I made the entire cultivation world cry

Chapter 423 Brave Lili (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Jiang Yi leaned against a tree trunk, arms crossed, his deep eyes silently watching the disheveled Hong Li in the center of the battlefield.

Her red and green pupils suddenly contracted.

Then an even stronger emotion, a mixture of grievance, pride, and a desire to prove himself, exploded in his heart.

That damn woman, is she laughing at me?
Seeing me being beaten so badly, like before, with no chance to fight back and only able to wait for her to come to my rescue?

no! Absolutely not!
No help allowed! I, Hong Li, don't need help!!

The four sword cultivators also noticed the uninvited guest.

The peak sword cultivator shouted warily, "Who goes there?"

Jiang Yi withdrew her gaze from Hong Li, stopped Zhao Ming from making a move, and glanced indifferently at the four of them.

"Just passing by to watch the fun. You guys continue, don't worry about me."

The four sword cultivators felt immense pressure, fearing that Jiang Yi would be the mantis stalking the cicada, but they couldn't give up on capturing the fox demon they were about to defeat, so the atmosphere became tense.

Taking advantage of this brief respite, Hong Li disregarded the excruciating pain all over her body and frantically squeezed out the last bit of the remaining essence of the Thousand Beast Spirit Fire and the residual power of the Yin Erosion Moth Fire deep within the Demon Mansion.

Woman, I will never let you look down on me again and walk away like that!
With her last ounce of strength, Hongli suddenly looked up, her emerald-green eyes bursting with a chilling light as the power of the Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox within her bloodline was abruptly activated by the surge of her spirit.

Sword cultivators have stronger willpower than other cultivators. Hong Li's previous charm techniques had always failed, and the fire seal was always shattered by their already sharp divine sense.

But this time, the allure worked!
The late-stage Golden Core sword cultivator who was charging towards her suddenly stopped, and the sword light he was about to unleash suddenly changed direction, attacking the person beside him.

At the same time, Hong Li released three smaller fire shadow clones—a tiger, a crane, and a snake—that were entirely composed of Yin-Erosion Moth Flames to attack the other sword cultivators.

The greyish-white crane clone transformed into a streak of light and flew swiftly close to the ground. Its sharp, long beak struck with unparalleled precision the knee of another late-stage Golden Core sword cultivator who was about to attack Hong Li. The fire poison instantly invaded his meridians, and the intense pain and madness caused him to let out a miserable howl, instantly disrupting his attack rhythm.

At the same time, the snake shadow clone, like a ghost, silently wrapped around the ankle of the late-stage Golden Core sword cultivator who had just awakened from the allure and was still somewhat dazed. The burning sensation made his hair stand on end, and he hurriedly swung his sword to slash at the snake shadow, but he was firmly entangled and could not break free for a moment.

The most violent tiger shadow clone, under Hong Li's control, let out a deafening roar and charged towards the strongest peak sword cultivator with a suicidal aura.

This attack forced the peak sword cultivator to defend with all his might.

Just as the three Hokage clones were precisely disrupting the battlefield, the crimson ribbon around Hongli's neck shot out with lightning speed.

Blazing fire binds the enemy!

The Crimson Silk Wrapped around the swordsman's waist with precision, yanking him out of the battle and slamming him against a large boulder not far away.

The powerful impact made it almost impossible for him to hold onto his flying sword. Demonic fire and fire poison eroded along the red ribbon. His defense collapsed amidst screams, and the red ribbon pierced his dantian from behind, killing him instantly.

Next target: a late-stage Golden Core sword cultivator whose ankle is entangled by a snake shadow!

Hong Li's eyes were filled with unprecedented focus and ruthlessness. Since it was impossible to leave the fire seal on four sword cultivators at the same time, then she would leave all four fire seals on one person at the same time. Surely one of them would work!
Four fiery imprints, each carrying a burning aura, were branded onto the sword cultivator's body out of thin air. Before he could completely remove them, the Crimson Three-Tailed Sword suddenly swung out three thin, gray flame chains.

The fire chain coiled up along the remaining three fire imprints, and the sword cultivator instantly became a human torch, screaming and struggling wildly, but he was unable to shake off the Yin-Eroding Moth Fire that was constantly devouring spiritual energy.

Double kill!

The peak sword cultivator, restrained by the tiger shadow, was filled with shock and anger. He watched helplessly as his two companions died at the hands of the fox demon who launched a desperate counterattack. He exchanged a glance with another sword cultivator, lost all will to fight, and turned to flee.

They were independent cultivators and did not possess the arrogance of sect-affiliated sword cultivators who would fight to the death.

Hong Li pressed her advantage, squeezing out her last bit of demonic power to unleash two enormous gray-fire blazing bullets.

boom! boom!
After the violent explosion, two huge craters were blasted into the ground. The gray flames that shot out were all gathered together by Jiang Yi's powerful divine sense and fell back onto the two charred corpses at the bottom of the craters, burning them to ashes.

At the bottom of the pit, the tender green vines quickly loosened their grip on the ankles of the two charred corpses and quietly retreated, returning to the sword-nurturing gourd at Jiang Yi's waist, pretending nothing had happened.

If Jiang Yi hadn't secretly intervened, Hong Li wouldn't have been able to stop that sword cultivator at the peak of the Golden Core stage.

Hong Li was covered in blood, her demonic power exhausted, and her three fire shadow clones disintegrated. Her huge body also shrank rapidly into the form of a young fox, but she still stubbornly raised her head and stared at Jiang Yi with her amazingly bright emerald green eyes.

Look, woman, I, Hong Li, am no longer the little fox who could only hide behind you and tremble in fear. I can stand on my own and defeat powerful enemies!

Jiang Yi, standing under the tree, gave Hong Li an appreciative smile, his eyes filled with undisguised doting affection. He then waved his hand, sending down a spring rain to heal Hong Li and replenish her energy.

Hongli smiled happily as her body gradually regained its vitality. She stood up again, feeling triumphant.

嘤~
Accompanied by pitiful sobs, the small, red figure shot forward like an arrow, rushing into Jiang Yi's arms without hesitation.

Jiang Yi's smile widened, and her hands, which had been crossed in front of her chest, naturally opened.

Like a fledgling returning to its nest, Hongli landed precisely in Jiang Yi's warm and familiar embrace. Her small body immediately curled up, her three tails tightly wrapped around Jiang Yi's arm, and her cheeks buried deep in her clothes, like a child who had suffered a great injustice and finally found her mother, sobbing softly.

Why are you so late?
Why don't you call me home?

You heartless, wicked woman!
The domineering aura of the fox demon that had dominated the battle earlier was completely gone, leaving only a deep sense of dependence and a coquettish act born of exhaustion.

Jiang Yi gently stroked Hong Li's head to soothe her, listening to Hong Li's complaints and worries, and transmitted her voice to Hong Li in a gentle tone.

"Don't blame yourself. As long as your life can be saved, what does it matter if the Ashfire is exposed? Once I become the top of the Heavenly Ranking, with everyone watching, someone will naturally protect me."

As she spoke, Jiang Yi tugged at Hong Li's ear.

"However, if I don't become the top of the Heavenly Ranking, our lives will be in danger, so you have to help me, understand?"

Hum!
Hong Li's wet eyes burst forth with unprecedented determination and confidence. Then, Hong Li's gaze went over Jiang Yi's shoulder and looked at the three giant swords in the distance that terrified her from the depths of her soul.

Jiang Yi followed her gaze, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Don't be afraid, I'll take you inside to see what exactly is controlling you to become the whetstone of this trial. Once we find it, we'll blow it up!"

Holding Hong Li, Jiang Yi activated the ancient treasure, the Earthly Fiend Yellow Spring Pearl, and rushed towards the summit of Kunwu Mountain at a speed comparable to that of a Nascent Soul cultivator.

……

Outside the Kunwu Mountains, in the central square of the thirteen cultivator cities, the spectacular battle between the demon foxes that had just taken place was still fresh in everyone's minds.

The barrier in the Azure Forest has the ability to recognize itself. It will prioritize projecting images from areas where the battle is fierce and the spiritual energy fluctuations are strong.

Countless cultivators stared wide-eyed in disbelief as the crimson fox demon unleashed terrifying power in the face of death, especially its strange gray-white flames, which could even corrode and corrupt the natal sword of a Golden Core Peak cultivator.

This combat power is absolutely enough to make most of the Golden Core cultivators participating in the Heavenly Ranking competition look superior.

"This fox demon is too powerful!"

"What is that gray fire?"

"With this strength, even ordinary peak Golden Core demonic beasts would be no match for him!"

"I was completely stunned just now. The combat skills and spell combinations were absolutely amazing. I've never seen such a powerful monster in our Eastern Continent."

"It's a pity the forest is closed now, otherwise I would definitely go in and capture and tame this monster."

Countless shocked discussions erupted in the square. Hong Li's ruthlessness, wisdom, and terrifying combat power displayed at the last moment were deeply imprinted in the hearts of every spectator.

This level of strength is unmatched by any Golden Core stage demon beast in the entire Azure Nether Forest.

Just as everyone was amazed by Hong Li's strength, they saw the fox demon, who had just killed a powerful enemy and was so majestic, suddenly rush into Jiang Yi's arms like a child who had found its mother, whimpering pitifully.

Everyone gaped in disbelief.

"Isn't this female cultivator in green the senior sister of the Lingxu Sword Sect who was too lazy to walk before?"

"Huh? She...she...how does she have the ability to subdue such a powerful fox demon?"

“Look at the fox demon’s state. It’s absolutely willing submission and complete dependence, unlike the feelings between an ordinary spirit pet and its master.”

"Just who is Jiang Heying? How come even such a ferocious creature is so subservient to her?!"

"Comparison is the thief of joy! I struggle to even capture a Foundation Establishment stage spirit beast, while others at the mid-Golden Core stage have already subdued such powerful demon beasts. I'm so envious."

The onlookers were filled with mixed feelings, but most of them were sour.

Only the Northern Xuan cultivators straightened their backs as straight as they could be, thinking to themselves, "These bumpkins from the Eastern Continent, now they've seen the power of our Northern Xuan demon tamers and demon spirits!"

……

Meanwhile, in the main hall of the Qingwei Sword Sect.

Su Hua, You Ying, and Jue Mingzi also felt warm and proud because of Jiang Yi and Hong Li's performance. After all, they represented Bei Xuan at this moment. Jiang Yi's identity as a Bei Xuan cultivator and her outstanding performance, especially her strong ability to control demons, could help them achieve the purpose of this conference to a certain extent.

Among the group, only Jiang Yunye's expression suddenly turned serious, staring intently at Xia Changying.

When the scene shifted to Hong Li, Jiang Yunye noticed that Xia Changying suddenly straightened his back in his seat, a look of shock flashing in his eyes. Although he immediately pretended to drink tea and suppressed all his emotions, Jiang Yunye still noticed the clue.

Jiang Yunye secretly decided that during the days of meetings and discussions, he would keep a close eye on Xia Changying and would never allow him to harm his little grand-disciple.

　Two chapters today, both over 6200 words. I won't split them up. See you tomorrow!
　　
　
(End of this chapter)