216 - The Demon Fox Wife is a Foodie

The oppressive force swept across the courtyard like a magnificent thunderstorm, crashing towards Xuan Yuan Mu. "Who dares to intrude upon the Xuan Yuan clan?" a voice boomed. Xuan Yuan Mu looked towards the source of the voice and shouted defiantly, "Did you take Bi Lan?" A presence in the dark turned palpable, fury igniting like the blazing fires in the courtyard. "Xuan Yuan Mu! How dare you return!" A gust of energy shot through the air, targeting the spirit puppets setting fires everywhere. Xuan Yuan Mu was startled and quickly summoned the puppets back, regardless of exposing herself. However, she became an easy target, and once again, a powerful gust came straight at her. Unable to dodge, she turned her back to minimize the damage. But the blow did not land on her. A flash of silver cut through the darkness, and the nine-tailed fox landed, with Yan Zhao clinging to its back. The powerful gust earlier was dissipated by the fox’s long tail. "The nine-tailed fox?" A man in the dark chuckled coldly. "I've searched high and low, and now you've walked right into my trap? In that case, leave the Clear Frost Sword!" Xuan Yuan Mu gritted her teeth. "Shameless!" The man ignored her insult, swiftly forming hand seals. The surrounding trees, plants, and even the rock garden began to shift, forming a massive array. Xuan Yuan Mu and Yan Zhao were already ensnared within the formation. Life, death, escape—all at his command. A robust sycamore tree shifted between them, separating Xuan Yuan Mu from Yan Zhao. In an instant, a dozen iron men appeared before Yan Zhao. They formed an ironman phalanx, with crossbows veiled beneath their arm joints, ready to fire. The sound of arrows cutting through the air filled the courtyard. Dozens soared towards their target. As the nine-tailed fox prepared to strike down the arrows with its tail, the ground beneath it suddenly gave way. An arrow pierced through Yan Zhao's shoulder, its force lifting her into the air and propelling her back with a thud, pinning her against a sycamore’s trunk. The fox fell into a pit, which then sealed shut, altering the scenery. Xuan Yuan Mu was nowhere to be seen. A man in a luxurious robe emerged before her. "Hand over the Clear Frost Sword." --- Chapter 233 Dangling from the tree, Yan Zhao glanced down at the arrow protruding from her shoulder. The arrow, made of some cold, hard material, brought a biting chill to the wound. The man stood before her, noting her confusion, and repeated sternly, "Hand over the Clear Frost Sword, and I'll spare your life." Yan Zhao looked up, meeting his gaze with a calm demeanor. "No." Xuan Yuan Kai’s eyes darkened as he scoffed, "On the brink of death, what good is pride?" Yan Zhao remained silent, uninterested in further discourse, her resolve unwavering. "Very well," Xuan Yuan Kai sighed, unwilling to waste more time. "In that case, I'll take it myself." He reached for Yan Zhao’s sack of treasures. Sensing impending danger, and aware of the vast difference in power between them, Yan Zhao knew she couldn't win a direct confrontation. She couldn't let him take her sack. Not a single item—not even the Clear Frost Sword. Kicking off the tree, Yan Zhao leapt, carrying the arrow along as she narrowly dodged Xuan Yuan Kai's grasp. Xuan Yuan Kai frowned as he watched Yan Zhao, expressionless, pull the blood-soaked arrow from her shoulder without a flinch. She tossed it aside casually. The barbed arrowhead certainly tore her flesh, worsening the wound. Blood poured from her shoulder, clearly a serious injury. Yet it seemed to matter little to Yan Zhao. She quickly formed a spell, dodging Xuan Yuan Kai's pursuing hand with nimble ease. Xuan Yuan Kai raised an eyebrow. Though Yan Zhao's cultivation was ordinary and her sword skills were lacking, her agility was remarkable. She dodged like a remarkably elusive rabbit. This was merely a cat-and-mouse game. He refused to believe that someone of Yan Zhao's mere Golden Core level could escape him. Even if she managed to flee, what then? He had Bi Lan, Xuan Yuan Mu, and even the nine-tailed fox—all in his grasp. She could not elude him for long. One would expect Yan Zhao to seize the opportunity to escape, but instead, she stopped near where the fox had fallen. The pit had been filled, but Yan Zhao, having witnessed the fox’s descent, couldn't believe there was a hidden trap. Her options were limited. She grasped a bronze lamp. Only this lamp could offer her a sliver of hope. As Xuan Yuan Kai saw the bronze lamp, his expression shifted. Yet, seeing Yan Zhao attempt to cast a spell, he sneered. "With me here, do you really think you can ignite it?" He was not like the novices Yan Zhao faced at the sect gathering. As a tool refiner, while his cultivation was not as renowned as some predecessors, he had reached the Fusion realm—a world apart from Yan Zhao. Tampering with her was effortless. Xuan Yuan Kai launched a gust of energy at the bronze lamp just as Yan Zhao completed her fire spell. The lamp was flung several feet away, and the flame flickered momentarily in some distant grass before extinguishing. A failed attempt left Yan Zhao frustrated. Before acquiring the lamp, she had believed it powerful. But every opponent she faced seemed to counter its abilities. It seemed that no matter how excellent a tool, without sufficient personal strength, defeat was inevitable. Heightened by crisis, Yan Zhao retreated while surveying her surroundings, contemplating her next move. The courtyard was isolated, deliberately turned into a closed space by Xuan Yuan Kai to prevent her escape. Simultaneously, it meant that no help would arrive. She tumbled back towards the lamp, as Xuan Yuan Kai mocked her effort. "Still haven't given up?" He prepared another strike. At that critical moment, a massive shadow emerged before Yan Zhao, standing between her and Xuan Yuan Kai. Xuan Yuan Kai struck the round shadow. A deep, resonant sound echoed, like the tolling of a bell. Xuan Yuan Kai's face changed abruptly. His attack was intercepted by a cauldron, which, after absorbing the force, retreated slightly, its three legs embedding into the ground. It halted just in front of Yan Zhao. Simultaneously, a smile appeared on Yan Zhao’s lips. Xuan Yuan Kai's gaze shifted to the bronze lamp, where a small flame flickered delicately in the darkness. Enshrouded by darkness and assaulted by past memories, Xuan Yuan Kai was confronted by the figure now before him holding a sword. Yan Yuan Qing. A self-taught tool refiner who dismantled the Xuan Yuan clan's eighteen ironmen array in one day—a genius beyond measure. The clan's traditions crumbled before her. But later, Yan Yuan Qing perished, and what a death it was. With her demise, the Xuan Yuan clan returned to the world's stage, reclaiming their position among the great sects. Who could have guessed that upon igniting the lamp, it would be her apparition confronting him? Xuan Yuan Kai paled. He knew well her prowess. Even knowing in his mind this was only a trick, that it was all false—if only he could remain calm, dispel the illusion, and escape. Yet when Yan Yuan Qing stepped forward, his legs trembled uncontrollably. His body retreated against his will. Each step Yan Yuan Qing advanced, Xuan Yuan Kai retreated further, until he could retreat no more—his back pressing against an old tree. His voice desperate and hollow, he yelled, "You’re nothing but an illusion, fake. You're dead, and the dead can't harm me!" In the heartbeat that followed, her sword's light pierced his chest. A chilling gust whistled through the wound, leaving Xuan Yuan Kai staring in disbelief. Blood poured forth, mixing agony with cold. The illusion was disturbingly real, conjuring even the sensation of pain. Could the lamp wield such power? A metallic taste filled his mouth, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood. Caught in the throes of what felt like genuine death, Xuan Yuan Kai's expression turned distant. Was he truly dying, caught forever in this illusion, never to awaken? He did not know. Inside, his mind clouded with chaos. Thoughts slowed, jammed, leaving him with no choice but to watch as the figure before him drew nearer. As the figure drew nearer, her face came into clear view. Innocent and pure, her features were soft and serene, seemingly without a trace of guile. Xuan Yuan Kai was stunned; this was not Yan Yuan Qing but Yan Zhao. Somehow, the illusion had faded, yet the sensation of the sword penetrating his chest remained vivid. Glancing down, he saw Yan Zhao holding the Clear Frost Sword, mercilessly driving it deeper into his chest. Although she hadn’t fully mastered the sword, it was a sword of slaughter, incredibly sharp and lethal, making it all too easy to kill with it. The sword pierced through Xuan Yuan Kai, pinning him to the sycamore trunk behind him. He coughed up another mouthful of blood. The Clear Frost Sword possessed a formidable spirit, and its inherent power alone could easily destroy Xuan Yuan Kai’s muscles, bones, and meridians, even without Yan Zhao's effort. Against such a divine weapon, the protective aura of even a Fusion realm practitioner was as fragile as paper. The sword not only broke Xuan Yuan Kai’s defenses but also dissipated the backlash from his own formidable cultivation. Yan Zhao felt only a slight tremor in the sword, the recoil insufficient to harm her. Xuan Yuan Kai faced the very real threat of annihilation. Standing before him, Yan Zhao, with her innocent, harmless appearance, softly spoke, "My senior sister disliked when I killed. I don't wish to end your life but fear your retribution. What should I do?" Her expression troubled as if genuinely vexed by the dilemma. Xuan Yuan Kai's heart trembled, gripped by a chilling fear. He opened his mouth, hoping to sway Yan Zhao’s decision, but before he could speak, Yan Zhao thought of what she considered a brilliant solution: "Then I should maim you, sever your tendons, destroy your dantian, and strip you of your cultivation." "..." Xuan Yuan Kai's face blanched with terror. How could someone so young know such ruthless methods? He attempted to speak in a softer tone, hoping to reason his way to freedom. If only Yan Zhao would release him, just briefly, he could turn the tables. But as soon as he began to speak, Yan Zhao abruptly withdrew the sword, slicing off his hands with a flick. Xuan Yuan Kai was first stunned, then felt a coldness at his wrists. Looking down, he realized his hands were gone. "!" His pupils contracted sharply. Pain struck with the force of thunder, contorting his face as he let out a cry, "Ahhhhh!!!" "You're too noisy," Yan Zhao remarked. Raising her hand, she plunged her sword into his gaping mouth, severing his tongue. Blood filled Xuan Yuan Kai's mouth, reducing his cries to muffled groans, his eyes wide with horror. Cutting off his tongue, Yan Zhao suddenly remembered she hadn't asked about Bi Lan's whereabouts. The formation was still intact, and both Xuan Yuan Mu and the little fox were missing. "Oh well." Yan Zhao decided against further concern. After all, if she didn’t go searching for her little fox, it would find its way back to her. In this, she had unwavering faith. With Xuan Yuan Kai watching in terror, Yan Zhao once again raised her sword and plunged it into Xuan Yuan Kai’s dantian. To ensure its destruction, she twisted the hilt left and right. Withdrawing the sword, she watched as Xuan Yuan Kai collapsed to the ground, his body curling like a great shrimp, seized by spasms.