"But..."
Zhao Yuan tried to speak further, but Li Wenxuan cut him off sharply.
"You know what the Chief's orders signify. I will only enter the secret realm to provide covert protection – I will not interfere with the exam's normal proceedings. Open the entrance at once, or I will tear through the spatial barrier myself."
Zhao Yuan's brow furrowed deeply. Words of refusal rose to his lips multiple times, only to be swallowed back with a heavy heart.
The inspector before him was a Holy Spirit Realm cultivator – a being with authority to make on-the-spot decisions that even high-ranking officials dared not question.
Even as a Great Spirit Master himself, Zhao Yuan could only let out a helpless sigh. If Li Wenxuan was determined to intervene, any attempt to stop him would be futile – not only would they fail to prevent it, but they would also bring unnecessary trouble upon themselves and the Education Bureau.
"Your praise is unwarranted, Inspector. How could I ever doubt your word? Please wait a moment – I will open the gateway immediately."
Forcing a strained smile, Zhao Yuan activated the array plate in his hand. Soft light rippled across its surface, dispelling the layers of restrictive spiritual artifacts that shrouded the secret realm's entrance like a protective veil.
He had no choice but to bow to the authority of a Holy Spirit Realm cultivator.
In a flash of golden light, Li Wenxuan stood before the entrance, his formidable aura completely concealed. But just as he prepared to step inside, a wave of bone-chilling evil energy surged forth from the void!
Decades of combat experience and the keen senses inherent to Holy Spirit Realm practitioners allowed him to react in the blink of an eye. His body transformed into a streak of light, vibrating at extreme speed to narrowly evade the sudden assault.
Sizzle—
Without warning, terrifying blood-red chains materialized from thin air, spreading across the sky like a massive net designed to devour light itself. They blotted out the sun for miles around, casting everything in a deep crimson shadow!
The air froze solid, as if turned to ice.
Zhao Yuan's face paled drastically. He channeled all his spiritual power into a protective barrier, while a powerful phantom manifested beside him – his innate Talent Illusion, a physical manifestation of his cultivation that only Great Spirit Masters and above could summon.
Most practitioners who reach the Grand Spirit Master level can manifest such illusions to aid in battle. The few who cannot are those whose abilities focus solely on physical enhancement, their power concentrated entirely within their bodies, leaving no energy to form ethereal constructs.
Summoning a Talent Illusion is never done lightly – it is a sign of desperation, a last resort when one must fight to the death. If the illusion is shattered, the user's very foundation will be shaken, often leaving them crippled or unable to cultivate further.
Yet the pressure emanating from the blood-red chains was as vast as the ocean and as cold as the depths of space, causing Zhao Yuan's soul to tremble uncontrollably.
This must be an enemy of the Holy Spirit Realm!
And the audacity of launching such an attack directly in front of Li Wenxuan meant they were utterly confident in their ability to prevail.
"Hmph! Disgusting alien filth!"
Cold light flashed in Li Wenxuan's eyes as his arms condensed into twin blades of blazing white light. With a sharp cry, he unleashed a powerful slash!
Countless sword shadows crisscrossed the sky like a sudden storm, shredding the tangled crimson chains into dust and fragments that scattered like ash in the wind.
"Coward! Show yourself and face death like a warrior!"
Roaring, he spread his fingers wide. Brilliant golden light gathered in his palm like a miniature star core, then transformed into a rain of golden shuttles. Each one gleamed with enough sharpness to pierce heaven and earth, bombarding the void where the chains had originated!
The one controlling the chains had clearly anticipated this counterattack. With a thought, the remaining chains retracted and coiled into a thick, spiked shield that blocked the incoming assault.
This shift between offense and defense was exactly what Li Wenxuan had expected. He excelled at aggressive tactics and speed, but was at a disadvantage in close-quarters combat or prolonged evasion.
Seizing this brief pause, his sword technique shifted again. The golden light intensified, and his sword energy roared like a dragon as it tore through the blood-red thorns. The sheer force caused space itself to groan, splitting into tiny cracks that glowed with faint purple light!
When the attack began, Zhao Yuan had already retreated several miles, placing himself well outside the battlefield. Against Holy Spirit Realm experts, even a single stray surge of spiritual energy could be enough to destroy him.
Just as Li Wenxuan's assault seemed unstoppable, as if he had completely suppressed his opponent, another unexpected turn of events occurred!
Without a sound, several dark purple, writhing demonic runes – which seemed to possess a life of their own – blazed to life beneath his feet!
The runes spread like poisonous vines at impossible speed, instantly creeping up his legs and wrapping around his calves, burrowing into his skin and flesh!
Sssss—
The moment the runes made contact, the surging Holy Spirit power within Li Wenxuan's body suddenly solidified, then stagnated and began to fade away – like boiling water poured onto snow!
An evil, alien force rapidly eroded and suppressed his strength, stripping him of nearly ninety percent of his power in mere seconds!
We've walked into their trap!
A warning blared in his mind. With ruthless resolve, he prepared to sever his bound calves to escape, sacrificing his limbs to save his life.
But it was already too late!
More blood-red chains shot from every corner of the void like venomous snakes striking from their dens, accompanied by terrifying screams that echoed in the mind!
They twisted, coiled, and constricted, binding Li Wenxuan in a massive crimson cocoon. The runes on the chains' surface glowed faintly as they greedily absorbed his remaining spiritual power, draining him completely and leaving him unable even to crush his own legs in a final attempt at escape.
"Ha… Human Holy Spirits grow weaker with each generation, don't they? Have you all become so pathetic?"
Ripples spread through the void like water disturbed by a stone. A soft, enchanting sigh drifted out – subtle yet capable of captivating any who heard it.
A jade-white foot emerged first, its skin almost transparent, toes slightly arched in an elegant curve.
She wore a blood-red silk dress so sheer it barely contained her slender waist. The skirt was wildly irregular – one side trailed to her ankle like flowing lava, while the other ended high on her thigh, revealing smooth, pale skin. Layers of crimson pleats fanned out like petals of a deadly rose, exuding an aura of death.
A lace corset adorned with dark gold magical patterns hugged her chest, its curves both captivating and dangerous.
Above, her shoulders were rounded and snow-white – but marred by twisting dark purple demonic patterns that pulsed with sinister energy, ruining the otherwise perfect image.
From beneath loose strands of hair, a face of breathtaking beauty was revealed – bright eyes, white teeth, and charm enough to ensnare all living things.
Yet her pupils were not human. They glowed like hardened blood jade, with the warm hue of amber.
A jade-colored horn, as thick as a little finger and several inches long, protruded diagonally from her forehead, partially hidden by her bangs.
Li Wenxuan's pupils contracted violently as he roared uncontrollably, "Demon Spirit Clan! How dare you invade the heart of the Xia Kingdom and attack a Holy Spirit Inspector? Do you wish to ignite an endless war between our races?!"
"Giggle…"
The demonic woman laughed wildly, her fiery tongue tracing her full lower lip – yet her eyes remained as cold as ice. "The Xia Kingdom? Hah… Even that pathetic Human Alliance you boast about is nothing more than a flock of sheep to be slaughtered. What does your little kingdom matter to me?"
She moved forward with light, graceful steps, looking down at Li Wenxuan like a cat toying with a mouse.
"Humans… once an Emperor-level talent matures, they become far too troublesome. It is our noble tradition to eliminate such threats as soon as we learn of them."
She paused deliberately, savoring the anger and shock in his eyes before adding slowly, "Don't worry – others are already handling that brat. I'm here only to keep you meddlesome humans occupied."
A cruel smile twisted her beautiful features.
"As for you… you still have some use. An inspector makes quite a valuable hostage. For now, I'll spare your life."
That such terrifying words could come from such a lovely face was proof enough of how cruel this Demon Spirit witch truly was.
Even in this desperate situation, Li Wenxuan suddenly burst into laughter – loud, unhinged, and completely unexpected.
"Why are you laughing?"
The witch's expression darkened instantly, and her delicate hands clenched into fists!
The chains binding Li Wenxuan blazed with crimson light, constricting like massive pythons. The sound of grinding metal and cracking bones echoed through the air!
Puff!
Li Wenxuan spat out a mouthful of black, foul-smelling blood, yet his eyes burned with fury and disdainful mockery.
"Of course I'm laughing at you! You're so foolish you don't even understand how humans fight – yet you dare attack me alone?! Did you really think… I was the only one here capable of facing you?!"
"What are you talking about?!"
The witch's face changed drastically as a series of alarms exploded in her mind like thunder!
Her sense of triumph vanished instantly. She spun around abruptly, only to freeze mid-movement!
"Ha… bluffing like a—"
Her sarcastic words were cut short as a beam of pure, brilliant light pierced through the void without warning. It carried sacred purifying power that burned away all darkness, striking her precisely in the back and exiting through her chest!
Emerald-green blood – which carried an unnerving sweet aroma – flowed down the crystal-clear light sword and dripped onto the ground, where it hissed and smoked upon contact.
A hazy, slender figure slowly materialized behind her – as ethereal as a dream or the moon's reflection on water, yet solid and clear.
Her black hair cascaded like a waterfall, and her face was cold and dignified – the complete opposite of the witch's enchanting allure. She exuded an aura of pure, vast power that seemed to cleanse the very air around her!
"This is truly pathetic,"
A voice rang out – valiant and proud, yet carrying a hint of weariness. "A high-ranking Holy Spirit Realm cultivator bullying one of lower rank, and still spouting such nonsense."
Before the witch could react, the light sword was pulled free with surgical precision. A tremendous force slammed into her lower back, sending her flying!
"Explode!"
The witch's alluring form tumbled through the air like a kite with its string cut, trailing a mist of emerald blood before crashing heavily into the ground below.