Invasion Myth: Starting with the Schoolteacher

Chapter 857 Xu Bai Beats Xiao Qing

Amidst the swirling smoke, her head suddenly transformed into a fluffy fox, its golden vertical pupils gleaming with cunning.

"Interesting~" She twitched her nose and circled around Xu Xuan. "You have such a strong demonic scent. Could it be that" her fox tail deliberately swept across Xiao Bai's stiff snake body, "that you've had some intimate contact with a snake demon?"

As she spoke, she suddenly lunged towards Xu Xuan's arms.

This was one of her usual pranks; she loved seeing people panic.

But it suddenly stopped in mid-air.

What flickered in Xu Xuan's eyes was not fear, but something that sent chills down her spine—a terrifying prospect that would strike if she were to pounce on it.

Meanwhile, Xiaobai's gaze was also strange, as if he wanted to lash out at her with his tail, the kind that would cut the gray rattlesnake into pieces.

The fox instinctively issued a frantic warning, and she forcefully twisted her waist, landing lightly back on the counter.

"Oh dear, young master, you're so fierce!" she teased, lightly tapping Xiaobai's blushing cheek with her pipe. "Look, your snake lady is blushing like a red-robed snake."

Xu Xuan's brow twitched: "What skin-to-skin contact? Don't smear my reputation!" Suddenly, he changed the subject, "What's the principle behind demonic scent? Is it residual pheromones or a magical mark?"

"Is it only you who can detect it, or do other monsters also have ways to detect it?"

"And what methods are available to remove it?"

"Can it be transferred to someone else or something?"

Driven by instinct, Xu Xuan was more concerned about safety and whether he could use this opportunity to set a trap.

Master: Actually, I was just talking nonsense. I just wanted to tease you two, this human and this demon duo. Asking me so seriously like this makes me feel awkward.

Seeing that the conversation had completely veered off course, she simply turned and walked into the inner room: "Come with me."

The wooden box containing the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches rearranged itself as if it were alive, revealing a hidden bronze door, as she lightly touched it with her fingertips.

As they passed through the porch, the ground suddenly sank—the entire floating platform slowly sank into the pool.

The surrounding scenery was inverted, and the pool water formed a shimmering "sky" above his head. Such a fantastical scene would have caused an ordinary person to scream in astonishment, but Xu Xuan...
"Is it using water refraction to create a visual illusion, or has it actually altered the gravitational field?"

"Spells are truly amazing."

“Master, your aesthetic sense is indeed unique. The combination of historical elements and technological feel is just right. However…” He pointed to the pink crystal chandelier above his head, “the color saturation is too high, which can easily cause visual fatigue.”

"What do you know!" the shopkeeper snapped. "This is called a magnificent illusion!"

According to color psychology, high saturation can be stimulating.

The demon and the human got into an argument over interior design.

By the time the floating platform reached the bottom, the shop owner had already angrily removed the crystal chandelier.

Xu Xuan had a great time chatting; it was interesting to encounter a monster with such modern thinking.

By the time they arrived at the pink Tongtian Workshop, the two had become friends who could exchange a few words.

Wow, that's impressive. You have a lot of business.

The entire workshop is like a fantasy factory, with dozens of monster craftsmen busy at work.

Some were forging flying swords, sparks flying everywhere; some were adjusting mechanical puppets, gears clattering; and others were sealing thunder and fire into gourds, explosions rising and falling.

He originally thought Baoqingfang was a small private workshop, but he never expected it to be a large-scale "weapon refining sect"!
The shop owner smugly swayed his fox tail, finally opening the human's eyes: "How about it? More powerful than you imagined, right?"

"Are there any magical artifacts that humans can use?" Xu Xuan suddenly asked.

"Of course!" The shop owner proudly raised his head. "Occasionally, rogue human cultivators will come to me with custom orders."

"Is there a magical artifact that an ordinary man without magical powers can wield without any side effects?" Xu Xuan's eyes lit up.

The shopkeeper's fox ears twitched, and he almost dropped his pipe: "."

Is this request trying to make things difficult for me, Fat Fox?
Even if it's a sinister artifact made through blood sacrifice, it still requires some bloodshed!
"Also, it should ideally be powerful enough to take down a great demon," Xu Xuan added, his eyes filled with anticipation.

The shop owner's expression relaxed, and his eyes became much clearer.

He turned and left, saying, "What were you just saying you were investigating for this girl? A magical artifact, right? Come, come, this way!"

The shopkeeper led them to a floating jade platform and pulled a scroll of bamboo, glowing with a bluish light, from his sleeve. The scroll unfurled automatically, revealing a three-dimensional projection of the jade hairpin on Xiaobai's head.

“This is a wonderful treasure!” The shopkeeper’s fox tail swayed gently. “It can absorb the magic power of others for its own use. However,” she glanced meaningfully at Little White, “the one who came to forge it wasn’t her.”

"When this girl came last time, she modified this treasure so that she could use it herself, but modification is risky."

"Absorbing magic power also absorbs the memories of the magic weapon's owner. Once the memories are gone, what use is magic power?"

These words made Xu Xuan give up his idea of ​​using a hairpin.

I originally thought it was a magical artifact version of the Northern Darkness Divine Art, but unfortunately the side effects are too great.

But it's alright, men are always a little embarrassed to use hairpins.

As for clues about the original owner, the shopkeeper just told him what he wanted to know.

He pulled a jet-black scale from a hidden compartment in the counter. The scale's surface was covered with blood-red patterns, and just looking at it sent chills down one's spine.

Xu Xuan hesitated and said, "You guys are so untrustworthy about customer information?"

"That old bastard!" The shop owner suddenly exploded, all nine of her tails standing on end. "He was so hesitant to pay, and he wanted to make some money without any investment!" She angrily flicked her pipe. "Didn't he even ask around? Does Baoqing Shop's 300-year reputation mean anything?"

Okay, so it turns out there was a personal grudge.

"And I find you, as a human, quite interesting."

A playful glint flashed in the fox-like eyes of the shop owner.

The pipe pointed to the silent Xiaobai beside him: "When she came to modify the magic weapon last time, she clearly hadn't lost her memory, but she still looked so melancholy, as if someone was forcing her to do something she didn't want to do."

The copper mouthpiece of the pipe gently brushed past Xu Xuan's direction: "But you are different." The fox demon suddenly moved closer, her nose almost touching his cheek: "You have more of a demonic appearance than any other demon I have ever seen." Her voice suddenly lowered, "That kind of heat... is more dangerous than a furnace of subterranean fire."

Xu Xuan's pupils contracted slightly, only to see the shop owner gracefully retreat, his nine tails swaying behind him: "It's time for this world to change." His tone carried a hint of amusement as he watched a show.

As he was leaving, Xu Xuan suddenly turned around and said, "Help me forge a magical artifact."

"Oh?" The shopkeeper's fox ears perked up. "What's the price?"

"Humans can use it, the greater the power the better." Xu Xuan's eyes were sharp as knives. "A higher price is fine, and being more evil is also acceptable."

The shopkeeper narrowed his eyes: "You're not going to tell me the price now? You want to get it for free?"

"We'll see what I have then," Xu Xuan said in a terrifyingly calm tone.

The fox's fur bristled instantly.

At that moment, He seemed to see something terrifying surging within Xu Xuan's body, and could only reluctantly agree.

He wiped his sweat after the two people left.

"Damn it, you spoke too soon."

"Let's not smash Baoqingfang's 300-year-old reputation."

As dusk settled, Xu Xuan and Xiao Bai crossed Yongzhou City, preparing to return to the dilapidated ancient tower to rest. As a human, Xu Xuan's physical strength was nearing its limit, and his eyelids felt as heavy as if they were filled with lead.

"This scale," Xiaobai suddenly spoke, her fingertips tracing the jet-black scale, "is of the same origin as me, but its demonic power is far greater than mine."

Xu Xuan nodded, and was about to say something when a cold, eerie wind suddenly swept through the forest. The leaves rustled, as if countless venomous snakes were slithering in the shadows.

"careful!"

A woman wearing a blue cloak appeared from the wind.

What a cool female assassin! Xu Xuan was completely aroused by her overwhelming killing intent.

The cyan, form-fitting armor and the cold, piercing gaze indicated that he was definitely a mini-boss level expert, far superior to the dusty Rattlesnake and his ilk from before.

Moreover, the feeling of being locked on was very strong, and the other party's target did not seem to be Xiaobai.

But it was myself?!
What merit do I, an ordinary human being, possess?
The premonition was right; the female assassin opposite her made up her mind the moment she saw Xu Xuan. Without a word, a cold glint flashed in her eyes, and she struck out with a palm strike to her left.

Xu Xuan reacted quickly, skillfully sidestepping and hiding behind Xiao Bai.

"boom!"

Two figures, one in green and one in white, collided, and demonic energy exploded like a tidal wave. The surrounding trees shook violently, and fallen leaves were swept into the air by the shockwave, forming a strange vortex.

"noob!"

"Xiao Qing!"

The two sisters exclaimed in unison. The floodgates of Xiaobai's memory were pried open once again.

Then they embraced under the moon, a beautiful and heartwarming scene.

"Xiao Qing?!"

Xu Xuan's exclamation instantly shattered the warm atmosphere of the sisters' reunion. His eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.

This plot is going in the wrong direction!

Wait, her name is Xiaoqing? Then isn't Xiaobai Bai Suzhen?!

So this isn't a heavily modified version of "The Snake Catcher's Tale," but a completely new version of "The Legend of the White Snake"?!

What shocked him even more was that the Xiaoqing in front of him was completely different from the Xiaoqing he subconsciously thought he knew.

He was clad in black armor, with a short sword at his waist, his eyes sharp as knives, and his whole body exuded a chilling killing intent.

I was a little confused, but that didn't stop me from saying hello.

Peeking out from behind Xiaobai, he gave a "friendly" smile:

"I, Xu Xuan, am a good person."

Then, he couldn't help but add another sentence:
"By the way, why do you look so smart?"

Subconsciously, shouldn't Xiaoqing be a complete idiot?

Xiaoqing: ".?"

Is this man mocking me?!

Xiao Bai, he's mocking me, isn't he!

What annoyed her even more was that Xu Xuan's gaze towards her was becoming increasingly strange, his burning eyes seeming as if he were appraising a rare treasure.

Xiao Bai also noticed something was wrong, but... that look didn't seem like it was looking at some rare treasure, it looked more like it was looking at a bellyband.

Xu Xuan immediately became serious, "I just think we will be very good comrades-in-arms!"

He was absolutely overjoyed.

Xiaoqing's appearance means they have gained another source of strength. And judging by her aura, her combat power is definitely not low!

It's enough to clear up some misunderstandings.

As for how to solve it, Xiaobai will first step in to dampen the opponent's arrogance, and then I will step in to crush their mentality.

Our Xu Bai duo's first battle after our official debut was: fighting Xiao Qing.

(End of this chapter)