The Rich Lord’s Temptation and the Fox Maiden’s Thunderous Retaliation

Everyone present had experienced Xiao Yao’s formidable strength firsthand. He was certainly no ordinary peak Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Those unaware of his true power might even mistake him for someone who had already ascended to the Golden Core realm.

Under such circumstances, to force him back with a single arrow and make him struggle to receive an attack—just who was the fox-tribe maiden facing him?

“Look, doesn’t she resemble Su Mo from the wanted posters?” a cultivator pointed out.

Yet, after observing for a long while, the crowd noticed her aura was subtly different. She was clearly not human, but rather of the demon tribe.

Su Mo, they recalled, was supposed to be human, and so they dismissed the notion.

“Why are the demon tribe involved with ghosts?” a cultivator murmured, gazing towards Su Mo as she commanded the spirits.

At this, some glanced towards Xiao Yao.

His involvement, a human allied with ghosts, was equally preposterous.

The murmuring crowd created a stir, but Xiao Yao listened with a face as calm as still water.

Having faltered in that single attack, some of the more impetuous cultivators were already beginning to doubt him.

‘Only ants dare to question immortals and gods,’ Xiao Yao thought, his confidence returning. ‘How could my power be defined by mere mortals?’

However, these individuals were simply biding their time, only knowing how to fish in troubled waters, and none had yet unleashed their full strength.

After a brief contemplation, Xiao Yao tossed out an item.

“This is a Grade Three Golden Core Gathering Pill,” he announced. “A precious treasure that, when consumed during a breakthrough to the Golden Core realm, can increase your chances by twenty percent. I present this treasure because I recognize the capabilities of everyone here. What say you?”

His words instantly stole the breath from many.

Greed surged through them, yet they were keenly aware of the multitude of ghosts surrounding them, making it difficult to act. Without the certainty of a swift, fatal strike, any thought of seizing the treasure and escaping was futile.

With a whoosh, two cultivators arrived, positioning themselves before Xiao Yao.

A man and a woman, standing one on his left, one on his right. Merely by standing still, they exuded an aura of yin and yang merging, of water and fire in perfect harmony.

Their cultivation techniques seemed to resonate with each other, and their coordination was superb, far beyond what ordinary people could imagine.

Someone gasped in astonishment:

“It’s the Mortal Twin Swords! They were deliberately separated earlier; we didn’t even realize!”

“Incredible! Legend has it that when the Twin Swords combine their power, they can contend with a Golden Core cultivator, forcing others to keep their distance.”

“So, the man is Hong Chen and the woman is Shui Chen, right? When water and fire meet, it signals a star of death, and doom follows!”

A slight curve played on Xiao Yao’s lips; he knew he had hooked a big fish.

Hong Chen, the man, spoke up, his voice bold amidst the onlookers’ praise, and without hesitation, he raised the stakes:

“We want two pills!”

Xiao Yao’s brow furrowed, making the crowd believe he had failed, and they eagerly awaited the unfolding drama.

To their surprise, Xiao Yao turned his head and laughed, his demeanor exceedingly generous.

“Are there any other cultivators willing to act? Sharing just one pill among you all—are you mistaken?!”

“What do you mean? Do you only have one, trying to renege on your word?” the Twin Swords questioned in unison.

“Hmph.” Xiao Yao casually dropped a Golden Core Gathering Pill onto the ground, scoffing.

“What do you mean ‘only one’? Take it, take it! If the fox maiden next door heard that, she’d think I couldn’t afford it.”

“For items like this, as long as you act, each of you gets one! No questions asked!”

Their eyes widened. They realized they had misunderstood.

The rich lord was right before them. How could they not seize such immense wealth?

“Hmph! I, Heavenly Sword, have no desire to bully the weak with numbers. Twin Swords, you may go first.” A man in a straw cloak, with a completely black longsword clutched to his body, spoke with a detached air. In a fleeting glance, one might even overlook his presence entirely.

“What? It’s Heavenly Sword! Legend says he once climbed a mountain to challenge a Golden Core cultivator and actually succeeded in drawing them out! Hiss~”

“Ridiculous. Am I, Blood Refiner, truly such an incompetent individual?” Another arrogant demonic cultivator emerged, leaving everyone speechless.

“Childish. Under the Longevity Sword, no soul remains solitary. To kill only the fox maiden alone would be to underestimate me…” someone declared haughtily.

“Of this world’s grand destiny, I claim three parts; the remaining seven, I merely yield to you all…”

Xiao Yao had not anticipated that a casual offer would unearth so many formidable experts.

With such powerful assistance, the advantage was undeniably his!

“Excellent, excellent! As long as this woman can be slain, I am willing to consult my esteemed master to grant a single enlightenment session to whoever contributes the most… And by the way, my master is Yue Qin Xian.” Xiao Yao spoke the name with delight, brimming with pride.

His master, he mused, was not merely his instructor in cultivation, but also his lover in bed.

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned. Yue Qin Xian was an Almighty Nascent Soul cultivator, the sovereign of a sect.

In her prime, her ethereal beauty had captivated countless admirers. How many Nascent Soul cultivators had been drawn to the martial arts competition she held to choose a husband?

Yet, the matter ultimately ended inconclusively, which was a peculiar affair in itself.

To manage such a turn of events, satisfying numerous Nascent Soul cultivators and sending them away content, was a testament to her skill.

Yue Qin Xian was not only immensely powerful but also possessed astonishing rhetorical prowess.

Her words could always ensnare souls, like a zither in her hands, plucking at the heartstrings of men.

It was just that lately, news of Yue Qin Xian had been scarce.

‘Could such a woman have also been subdued, losing her fiery spirit?’ some had speculated, curious about the person who could achieve it.

However, those with more informed sources had all settled on one individual: her new disciple, Xiao Yao.

“So, Daoist Xiao, you are the Immortal Zither’s disciple. Please forgive our disrespect.” Some opportunists quickly changed their tune, flattering him profusely.

Even those preparing to make a move now sought to forge a connection, offering declarations of “utter devotion” freely, as if their words cost nothing.

“Hahahahaha—!” Xiao Yao threw his head back and laughed heartily, one hand supporting his cheek as he envisioned his future.

After the flurry of compliments subsided, the conversation turned to the main objective, and everyone bristled with eagerness.

“Daoist Xiao, we, the Twin Swords, shall certainly retrieve the fox woman’s head!” The Twin Swords bowed, then strode away with swift, determined steps, leaping down and flying towards Su Mo.

Meanwhile, Su Mo yawned, hoping Xiao Yao would lose his temper and disrupt his own formation.

Instead, two peculiar individuals arrived.

A man and a woman, shouting about ‘Twin Swords combining’ and ‘unrivaled under heaven,’ charged towards her in a frenzy.

Mo Lian understood their shouts, her expression subtly changing as she looked at Su Mo.

*Zing!*

Turning sideways, Su Mo drew her bow. Due to her ample chest, she had to angle the bow slightly outwards to prevent the string from brushing against her curves.

“Miss Su, the approaching opponents are not to be underesti—”

*Whoosh… Ah—!*

A lightning arrow suddenly tore through the air. Its explosive roar utterly stunned the Twin Swords, who were frantically setting up their formation.

They combined their strength to block the attack, but the arrow unleashed the aura of a thunder beast. In a daze, they glimpsed a colossal beast that blotted out the sky, startling them into a terrified scream.

All dignity was lost!

“Huh? Senior, did you say something just now?” Su Mo innocently turned her head, casually firing another arrow.

“Don’t call me Senior anymore. Just call me Little Mo.” Mo Lian replied gravely. She estimated that Su Mo was no weaker than an average Golden Core cultivator, which was truly astonishing.

“Ah? Senior, isn’t that inappropriate? Little Mo…” Su Mo frowned, hesitating, then *whoosh*—she fired another arrow, sending the Twin Swords scrambling, dodging frantically and ending up covered in dust.

“It’s fine. My given name is also a term of endearment among friends, isn’t it?” Beneath her bronze mask, she smiled faintly, her mood uncharacteristically pleasant.

“Mhm, mhm.” Su Mo nodded obediently. Coming back to her senses, she realized that her casual few arrows, fired without seriousness, had nearly killed the Twin Swords.

Seeing them flee, almost out of sight, Su Mo grew displeased.

“If you’re going to fight, how can you run?” Su Mo muttered, then forcefully drew back her Yin-Thunder Bow.

*Sizzle, sizzle!!!*

Purple lightning flickered around her, arcs of electricity striking the ground.

She closed her eyes, then reopened them, her crimson vertical pupils flashing with dazzling red light.

A massive surge of spiritual energy poured into the lightning arrow, making this particular shot far thicker than any before.

*Boom!*

Ghost fire abruptly ignited, flickering with an eerie, dark flame at the tip of the lightning arrow.

The combination of lightning and fire, even from afar, sent shivers of terror down the Twin Swords’ spines.

They clutched their trembling swords, fleeing in a panic, frequently glancing back.

Finally, seeing the lightning-fire arrow slice through the air, they cried out, screaming:

“Don’t come any closer!”