Lack of cultivation is compensated by equipment.

After just a brief clash,

Two of the four mountain peaks had already been flattened.

Spiritual energy surged like dark undercurrents in the sea, tearing open the earth and dragging everything into destruction.

Chu Xingchen's gaze remained calm as he followed Xu Linglong, who was being relentlessly pursued.

[Target: Xu Linglong]

[Cultivation: Unity? — Mahayana? — ?]

[Gold Trait: Heavenly Demon]

[Purple Trait: Allure]

[Purple Trait: Ruthlessness]

[Blue Trait: Cunning]

[Black Trait: Greed]

[Black Trait: Bloodthirst]

[Black Trait: Divine Retribution]

Chu Xingchen wasn’t surprised by the system’s wildly fluctuating assessment of her cultivation level. This was likely a warning—either this [Heavenly Demon] could undergo a sudden power surge, transforming when cornered, or she possessed some unique innate ability.

A gold-tier [Heavenly Demon] trait was undoubtedly a big catch.

She was likely one of the Eight Great Heavenly Demons. His disciple in his past life must have had something this demon coveted, something that led to his disciple being drained dry without even a touch.

And what she desired couldn’t possibly be just Li Xingtian’s Nascent Soul cultivation and his life force.

After all, even the weakest Heavenly Demon at the Unity stage could easily reach the Tribulation Transcendence realm.

If she were just after the meager cultivation of a Nascent Soul cultivator, then this [Heavenly Demon] would be downright laughable.

Li Xingtian currently possessed the gold-tier trait [Reincarnator].

If this demon could see through and attempt to plunder even that… then the [Heavenly Demon] was far more troublesome than he had imagined.

He had thought he was here to capture a deceitful seductress who liked to take everything and leave nothing behind. But upon closer inspection, he found himself facing a genuine demoness.

Chu Xingchen had believed he was being cautious enough, even rallying cultivators from the Tianyan Sect to join the hunt. Now, it seemed he had underestimated the situation—he should have brought more.

At the very least, he should have dragged Yanyun and Lv Xuan along, along with a few more elders.

If Xu Linglong could only power up to the Mahayana stage, she’d likely be finished here. But if she could reach the Tribulation Transcendence realm, victory would be uncertain, and stopping her from escaping would be nearly impossible.

Chu Xingchen naturally remembered the summoning talisman Bai Xuanling had given him.

The last time Bai Xuanling appeared, he had seemed vigorous, as if he could once again stand before the masses at Pudu River and block an army of Buddhas.

But in reality, Chu Xingchen knew—there was at least an 80% chance Bai Xuanling was putting on an act.

If he were to summon Bai Xuanling for this hunt, given his temperament, he’d probably drag this Heavenly Demon into a mutual destruction rather than let her escape.

Bai Xuanling was his trump card, but Chu Xingchen couldn’t afford to play him yet.

Besides, the situation wasn’t desperate—he had brought plenty of reinforcements.

Today, he would test his limits!

Slay a Heavenly Demon!

Chu Xingchen’s gaze remained fixed as a streak of azure light tore through the sky, its terrifying power pouring out unrestrained. The massive burial mound was nearly reduced to ruins.

Xu Linglong’s movement techniques were impressive, and her methods were peculiar, but against a Unity-stage opponent, they still fell short.

Chu Xingchen wasn’t going all out yet—he was waiting for the reinforcements outside to finish setting up the formation, sealing off all escape routes.

His goal was clear: stall Xu Linglong, prevent her from triggering a full transformation, and buy time before she could ascend to the Tribulation Transcendence realm and start slaughtering everyone.

Xu Linglong shifted positions, sensing the terrifying aura of that azure light chasing her. Her calm eyes settled on Chu Xingchen, who seemed almost leisurely.

"Eightfold Revolving Flow."

Her whisper was soft. The black dagger, which had been weaving through the air like a dark thread, suddenly retracted.

It reformed into a short blade, then flashed coldly as it shot toward Chu Xingchen.

In the next moment, her delicate hand grasped the dagger, and her figure blurred—crossing space in an instant.

The black dagger was already at Chu Xingchen’s face in the blink of an eye.

The blade rose.

The blade fell.

Darkness erupted from the dagger, swallowing all color in an instant.

Only the faint glint of the blade remained visible.

The darkness arrived first—then came her voice.

"Shadow, depart." Xu Linglong’s tone was icy.

"Light, come."

Chu Xingchen’s smile didn’t waver. The embroidery needle in his hand, Wanban, transformed into a longsword.

A righteous aura surged from the blade, pure white light flaring—untainted by the darkness, instead tearing into it.

BOOM!

The shockwave of their clash rippled outward. The already fragile secret realm trembled under the strain.

The mountain peaks began to dissolve into motes of light.

Xu Linglong was sent flying again by Chu Xingchen’s slash, the darkness dissipating as she retreated.

This time, however, she wasn’t as disheveled—she merely twisted midair and landed gracefully.

Her eyes locked onto Chu Xingchen, a faint smile playing on her lips as she spoke calmly:

"Righteous Qi? And this spiritual treasure… You must be Chu Xingchen."

Chu Xingchen shrugged nonchalantly.

"Who’s that? Though the name does sound like it belongs to someone incredibly handsome."

A bewitching purple began to spread in Xu Linglong’s eyes. Dark, sinister runes crawled up her arms as thick black energy streamed from her fingertips into the dagger. In an instant, the short blade elongated into a sword, and her spiritual pressure skyrocketed.

She chuckled, her tone warm, as if greeting an old friend:

"Do you know who I am?"

"Guess."

"Did you deliberately place Li Xingtian here?"

"Guess again."

"Did someone tell you something they shouldn’t have? Or did you discover something? Tell your big sister, and I’ll spare your life this time."

Chu Xingchen’s laughter echoed from behind his mask.

"This time, it’s not clear who’ll be begging for mercy."

"Getting beaten hurts," Xu Linglong said, her smile still bright. "Are you sure about this?"

As she spoke, her aura surged—reaching the cusp of the Mahayana stage.

Chu Xingchen tightened his grip on Wanban, his tone light.

"Brother Yuyang, she’s asking us to surrender. What do you think?"

The moment the words left his mouth, a figure leaped into the crumbling space.

Daoist Yuyang stood clad in the Taidao Sect’s Supreme Spirit Robe, its purple radiance swirling around him. Above his head floated the sect’s famed treasure—the Yin-Yang Fish Square Decree, an ethereal artifact where black and white fish endlessly chased each other in a circle.

With every rotation, an unfathomable power rippled outward before vanishing into the surroundings.

The decree’s energy infused the ambient spiritual energy, bending it to Daoist Yuyang’s will—he could command it with a mere thought.

Multiple defensive treasures shimmered around him, their protective auras alone enough to weigh heavily on those nearby.

In his hand was the spiritual treasure Chu Xingchen had jokingly called a "glowstick"—his bonded weapon.

Truly, his entire ensemble was dazzling.

Even an ordinary pig wearing this gear could wreak havoc.

Xu Linglong couldn’t hide her astonishment at Daoist Yuyang’s grand entrance.

This was the epitome of "when cultivation falls short, equipment makes up for it."

Daoist Yuyang fixed his gaze on Xu Linglong and declared,

"She is the one who should be begging for mercy."