First floor of the Demon Subduing Hall.
Wen Jiayin and Zhi Chang’an ran into a leopard with a single horn on its head.
The leopard moved as fast as lightning, and before they could react, it lunged straight at Zhi Chang’an without a word.
Wen Jiayin shoved Zhi Chang’an out of the way, but her arm was raked by the leopard’s claws, leaving deep, bloody gashes.
This leopard was way too fast, definitely stronger than that demonic cultivator from before—what a pain!
“Hahahaha!” The leopard, after its sneak attack failed, actually opened its mouth and let out a human laugh.
“Interesting, interesting! So you’re the ones who killed that old half-body bastard.
Not bad, you’ve got some skills!”
So this leopard was that demonic cultivator’s partner?
Wen Jiayin gritted her teeth against the pain in her arm, not daring to show any weakness.
“You here for revenge?”
“Revenge?” The leopard seemed to find this hilarious, laughing even harder.
“This is the Demon Subduing Hall.
No one’s dumb enough to risk their life for someone else’s revenge.”
“So you just want to kill us for fun, huh.”
“You could say that.” The leopard admitted without hesitation, baring its sharp fangs, its blood-red eyes wild.
“This place is so damn boring.
I want you two to play with me.”
When the leopard said “play,” it obviously meant killing them.
Wen Jiayin had never faced such a reckless opponent before—right from the start, it abandoned all defense and went straight for her vital points.
After blocking several attacks in a row, Wen Jiayin was sweating cold bullets.
Never mind the energy she’d already spent in the last fight—just the fact that her sword couldn’t even scratch the leopard’s hide was enough to give her a headache.
At some point, Zhi Chang’an’s black eyes turned into golden beast pupils, and part of her long black hair turned red.
She’d taken on a half-demon form.
In this state, her strength would get a huge boost, but because she’d been shunned for this look as a child, she rarely used her half-demon power.
But now, not only was it a life-or-death moment, this leopard had really pissed her off!
“Clang!” The leopard bit down on Wen Jiayin’s sword, its terrifying bite force making it impossible for her to pull the blade free.
The impact even split the skin between her thumb and forefinger.
Wen Jiayin had no choice but to use a spell, letting flames strong enough to burn a Tribulation cultivator explode in the leopard’s mouth.
But to her shock, even under that searing heat, the leopard didn’t let go.
Instead, it raised a paw and swiped at her head.
That swipe was so powerful, Wen Jiayin was sure if it hit, her skull would be shattered.
Just as Wen Jiayin was about to let go of her sword and dodge, Zhi Chang’an arrived in time, blocking the leopard’s paw with her umbrella.
Cracks appeared under Zhi Chang’an’s feet from the force, showing just how strong the leopard was.
If not for the half-phoenix blood in her veins, her arms would’ve been broken for sure.
Wen Jiayin seized the chance and kicked the leopard in its softest spot—its belly.
She didn’t hold back at all, pouring every bit of spiritual power she could muster into that kick.
The leopard’s most vulnerable spot took the hit, and its internal organs probably ruptured.
As expected, it finally let go, spitting out a mouthful of blood mixed with bits of viscera.
Wen Jiayin panted, her right arm trembling.
No matter how good her cultivation was, in this place with such thin spiritual energy, even the best cook can’t make a meal without rice.
She was running out of power fast.
Normally, she could use spirit stones to recover, but her storage pouch had been confiscated by the Wine Immortal.
She really had no backup plan left.
“Roar!” The leopard let out another low growl.
Not only did those injuries not take it down, it immediately launched another attack, looking even crazier than before.
Zhi Chang’an instinctively tried to block the leopard as it charged at Wen Jiayin, but how fast was this thing? At full speed, it was like a bolt of lightning—Zhi Chang’an’s block was completely ignored.
In the blink of an eye, the leopard, which had been over ten meters away, was right in front of Wen Jiayin, jaws wide open.
Black soul fire burned all over its body—it was burning its own soul for power.
This is why the Demon Subduing Hall is scarier and more of a trial than the Demon Suppressing Tower above.
The maniacs down here are way more dangerous.
At this point, there was nowhere to dodge.
Wen Jiayin’s back was against the wall, the cramped space limiting her movement.
She flashed a ruthless look.
As the leopard’s head came close enough to almost touch her face, she suddenly dropped down, dodging its fangs and exposing its throat, as vulnerable as its belly.
Wen Jiayin pushed her speed to the limit, and for a moment, her sword was as fast as the leopard.
In her mind, she frantically recalled the fourth sword technique Master had taught her but she’d never mastered.
She remembered when Master demonstrated it, out of the twelve forms, this fourth one was the most boring—because it was just one move: gather all power into the blade, and at the peak of strength, nothing could withstand it.
In this life-or-death moment, she suddenly understood.
But as her sword pierced the leopard’s throat, its claw, glowing with black-red light, struck at her heart.
From an angle Wen Jiayin couldn’t see, the leopard was also gathering a terrifying energy in its mouth.
At the same time, two different-colored flames ignited the leopard.
Zhi Chang’an jumped onto its head, probably using every bit of her strength to punch the leopard’s skull.
The attack landed with a dull thud and the sound of something breaking, plus some liquid splattering.
The leopard’s mouth snapped shut, and the energy it had gathered exploded inside its own mouth.
Outside the Demon Subduing Hall, the Wine Immortal raised her hand and tapped the image on the bronze mirror.
“Still too green.”
Two black holes appeared on the ground, just like before, and the Wine Immortal pulled out two blood-soaked girls.
Wen Jiayin’s left chest was torn open, almost exposing bone.
Zhi Chang’an’s right hand was twisted at an unnatural angle, probably broken in several places.
“Martial Uncle Zu, if you’d been any slower, you’d be fishing me out of the underworld.” Seeing sunlight again, Wen Jiayin squinted, too weak to resist as the Wine Immortal held her up.
“Wu… Jiayin, are you okay?” Seeing Wen Jiayin’s wounds, Zhi Chang’an burst into tears and couldn’t stop.
“I’m fine, I’m fine, not dead yet.” The Wine Immortal sat in a tree, swinging Wen Jiayin by her right hand.
“You two didn’t do great, but at least you killed the leopard, so you’ll live for now!”
“It’s finally dead? My god, it was scarier than a cockroach—couldn’t kill it no matter what, it was a total psycho! Didn’t it feel any pain?” Wen Jiayin was seriously traumatized.
The Wine Immortal didn’t know what a cockroach was, but she got the gist and laughed.
“Those demonic cultivators and monsters locked up here were all at least Golden Core level before they were caught.”
“Golden Core? Martial Uncle Zu, that’s not funny.” Zhi Chang’an, eyes full of tears, stared at the Wine Immortal, looking so wronged.
“I’m not joking.
The little Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining grunts were wiped out ages ago.
The ones left here all have ways to survive.
Even though they’re crippled after being caught, they’re still alive.
That’s the deal we made with the demonic cultivators.
After a few hundred years, they’re about done anyway.” The Wine Immortal grinned at Zhi Chang’an’s shocked face.
“What’s the point of letting you fight real Qi Refining kids?” The Wine Immortal sounded relaxed.
“You two are among the best of the new generation in our sect.
Wouldn’t bullying other kids be too easy?”
“Martial Uncle Zu, I wouldn’t bully kids, come on.” Wen Jiayin said weakly.
She really wanted to complain—she was almost out of spiritual power, couldn’t even stop her bleeding.
Couldn’t Martial Uncle Zu pay attention to how miserable she was right now?
“In my opinion, kids as talented as you fighting others is just bullying.
Winning is expected, but if you lose… that’s just embarrassing.
Instead of letting you get cocky among the kids, it’s better to train you here.
So, after fighting just two real opponents, did you learn anything?”
The Wine Immortal wasn’t wrong.
Wen Jiayin really felt that, after being protected by Master for so long, she was totally out of her depth in a real fight.
No—this wasn’t even a real life-or-death battle, since they had Martial Uncle Zu watching their backs.
But their enemies fought like they had nothing to lose, and that left them scrambling.
Those two they fought used to be Golden Core level, but now their strength was about the same as Wen Jiayin and Zhi Chang’an.
Even so, the two of them together barely managed to win, and in such a sorry state.
Out in the real world, they’d probably get killed without even knowing how.
“Yes, I see my shortcomings,” Wen Jiayin admitted.
Zhi Chang’an nodded in shame.
“As long as you know.
This was your first time in there, so I made an exception and pulled you out early.
Next time, unless you’re on your last breath, I won’t step in~”
“…Wait, Martial Uncle Zu, this doesn’t count as being on my last breath?” Wen Jiayin pointed at her wound, looking shocked.
“I almost got my heart ripped out!”
But the Wine Immortal just shrugged.
“Minor injury, you’ll live!”
Wen Jiayin twitched her lips.
For the first time… no, maybe the nth time, she doubted how reliable her Martial Uncle Zu really was.
“Th-th-that… what is that? The sky! The sky’s splitting open!” Zhi Chang’an was so scared she could barely speak, pointing at the distant sky.
Wen Jiayin looked up and saw the clouds split by a deep chasm, the space around it twisting.
From a distance, it looked like the sky had been torn in two! The energy wave was so strong that, as a sword cultivator, her sword started to hum.
Wen Jiayin recognized it—that was Supreme Sword Intent!
“Huh? Your Master just exchanged a move with someone? Who was it… this power feels familiar… Oh, looks like it’s the Carefree True Lord from Shangqing Sect.” As soon as the Wine Immortal finished speaking, there was a violent coughing fit.
She looked down to see her little grand-niece “wah” and spit out a mouthful of blood, then kept coughing up more.
The other kid was so scared she couldn’t even cry.
Hearing that name, Wen Jiayin’s emotions spiked, her spiritual power went haywire, and the blood she’d been holding back gushed out.
The Wine Immortal quickly set the two kids down and fed Wen Jiayin a pill.
She was sure the girl’s body was fine—so why the sudden outburst?
“Shi—Martial Uncle Zu!” Wen Jiayin didn’t care about manners anymore, grabbing the Wine Immortal’s sleeve in panic.
“Do me a favor, get my Master over here, quick!”
The Wine Immortal was confused by Wen Jiayin’s urgency.
“I don’t have an excuse to call her over.
She’s busy entertaining Shangqing Sect’s honored guest.”
Honored guest, my ass! More like a ghost! I have to keep that scumbag as far from my Master as possible!
“Just tell my Master… I got beat up so bad I’m barely alive!” Wen Jiayin blurted out in desperation.
The Wine Immortal: …I’m not saying that.
Otherwise, that sword in the sky will come down on my head.
