Yan Ruoliu snorted coldly, showing no regard for the other members of the Yan family present in the outer courtyard.
She was merely an unfavored弃子 (qì zǐ - abandoned child) of the family. Though she didn't understand why her father doted on talented children while despising Yan Jiaojiao, it was a fact that she could bully her at will.
Yan Jiaojiao slightly raised her gaze, her eyes sweeping over Yan Rou'er before finally settling on Yan Ruoliu.
Good, both of them were here.
The original host's death was not without Yan Rou'er's contribution; it was she who had tricked the original host to the cliff of the Myriad Beast Abyss.
"If I don't come back, how can I take your dog's life?"
Her voice was soft. Despite her disheveled appearance, the noble and indifferent aura she possessed was impossible to conceal.
Yan Ruoliu instantly recalled the past decade, being overshadowed by Yan Jiaojiao's brilliance.
Could this lowly creature have truly gained some fortuitous encounter in the Myriad Beast Abyss and returned for revenge?
Yan Ruoliu's breath hitched. She subconsciously scanned Yan Jiaojiao, and only after finding no spiritual energy fluctuations on her did she relax.
"You are nothing but a cripple, yet you dare to spout nonsense before me? Today, I will ensure you never return!"
With that, Yan Ruoliu tapped her toes on the ground and leaped into the air. A massive lightning ball condensed in her right hand and attacked Yan Jiaojiao.
She had clearly intended to kill with this move!
On the Boundless Continent, it was a dog-eat-dog world where strength proved everything. No one found it amiss when the weak died at the hands of the strong.
Therefore, none of the Yan family members prepared to intervene.
Just as the lightning ball was about to hit Yan Jiaojiao, a sharp cry tore through the sky—
"Chirp!"
A vast shadow fell. A colossal Roc spread its wings, shielding Yan Jiaojiao from Yan Ruoliu's fatal blow!
Then, with a flap of its wings, it sent Yan Ruoliu flying.
"A Yellow-tier fourth-rank demonic beast!"
"How could Yan Jiaojiao, this cripple, possess such a powerful contracted demonic beast?"
Screams erupted from within the courtyard, and everyone looked on in terror.
Yan Ruoliu was the most affected!
She had indeed underestimated this lowly girl!
Beneath the Myriad Beast Abyss, she had truly found an opportunity!
One must realize that the most powerful demonic beast in the Yan family was merely an Orange-tier eighth-rank!
The Roc's feathers were incredibly tough; Yan Ruoliu's previous attack had been no more than a tickle to it.
The saying "crossing levels is like crossing mountains" was true; ten peak Red-tier cultivators were no match for a single Yellow-tier fourth-rank.
Yan Ruoliu's subsequent attacks were all, as expected, blocked by the Roc.
Biting her teeth, she hissed, "Are you all eating for free? What are you waiting for? Yan Jiaojiao is colluding with demonic beasts and intends to harm our Yan family! Hurry up and attack together, kill her and her demonic beast?"
The Yan family guards reacted. All sorts of flashy techniques were thrown at the Roc as if they were free.
Even so, the Roc remained unharmed.
"Roc, counterattack."
As Yan Jiaojiao's calm order was given, the Roc let out an even more ear-piercing shriek. Several low-cultivation guards instantly bled from their ears, collapsed, and became the Roc's meal.
Yan Ruoliu, who had been so arrogant, was now drenched in sweat.
She struggled to resist the Roc's sonic attack and glanced at a certain spot in the void, gritting her teeth. "Elder Xu Feng, my father invited you back as an honored guest of the Yan family. Are you just going to stand by and watch as a villain bullies our Yan family's bloodline?"
As soon as Yan Ruoliu finished speaking, an old man in a black robe with white hair and eyebrows stepped out from the void.
Seeing him appear, Yan Ruoliu let out a crazed laugh. "Yan Jiaojiao, Master Xu Feng is one of the top experts in Yucheng, and also one of the few cultivators at the peak of the Yellow tier. Let's see how you escape this time!"
Yan Jiaojiao raised her eyes and looked at the old man in mid-air.
His aura surged, faintly showing signs of forming a spiritual shield.
He was indeed a peak Yellow-tier cultivator, but he couldn't be considered a true expert.
In her previous life, he would have been an ant she could have crushed with a mere flick of her finger!
Xu Feng raised his hand and engaged the Roc in a fierce battle.
Soon, the Roc began to lose ground and sustained several injuries.
Yan Jiaojiao watched the battle unfold and frowned. "Roc, let's go!"
She knew that the Roc was no match for Xu Feng, and dragging on would only lead to severe injuries.
The Roc let out a mournful cry, glanced back at Yan Jiaojiao, and flapped its wings, taking flight.
Xu Feng did not pursue.
If he had truly intended to kill this beast, he would have to pay a price himself.
Yan Ruoliu sneered. "Yan Jiaojiao, your contracted demonic beast has already fled. I see what other means you have to contend with me now!"
"Is that so?"
Yan Jiaojiao chuckled noncommittally, rose from her chair, and fixed her icy gaze on Yan Ruoliu. "Who told you that a low-tier demonic beast like a Roc is my contracted demonic beast?"
Upon hearing this, Yan Ruoliu sneered. "You're talking big even as you face death! Die!"
With that, she leaped into the air again and attacked Yan Jiaojiao.
However, Xu Feng blocked her.
After all, they were both young ladies of the Yan family. Since he had already intervened, he could not allow them to fight to the death.
Even if something were to happen, it should not be in front of him, or after Yan Zhengfeng returned from his trip.
"Elder Xu Feng, why are you stopping me?"
Yan Ruoliu looked at Xu Feng in confusion. Had Xu Feng also been bribed by this lowly girl?
"Miss Ruoliu, it would be best to wait until Master Yan returns before discussing any matters," Xu Feng said calmly, neither humble nor arrogant.
"Get out of the way! I will see this slut dead today!"
If the roots are not removed, disaster will surely remain!
Seeing this, Yan Jiaojiao let out a scoff and formed an ancient hand seal at her chest.
"It's not yet decided who will die, and who will live. Are you enjoying the use of my善骨 (shàn gǔ - benevolent bone)? I will make you return it in the same way you took it!"
In an instant, the colors of heaven and earth changed!
Xu Feng's brow furrowed. He watched Yan Jiaojiao's movements with great bewilderment.
What was she doing? How could there be such a powerful energy fluctuation?
Dark clouds rolled in, and faint thunder roared.
As Yan Jiaojiao completed the last hand seal, a magic array appeared out of thin air before everyone.
The immense pressure emanating from the array made everyone gasp for breath. Even Xu Feng looked at the array with vigilance.
Yan Jiaojiao's face was pale. m..oΓg
If her body's dantian had not been destroyed, would she need to expend almost all her divine consciousness to summon a demonic beast?
In the end, it was all thanks to that damned Heavenly Dao!
The magic array gradually dissipated, and then, a small, jet-black dog was revealed to everyone.
A... little dog?
The little black dog clumsily got up from the ground, seemingly still confused about the situation. It stumbled, almost unable to stand steady.
It was hard to imagine that such a grand spectacle had resulted in the summoning of such a cute creature.
"Pfft—"
Yan Rou'er couldn't help but burst out laughing.
She looked at the adorable little black dog on the ground and mocked without restraint, adding fuel to the fire. "Sister Ruoliu, how could someone summon such a thing? Is she trying to use this to deal with you? She clearly doesn't take Sister Ruoliu seriously at all."