Chapter 10 Crisis

Before the young girl could shake the magical artifact in her hand, the old Daoist flicked his sleeve and spat out the word "Go."

A golden shadow shot out like lightning, transforming in a flash into a gleaming golden rope that coiled around and bound the girl tightly.

With a "thud,"

Liu Le'er stumbled and fell over.

"Old scoundrel, what exactly are you trying to do?"

The girl glared fiercely at Master Yushi, twisting her body, but the golden rope seemed to sense her resistance, its surface flashing with golden light as it suddenly tightened.

"Mmm..."

The girl's face contorted in pain, tears streaming from her beautiful eyes, but she gritted her teeth and did not cry out.

At that moment, her ears on both sides of her face suddenly disappeared, and from the black hair atop her head emerged two sharp triangular fox ears.

A powerful binding force came from the golden rope, completely sealing the magical power within her body.

"Hehe, what am I doing? You little fox spirit, thinking you could fool my eyes with a mere artifact—what wishful thinking!" Baishi Zhenren glanced sideways at the girl on the ground and said coldly.

"You saw through my identity long ago!" The girl's heart sank, but her face still bore a stubborn expression that belied her feelings.

"Hehe, do you still need to care about that now? You were brought into the mansion by the Seventh Miss. The fox clan is not insignificant among the demon tribes of the Linghuan Realm, so I originally planned to turn a blind eye and let you go. But who would have thought I'd discover this human-shaped treasure."

After saying a few words indifferently, Baishi Zhenren turned his head to look at Liu Shi inside the black ice, his eyes revealing an uncontrollable fervor.

"You... what are you going to do to Brother Stone?" Liu Le'er asked in a trembling voice upon seeing Baishi's expression.

"Don't worry, I can't bear to kill your foolish brother. He's a rare soul spirit with naturally powerful soul force, seen once in a century. What's more, his divine sense is damaged, leaving him dull and stupid. As long as I refine him with a secret technique and erase his remaining consciousness, I can forge a soul spirit puppet with limitless potential." Baishi Zhenren said, half explaining and half muttering to himself, his face full of complacency.

After hearing this, a trickle of blood flowed from the corner of Liu Le'er's mouth. Her eyes suddenly took on a hint of madness, a strange flush appeared on her face, her body arched abruptly, and she let out a low beast-like growl. Her pupils suddenly lit up with a ghostly green light, and large patches of white fur grew all over her body.

Each strand of fox fur shimmered with crystalline light and was extremely hard. Her entire body seemed to turn into a white hedgehog, especially the white fur on her tail, which faintly crackled with white arcs of electricity.

Those white fox hairs suddenly stood on end, forcing the golden rope open a bit. Her furry tail shook, emitting a brilliant white light.

Swish, swish, swish!

Countless white hairs shot out like thousands of flying needles, making a piercing sound as they tore through the air, heading toward the black ice.

"You're asking for death!"

Baishi Zhenren suddenly turned around, bellowing in anger. He raised his hand and offered a black elliptical shield, which turned into a streak of black light and shot out at incredible speed, barely beating the white hairs to reach the black ice.

The elliptical shield suddenly expanded several times, shielding the black ice behind it.

A series of loud "bang bang bang" sounds!

The white hairs struck the black shield, causing it to tremble violently, but all the hairs were blocked.

Seeing this, the green light in Liu Le'er's eyes flickered intensely. Just as she was about to make another move, the golden rope on her body suddenly blazed with light, its power nearly doubling. It quickly writhed and contracted, crushing the white fox hairs. At the same time, the rope's surface flashed with golden light, sprouting countless finger-length sharp golden needles that pierced deep into her body.

"Ah!"

In an instant, blood gushed from the girl's body, staining large patches of her fur red. But gritting her teeth, ignoring the torrent of blood, she mustered her last strength and swung her tail again.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!

Another volley of white hairs shot out.

This time, the hairs scattered like heavenly maidens scattering flowers, striking the black ice block from all directions.

Although the black shield was astonishingly defensive, it was helpless against the hairs coming from all directions.

"Demon, how dare you!"

White Stone True Person flew into a rage, opened his mouth, and spat out a beam of black light—a snake-shaped flying sword wrapped in black light that flashed and shot to the top of the black ice block.

Hum!

The flying sword hovered in the air, circled, and transformed into streaks of black sword aura, forming a shadow of swords that enveloped the black ice block.

The black shield also flared with light, expanding by a third, and together with the sword shadow, protected the ice block.

A series of clanging sounds of metal striking metal rang out.

Most of the hairs were blocked by the flying sword and shield, but some still penetrated the sword shadow and struck the black ice block.

The black ice block shook violently, with many small holes appearing on its surface, and several cracks emerged and spread rapidly.

At that moment, a figure flickered, and White Stone True Person appeared beside the ice block. He waved both hands, and a vast amount of black gas rolled out from his sleeves, part of which merged into the black ice block, while the rest condensed into a protective barrier that enveloped the ice block.

The cracks on the ice block immediately stopped spreading, then quickly fused and healed. Within a few breaths, the ice block had returned to its original state.

White Stone True Person breathed a sigh of relief and turned angrily to look at Liu Le'er.

The young girl lay on the ground, her eyes full of unwillingness.

The white fox fur on her body had all disappeared, and her aura was weak. Clearly, the two attacks just now had exhausted her vitality.

"I really underestimated you!" White Stone True Person said coldly. If his movements had been a moment slower just now, the black ice would likely have been broken open by Liu Le'er.

With that, he waved his hand fiercely, and a black light palm about a foot in size appeared out of thin air, striking Liu Le'er.

The young girl's petite body was immediately sent flying, crashing into the wall of the secret chamber. With a cry, she spat out a large mouthful of blood and then fell to the ground.

She was covered in blood, her hair disheveled, and her face was pale beyond measure. Her condition seemed extremely dire.

If not for White Stone True Person's intention to sell her for spirit stones, that single blow would have ended her life.

"Stone brother..." Liu Le'er barely lifted her head, looking at Liu Shi inside the ice block, and murmured softly. But then her body suddenly convulsed, and she fell unconscious.

Seeing this, White Stone True Person waved his hand without a word, and several talismans flew out, sticking to the ground around Liu Le'er.

A large amount of black light burst from the talismans, condensing into a light sphere that enveloped the young girl.

After doing this, the old Daoist turned back to look at the black ice block and couldn't help but smile again.

"Red Robe Superior, Gui Yaozi, once I refine the soul puppet, let's see how you can still contend with me!"

White Stone True Person's smile faded, then he raised both hands, and eight more talismans flew out, landing on the ground near the black ice block.

Hum!

A vast pitch-black light rose from the eight talismans, forming a magic array that lifted the black ice block, suspending it a foot above the ground.

Seeing this, the old Daoist turned his hand and produced a black gourd.

The gourd was engraved with a ring of blue runes, emitting a cold light, and the sound of liquid sloshing came from within.

He uncorked the gourd, carefully tilted it, and poured out a jet-black liquid that gave off a pungent, rotting odor.

The liquid shimmered with black specks, writhing incessantly as if alive.