"Watch out!"
The others hadn't expected Yuan Meng Zhenren to be so dishonorable and strike first. They cried out in alarm, holding their breath, wishing they could rush forward to shield Yan Jiaojiao.
However, remembering Yan Jiaojiao's superior abilities, they realized that intervening might only cause her trouble. After a moment's hesitation, they remained in place, finding spots to conceal themselves and protect themselves.
To Yan Jiaojiao, they were a burden. If the situation dragged on, they might become hostages in Yuan Meng Zhenren's hands. That would make things even more difficult for Yan Jiaojiao.
"Yuan Meng Zhenren, are you enraged and embarrassed?"
"You're a senior bullying us, and you think you're justified? So now you're flying into a rage, intending to kill us and seize our treasures?"
Yan Jiaojiao had initially given him some respect, hoping to de-escalate the situation and get rid of this lunatic quickly. She hadn't expected him to be so shameless, attacking without warning.
Yan Jiaojiao, being hot-tempered, could no longer tolerate this.
Xiao Hei, hearing Yan Jiaojiao's familiar tone, couldn't help but grin. He had been displeased earlier seeing Yan Jiaojiao playing the subservient role. After all, she was someone he had brought along. When he had first taught her his techniques, he had already acknowledged her.
Yan Jiaojiao, being arrogant and vengeful, was a rather outstanding "inheritor" in Xiao Hei's eyes. If Yan Jiaojiao were to become a powerful figure in the future, he, Dongfang Cangwu, would also have a sense of pride.
If he hadn't sensed Yan Jiaojiao's intention to de-escalate earlier, Xiao Hei would have likely snapped at her. If this woman dared to grovel before others and embarrass him, she might as well die by his hand. He had been seeking revenge for a long time. Fortunately, this woman hadn't disappointed him. One must fight when it's time to fight; there's no need to indulge such trash!
"You!"
"Don't spout nonsense! I wasn't trying to steal treasures. It's clearly you young people who disrespected me, deliberately humiliating me, that prompted me to act. Enraged and embarrassed? I don't understand what you're talking about at all!"
Yan Jiaojiao grinned mockingly. "It's okay if you don't understand now. I'll make sure you understand when I'm done beating you!"
As Yan Jiaojiao launched spirit energy orbs, she simultaneously transmitted a message to Jiang Yiling and the others, telling them to find an opportunity to escape.
Jiang Yiling and the others were initially reluctant to leave, but they also knew that staying would only be a burden to Yan Jiaojiao. Since Yan Jiaojiao dared to say this, she must have a way to escape, so they didn't need to worry.
After agreeing on a time and place to meet again, Jiang Yiling and the others seized the moment when Yan Jiaojiao drew Yuan Meng Zhenren's attention and fled.
Normally, with Yuan Meng Zhenren's cultivation, he should have been able to detect Jiang Yiling's departure. However, Yan Jiaojiao was handling him with apparent ease and confidence, as if she had a trump card. She also kept provoking him. Yuan Meng Zhenren felt a flicker of panic, and in his flustered state, he failed to notice where the others had gone.
"Yan Jiaojiao, you indeed have some skill, but don't get too arrogant. Do you really think you can do anything to me? Do you think I've been cultivating all these years for nothing?"
No matter how incompetent Yuan Meng Zhenren had been, spending years accumulating wealth, seizing treasures, and scheming, he was still at the peak of the Blue Tier. Although he had been unable to break through to the Half-Step Violet Tier, his mastery of the Blue Tier was more than enough to deal with Yan Jiaojiao. Could it be that this little girl, Yan Jiaojiao, had reached the Blue Tier herself?
Yan Jiaojiao indeed hadn't, a point Yuan Meng Zhenren had correctly surmised. But by Yan Jiaojiao's side was Xiao Hei, who had dared to confront Aroxi directly! Aroxi had been at the peak of his power when he had just awakened, and the Demon King was not to be trifled with. Although Yan Jiaojiao had been very worried about Xiao Hei at the time, after that incident, Yan Jiaojiao had come to cherish Xiao Hei dearly. Such a powerful summoned beast was what a thousand-year-old ancestor like her deserved! Even though he appeared to be just a small dog, when he truly became fierce, no one could compare!
Yan Jiaojiao and Xiao Hei had developed an unparalleled tacit understanding. With just a glance, they knew each other's thoughts. At this moment, with almost no verbal exchange, Yuan Meng Zhenren felt an overwhelming pressure.
Yuan Meng Zhenren became even more fearful. What trump card did Yan Jiaojiao possess? Why did she dare to confront him directly? They say one should not panic in such situations. The more flustered one becomes, the more one's trump cards and vulnerabilities are exposed. Yuan Meng Zhenren was terrified by Yan Jiaojiao's actions, and in his panic, he kept glancing at his weaknesses, wondering if Yan Jiaojiao had already discovered them.
Yan Jiaojiao seized upon this action. She and Xiao Hei exchanged another glance, one preparing to attack, the other ready to deliver the final blow. With perfect coordination, they charged towards Yuan Meng Zhenren.
"How dare you!"
Yuan Meng Zhenren roared in fury. He felt threatened and desperately wanted to escape. His eyes widened as he stared at Yan Jiaojiao, intending to intimidate her with his aura.
Yan Jiaojiao rolled on the ground, completely unfazed, and grew even more emboldened. "Your Excellency, you chose this. I was speaking kindly to you earlier. If you had let us go, we would have given you some treasures as passage fees. But you insisted on sending yourself here, so I can't help but eliminate you."
Yan Jiaojiao gave a wicked smile, her demeanor incredibly captivating. But only Xiao Hei paused for a moment. Yuan Meng Zhenren only saw fear in Yan Jiaojiao's smile.
"What do you want? Do you think a mere cultivator like you can shake my Blue Tier perfected realm? I—"
Before Yuan Meng Zhenren could finish his sentence, a beam of light pierced through his abdomen. His dantian made a shattering sound, like a Buddhist chant leading him to the underworld. Yan Jiaojiao chuckled as she delivered the finishing blow, "Go to the underworld and reflect on yourself. Don't forget your original intention of cultivating for the sake of these material possessions!"
"You— Who are you?"
Yuan Meng Zhenren was unwilling to accept his fate. He couldn't understand how someone at the Blue Tier perfected realm like himself had fallen at Yan Jiaojiao's feet. He didn't realize that the most fatal beam of light was actually Xiao Hei's doing.
Yan Jiaojiao, in a good mood, spoke more than usual. She smiled and said, "Then listen carefully. This venerable one's name is Yan Jiaojiao of Floating Clouds Cave, and I have no other identity!"
Upon hearing this, Yuan Meng Zhenren's eyes widened, and he died with his eyes open, unable to rest in peace.
Yan Jiaojiao cried out in mock lament, patting the little dog's head. "Xiao Hei, you're amazing! You poked him to death with just a spirit sword?"
She saw Xiao Hei's expression turn stiff, his entire dog face frozen as if he had been immobilized by a spell.
"Xiao Hei? Xiao Hei, what's wrong?"
"Don't scare me, Xiao Hei!"