In the dense forest, Mo Fan and Bai Yaoyao changed their positions several times, yet were always tracked by Poison Fang.
Each time, Poison Fang was intimidated by Bai Yaoyao’s pupil technique, rendering his demon general cultivation and divine abilities largely ineffective.
He tried closing his eyes to avoid being bewitched by Bai Yaoyao’s pupil technique, but this made it even harder to track the two demons.
Since Mo Fan and Bai Yaoyao had concealed their auras, they were undetectable, visible only to the naked eye.
This drove Poison Fang to the brink of madness, itching to tear the two demons apart.
The chase lasted most of the night.
Eventually, Qin Changsheng joined the pursuit, making the escape even more perilous for Mo Fan and Bai Yaoyao.
“Even with our auras concealed, we’re too slow. We can’t evade their search. Continuing to run is a dead end. To the Broken Temple Market!”
Mo Fan gritted his teeth. He hadn’t wanted to bring trouble to the Broken Temple Market, as it risked angering the market’s master, potentially escaping one danger only to land in another.
But with Qin Changsheng and Poison Fang relentlessly closing in, he had to take a desperate gamble.
Mo Fan could have led them to the monkey clan’s territory, but they were too far from the peach forest. The Broken Temple Market was the closest.
“That’s what I thought from the start, so we’ve been heading toward the market all along. We’re now less than twenty li away. Our lives are safe!”
Bai Yaoyao smiled, her words catching Mo Fan off guard.
The two demons said no more, hurrying toward the Broken Temple Market. Poison Fang, in pursuit, noticed nothing, but Qin Changsheng frowned slightly, as if sensing something.
Yet Qin Changsheng didn’t alert Poison Fang, instead trailing far behind.
Soon, Mo Fan and Bai Yaoyao entered the Broken Temple Market’s territory, their tense nerves finally easing.
As they neared the temple, their pace slowed.
A pavilion glowing with red light appeared in their sights.
The pavilion’s doors were open, flanked by two boys collecting spirit stones, standing motionless like clay statues, eerily still.
Seeing the boys, Mo Fan and Bai Yaoyao fully relaxed.
They knew the market’s rules ensured no one could act recklessly.
As Bai Yaoyao was about to lead Mo Fan through the pavilion’s doors, he stopped, transmitting, “We can’t let this chase go unpunished. Lu Tantang’s death can’t be in vain! Even if I can’t kill Poison Fang now, I won’t let him off easily!”
“You want to use the market’s power to crush him?”
Bai Yaoyao’s eyes gleamed, instantly grasping Mo Fan’s intent.
Mo Fan nodded, halting his steps. He casually tossed four spirit stones into the boys’ baskets, then turned, calmly waiting.
Soon, Poison Fang, clad in red robes, caught up.
He glanced in surprise at Mo Fan and Bai Yaoyao standing before the pavilion, then frowned at the building and the red-robed boys, his gaze lingering on the baskets brimming with spirit stones.
“What the hell? Why is there a pavilion like this in the middle of this remote forest?”
“How have I never seen it before?”
Poison Fang’s brow furrowed.
“Poison Fang, look at this!”
Mo Fan raised his hand, holding a piece of human-skin paper.
Poison Fang’s eyes lit up. Without thinking, he lunged toward Mo Fan, reaching for the paper.
Mo Fan’s lips curled into a smirk as he said calmly, “Gentlemen, this one wants to kill me. According to your market’s rules, that’s not allowed, is it?”
The two boys exchanged a glance, then stepped forward to stand before Mo Fan, shouting at the approaching Poison Fang, “How dare you!”
“This is the market’s territory. You can’t act recklessly here!”
With that, the boys raised their hands. A flash of light sent two flying swords slicing through the air toward Poison Fang’s head.
“Two wet-behind-the-ears brats dare to challenge this general?”
“I’ll eat you both to replenish myself!”
Poison Fang sneered, unfazed. His hands transformed into two giant pythons, snapping the flying swords in their jaws.
*Crack!*
With a crisp sound, the swords shattered into pieces.
“Who gave you the courage to block this general’s path?!”
Poison Fang closed in, swinging his hand toward them.
*Buzz!*
Instantly, boundless demonic energy coalesced into a massive snake head, its jaws gaping as it lunged toward Mo Fan and the others on the ground.
Before the snake head reached them, a sudden storm whipped up, making Mo Fan’s armoured robes flutter, yet he showed no fear, calmly gazing at the descending serpent.
Beside him, Bai Yaoyao’s forehead beaded with sweat, her nerves taut. A jade seal appeared in her hand, her demonic energy gathered, ready to erupt.
The two boys, pale with fright, collapsed to the ground, their baskets spilling spirit stones everywhere.
*Roar!!*
The giant snake head descended, poised to swallow them.
But at that moment, it exploded. A red figure appeared in Mo Fan’s sight.
“The courage of our market’s people comes from the Young Miss.”
“A mere snake demon dares to cause chaos in our market’s territory? Truly courting death!”
With an indifferent voice, a blur flashed before Mo Fan’s eyes, and the red figure was already in front of Poison Fang.
“So fast!”
Mo Fan’s heart jolted. He saw Poison Fang sent flying backward.
Only then did Mo Fan clearly see the figure’s face: it was Bing Jiu, whom he’d met before!
“Who are you? Do you know who this general is?!”
Poison Fang steadied himself, his face grim, glaring at Bing Jiu.
“I am Bing Jiu!”
“Within a one-li radius, this is our market’s territory. By the Young Miss’s rules, no cultivator of any race may fight here, or they violate our market’s code!”
Bing Jiu’s gaze fixed on Poison Fang as he said calmly, “Violators die!”
“Hahaha! What arrogance!”
“A mere human at the early Foundation Establishment stage? Let’s see what gives you the right to speak so boldly!”
Poison Fang laughed, dismissing Bing Jiu’s words, and charged at him.
Bing Jiu said no more. He stepped forward, his aura surging rapidly, his red robes billowing as if endless spiritual energy vibrated around him.
*Boom!*
With a single punch from Bing Jiu, Mo Fan’s ears rang as if thunder had struck.
Then, to his shock, Poison Fang spat blood and flew backward like a broken kite.
“Violators die!”
Bing Jiu’s cold words rang out. He stepped forward, crossing over ten zhang in an instant, appearing before Poison Fang at astonishing speed.
Bing Jiu raised his fist again.
*Boom!*
Another deafening sound echoed, and a large crater appeared before Bing Jiu.
Poison Fang, transformed into a blood-red giant python, narrowly escaped.
As Bing Jiu prepared to pursue, a figure appeared in midair.
“Fellow Daoist, show mercy where possible!”
“This beast is my spirit pet. It’s unaware of your market’s rules and has offended you unintentionally. Please forgive it!”
