Before the Fox Spirit could think any further.
Lin Fan flashed forward and clamped a death grip around its neck.
With one hand, he twisted its sharp claw.
The Fox Spirit was pinned against the tree trunk.
Its right hand still gripped the demon flower tightly, refusing to let go.
Lin Fan's gaze sharpened as he said, "Tell me the truth. What was that red mist just now?"
"Stinking Daoist, if you want to kill me, then kill me. Why all the nonsense?"
The Fox Spirit faced death without fear.
"Could it be you still covet this old lady's beauty?"
In the blink of an eye, it resumed the appearance of a delicate woman in white.
Her eyes were tender as water, as though the person before her were her beloved.
If he had not known that her true form was a fox spirit,
someone else might really have fallen under her spell.
"Be gentler. Don't rush, little Daoist. Hahahahaha."
Lin Fan tightened his grip around the Fox Spirit's wrist, applying slightly more force.
His eyes cold and disdainful, he said, "If we hadn't been so close just now, even my martial uncle might have fallen for your tricks. Where did you get this demon flower? Even now, you still refuse to explain?"
His words fell.
Seeing that the red mist had been exposed and the demon flower discovered,
the woman in white's pupils suddenly widened.
Her flirtatious, seductive teasing abruptly stopped.
Every pore on her body opened, and all her fur stood on end.
As if she had seen ghosts and gods, she instantly returned to her fox-spirit form.
"Go to hell! All of you, go to hell!"
The Fox Spirit seemed to use up every ounce of strength in its body.
It struggled and roared!
Opening its bloody maw, it bit at Lin Fan.
Lin Fan turned his hand into a palm.
His aura circulated and gathered in his palm.
He raised his hand and struck toward the Fox Spirit's jaw.
The Fox Spirit's bloody maw snapped shut instantly.
Its mind shook violently, leaving it dizzy and disoriented.
Its entire body collapsed as it clutched its head and cried out in pain.
Its frenzied screams rang through the entire forest.
"Purple Heaven Divine Thunder, break!"
There was probably nothing more to learn from it, so Lin Fan circulated his aura without further thought.
The attack was as swift and fierce as a flood dragon crossing a river.
A bolt of purple lightning that shook heaven and earth descended with a thunderous crash.
Crack!
A clap of thunder rang out.
The Fox Spirit seemed to regain its senses.
It stopped screaming, and its body stopped moving as well.
Its body was charred black, smoke billowing from it.
Its life ended abruptly.
[System Notification: Congratulations, Host. You have slain the Fox Spirit and gained 100 Merit Points.]
The system notification rang out.
Lin Fan's expression remained calm, as though he had long grown used to such scenes.
As expected, the Purple Heaven Divine Thunder cast at the fourth stage of the Innate Realm was on an entirely different level.
Not to mention that this Fox Spirit was only at the level of a Purple Zombie.
Even an opponent at the first stage of the Innate Realm could be easily dealt with using the enhanced Peachwood Sword.
Now that he was already at the fourth stage of the Innate Realm, why would he need the Peachwood Sword?
Against a little demon like this, it was practically effortless.
But what was the deal with this Prosperity Flower? Why had it appeared in the Fox Spirit's hands?
Forget Ren Family Town—why would a little demon in this desolate wilderness have one?
The Prosperity Flower had been appearing repeatedly lately. Who was behind it?
And after he had exposed and mentioned the Prosperity Flower just now, why had the Fox Spirit gone so berserk?
Its madness had also revealed boundless fear.
It was as though the person who had given it the flower was an extremely powerful existence.
Otherwise, the Fox Spirit could not have burst out with such strength on the verge of death.
Could the person who gave it the flower have issued it some orders?
Or perhaps...
Several matters seemed to be invisibly connected.
"Lin... Fan."
Before Lin Fan could think any further, a hoarse voice came from behind him.
Daoist Priest Four-Eyes had come to his senses and was staring at what had happened before him, dumbfounded.
After calling him "little martial nephew" for several days in a row, he had been so shocked that he changed to addressing him by name.
Tonight's situation had truly been dangerous.
He had nearly fallen for the Fox Spirit's tricks. It was all because of his own carelessness.
He had thought victory was assured and that the two of them could easily take it down after a few exchanges.
He had not expected to encounter that strange mist.
Without this little martial nephew, his lifelong reputation might well have—
been impossible to preserve.
Not to mention his reputation; he might even have lost his life.
Thinking of what had happened then,
Daoist Priest Four-Eyes could not help feeling a chill run down his back.
There was no denying that this little martial nephew was ridiculously strong.
His cultivation speed was already heaven-defying, but how could his Daoist Magic be so profound as well?
Despite his young age, his conduct seemed incredibly seasoned.
He did not look like a youth who was not yet twenty at all.
Instead, he was almost exactly like an old Daoist who had traveled the world for decades.
Looking at the traces of battle on the ground,
his Lightning Arts were probably already on par with his senior brother's.
The shattered earth and the charred black surroundings—
not a blade of grass remained.
No, it would be more accurate to say that this Lightning Arts was even slightly better than his senior brother's.
What exactly had this kid eaten to grow up?
He was terrifyingly powerful.
"Martial uncle, are you still bewitched?"
Hearing that awkward form of address, Lin Fan spoke with a hint of amusement.
Since they had first met, this mischievous martial uncle had never called him by his real name.
He acted like they were sworn brothers all day long.
Either he had an arm around Lin Fan's shoulder or a hand on his back.
Now that he had suddenly changed how he addressed him tonight, Lin Fan could not help feeling unaccustomed to it.
"Ah, you little brat."
Hearing the meaning behind his words, Daoist Priest Four-Eyes immediately returned to his familiar manner of address.
Lin Fan's expression changed rapidly, and he said with some gravity, "Martial uncle, you fell victim to this demon flower tonight. One also appeared at Ren Manor. I don't know whether it was a coincidence or..."
"So that's what happened. I was wondering what that red mist was. So that's it!"
Daoist Priest Four-Eyes seemed to understand and yet not understand.
He looked at the red flower on the ground, now completely charred black.
It looked as though it would crumble at the slightest touch.
What exactly was this red flower?
How could it possess such strange magic?
And this red mist it emitted—
in an instant, it had actually been able to trap even him completely.
"Let's go, martial uncle. It's getting late. The sun will be coming up soon."
Lin Fan interrupted Daoist Priest Four-Eyes, who had fallen into deep thought.
It was rare for Merit Points to come knocking on his door, so he should hurry back and increase his strength.
As for the flower, he could think about it later.
He would deal with whatever came his way.
Lin Fan did not dwell on it.
"Right, right, right. We have to hurry. Let's go!"
The words snapped Daoist Priest Four-Eyes out of his reverie.
He hurriedly picked up the shrine and cheerfully led the way.
After the tense battle, the weight in his heart had finally lifted.
That feeling of ease and delight was like a clear sky after a torrential downpour.
It was as though all the pressure had been washed away by the rain,
leaving behind only freshness and a broad, unobstructed view.
Before you continue