203 - The Demon Fox Wife is a Foodie

Wu Ying Ying rushed to Yan Zhao's side, inspecting her injuries without delay. Earlier, seeing Yan Zhao struck by an airborne force and collapsing in a mist of blood, she had been terrified. "I'm fine," Yan Zhao assured. Despite the dreadful beating she'd received, her injuries weren't serious enough to affect her. Given some time, she might fully heal. Wu Ying Ying still expressed concern, "We saw you get hit by a flurry of blades and fall into a pool of blood—it was terrifying!" Yan Zhao repeated, "Nothing of that sort happened." After the intense battle, her clothes were slightly torn, with a fair share of scratches, but they weren't as severe as Wu Ying Ying described. Bi Lan realized, "We must have fallen under an illusion." "Illusion?" Wu Ying Ying paused, recalling her own wounds. Inspecting herself, she found not a single scar. Amazed, she exclaimed, "It really was an illusion!" She was completely unharmed! Wu Ying Ying let out a long sigh of relief, "That's great! Nothing actually happened!" She patted Yan Zhao's shoulder, consoling her, "It's okay that we lost the match. It's my fault for dragging you all down. When we get back, I'll—" Yan Zhao interrupted with a curious glance, "We won." Before Wu Ying Ying could process those words, her mind made the connection, and she exclaimed, "What?!" Bi Lan echoed for Yan Zhao, not fully believing, "We won?" Yan Zhao nodded calmly, "Yes, we did." Wu Ying Ying leaped in disbelief, "Really?!" How was this even possible? Yan Zhao explained, "The other three opponents were already transported out." Only then did Wu Ying Ying notice they were still on the stage, surrounded by three other teams who completed their trials. They remained, proving Yan Zhao spoke the truth. Feeling as if she had slept through a dream, Wu Ying Ying was left with a sense of surrealism. Bi Lan gazed at Yan Zhao's profile for a moment, then acknowledged their victory. "Let's head down," he suggested. While Wu Ying Ying continued her ecstatic celebration, jumping around like an excited puppy, Bi Lan felt embarrassed by the attention from the surrounding crowds. Yan Zhao had no objections, leading the way off the stage. Wu Ying Ying caught up to her, bombarding her with questions about their victory. Given their formidable opponents, it seemed unlikely. Yan Zhao couldn't articulate the sequence of events well, simply stating, "My spirit pet is exceptional." "Spirit pet?" Wu Ying Ying looked down at the fox cradled in Yan Zhao’s arms, realization dawning upon her. "So it was your spirit pet that defeated them?!" Yan Zhao nodded with modest confidence. Bi Lan stood silently, lost in thought. On the once-crowded martial stage, only twelve disciples remained, leaving it relatively empty. Each victorious team claimed a corner while curious glances from the other sect disciples followed Yan Zhao's team as they descended. Zuo Xun's companion, a seemingly gentle young man adept in lightning magic, remarked, "That's Nian Qing from the Beast Master Sect, isn't she amazing?" Impressed by bravery, he knew that if he had faced Song Pi, he might have surrendered without even trying. Zuo Xun shifted his gaze back to Wu Ying Ying, making no comment. Elsewhere, Chen Er elbowed Xuan Yuan Mu playfully, "Another hidden expert, huh? Aren't those of you with spirit pets a bit odd?" Xuan Yuan Mu stepped aside casually. Puzzled, Chen Er asked, "What are you doing?" Xuan Yuan Mu whispered, "Avoiding suspicion." Before Chen Er could question further, the towering stone pillar announced a fresh bout of spirit rain from Ying Xiao. The mystical rain rejuvenated the twelve disciples, revitalizing them both physically and potentially enhancing their cultivation levels. Yan Zhao caught a few droplets, watching them dissolve into her palm, thinking, How long would it take to reach this level of cultivation through nightly meditation alone? "As the elite among the younger generation, it's heartening to see you here after two rounds of trials," Ying Xiao praised, "Therefore, we've decided to award you an additional prize." At this, all twelve disciples lit up with joy, while those disqualified watched from afar with regret. Ying Xiao waved his sleeve, summoning twelve spheres of light that dispersed to each disciple. Yan Zhao grasped a jade box that floated toward her. Flicking it open, she uncovered a dark golden pill inside. "This is a Golden Yang Pill, known to significantly enhance cultivation during the foundation establishment stage—" Before Ying Xiao could finish, Yan Zhao casually tossed the pill into her mouth, chewing it nonchalantly. Bi Lan, Wu Ying Ying, and the rest stood dumbfounded, watching her consume the pill as if it were a candy. Wu Ying Ying exclaimed, "Nian Qing, why did you just eat it?" Yan Zhao discarded the empty box, stating, "A pill to boost cultivation is meant to be eaten, isn't it?" Though Wu Ying Ying was speechless, she knew Yan Zhao's point was technically correct. Still, wasn't it advisable to consume such pills in a quiet, undisturbed place, ideally with a trusted guardian nearby to watch over during the process? Before Wu Ying Ying could elaborate on the proper technique for pill consumption, Yan Zhao swayed unexpectedly and fell against her. "Nian Qing!" Wu Ying Ying cried, catching Yan Zhao's shoulders. Yan Zhao shook her head, hazy from dizziness, overwhelmed by a sudden wave of sleepiness she hadn't felt in ages. The Little Fox reached out, surprisingly pressing its paws on Yan Zhao’s cheeks. The cold sensation jolted Yan Zhao awake instantly. Bi Lan, noticing her change, inquired, "Nian Qing, are you alright?" "I'm fine," Yan Zhao replied, shaking her head. Though still physically lethargic, her mind was alert again. The pill's potency was indeed strong. Yan Zhao had barely swayed before she regained clarity. The observed events didn’t escape the watchful eyes of the elders and leaders surrounding the stage. On the platform, Ying Xiao announced, "The third round begins after one incense stick." This round required individual matches, meaning former allies could now become opponents. Twelve contenders, fighting until six remained, then whittled down to three. Nonetheless, having come thus far, they had secured a spot on this year's publicly announced ranking list. An incense stick's length passed swiftly. As everyone settled, the overseeing elder stood, "Time to draw lots!" The original stage remained, and with a gesture from the presiding elder, the medallions around the disciples' waists illuminated, releasing spheres of light that clustered above. The elders' joint forces sent the light spheres tumbling in midair. Eventually, two were cast forward, revealing the concealed names. "Nian Qing, Han Fu Feng." Wu Ying Ying reacted strongly, shaking Yan Zhao's shoulders, "Nian Qing, it's your name!" Still a bit dazed, Yan Zhao responded with a hesitant, "?" Nian Qing. It was indeed her name. But, given that they had barely been involved in the previous round, being called so early now felt sudden. Chapter 219 Yan Zhao found herself perplexed. She glanced up at the two names, wondering, Who is Han Fu Feng? Soon enough, she had her answer. A man sprang gracefully onto the stage, his movements fluid and crisp. He was the sword cultivator from Zuo Xun's group. "This man's strength is formidable! Ke Le An didn't even make a move back then, and along with Xuan Yuan Zheng, this sword cultivator defeated the opposing team," Wu Ying Ying expressed her concern. "Nian Qing, be careful!" Bi Lan furrowed his brows, adding, "He's not someone easy to contend with." Sword cultivators excel in combat; when it comes to individual prowess, Han Fu Feng could easily rank in the top five. Yan Zhao, however, remained unfazed. She lived by the philosophy of addressing challenges as they came, never worrying about the formidable adversaries she might face next. Given her cultivation level, who wasn't a formidable opponent? Under everyone's watchful eyes, Yan Zhao leisurely ascended the stage, gently cradling her fox. As she went, she patted its head, whispering, "It's up to you to perform well now." The Little Fox was silent. Opposite her, Han Fu Feng stood stable and composed, exuding a calm confidence. Even as Yan Zhao ambled toward him, he showed no impatience. Once Yan Zhao took her place on the stage, the overseeing elder announced, "Begin! Remember, it's just a sparring match!" As soon as the words fell, Han Fu Feng struck. Moving like a thunderbolt, his sword cut through the air, reaching Yan Zhao in a flash. The tip aimed sharply at her throat. Yet Yan Zhao appeared unaware, still lingering in the motion of stroking her fox, standing frozen. The spectators below gasped collectively, witnessing the potential end in a single move. Clang— The sound of sword clashes rang out as the blade was deflected, impacted by an unseen force. The Little Fox’s long tail swept up, releasing a misty breath of frost toward Han Fu Feng. Having observed the previous encounter, Han Fu Feng anticipated this. With a swift flick of his sleeve, he sent the frost spiraling back. To her chagrin, the frost landed squarely on Yan Zhao, forming a frozen mask on her face. Yan Zhao was speechless. She had stood still, yet in the tussle between Han Fu Feng and the Little Fox, she ended up the unintended target. The Little Fox shared her embarrassment but, just as it prepared to remove the frozen layer from Yan Zhao's face, Han Fu Feng returned, delivering a swift sword strike toward her. Yan Zhao remained still, with the Little Fox countering the sword cultivator in a flurry of alternating strikes. In a matter of seconds, Han Fu Feng and the spirit fox had clashed over a hundred times. Even with prior anticipation, Han Fu Feng was amazed by the tiny fox's agility. A Nine-Tailed Fox, even without transforming, held its ground skillfully against him. It piqued his interest to face the Nine-Tailed Fox's true form in combat. His life's pursuit of supreme swordsmanship required opponents strong enough to unlock his full potential and reveal greater horizons. The Nine-Tailed Fox's reverse scale was undoubtedly Yan Zhao. Thus, Han Fu Feng held nothing back, each strike directed at Yan Zhao’s vital points. As the Little Fox engaged Han Fu Feng intensely, Yan Zhao reached up to touch the icy mask on her face. The mask was uncomfortable, frozen to her skin. Initially, she wanted to remove it by herself but reconsidered—the thought of having more than one mask was enough to deter her. Suddenly, a flash of a sword crossed her vision, and a precise sword energy grazed her forehead. Crack. The subtle sound of breaking reverberated as a crack formed across the frozen mask on Yan Zhao’s face. Startling, Yan Zhao hastily covered her forehead, abruptly pulling back with unusual swiftness. She braced herself, mindful of her surroundings, preparing for what was yet to come.