Chapter 471: Ji Ming, I Really Hate You!

In the next instant, the inner side of the ring blade also sprouted a blade, cutting off its two tentacles mercilessly as if a guillotine had been triggered.

"What!"

The hardest thing on a warrior isn't the weapon in hand but the armor on the body, so there's no need to say how tough this thing must be.

Thus the Octopus Demon, seeing this, was naturally shocked and hurriedly urged the nearby demon that dragged its tail like a long snake and spat seed pods from its mouth to act quickly.

"Ssss, you don't have to tell me!"

Whether because it was the true evil god or the vessel, this already disfigured fellow emitted a rag‑like female voice.

And those who survived the massive explosion earlier were, of course, the upper‑tier forces among the twelve.

So its thick tail gave a slight flick, and the slime seeping from its scales flew upward like rain droplets tossed back.

This green liquid, infused with divine power, was not only snake venom but also a highly corrosive lethal toxin.

So the few droplets that missed and fell to the ground immediately corroded the hard marble floor, carving a deep, bottomless narrow pit.

Yet this toxin, when it struck the ring blade, only ate away the decorative tassel; the sharp tip remained true, heading straight for their throats.

It was the Octopus Demon that gritted its teeth, handed two tentacles to the mysterious person, and barely managed to deflect the ring blade, thus neutralizing the move.

And while the two demons muttered complaints in secret, a hint of retreat rising in their hearts,

She caught the ring blade that had been drawn back with a secret technique, casually wiped away the poison with her palm, and the astonishingly swift mysterious person finally stepped from the shadows into the violet light, revealing her true face.

Contrasting sharply with the slightly hoarse, almost ASMR‑level alluring voice, it turned out to be an incredibly ugly face, its looks roughly the opposite of Ji Ming's.

"Uh uh, Evil Spirit Demon Dragon, Dragon‑born Goblin, Demon, and now this Hei Chou Fei Da Ma…"

"Boss, did sweetbaby kidnap your mother? Why is it only ugly ghosts fighting tonight!"

【Perhaps this is fate: when you are as beautiful as a flower, there will always be someone bearing the burden for you in this world】

"Whoa, when did you become so talkative?"

All of the above were obviously jokes; the well‑read Ji Ming, tired of this trope, was about eighty percent sure that the mysterious person was wearing a Zhang Jia Lian.

But the demons didn't count on that; the two bizarre, grotesque creatures kept covering their eyes.

"So ugly, I'm going blind!"

Onlookers:............

So cute, you truly are my good mouthpiece!

And the Hei Da Ma seemed to want exactly this effect, continuing to shake a trembling, dragon‑style evil grin.

"Jie jie jie..."

Then she abruptly stopped laughing, her voice deepening.

"Do you think I'm here to mess around with you? Any bird that sticks its head out should be beaten to death!"

Having said that, she slammed the two ring blades in her hands together, sparking a brightness that was obviously abnormal.

While everyone guessed whether the move was a ranged spell or a melee enchantment, they were surprised to find that after the sparks faded, the Recluse Guest had vanished.

"Huh?"

The Poison Snake Demon was still astonished, while the more battle‑experienced Octopus Demon quickly turned and flailed its remaining six tentacles outward.

Unfortunately it was too late, because its tentacles came from all directions, theoretically able to sweep every spot behind it, nearly an absolute defense.

Yet it still felt a chill on its neck, and the scene before its eyes turned upside down; in the unstoppable spin, it could only vaguely see a snake's head detach from its neck, rolling toward the ground.

Finally came two consecutive 'thuds', crisp as the bell that signals a decided outcome on a fighting ring.

But at this level of existence, simply losing a head is no longer a mortal wound; if the two demons could scramble their limbs a bit faster, they might still cling to life.

Yet they knew that the murderer who had beheaded them could not possibly be unaware.

Thus the Octopus Demon hadn't even processed what happened when it saw a figure hanging upside down, flipping in the air, and as it fell toward their backs, it swung its twin blades, slicing their bodies from top to bottom into fine fragments.

"Ah, so it came from the sky..."

That was the Octopus Demon's final thought before the thrown ring blade sliced its head as well.

Three moves, in less than half a minute, the two ferocious filthy demons were sliced into a snake sashimi and a plate of octopus sashimi.

When the twin blades collided again, burning off the bloodstains, the Recluse Guest didn't leap over the already shattered long stair to touch the stone wall.

Instead, she turned back, bearing this truly breathtaking face, and looked around.

"Everyone, we've come this far, are you still thinking about watching?"

"Come out, don't force me to drag you out."

Everyone hidden in the shadows felt the Hei Si's gaze linger unusually long on them, but Ji Ming knew it wasn't an illusion, because she even stared at herself.

Now that things have come to this, the contest was pulled into the final round early by that person's provocation, and there was truly no need to stay hidden any longer.

Consequently, a burst of feigned boisterous laughter rang out as a young‑voiced man wearing a mask walked on air from the east and stepped onto the temple platform.

"Madam, there's no need to be so impatient. All of you present are respectable figures; such provocation isn't very wise."

Before the Recluse Guest could answer, a cold snort came from the west; a figure with white beard and hair, a shadowy face—though vague upon close look—leapt a couple of times and fell from the cliff onto the platform.

"Truly laughable! With heads and faces, how can I see everyone as wearing false masks?"

The masked man, though rebuked by the old man, was not angry; instead, he planted his staff on the ground and pointed toward the darkness at the far side of the platform.

"See, isn't this friend showing his true face?"

At this moment Ji Ming was still chatting secretly with Bai Li Xiang, having just learned from him that the old man was Mo Xing Lan, the Flower‑level Envoy sent by the Dense Forest Church, and realized his presence had been called out.

"Uh..."

He had no choice but to stand up graciously, walk to where the violet light could reach, and raise his hand in greeting.

And before those three could speak, he preemptively saluted them.

"Thanks to the three heroes for stepping in; these demon dragons are utterly unreasonable—without you, I'd truly have been boiled alive."

However, the three who constantly giggled didn't accept Ji Ming's compliment; the young masked voice pointed at him and sharply critiqued.

"Into the pot? I don't think that's likely; the Divine Chosen is so handsome, perhaps you've misread it, truly thinking they want to eat you, hahaha…"

Yo, I can make him feel good!

Thus Ji Ming, feigning retreat to advance, acted foolishly, pretending surprise as he stepped forward two paces.

Ah, the Chosen One? You… how do you know I'm the Chosen One?

After a brief moment of astonishment, the Chosen One's eyes suddenly lit up, and even his gaze toward the masked person carried a hint of excitement.

I get it! I get it!

Damn beast, what do you understand!

The masked person's heart gave a sudden jolt, but before he could speak, the Chosen One snatched away his right to speak again.

Since the Marine Corps Commander has already arrived and is battling the evil dragon to the east, although the Xiguang Duke didn't come, he's surely holding back the beast tide at the rest stop down the mountain.

Then, sir, you must have come to rescue me, right?

Masked person:???

Not bro, you dare spout nonsense like that, you…

But he hadn't succeeded in snatching it before—could it work now?

Moreover, Ji Ming, who had triggered the deadly rhythm, had further increased his speech speed.

If you're willing to come save me, I'm truly grateful; I'll definitely find a way to repay you later, so may I ask who you are, and could you give me a way to contact you?

Wait, wait!

Is it General Soros? Or the Rosy Light Duke? Or Mr. Alma? Or Ti…

Shut up!

The masked person, frightened, quickly called a halt to Ji Ming's dish‑name reciting, then noticing his own lapse, affected composure as he straightened his clothes.

Gripping his civilized staff like a short stick, he turned sideways and spoke coldly.

You sure know how to pull in relatives; if you dare spout nonsense again, don't think I won't strike you down!

He's panicked, of course he is—because Ji Ming did it on purpose!

Moreover, he had already sensed the other's familiar aura; his verbal probing now was merely to confirm it.

Tirilia, full name Tirilia Scarlet, is the headmaster of the Guanghui Magic Academy.

Just from its name you can tell it's the highest academy of the Hui Guang Kingdom, built with the nation's full strength by the First Sun King to rival Little Lion.

Thus, though Ji Ming's Saint Valentine Magic Academy isn't utterly inferior to it, in terms of seniority it definitely comes after.

He himself is the youngest headmaster since the academy's founding, accomplished young—already renowned in his twenties, and just turned forty this year.

As the saying goes, a man at forty is in his prime; thus the single, handsome, wealthy, capable Tirilia, as the Hui Guang Kingdom's top diamond bachelor, also bears the reputation of being the kingdom's most charming man.

Until Ji Ming arrived—without undoing a button, giving a glance, or uttering a witty remark—his sheer charisma alone snatched that title away.

If that were all, Tirilia could actually tolerate it a little.

After all, on one hand he feels he's too old to compete with the young; on the other, being second doesn't matter, and it doesn't stop him from continuing to flirt with young girls and their parents.

But when he heard that Ji Ming had also entered the education‑training industry and, in just two months, had already made a name for himself in the capital, the man who had twice been runner‑up finally snapped.

But now it's different—upon hearing that the Chosen One had been seized by the magic dragon, he became so agitated he was nearly driven mad.

I've been telling you to flirt all the time! Look, now you've been snatched by the mother dragon!

He didn't even attend tonight's banquet, instead keeping his usual appointment with students' parents to play poker, threw on his clothes and rushed over, wanting to see with his own eyes how unlucky the Chosen One was.

As for such a figure, why did everyone only realize his existence today……

That's not necessarily true—Ji Ming entered the Holy Academy to study, not to show off and slap faces; there's no need to compete over such trivial matters.

Moreover, Tirilia appears refined and cultured, level seventy‑plus, versed in many magics with a focus on wind, and seems to be a notable figure.

But deep down he's just a corrupt scoundrel, unfit for great responsibility; Ji Ming doesn't think his circle could tolerate such a person—how disgusting!

Yet Ji Ming looks down on him, while he actually admires Ji Ming.

Before, I wondered how one could see the dragon but not the Chosen One.

Only after the hermit pointed it out did I realize: likely the demon dragons intend to finish their business and then enjoy themselves, actually hiding right on this platform.

So after a brief flush of anger, he calmed down again.

Fine, fine, you're sharp‑tongued, huh—but anyway, I'm wearing a mask now, so no one knows who I am.

When you're dead, I'll be the number one man in the Guanghui Capital again, and then I'll see to it that I… your students and their parents…

"Hahaha, why are you suddenly so anxious, sir? It's unnecessary, really unnecessary."

But besides him and the Chosen One present, while Tirilia was happily drafting a revenge script in his mind, the hermit and that old demon were both pricking up their ears.

Seeing the masked person finally break down, Moxing Lan immediately spoke up to interrupt his rebuttal, then the Chosen One's words began probing.

"Could it be that you have some old grudge against this Chosen One? Heh, we're all humans after all; now these demon dragons want to cause trouble on our turf, so uniting to fight them together is what we should be doing right now."

"Yeah, heh heh… I've heard the Chosen One is renowned as the most benevolent person in Hui Guang; back in Sunshine City he had the reputation of a divine doctor, and as he went north he only did good deeds, never heard of him offending anyone."

"This… this miss, if I must say, aside from those evil‑god cultists, I recall…"

"Enough!"

Watching the two of them play off each other like twin tunnel‑boring machines, frantically digging into his background and true identity, Tirilia couldn't bear it and immediately spoke up to stop their probing.

"More talk is useless; don't dwell on these things! What's most urgent now is what lies beyond that stone wall."

But regardless, he certainly can't now slay the Chosen One on the spot, lest he give those two a chance to join forces against him.

So he could only shrink his head and actively give this pale‑face a way out.

"Chosen One, if you tell me what happened here, I'll spare your life—how about that?"

"Well…"

Ji Ming pondered a moment, decided to tell the truth, and related how the demon lord had spent a thousand years planning to inherit the Purple Lightning Divinity, so as to lead his clan to ascend with chickens and dogs.

"Divinity? Really!"