Contest of Mystical Arts

The bowstring twanged like a clap of thunder.

As the arrow flew, the bowstring vibrated incessantly, sending birds scattering throughout the forest. Xiang Ling instinctively collapsed to the ground in fear.

It was a Five Stone Heavy Bow, but the distance was still a hundred paces, and wild Demons were mostly naturally sharp and agile. Though the fox was old, she was quick-witted. She immediately moved two steps to the left, half her body hidden behind a large blue stone.

The arrow landed where she had been standing, cracking the earth and stones on the ground, showing the power of the heavy arrow.

"Ignorant Martial Warrior, how can a mere arrow harm my Immortal Body?" The old fox was clearly hiding, yet she still spoke out in mockery.

Meng Yuan's heart grew a little heavier. This old fox spoke with measure, clearly having read books and classics.

Moreover, she had seen the world, knew how to fight against Martial Warriors, and was deeply versed in worldly affairs. That's why she spoke mockingly, hoping that he, a young man, would be provoked into shooting repeatedly in anger, thus exhausting his strength.

Earlier, at Peach Blossom Ridge, after hearing about how Xiang Ling had been tricked by this fox matchmaker, Meng Yuan had thought the old fox was just a mountain spirit or wild monster who cheated and swindled.

But when they talked about it again today, he learned that the old fox had disdained the Buddhist teachings passed down by the Great Tail Venerable, instead speaking of Eating Clouds and Drinking Dew and the Daoist words of True Freedom.

Looking at the old fox's actions now, it was clear that this old fox was no ordinary spirit and was not following the path of a Martial Warrior. It was highly likely she cultivated Daoist Sect methods.

Meng Yuan was a novice, having only fought against Martial Warriors of the same rank. However, he had heard Master Nie talk about other paths.

Daoism spoke of cultivating both nature and life. Eating Clouds and Drinking Dew certainly existed, and roaming the heavens and earth also existed, but that could only be done after reaching a higher rank.

At lower ranks, there wasn't much ability. Their strength was not comparable to Martial Warriors who constantly trained, and their bodies were even less robust than Martial Warriors, but they did possess some Mystical Arts.

However, in terms of power, they were not particularly strong.

To put it plainly, at lower ranks, Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism were inferior to Martial Warriors. If a Martial Warrior got close, they could very likely be taken down on the spot, or even killed by someone of a higher rank.

The doctrines of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism were all very reasonable, but a Martial Warrior's saber was even more reasonable.

"I'm out, I'm in!" The old fox leaned on her wooden staff, but was extremely agile, using the blue stone to pop her head out back and forth, truly acting very despicable.

Meng Yuan didn't indulge her, drawing an arrow and shooting.

But the two were a hundred paces apart, and the old fox was acting as if she had taken an aphrodisiac, making her truly difficult to hit. Moreover, she kept mocking him but didn't attack.

After shooting three arrows, Meng Yuan thought to himself that a hundred paces was too far, and the old fox was cunning, making it truly uncertain if he could hit her.

Of course, if she were hit by the heavy bow, she would be crippled even if she didn't die.

When the old fox had appeared earlier, she had mentioned splitting the great medicine equally, rather than directly attacking and snatching it. This showed that the old fox also wasn't completely confident of victory.

Meng Yuan held the bow in his hand and stopped shooting. He looked back at Xiang Ling, only to see her with her head down, her butt sticking up as she looked over, looking utterly foolish.

Even if she was useless, that useless Xiang Ling was still on his side!

No matter what, with two against one, the advantage was with him!

Meng Yuan held the bow drawn, fully focused, but didn't attack. He asked, "Aren't you going to make a move?"

The old fox, hidden behind the scarred blue stone, cackled, "Do foolish mortals also deserve to witness the marvels of my immortal arts?"

This old fox had a really tough mouth! Meng Yuan wasn't in a hurry, he just said, "Xiang Ling! Go collect the fruit first, and find the person who brought me the message. Tell him there's a fox Demon causing trouble and ask him to bring the brothers from the Demon Suppression Division!"

"Ah?" Xiang Ling was originally lying in the thorny bushes, covering her head with her front paws, secretly peeking over. Hearing the Gelder's words, she quickly replied, "Is he also from the Demon Suppression Division?"

Although she found it strange, Xiang Ling still quickly got up, first pulled at the small bundle around her neck, and then jumped into the gap in the thorny bushes.

Meng Yuan naturally didn't expect Little Xiang Ling to succeed. This was just to force the old fox to show herself.

The old fox had been slow to use her methods, which showed that she wasn't completely confident in her arts and was wary of the heavy bow in his hand. This was an advantage!

Using this advantage to force the old fox out for a decisive battle would make the advantage even greater! As long as she showed the slightest flaw, it would be the old fox's death!

Soon, Xiang Ling came out of the gap, hugging a bulging bundle. She didn't leave, but stood up, looking eagerly at Meng Yuan, and then at the old fox in the distance.

"Little Gelder," Xiang Ling trotted over to Meng Yuan, tugging at the hem of his clothes, and looking up, said, "How about giving mine to the old matchmaker? What if you get hurt in a fight and can't work when you go back? It's better to live a bad life than die a good one!"

Meng Yuan glared at Xiang Ling.

"Little Gelder, she's willing to give it to me, what are you still pretending to be a good person for? Are you planning to swallow it all?" The old fox's laughter came, and she also used the term Gelder.

"This is robbery, not giving. You cheated Xiang Ling and her mother out of their betrothal gifts, which is worldly amusement, and I won't interfere. If you had tricked her out of her great medicine while I was away, I wouldn't say anything either." Meng Yuan shot the arrow in his hand. "But today I am here, and I cannot allow a simple person who knows how to repay kindness to be tricked and bullied by you."

Meng Yuan drew another arrow and nocked it, "Xiang Ling, hurry and go!"

Xiang Ling was stunned for a moment, then finally nodded, "Then I'll run faster and call for reinforcements for you!"

After saying that, she dashed away towards where she had come from.

As expected, the old fox became impatient, "Since that's the case, then you'll all stay!"

She was hidden behind the blue stone, raised the wooden staff in her hand, and chanted in a strange voice, "Wind Shatters Earth, Water Floods the Heavens, Earth, Fire, Water, Wind, rise!"

A gentle breeze blew, and then the trees swayed incessantly, stirring up withered leaves and gravel on the ground.

It was already close to noon, and although there were many trees in the mountains, the sunlight was scorching and quite bright. But as theEerie Wind rose, there was immediately a sense of gloom.

"Flying Sky Cooking Fire!" The old fox performed her art behind the blue stone.

As soon as her voice fell, a rain of fire fell, igniting the withered leaves. Instantly, the wind carried fire, and all around seemed to become a barrier, completely surrounding Meng Yuan, and the barrier quickly contracted.

Meng Yuan's heart became even calmer. This method of combining wind and fire seemed to have a great momentum, but its power was actually ordinary, causing little injury, at most obscuring vision for a sneak attack.

The wind aided the fire, and the fire increased the wind's power. The two drove the withered leaves and gravel to envelop Meng Yuan.

At this moment, the old fox was seen rushing out from behind the blue stone with a loud laugh, stepping on the momentum of wind and fire, wielding her wooden staff, and surging towards Meng Yuan.

"Isn't this seeking death?" Meng Yuan raised his bow, ready to shoot, but then immediately lowered it and rushed back.

After taking three or five steps out of the wind and fire barrier, he saw a figure in green ahead. It was clearly the old fox.

As expected! Just now, that old fox came out from behind the bluestone, swaggering and looking like he was fighting for his life, but here there was another fox. This must be because the old fox used some kind of illusion.

The old fox on the wind and fire who seemed to be fighting for his life was fake; the real one had come to pursue Xiang Ling!

Meng Yuan's Thirty-Three was fully activated, and True Qi immediately surged into his limbs. He moved later but arrived earlier, faster than the old fox.

When the old fox noticed Meng Yuan catching up, his face showed great fear. His two furry hands tried to form a hand seal, but he saw the blade light had already fallen.

"Ah!" A scream echoed through the mountains.

Blood flashed, and the old fox's tail was severed.

With one successful strike, Meng Yuan's confidence doubled. This old fox only had a few demonic arts to deceive the eyes and a slight understanding of wind and fire techniques. In reality, his true body was vulnerable!

Meng Yuan didn't dare to stop for a moment and immediately stepped forward to finish him off.

The old fox lay paralyzed on the ground, his eyes filled with extreme resentment. His two furry hands grabbed a handful of blood, then brought them together, gritting his teeth and saying, "Guide!"

In an instant, as Meng Yuan's eyes met the old fox's, he felt the world spin.