Chapter Seventy-Four: So You Are Indeed That Enchantress

After repeated practice, Xiao Wenzi had already mastered both the Shadow Demon Art and the Claw Technique. Should he launch a surprise attack, even a Foundation Establishment cultivator might not escape unscathed. Imagine—if the opponent were caught off guard, having not raised their protective spiritual light in advance, and in the moment of brief shock when Xiao Wenzi split into four, he could slip close and, with a single swipe, easily sever the other's throat.

It had now been over a year since Xiao Wenzi arrived in this world. Perhaps it was because the mosquitoes here could absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, granting them a longer lifespan than ordinary mosquitoes on Earth. Or maybe his rapidly advancing cultivation had already altered his vital essence, for throughout all this time, Xiao Wenzi had felt no aging or discomfort.

Freed from worries of a short lifespan, he could devote himself wholly to cultivation and strengthening his combat prowess.

Buzz—

Just as Xiao Wenzi shattered a blue stone tile once more, there was a sudden, intense fluctuation of spiritual energy from the room where Chu Xiner resided.

Spreading his demon sense, Xiao Wenzi sensed the girl's aura growing markedly stronger, and his heart leapt with joy—Chu Xiner had finally broken through to the thirteenth and highest layer of the Qi Refining stage.

Another month slipped by quietly. Since Chu Xiner had consumed nearly all seventeen Water Lotus Pills, and the remaining two or three were insufficient for another breakthrough, she finally opened her bright eyes and ended her year-long seclusion.

Stepping out of her room, her divine sense immediately noticed the deep claw marks gouged across the floor where Xiao Wenzi was. She couldn't help her astonishment. “Xiao Wen, did you make all these scratches?”

Chu Xiner knew Xiao Wenzi could perform a secret art similar to Wind Blade, but the marks on the bluestone floor were clearly not from blade strikes; they resembled the claw marks of a demon beast.

Xiao Wen was only the size of an infant's finger, and even with his claws extended, they were no longer than an inch—yet he could cause such destruction. Chu Xiner found it most surprising.

“That’s right, Xiner. Without the blood of cultivators, I can’t advance my realm, so I train my body to pass the time...” Xiao Wenzi explained via voice transmission. He believed that once Chu Xiner learned he needed fresh blood, she would surely take him outside the sect to hunt for solitary cultivators.

As expected, Chu Xiner nodded in understanding, then smiled. “Don’t worry, Xiao Wen. In a few days, I’ll take on a mission and leave Greenleaf Sect.”

Having reached the thirteenth layer of Qi Refining, her next step was to prepare for Foundation Establishment. Staying within the sect made it difficult to obtain the precious Foundation Establishment Pills.

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Chu Xiner resolved to travel outside the sect once again—not only because Xiao Wenzi required fresh blood, but also to seek resources for her own advancement.

However, since she’d stood out by advancing so quickly over the past year, Chu Xiner decided to first master the Breath-Hiding Technique recorded in the Drifting Clouds and Falling Rain Manual before leaving. So she told Xiao Wenzi to wait a little longer.

Xiao Wenzi had no objection. After all, he had waited this long; what were a few more days?

Of course, Chu Xiner did not immediately return to training after her seclusion. She first bathed, changed, and enjoyed a long, restful sleep before returning to the practice room.

Seven or eight days later, the practice room door opened once more, and the girl emerged with her aura now at the peak of the eleventh layer. She smiled as she stepped out.

The Breath-Hiding Technique from the Drifting Clouds and Falling Rain Manual was not the most profound of arts, but unless she encountered a Foundation Establishment elder, even clever Qi Refining disciples like Huang Yipeng would not detect anything amiss.

Indeed, when Chu Xiner exited through the formation gate and headed to the Mission Hall, none of her fellow disciples along the way paid her any undue attention.

As for Huang Yipeng, upon hearing the news, he let out a long sigh of relief. Even with the aid of pills, it had taken nearly a year to break through from the early to the late stage. Her progress was not overly fast and posed no threat to his own already perfected cultivation.

However, Chu Xiner’s immediate decision to take on a mission and leave the sect upon ending her seclusion rekindled his scheming thoughts.

Recently, Huang Yipeng’s cultivation had stagnated, largely due to a knot in his heart. If he could seize this opportunity to deal with Chu Xiner—even if it meant merely possessing her body before killing her—he believed he could finally resolve his inner turmoil.

Thus, driven by love turned to hatred, Huang Yipeng borrowed a treasure from his uncle under the pretense of needing experience for a breakthrough and secretly followed Chu Xiner out of Greenleaf Sect.

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“Hmph, so Huang Yipeng was indeed up to no good. Last time, when the Twin Heroes of Cangshan ambushed me, he was definitely involved. If not for Xiao Wen’s timely intervention, his plot would have succeeded,” Chu Xiner thought.

Though she had concealed her aura, neither her cultivation nor her perception had diminished. The Drifting Clouds and Falling Rain Manual was superior to her previous techniques, and with the growth of her spiritual power and the mystical ability of her right eye, she soon detected her tail.

A cold smile played at her lips, though outwardly she feigned ignorance, continuing to fly forward.

She had already made up her mind: since she couldn't shake off this persistent leech, rather than let him plot in secret, she would seize the opportunity to strike and destroy him, eliminating future trouble once and for all.

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With a mid-grade magical weapon as her trump card and Xiao Wen ready to strike from the shadows, Chu Xiner was brimming with confidence. The only issue was that she could not act too close to Greenleaf Sect.

After all, her adversary’s uncle was a Foundation Establishment elder and chief steward of the outer sect. If word got out, she would be forced to flee for her life.

Fortunately, she was not the only one wary of the sect’s rules—Huang Yipeng, too, was unwilling to cause trouble too near Greenleaf Sect. So, for the first two days, both kept a safe distance, each harboring their own thoughts, and nothing happened.

On the third day, as they flew over a range of mountains ablaze with crimson maples, Chu Xiner suddenly descended, her light shrinking to the ground. She had spotted one of her targets—a peak sixth-layer young cultivator.

Huang Yipeng had to be eliminated, but she would not pass up the fresh blood Xiao Wen required. So she flew straight toward the blue-robed man on the hillside.

“Fellow Daoist, we have never met. May I ask why you are blocking my path?” The blue-robed man, Shi Yan, was picking a spiritual herb when he saw Chu Xiner, her face masked and features hidden, descend from the sky. Warily, he put away his jade box and questioned her with a grim face.

The young woman’s appearance and cultivation were reminiscent of the notorious demoness who had caused a sensation the previous year. As he spoke, he had already drawn his magical saber from his storage pouch, ready to fight at any moment.

“Why? My spirit pet needs some blood. So tell me—will you surrender yourself and let him feed, or must I trouble myself to do it by force?”

A cold smile touched her lips, and even before her melodious voice faded, the flying sword before her bloomed with brilliant light.

“So—you really are that demoness! Shi Yan is not so easily bullied!” At her words, the blue-robed man’s pupils contracted in terror.

Nonetheless, his hands moved without hesitation. Spiritual power surged into his magical saber, which clashed with Chu Xiner’s flying sword. Clearly, he had no intention of surrendering without a fight.

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