"Evil creatures… evil creatures…" Aunt Li trembled as she reached out, pointing at the dark shadows darting by, frozen in shock for a moment.
"So familiar… these evil creatures…"
"Why aren't they killing us?"
A flicker of confusion crossed the eyes of the people of Yan Family Fortress. Then realization struck, and they dropped to their knees. "It must be the True Buddha protecting us!"
Yao Ranran flashed to the scene, her gaze taking in their foolish, confused faith.
"No, look carefully. What exactly are these evil creatures?"
She threw the Shutian Bracelet. The bracelet arced through the void, its green light instantly freezing the phantom-like creatures in place.
The people of Yan Family Fortress blinked in disbelief. The next moment, tears streaked down their faces, falling onto lips curved in bitter smiles.
"Evil creatures… so familiar…"
They were not entirely without awareness. When Aunt Li's child, who had no spiritual root, was condemned to death, when her Dao-companions at Foundation Establishment flew into the so-called Immortal Palace and lost contact, and when they themselves were trapped, how could they not sense anything?
Aunt Li's tear-filled eyes twitched. "Fairy Ranran… save… go die!"
Suddenly, her eyes turned fierce. Everyone around her stiffened and advanced, and even the evil creatures flying nearby turned to look.
A sinister gaze swept over her.
Yao Ranran raised her hand, recalling the Nine Lotus Ring. Several small evil creatures shot toward her like lightning, piercing through her body, breaking past the defense of Shui Zhi's flowing silk robe.
Her eyes momentarily froze. Aunt Li and the others laughed stupidly, ceasing to act.
"The True Buddha has subdued her!"
Yet in Yao Ranran's eyes, the scene looked completely different.
She stood rigid, while countless small evil creatures slammed into her. She moved her fingertips slightly, uncertain.
Why were these evil creatures giving their power to her?
She remained at the center, horrid and ugly creatures like moths to a flame merging into her body, transforming into pure spiritual energy that filled every inch of her.
Looking into their trembling crimson eyes, a thought flashed through her mind.
"They… are saving themselves!"
Yao Ranran suddenly understood.
These evil creatures were clever. They knew that with her alone, she could not hope to match Master Ming. So they offered themselves, giving their energy to one person. Gathering all their power into a single body allowed one to become immensely strong in an instant.
She felt the endless surge of powerful spiritual energy within her, her eyes growing brighter by the second.
She no longer stood passively. She actively welcomed the creatures, her body light and agile, lunging toward them.
The moth-like evil creatures' eyes filled with fear.
What was this human? She had consumed so many evil creatures without bursting, yet she was actively capturing more. Was she a demon-crazed human?
In only a moment, the people of Yan Family Fortress saw something extraordinary. Yao Ranran, who should have been consumed by the creatures, reversed the tide—devouring them instead. Her spirit grew stronger, her speed increased…
"Help… help! I'm Aunt Li, not an evil creature!"
"Ah, sorry, almost ate the wrong one!"
Yao Ranran left Aunt Li behind, forming ropes of spiritual energy in her palms. With a flick, she bound a cluster of evil creatures together and digested them completely.
"Spare me! Spare me! This human is the real big demon!"
Several crooked-eyed, twisted evil creatures suddenly rushed out of the dark pit.
Master Ming, ready to wipe out An Xiaolin and the others, turned his gaze and stared at them with deathly stillness.
"Do not speak nonsense. Where is the demon here?"
Teng!
Yao Ranran leapt from the pit, her purple skirt billowing. Starlight sparkled from her eyes as she swallowed several evil creatures in a flash. Her spiritual power surged violently, forcing countless creatures to bow, while the people of Yan Family Fortress fainted in fear. The silent night was suddenly pierced by a streak of light, brushing across her face.
"Wow! She really looks like a big demon!" Tang Xiangyin blurted out.
An Xiaolin nodded without comment. Who had ever seen a human consume evil creatures? He certainly had not.
The Nine Lotus Ring restrained by Master Mingzhi silently escaped. His gray-white pupils glimpsed a streak of black, his voice instantly icy.
"So this is your true power? Using my evil creatures as nourishment, what is this ability of yours?"
What ability?
Several thoughts flickered through Yao Ranran's mind. She parted her cherry lips and said softly, "This ability is called Strength in Embrace."
Strength in Embrace—accepting the power of evil creatures without discrimination and transforming it into pure spiritual energy, making her strong.
Yao Ranran thought the name was brilliantly chosen.
Little did she know, the three across from her all displayed a strange expression.
Strength in… Embrace?
An Xiaolin did not want to look, but… the name was apt.
His good disciple already had a fine figure, like mountains…
Master Mingzhi's gaze swept over her oddly. "Amitabha, demoness, do not disturb my mind!"
What?
Yao Ranran did not understand his meaning. The Nine Lotus Ring returned to her hand. Feeling the flood of spiritual power within, she nearly lost control of her primordial power.
"Master Mingzhi, let me send you to the next life!"
She shouted, gripping the Nine Lotus Ring with both hands and slashing out nine beams of holy light. She watched nine blue-green lotuses bloom before her eyes. Master Mingzhi's gray-white pupils reflected a trace of contempt.
"Ignorant junior, I am the True Buddha. How would I fear your ninefold blue lotuses?"
Master Mingzhi did not even dodge. Mystical Buddhist patterns appeared faintly around him.
Yao Ranran retracted the Nine Lotus Ring, deflating like a spent balloon. Her arms hung limply, and she looked at him powerless.
Finished. Her primordial power was exhausted… already?
She lifted her eyelids to check Master Mingzhi's status.
He stood unmoving, mystical Buddhist patterns spiraling around him.
Should she try one more move? She struggled to lift the Nine Lotus Ring but could not.
"Dead…" An Xiaolin whispered softly.
Yao Ranran glanced at him. Her nominal master had realized… this move had already used up all her spiritual power. If Master Mingzhi's counter had succeeded, they would have all perished with no trace.
She slumped half-sitting on the ground.
Tang Xiangyin blinked, bewildered. "Who… who died?"
Yao Ranran shook her head. Was that even a question?
An Xiaolin stepped toward Master Mingzhi, waving his hand across his eyes. Instantly, Master Mingzhi's body disintegrated into fragments. The rotting flesh tainted the faintly visible Buddhist patterns, turning them into devilish markings.
"Master Mingzhi… is dead!"
…
At the same time:
"Pei Daoyou, I will stop these evil creatures. You focus on destroying the heart!"
Mu Jialing pressed his fingers together, spraying blood from his heart. The bloodlight surged as his fingers formed a rapid formation, instantly summoning golden lotuses to wipe out the incoming evil creatures.
Pei Xianqiao bit her lip and no longer looked at him. She raised the Cangling Snow Sword and descended. The blade hovered above the crimson heart, which suddenly split into fragments, sending blood spraying out and knocking her several zhang back.