201 - The Demon Fox Wife is a Foodie

On Yan Zhao's neck, the Little Fox remained watchful and wary. So far, this man was the first enemy they encountered who was adept in the art of soul force, surely withholding even more abilities yet to be revealed. Song Pi's lips curled into a smile as he abruptly removed the magical weapon from his back and swung it forcefully at Yan Zhao's head. Yan Zhao blocked with a backward swipe of her hand, a heavy thud resonating as the weighty object collided with her arm. The insurmountable force struck Yan Zhao, lifting her off the ground and sending her flying through the air. Exclamations erupted from the audience below, eyes wide as they watched Yan Zhao skid several meters across the arena, nearly reaching the edge of the stone platform. The attack was so sudden that the Little Fox, with its petite figure and less strength, couldn't help in time and instead was flung off Yan Zhao's shoulder by the powerful impact. As it landed, a massive shadow descended from the sky, engulfing its body. The heavy, fabric-wrapped magical weapon was raised high by Song Pi, aimed to crush its head. The attack was ferocious, a tidal wave of strength. If it landed, the Little Fox could be reduced to a mere pulp in an instant. With nimble reflexes, it pushed off the ground, twisting backward. A boisterous crash echoed as the weapon hit the ground, instantaneously shattering stones and creating a sizable crater. Yan Zhao shook her arm, numbed from the blow, and thought: This man appears slender and weak, yet his strength is formidable. At the sudden sound, she turned her head to see Song Pi’s raised weapon, creating pits in the ground, as he relentlessly pursued the Little Fox, which seemed unable to retaliate. A surge of anger took over Yan Zhao as she shouted, "This is outrageous!" How dare he lay a hand on her Little Fox! In a flash, she disappeared from her spot and reappeared beside the Little Fox, scooping it up and withdrawing before Song Pi's massive hammer could strike. During this Immortal Sect Disciple Tournament, Yan Zhao appreciated the practicality of the Swift Movement Spell, honing it to near perfection with practice. She dodged Song Pi's attacks while searching for an opportunity. But with the disparity in strength, even with the Swift Movement Spell's boost, effective retaliation was difficult. As she withdrew, Yan Zhao contemplated strategies to break the stalemate. Boom— Song Pi destroyed another section of the ground. Yan Zhao seized the moment, using the Swift Movement Spell to close in on him, twisting her wrist to thrust her sword at his throat. Simultaneously, the Little Fox leapt forward from her sword’s blade, attempting a decisive capture. Just as success seemed imminent, an invisible shockwave erupted around Song Pi. A loud hum reverberated as the air fiercely vibrated. Yan Zhao's sword felt as if striking a wall of solid brass, bending dangerously and nearly breaking. The Little Fox, heart pounding, was instantly thrown back by an overwhelming force, tumbling through the air. As it was about to plummet off the platform, it swung its large tail, conjuring an icy shield to cushion its back and slow its fall, before tumbling back onto the stone stage. Yan Zhao, however, did not retreat, caught in Song Pi’s grip as he clamped her neck. With a slight exertion of his fingers, he lifted her effortlessly. Outside the arena, Yao Shenzi’s face turned increasingly grim, while Su Zijun pinched the bridge of her nose, a glimmer of murderous intent flashing in her eyes. Fortunately, others were equally focused on the battle, noticing nothing unusual in their expressions. Song Pi clutching Yan Zhao's neck was poised to demand her surrender. Suddenly, a fierce aura emerged at his side. Reacting swiftly, he shifted positions, keeping Yan Zhao as a hostage, facing off with the cold gaze of the Snow Fox. “Can’t you see the situation?” “Surrender, and there’s no need to continue this fight,” Song Pi’s tone was calm, “You cannot defeat me.” Yan Zhao, unable to breathe, flushed with a pained expression. In front, the Little Fox crouched low, poised to strike in a heartbeat. Frowning, Song Pi remarked, "Stubborn fools." He released her neck, then struck her heart with a backhand punch, followed by a palm to her forehead, and finished with a spinning kick to her waist. Yan Zhao was thrown back, rolling several times across the stage. Her body ached all over, her mind hummed, limbs rendered senseless. Finally still, she struggled to move but couldn’t. The gap in strength was immense; his cultivation far exceeded hers, leaving her helpless. So this is what it feels like to be publicly humiliated, she thought, forgotten until now. Three years of cultivation hadn’t been enough. Let alone resurrecting her mother, even winning this tournament and claiming her mother’s relic seemed an impossible task. As Yan Zhao struggled to regain control of her movement, a shadow loomed over her. Song Pi, expressionless, raised the heavy metallic weapon over her head to strike. The referee elder stood abruptly, eyes vigilant, watching the scene unfold. They’d intervene if Yan Zhao's life was in jeopardy. Yet, no blood splattered on the stage. Instead, the nearly human-sized bundle whipped into the air, spinning before plummeting, embedding itself into the stone stage. The cloth unfurled, revealing the deep red metallic sheen beneath—a bronze lamp. On the opposite side of the field, Song Pi’s pupils contracted, eyes wide with shock as the lamp slipped from his grasp. Spectators gaped, surprised at the unexpected sight. The referee elder was visibly startled, the eight Immortal Alliance leaders simultaneously letting out a heavy breath. Yao Shenzi whistled sharply, "Is that a Nine-Tailed Fox?" In front of Song Pi, a snowy form unfurled, revealing nine fluffy tails. The half-person high Nine-Tailed Fox showed its true self, with Yan Zhao sheltered beneath. Yan Zhao lay unmoving, but her eyes widened in shock: "You… you’re the Little Fox?" This large fox was completely different, boasting nine tails! The Nine-Tailed Fox stood gracefully, shimmering in silver. It bore a floral birthmark on its brow, enhancing its pure and holy aura, but looked at Song Pi with icy anger. Its tails swept across the stage, unleashing a frigid wind and plummeting temperatures, frost forming on the ground. Song Pi was caught unprepared and struck by a barrage of icy shards. The chilling force whipped at him like a lash, lifting his feet off the ground, sending him tumbling backward until he slammed into the bronze lamp, a heavy thud resonating. The lamp toppled, and he stopped. Alarmed, fellow cultivators rushed forward, hands outstretched to help him up. Song Pi swatted them away, using the lamp to stagger to his feet. His body covered in cuts and his clothes soaked with blood, yet no anger clouded his face—only unwavering focus on the Nine-Tailed Fox shielding Yan Zhao. Excitement filled his eyes. The legendary Nine-Tailed Fox, known for its boundless power and decisive action. Instead of defeat from this sudden turn, he found the situation invigorating. Grabbing the bronze lamp with one hand, a cold smile appeared at his lips. One cultivator’s heart skipped a beat, backing away instinctively, chilled to the bone. Song Pi raised the bronze lamp once more, then slammed it to the ground, forming a seal with his hands. Abruptly, the lamp’s wick ignited spontaneously. The palm-sized flame flickered, casting a warm, orange glow over the stage. The Nine-Tailed Fox’s face grew serious. What was this artifact’s purpose? Suddenly, its pupils shrank. Both Song Pi and the other cultivators vanished. Looking down sharply, it saw Yan Zhao had disappeared too. A rumble ensued, towering stone pillars fractured and collapsed, turning to crumbled ruins. The eight Immortal Alliance leaders and the senior spectators were nowhere to be seen. The platform extended infinitely outward, fissures exuding fresh blood, coalescing into multiple blood-red nine-tailed foxes mirroring its form. Ren Qingyue felt a sinking feeling; it had fallen into an illusion. No, a formation. When the lamp was lit, the formation took effect, enveloping the area within its glow. A dozen bloodred foxes lunged at it simultaneously. Ren Qingyue's gaze sharpened, her nine tails whipping through the air like lashes. The blood-red reflections were shattered instantly, scattering into a spray of blood mist, only to reform seconds later. On the platform, Yan Zhao struggled to regain some sensation in her body, arduously clawing her way back to her feet. Suddenly, the large fox before her moved its tail and, without warning, wrapped it around her, lifting her high into the air. Stunned by the unexpected action, Yan Zhao shouted, "What are you doing?!" The tail tightened around her, showing no signs of relaxing. Yan Zhao fought desperately against its grip and glanced downward, meeting a pair of cold, ruthless eyes. Behind her, a man's sinister laughter echoed, sending shivers down her spine, "How will you fare once this fox no longer protects you?" Yan Zhao fixated on the Nine-Tailed Fox in front of her. With a flick of its long tail, Yan Zhao was hurled like a ragdoll, unable to resist, landing with a thud that felt bone-crushing. The Nine-Tailed Fox began to stride toward Yan Zhao. Each step was poised, yet each was filled with lethal intent. To it, Yan Zhao seemed as insignificant as an ant. An overwhelming sense of danger loomed over her; it was clear, the fox intended to kill. Song Pi leaned lazily on the bronze lamp, watching with a teasing smirk, condescendingly offering Yan Zhao a piece of advice: "To break this formation is easy; you need only kill it yourself." Chapter 217 Kill the Nine-Tailed Fox? Yan Zhao looked at the tall, approaching figure, her face turning pale. Not out of fear, but from growing fury. She, too, had controlled other spiritual beings and knew how that felt. Song Pi had set up this formation to control the Nine-Tailed Fox, pitting master against servant—a blatant insult. Whether Yan Zhao killing the fox or the fox turning on its master, both scenarios presented a twisted spectacle that Song Pi relished. The Nine-Tailed Fox lashed out with its tails like whips towards Yan Zhao. She quickly formed seals and cast the Swift Movement Spell, skilfully dodging the rapidly advancing tails. The tails struck the ground with thunderous force, spraying earth and stone. Though Yan Zhao evaded the tails, she was hit by the shower of stones, hurriedly raising her hands to protect her eyes. Sharp edges of debris left small cuts on her arms. Yan Zhao retreated, blood trailing from her hands and dripping onto the platform. Before she could catch her breath, another tail swept towards her. She leapt into the air, spinning to narrowly avoid it. As she dodged, she thought to herself: Her Little Fox was indeed formidable. No wonder not a single Golden Core disciple could defeat it. Her momentary lapse in focus allowed a tail to hit her, leaving her breathless as she was flung across the platform, hitting the ground with a resounding crash. The Nine-Tailed Fox’s strength was immense, and its strikes were relentless. That single lash felt as if her bones were disassembled. It struck harder than Song Pi. She slid across most of the platform, barely coming to a stop when another shadow loomed over her. Quickly bracing her hands on the ground, she rolled to the side just as a fox tail smashed into the spot, creating cracks and sending stones flying, adding more cuts to her skin. Incapable of fighting back, Yan Zhao found herself overwhelmed. --- (Note: For the integrity of the translation, I have maintained narrative flow without including unrelated promotional content or messages about the platform.)