章 16: Chapter 15: Spiral Ascension
Two formidable tiger demons suddenly materialized – strong, fierce, and, to put it simply, rather hideous.
In simpler terms, they were far from easy on the eyes!
When compared to Bai Lian, they seemed like generic NPC monsters.
Then, one of the tiger demons sprang onto a nearby rock and berated Bai Lian, "Ignorant human! How dare you trespass into the territory of the two-headed dragon boss!?"
The other tiger demon placed a hand on its chest and added, "You seem to have disregarded our might. It appears you haven't been paying attention!"
Bai Lian's heart raced slightly.
Her assessment was likely accurate: the two tiger demons facing her were probably at the Golden Core Stage, and each was individually more powerful than she was.
While this location was distant from Qiongming Peak, it still fell within the jurisdiction of the Duxian Sect. How could two unregistered tiger demons emerge here?
Something seemed awry.
Yet Bai Lian had no time for investigation.
If only one tiger demon stood before her, she could rely on her speed to potentially escape. Once she reached Qiongming Peak, even if her reputation took a hit, at least her life would be preserved.
But there were two tiger demons confronting her.
Running was not an option.
Bai Lian was worried, yet her expression remained composed. After all, impersonating a Natural Saint was her daily bread.
Bai Lian retorted, "I am a disciple of the Duxian Sect. How dare you threaten me in this manner?"
"The Duxian Sect? So what?" a tiger demon sneered, puffing up its coppery eyes. "Since you've dared intrude upon the territory of the two-headed dragon boss, you've sealed your fate!"
Bai Lian snorted coldly.
She knew that she mustn't panic now; otherwise, the adversaries might attack her without hesitation.
If the system issued a task at this crucial juncture, perhaps she'd be saved.
To Bai Lian's surprise, the two tiger demons didn't immediately charge forward. They appeared to be uncertain about something.
Their two tiger heads huddled together, their inaudible conversation creating a sense of intrigue.
Tiger A: "You take the front, I'll flank her!"
Tiger B: "You're faster, so it's best if you go first."
Tiger A: "Speed won't help. Your defense is better than mine. You should lead."
Tiger B: "Why don't we attack together?"
Tiger A: "Let's go together."
The two tigers exchanged glances, then split up and began advancing toward Bai Lian from opposite sides.
Game over.
Bai Lian's right fist clenched. How could the system fail her at this critical moment?
No, no!
She was running out of time.
Was she about to be killed after being designated a villain by the system?
Clearly, she hadn't committed any misdeeds.
System, appear quickly!
Even if death was her fate, she'd rather it came at the hands of relevant in-game characters. Succumbing to two mere demon NPCs would be an embarrassment.
Bai Lian resembled a statue of ice. Her eyes were calm, and the star in the corner of her eye emitted a mystic light.
Alas, Bai Lian sighed inwardly.
The moment had arrived.
She began contemplating how to meet her demise with dignity.
However, this bizarre action bewildered the two tiger demons, giving them pause. They exchanged glances, sensing Bai Lian's inexplicable calm.
In their eyes, Bai Lian was a fearsome figure – a Natural Saint of the Duxian Sect, and perhaps even rumored to have achieved the Nascent Soul Stage. They wouldn't dare provoke her without the support of the two-headed dragon boss.
After a brief hesitation, the two tiger demons resumed their advance.
Bai Lian remained a picture of cool composure, unfazed by her inner turmoil. After all, maintaining her facade as a Natural Saint was her daily grind.
She gazed at the little rabbit, which had made two small leaps to catch her attention.
Yes!
Bai Lian's eyes sparkled with newfound determination.
The rabbit's identity was evidently more complex than she'd imagined. If she could leverage it wisely, she might just secure an avenue of escape.
Her gaze darted between Task 1 and Task 2.
Task 1 promised the Jade Emperor Seal upon completion, but the snag was that she'd require time to familiarize herself with it before it became usable. Obviously, her adversaries wouldn't afford her such leisure.
That left Task 2 as her choice. She could enlist the rabbit's aid to divert the attention of one of her opponents. This would grant her a slim chance of evading capture.
Bai Lian opted for Task 2.
She lowered her head and addressed the little rabbit, "Do you understand your wrongdoing?"
The rabbit's watery eyes blinked vigorously in agreement.
Although it was a small creature, it understood well that provoking the human before it spelled only trouble.
A Natural Saint, a figure at the Nascent Soul Stage, a disciple of that wicked woman – any affiliation was ominous for it.
Had it not been for insufferable hunger, it would never have invaded the Qiongming Peak's medicine garden.
"You've accumulated quite a debt through your herb pilfering," Bai Lian raised the rabbit's form, her voice stern. "You shall repay your debt with your body!"
[Task completed, task reward: Tai Xuan Zhen Yuan Pill]
The rabbit's expression shifted, a mix of bewilderment and unease.
Repay with my body? Am I going to be consumed?
No!
The rabbit emitted a series of chirps. Had it not been bound by Bai Lian, it would have raised its tiny paws in protest.
Bai Lian, maintaining her composed demeanor, gestured toward one of the tigers, stating, "Look."
The rabbit nodded understandingly.
"That one is your opponent."
"Huh?"
The rabbit blinked in bewilderment.
Oh, so it won't be eaten? That's a relief.
Bai Lian continued, "If you can distract it, I'll consider half of your debt settled."
The rabbit's eyes bulged.
It grasped the situation: Bai Lian intended to forgive it, otherwise she wouldn't have proposed such a lenient task.
The rabbit did some quick calculations. If one distraction equaled half the debt, would two distractions clear the entire debt?
"I'll release you now. Don't attempt to flee."
"Haw."
The rabbit shook its head.
As Bai Lian unfastened the bindings on the rabbit's ears and tail, the creature shook its body, effortlessly dispersing the water restraints.
You can free yourself from the water restraints?
Bai Lian was taken aback.
It seemed the rabbit possessed greater strength than she had surmised, enhancing her chances of escape.
"Very well, let's go," Bai Lian said.
With a few energetic hops, the rabbit surged ahead.
The two tiger demons had overheard their exchange. A moment later, their faces contorted in rage.
They may not have matched Bai Lian's strength, but being underestimated was something they could hardly tolerate. They had hoped that Bai Lian would continue to belittle them, giving them an opportunity to ambush her with the might granted by the two-headed dragon boss.
However, Bai Lian had now compelled her captive demon beast to challenge them, signaling not disdain, but rather outright contempt.
Bastard!
"How dare you mock us like this!"
Suddenly, the "king" characters on the tiger demons' foreheads emanated a bloody glow, while a suffocating air of death enveloped Bai Lian.
"Oh no!"
A sinking feeling weighed down Bai Lian. It appeared her ruse had been exposed.
It seemed that flight was her only option now!
Bai Lian shouted, "You first…"
Before she could finish her sentence, a malevolent gust of wind abruptly swept in, disrupting Bai Lian's rhythm entirely.
The young woman's eyes widened. The rabbit, seemingly feeble, inflated like a balloon on the brink of bursting – an unexpectedly comical sight.
A powerful whirlwind encircled the rabbit, causing gray storm clouds to enshroud the sky over the hills. Bai Lian found herself in a sea of gray, temporarily disoriented.
In an instant, accompanied by a resounding cry from the rabbit, the storm imbued with a potent aura of death crashed headlong into the two tiger demons.
Doomed.
It all happened too quickly.
By the time the two tiger demons discerned the storm's approach, they were already aloft, swept off the ground by the tempest's fury.
"How is this possible?"
One of the tiger demons cried out in horror.
A dreadful scent wafted from the rabbit, sensing the suppression of its power by the rabbit's lineage.
Why am I so surprised?
The tiger demon's laughter resounded bitterly. The individual they were contending with was none other than the legendary Bai Lian!
A Natural Saint herself, potentially even a practitioner of the Nascent Soul Stage. Their current plight could only be attributed to their reckless action – a decision to challenge her without the strength to back it.
Regrettably, this realization dawned too late. Once ensnared in the storm, they were beyond the pale.
All they could do was watch helplessly as they ascended into the sky, their bodies sliced by the knife-like winds.
Doomed.
The tiger demon's gaze dimmed.
At that moment, an intense impulse welled up within him.
He couldn't simply die in vain. He had to disseminate news of what had transpired here!
The tiger demon utilized his own soul as an offering, attaching his final thought to a drop of his blood before hurtling it into the distance –
[Bai Lian has reached the Nascent Soul Stage!]
Bang!
The feeble tiger demon exploded into fragments high in the sky above the mountain.
Moments later, the storm ceased.
Bai Lian surveyed the massive trench newly gouged into the landscape – a tens-of-miles-long scar. Now she comprehended why punching the rabbit was rewarded with a top-grade magical tool.
The system was truly unrelenting!
"Haw!"
The rabbit hopped over to Bai Lian, seemingly eager for acknowledgement.
"Excellent job," Bai Lian chuckled softly. "You owe me nothing now. You're free to go."
Yet the rabbit remained, performing a couple of hops before collapsing onto the ground with a thud.
"Hey, are you alright?"
Bai Lian hurriedly crouched down to inspect the creature.
One of the rabbit's ears drooped, and it scratched a few marks in the mud. Bai Lian leaned closer and discerned a word etched into the soil: "Hungry."
"..."
Alright, alright. I'll let you eat your fill.
Bai Lian lifted the rabbit and headed back toward the medicine garden.
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