206 - The Demon Fox Wife is a Foodie

She felt a bit of regret, realizing she should have told Chen Er before the battle began that conceding isn't shameful. On the stage, Yun Xiao Lei remained oblivious to the surrounding events, covering his ears and immersing himself in chanting spells. It seemed that he wouldn't cease until he summoned enough lightning to obliterate Chen Er. Chen Er was also aware of this predicament. If she wished to avoid physical torment, she needed to find a solution. To defeat Yun Xiao Lei, she had to attack him, but he was still several feet away, making close combat nearly impossible. Moreover, the lightning strikes were so dense that she barely had time to dodge, let alone form incantations. Could her water spells be effectively cast? Chen Er felt as though her path was entirely blocked; this battle seemed to offer only two choices: concede or be charred, with no third option. Perhaps conceding would be best. That thought flickered through her mind. But then, an image of Ye Yan Ran and Xuan Yuan Mu chatting and laughing appeared in her thoughts. At the same time, she recalled her master. She presumed her master wasn't too invested in her success, so even if she lost, there would be no punishment upon her return. Dodging the falling thunder, she retreated and managed to glance up at the floating platform where the audience watched. Exchanging a glance with a pair of deep, ocean-like eyes. Those eyes held a gentle expression, not a hint of anger, vast and inclusive. A shiver ran through Chen Er. Her master, Yuan Hai Zhen Ren, was keenly watching her match. If she lost this duel, it wouldn't just tarnish her reputation; as a disciple of the world's foremost magic cultivator, she'd be disgracing Yuan Hai Zhen Ren's illustrious name. Chen Er took a sharp breath. She couldn’t allow that. "How rare," Xuan Yuan Mu suddenly remarked, "she’s taking it seriously now." Ye Yan Ran, hearing this, also noticed the shift in Chen Er's demeanor. Around the floating platforms, Yuan Hai Zhen Ren raised a brow. Not far off, Su Zi Jun chuckled cheerfully, "Things are getting interesting." Those gathered observed the unfolding situation with keen interest. Knowing Chen Er was the disciple of Yuan Hai Zhen Ren, responses varied—some watched with detached amusement, while others harbored disdain, curious to see how the disciple of the foremost magic cultivator would perform in this grand competition. The opposing lightning magic cultivator also hailed from a prestigious school; though he appeared frail, his attacks were unrelenting. Based on the previous round’s results, predictions leaned towards Chen Er’s defeat, which would further embarrass Yuan Hai Zhen Ren. Few had faith in Chen Er. Another furious lightning bolt descended, barely missing Chen Er by inches. As she dodged, she formed hand seals, taking advantage of a brief moment to create marble-sized water droplets. These droplets circled around her, but as soon as she moved, they scattered, unable to merge into larger forms. Repeatedly, Chen Er’s attempts to consolidate her spells were interrupted, leaving the situation seemingly unchanged. Xuan Yuan Mu watched with a serious expression, and Ye Yan Ran pursed her lips, anxious for Chen Er. Yun Xiao Lei occasionally peeked open his eyes, surprised to see Chen Er still lively despite the barrage of a hundred lightning spells, causing him to hastily close them again and chant faster. In a momentary lull, Chen Er raised her eyes, a sharp light flashing within. Swiftly forming a hand seal, all scattered moisture rose at once, coalescing into a column that shot forward, reaching Yun Xiao Lei's feet. Sensing the atmospheric change, Yun Xiao Lei tentatively opened his eyes. Simultaneously, a flash of lightning struck. His pupils contracted. In an instant, electricity met moisture, traveling along the water column from Chen Er’s position to Yun Xiao Lei. Lightning entwined with the water column, transforming into a roaring thunder dragon. The dragon opened its maw, devouring everything in its path. As the thunderous roar subsided, Yun Xiao Lei lay on the ground, soaked to the bone. With a thud, Chen Er landed heavily. Her body swayed, face pale, chest heaving—indicative of her expenditure. The entire stone stage was drenched, arcs of electricity dancing around, except for a one-square-yard around her feet, untouched by water. Chapter 222 The arena fell silent. Everyone was immersed in the aftermath of the dragon’s roar and its rampant display. Ye Yan Ran stood stunned, eyes alight with wonder. Her spirit was ensnared by the enormous shock until a voice interrupted with applause, "Well done!" Xuan Yuan Mu clapped eagerly, hands above his head. The crowd snapped awake, and distant viewers burst into astonished exclamations. No one anticipated Chen Er’s careful strategies amidst a near-certain defeat, seizing a fleeting moment to execute a stunning comeback. Yan Zhao, too, was pleasantly caught off guard. Holding the Little Fox snug, she murmured, "Chen Er is really amazing." The Little Fox nodded in agreement, acknowledging Chen Er’s outstanding performance. Around the floating islands, the great cultivators displayed a spectrum of expressions. Yuan Hai Zhen Ren’s brow relaxed, a gentle smile spreading across her lips. Her joy wasn't just due to her disciple restoring honor, but from seeing tangible results from years of teaching. Su Zi Jun promptly offered kind words, "Congratulations, master, a talented student indeed." Yuan Hai Zhen Ren chuckled softly, "She still has much to improve." On the stage, Chen Er’s chest rose and fell heavily, panting with exertion. Though Yun Xiao Lei lay motionless, she feared he might not be fully unconscious, so, gathering some strength, she deftly formed a seal to trap Yun Xiao Lei in a watery prison. She wasn’t content yet; prepared to attack at any sign of his revival, she maintained a vigilant stance. After three breaths, Yun Xiao Lei remained still. The supervising elder checked his condition and declared, "This match, Chen Er is the victor!" Chen Er exhaled deeply. She had won. She actually won. Incredible. For a moment, she was overtaken by a whirlwind of emotions, pride in defeating a formidable foe and surpassing herself, followed by her body’s protests after letting go of tension. Her footing faltered, and she nearly collapsed, but a figure leaped onto the stage to steady her. Turning her head, she saw Ye Yan Ran wearing a concerned yet calm expression. Grinning, she said, "I won, huh." Ye Yan Ran’s brows knitted slightly. Naturally, she was pleased for Chen Er, but more than her achievements, Ye Yan Ran worried about Chen Er’s physical state. This clash had drained Chen Er significantly, and being struck by purple lightning once, there was worry over potential latent injuries. But seeing how Chen Er gazed at her—like a dog seeking praise after a hard-run fetch—Ye Yan Ran’s heart softened unusually, conceding, "Impressive." Chen Er’s eyes immediately twinkled into crescents. Guiding Chen Er off the platform, Xuan Yuan Mu watched from afar, his smile deepening. The competition had been thrilling enough; those who previously scoffed at Chen Er now turned their faces away. Xuan Yuan Zheng hung his head, silent and withdrawn, refraining from any further comments. With Yun Xiao Lei transported away from Ming Jing Platform, the presiding elder began drawing the next match pairings. Only four disciples remained without a duel: Zuo Xun, Ye Yan Ran, Xuan Yuan Zheng, and Luo Qi. As the orbs collided in the air and two ascended, all four looked up, seeing the mist disperse to reveal two names: Ye Yan Ran and Xuan Yuan Zheng. Finally, his turn arrived. Xuan Yuan Zheng exhaled deeply. Popping his finger joints with a crack, he took his first steps toward the stage when Jue Lan's voice stopped him, "Xuan Yuan, wait." Jue Lan leaned close, whispering a few words in his ear. Xuan Yuan Zheng's pupils contracted, giving Jue Lan another glance. With a pat on Xuan Yuan Zheng's shoulder, Jue Lan nodded toward the stage meaningfully. Maintaining a stern expression, Xuan Yuan Zheng acknowledged him with a nod, proceeded forward without further ado. This scene unfolded under Xuan Yuan Mu's watchful eyes. As Ye Yan Ran handed Chen Er over to him, preparing to face her opponent, Xuan Yuan Mu offered a cautious reminder, "Be careful out there." Ye Yan Ran was surprised by his words, sensing there might be more to his warning. But upon reflection, she thought Xuan Yuan Mu was simply reminding her to be cautious and not impulsive in combat. She nodded, replying, "Alright." As Ye Yan Ran departed, Chen Er found a place to sit. Though exhausted, she didn’t meditate to rest. Instead, she focused intently, observing how Ye Yan Ran would conduct the upcoming battle. Facing her was Xuan Yuan Zheng, a scion of the Xuan Yuan family. Although both were gifted in artifact crafting, Chen Er was confident that he was no match for Ye Yan Ran. Meanwhile, Xuan Yuan Mu turned his gaze to the distance, noticing Jue Lan standing alone with arms crossed in a corner, seemingly innocuous. Yet, when he recalled Jue Lan’s expression when he stopped Xuan Yuan Zheng earlier, Xuan Yuan Mu couldn’t shake a vague sense of unease. He wondered what Jue Lan might have said to Xuan Yuan Zheng. On the stage, Ye Yan Ran and Xuan Yuan Zheng faced each other, poised for combat. The supervising elder announced the start of the duel, and the moment the words left her lips, Xuan Yuan Zheng sprang into action. Being born of the Xuan Yuan family, he too was an artifact smith. Unlike sword, blade, or spell cultivators, weapon smiths aren't naturally aggressive. However, they possess their own stealthy and unpredictable defense mechanisms. Xuan Yuan Zheng raised his hand, and a crossbow materialized before him. With a flick of the trigger, and a series of clicks and clacks, a barrage of magical bolts shot towards Ye Yan Ran. Ye Yan Ran sensed the precise mechanisms, quickly retreating as the bolts thudded into the floor before her, their tips embedding nearly an inch deep. Having dodged Xuan Yuan Zheng's assault, Ye Yan Ran swiftly retrieved three metal pellets, swinging her arm to launch them. They flew straight towards Xuan Yuan Zheng, who narrowed his eyes, adjusting his aim to fire three arrows in succession. The arrows sliced through the air, intercepting the incoming pellets. A series of thunderous explosions erupted, three small mushroom clouds bursting into the sky. Ye Yan Ran felt a twinge of respect; the Xuan Yuan family truly lived up to its reputation as the leading house in artifact smithing. Although Xuan Yuan Zheng may be considered a black sheep with questionable character, his skill was indisputable. Watching this unfold, Xuan Yuan Kai's furrowed brows began to ease, his mood lifting after days of tension. How could their family’s craftsmanship be bested by the makeshift techniques of Wanbao Palace? This match would show how his nephew could bring disgrace upon Wanbao Palace. Su Zi Jun, oblivious to Xuan Yuan Kai’s malicious thoughts, observed the exchange between Ye Yan Ran and Xuan Yuan Zheng—hurling ambush weapons and spiritual symbols, countering each other with magical tools. She rested her chin on her hand: "It seems I've been giving my disciples too few spirit stones. Ye Yan Ran’s inventory looks too sparse; I’ll discuss with the Elders Council about creating a new allocation plan." Yao Shen Zi listened, his eyebrows twitching, his face contorted in jealousy. On Ming Jing Platform, Ye Yan Ran and Xuan Yuan Zheng continued their exchange. Despite their varied attack methods, neither could truly suppress the other. Explosions erupted on the platform, debris flew up, and smoke filled the air, obstructing the view from below, obscuring the battle stage’s happenings. Chen Er craned her neck, trying to peer through the obscurity: "What's happening? Why hasn’t Yan Ran won yet?"