Liu Dashao sneered coldly, “Japanese ninja techniques—aren’t they supposed to be invincible? Shouldn’t it be you showing mercy to a mere boy like me?”
Xiaocang Youzi chuckled mockingly, suddenly flicking her wrist. The ribbon she held whipped upward with a sharp hiss, like a venomous snake—but no, it *was* a real snake.
Only now did everyone realize that the ribbon had transformed into a real venomous serpent. Its mouth gaped open, revealing a blood-red tongue and black fangs, hissing as it lunged toward Liu Dashao. Liu’s expression remained calm. With a slight flick of his talisman, two beams of light—one purple, one yellow—flashed briefly. In an instant, the outcome was decided. Daoist incantations shimmered midair, and the purple snake recoiled rapidly, leaving behind scattered droplets of blood on the ground.
Liu Dashao sneered coldly, “Japanese ninjutsu, isn’t it supposed to be invincible? It should be you showing mercy to this young lad.”
Ogura Yuko let out a few cold chuckles, then suddenly flicked her wrist, causing the ribbon in her hand to whip up with a hissing sound, resembling a venomous snake—no, it was a real snake.
At that moment, everyone could clearly see that the ribbon in her hand had indeed transformed into a snake, its mouth wide open, revealing a blood-red tongue and black fangs, hissing as it lunged at Liu Dashao. Liu Dashao’s expression remained calm as he slightly shook the talisman in his hand. A flash of purple and yellow light crossed the air, and the outcome was decided in an instant. Daoist incantations shimmered in mid-air, and the purple snake was swiftly repelled, leaving behind droplets of blood on the ground.
With a wave of her hand, Ogura Yuko made the purple snake disappear. She let out a soft laugh and looked at Liu Dashao with a seductive gaze, “Daoist, you are truly ruthless. My purple snake was merely greeting you, yet you struck with such deadly intent.”
Before Liu Dashao could respond, Ogura Yuko’s expression darkened, her eyes as venomous as the snake she had just controlled. She stared at him and said, “I didn’t expect your Daoist energy to be so formidable, Liu Dashao. It seems I, Ogura Yuko, will have to show you some real power.”
As she spoke, her body began to twist and contort in a grotesque, snake-like manner, undergoing a nauseating transformation. Her body grew taller and thicker, her skin changing from white to red, then to black, and finally to a deep, dark purple. When she stopped writhing, her body had transformed into a massive, cylindrical snake-like form, over two meters tall, with only her human head remaining. Her limbs had vanished, replaced by a serpent’s body.
The onlookers were horrified. A slender woman had turned into a monstrous snake-headed creature in an instant, a sight too bizarre to comprehend.
Ogura Yuko let out a coquettish laugh, raising her serpentine body high and curling her tail in front of her. She addressed Liu Dashao, “Daoist, I’m about to attack. You’d better be careful.”
Liu Dashao suddenly shouted sternly, “Wait!” He pointed at Ogura Yuko, his face filled with anger, “You are a half-demon! Don’t you know that demons are not supposed to oppose humans? By doing this, you are defying the natural order and will face the combined wrath of both demonic and human forces.”
Ogura Yuko’s expression changed. She replied, “I am a half-demon, but I have long since left the demonic path. You must be aware of the supernaturals in America and Europe, right?”
Liu Dashao paused, then nodded, “I see. You’ve not only betrayed the Eastern ways but also the demonic path. Are you now a rogue of the West or a vampire?”
Ogura Yuko snorted coldly, “You’re clever, old man. What path I follow now is irrelevant. What matters is that I am an American, a member of the American supernatural community. I fear neither human, demon, nor heavenly laws. Let’s cut the chatter. We each serve our own masters. Be careful, old man, I’m about to make my move.”
Liu Dashao shook his head, “Since you’ve become a half-demon, you should focus on cultivation and avoid worldly greed. If you insist on challenging me, I fear you’ll destroy all the hard work you’ve put into your cultivation.”
Ogura Yuko let out a shrill laugh, her eyes turning blood-red as she glared at Liu Dashao, “No matter how powerful you are, you’re just a Daoist. Let me show you the true power of a half-demon.” With that, her massive, thick tail whipped through the air with a howling wind, sweeping toward Liu Dashao like a storm.
The onlookers, already confused by the talk of Daoist and demonic paths, were now terrified as Ogura Yuko’s tail lashed out, generating a powerful gust of demonic energy. Even from a distance of nearly ten meters, they could feel the sting of the wind on their faces, making it hard to stand. Everyone was visibly shaken. Jia Zhuangyuan, in particular, was so concerned that he shouted at Liu Dashao, “Liu, be careful!”
But Liu Dashao seemed oblivious to Jia Zhuangyuan’s warning and the massive tail heading his way. He stood still, unmoving.
The tension was palpable. Jia Zhuangyuan even drew his whip and was about to charge forward. Just as the tail was about to strike Liu Dashao, he let out a clear shout and leaped into the air, narrowly avoiding the deadly blow.
Everyone breathed a sigh of relief as Liu Dashao, now airborne, shook the talisman in his hand, transforming it into a dazzling white light. Like a swift sword, it shot toward the snake’s vital point.
Ogura Yuko, still recovering from the momentum of her tail swipe, was unable to dodge. She could only watch in horror as the gray-white light sped toward her neck. Desperate, she let out an ear-piercing screech and twisted her head, spewing a cloud of black gas mixed with red threads toward Liu Dashao.
Liu Dashao, seeing the black gas coming at him, immediately performed a backflip, but his talisman continued its trajectory, striking the snake’s body.
The black gas brushed past Liu Dashao’s head and dispersed, the red threads falling to the ground. Where they landed, the crystal floor began to sizzle and corrode, leaving behind pockmarks.
In that split second, Liu Dashao’s talisman had already pierced the snake’s body. Ogura Yuko let out a blood-curdling scream and turned around, her eyes filled with rage as she glared at Liu Dashao, who had landed gracefully on the ground.
Liu Dashao shook his head with a hint of regret and said to Ogura Yuko, “You should know that a half-demon’s true form is when its demonic power is at its peak, but it’s also the most vulnerable. Especially for a massive snake like you, agility is compromised. Fortunately, you managed to spit out your primal energy to block me. Otherwise, if I had struck your vital point, you would have destroyed all your hard-earned cultivation.”
Ogura Yuko glared at Liu Dashao with a mix of fury and fear, unsure of how to respond. Her massive serpentine body trembled, but due to its size, no one could see if she was seriously injured. However, it seemed that Liu Dashao’s talisman had not struck her vital point, likely due to the black gas she had expelled.
Liu Dashao sighed softly and said to her, “You’re no match for me. You’ve been injured by my Daoist energy and have lost some of your primal energy. Don’t push yourself further. Retreat and heal.”
The half-demon Ogura Yuko, filled with rage but helpless, shook her massive body and glared at Liu Dashao. At that moment, a bald man standing behind James stepped forward with a charming smile, his white teeth contrasting sharply with his dark skin.
He spoke in surprisingly fluent Chinese, “Daoist, your skills are truly impressive. I know that in the mysterious East, there are many extraordinary people. I admit I am no match for you.”
His humble words and friendly demeanor left everyone puzzled. What was this guy up to?
Liu Dashao chuckled lightly, “What exactly are you trying to say?”
The bald man grinned again, his eyes glinting with cunning. “What I mean is, I believe I am no match for your Daoist skills or martial arts. I’d like to challenge you to something else.”
Liu Dashao and the others were taken aback. Fan Debiao suddenly shouted at the bald man, “Screw you! What kind of trick are you trying to pull?” He then turned to Liu Dashao, “Liu, don’t fall for this bald guy’s trap. Let’s just deal with these Americans and their lackeys, grab the treasure, and get back to the surface!”
The others nodded in agreement, echoing the sentiment that these foreigners were here to covet China’s treasures and couldn’t be trusted.
Amid the chatter, Liu Dashao raised his hand to silence the group and smiled at the bald man, “What do you want to challenge me to? I hope you Americans will know when to quit. China is a land of etiquette and tradition. You can challenge us to whatever you like, but once it’s over, leave immediately and stop coveting anything from China. This is our final act of tolerance.”
Liu Dashao’s words were firm and resolute, causing the bald man and James to exchange uneasy glances. James stepped forward, signaling the bald man to step back. He looked at Liu Dashao with a dark expression and said, “You think highly of yourself, but as the Chinese saying goes, ‘There’s always a higher mountain.’ Let’s make a bet. Each side will send three people to compete in three rounds: supernatural abilities, martial arts, and magic. Best two out of three wins. The winner takes the treasure, and the loser leaves. What do you say, Daoist?”
Before Liu Dashao could reply, Xiaocang’s expression shifted. Her eyes grew cold and sinister, just like the serpent she had summoned moments ago, as she glared at him. “I didn’t expect your inner energy to be so formidable. It seems I’ll have to show you a little of my own strength.”
As she spoke, her body began to twist in a strange, snake-like manner, just as she had when she first appeared. Slowly, her form underwent a grotesque transformation. Her moans, filled with unease, sent chills down everyone’s spines. This time, her body grew taller and thicker. Her skin shifted from white to red, then black, and finally settled into a deep, dark purple. Her human form had vanished. Standing before them was a massive serpent body over two meters tall, cylindrical and thick. Only her head remained unchanged; her limbs were gone—replaced by a snake’s body.
Everyone was horrified. How could a delicate woman transform so suddenly into a monstrous serpent with a human head?
In the midst of everyone’s stunned silence, Xiaocang Youzi let out a coquettish giggle. She raised her serpentine body high, coiling her tail slowly in front of her, and said to Liu Dashao, “Master Dao, I’m about to attack. Please be careful.”
Liu Dashao suddenly barked out, “Hold on!” He pointed at Xiaocang, his face filled with fury. “You’re a half-demon! Don’t you know demons are forbidden from opposing humans? You’re defying the natural order and will be hunted down by both the human and celestial realms!”
Xiaocang’s expression shifted slightly. She replied, “I am a half-demon, but I have long abandoned the demon path. You should know about the special agents from America and Europe, right?”
Liu Dashao paused, then nodded. “I see. So you’ve not only betrayed the Eastern path but also the demon path. Are you now a rogue or a vampire from the West?”
Xiaocang Youzi sneered coldly. “Senior, your insight is impressive. What path I follow now is of little importance. What matters is that I’m American now, a member of the American supernatural community. I fear neither the human, demon, nor celestial paths. Enough talk. We serve different masters. Senior, be careful—junior is about to strike.”
Liu Dashao shook his head. “Since you’ve become a half-demon, you should cultivate properly and abandon worldly desires. If you insist on challenging me, I fear you’ll destroy all your hard-earned progress.”
Xiaocang Youzi burst into laughter, her eyes turning blood-red. She glared at Liu Dashao viciously. “No matter how strong you are, you’re just a Daoist practitioner. Let me show you the true power of a half-demon!” With a twist of her body, her massive tail lashed forward with a deafening roar of wind, like a storm crashing down on Liu Dashao.
Liu Dashao sneered coldly, “Japanese ninjutsu, isn’t it supposed to be invincible? It should be you showing mercy to a novice like me.”
Ogura Yuko let out a few cold chuckles, then suddenly flicked her wrist, causing the ribbon in her hand to whip up with a hissing sound, resembling a venomous snake—no, it was a real snake.
At that moment, everyone could clearly see that the ribbon in her hand had indeed transformed into a snake, its mouth wide open, revealing a blood-red tongue and black fangs, hissing as it lunged at Liu Dashao. Liu Dashao’s expression remained calm as he slightly flicked the talisman in his hand. A flash of purple and yellow light crossed the air, and the outcome was decided in an instant. Daoist incantations shimmered in mid-air, and the purple snake was swiftly repelled, leaving behind a trail of blood droplets on the ground.
With a wave of her hand, Ogura Yuko made the purple snake disappear. She let out a soft laugh, her eyes seductive as she gazed at Liu Dashao. “Master Daoist, you are truly ruthless. My purple snake was merely greeting you, yet you struck with such deadly force.”
Before Liu Dashao could respond, Ogura Yuko’s expression darkened, her eyes as venomous as the snake she had just controlled. “I didn’t expect your Daoist energy to be so powerful, Liu Dashao. It seems I, Ogura Yuko, will have to show you some of my true colors.”
As she spoke, her body began to twist and contort in a grotesque manner, much like when she had first appeared. Her body underwent a nauseating transformation, growing taller and thicker, her skin changing from white to red, then to black, and finally settling into a deep, dark purple. When she stopped writhing, her body had transformed into a massive, cylindrical snake-like form over two meters tall, with only her head remaining human. Her limbs had vanished, replaced by a serpent’s body.
The onlookers were struck with horror. How could a slender woman transform into a monstrous snake-headed creature in the blink of an eye? It was beyond comprehension.
Amidst the stunned silence, Ogura Yuko let out a coquettish laugh, then raised her serpentine body high, her tail slowly curling in front of her. She addressed Liu Dashao, “Master Daoist, I’m about to attack. You’d better be careful.”
Liu Dashao suddenly shouted sternly, “Wait!” He pointed at Ogura Yuko, his face filled with anger. “You are a half-demon! Do you not know that demons are not to oppose humans? By doing this, you are defying the natural order and will face the combined wrath of both demonic and human forces.”
Ogura Yuko’s expression shifted. “I am a half-demon, but I have long since left the demonic path. You must be aware of the supernaturals in America and Europe, right?”
Liu Dashao paused, then nodded. “I see. You’ve not only betrayed the Eastern ways but also the demonic path. Are you now a rogue of the West or a member of the vampire clans?”
Ogura Yuko let out a cold snort. “You are indeed clever, old man. What path I follow now is irrelevant. What matters is that I am an American, a member of the American supernatural community. I fear neither human, demon, nor heavenly laws. Enough talk. We each serve our own masters. Be careful, old man, for I am about to strike.”
Liu Dashao shook his head. “Since you’ve become a half-demon, you should focus on your cultivation and avoid worldly greed. If you insist on challenging me, I fear you will destroy the hard-earned progress you’ve made.”
Ogura Yuko let out a shrill laugh, her eyes turning blood-red as she glared at Liu Dashao. “No matter how powerful you are, you’re just a Daoist. Let me show you the true power of a half-demon.” With that, her massive tail whipped through the air with a howling wind, sweeping toward Liu Dashao with the force of a storm.
The onlookers, already confused by the talk of Daoism and demons, were now terrified as Ogura Yuko’s tail lashed out, generating a powerful gust of demonic energy. Even from a distance of nearly ten meters, they could feel the sting of the wind on their faces, making it hard to stand their ground. The group was visibly shaken. Jia Zhuangyuan, in particular, was so concerned that he shouted at Liu Dashao, “Young Liu, be careful!”
But Liu Dashao seemed oblivious to Jia Zhuangyuan’s warning and the massive tail hurtling toward him. He stood still, unmoving.
The group was frantic. Jia Zhuangyuan even drew his whip and was about to charge forward. Just as the tail was about to strike Liu Dashao, he let out a sharp cry and leaped into the air, narrowly avoiding the deadly blow.
Relief washed over the group as they saw Liu Dashao, mid-air, flick the talisman in his hand. It transformed into a dazzling white light, shooting like an arrow toward the snake’s vital spot.
Ogura Yuko, still recovering from the momentum of her tail swipe, was caught off guard by Liu Dashao’s swift counterattack. Her massive body, though powerful, was not agile. She could only watch in horror as the gray-white light sped toward her neck, unable to twist her body in time to dodge.
In desperation, Ogura Yuko let out a hideous screech and turned her head slightly, spewing a cloud of black gas mixed with red tendrils toward Liu Dashao.
Liu Dashao, seeing the talisman in his hand, sharpened by his energy, about to strike the snake’s vital spot, suddenly found the black gas right in front of him. He cursed inwardly and performed a perfect backbend, narrowly avoiding the gas. The talisman continued its trajectory, piercing the snake’s body.
Ogura Yuko let out a blood-curdling scream and twisted around, her eyes filled with fury as she glared at Liu Dashao, who had already landed gracefully on the ground.
Liu Dashao shook his head with a hint of regret. “You should know that revealing your true form as a half-demon grants you immense power, but it also makes you vulnerable. Especially as a massive snake, your agility is compromised. It was fortunate for you that you managed to expel your primal energy to block me. Otherwise, had I struck your vital spot, you would have destroyed all your hard-earned cultivation.”
Ogura Yuko stared at Liu Dashao with a mix of rage and fear, unsure of how to respond. Her massive serpentine body trembled slightly. Due to her size, the onlookers couldn’t see if she was severely injured, but it seemed that Liu Dashao’s talisman had not struck her vital spot, likely due to the black gas she had expelled.
Liu Dashao sighed softly. “You are no match for me. You’ve been injured by my energy and have expelled part of your primal energy. Don’t push yourself further. Retreat and heal.”
The half-demon Ogura Yuko, furious yet helpless, swayed her massive body and glared at Liu Dashao. At that moment, the bald man beside James stepped forward with a charming smile, his white teeth contrasting sharply with his dark skin.
He spoke in surprisingly fluent Chinese, bowing slightly to Liu Dashao. “Master Daoist, your skills are truly impressive. I know that in the mysterious East, there are many extraordinary individuals. I admit I am no match for you.”
The group was puzzled by the bald man’s friendly demeanor and humble words. What was he up to?
Liu Dashao chuckled lightly. “What exactly are you trying to say?”
The bald man grinned, his eyes glinting with cunning. “What I mean is, I believe I am no match for your martial arts and Daoist techniques. I would like to challenge you to something else.”
Liu Dashao and the others were taken aback. Fan Debiao suddenly shouted at the bald man, “Screw you! What kind of trick are you trying to pull?” He then turned to Liu Dashao. “Dashao, don’t fall for this bald guy’s trap. Let’s just deal with these Americans and their lackeys, grab the treasure, and get back to the surface!”
The group murmured in agreement. These foreigners were clearly here to covet China’s treasures and couldn’t be trusted.
As the group debated, Liu Dashao raised his hand to silence them. He smiled at the bald man. “What do you want to challenge me to? I hope you Americans will know when to retreat. China is a land of etiquette and tradition. You can challenge us to whatever you like, but after this, I hope you will leave and never set your sights on China again. This is our final act of tolerance.”
Liu Dashao’s words were firm and resolute, causing the bald man and James to exchange uneasy glances. James stepped forward, signaling the bald man to step back. He looked at Liu Dashao with a dark expression. “You are quite confident, but as the Chinese saying goes, ‘There is always a higher mountain.’ Let’s make a wager. Each side will send three participants for three rounds of competition: supernatural abilities, martial arts, and magic. Best two out of three wins. The winner takes the treasure, and the loser leaves. What do you say, Master Daoist?”
But Liu Dashao seemed oblivious to Jia’s warning, or to the approaching tail. He stood still, unmoving.
The crowd was frantic. Jia even drew his whip and rushed forward. Just as Xiaocang’s tail was about to strike, Liu Dashao suddenly let out a sharp whistle, leaping into the air with a narrow escape.
Relief washed over the group as Liu Dashao, mid-air, flicked his talisman. It transformed into a dazzling white light, slicing through the air like a sword aimed directly at the serpent’s vital spot.
Meanwhile, Xiaocang’s tail, still carrying its momentum, sent the onlookers sprawling with its force. Yet her massive body also made her sluggish. As Liu Dashao’s calculated strike approached, Xiaocang’s face contorted in panic. Her strength was still focused in her tail, leaving her unable to twist her body in time.
With no choice, Xiaocang let out a hideous hiss. She twisted her head sideways, opened her mouth, and spat a jet of black mist laced with red threads toward Liu Dashao.
Liu Dashao was about to pierce her vital spot with his talisman, now glowing like razor-sharp blades, when the black mist suddenly appeared before him. He cursed inwardly, performed a perfect bridge-style backbend, and still hurled the talisman straight at the serpent’s body.
The black mist grazed Liu Dashao’s head, dispersing into the air. The red threads, now powerless, splattered onto the crystal floor, releasing a hissing purple vapor. When the vapor cleared, the crystal surface bore visible corrosive marks.
In the blink of an eye, Liu Dashao’s talisman struck the serpent’s body. Xiaocang screamed in pain, twisting her massive body around. Her eyes burned with fury as she glared at Liu Dashao, who had landed gracefully after his successful strike.
Liu Dashao shook his head regretfully and smiled at her. “You should know that a half-demon’s true form is both their strongest and most vulnerable. Especially in a massive serpent form like yours, mobility is your weakness. If you hadn’t risked expelling part of your essence to block me, your vital spot would have been hit, and all your hard-earned cultivation would have been destroyed.”
Xiaocang Youzi glared at Liu Dashao with a mix of rage and fear, unsure how to respond. Her massive serpent body trembled. Though the onlookers couldn’t see her back, they suspected Liu’s strike might not have hit the vital spot due to her counterattack.
Liu Dashao sighed lightly and said, “You’re no match for me. Now that I’ve wounded your inner energy and you’ve expelled part of your essence, don’t push yourself further. Retreat and recover.”
Xiaocang Youzi, the serpent-woman hybrid, shook her massive body in frustration, glaring fiercely at Liu Dashao. Then, from behind her, James’ bald companion suddenly stepped forward with a charming grin, his white teeth contrasting sharply with his dark skin.
He bowed respectfully to Liu Dashao, speaking in fluent Chinese that startled everyone. “Master Dao, your martial prowess is indeed extraordinary. I know the mysterious East, especially China, is full of wonders. I admit I’m no match for you.”
His innocent smile and humble words left everyone puzzled. What was he planning?
Liu Dashao chuckled lightly. “What exactly are you trying to say?”
The bald man grinned again, his eyes gleaming with cunning. “What I mean is, I know I can’t match your martial or Daoist skills. But I’d like to challenge you to something else.”
Liu Dashao and the others were taken aback. Fan Debiao shouted, “What the hell are you scheming?!” Then he turned to Liu Dashao. “Master Liu, don’t fall for this baldy’s tricks. Let’s just finish off these Americans and their lackeys and get the treasure back to the surface!”
Everyone nodded in agreement. Foreigners were here to steal China’s treasures—none of them could be trusted.
As the group erupted into discussion, Liu Dashao raised a hand to silence them. He smiled at the bald man and said, “What do you want to challenge me to? I hope this will convince you to give up. China has always been a land of etiquette and grace. Whatever challenge you choose, we accept. Just promise that after this, you’ll leave and never again covet China’s treasures. This is our final act of mercy.”
Liu Dashao’s words rang out powerfully. The bald man and his companions exchanged uneasy glances. James stepped forward, signaling the bald man to retreat. As the bald man reluctantly returned to his side, James turned to Liu Dashao with a grim expression. “You’re quite full of yourself. But there’s an old Chinese saying: ‘Another mountain is always higher.’ Let’s make a wager. Each side will field three fighters. We’ll have three matches—supernatural abilities, martial arts, and sorcery. Best of three wins the treasure; the loser leaves. What do you say, Master Dao?”
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