The Villain Marked the Protagonist's Fiancée (Through the Book) - Chapter 7

A’Luo glared at Yun Xiao and said sternly, “As cultivators, it is our duty to punish evil and eradicate wickedness.”

Without waiting for Yun Xiao’s reply, she fixed her gaze on the distance, her brow furrowing deeply. “The Demonic Qi is mixed with a distinct bloody mist. The number of victims claimed by Demonic Cultivators must be considerable.”

With that, she abruptly changed direction and headed straight toward the source of the Demonic Qi.

Realizing the gravity of the situation, Yun Xiao dared not linger. She carefully scanned their surroundings.

To avoid alerting the Demonic Cultivators, A’Luo had long since stowed away their Flying Artifacts. They approached using the Light Body Technique, moving with swift, silent steps.

Though the sun hadn’t yet set, the streets were eerily deserted, every door and window tightly shut.

Yun Xiao’s brow furrowed deeply. “Something’s wrong,” she murmured, her voice low and serious. “We must proceed with extreme caution.”

A’Luo nodded, acknowledging Yun Xiao’s assessment.

The closer they drew to the Demonic Qi, the more Yun Xiao’s heart raced with unease.

Cultivators could never ignore the signals their bodies sent. She had every reason to believe this was her body’s warning.

Should I retreat?

No. If she retreated every time she sensed danger, how far could she ever progress on the path of cultivation?

My fate is mine to forge, not the heavens’ to dictate. I refuse to yield to hardship and peril.

As this resolve solidified, her initial hesitation vanished, replaced by unwavering determination.

That wasn’t right. Just a few days ago, her cultivation had broken through to the late Nascent Soul stage. Even in the Heavenly Origin Realm, with her current strength, she could hold her own against a Divine Transformation cultivator. How could she possibly be shaken by danger now?

Yun Xiao hurriedly looked at A’Luo, who had stopped walking some time ago. Her brow was furrowed, as if she had seen something disturbing.

The saying “You only regret not studying when you need it” perfectly described her situation. Before encountering the Male Lead, the original owner of her body had been cultivating in a secret realm with her mother and had never heard her mention Demonic Cultivators.

As a result, Yun Xiao had no idea what A’Luo was facing or how to help her.

Demonic Qi fears thunder and lightning. Should I just hurl a few thunderbolts to disperse that foul energy?

No, that’s too reckless. What if my rash actions harm A’Luo?

Yun Xiao racked her brain, but no viable strategy came to mind. She anxiously hovered around A’Luo, her heart pounding.

Trapped in the Illusion Realm, A’Luo faced the scorn and accusations of her fellow disciples, feeling utterly lost and bewildered.

She wanted to explain that she had only recently discovered her true identity as a Nine-Tailed Fox, but her sectmates refused to let her speak.

The Hall of Law Enforcement brought her to the Great Sect Hall, where the Peak Lord of the Artifact Peak slammed his fist on the table. “You’ve painstakingly concealed your true identity. What ulterior motives led you to infiltrate the Azure Cloud Sect?”

A’Luo was about to defend herself when the Peak Lord of the Artifact Peak pointed at her master, Daoist Yuhui, and demanded, “You brought her back. What do you have to say?”

Daoist Yuhui didn’t even glance at A’Luo, his voice dripping with disdain. “There was nothing unusual about her at the time. No need for your interference. I will handle this matter myself.”

With that, Daoist Yuhui swept A’Luo back to Law Peak, retrieved the Discipline Whip, and lashed it mercilessly across her body.

Within moments, A’Luo was drenched in bl00d.

Yet the physical pain paled in comparison to the agony in her heart, caused by Daoist Yuhui’s venomous words:

“You despicable Demon Cultivator! You’ve ruined my reputation!”

A’Luo opened her mouth to protest, but a stream of bl00d gurgled from her lips.

She didn’t know why her own people had abandoned her. All she knew was that if her master hadn’t brought her back to the Azure Cloud Sect, she would have long since perished in some forgotten corner.

She could endure the scorn and rejection of her fellow disciples, the Sect’s punishments, but she could not bear her master’s loathing.

Abandoned by her own kind, despised by her master—what right did she have to continue living in this world?

Indeed, she had no right. As long as she lived, she would remain a stain on her master’s honor.

Slowly, she closed her eyes, letting the darkness engulf her.

“A’Luo, A’Luo, wake up!”

“A’Luo, we haven’t gathered all the medicinal materials for the Pheromone Suppression Pill. You promised Wanqing you’d visit her at the Sect when you returned, but you didn’t keep your word.”

“What you’re seeing is an illusion. If you give up now, you’ll only let those Demonic Cultivators succeed.”

“Master, if your Master knew you were trapped in a Demonic Cultivator’s Illusion Realm and couldn’t escape, he’d be furious and curse you, saying you’ve ruined the reputation he spent years building.”

No, Master’s reputation must not be tarnished because of her.

A’Luo opened her eyes, forcing herself to sit up. Her vision was hazy; Master wasn’t there, and she felt no injuries.

She drew her sword from her Storage Ring, channeled her Spiritual Energy into it, and slashed forward.

The mist dissipated, shattering the Illusion Realm.

Yun Xiao had remained by A’Luo’s side, not daring to leave for even a moment.

After much deliberation, she finally understood the key. Her earlier panic and sudden desire to retreat had been caused by the Demonic Cultivator’s manipulation.

A’Luo’s prolonged unconsciousness meant she was trapped in the Demonic Cultivator’s Illusion Realm.

Since her physical body remained here, only her Divine Sense could have entered the illusion.

Divine Sense was both powerful and fragile. To escape the Illusion Realm, one had to either find a way to break the illusion or pierce through the falsehoods and awaken on their own.

Yun Xiao sensed no array around them, leaving only two possibilities: either the Demonic Cultivator’s cultivation was far superior to hers, or they possessed a high-level Spirit Beast skilled in creating Illusion Realms.

Half an hour earlier, Yun Xiao had noticed A’Luo’s aura growing increasingly faint, throwing her into a panic. Desperate, she resorted to treating a dead horse as if it were alive, constantly speaking into A’Luo’s ear. She had already resolved that if anything happened to A’Luo, she would hunt down every Demonic Cultivator in this place and reduce them all to ashes.

Seeing A’Luo’s eyes flutter open, Yun Xiao leaned in with relief, exclaiming excitedly, “Thank goodness, A’Luo, you’re finally awake!”

She scrutinized A’Luo from head to toe, confirming she was unharmed, and her heart finally settled. Recalling her earlier anxiety, anger surged within her. She gritted her teeth and declared, “I’m going to drag those Demonic Cultivators out right now and give them a good beating!”

A’Luo reached out and grasped Yun Xiao’s hand, shaking her head. “They’ve discovered us. We’re exposed while they remain hidden. We need a foolproof plan.”

Yun Xiao’s eyes flickered with an idea. She transmitted telepathically, “Here’s the plan: I’ll lead the charge, using Thunder to breach their lair. You’ll guard the perimeter, preventing any stragglers from escaping.”

With no better options in mind, A’Luo nodded in agreement.

After taking a few steps, Yun Xiao paused, turning back to caution, “Be careful. Call me if anything happens.”

Though this wasn’t the first time Yun Xiao had shown concern for her, A’Luo still felt a warmth bloom in her heart.

If Yun Xiao hadn’t constantly urged her to stay strong, A’Luo feared she would have ended her life in that desperate situation.

This ordeal revealed a hidden knot in her heart.

In recent years, the Human-Demon Realms had maintained a fragile peace, with the Four Great Sects even accepting Demon Cultivator disciples. Even if the Sect discovered her true nature, they wouldn’t treat her as cruelly as in the Illusion Realm.

The Sect wouldn’t pursue the matter too aggressively, but her Master might. In recent years, his growing obsession could lead to suspicion, even disgust, mirroring the treatment she’d endured in the Illusion Realm.

Forcing herself to stop dwelling on these thoughts, A’Luo nodded slightly. “You be careful too.”

Yun Xiaotao’s peach-blossom eyes lit up. A’Luo was showing concern for her!

Her lips curved into an unconscious smile as she strode briskly toward Chu Manor, now shrouded in Demonic Qi.

The blackened Demonic Qi reeked of a nauseating stench, mixed with the cloying scent of bl00d. To spare her nose, Yun Xiao simply sealed her sense of smell.

Locating the Lotus Pond, the source of the Demonic Qi, she hurled several bowl-thick bolts of Thunder at it without hesitation.

The commotion quickly drew over a dozen Demonic Cultivators clad in black robes.

Yun Xiao glanced at them dismissively, noting that the strongest among them was only at the Golden Core Stage.

Spotting the pond full of water, she smirked wickedly and cast a spell to fling all the Demonic Cultivators into the water. Before they could react, she unleashed another barrage of Thunder at the Lotus Pond.

Water conducts electricity. The Golden Core Stage Demonic Cultivator had just stood up when his entire body crackled with electricity.

The weaker Demonic Cultivators couldn’t withstand such a powerful current and collapsed within moments.

After dealing with the dozen or so Demonic Cultivators, Yun Xiao flew over the Lotus Pond and peered down. Demonic Qi continued to surge from the pond’s depths.

What lies beneath this pond? she wondered. Have these Demonic Cultivators slaughtered the entire city?

Damn them.

She unleashed a thunderbolt, larger than a water bucket, at the source of the surging Demonic Qi. This time, she used eighty percent of her power.

The already devastated Lotus Pond completely collapsed, revealing a bl00d pool beneath.

She couldn’t fathom how much bl00d it would take to fill such a pool, roughly three feet square. Nor could she imagine how many lives had been drained into it. All she knew was that these Demonic Cultivators treated human lives as worthless as weeds.

Before transmigrating, she had been an ordinary person with slightly above-average physical strength. She understood the utter helplessness and despair one felt when facing an overwhelming force.

Rage filled her chest. She vowed to kill every last Demonic Cultivator, leaving none alive.

Flying over Zhao Manor, she summoned rain with her left hand and thunder and lightning with her right. Her hands worked in perfect coordination, forcing the hidden Demonic Cultivators out into the open.

For every one who fled, she struck them down. Yet the Demonic Cultivator with heaven-defying abilities remained elusive.

She taunted loudly, “You cowardly turtle hiding in the shadows! You think you’re so powerful? Come out and fight me! I’ll beat you senseless and blast you into smithereens with my Thunder!”

A’Luo, having slain the Demonic Cultivators attempting to flee, approached Yun Xiao. His gaze fell upon the bl00d pool below, and a surge of murderous intent erupted within him.

Silence. Yun Xiao pressed on, “What’s wrong? Scared now? You’re just a useless piece of trash who relies on underhanded tactics. You belong in the dark gutters, slithering with snakes, insects, and rats.”

Boom! A Demonic Cultivator with a face like crumpled parchment burst from the ground, glaring at Yun Xiao. “Today, you’ll pay for your insolence!”

Sensing the Demonic Cultivator’s cultivation level surpassed her own, Yun Xiao signaled A’Luo with a glance to flank him from both sides.

A’Luo understood instantly. He charged forward, drawing the Demonic Cultivator away from the city.

Yun Xiao wouldn’t let A’Luo fight alone. She immediately joined the fray, seizing every opportunity to hurl Thunder at the Demonic Cultivator’s head. When she saw A’Luo struggling, she aimed Thunder at the Demonic Cultivator’s lower body.

Enraged, the Demonic Cultivator summoned his Contract Beast.

Seeing the Transformation-stage Phantom Beast standing beside the Demonic Cultivator, Yun Xiao immediately understood how she and A’Luo had fallen into their trap earlier.

Seizing the initiative, Yun Xiao unleashed a barrage of Thunder strikes against the Phantom Beast.

Caught off guard, the combat-inexperienced Phantom Beast was wounded by the Thunder. It glared fiercely at Yun Xiao, determined to trap her in its Illusion Realm forever.

Faced with the completely unfamiliar environment, Yun Xiao didn’t hesitate. She summoned Thunder and unleashed it at the sky.

The Illusion Realm shattered, and the Phantom Beast coughed up a mouthful of dark bl00d before collapsing into unconsciousness.

Enraged that Yun Xiao had severely injured his Contract Beast, the Demonic Cultivator launched a furious attack.

Yun Xiao’s battle spirit ignited. She realized her combat skills were becoming increasingly refined, her eyes burning with excitement as she treated the Demonic Cultivator as nothing more than a sparring partner.

Although the Demonic Cultivator’s cultivation level surpassed Yun Xiao’s, her Thunder proved to be a lethal counter. After over a hundred rounds, the Demonic Cultivator had gained no advantage whatsoever and was now critically wounded.

Seeing Yun Xiao handling the situation with ease, A’Luo refrained from interfering and instead returned to Zhao Manor.

Her intuition told her that the Divine Transformation Stage Demonic Cultivator’s presence here must serve a deeper purpose.