… We won somehow?” Feng whispered. “Though I think… I’m missing most of my parts…”
His body was split into two. Lianshi had chewed his belly and midsection in twain, completely severing the top half of his torso from his legs and waist. His guts and spine were all over the wall and the floor.
His ribs were shattered like an egg, his chest ripped apart as her voracious lips hunted for his heart mere minutes earlier.
“I… It’s my fault,” she cr...
2025-06-08 08:00:04 +0000 UTC
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~~~
Lianshi gasped, her consciousness snapped back to her body. Howls and roars clawed at her eardrums.
She was back in the cave. The horde was upon her.
On instinct, she tried raising her arms. Numb and broken, she could only make a half-decent guard before a Glacial Hound smashed into her, toppling her back.
The Spirit Beasts descended upon her, chilling fangs and claws ripping her apart. Lianshi didn’t even have the time or strength to scream before a ...
2025-06-07 08:00:04 +0000 UTC
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Lianshi opened her eyes.
The cave was gone. Instead, a wide valley with blue skies greeted her.
Blue skies, she thought with a shock. Where was the green? Where were the auroral Jade Clouds?
She looked away and observed the rest of her baffling environment. The air was fragrant and sweet, heavy with the intoxicating scent of ripe meat. Lianshi saw the shapes of ‘peaches’ — fleshy human hearts hanging from gnarled trees, their smooth, rosy skin glistening in th...
2025-06-06 08:00:09 +0000 UTC
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His best friend had officially lost it.
Feng watched as Lianshi wrestled yet another bear to the ground, screaming incoherently as she stabbed it to death with a multitude of mutated limbs. A Glacial Hound tried attacking her from behind, but her winged arms snapped back and lanced itself upon the lunging ice wolf, killing it instantly.
“She’s insane!”
“She’s desperate. There’s a difference, however slight. She needs to get the bracelet by today. The Matriarc...
2025-06-01 08:00:08 +0000 UTC
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“Sorry… I should have let you win, huh?”
Lianshi glared at the boy — Feng — who came to sit beside her. She was outside the meeting hall, sitting upon the snowy steps with a handful of ice pressed against her bruised right eye and swelling jaw.
The other Elders and Sect Leaders were still inside. After losing the spar, the Matriarch had coldly asked her to exit the hall and cool off her tantrum. Lianshi supposed she should be happy she got to leave with her life af...
2025-05-31 08:00:04 +0000 UTC
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~~~
10 years ago…
“You will come back safe, right, Mom?”
Elder Chen Ziyu looked down at her daughter and smiled.
“My dearest Lianshi, no harm will come to me,” the woman whispered as she stroked her daughter’s hair. “I am simply attending a funeral. There’s no need to fret.”
“It’s grandma’s funeral,” Lianshi pouted as she leaned into her mother’s touch. “Shouldn’t I be there too?”
Another person ca...
2025-05-30 10:00:12 +0000 UTC
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The Matriarch dropped him. Feng gasped for breath as he collapsed to the ground, eyes wide with horror.
“Monster… What…” he staggered back. “You are—”
“Do not act so repulsed,” the Matriarch tutted, the veil covering her face once more. “After all, this is what awaits you in your wife should you persist in this marriage. Lianshi is my daughter. She takes after me in many ways, even if she dislikes acknowledging them.”
“She will never turn out li...
2025-05-29 12:20:01 +0000 UTC
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Author’s note:
Really long note ahead, so I apologise in advance. Only the first part is of practical significance, so I would advise just reading that and moving on.
‘To Devour the Crawling Gods’ has finally made it to the end of its First Act on RR, and will be reaching Chapter 100 on Patreon. It is my first proper story on both Royalroad and Patreon, and I would like to thank everyone who supported it.
I shall get straight into the matters of ...
2025-05-29 12:03:05 +0000 UTC
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“Thank you, Disciple Jin. You may return to my youngest daughter and guide her back to the monastery. I shall be with the Young Master for some time.”
Matriarch Chen’s voice was melodic, but each word carried a razor chill to them. Feng felt the hair on his neck stand — as if some giant, fanged beast was breathing down his neck.
One wrong move, one mere act that may indicate an intent to harm, and Feng would be dead before he could respond.
His Father was in the Four...
2025-05-28 10:40:18 +0000 UTC
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The meadow they were in turned silent. Feng felt at ease. To have finally confessed his failings and given voice to his new convictions was an indescribable relief.
He had initially wanted Lianshi to be the first to hear his confessions, but her continued absence had prevented such a thing. Left with few recourses, he instead sought for someone else to hear the resolution of his guilt before his will might falter.
Lingyu was close to Lianshi, perhaps even the Young Miss’s closes...
2025-05-27 12:03:19 +0000 UTC
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“Cultivators must court death. Defying impossible odds is the hallmark of all great masters of their destiny. The important thing, however, is to do it in moderation. No more than once a decade, if possible.
“Any more than that… Well, better pray for good luck.”
— Sage advice of an Immortal who tried (and failed) to court death in moderation
----------------------
“That is the last time I’m letting you out of my sight!”
...
2025-05-26 11:02:35 +0000 UTC
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The medical disciples checked on Jun and Shao with professional ease. Neither of their injuries was serious enough to warrant immediate surgery. Additionally, both had their spiritual shortages refilled by their recent meal of the Inner Province Young Master. Their conditions were thus stable.
A miracle, considering the battle they just went through. Moreover, the reward of their tribulation was clear to see.
Elder Jun had risen to the second Step of the Nascent Realm, while Shao ...
2025-05-25 12:36:17 +0000 UTC
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Patriarch Shang was going to kill him.
Honestly, Dai would have let the man do it, for the senior disciple had failed at his job of protecting the Young Master utterly.
When he first heard that his lord was facing down another Young Masterfrom the Inner Province Sects, Dai had prepared himself for his death, even as he rushed to the arena stadium as fast as he could.
He expected to find Young Master Feng’s corpse when he arrived. Instead, he found Shao happily wav...
2025-05-24 12:46:30 +0000 UTC
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It had been a dangerous gamble on Feng’s part.
The second Divine Art of his Sect — [Severed Heads Apostles] — was a technique that had few unique variants created throughout its entire history. The technique’s direct nature of summoning previously decapitated beasts meant its purpose had fewer deviations to improve upon.
Faster summoning. Qi efficiency. Independent action among the summons. Those were avenues of improvement, yes, but they did not make the Divine Art into a...
2025-05-23 10:54:06 +0000 UTC
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It could not be said to be a duel.
True, there were only two effective combatants fighting, and the grounds they fought on were indeed those of an arena. There was even an Elder on site who could serve as the necessary arbiter. By those accounts, the battle could technically be defined as a duel.
Yet, only a deranged idiot would call it such.
Faced with the collision of such titanic might, no words could describe the battle. It was as if the rage of the earth had risen to as...
2025-05-22 20:00:05 +0000 UTC
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~~~
“Humanity severed, Hunger unshaken.
“Bury your Heart under tar, and carve your name on Heaven’s breast.”
— Creed of the Howling Meadows
----------------------
Shao did not hold much hope for a victory.
Oh, sure, she agreed with the Young Master’s secret ‘plan’ and forced Jun to commit to his defence, but the disciple of the Split-Headed Carnivore held no illusion that the three of them could win this fight.
...
2025-05-22 08:22:43 +0000 UTC
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