193 - The Demon Fox Wife is a Foodie

Chen Er, caring little about the surroundings, grabbed Ye Yanran's wrist, "Let's go!" In the labyrinth secret realm, Zuo Xun swiftly caught the pass key tossed from above. Behind her, a disciple of the immortal sect hit the ground with a thud, already unconscious. She glanced at the pass key before tucking it away, immediately turning back. It had been less than half an hour since she and Wu Yingying parted ways; she should still be able to catch up. With this thought in mind, Zuo Xun moved quickly through the maze. Everywhere she went, her trained insects left marks, meaning she knew the maze's layout by heart. Suddenly, the ground beneath her feet shook violently. Zuo Xun halted, frowning with suspicion as she assessed the direction of the sound. Boom— Another loud noise shook her. It came from the direction of the secret passage! How could there be such a commotion under normal circumstances? Could a monster have escaped from the passage? A flurry of emotions crossed her face, heartbeat quickening, as she leapt forward with doubled speed. She maneuvered quickly through the labyrinth, just about to reach where she split from Wu Yingying, when suddenly, a strong gust of wind blew through the corridor, shaking the entire maze. Zuo Xun looked toward the source of the noise and saw the ground not far away suddenly collapse, revealing a dark, yawning chasm. The hole expanded rapidly, with fierce winds billowing upwards. At the same time, a massive, deep grey figure shot into the sky. Reacting swiftly, Zuo Xun retreated as the ground crumbled beneath her. Her broodmother insect quivered in fear. The fissure stopped extending right at her feet, while the giant grey figure twisted and crashed into the nearest wall. The stone walls on either side of the corridor were carved with protective arrays; to break through them required overwhelming force greater than the arrays' protection. The dragon's initial strike failed, and it flapped its wings to rise higher. As the creature's form swirled in the air, Zuo Xun clearly noticed a person clinging to its back. That's... Nian Qing of the Beast Taming Sect! What is she doing? Is this ancient dragon also a monster from the secret passage? Amidst a swirl of confusion, a more pressing concern nagged at her: Where is Wu Yingying?! Ignoring Yan Zhao and the rampaging three-headed dragon demolishing the maze, she continued her rapid pursuit towards the secret passage. Turning a corner, she ran headlong into two people coming her way. Momentarily blinded, she felt a sharp pain in her chin as she collided with someone, both falling backward. "Ow—!" a female voice exclaimed painfully. "Who is this, so hard?" With a slight pause, the voice dragged out in shock, "Eh?! Sister Zuo!" Zuo Xun, not expecting to run into Wu Yingying at the corner, stood stunned, unable to react for a long moment. It was Bi Lan who helped Wu Yingying up, breaking the silence, "Sister Zuo, did you see the ancient dragon flying past here just now?" Zuo Xun came to her senses and nodded, "I did. I also saw Miss Nian." Wu Yingying perked up, "Where did they go?" Zuo Xun replied, "I'll take you." Though surprised, Wu Yingying smiled warmly, "You're so nice, Sister Zuo!" Zuo Xun averted her gaze uncomfortably, suddenly feeling very odd. But there was no time for hesitation; she promptly turned and said to Wu Yingying and Bi Lan, "Follow me." Above the maze, many people witnessed the same scene. A massive three-headed dragon rampaged through the labyrinth, spewing fire as its three heads passed, leaving either howling winds or scorching flames in its wake. Everyone shared the same bewilderment: such a terrifying creature existed in the maze?! The three-headed dragon wobbled through the air, sometimes ascending, sometimes plummeting, trying to shake Yan Zhao off with the fierce air currents. But it didn't succeed. Each time it smashed into a wall, the little fox wrapped its large tail around Yan Zhao, casting spells to cool her down when heat waves rose. Clinging tightly to the dragon's back, Yan Zhao focused entirely on subduing the creature. It was more challenging than taming Little Gold. When Yan Zhao met Little Gold, it was severely injured, hanging onto life by a thread with a fragile will, making it easy for her to tame. Yet, this three-headed dragon beneath her, though smaller, had an indomitable spirit. Unable to subdue it quickly, Yan Zhao continually infused her power, lest she lose her grip. Thus, as the beast traversed the maze, any disciple who saw the three-headed dragon noticed their immortal token glowing. Among them, some knew their limits and wouldn't dare challenge the giant beast; others, having retrieved the pass key, saw no need for further risk; yet many held onto a shred of hope, thinking they might still get lucky against the dragon despite their lack of strength. So, disciples converged from all directions. On the dragon's back, Yan Zhao withstood yet another of its flips with grim determination. She clung like stubborn glue, unshakeable by the three-headed dragon. Their fierce duel could drag both into ruin. Having weathered yet another onslaught, Yan Zhao's expression turned serious. It was the first time she faced such a tenacious prey. While she could endure the standoff, there wasn't much time left to pass the trial, and failure to retrieve the key would mean defeat. What should she do? At that moment, a delicate chime sounded to Yan Zhao's ear. The little fox jumped from her shoulder, nudging the small pouch at her waist with its paw. Inside the pouch, Little Black snuggled with Little Gold, who had briefly fainted from the earlier collision. The fox's touch sent a chill through the bag, reviving Little Gold. Little Gold opened his eyes, immediately sensing a strong kinship presence. "Roar—" Yan Zhao had yet to devise a plan when the three-headed dragon beneath her let out a deafening roar. Suddenly, the resistance waned. Yan Zhao's eyes gleamed. Victory was close! Unbeknownst to them, they had flown to a relatively open area. Below stood a stone platform where about a dozen nimble disciples had gathered to witness the magnificent three-headed dragon. Under the watchful eyes of many, the dark mass descended like a mountain, its imposing presence overwhelming. The sheer sight of its massive form inspired fear. Yet unexpectedly, its previously violent and oppressive aura gradually calmed. More disciples gathered at the stone platform, including Chen Er and Xuanyuan Mu. Led by Zuo Xun, Wu Yingying, and Bi Lan arrived too, shocked to see the three-headed dragon had changed. The beast circled in the air before landing. Its landing was domineering, full of pride. Its gaze remained fierce, but it didn't lash out. Bi Lan was awestruck, incredulous, "It's… Miss Nian actually tamed the three-headed dragon!" Others heard and were equally taken aback. And then they saw it: a person still on the dragon's back! Chapter 208 Around the Mirror Platform, onlookers erupted in applause. "Wonderful, truly remarkable! The Beast Taming Sect indeed has such a prodigy—congratulations are in order!" Everyone nodded, amazed that this seemingly unremarkable junior disciple from the Beast Taming Sect, whose cultivation was merely at the Golden Core stage, managed to tame such a fierce beast, truly astonishing. Before this, many had inwardly scoffed at her overconfidence, her antics in the dragon pit were absurdly comical. Who would have thought she'd manage to tame the three-headed dragon after all? Yao Shen Zi chuckled, stroking his beard, "Such a bold and resourceful young one, daring and decisive—her future is limitless, marvelous." Ying Xiao, chin in hand, mused, "Now that everyone's gathered, is there another spectacle to come?" The chaos caused by the three-headed dragon had drawn disciples from all corners of the secret realm, and dozens of them gathered around the stone platform, awestruck by the scene. Could someone really tame a three-headed dragon?! Sitting on the dragon's back, Yan Zhao felt an unusual fatigue. She rested a bit, then patted the dragon's neck, signaling the beast to lower its head. Three heads turned, with one dragon head leaning toward Yan Zhao, sensing the faint but distinct aura emanating from her. It couldn't be mistaken—this aura, belonged to the lost princess of yore. The princess was still alive. Yan Zhao extended her hand, pulling a dragon horn-shaped pass key from one of the dragon's heads. Wu Yingying's eyes sparkled with admiration, "Miss Nian is so amazing, so valiant!" Yan Zhao secured three pass keys in one go, a substantial haul, eliciting envy from the onlookers. After the pass keys were taken, the dragon below suddenly spread its wings. Its massive form swelled even further, three heads raising high as it let out a deafening roar. The sound was overwhelming, like a surging tide, causing many spectators to fall, while those still standing quickly retreated several meters. Still on the dragon's back, Yan Zhao was caught off guard. Could it be that the dragon hadn't fully submitted to her and was still resisting? As this thought flashed through her mind, the alchemy furnace at her waist suddenly trembled violently. She felt a wave of dizziness, and at the same moment, an unfamiliar emotion surged within her. Repression, grief, intensity, anger... These emotions intertwined, pulling and opposing each other. Without warning, the three-headed dragon’s body shattered, breaking apart into countless soft white light specks that scattered in all directions. From its heart, an orb of dark golden light lingered momentarily before turning back and swiftly flying toward Yan Zhao, merging into the pouch at her waist. Yan Zhao sensed the dissolution of the contract; her brief bond with the three-headed dragon vanished. She didn't fully understand what was happening. But she heard Little Gold emit a sharp whine, and something new appeared in her mind. A vague vision flashed before her. A divine tree touched the sky, lush with leaves and branches, a fruit atop it glowing brilliantly like the sun, radiating light in all directions. Three golden dragons circled the divine tree, surrounded by beasts worshiping. In an instant, the beautiful scene turned into a nightmare engulfed in flames. The giant tree bent and withered, beasts lay dead across the wasteland. The three golden dragons shielded the divine tree with their enormous bodies, but a sharp sword light pierced through their chest, witnessing the ruin of their kin and the devastation of all life. A mournful wail echoed throughout the universe, traversing through vast timescapes to reach Yan Zhao's ears. She was lost in thought, unaware of how long until a clear chime snapped her back to reality, making her realize she was falling. From the dragon's disappearance to being struck by long-lost memories, only a fleeting moment had passed. It felt as though she was still dreaming, her consciousness not yet recovered from the boundless sorrow. Time seemed to stretch endlessly, scenes flowed slowly, her mind processing the vision, leaving her expression blank and indifferent, coldly detached. Amidst chaos, she appeared unaffected. The sound of the silver bell heightened the sensation of falling, finally bringing Yan Zhao back to her senses. The orb of light was akin to a fragment of consciousness, perhaps a crystallization of the three-headed dragon's thoughts; its body was not tangible, only that faint light was the source of its struggling vitality. It bestowed its residual power upon Little Gold. Outside the Mirror Platform, Ying Xiao was taken aback, "The three-headed dragon self-destructed, how could that be?" Yao Shen Zi, supporting his chin with both hands, speculated, "Could it have chosen this because it refused to be controlled yet couldn’t defy the contract?"