191 - The Demon Fox Wife is a Foodie

Yan Zhao remained silent, but her steps were resolute as she moved forward. On the Mingjing Platform, the spectators watched this scene unfold and began murmuring among themselves. "Is the foundation of the Mingjing Platform sourced from the Xuanhuang Secret Realm? Are the creatures here real or not?" Yao Shen Zi pondered aloud, stroking his beard thoughtfully. There were trees that could scuttle across the ground and creatures that crawled from beneath it; anyone who'd been to the Xuanhuang Secret Realm could easily recognize them. "Your insight is indeed sharp, elder," Ying Xiao respectfully praised from atop a central stone pillar. When the others turned their attention to him, he explained: "The remnants of external spirits were cleared out when constructing the Mingjing Platform. The phantom beasts you see now are naturally formed from the energy present here. They possess the nature of external spirits but will disintegrate and vanish once they leave the platform. They have form but lack true spirit." "In that case, using this place for training is indeed perfect," Yao Shen Zi commented, glancing at him. "Did you come up with this idea?" Ying Xiao humbly bowed his head, "Yes, it was my suggestion." Impressed, Yao Shen Zi remarked on his talent, then turned his gaze back to the platform. Nearby, on another floating platform, Yun Dao Zi, with his aged appearance, sat with his eyes partially closed. Yet, beneath this demeanor, a spark of clarity flickered in his otherwise clouded eyes. Deep within the labyrinth, Yan Zhao, accompanied by Bi Lan and Wu Ying Ying, cut through obstacles to reach the spot where the sense of the Celestial Token was strongest. It was a circular pit about ten zhang in diameter. Standing at the edge, the three peered into the darkness below, where even the glow of fluorite couldn’t pierce the blackness. Wu Ying Ying, feeling uneasy, shrank behind Yan Zhao and Bi Lan, whispering, "It's so dark here. Do you think there's something monstrous down there? It feels quite eerie." Bi Lan, agreeing with the unsettling atmosphere, knitted her brows and suggested, "Miss Nian, perhaps you and Miss Wu should wait here while I investigate below." Yan Zhao gave her a sidelong glance and replied, "No need." "But—" Bi Lan started, only to be cut off as Yan Zhao suddenly pulled out a handful of fluorite and tossed them into the pit like dumplings. Bi Lan remained silent. She certainly didn’t expect Nian Qing to have so much fluorite on hand. As the fluorite fell, the impact on the ground triggered sounds, revealing shadows under the white glow. Though each stone only illuminated a small area, dozens together created a star-like glow at the pit's bottom, rendering any lurking beasts visible. There it was... An ancient three-headed dragon. Upon realizing what it was, both Bi Lan and Wu Ying Ying gasped in shock. "A dragon..." This was their first time seeing a dragon, a creature they had only ever read about in ancient texts. Even Little Jin was restless, and Yan Zhao noticed the Little Fox in her arms also tensed up, unusually scared. Yan Zhao gently patted the Little Fox's head, "Don't be afraid." The dragon was entirely obsidian-gray, only a tenth the size of Little Jin in its normal form. Yan Zhao, familiar with Little Jin's power, felt no fear confronting this dragon. Wu Ying Ying exclaimed, suddenly stretching her neck, "Miss Bi, Miss Yan, look, isn't that the pass token on the dragon's heads?" Yan Zhao focused, indeed seeing a faint gold light atop each of the dragon's heads. And enveloped within that light were the target items of their quest. Three of them! Meaning, conquering this three-headed dragon would allow all three of them to pass, even with an extra token to spare. The temptation was great, but the formidable-looking dragon seemed dangerous. Even from afar, they could feel its oppressive aura, likely not weaker than a Nascent Soul stage creature. Together, they might not stand a chance against it. "It's too dangerous," Bi Lan hesitated, cautioning Yan Zhao, "Better to seek the pass tokens elsewhere than risk fighting this beast." With over half the allotted three days remaining, starting over was still an option. But a reckless fight with the dragon could end all progress. Though experts surrounding the Mingjing Platform ensured safety, failure would mean losing the chance to continue the trial. They already had a pass token. Even without finding another, Yan Zhao could advance to the next round—not worth the risk. After sharing her reasoning with Yan Zhao, she saw Yan Zhao retrieve the previous pass token and hand it to her. "?!" Bi Lan looked puzzled. Yan Zhao said, "Hold onto this. You don't need to go down." Initially stunned, Bi Lan quickly understood Yan Zhao's intention, her face shifting to alarm, "Miss Nian! Surely you don't intend to go alone?!" That was exactly Yan Zhao's plan, as she calmly replied, "Yes." Bi Lan protested, "You mustn't!" The three of them together might not beat the dragon—let alone Yan Zhao alone! But Yan Zhao had never sought her approval, merely informing her before handing the token to Bi Lan and jumping into the pit. Bi Lan's attempt to stop her failed, leaving her pale with fear. Wu Ying Ying was also dumbfounded, unsure of what to do next. She glanced at Bi Lan, seeing her panic and hesitation, and cautiously asked, "Miss Bi, are you going down too?" Hearing the question, Bi Lan snapped back to attention, exchanged a quick look with Wu Ying Ying before thrusting the token back into her hands. "Miss Wu, you hold this for now." Without waiting for a response, she leaped into the pit in front of Wu Ying Ying, vanishing from sight. Wu Ying Ying: "?" Holding the pass token, she was bewildered. What just happened? Why was she suddenly holding the token? She took a few steps forward, peering into the pit. The haunting roar of a dragon echoed from below, the intense pressure forcing her to shut her eyes, retreating to a safer distance. She was merely a delicate alchemist, not a warrior. She could manage smaller threats, but against something this powerful, she'd only create chaos if involved. So, she stood there offering her prayers. Outside the Mingjing Platform, Su Zi Jun glanced at Yao Shen Zi, questioning him, "This Wu Ying Ying is a disciple of your Yao Shen Sect, isn't she? What is she doing?" Yao Shen Zi puffed his beard, "How could prayer not be considered helpful?" "...," Su Zi Jun chuckled, "Did I say she wasn't?" Yao Shen Zi huffed, "You'd better not." At this moment, the second leader from the left of the nine-pillared stage spoke, "That Beastmaster Sect disciple has some interesting qualities." Ying Xiao nodded, commenting, "She seems to have been to the Xuanhuang Secret Realm, hence knowing the phantom beasts' weaknesses. Yet I'm perplexed by how this girl discovered the secret of the realm." The female disciple named Nian Qing did not find the hidden entrance by chance. The leaders exchanged glances, all sharing curiosity. Su Zi Jun closed her eyes, not speaking a word. From the start of the contest, seeing the sword at Yan Zhao’s waist revealed her identity to Su Zi Jun. Her silence now was intentional, ensuring no one noticed her interest in Yan Zhao. Unexpectedly, as she chose silence, Yao Shen Zi suddenly declared, "It must be because that girl is clever!" The statement caught the attention of those around, and Ying Xiao respectfully asked, "What makes you say so, elder?" "Unlike that Zuo Xun girl, who's neither clever nor even-tempered. Those from Yun Dao Zi's sect are all stubborn and rigid!" As he spoke, Yao Shen Zi glanced at Yun Dao Zi, disregarding the senior's dignity. Ying Xiao's smile was strained, and others showed signs of discomfort. Yet Yun Dao Zi remained unperturbed by Yao Shen Zi's remarks, calm and composed, without a hint of anger. Thankfully, Yao Shen Zi did not continue. After critiquing Zuo Xun, he abruptly shifted focus: "But this Beastmaster Sect girl is different. Recognizing Wu Ying Ying's potential speaks to her discerning eyes. I quite admire her!" Who in the world doesn't know that Yao Shen Zi is fiercely protective? His words were nothing more than a spirited defense for Wu Ying Ying. Ying Xiao wiped sweat from his forehead. "There's some sense in that." Su Zi Jun laughed out loud. The crowd: "..." Chapter 206 The vision at the bottom of the dragon pit was dim, becoming darker with each step downward. The act of hurling fluorite had already agitated the three-headed dragon, and as Yan Zhao and Bi Lan descended, the beast sensed the unfamiliar presence, roaring with a wave of its fiery breath. Yan Zhao initially intended to land directly on the dragon's back, but the upward gust threw her off balance, veering her from her descent path. Caught in the draft from the dragon's tail, she spiraled sideways, landing awkwardly. The Little Fox leapt from Yan Zhao's embrace just in time, using her shoulder as a springboard to help halt her slide across the ground. Bi Lan witnessed this from above and gasped in horror, "Miss Nian!" Stunned from the fall, Yan Zhao shook her head to regain focus. She recalled her previous encounter with Little Jin, realizing why it had been so manageable. Back then, Little Jin was pinned to the ground by many stakes, allowing her the advantage. Glancing at the lively three-headed dragon behind her, Yan Zhao fell into a brief silence. She needed to approach the dragon and subdue it, ensuring it remained still during her incantations and symbol-drawing. This was a misstep; she hadn't planned well before entering the dragon pit. This predicament troubled her greatly. However, the three-headed dragon charged at her with force, its fiery breath rolling from its mouth relentlessly. Yan Zhao didn’t hesitate, quickly scrambling to her feet and running. While she might lack in some areas, her speed in fleeing was unmatched. As soon as Bi Lan landed, she saw the dragon wildly chasing Yan Zhao around. Bi Lan pondered; perhaps she had worried too much, as Miss Nian didn't appear to be hurt. Yan Zhao sprinted ahead, the dragon chasing close behind, circling the pit time and again, leaving Bi Lan dizzy from watching. Suddenly, one of the three heads noticed Bi Lan nearby. Its eyes flared with malice, and it lunged forward with its mouth open. Roar— Bi Lan was startled but reacted swiftly, stamping hard and dodging backward. In her view, just as the dragon's head grew massively large in an instant, it inexplicably halted midway, having intended to devour Bi Lan, but its body didn’t follow. Abruptly, it retreated swiftly, being led back by the dominant central head in pursuit of Yan Zhao. Bi Lan was baffled. She could have sworn she saw a fleeting moment of embarrassment in the dragon's eyes. "..." She must have been mistaken. Yan Zhao continued circling the pit, desperately thinking of strategies. The Little Fox, finding an opportunity, jumped onto Yan Zhao's shoulder. When the dragon came close, it patted her shoulder. Bi Lan, snapping out of her daze, stepped forward, weaving a spell. From the ground, thick green vines shot up like lightning, intercepting the dragon. The dragon could not dodge the vines, becoming thoroughly entangled. Its movements halted, and its three heads roared furiously to the heavens. Hearing the commotion, Yan Zhao looked back, her eyes brightening at the sight. She quickly stopped, turning back, hoping to cast her spell while the dragon was trapped. However, she had barely run a few steps when the dragon suddenly expelled flames from its maw. The fire scorched the vines, and within moments, the tough, thick vines were reduced to nothing but charred remains, the dry remnants crumbling to dust at the slightest touch.