Outside Luoyun Cave, the strange phenomenon between heaven and earth gradually subsided.
Only Xiao Yu was still falling in a steady downpour.
Inside the upper chamber, facing Hong Yanzhi’s unbridled actions, Shu Er stared wide-eyed as a powerful surge of air flowed from outside into the room.
Its momentum was immense, yet it vanished without a trace right in front of Lin Xue.
He was dumbfounded, his actions frozen, staring at Lin Xue, mouth agape, his face a mask of astonishment.
Hong Yanzhi also saw this surge of energy. She looked at Lin Xue in surprise and delight, thinking Lin Xue might finally wake up.
But Lin Xue still sat cross-legged on the bed, eyes tightly shut, unmoving.
Hong Yanzhi’s face was full of disappointment and worry.
After a moment, Shu Er came back to his senses.
He thought to himself, it was just a strong gust of wind. Lin Xue, this Snake Spirit, might look odd and who knows what she’s doing, but now I’m a Grand Demon—what do I have to be afraid of?
Just a Lesser Beast—old man here can handle her with one hand!
He slanted his eyes to glance at Hong Yanzhi, let out a sinister laugh, and continued what he had been doing.
……
Lin Xue finally withdrew from the Inner View State and regained awareness of her surroundings.
She let out a long breath, a fine sheen of sweat appearing on her forehead.
Just now, she had been dealing with the Foundation-building Pill within her body.
The Foundation-building Pill’s effect was extremely domineering.
After consumption, it forcefully cleanses the cultivator’s Meridians and acupoints with immense power, making them sturdier, able to withstand a greater flow of Lingqi, and also expands the Essence Core, allowing the cultivator to accommodate more Lingqi.
But this force was extremely dangerous—if one was not careful, it would injure the Meridians. Therefore, a cultivator must be in the Inner View State, utterly focused and cautious in response.
This process could only rely on the cultivator themselves; outsiders could not help at all.
Moreover, if the Foundation Establishment process was interrupted by external forces, it could lead to Deviation into Madness, damage to the Meridians, and extremely severe consequences.
Generally, when a cultivator prepares for Foundation Establishment, they find a place that is absolutely safe and undisturbed, or they do it under the protection of Family or Menpai, before consuming the Foundation-building Pill and beginning Foundation Establishment.
No one would ever swallow a Foundation-building Pill in the middle of danger and just brazenly begin Foundation Establishment as Lin Xue had.
But Lin Xue had only transmigrated here less than a month ago—how could she know this sort of common knowledge?
Faced with a crisis, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and forcefully attempt Foundation Establishment.
Fortunately, this step was completed smoothly.
Under the domineering power of the Foundation-building Pill, all her Meridians became sturdier, her Essence Core expanded, able to hold more Lingqi.
The Lingqi around Luoyun Cave had been absorbed by her, pouring into her Essence Core.
Now, she possessed cultivation at the early Foundation Establishment stage.
Lin Xue took a deep breath, preparing to finish her cultivation and stand up.
She heard the sound of a fierce struggle nearby.
She heard a voice she instantly detested, gasping and cursing, “You bitch! The day you broke grandpa’s leg, grandpa swore he’d kill you sooner or later!”
Lin Xue was startled and hurriedly opened her eyes.
She saw beside her, Hong Yanzhi was being forcibly pinned down by Shu Er, forced to endure that act.
Shu Er’s face was full of triumph as he sneered and cursed, “Miss Hong, where’s your arrogance now? Where was your pride when you broke my leg? How about when you stomped on my big brother’s head? Show me how fierce you can be now, let me see you try!”
Hong Yanzhi’s face was twisted in pain; she couldn’t utter a word.
Seeing Shu Er’s hideous appearance, Lin Xue’s rage shot straight to her heart.
This damned rat, sure enough, was still lusting after her—once he ascended to Grand Demon, he came straight here.
If not for Hong Yanzhi sacrificing herself to shield her, it would have been Lin Xue lying there, defiled.
Zhang Zongnian also suffered thanks to this damned rat, taking over the body of an old mouse in a self-destructive way, his fate unknown.
Killing intent surged in Lin Xue’s heart. She bit her silver teeth, willed it, and Xuesha flew from her ring into her hand.
Lingqi surged swiftly within her body as she activated the Swiftwind Sword Manual, brandishing a vicious slash at Shu Er.
Shu Er was just enjoying himself when, from the corner of his eye, he suddenly saw Lin Xue leap up and lunge toward him.
After all, he had just become a Grand Demon—his senses had sharpened considerably. The moment Lin Xue moved, he noticed.
Shu Er let out a cold laugh, not caring at all.
I’m a Grand Demon now—what can a puny Body Tempering Stage Snake Spirit do to me?
I’ll even give you one hand!
He released the hand clamped on Hong Yanzhi’s neck to block Lin Xue’s attack, thinking to himself, I’ll pin down this Snake Spirit too—one in each hand, what a delight!
As he thought this, his excitement grew.
The Blood Fiend Demon Blade flashed like a streak of light, and before Shu Er could block, it pierced straight into his throat.
Shu Er felt a cold sensation at his neck, then a surge of excruciating pain.
His smile froze on his face.
He turned his head to look at Lin Xue, his eyes full of disbelief.
Only then did he realize—the energy swirling around Lin Xue was not demon energy, but Lingqi, and its density had clearly crossed the threshold, reaching a level equal to that of a Grand Demon.
Shu Er let out a miserable scream, hurriedly abandoning Hong Yanzhi, staggered up, and stumbled back several steps, his face full of terror.
How did this Snake Spirit suddenly become so formidable?
Was it because of that gust of wind just now?
He lost all courage to confront Lin Xue.
Back when both were at the peak of Body Tempering Stage, Lin Xue could smack him senseless with a single slap.
Now, although he didn’t understand how a Snake Demon could cultivate Lingqi, since Lin Xue’s cultivation was no weaker than his own, Shu Er felt she could easily kill him.
He was utterly terrified, clutching his bleeding neck, turning tail and fleeing out of the chamber, shouting as he ran, “Brother, save me!”
In his heart, only Shu Da could save him now.
In his panic, his speed was shockingly fast. In the blink of an eye, he’d rushed out of the room, bolting along the passageway up to the upper cave.
Lin Xue was momentarily stunned that even with the Swiftwind Sword Manual, she failed to kill Shu Er in one strike.
She could feel that this Swiftwind Sword Manual was somewhat limited and couldn’t unleash her full strength.
After all, the Swiftwind Sword Manual was only a Qi Refinement level sword technique.
Now that she had reached Foundation Establishment, this sword art was starting to show its inadequacy.
It was like having a high cultivation but still using low-tier skills—there was a sense of power with no way to fully exert it.
But for now, she had no other means of attack available.
Watching Shu Er about to escape, Lin Xue grew anxious.
If she let that damn rat get away and bring Shu Da over, she’d be in trouble, facing both at once.
She circulated her Lingqi, using the movement technique from the Swiftwind Sword Manual to quickly chase after him, unleashing a Storm of Blades upon Shu Er.
Shu Er focused only on escape, making no attempt to resist.
Instantly, he was struck with several blades, staggering a few more steps before collapsing with a thud, body twitching on the ground.
Just then, battered and bruised, Shu Da happened to escape through the ring-shaped corridor into the upper cave.
He arrived just in time to see Lin Xue’s foot pressed on Shu Er’s back, drawing out her blade.
Shu Da’s eyes instantly turned red.
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