Chapter 9

"Jin Huo Mang!"

Luo Yao recognized the Beast—its entire body golden, capable of spitting golden fire, its hide suitable for making Defense Magical Treasures, its blood usable for refining Pills, every part of it a treasure.

That wasn't the point; the point was, Jin Huo Mang had formidable defense, and ordinary methods could hardly harm it.

Beasts already had thick skin and tough flesh, stronger than cultivators of the same level, and this Beast had an additional advantage in defense—it wasn't certain even a Qi Refining Late Stage cultivator could take it down.

Anyway, Luo Yao had once seen several fellow sect members utterly powerless against Jin Huo Mang, among them one Qi Refining Fifth Layer and one Qi Refining Fourth Layer.

"Sss!"

Jin Huo Mang flicked its tongue, its copper-coin-sized eyes fixed on Luo Yao, sending a chill down her spine.

She formed the spell hand seals, and dozens of Ice Blades reappeared in midair, striking from all directions toward Jin Huo Mang's vital spot.

Yet Luo Yao manipulated the Ice Blades to instantly dodge the Fireballs and instead slammed them into Jin Huo Mang's open mouth.

Strike while the iron is hot.

But Luo Yao's attack struck Jin Huo Mang's body—unfortunately, no wound appeared; clearly, the previous assault had not harmed it.

Luo Yao couldn't help gasping heavily, secretly relieved—though she seemed to have defeated Jin Huo Mang effortlessly, it was merely luck.

Ding!

A crisp sound rang out, like metal clashing.

Seeing how tenacious Jin Huo Mang's life force was, Luo Yao was startled and immediately cast another Spell.

"Such strong defense!"

"Mystic Ice Ring!"

Jin Huo Mang seemed enraged, opening its mouth as several Fireballs shot through the air toward Luo Yao.

"It sounds like a cultivator is fighting a Beast—and from the scene's traces, it's probably Jin Huo Mang."

The terrifying explosion destroyed surrounding trees, leaving behind a ruined ground and a Jin Huo Mang with split skin and exposed flesh.

Back at her Cave Abode, Luo Yao began to reflect.

The next instant, she saw a golden rope sweep the ground where she had stood—Jin Huo Mang had attacked with its massive tail.

Boom!

Both sides' attacks landed simultaneously; Jin Huo Mang's strike dodged by Luo Yao, leaving a deep crater where she had stood.

"No wonder it's a Beast!"

Boom boom boom!

The frenzied Jin Huo Mang was still not to be underestimated—Luo Yao's Defense Magical Treasure shattered instantly, but it bought her the chance to dodge.

Still, she had defeated a Jin Huo Mang comparable to Qi Refining Sixth or Seventh Layer—she now knew her own limits.

Boom!

The Ice Blades mixed with Jin Huo Mang's Fireballs, erupting in a violent explosion; Jin Huo Mang felt its head ringing.

She intensified her Spirit Power, and more Ice Blades appeared around Jin Huo Mang, slashing at its body.

"Sssss!"

"Go!"

Though she barely won, it was thanks to her new cultivation technique and new Spell—before, she could never have achieved this so easily.

"Sssss!"

Luo Yao's eyes lit up—she first used ice, then fire; the interaction of the two elements doubled her attack power.

Boom boom boom!

Ice and fire, dual heavens—power multiplied a thousandfold.

"What happened here?"

Moreover, she needed to buy some Soul-Returning Pills to restore Spirit Power; otherwise, when her Spirit Power ran out, she'd be no different from an ordinary mortal, powerless against other enemies.

…

A massive Ice Spike plunged into Jin Huo Mang's wound, instantly freezing the surrounding area, then shattering into fragments.

But soon, the ice sculpture cracked—Jin Huo Mang seemed ready to break free.

At Luo Yao's voice, Jin Huo Mang's body instantly froze, the next second turning into an ice sculpture.

Luo Yao was not disappointed; after all, Jin Huo Mang was no ordinary Beast.

"Ice Seal!"

"Jin Huo Mang? Isn't that a Beast with Qi Refining First Layer at birth, and after maturing, comparable to Foundation Establishment? Who could be so powerful, defeating Jin Huo Mang in such a short time?"

Puff!

As the Long Sword pierced in, Jin Huo Mang felt searing pain—a flash of golden light instantly blasted the sword out of its vital spot.

Dozens of Fireballs blocked Luo Yao's escape; she unhesitatingly cast her newly learned Spell.

Luo Yao pulled out another Fireball Talisman and hurled the Fireball at Jin Huo Mang's eyes.

For nearly all living things, the eyes are a weakness.

Puff!

Jin Huo Mang wasn't stupid—it opened its mouth and spat a Fireball at the Ice Blades.

Luo Yao narrowed her eyes—the difference between Beasts and ordinary animals was that Beasts could cultivate, and more importantly, they possessed intelligence.

Bang!

Jin Huo Mang's tail slammed violently into the ground; trees shattered instantly, and countless chunks of soil and wood debris shot skyward, blocking the Ice Blades.

"Maybe it's an Inner Sect disciple, like Zhao Yang, Shimei?"

As Jin Huo Mang broke free, it was met with several fireballs the size of washbasins.

"Huh huh huh!"

Just after Luo Yao left, many cultivators arrived, seeing the scene in utter chaos, they all sucked in a breath in shock.

Luo Yao continued controlling the Long Sword, piercing it into the Jin Huo Mang's seventh inch.

The Jin Huo Mang let out a wailing cry, thrashing wildly and destroying everything around it.

"This is..."

Sensing the danger, the Jin Huo Mang coiled its body, shielding its seventh inch.

Crack!

"It actually worked!"

The Jin Huo Mang flicked its tongue, its copper-bell-sized eyes turning even redder, locking onto Luo Yao, then charging at her like a truck.

"Sssss!"

Luo Yao had no place to dodge—she could only fight head-on.

Her Spirit Power was nearly exhausted, so she immediately collected the Jin Huo Mang's corpse and rushed toward the Cave Abode.

The Jin Huo Mang finally collapsed to the ground, silent forever.

Luo Yao swiftly dodged to the side, then formed a hand seal; countless Ice Blades appeared in midair, instantly raining down like a meteor shower upon the giant serpent.

"The one who struck must be at least Qi Refining Eighth or Ninth Layer!"

Like a broom sweeping through dry grass, the trees along the path turned to shards, scattering through the air.

Puff!

Suddenly, the Jin Huo Mang opened its massive maw and launched a Fireball the size of a washbasin.

Luo Yao pulled several Fireball Talismans from her Storage Bag, swiftly activating them; multiple Fireballs shot toward the Jin Huo Mang.

If she didn't leave quickly, the cultivators drawn by the commotion would spot her weakness and take advantage.

She continued forming hand seals; suddenly, dozens of Ice Blades, as thick as an arm, appeared in midair, whistling as they slashed toward the Jin Huo Mang.

Boom!

The Fireball struck the Jin Huo Mang's eye, exploding and causing it to writhe in agony—Luo Yao seized the chance to guide the Long Sword toward its seventh inch.

As for tomorrow's contest, Zhao Lili, a mere Qi Refining Layer 3, was nothing but a clown.

Luo Yao narrowed her eyes, sensing the roaring wind and a looming threat—she instantly shot upward.

Taking advantage of the Jin Huo Mang's moment of vulnerability—its old strength spent, new strength not yet formed—Luo Yao drew a sword and used her Divine Sense to guide it toward the Jin Huo Mang's seventh inch.

"Who knows? Either way, we can't afford to offend them!"

The Qi Refining Sixth Layer cultivator shook his head—he had no confidence in defeating the Jin Huo Mang even if he encountered it, let alone in such a short time.

If they knew the cultivator who killed the Jin Huo Mang was only Luo Yao, who had just broken through to Qi Refining Fifth Layer and had been stuck at Qi Refining First Layer for three years, they'd be stunned!

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(End of Chapter)