Chapter 73: Retaking the Jinque Lingyou

Collected?!

Her mind still locked in a life‑and‑death struggle, Shi Rou estimated the double threat of the poisonous bees and the demon wolves; hearing those sudden words, her whole body shuddered, almost an instinctive reaction, she gritted her teeth and bit hard into her own fingertip.

The bloody sweetness filled her mouth as the sword‑book; Shi Rou's figure had already turned into a blurred afterimage.

Several lightning‑quick turns, with a faint sound of tearing air, she appeared strangely before the squirrel that was at the crucial moment of its transformation—no, at that moment its whole body burst with golden light, its form changing rapidly, fur falling away, limbs stretching, revealing an ancient and noble beast silhouette—before the Jinque Lingyou.

That spirit weasel had just lifted and condensed a vague human silhouette, topped with a fluffy little boy's head; its black‑bean‑like eyes were still filled with the bewilderment of successful transformation and a hint of newborn joy.

Suddenly locked by a mighty force, it startled and lifted its head, not even having time to utter a complete syllable.

Shi Rou's blood‑stained finger, carrying the searing heat of the contract and an irresistible will, had already precisely, lightly pressed against its smooth forehead.

Buzz—

An invisible ripple spread from the point where fingertip met forehead; time seemed to freeze at that moment. The swarms of poisonous bees buzzing in the sky suddenly hovered mid‑air, even the tiny tremors of their wing beats vanishing; the three members of the ferocious demon bear family, their raised paws frozen in mid‑swipe; farther off, the Tianxuan Sect's sword‑blocking motion also stiffened into a ludicrous silhouette....

The entire chaotic battlefield fell into dead silence; only the blood color on Shi Rou's fingertip rippled outward in circles under the golden light.

Until..... "Squeak squeak squeak!!!"

A sharp cry full of fear, grievance, and disbelief broke the silence. The golden light fully retracted, leaving in place a roughly seven‑ or eight‑year‑old boy, carved like pink jade, tightly wrapped in a golden gauze robe, his glossy black eyes wide round, incredulously touching the blood mark left on his forehead, then looking at Shi Rou!

He had just taken shape, hadn't even felt the heavenly earth's spiritual energy, and was forced to sign a master‑servant contract—what utter disgrace! A huge surge of resentment rose in his chest; his little face flushed red, he angrily squeaked at Shi Rou, flailing his hands and feet in protest—what absurd thing, who would ever agree to this?

Shi Rou's brows furrowed impatiently; a pressure like a mountain crashed down, her voice cold as ice: "You don't want to?"

"Squeak squeak squeak!!!" The boy, that is the Jinque Lingyou, stuck out his neck, still trying to be tough. But that heavy pressure, like a tangible iron hoop, ruthlessly tightened around his soul; immense pain instantly drowned his meager anger.

He clutched his small head, his black‑bean eyes instantly filling with tears; ultimately unable to bear the soul‑deep contract's binding and pressure, the boy, wronged and sniffling, nodded weakly, letting out a feeble mosquito‑like reply: "Squeak..... squeak!"

Having successfully harvested a spirit weasel of limitless potential, a rarity in the world, Shi Rou's heart felt no ripple; instead a strange absurdity welled up. She felt like a wandering demon peddler, her sea of consciousness quickly becoming a beast refuge, one after another crammed inside. Is her future cultivation path really to sprint all the way toward becoming the Lord of Myriad Demons?

In stark contrast to her inner grumbling, Luo Changfeng and Qi Chengshuang beside her glowed with excitement, eyes shining: "Jinque Lingyou! This truly is a Jinque Lingyou!" Luo Changfeng lowered his voice, gazing at the boy as if he were a peerless treasure—such a Jinque Lingyou is rare in the world! "It is said its ancestors once served the Goddess of Time, wielding temporal power!"

Therefore, as long as they transform they can freely control time; though not equal to the Goddess of Time, they are still a rare demon in the world. Qi Chengshuang likewise could not hide his excited, burning gaze, but he was clearly calmer, immediately pointing at the poisonous bee swarm like dark clouds overhead: "Quick! Make them stop!"

The Jinque Lingyou, still holding a bellyful of anger, upon hearing this rolled its black‑bean eyes in a huge white stare, bluntly glaring at Qi Chengshuang: "Who the hell are you!? You're not fit to command this great lord!"

Shi Rou took a deep breath, lifted her hand to wipe the blood from her forehead, her tone carrying an unquestionable command: "Squeak! Obey!"

"Squeak!" The boy replied unwillingly, raised his small arm and casually waved at the bee swarm; no light effect, but space seemed as if rubbed by an invisible eraser—all the buzzing bees halted, and a scorching fire line ignited beneath them.

Qi Chengshuang had long been ready; his fingers flew, the fire talisman at his fingertips instantly ignited, bright flames exploded upward, precisely incinerating the poisonous bees hovering over the four of them; a burnt smell spread, amid the crackling of flames the greatest aerial threat turned to ash in an instant.

"Shi Rou, junior sister!" Ruan Xinli approached Shi Rou, her voice full of genuine concern, her eyes landing on the reddened wound on Shi Rou's brow: "You have a wound on your brow, don't move!" She quickly took out a clean, soft white cloth and a small bottle of jade dew exuding a chilling medicinal fragrance from her Qiankun bag: "Let me see; make sure no scar remains!"

Ruan Xinli's movements were gentle as if handling a fragile treasure; she dipped her fingertip in the jade dew and carefully wiped the wound and blood on Shi Rou's brow.

Shi Rou blinked slightly, feeling the icy touch on her brow and the gentleness of Ruan Xinli's fingertip; she couldn't tell what emotion it was, never expecting that one day she too would receive the treatment of the original male lead; her voice unconsciously softened: "Then thank you, senior sister!"

Ruan Xinli gave a soft smile, her eyes bending: "What's there to thank? Just a little effort, compared to yesterday…" Before she could finish, a sharp, piercing voice full of domineering condescension rudely cut her off.

"Hey, you lot! Call that mouse over here." The Tianxuan Sect's richly dressed, smug little junior sister, currently fleeing the demon bear's residual might, had one hand on her hip and the other pointing at Shi Rou's side, her shrill voice able to split the air: "Quickly make him call that mad bear to stop! Hear me?"

Old..... mouse?!

Having just succeeded in self‑consolation, the Jinque Lingyou blankly pointed its little finger at itself! Immediately, its black‑bean eyes widened with shock and surging fury at being offended—it is a noble beast carrying divine beast blood, the Jinque Lingyou! To dare call it a mouse—"Squeak squeak squeak squeak squeak!"

He was so angry his golden fur seemed about to explode, though now he wore only a thin gauze; facing the direction of the Tianxuan Sect's little junior sister, he furiously waved his tiny fists.