Chapter 137: Luo Yun Reduced to a Cauldron? Refined into a Puppet?
Luo Yun's expression was unsightly. She hadn't expected the eccentric to appear so suddenly. The enemy was a Nascent Soul cultivator, and only three of them remained to face him. She glanced at Mo Shuiyao and Lin Xiao, falling into a heavy silence.
"Make your choice quickly! This seat is about to leave and I have little patience," the eccentric said coldly, his eyes gleaming with malice.
Luo Yun climbed up from the ground, dusted off her robes, and bowed deeply to him. Her voice was bitter and trembling. "This concubine is willing to become Senior's cauldron. I only beg Senior to spare my life."
The eccentric sneered, clearly pleased but wary. "In that case, hand over your Immortal Abode Jade Pendant. Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite." He had learned his lesson from previous betrayals.
Luo Yun hesitated for a moment. With a soft sigh, she retrieved the jade pendant from her bosom and tossed it to him.
The eccentric caught the pendant, verifying its authenticity. Confirming her complete submission, he threw his head back and laughed maniacally.
He then turned his predatory gaze to Lin Xiao and Mo Shuiyao. "And you two?"
Lin Xiao and Mo Shuiyao were stunned. They hadn't expected the "pure" Fairy Luo Yun to be so spineless.
"I thought Fairy Luo was a person of character," Mo Shuiyao spat, her voice dripping with disdain. "I didn't expect a groveling plaything."
"Those who understand the times are heroes," Luo Yun replied calmly, as if she had truly accepted her fate. She even turned to persuade them. "This Senior is invincible. I advise you two to surrender with me. Survival is paramount."
"I would rather die than become the plaything of this disgusting freak!" Mo Shuiyao declared, her eyes flashing with resolve.
"Well said, Fairy Mo!" Lin Xiao laughed, snapping his fan open. "Although I am untalented, I have no desire to be a slave!"
Ever since the eccentric appeared, Xiao Yifeng’s expression had been grave. He knew that unless they dealt with this Nascent Soul threat, obtaining the Book of Destiny—or even surviving—was impossible.
He made a snap decision.
"Senior Sister," he said urgently to Su Miaoqing. "Don't run around. I need time to perform a secret technique! Be my Dharma Protector!"
Su Miaoqing looked at him, confused but trusting. "Okay."
Xiao Yifeng sat down cross-legged. With a flip of his hand, he retrieved a low-quality Nine Revolutions Golden Core—a pill meant for emergency breakthroughs—and swallowed it.
He was going to attempt Core Formation right here, right now.
Ideally, one should reach Grand Perfection of Foundation Establishment before forming a core. Xiao Yifeng was only at the Ninth Layer. Forcing it now would result in a low-quality Golden Core, crippling his future potential.
But he had no choice. A weak Nascent Soul was still a Nascent Soul. Without the power boost of the Golden Core stage, they were all dead.
He closed his eyes, focusing entirely on the volatile energy in his dantian.
Su Miaoqing guarded him nervously. Since Xiao Yifeng had stopped powering the Control Stele, the surveillance screens had gone dark. She was blind to the outside world.
An incense stick of time passed.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a streak of golden light shot into their circular hall from the outside. It hovered not far from them—it was the solidifying Book of Destiny.
Su Miaoqing jumped in fright. Without Qingxu’s illusions, their hall had re-materialized in the main temple complex, directly exposed to the central plaza.
Looking out, she saw streaks of light chasing the book toward them.
"This broken thing!" she cursed, stomping her foot. "We can't grab it, but it insists on leading the enemies right to us!"
She reached out to grab the book, but her hand passed through it. It was still intangible.
Outside, the eccentric was speeding toward their hall.
SCREECH!
Without hesitation, Su Miaoqing transformed into a Fire Phoenix and charged out to meet him. She slammed into the monster with tremendous force, knocking him backward.
The eccentric skidded to a halt, looking up to see Su Miaoqing blocking the doorway. Behind her floated the illusory golden book. Xiao Yifeng was nowhere to be seen.
Behind the eccentric, three streaks of light landed—Lin Xiao, Mo Shuiyao, and the traitor Luo Yun.
"Hand over the Book of Destiny!" the eccentric roared. "And tell that kid to come out and die!"
Seeing the book was still a phantom, the eccentric didn't rush. He wanted to capture everyone in one fell swoop.
"If you want it, come and take it!" Su Miaoqing shouted coldly, flames dancing around her.
"And you two," the eccentric sneered at Lin Xiao and Mo Shuiyao. "Submit or die?"
The duo didn't waste words. They launched a coordinated attack.
"Refusing a toast only to drink a forfeit!" The eccentric raged, flying up to engage them single-handedly.
Su Miaoqing gritted her teeth. She ignited a portion of her Undead Bird Source Blood, joining the fray. Thanks to Qingxu’s healing, she could now mobilize some of its power without instantly burning out.
Lin Xiao also used a secret technique, boosting his strength to match a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator. Mo Shuiyao, the strongest among them, took the brunt of the offensive.
The three were top-tier geniuses, but facing a Nascent Soul—even a weakened, insane one—was a nightmare. The eccentric moved like a ghost, toying with them.
He clearly took pleasure in the fight, specifically targeting the women with lewd gropes and tearing at their clothes, his laughter echoing with terrifying lust.
"Why don't you two beauties just submit?" he cackled, dodging a lethal strike from Mo Shuiyao. "This seat will take very good care of you."
Luo Yun stood at the edge of the battlefield like a statue, watching impassively.
Su Miaoqing burned with golden fire, and Mo Shuiyao surrounded herself with a vortex of petals, both desperate to keep the eccentric’s filthy hands off them. Their eyes were filled with absolute disgust.
"Disgusting trash!" Mo Shuiyao spat. "I'll die before I let you touch me!"
Su Miaoqing didn't even speak, treating him like something stuck to the bottom of her shoe.
Seeing their stubborn resistance and noticing the Book of Destiny nearing completion, the eccentric finally lost his patience.
"Fine," he sneered, his aura darkening. "Since you refuse my kindness, I will refine you into puppets! Mindless dolls to be used by a thousand men! Once I get out of here, I won't lack for willing women anyway!"