210 - The Demon Fox Wife is a Foodie

This statement confirmed his intention to attend the meeting and personally investigate the matter thoroughly. Yun Daozi wore a genial smile and nodded, saying, "Youth is indeed promising." Ying Xiao paid his respects, and with that, the matter was settled. · On the arena platform, Zuo Xun's eyelids twitched, and eyes widened in disbelief. Yan Zhao didn't use any magic protection; several poison bees clung to her, stinging her. Red marks were left on her neck and head. However, the stings left merely a few scattered red dots on Yan Zhao, which were already fading. Compared to the usual damage they inflicted on others, it was almost negligible. Yan Zhao showed no fear of these venomous creatures, brushing them off without hesitation, leaving their lifeless bodies strewn at her feet. Jue Lan had already been eliminated, and the title of the top disciple of the Immortal Sect would fall to either Zuo Xun or Yan Zhao. Zuo Xun quickly calculated and immediately released hundreds of venomous insects from his sleeve, while drawing a short sword from his waist to launch an attack at Yan Zhao. Jue Lan was thrown off the stage, causing a clamor from the distant viewing platform. During the previous match, unforeseeable changes occurred. Su Zijun and Yuan Hai Zhenren left with their disciples, and several contestants withdrew, leaving the audience largely dispersed. Those who remained were eager to know who would ultimately seize the title. Jue Lan had garnered the highest expectations, obtaining six pass tokens in the first-round labyrinth trial and maintaining the air of a mysterious master. Many believed the champion of this Immortal Sect competition would certainly belong to Wanbao Palace. But surprisingly, as the finals barely began, Jue Lan was jointly tossed off the stage by Yan Zhao and Zuo Xun. The spectators buzzed with chatter. "Yu Shouzong... a sect I've never even heard of, yet they have such formidable individuals." "Someone capable of contracting a nine-tailed fox surely isn't from an unknown sect. They must have powerful backing!" Amidst the admiration, some expressed dissent: "It's all external help. If I were her, I could win too." Before the words settled, someone retorted, "That also depends on if you're destined for it." The refuted person turned angrily, only to see that the speaker was Wu Yingying, granddaughter of Wu Changlao from the Pharmacy Sect. Despite Wu Yingying not continuing in the competition, her status was undeniable, and arguing with her would surely result in a loss. The man trembled at the corners of his mouth, choosing silence instead. His companions also dared not face Wu Yingying and subtly supported him by saying, "The match isn't over yet. Perhaps the victor will be Zuo Xun from Fu Yun Sect..." On Tianjian Platform, Ying Xiao sighed. In truth, he favored Jue Lan for today's top disciple. Jue Lan was a disciple of Wanbao Palace, revered in high circles, with ties to Su Zijun. If he clinched the title and handed over Yan Yuanqing’s relics, it would build goodwill with Su Zijun. Unfortunately, Jue Lan proved unreliable, and in a moment's lapse, allowed the title to slip away. On Mingjing Platform, Yan Zhao patiently dealt with another wave of poison bees. Before she could cast a fire spell, another swarm of bees descended upon the bronze lamp. "…" Yan Zhao fell silent. Hearing the sound of something slicing through the air, Yan Zhao sidestepped. The sharp edge grazed her face, and after missing its mark, changed direction towards her wrist. Yan Zhao was forced to release her grip on the lamp, retreating under Zuo Xun’s relentless advance. Despite being a master of insects, Zuo Xun’s agility surpassed Yan Zhao by far. Yan Zhao could use the Godspeed spell, but primarily to evade harm rather than to attack. The gap in their abilities was significant. Zuo Xun pushed forward as Yan Zhao retreated. Delay even slightly, and she risked injury. Seeing Yan Zhao retreat to the edge of the stage, a white silhouette suddenly shot in, wrapping around her waist. With a gentle tug, Yan Zhao was lifted and pulled back to the nine-tailed fox. Upon witnessing this, Zuo Xun’s expression darkened slightly. She suddenly regretted not collaborating with Jue Lan earlier to eliminate Yan Zhao. The nine-tailed fox had a thick fur immune to venomous insects, and Yan Zhao was tough-skinned, unfazed by their stings. Zuo Xun’s most potent weapon was largely ineffective against her. In contrast, Jue Lan was all show and no substance, and his Ink Soldier formation was far easier for Zuo Xun to dismantle than Yan Zhao with the nine-tailed fox. Zuo Xun observed Yan Zhao and the nine-tailed fox while contemplating strategies. She wasn’t without a chance. As long as Yan Zhao didn’t light the bronze lamp, Zuo Xun had the opportunity for a direct assault. If she could evade the nine-tailed fox and knock out Yan Zhao, holding her unconscious for more than three breaths, she could claim victory even against the fierce fox. Thus, she could complete her mission and accomplish her goals. As Yan Zhao was drawn back by the nine-tailed fox, she noticed a brush flying in mid-air—Jue Lan's previously used implement. Yan Zhao’s eyes lit up. She was drawn to the brush like a fish taking bait. As the brush descended, Yan Zhao reached out to catch it, but just then, a sharp strike aimed for her. Zuo Xun seized the moment, swiftly slashing at Yan Zhao's vulnerable spot with a short blade. The nine-tailed fox lagged too far behind to intervene, and Zuo Xun was confident this strike would land. As Yan Zhao felt the blade approaching, she met Zuo Xun’s gaze. Her outstretched hand didn’t retract; the brush landed firmly in her grasp. Concurrently, she raised her other hand to shield her vitals, with the sharp blade piercing her forearm. With a tearing sound, blood spattered as Yan Zhao swiftly used the brush to draw her blood, not wasting a single drop. Zuo Xun's eyebrows twitched in astonishment. Recalling Yan Zhao's earlier bold move with Song Pi's bronze lamp, Zuo Xun was struck by a foreboding feeling. Undeterred by her injury, Yan Zhao’s forearm lowered, positioning herself to trap Zuo Xun’s arm. Zuo Xun was forcibly pulled forward and watched as Yan Zhao wrote in mid-air the character for "Soldier." As the brush lifted from the ink, the suspended ink seemed to animate, manifesting an arm wielding a blade, turning to slash at Zuo Xun's arm. Anxiously, Zuo Xun dared not withstand the blade, and with a forceful exertion of her inner energy, broke free from Yan Zhao’s hold. Clang— The hefty blade struck the ground, grazing Zuo Xun's shoulder and tearing a piece of her garment. The exposed area revealed a bloodstain, with the blade's force having torn the fabric and lacerated her arm as well. Yan Zhao, having acquired a new toy, was quite taken with it. Zuo Xun felt a sinking sensation, stunned by the magnitude of Yan Zhao’s spiritual power. She pondered the extent of Yan Zhao’s spiritual force and how she had so effortlessly forced a contract with this spirit brush, enhancing her already formidable capabilities. Despite not being adept with the spirit brush, Yan Zhao's summoning of a single ink-spirit soldier posed enough of a challenge to Zuo Xun, preventing any easy approach. With the ink-spirit soldier in front and the formidable nine-tailed fox behind, Yan Zhao was well-protected, rendering Zuo Xun’s attacks ineffective. Reacting decisively, Zuo Xun flung several venomous bees from her sleeve. The bees swarmed the ink-spirit, entangling it, while Zuo Xun slipped past to launch another attack on Yan Zhao. Determined and relentless, Zuo Xun’s speed of attack increased, leaving no room for retreat. When Yan Zhao tried to write, Zuo Xun interrupted, forcing her to engage in hand-to-hand combat with the brush. Their blades clashing with the brush produced sharp sounds, and within moments, they exchanged several moves. Yan Zhao's slower reactions left her struggling under Zuo Xun's assault, though she still didn’t appear defeated. The nine-tailed fox hurried to assist, while Zuo Xun, interconnected with the insect mother, sensed the oppressive pressure of its aura, influencing her to become restless and unsettled. Under mounting tension and a feverish desire for victory, Zuo Xun resorted to bold tactics, abruptly aiming for Yan Zhao’s vital point with a skewed strike. Yan Zhao swiftly evaded. The sharp blade passed by her side, sparing her from harm but severing the pouch at her waist. With a metallic clink, the fabric fell away, revealing a lacquered black pill furnace beneath. Seeing this, Yan Zhao's face changed subtly. In the surrounding sky islands, Yun Daozi's eyes snapped open, while Yao Shenzi frowned. Onstage, Yan Zhao bent down to retrieve the furnace. Zuo Xun thrust her sword once more. This time, Yan Zhao did not dodge. She allowed Zuo Xun’s sword to pierce her shoulder. The unexpected success took Zuo Xun by surprise, having assumed Yan Zhao would evade, not realizing it'd be such a straightforward strike leading to bloodshed. Yan Zhao's shoulder drooped as she picked up the cloth-wrapped furnace, simultaneously ramming her injured shoulder into Zuo Xun. The dagger remained lodged in her shoulder, forcing Zuo Xun backward in disbelief. Meanwhile, several fox tails swept past Yan Zhao, swiftly winding around Zuo Xun's limbs. Zuo Xun, now constrained, unleashed a swarm of venomous bees from his sleeve, driving them recklessly towards the nine-tailed fox. The nine-tailed fox raised its head and exhaled a breath of icy air, instantly freezing the swarm into a mass of dark ice, which shattered into pieces upon hitting the ground. Witnessing this, Zuo Xun sighed inwardly, aware of the vast disparity in strength. Yan Zhao seemed unremarkable at first glance, yet she consistently revealed an abundance of hidden aces, favoring unconventional tactics. She had given her all, but none of it had managed to unsettle Yan Zhao in the slightest. Especially since her venomous creatures were restrained and unable to perform effectively; the battle outwardly appeared to be her attacking, but in truth, she was always on the defensive. Defeat seemed inevitable. Regrettably, despite reaching this far, she couldn’t complete the task given by her peak master and hadn’t secured Yan Yuanqing’s relic. As this thought crossed her mind, Zuo Xun was hurled off the platform by the nine-tailed fox’s mighty throw. On the stage now, only Yan Zhao and her spirit pet remained. The four supervising elders exchanged glances, unanimously accepting the outcome of the battle before loudly announcing, "The victor of this match is Yan Zhao of the Yu Shouzong sect, known also as Nianqing!" Chapter 227 From afar, a chorus of boos erupted from the viewing stands. The audience had mixed feelings about this result. The Immortal Sect tournament had begun with great promise but devolved into farce, and the final battle for the championship seemed trivial, diminishing the Immortal Alliance's credibility amongst many cultivators. Some even felt traveling such a distance to witness this event was wasted effort, a squandering of time. Only Wu Yingying applauded Yan Zhao's victory. Though lamenting Zuo Xun's loss, she equally admired Yan Zhao, and was simply happy whoever won. Wu Yingying turned to share her joy with Bi Lan, only to find her missing. She asked in puzzlement, "When did Miss Bi disappear?" She turned to Wu Changlao for an answer and was told, "She left some time ago." To be precise, Bi Lan had left amidst the prior chaos, departing soon after Xuan Yuanmu announced his withdrawal. Wu Yingying uttered an "Oh" and appeared deep in thought. Meanwhile, on Mingjing Platform, Yan Zhao, the focal point of everyone's discussions, focused on wrapping the pill furnace in cloth quickly. She hadn't even heard the elder announce her victory until after she'd safely concealed the furnace, letting out a long sigh of relief. Behind her, the nine-tailed fox reverted to a small fox form and perched on Yan Zhao's shoulder. With the result of the final duel confirmed, Ying Xiao stood, forming a seal, summoning a cleansing rain. The gentle rain swept over Mingjing Platform, and those below, including Jue Lan who was unconscious, began to recover, and Zuo Xun felt her injuries ease somewhat. Jue Lan awoke, though his face still dotted with remnants of bee stings. An elevated clearing in the center of Mingjing Platform rose, lifting Yan Zhao and her companions until they were level with the stone seat where the leader of the Immortal Alliance sat, finally coming to rest. "Despite the numerous unforeseen events, this Immortal Sect Disciple Tournament has concluded successfully," Ying Xiao clapped, commending Yan Zhao and her companions for their tenacity and perseverance. Standing at the center of the stone platform, Yan Zhao kept a hand pressed against her waist pouch, her expression a mix of anxiety and anticipation. With the competition over and her claiming the championship, did it mean she was about to receive one of her mother's relics? Was she now one step closer to reviving her mother? Zuo Xun lowered his eyes, beginning to contemplate the possibility of achieving her goals through alternative means. Meanwhile, Jue Lan, battered and bruised, stood off to the side, his eyes filled with venomous intent.