Chapter 116: Might as Well Go All the Way

The Cheng family was certainly no match for the Spirit Herb Sect. Cheng Hai, having yet to reach the Foundation Establishment stage and sitting at only the eleventh level of Qi Refining, could not possibly possess a mid-grade magical artifact; even if given one, he lacked the cultivation to wield it with any proficiency.

As for the woman named Ayu, although she had the ability to control such an artifact, she was merely one of Cheng Hai’s concubines. Since the Cheng family had other direct-line young masters besides him, they would naturally never provide her with a mid-grade artifact.

While Chu Xin'er was displaying her prowess and suppressing her opponents, Xiao Wenzhi—who had slipped out of the spirit beast bag earlier and remained hidden in the grass—was quietly flying toward Ayao.

"Go, Xiao Wen."

The master and servant shared a telepathic connection. Chu Xin'er deliberately unleashed a flurry of fierce strikes with her Vajra Sword to occupy most of Ayao’s attention. Seeing that Xiao Wenzhi was now less than a yard away, a faint smile tugged at the corners of Chu Xin'er’s mouth.

"What is that? Wait—oh no!"

Once within range, Xiao Wenzhi utilized the speed-enhancing demon art, transforming into a gray blur as he lunged at Ayao. Though she sensed the fluctuation of demonic energy, it was too late to dodge or activate her protective spiritual barrier.

A sharp, stinging pain flared at the nape of her neck, followed immediately by rapid paralysis that rendered her unable to move. Her eyes filled with terror.

Having successfully ambushed her and injected the paralytic venom, Xiao Wenzhi felt no pity. He began to suck the woman's blood, quickly converting it into system currency. At the same time, Chu Xin'er intensified her assault on Cheng Hai and his companion, leaving them no window to intervene.

"Damn you, you venomous woman! Keeping such an ugly mosquito as a spirit pet—you’re truly twisted!"

A cultivator’s spiritual sense could perceive everything within their range. Despite being at a disadvantage, Cheng Hai clearly saw Ayao’s predicament, and he no longer held the slightest bit of contempt for Chu Xin'er. As he cursed and spat insults, he clutched a sound-transmission talisman, clearly intending to alert his family elders.

"Hmph, trying to call for reinforcements because you’re losing? Keep dreaming."

A cold sneer played on Chu Xin'er’s lips. Not wanting to face a Foundation Establishment expert, she let out a cold hum as her flying needle artifact shot forth like a beam of light, aimed directly at Cheng Hai’s throat.

"Oh no, a needle-type artifact!"

Though Cheng Hai had barely managed to hold his own with Ayu’s help, he was, after all, a young master of the Cheng family and possessed a few trump cards for self-preservation. As he panicked, his protective spiritual light flared, and a mid-grade defensive talisman appeared in his hand.

With two layers of light barriers blocking the way, Chu Xin'er’s flying needle failed to break through. However, Cheng Hai’s attempt to use the transmission talisman to alert his family was successfully interrupted.

To his dismay, while the needle failed to pierce his barrier, his own low-grade flying sword suffered cracks during a collision with the opponent’s willow-leaf blade. Before Cheng Hai could react, Chu Xin'er flicked her delicate fingers, and the willow-leaf blade struck again, shattering his artifact completely.

The damage to his spiritual connection caused Cheng Hai to turn pale and cough up blood, and his outer protective light began to tremble violently. If not for the remaining power of the earth-element defensive talisman, Chu Xin'er’s needle would have surely pierced his throat.

"Young Master!"

Seeing the willow-leaf blade strike at Cheng Hai, Ayu cried out in alarm. However, her own artifact had also cracked after clashing with the Vajra Sword; she could barely save herself, let alone him.

Boom, boom, boom! Realizing that there was no room for reconciliation with this so-called "young castle master," Chu Xin'er decided to see it through to the end. While dividing her focus to shatter Ayu’s low-grade artifact with her Vajra Sword, she continued to hammer the willow-leaf blade against Cheng Hai’s earthy-yellow barrier.

The mid-grade defensive barrier twisted and trembled under the assault, and though it did not shatter immediately, it grew rapidly thinner. Having learned from her previous mistake, Ayu withdrew her spiritual sense from her flying sword in time to avoid backlash. However, the momentum of the Vajra Sword was unchecked, and it slashed toward her, leaving her no chance to assist Cheng Hai.

As for Ayao, the graceful girl looked even more wretched. Her fair neck and smooth cheeks were covered in swollen, itchy welts, making her look ghastly, as if she had contracted some strange disease. Having reached the tenth level of the Demon Aura realm, Xiao Wenzhi’s blood-sucking speed was astonishing; in a short time, he had already drained hundreds of drops of blood from her.

"Father, Grandfather, help me!"

The power of the talisman was limited. Soon, the earthy-yellow barrier could no longer withstand the onslaught of the willow-leaf blade. As he saw the thin, cicada-wing-like blade fly toward him and easily pierce his protective light, Cheng Hai screamed in terror.

Having been arrogant since childhood and rarely having experienced the crucible of life and death, he hadn't even managed to activate his sound-transmission talisman. Being nearly a hundred miles away from the Cheng family fortress, his desperate cries were entirely futile.

"Master, don't kill him yet. Subdue him and take him prisoner..."

Though Xiao Wenzhi was busy feeding, he kept a constant watch on the battle. Seeing that Chu Xin'er could easily crush her opponents, he decided not to interfere. This spoiled young master had tried to forcibly take Chu Xin'er as a concubine; his defeat was deserved. However, he was still a young master of a family, and there was no telling if they had soul-bead artifacts or similar items back at their stronghold. If they killed him now and alerted the Cheng family experts, it would become quite troublesome. That was why Xiao Wenzhi sent a telepathic message to stop her.

*Splat!* The willow-leaf blade flew across Cheng Hai’s shoulder, drawing a line of blood and causing him to wail in agony. Immediately after, he felt searing pain in his other shoulder and his calf; Chu Xin'er had taken Xiao Wenzhi’s advice and crippled Cheng Hai’s meridians without striking a fatal blow.

With his meridians severed and his spiritual power unable to circulate, Cheng Hai fainted from the pain. Sensing that the situation had turned dire, Ayu tried to flee, but Chu Xin'er would not allow it. The Vajra Sword and the willow-leaf blade both swung toward her, blocking her path.

"You—you dare to harm Young Master Cheng! The Cheng family will never let you go!"

Her protective light trembled and twisted wildly. Although Ayu made threats, her voice was full of bluster.

"Hmph, worry about yourself first."

Chu Xin'er gave a cold smile. Her hands danced like butterflies as she formed seals, and both mid-grade artifacts erupted with spiritual light, striking Ayu’s protective barrier one after another until it shattered.

The bodies of Qi Refining cultivators were not much tougher than those of mortals. Without a protective barrier, she was like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered. As blood sprayed, both of Ayu's shoulders were pierced. A burst of spiritual power was then forced into her body, and she blacked out, fainting as well.

There was no deep-seated hatred between them; it was simply a matter of serving different masters. Therefore, Chu Xin'er did not kill Ayu, merely wounding her and sealing her spiritual power.

A moment later, in a forest not far from the battlefield, Xiao Wenzhi flew off Ayao’s body and returned to Chu Xin'er’s waist. Together, they quickly departed the scene.