Just as Xin Xiaoqi's body tilted out of balance, the Lesser Demon King's eyes gleamed—this was his chance!
"No time like the present!" he roared, raising his thick cudgel and swinging it straight down toward Xin Xiaoqi's head.
Still off balance, Xin Xiaoqi watched the looming club grow larger in his vision. His heart went cold. Every hair on his body stood on end, eyes wide in panic. With a desperate cry, he flailed his arms like a drowning man grasping for anything—
"Into the Subtle!"
In that moment, his entire body's true energy surged violently. And this time, somehow, he activated Yin-Yang Subtle Entry!
A cold flash—a sword stabbed directly into the Lesser Demon King's lower back. His body jolted in place. Another sword pierced through his chest, blood spurting forth.
"W-what? A clone?" he gasped in disbelief.
Seeing his enemy gravely wounded, Xin Xiaoqi couldn't help but smirk and wipe his nose proudly. "Well, if you say so, I won't argue."
The Lesser Demon King was so furious at his smug expression that his nose almost went crooked. Just as he was about to lunge back into battle with Xin Xiaoqi, a deep, rumbling voice boomed from behind them:
"That's enough, child. You're injured. Go rest. Let me handle this brat."
Xin Xiaoqi and the Lesser Demon King turned to look. A hulking figure approached, towering and muscular, with two massive ox horns on his head. Behind him followed a crowd of demons—all bulls.
The Lesser Demon King lowered his head obediently. "Yes, foster father."
Without sparing Xin Xiaoqi another glance, he limped away into the depths of the demon forest, escorted by two bull guards. As he walked, his foster father's voice scolded him sternly:
"Didn't I tell you not to act rashly? You just love making trouble. I wasn't even here yet and you rushed ahead, only to get beaten half to death by a mere human."
Xin Xiaoqi didn't dare move a muscle. He sucked in a cold breath, eyes wide in alarm.
"Shit... is that the Ox Demon King?"
From afar, Miyue's eyes widened as well. "Is that... a demon lord?"
Dian Huihui's bright blue eyes flashed. Her long, chestnut hair rippled like waves behind her as she nodded in recognition. "Impressive strength."
Wen Qingya remained silent, lost in thought.
Xin Xiaoqi stared at the old bull demon, sizing him up. He groaned inwardly, "Damn it. First the kid, now the parent. What kind of bad karma is this?"
Plastering on a smile, he bowed and said obsequiously, "Ah, esteemed great demon king, such an honor to meet you! Hello, hello!"
The old bull demon's eye twitched. What a shameless brat, he thought, rolling his eyes.
"Hello, my ass. You stabbed my foster son full of holes and now you want to play nice? Save it. Hand over your life!"
Xin Xiaoqi's mind raced. Suddenly, a flash of inspiration!
"Wait!" he shouted. "This was a duel between the younger generation. You elders stepping in—that's totally against the rules of martial virtue!"
The old demon frowned. "Then what do you propose?"
Without hesitation, Xin Xiaoqi spun around and pointed at Wen Qingya. "You want to hit me? Ask my master first!"
The old demon narrowed his eyes and examined the trio closely. The more he looked, the more unsettled he felt. These kids were no ordinary travelers.
Wen Qingya, seeing Xin Xiaoqi trying to drag her into this, simply said in a cool voice, "This servant talks too much. Go ahead and beat him to death—I won't mind."
Both Dian Huihui and Miyue stared in disbelief.
Miyue leaned in and whispered worriedly, "Sister, are you really not going to help?"
Wen Qingya ignored them. The old bull demon grinned and turned back to Xin Xiaoqi. "You heard her."
Xin Xiaoqi nearly burst into tears. Before he could argue, the demon let out a roar—and with a mighty crash, a huge battle axe swung toward him like a bolt of lightning!
Xin Xiaoqi dodged with a wild sidestep. Whether it was his injuries or depleted true energy, his movement was clumsy and ragged.
Still, he shouted back stubbornly, "Old beast! If you hit me again, I'll start fighting back!"
The old demon laughed cruelly. "Whether you fight or not, it won't change the outcome."
He raised the axe again and struck. Xin Xiaoqi barely dodged, sweat pouring. Enough!, he thought. Let's return the favor!
"Into the Subtle!"He unleashed Yin and Yang in a single strike—but to his shock, the old demon easily deflected it with two quick swings of his axe. Then, with a reverse chop, he slammed the flat of the blade into Xin Xiaoqi's back.
The blow sent him stumbling forward several meters before he could steady himself.
His chest surged like a tidal wave. Blood rushed up his throat, and he tasted iron on his lips. He'd been injured internally!
"This old bastard's no joke..." Xin Xiaoqi's thoughts spun wildly. He needed a way out—fast.
The old demon smirked. "What's the matter, boy? Hurt already? Just give up and die. That's what you get for messing with the East Mountain!"
Another axe strike came down. Xin Xiaoqi dodged with a roll and a scramble.
"Damn it! If only I had a divine skill like Golden Bell Shield, I wouldn't be getting chopped like firewood!"
Just then, inspiration struck.
"Wait! The second stance of the Thirty-Six Falling Petals—'Dust Evade'—that might work!"
As the axe descended once more, Xin Xiaoqi activated Dust Evade. His consciousness trembled—this technique consumed spiritual power like crazy.
But for the first time, he saw the entire arc of the axe clearly: it came down from his left temple toward his right rib.
If that hit landed, he'd be chopped clean in half.
True energy surged beneath his feet. With a precise pivot, he sidestepped just enough—the axe grazed his already-torn bathrobe.
The old demon blinked. "Huh? Not bad, kid."
From afar, Wen Qingya sighed. "Finally. He used the second stance. Took him long enough. Even with limited energy, the later moves are still usable. Idiot."
Dian Huihui nodded. "Nice half-step technique. But... with his spiritual energy barely at the Refining Spirit stage, he won't last long."
Miyue turned to her. "Feeling itchy?"
Dian Huihui grinned mischievously, her chestnut curls bouncing. "A little. But I can't let my two elder sisters jump in, can I?"
Wen Qingya chuckled softly.Miyue narrowed her eyes and smiled sweetly. "What a good girl."
Meanwhile, the old demon launched another axe swing. Mid-air, the weapon split into three—four glowing strikes!
Xin Xiaoqi quickly activated Dust Evade again, now blending Yin and Yang energies.
Not only did he dodge all the axe shadows, but his body also slid several meters across the ground. He couldn't help but cry out in delight:
"Oh ho! That worked!"