Bai Linger had watched Ling Feng's fight with Xiao Feng. She knew exactly how strong he was, yet she still had the courage to challenge him. That alone said volumes about her confidence. "You really want to bet?" Ling Feng's lips curled into a faint smile. "No backing out if you lose." "Relax. If either of us goes back on our word, may we give birth to a child with no butt!" Bai Linger pouted with mock anger. Ling Feng shook his head and laughed. This woman truly had no filter. Whatever crossed her mind, she said. Whatever she felt like doing, she did! Still, her bold and unrestrained spirit was not unpleasant. In fact, it had a certain charm. "Hmph. Long Fei, wipe that smug look off your face. You act like you've already won!" Ling Feng's calm and collected demeanor only added fuel to her frustration. She pulled a sapphire-blue sword from her waist and glared at him, her eyes flickering with fire. "There's no room to fight here. Come with me to the back of the mountain!" "Fine by me," Ling Feng said with a light shrug. "I'd rather not tear up my own place." Bai Linger shot him a cold glance. In her heart, she was already imagining the moment she brought this arrogant brat to his knees. Before long, the two arrived behind the mountain of Purple Dragon Hall. The moonlight hung heavy, the night deep and cold. A sharp wind swept through the darkness. Bai Linger led Ling Feng into a small grove, then stopped. "Let's get this over with. I don't have all night." Ling Feng casually drew the Eradicator of Realms. His tone was calm, almost indifferent. "You sound pretty sure of yourself. Think you've already won?" Bai Linger swept her sword in an arc, pointing the tip directly at his face. Ling Feng said nothing. That silence stoked the fire in her chest. How dare this arrogant bastard not take me seriously! With a fierce shout, demonic qi erupted from her blade, and woven into it was a surge of intense malevolent qi. Guided by her spiritual consciousness, she fused the two into perfect balance. A ring of flickering blue flame-like light formed around her body. "What a vicious malevolent qi." Ling Feng's eyes narrowed slightly. No wonder she has such confidence. "You haven't seen anything yet!" Bai Linger bit down gently. Behind her, a shimmering blue phantom emerged. It looked like a creature part deer and part horse, ethereal and divine. It was her true form's projection. Bai Linger belonged to the Feilin[1] clan, a lineage that carried the blood of the Qilin[2]. Though the bloodline had thinned over generations, it was still one of the finest among king beast bloodlines. No wonder Bai Su, despite being a woman, could stand as one of the Eight Canglong Envoys, her rank equal to the strongest. "Your spiritual consciousness is far beyond what an ordinary demon lord can achieve!" Ling Feng was genuinely surprised. Demonic cultivators typically relied on raw strength, especially those from ancient bloodlines. The Feilin clan had never been known for spiritual consciousness techniques. To reach this level, she must have endured immense hardship and pushed herself past her limits. "It's still not enough," Bai Linger said coldly. "I know you're hiding something. That's why I'm not holding back!" Her brows drew tight as she let out a sharp cry. An icy force burst outward. The chill cut through bone, sharp as knives, and formed a field that surrounded Ling Feng completely. She hadn't fully grasped the Spiritual Consciousness Domain yet, but she had clearly reached its threshold. If she could find a suitable spirit condensing technique, her power would rise dramatically. Looking at the fierce resolve in her eyes, Ling Feng felt a sudden urge to teach her one of his secret spiritual techniques. But this was a fight he needed to win! If he could use Bai Linger as a link to meet the Canglong Demon Ruler, it would save him countless detours. "Hehe. Long Fei, you've already lost. My Frostbane Domain may not be a true Spiritual Consciousness Domain, but it boosts my demonic qi by over fifty percent!" Her flawless face beamed with confidence. Yet the moment her smile bloomed, it froze. A colder force had suddenly filled the air, sharper and more absolute than her own. It was coming from Ling Feng. Bai Linger blinked, confused. This was her domain. Why was she the one feeling cold? "This level of cold qi isn't enough!" Ling Feng's voice remained calm. Her domain might be powerful, but it was still incomplete. On top of that, he had already fused with the Cold Spirit Bone, a treasure brimming with freezing malevolent qi. This kind of cold barely registered. Bai Linger snapped. She raised her sword high. Her frost qi condensed into glowing inscriptions that floated in the air. "Secret art: Hellfrost Suppression Array." The moment she spoke, the inscriptions began to spin. Frost energy surged upward like a storm, forming a vast formation that crashed down with crushing weight. "Eight Directions Shatter Abyss!" Ling Feng responded with a single sweep of his sword. At his current strength, defeating an early-stage demon king was effortless. Still, he did not want to embarrass her. So he unleashed a grand, overwhelming sword technique. This way, even if she lost, she could accept it more easily. A thunderous boom exploded across the grove. The Hellfrost Suppression Array and the Eight Directions Shatter Abyss clashed with devastating force and shattered on impact. Winds tore through the forest, uprooting trees and filling the sky with flying dust and debris. After a long moment, the dust finally settled. Bai Linger's clothes were in disarray. Her right hand trembled slightly. That last strike had crashed into her like a tidal wave and sent her slamming into a tree. One exchange was all it took for her to understand. She had no chance! Ling Feng's voice was calm. His expression carried a hint of amusement. She had walked into this bet herself, which saved him a great deal of trouble. Bai Linger bit her lip. The words were bitter, but she had no choice. She had to admit it. She wasn't his match. "Not bad. You placed the bet, and you're willing to accept the result. I respect that." Ling Feng raised an eyebrow and lightly tapped the bridge of his nose. He was still thinking about how to bring up his real purpose. Before he could speak, Bai Linger suddenly straightened her back, squeezed her eyes shut, and clenched her teeth. Her body trembled slightly, as if she were preparing herself for execution. "Hmph. Long Fei, I know exactly what you're after. Just get it over with. I'll pretend I got mounted by a dog!" Ling Feng nearly coughed up blood. He staggered slightly as he tried to hold back a laugh. "Good grief, young lady. What are you even talking about?" "Hmph. Don't play dumb. You just want my body!" Bai Linger's face flushed a deep red. She always acted bold and fearless, but she had no real experience with these things. She was holding herself together through sheer willpower. Ling Feng rolled his eyes. "When did I ever say that? You've completely misunderstood." He felt completely speechless. This is not what I meant! 1. Feilin - soaring/flying Qilin. ☜ 2. Qilin - Chinese mythical beast / dragon-hooved beast. ☜