"You..." Wang Lu gritted his teeth, "Dare you fight me?"
Mo Qi smiled faintly, "If you want to fight, then fight. But I hope that after you lose, you will stay away from Zhen Zhen and never mention the matter of marriage alliance again."
"If you lose, you leave Zhen Zhen," Wang Lu said, looking at Mo Qi.
Mo Qi shook his head, "This... our feelings are mutual, and we are willing. We cannot use this as a bet. How about this, if I lose, I will give you an arm?"
Zhen Zhen immediately tried to stop him, "Brother Mo..."
Mo Qi turned his head and glanced at her, "Don't worry, he can't win against me."
Wang Lu fell into thought, "If I lose, I only have to stop bothering Zhen Zhen. If he loses, he has to pay with an arm. It seems the bet is in my favor. What I wanted was not just a physical body. If her heart doesn't belong to me, forcing it is useless. It has become entirely about saving face. I can't believe that with my family background, appearance, and cultivation talent, I would lose to someone who only knows how to refine pills. If I defeat him today, even without the bet, Zhen Zhen will likely reconsider Mo Qi and make a careful decision."
"Alright, it's a deal," Wang Lu said.
The two chose an open space and stood facing each other.
Zhen Zhen, Sheng Jin Tian, and Qian Yu watched from a distance.
Wang Lu formed a hand seal, and a white mist surged from his body, roaring like a flood towards Mo Qi. Mo Qi pointed his hand, and the Earth Arrow spiritual energy erupted with white light, surging forward like lightning.
The torrent of white mist instantly came into contact with the Earth Arrow's light, then enveloped it, surging forward like a tide from all directions.
The Earth Arrow spiritual energy slowed down, as if stuck.
However, the white light still passed through the mist and struck Wang Lu.
Wang Lu easily dodged it, looked up at Mo Qi, and smiled, "Don't you understand yet? Our Mist Not Mist has a delaying effect on all techniques. How can your snail-like speed hurt me when it's slowed down?"
The white mist, after passing the Earth Arrow's light, continued to surge fiercely towards Mo Qi.
Mo Qi hurriedly formed a hand seal, raising an ice wall in front of him. In his haste, the ice wall was thin. The moment the white mist touched it, the ice wall collapsed with a crash, scattering ice shards and water.
The white mist continued to surge forward. Mo Qi dodged rapidly, but was still grazed by the edge of the mist. White smoke rose from his body, and despite the golden armor protecting him, small holes were burned through it, causing him to grimace in pain.
"Admit defeat," Wang Lu said arrogantly. "Admitting defeat only means losing an arm. If you don't, I fear I might be too heavy-handed and end your life."
Zhen Zhen also watched Mo Qi with great tension, her heart in turmoil.
Qian Yu and Sheng Jin Tian wore playful smiles.
Mo Qi snorted, "I also disdained to continue researching the Mist Dissipation Pill, otherwise, yours would be merely decorative."
Wang Lu sneered, "Use the Mist Dissipation Pill then, I didn't tell you not to."
Mo Qi was so angry he felt like spitting blood. It was like someone feeling pity for a dog and throwing away its leash, only for the dog to bark and bite them.
Wang Lu formed another hand seal, and an even denser mist surged towards Mo Qi like a mountain collapsing, roaring like a gale, carrying destructive power.
Mo Qi raised another, thicker ice wall in front of him. At the same time, he continuously struck his hand, sending countless ice swords flying from the ice wall towards Wang Lu.
The ice swords pierced through, gradually slowed down upon contact with the white mist, and eventually lost their attacking power.
But Mo Qi kept his left hand on the ice wall, continuously thickening it, while his right hand relentlessly unleashed ice swords. One by one, they plunged into the white mist, gradually dispersing it.
The white mist grew thinner, and upon touching the ice wall, its power seemed to wane.
However, Wang Lu suddenly changed his hand seal, spreading his palm, "Mist Not Mist, Explode!"
With a roar, the white mist instantly detonated, the white expanse expanding and tearing the surrounding space.
The ice wall collapsed violently, ice blocks and shards scattering in all directions.
Mo Qi's body was sent flying backward amidst the debris, falling to the ground and spitting out a mouthful of blood.
"Brother Mo," Zhen Zhen cried out hoarsely and rushed forward. Mo Qi raised his hand to stop her, and Zhen Zhen retreated, her face still full of worry.
Wang Lu's face was filled with smugness, "Still not admitting defeat? What will it take for you to surrender?"
Sheng Jin Tian and Qian Yu echoed with smiles, "Just admit defeat, it's not shameful. After all, he is the runner-up."
Mo Qi swallowed a Potential Pill and stood up, "I would feel ashamed if the masters of your Divine Mist Sect defeated me."
"What?" Wang Lu was furious, "You are too arrogant. You will pay the price for your insolence."
As he spoke, Wang Lu formed a hand seal, and another, even larger mass of mist surged out, hitting Mo Qi like a tidal wave, powerful and majestic.
Mo Qi formed a hand seal, and the Earth Arrow, encased in red light, stood like a mountain, striking the white mist. It instantly pierced into the mist, tearing away the outer red light.
But the Earth Arrow churned, gradually scattering the white mist.
The Earth Arrow's speed also slowed. Mo Qi flicked his hand, and five claw shadows surged out, instantly enveloping the Earth Arrow. With a swing and a slash, the Earth Arrow, like it was splitting the heavens and earth, slashed towards Wang Lu in mid-air.
Wang Lu was greatly alarmed and immediately dodged at high speed. He narrowly escaped, but was swept by the arrow's energy like a falling leaf, his chest churning with blood.
At this moment, Mo Qi flicked his other hand, sending five more claw shadows towards Wang Lu.
Wang Lu, in mid-air, dodged with great difficulty, landing on the ground. The Earth Arrow then descended from the sky like a mountain. The fierce and sharp arrow energy, even from a distance, had torn through Wang Lu's clothes layer by layer, and then his skin.
Wang Lu unleashed his movement technique and fled into the distance. The red light finally descended with a roar.
With a thunderous sound, the ground erupted with flying sand and stones, instantly forming a deep trench.
Wang Lu narrowly escaped the edge of the trench, but his body felt as if it had been crushed by a powerful mountain, almost flattening him before returning to its original shape.
Mo Qi retracted the Earth Arrow and the five claw shadows, looking at Wang Lu, "Well? Do you admit defeat, or do I?"
Wang Lu stood up and laughed heartily, "You've made your point, so what? You haven't injured me at all."
"Really?" Mo Qi asked with a smile.
Sheng Jin Tian and Qian Yu also looked at him with great tension, "Are you really not injured?"
Wang Lu's mental defenses instantly collapsed. He let out a cry, fell backward onto the ground, blood gushing from his mouth, his body trembling uncontrollably.
Sheng Jin Tian and Qian Yu rushed forward and picked up Wang Lu.
Wang Lu's body convulsed, and when he tried to speak, he spat out another mouthful of blood.
It seemed he was not going to make it.
Mo Qi sighed, "It can't be helped, I have to do good deeds again."
Mo Qi took out a healing pill and had Wang Lu swallow it.
After taking the healing pill, Wang Lu remained on the ground for a long time. His condition gradually improved, and he slowly uttered a few words, "I lost."
Then, supported by Sheng Jin Tian and Qian Yu, Wang Lu slowly walked away.
After a few steps, Wang Lu turned back to look at Zhen Zhen, "I will explain this matter to your father. I will no longer pester you."
With that, he left with Sheng Jin Tian and Qian Yu.
Zhen Zhen rushed forward and threw herself into Mo Qi's arms.
Is this... spoils of war? Mo Qi's thoughts drifted.
Mo Qi gently stroked her head, his heart filled with surging emotions.
This girl dared to love and hate, outwardly gentle but inwardly strong. She was a bit like Xiao Cong'er, completely unlike the reserved Xue Nu or Pei Ru Xue. Yet, she was steadfast in her convictions, even unto death.
In comparison, he preferred this kind of personality that dared to love and hate.
Of course, he could accept other personalities too, given his broad and tolerant heart.
Zhen Zhen slowly raised her head, her eyes flickering, her gaze hazy.
Was this an invitation for a kiss?
Mo Qi's heart fluttered, and without hesitation, he kissed her. The soft, yielding sensation immediately intoxicated him.
Just then, a woman's voice suddenly rang out from behind them, "You are having such a good time. Have you considered how I feel at this moment?"
The two were startled and quickly separated. Turning to look, they saw a woman with a weathered appearance, her eyes betraying an unconcealed promiscuity and flirtatiousness. She walked with a sway, her hips tracing a seductive arc.
The woman held a fox in her arms. The fox's eyes glowed red, staring at Mo Qi with immeasurable hatred.
Mo Qi and Zhen Zhen exchanged a glance, understanding dawning upon them: This was Consort Zhen and her accomplice.
Presumably, this was also a fox demon.
"My name is Shi San Niang," the fox demon said indignantly, "This is my sister, Shi Si Niang. My sister was living a carefree life in the palace, minding her own business. Who did she offend? How could you bear to inflict such grievous harm upon her?"
Mo Qi said, "She was living a carefree life, and it was no one's business. But when she sought to harm others, she deserved death. Moreover, she is not dead; she is still alive and well, isn't she?"
Shi San Niang retorted angrily, "Harming others? It was the king himself who indulged excessively. Is this fault to be placed on my sister? Furthermore, my sister has lost all her powers, her five hundred years of cultivation destroyed. This is more terrifying than death!"
Alright, there was nothing more to say.
"What do you want?" Mo Qi asked, sounding half-dead.
"To kill you both, to avenge my sister!" Shi San Niang said coldly, her voice chilling to the bone, sending shivers down one's spine.
"With just you?" Mo Qi said dismissively.
He thought, if her sister was so easily defeated, her cultivation couldn't be that high either.
"Of course, it's not just me," the fox demon said.
As soon as she spoke, more than a dozen women emerged from all directions, dressed in vibrant colors, their attire quite revealing. Their eyes exuded a wicked charm, and they let out lewd laughter.
The dozen or so women surrounded Mo Qi and Zhen Zhen, the circle shrinking. Zhen Zhen's face gradually showed fear, and she involuntarily clutched Mo Qi's hand.