I continued to strike, killing the attacking weasels one by one on the ground.
For me, who had reached the middle stage of Qi Accumulation.
These weasels, aside from their numbers and the slight inconvenience they caused, posed no significant threat.
However, at this moment, the leading old weasel, after letting go of its daughter whose neck I had snapped, glared at me ferociously.
"Kid, I will tear you to shreds to avenge my daughter."
With that, the old weasel let out a sharp scream and lunged at me.
Instantly, I felt waves of demonic energy.
Judging by the strength of the demonic energy, its power was on par with mine.
It had also reached the middle stage of Qi Accumulation, making it a formidable opponent.
But at this moment, I had no intention of fearing it.
Since I was here, it had to be destroyed.
"Hmph! Let's see if you have the ability."
I sneered and drew a demon-warding talisman, then met its charge.
With two sharp "bangs," my talismans missed their mark.
The opponent's sharp claws, however, posed a significant threat to me.
Furthermore, during the fight, I was caught off guard when it whipped its tail across my back.
A searing pain shot through my back as I cried out, and I was sent flying to the ground.
In the next second, seven or eight weasels, mouths agape, pounced on me.
Their primary targets were my neck, wrist tendons, and Achilles tendons.
Despite their small size and inability to fully transform into human-like forms, a bite to the tendons of my limbs could easily sever them.
A bite to the neck could crush my windpipe in an instant.
These were extremely dangerous.
Without hesitation, I vibrated my Dao energy and sprang up from the ground instantly.
I pulled off the fox claw from my left wrist and thrust it at an attacking weasel.
With one swipe, the claw pierced straight through the weasel's chest.
Bright red blood gushed out.
The weasel let out a choked cry, trembling on the ground before its life ebbed away.
Gripping the fox claw as a magical artifact, I unleashed a flurry of stabs at the pack of weasels.
Even the old weasel was forced to retreat repeatedly by the fox claw in my hand.
Finally, I managed to slash its face with the fox claw, leaving a bleeding gash.
The old weasel, ignoring the wound on its face, looked at the fox claw in my hand with extreme terror and incredulously exclaimed:
"This, this is the middle finger claw of Hu San Tailai.
How, how is this possible? How is it in your possession?"
The old weasel spoke in terror, seemingly deeply afraid of the fox claw in my hand.
I, too, knew that this claw was very powerful. It had been given to me by an old fox that had sought recognition and could truly manifest in human form.
However, I didn't know the old fox's name. My master had only told me that this immortal claw possessed great power and was a fine magical artifact, advising me to keep it with me for protection.
But I never knew the name of that old fox, nor her identity.
Now, hearing the old weasel utter the words "Hu San Tailai," I became intrigued.
I stopped my attack:
"Hu San Tailai? You recognize this claw?"
Upon hearing this, the old weasel's eyes filled with malice.
"Of course, I recognize her. Hu San Tailai, the matriarch of the fox clan.
How is her middle finger claw in your possession?"
My heart jolted upon hearing this.
The old fox who had given me the claw had such a background.
Looking at the claw in my hand, I couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement.
"You still haven't answered me. What is your relationship with Hu San Tailai?
Could it be, could it be that you are her disciple who travels to assist?"
The old weasel, appearing increasingly fearful, pressed on with its questions.
But I had no inclination to explain.
I merely sneered coldly:
"If you want to know, go ask Yama."
With that, I gripped the fox claw and lunged at the old weasel once more.
Although the old weasel's cultivation was comparable to mine, after I revealed the finger claw of Hu San Tailai, it became hesitant.
Or perhaps, it was suppressed by the aura of the claw.
Its strength diminished compared to before.
Even with the assistance of the smaller weasels around, it could no longer pose a significant threat to me.
After more than ten rounds, the old weasel was once again gravely wounded by me.
This time, the fox claw directly pierced its left arm.
As soon as it penetrated the old weasel's body, the old weasel let out a trembling, pained howl.
Its demonic energy seemed to be flowing into the fox claw through the wound?
The fox claw also became very hot.
The injured old weasel, in great pain, struggled fiercely.
It tried to break free, disregarding the large gash the fox claw had made on its arm.
At this moment, dragging its bleeding arm, it looked at me with apprehension:
"Daoist priest, this, this humble demon admits its mistake.
Please, please show mercy.
Grant us a way to live!"
As she spoke, the remaining dozen or so weasels raised their heads and made soft "ziziziwuwu" sounds that I couldn't understand.
But seeing these young weasels bowing and pleading like humans, they were likely begging me.
They looked quite pitiful.
However, in my heart, I firmly remembered my master's words.
When dealing with demons, one could not show the slightest mercy.
In simple terms, one could not be a benevolent saint.
Kill when you must kill, destroy when you must destroy.
Eliminate the roots to prevent future troubles...