"Rooar..." Just then, Mantou let out a furious roar, the red glow in its eyes blazing as it stared at them.
The fur along its spine stood on end, and its sharp claws sank deep into the marble slab.
Then it crouched low and kicked hard with its hind legs, gouging two holes in the marble surface.
"Oh no..." Tang Ling'er cried. "Get back!"
She immediately darted backward.
Then she gritted her teeth, her gaze turning resolute, and began chanting, "Heaven and earth without limit, lend me the power of the cosmos..."
Her hands formed a rapid succession of seals, and a ball of golden light began gathering around her fingers.
"Heaven as the lock, earth as the prison... Freeze!" As the incantation ended, she suddenly pointed at Mantou.
Golden light flashed, and the space around Mantou tightened. A moment later, it was fixed in midair, unable to move. It could only struggle futilely, its blood-red eyes staring coldly at Tang Ling'er.
"Li Yichen..." Seeing Mantou in this state made her heart ache. "Help me kill it..." Tears filled her eyes, and her voice trembled. "I... I can't bring myself to do it..."
"Waaah..." Ouyang Xuanxuan couldn't bear to watch anymore. She turned and threw herself into Li Yichen's arms, looking up at him pleadingly through her tears. "Poor Mantou! Please don't kill it, okay? I'm begging you. You must have a way to save it, right?"
"Well..." Li Yichen felt helpless. He didn't want to kill Mantou either, but what could he possibly do?
"Don't be silly..." Tang Ling'er said, her eyes red. "Even my grandfather couldn't do anything if he were here. What's the use of begging him?"
To Li Yichen's surprise, Ouyang Xuanxuan stubbornly insisted, "He must have a way. I believe in him."
"I..." Li Yichen