Xue Nu looked at her in surprise, finding her gaze sinister.
From her tone, it seemed she had a grievance with Mo Qi.
What kind of grievance would necessitate such an elaborate scheme to lure him here?
In that case, was it truly a good thing that he hadn't come?
Xue Nu was filled with conflicting emotions, unsure whether to hate him or not.
Xiao Rou sighed again, looking at Xue Nu, "Tell me, how can I lure him here?"
Xue Nu glared at her with resentment, "You won't succeed. Even if you trick him into coming, you're just inviting your own death. With your meager cultivation, you're no match for him."
"Oh, since when did you admire me so much?" Suddenly, a voice pierced through the air.
Two streams of arrow energy arrived silently, with a faint whistling sound. They struck the Demon Refining Gourd in Xiao Rou's hand, creating two fist-sized holes. From the gourd's interior, these holes appeared as vast as well openings.
At this moment, inside the gourd, Chao Xiyun was on the verge of fainting. Suddenly, he saw an opening appear, letting in a blinding light and fresh air, which made him feel instantly refreshed.
He immediately scrambled out of the hole, his body drifting far before landing on the ground.
Xiao Rou did not pursue him. Instead, she tossed the damaged gourd aside and looked at the newcomer with a smile.
Mo Qi appeared before Xue Nu, his demeanor as elegant as a jade tree in the wind.
A hint of surprise flickered in Xue Nu's eyes, followed by self-reproach, "You shouldn't have come."
Mo Qi moved to stand beside her, glancing at her profile, "You were so confident in me just now, why are you speaking such disheartening words now?"
At this moment, Yang Cuo shakily stood up. Seeing Mo Qi's arrival, a hint of joy appeared on his face.
Mo Qi pulled him over with his five-clawed hand shadow and tossed him behind him, "You performed admirably. Upon our return, you will replace Jing Lei's position and be promoted to Hall Master."
Yang Cuo was overjoyed, repeatedly saying, "Thank you, Lord Mo, thank you, Lord Mo!"
It was truly like a pie falling from the sky!
For a soldier like him, from the lowest ranks, his fate was to remain a soldier for his entire life, unless he achieved outstanding merit. But how could a mere soldier achieve such merit?
Yet today, it seemed he hadn't accomplished anything, but he was inexplicably promoted to Hall Master, as if in a dream.
However, he also knew clearly that this position was hard-won with his life. This was one part of it. The second, and most important part, was encountering someone who appreciated him.
He had met such a person today, and he felt incredibly fortunate.
So fortunate that he felt like crying.
At the same time, he secretly vowed in his heart to dedicate himself wholeheartedly to the Stairway in the future.
Meanwhile, Jing Lei, still lying on the ground and barely clinging to life, heard Mo Qi's words and swallowed his last breath with unconcealed resentment.
Xiao Rou pouted, "Leave the appointments to others. You won't have the chance."
Her icy tone, chilling to the bone, made everyone involuntarily shiver.
Mo Qi's smile was unreadable, "This beautiful demoness is so stunning. If only she weren't a demoness, and if she weren't promiscuous, I might even consider bringing you into the Stairway."
Xue Nu glared at him fiercely, "Still incorrigible!"
Xiao Rou, however, was furious. This was not a compliment; it was clearly an insult and mockery.
You're courting death!
Enraged, Xiao Rou prepared to form hand seals and attack.
Mo Qi extended his hand, "No rush. It's not too late to act after we clarify things. You went to such lengths to lure me out, what exactly is your purpose?"
Xiao Rou snorted coldly, "To kill you!"
"Why kill me? I don't have any enmity with you, do I?" Mo Qi asked, puzzled.
"Years ago, you killed Thirteen Niang and our other sisters. They were my sisters. This is an irreconcilable hatred," Xiao Rou said indignantly.
Mo Qi found it strange. Hadn't he killed all the fox spirits back then? How did she know about it?
Ah, yes, there was one who escaped, the fox that was beaten back to its original form.
"When will this cycle of revenge ever end!" Mo Qi sighed, "Put down your butcher knife and become a Buddha. Why don't you go back? You spare this family, and I'll spare you."
"Are you trying to be funny?" Xiao Rou gave a mournful smile, "Go back? The feud you have with the fox tribe, and even the demon race, can never be resolved in this lifetime. Even if I can't kill you today, others will surely come to kill you later."
"But there's no need for others to act," Xiao Rou's tone immediately turned contemptuous, "I can eliminate you myself. Do you want a complete corpse or to be ground into powder? If you want a complete corpse, kneel down and beg me."
She clearly sensed that Mo Qi's cultivation was only at the Human Immortal second level, so she believed she could suppress him.
Xiao Rou's confidence primarily stemmed from her status within the fox tribe.
The Fox Demon tribe's leader, the Nine-Tailed Fox, had a cultivation that had not reached the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm. However, she was over twenty thousand years old. Even more astonishingly, she showed no signs of aging, instead becoming younger as she lived, which was truly enviable.
It was rumored that she possessed her own secret method for longevity. And Xiao Rou, as one of her seven vanguard generals, had naturally inherited much of her true teachings.
Therefore, the Yun family brothers might unknowingly be contributing to Xiao Rou's eternal youth.
As for why Xiao Rou was hunting Mo Qi, it wasn't due to hatred, but simply because the fox tribe had placed a bounty on Mo Qi.
If she killed Mo Qi, she would not only receive material rewards, but her status within the fox tribe would also be elevated.
"Too arrogant," Mo Qi felt unaccustomed to it. He looked at Xiao Rou again, unable to believe such arrogant words came from such a delicate-looking woman.
But at the same time, he knew very well that her apparent frailty was a deliberate facade, a survival tactic.
Therefore, he absolutely could not show any mercy!
Just then, Xiao Rou suddenly opened her mouth towards Mo Qi, and a stream of green mist shot towards him.
This green mist was even more vast and powerful, more surging and turbulent than before.
The dense green mist pressed down like a verdant mountain, boundless and impenetrable.
Mo Qi's figure flickered, and he unleashed the "Flying Immortal Beyond the Heavens" sword technique. Light and shadow weaved through the air.
Cracks appeared in the emerald green barrier, with fissures crisscrossing and tearing the green mist apart.
Without any thunderous roars, the green mist barrier was torn open.
However, Xiao Rou reacted quickly. The moment Mo Qi's sword light touched the green mist, she felt the sharp sword aura rushing towards her. She immediately unleashed her movement, darting up and down, while her flying blades flowed with her body.
The torn green mist quickly dissipated in the air.
In the air, replacing the green mist, were the red glints of the flying blades and the golden light emitted by the Xuanyuan Sword.
The Xuanyuan Sword pressed forward relentlessly, its edge always grazing Xiao Rou's body.
Xiao Rou dodged with her peculiar footwork, occasionally blocking with her flying blades, appearing to be in imminent danger.
Occasionally, the sound of metal clashing and the roar of spiritual energy colliding like rolling thunder echoed in the air.
Light and energy flashed, dazzling and brilliant.
Amidst the dazzling radiance, two figures danced, separating and merging.
But often, it was clear that the Xuanyuan Sword was pursuing the flying blades, sometimes striking them and their wielder, causing them to sway precariously.
Chao Xiyun watched, his eyes wide with astonishment.
When he had fought Xiao Rou before, she had dominated the battle. Yet now, facing Mo Qi, she was being utterly defeated.
He had to admit that Mo Qi's cultivation was far superior to his own.
"Little sister, it seems your choice was the right one," Chao Xiyun said to Xue Nu, his eyes filled with relief.
Xue Nu blushed, "It's far too early to say."
Chao Xiyun looked at her with a strange expression, "What are you talking about? I meant your choice to ask him for help was the right one."
He then revealed a teasing smile.
Xue Nu knew she had been teased and playfully hit Chao Xiyun, "Brother, I'm already upset. Can you stop making fun of me?"
"What's wrong?" Chao Xiyun looked at Xue Nu with concern.
"Alas," Xue Nu sighed, gazing wistfully at the figure in the arena, "He always acts so nonchalant. Who knows if he's sincere?"
"Brother will teach you a trick. To conquer a man, don't be too proactive, don't be too close. You need to give him a sense of being just out of reach," Chao Xiyun said with a chuckle.
Xue Nu fell into thought.
At this moment, Mo Qi's hearty laughter rang out, "You wanted to kill me, didn't you? Just dodging won't kill me."
Following the sound, amidst the flashing lights, a spray of blood erupted, and Xiao Rou let out a scream.
However, the attack did not cease. The sword lights continued to circle her, always grazing her clothes.
Xiao Rou felt waves of pressure, narrowly escaping the sword light each time.
At this moment, besides fear, she was filled with shock!
Clearly, her cultivation was higher than his, yet she was being constantly suppressed, unable to even catch her breath.
She unleashed her spiritual power to the best of her ability. Her flying blades were wielded with divine skill, forming an impenetrable defense around her body.
But the opponent's spiritual energy always found a weakness, attacking from the gaps.
Mo Qi continued to reprimand her, "You can kill me, but you cannot harm innocent people."
Layer upon layer of sword light enveloped Xiao Rou, and the battle seemed to be nearing its end.
"Do you want a complete corpse, or to be ground into powder? If you want a complete corpse, kneel down and beg me."
"I don't kill women, but you are not one!"
"Ah!"
Xiao Rou suddenly let out a sharp, piercing roar towards the sky, like a ghost's wail, forming a stark contrast with her delicate appearance.
Her hair was disheveled, fluttering in the wind.
Without any warning, a sonic boom erupted.
As if centered on Xiao Rou, a massive sphere suddenly exploded, at that moment, mountains and rivers shattered, and the sky fell and the earth caved in.
Mo Qi felt a mountain-like pressure suddenly bear down on him, along with a tearing sensation like knives and axes piercing his body.
His entire body, like a withered leaf in the wind, swayed and was blown far away.