As golden characters pressed down on him, Mo Fan felt his head throbbing with frustration.
His demonic aura surged, coursing through his body, accompanied by a relentless crackling sound.
In an instant, Mo Fan’s frame swelled dramatically, his spiritual body’s muscles becoming more defined, like coiled dragons wrapping around him.
Mo Fan was startled by his own transformation but had no time to dwell on it. With life and death at stake, he raised his fist and struck at the golden characters descending from above!
Boom! Boom! Boom…!!
Explosions rang out as the golden characters shattered in mid-air, dissolving into bursts of radiant light.
But Mo Fan wasn’t unscathed. Each strike against the characters made his body quake, for they carried the weight of a thousand jun. Even with his current physique, he couldn’t sustain it for long.
Yet the scholar surnamed Qin stood calmly, breathing steadily, seemingly unexhausted, his expression shifting from earlier rage to composure.
Seeing this, Mo Fan’s heart sank slightly.
“Who the hell are you? I don’t recall having any great grudge with you, do I?”
“Why force a fight to the death!” Mo Fan gritted his teeth.
“Listen well, I am Qin Changsheng, an inner disciple of Great River Academy, ranked ninth on the Heavenly Pride List!”
The scholar laughed, waving his hand to reveal a bamboo scroll before him, which slowly unfurled. “I bear no personal grudge against you, but demons are intolerable to the human race. That’s reason enough for you to die!”
“Damn it!”
“Damn it! Damn it!!”
Mo Fan roared in fury, his face twisting.
The moment the bamboo scroll appeared, he felt a deathly aura envelop him.
It sent chills down his spine. That scroll was no ordinary object, and he knew he’d die if this continued!
“Qin Changsheng, your granddad will remember this! I’ll repay your ‘gift’ of these runes someday!”
Mo Fan gritted his teeth, his eyes locking onto Qin Changsheng as he shouted, “Grandson, look at your granddad!”
Divine Ability: Charm Eyes!
Qin Changsheng instinctively glanced over.
A red glint flashed in Mo Fan’s eyes, and Qin Changsheng froze on the spot.
Seizing the chance, Mo Fan fled into the depths of the forest, not missing the opportunity to unleash his Heaven-Devouring Divine Ability as he passed Qin Changsheng.
Buzz—
But the bamboo scroll before Qin Changsheng erupted with an inexplicable force, blocking Mo Fan’s divine power.
Mo Fan cursed inwardly. His first move thwarted, he spat out a spear, wrapped in demonic aura, and thrust it fiercely at Qin Changsheng!
Clang!!
Sparks flew as the spear scraped across Qin Changsheng’s white robe, unable to pierce it.
“Bugger!”
Mo Fan spat out a classic expletive, not lingering, and hurriedly fled.
Just then, Qin Changsheng’s eyelids twitched, his gaze clearing instantly.
“As expected, an unusual demon, skilled in deception!”
Qin Changsheng snorted coldly, tapping the bamboo scroll with a finger, sneering, “Bringing back a demon with awakened divine abilities will surely boost my rank on the Heavenly Pride List!”
“Demon, you won’t escape!”
As Qin Changsheng spoke, the bamboo scroll scattered, its pieces soaring into the sky, chasing Mo Fan’s direction.
In the forest, Mo Fan fled frantically, ignoring paths, his cheeks scratched by thorny vines, blood marks visible.
“Demon, where do you think you’re going!”
A shout came from above.
Mo Fan glanced up to see giant bamboo pieces flying through the air, one rectangular piece bearing a figure in a white robe and scholar’s hat—Qin Changsheng!
The bastard had caught up!
Mo Fan’s pupils shrank. Knowing he couldn’t keep running like this, he bellowed, “Grandson, look at your granddad!”
“Brazen demon, today I, Qin, will subdue you!”
Seeing Mo Fan try the same trick, Qin Changsheng’s forehead veins bulged with anger. He pointed, and a bamboo piece shot out like a flying sword, straight at Mo Fan!
Mo Fan, startled, turned and fled!
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom…!!
Explosions echoed as bamboo pieces rained down from the sky.
Finally, Mo Fan was cornered, trapped in a clearing by four massive bamboo pieces, with no escape.
“Demon, if you behave, you may come with me to the academy and perhaps become a spiritual beast or mount for a disciple.”
“But if you remain stubborn, I, Qin, may have to act on behalf of heaven and slay you, a man-eating demon!”
Qin Changsheng stood atop a bamboo piece, like a man on a flying vessel, looking down at Mo Fan.
“Hahaha… you dog! Did I eat your father or your mother?”
“You hypocrites only know how to bully weak demons like me, all for your own gain, yet you dress it up as righteousness. What a disgusting sham!”
Mo Fan wasn’t cowed, instead unleashing a torrent of curses.
At this moment, he understood he was no match, but to submit and become a mount for these sanctimonious hypocrites? He’d rather die!
What was cultivation for?
For longevity, freedom, desire…
Never for grovelling or living like a dog!
If being a demon meant that, Mo Fan would rather die!
Qin Changsheng, enraged by Mo Fan’s words, his calm face darkening, was about to speak when a hearty laugh came from afar.
“Hahaha… well said!”
“These bookworms always preach propriety and virtue, but they’re full of thievery and debauchery. They deserve a scolding!”
Mo Fan found the voice familiar, as if he’d heard it before.
He looked up to see a sword light speeding from the distance.
A familiar figure appeared in his sight.
A young man in green robes, with a white fox on his shoulder!
Who else but Yan Mo?
The speaker was the pink-tailed white fox, Yunshang, on Yan Mo’s shoulder!
“You fox demon again!”
Qin Changsheng glanced at the fox, a cold glint in his eyes, but didn’t act rashly. He turned to Yan Mo, saying gravely, “You, a human sword cultivator, mingle with a demoness. You disgrace the human race!”
“I’ll ask one last time: will you truly protect this demoness?!”
Yan Mo ignored Qin Changsheng, looking down at Mo Fan trapped by the bamboo pieces. With a wave, several sword qi bursts shot from his hand, instantly blasting the bamboo pieces away.
“Brother Lai Bao, leave this one to me. Get out of here!”
Mo Fan took a deep breath, knowing his life was safe for now. He clasped his fists to Yan Mo, saying, “Lai Bao thanks Brother Yan for saving my life. I’ll repay you greatly one day!”
“This dog’s got some tricks, so be careful, Brother Yan!”
With that, Mo Fan didn’t linger, turning to flee into the distance.
“Demon, where do you think you’re going!”
Qin Changsheng, furious, waved his hand, sending several bamboo pieces flying.
Clang! Clang! Clang…
But the pieces were knocked down by Yan Mo’s bursting sword qi.
“Brother Qin, your opponent is me!”
“Fine, since you’re so stubborn, I’ll slay you first, then capture that fox demoness!”
