Chapter 904: Extra 4:141

Since the origin of the Mòyù Bānzhǐ is the Five-Colored Earth, which symbolizes the balance of the Nine Provinces and the Five Elements, does that mean it can also balance any eroded and destroyed land on the Nine Provinces' earth?

Following this line of thought, Xiao Jiu seemed to have awakened something again, a flash that passed through her mind, but she couldn't grasp it.

Xiao Jiu thought, perhaps her current ability is not enough, or perhaps the time has not yet come.

But at least it shows the direction is correct, and there indeed is a solution, which is enough.

She gently stroked the Mòyù Bānzhǐ, trying to cultivate a bond with it so as to awaken more activation incantations as soon as possible.

Once she could smoothly use the incantation to switch the Mòyù Bānzhǐ between the state of a handful of earth and its own state, all problems would be readily solved.

Just then, Xiao Jiu suddenly noticed that the blood flow, which had been slowly spreading in all directions, had reached the front of her toes, meaning the Xuètóng Hānsī was about to revive.

This moment arrived earlier than Xiao Jiu had imagined.

The spot where Xiao Jiu stood was just outside the edge of the blood‑stained soil, which should temporarily be free of the Xuètóng Hānsī's control, but almost in an instant, blood mist filled her surroundings.

This blood mist appeared out of nowhere, blocking Xiao Jiu's sight.

Perhaps because the Mòyù Bānzhǐ was present, her body was not affected by the blood mist; otherwise, with such a high concentration, even if the mist were non‑toxic, inhaling it would still be harmful.

Moreover, how could it possibly be non‑toxic?

Xiao Jiu did not move.

Those who should have been sent away have been sent away, and the areas that should have been purged have already been purged.

If nothing unexpected happens, she should be the only person left within a three‑li radius.

So this blood mist was aimed at her from the start.

Xiao Jiu was not afraid; for her, most demons and evil spirits posed no threat before her, and only opponents like this high‑level, high‑difficulty one would make her feel challenged.

But she merely felt it was tricky; once she found a way to counter the opponent, she actually enjoyed this challenge.

Because only against such an opponent, facing such a challenge, could she awaken some abilities in a critical moment… this awakening process itself is a kind of trial.

"Everyone has left, leaving only you." The voice that had appeared before suddenly sounded, "You've tasted a bit of sweetness, and you really think you are my destined nemesis?"

"Overestimating oneself!"

This voice floated around Xiao Jiu, impossible to tell from which direction it came, its tone disdainful, its pressure so strong that Xiao Jiu felt her breathing tighten a little.

But she still replied calmly, "Is that so? We'll know if we try."

"Heh." The other side seemed to have heard a very funny joke, "How many years ago was that? Back then, there was also a girl about your age who, following the Queen of Earth's order, came to the rescue wielding this Mòyù Bānzhǐ—do you know what became of her?"

Without even exchanging blows, they launched a psychological attack, using similar experiences to break the enemy's mental defenses—showing that the Xuètóng Hānsī had already awakened its spiritual intellect, far beyond an ordinary evil spirit.

Xiao Jiu asked with interest, "What happened to her?"

The Xuètóng Hānsī did not directly answer Xiao Jiu's question; Xiao Jiu held her breath and waited.

Not long after, Xiao Jiu felt the blood mist surge to her left front; the previously evenly distributed mist thickened in places, quickly forming the figure of a graceful woman.

The woman's body went from mist to solid, finally becoming a vivid, stunning beauty—all in less than a minute.

The woman was gorgeous enough to topple nations, yet her eyes were dull and vacant, like an emotionless puppet.

The next moment, the puppet moved.

She quickly formed a hand seal, and as she pressed her sword‑finger to her brow, Xiao Jiu saw a five‑colored light flickering between her brows; when she reversed her hand and swept the sword‑finger toward Xiao Jiu, Xiao Jiu felt five colored beams of light shooting straight at her face.

What's more frightening, as those five beams of light drew nearer, they kept growing larger and thicker.

At the same time, when what looked like beams of light came up close, Xiao Jiu realized they were not light beams at all, but… a 'Five Finger Mountain'!

Five different‑colored soils combined together, pressing down on Xiao Jiu like a great mountain.

Xiao Jiu swiftly dodged, thrust a palm at the 'Five Finger Mountain'; the palm wind shattered it, and before she could retract her hand, she gathered power for another strike, and the Mòyù Bānzhǐ on her thumb moved on its own.

It rose in a spiral, coiling rapidly around Xiao Jiu's right thumb; just as it seemed about to slip off, Xiao Jiu reached out with her left hand and grabbed it.

Only then did Xiao Jiu feel a strong suction pulling the Mòyù Bānzhǐ away from her thumb!

Xiao Jiu instantly realized that the woman formed from the condensed blood mist was trying to seize her Mòyù Bānzhǐ!

The Mòyù Bānzhǐ recognizes its master; ordinary people cannot take it away, yet the woman opposite effortlessly gained control of it… how terrifying!

According to the Xuètóng Hānsī, the woman before us was originally a female official in the Queen of Earth's service, who had likewise been ordered to bring the Mòyù Bānzhǐ to capture the Xuètóng Hānsī, but in the end she not only failed to complete the mission, she was refined by the Xuètóng Hānsī into a puppet.

The terrifying part is that, even though she has become a puppet, she still holds absolute control over the Mòyù Bānzhǐ and even the Five-Colored Earth!

No wonder the Xuètóng Hānsī's tone when persuading Xiao Jiu earlier was so disdainful—it truly has nothing to fear.

Leaving aside the fact that the Xuètóng Hānsī refined the female official, just based on her control of the Mòyù Bānzhǐ and the Five-Colored Earth, she could largely suppress Xiao Jiu's attacks.

Xiao Jiu had originally thought that with the Mòyù Bānzhǐ in hand she could match the Xuètóng Hānsī, but now she isn't even sure she can protect the Mòyù Bānzhǐ.

Xiao Jiu pressed down on the Mòyù Bānzhǐ and stared at the woman in the blood mist, over and over.

She was puzzled.

Since the woman has been defeated and turned into a puppet, why does the Mòyù Bānzhǐ and the Five-Colored Earth still obey her so completely?

Shouldn't these abilities have been taken back along with her defeat?

Otherwise, how could Xiao Jiu become the current master of the Mòyù Bānzhǐ?

There are too many inconsistencies, but… Xiao Jiu suddenly widened her eyes!

This must be the trial Xiao Jiu must undergo before awakening the next part of her abilities.

She must completely strip the traces of the Mòyù Bānzhǐ and Five-Colored Earth from the woman's body, or kill the woman, to solve the problem at its root.

The Mòyù Bānzhǐ and the Five-Colored Earth can have only one master.

Although the Queen of Earth gave the Mòyù Bānzhǐ to Xiao Jiu, it is obvious that the Five-Colored Earth is missing.

The Queen of Earth didn't withhold it on purpose; rather… she needs Xiao Jiu to seize it herself…