The魅族 woman puffed out her chest and declared haughtily, "I am now at the half-step魅 King realm!"
Half-step魅 King realm!
Xuanyuan Xun, Rong Guang, Shangguan Yulin, and Shen Liuxing felt a profound sense of powerlessness.
At the half-step魅 King realm, she single-handedly thrashed all four of them. Could they still pass through this Divine Demon Forest?
Zi Linling was also shocked, but she maintained her composure and said, "So what if you're at the half-step魅 King realm? Aren't you still caught by me!"
In truth, without the dark power of the dark space and the tribulation lightning power of the nascent world, it would have been extremely difficult for her to capture the魅族 woman.
The reason she spoke so casually was merely to boost the morale of Xuanyuan Xun and the other three.
When paths cross, the brave prevail!
The enemies they were about to face were formidable. Without morale and courage, their chances of victory would be slim.
The 魅族 woman, hearing Zi Linling's words, immediately retorted indignantly, "Hmph! If your power didn't happen to be your bane, how could you have caught me?"
Zi Linling was dismissive, "Attribute restraint is also my ability!"
The 魅族 woman was choked into silence, huffing, "If you have the guts, don't use this dark power and lightning power. Let's have a one-on-one!"
Zi Linling sneered, "Are you out of your mind? Whether it's dark power or lightning power, they are all my own strength. Why can't I use them?"
"You..."
The 魅族 woman was so angry she couldn't speak.
"However, even without using the dark power and lightning power, I can still capture you. Do you believe it?" Zi Linling said confidently.
"You're bragging! I don't believe it!" the 魅族 woman retorted haughtily.
Zi Linling smiled faintly, "How about we make a bet?"
"A bet? I'm not afraid of anyone!" the 魅族 woman replied, unconvinced.
"Good! You have guts!"
Zi Linling applauded and said, "If you win, I'll let you go! If you lose, then you'll persuade your 魅族 people to let us pass!"
"Okay!"
The 魅族 woman puffed out her chest, "You can let me go now, right?"
"Yes!"
As Zi Linling finished speaking, with a thought, the dark power was withdrawn into the dark space.
The 魅族 woman regained her freedom and stretched her sore limbs. She said, "Let's be clear, if I lose, I can only guarantee that the 魅族 will not obstruct you. But the 魑族 and 魍魉族, I can't control them."
Zi Linling smiled, "Don't worry! I have my own ways to deal with the 魑族 and 魍魉族. You don't need to trouble yourself."
"Pah! I'm not going to lose!"
The 魅族 woman spat three times, exuding arrogance.
This childlike behavior amused Zi Linling.
Zi Linling asked with a smile, "Are you ready?"
The 魅族 woman glared at her, "I'm going to make my move. Be careful!"
With that, she vanished from her spot.
Zi Linling's lips curved slightly as she rapidly formed hand seals.
As the seals took shape, boundless light streamed through the gaps in the lush trees, converging around Zi Linling.
Suddenly, it was as if an incredibly brilliant sun appeared in the Divine Demon Forest, illuminating the darkness.
The 魅族 woman, who had just rushed towards Zi Linling, happened to collide with this light.
She was inherently an entity of darkness and evil, and could not bear to be in the light.
"Sizzle, sizzle..."
The moment she was illuminated by the light, smoke began to rise from the 魅族 woman's body.
"Ah..."
She cried out in pain, her body becoming significantly more transparent.
Zi Linling's hands were quick. A demon-subduing seal landed on the 魅族 woman, followed closely by the demon-sealing incantation.
As the light dispersed, the 魅族 woman was pinned in place, motionless.
Her piteous state was even worse than when she was first captured.
Furthermore, due to the brief exposure to light, her soul had been slightly scorched.
Zi Linling slowly said, "You lost!"
The 魅族 woman glared at her ferociously and angrily exclaimed, "You cheated!"
"Cheated?"
Zi Linling sneered, "Did I use dark power?"
The 魅族 woman faltered, unable to speak.
Zi Linling continued, "Did I use lightning power?"
The 魅族 woman faltered again, almost choking.
"Hmph! Since I didn't use either of those, how did I cheat?"
Zi Linling's voice turned sharp as she spoke.
The 魅族 woman, intimidated by her aura, couldn't help but shiver.
Yet, she stubbornly insisted, "Your powers just happen to be your bane. I'm not convinced!"
Zi Linling chuckled coldly, "When you dealt with them earlier, wasn't it because your power was their bane?"
She gestured towards Xuanyuan Xun and the other three.
The 魅族 woman was speechless.
"When you kill others, do you show mercy because your power is their bane?" Zi Linling scoffed.
The 魅族 woman was struck dumb.
"So, do you admit defeat?"
Zi Linling said, her fingertips once again manifesting lightning power, and a chilling killing intent radiated from her body.
Her meaning was clear: if the 魅族 woman insisted on being unreasonable, she wouldn't hesitate to annihilate her.
"I..."
The 魅族 woman took a deep breath and finally lowered her proud head. "I admit defeat!"
Zi Linling slowly withdrew her killing intent and said, "That's more like it!"
With a thought, the demon-subduing seal and demon-sealing incantation transformed into specks of starlight, scattering into the darkness.
The 魅族 woman was free, but she couldn't feel any joy.
Although she was the most outstanding genius of her clan, persuading her people to let Zi Linling and the other four pass was no easy task.
What should she do?
How could she persuade her clan?
Perhaps she could go through the motions without putting in real effort? Say the necessary words, and let whatever happened, happen?
However, Zi Linling seemed to read her thoughts and said with a cold smile, "If you cannot persuade them, then after the Divine Demon Forest, the 魅族 will cease to exist!"
The 魅族 woman wanted to retort, but recalling the abilities Zi Linling possessed that countered their dark nature, she deflated.
Finally, she said helplessly, "I will do my best!"
Zi Linling waved her fingers and said, word for word, "No! Not your best! You *must*!"
The 魅族 woman gritted her teeth and said, "Alright! I will definitely persuade them!"
Zi Linling nodded and said with a cold smile, "Very good! I'll await your good news! In three days, if even one 魅族 member blocks our path, then the 魅族 can prepare for annihilation! Go! I hope you can successfully save your clan!"