The accusations grew louder, but Xiao Zi acted as if nothing were happening.
"What? If you're so capable, kill the Clan Destroyer!"
"Why are you picking on this seat?"
The family heads cast furtive glances at Lin Ze beside them. Upon meeting his gaze, they quickly averted their eyes in fear.
What nonsense were they spouting! Ask them to deal with something that even the Demon Emperor couldn't defeat?
Hua Yun leaned closer to Bai Ran and whispered, "Human, just as you predicted, Lu Ji has come looking for trouble."
Now they were certain. Bai Ran's lips curved into a smile, and he turned to meet Hua Yun's gaze, a grin spreading across his face.
"Yes, exactly as I predicted."
Lu Ji glared at Xiao Zi, gritting his teeth. "Lu Chenling! You are despicable!"
Xiao Zi stared at him coldly, his tail lazily tapping the ground.
"Why the pretense? Why not state your intentions directly?"
Hearing this, Lu Ji narrowed his eyes and clenched his jaw. He hadn't expected Xiao Zi to see through his intentions.
"It seems someone has been advising you." His sharp gaze swept over, landing on Bai Ran.
"Very well." He sneered. "Then I shall be straightforward."
"Hand over the Clan Destroyer."
Xiao Zi's brow furrowed. He glanced at Lin Ze behind him. So, he was the target...
Lu Ji wouldn't ignore the powerful Lin Ze. If all went well, he could take Lin Ze away.
If not, he would resort to dirty tricks and cripple Lin Ze's dantian.
Just as the little imp predicted...
Xiao Zi's lips curved upwards, and he strode towards the family heads, directly grabbing one of them by the neck.
His eyes were bloodshot, and his tone was menacing. "Tell this seat, what is that you are holding?"
The family head was lifted off his feet, powerless. The object in his hand scattered to the ground.
Poisoned pills, crushed, lay conspicuously on the ground.
Anyone with discerning eyes could see his intentions. Even the surrounding family heads recoiled in shock, instinctively stepping back a few paces.
Lu Ji's eyes flashed with a moment of panic before quickly returning to normal.
"What are you doing! Who told you to act on your own and use poison!"
Effortlessly exonerating himself, Bai Ran watched him, amused.
The family head's eyes widened, staring at Lu Ji in disbelief. His lips moved, as if he wanted to say something.
But with Xiao Zi's grip on his neck, the suffocating feeling prevented him from uttering a single word.
Unexpectedly, Xiao Zi didn't kill the family head who had used poison. Instead, he threw him before Lu Ji.
"Cough cough!" The family head coughed a few times, gasping for fresh air.
"You scoundrel! You told me to poison that monster!"
At these words, the surrounding family heads widened their eyes, staring intently at the grim-faced Lu Ji.
Truly unexpected...
If it were Lu Chenling's usual behavior, he would have killed him outright, not giving him a chance to speak.
But now, Lu Chenling had released the family head and allowed him to reveal the truth...
Was this all the human's idea? Lu Ji's gaze swept over, burning with hatred that seemed to bleed.
Bai Ran's eyes crinkled with a smile as he provocatively raised his eyebrows at him.
This infuriated Lu Ji to no end. His chest heaved, and his hands clenched tightly.
"Bitch!"
But the moment he finished speaking, a sharp pain shot through his neck.
Lin Ze appeared out of nowhere, standing before him with a displeased expression. His claws had already pierced the blood vessels in Lu Ji's neck.
"If you dare utter another word, I will snap your neck."
His voice was chilling. Even with all his grievances, Lu Ji could only grit his teeth and swallow them.
"Just you wait!"
After spitting out a threat, he turned and left with the family heads.
As they departed, the family heads exchanged glances, seemingly unsure of their stance. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"That was so satisfying!" Hua Yun's eyes were narrowed into crescents as he laughed.
Xiao Zi wiped his hands, also feeling immensely pleased. "Look at Lu Ji's face, he was practically spitting fire with anger."
Bai Ran crouched down and picked up a pinch of the scattered poison powder on the ground, sniffing it.
"Such a potent poison. Even a little contact would likely cause the loss of spiritual energy."
Lin Ze startled and quickly grabbed her hand, blowing on it to dry it. "How could you touch such potent poison with your bare hands!"
A warmth spread from his fingertips. Bai Ran looked at Lin Ze, momentarily dazed.
"Do you feel unwell anywhere? Is your spiritual energy still intact?"
Facing Lin Ze's deep concern, Bai Ran let out a soft laugh. "Don't worry, ordinary poisons can't harm me."
Meeting Bai Ran's smile, Lin Ze's heart pounded. He reluctantly released her hand.
"That's good..."
Hua Yun eyed the two of them suspiciously, then his expression shifted to one of understanding. He spoke teasingly.
"You like her!"
His secret exposed, Lin Ze's face turned visibly red.
Bai Ran, however, calmly stood up. "I already have someone I love. There's no need to mention it again."
As soon as she spoke, Lin Ze's tail drooped. His eyes held a complex emotion, lost in thought.
Hua Yun quickly covered his mouth, looking from Bai Ran to Lin Ze, realizing he had spoken out of turn...
Xiao Zi pursed his lips and shook his head. Pitiful, so pitiful...
There would always be young men whose hearts were ensnared by a dress of crimson.
"There are still more than half a month before the month-long period ends. It's hard to guarantee Lu Ji won't play any more tricks, so we must be cautious."
Listening to Xiao Zi's words, everyone nodded.
To everyone's surprise, Lu Ji did not appear for the next ten days, let alone interfere with Xiao Zi's affairs.
One night, after Bai Ran advanced to the ninth stage of the Mahayana realm, she slowly opened her eyes.
There were three days left before the month-long period ended.
Of the nine great families, only three had defected to Lu Ji. This time, Xiao Zi was sure to win the competition.
"Little imp, why have you summoned me?"
Xiao Zi sat with his legs crossed, holding a teacup, looking quite leisurely.
Bai Ran looked at him, a dark glint flashing in her eyes. "Among the women presented as tribute, two are Lu Ji's subordinates."
One was Lu Meng, who had been terrifyingly quiet since injuring Hua Yun last time.
The other, Xiao Zi had likely already realized.
"I know. Isn't it her?"
Bai Ran stood up, a smile playing on her lips. "Tomorrow, we will retrieve the Demon Emperor Ring."
If she allowed the Demon Emperor Ring to return to Xiao Zi's possession, Lu Ji would truly have no chance of recovery.
It was time for her to make her move...
...
"You want to retrieve the Demon Emperor Ring!"
Lian Shui Yue looked at Xiao Zi joyfully and quickly took out a brocade box from her embrace.
The brocade box opened, and the Demon Emperor Ring shone with a red light under the sunlight, appearing incredibly opulent.
Xiao Zi's lips curved upwards, and he exchanged a look with Bai Ran.
"You must be tired from following us. Why not come out and rest?"
Bai Ran turned around with a smile, looking towards the forest behind them.
The leaves rustled, and a graceful figure slowly emerged, her expression terrifyingly cold.
"When did you realize?"
The newcomer was Hua Yun.