Chapter 26: Two Peerless Experts of the Same Realm

"Foundation Establishment… demon core?" The elderly man blankly repeated Chen An's words.

Chen An nodded lightly. "Judging by the spiritual fluctuations and power emitted by this Demon-Sealing Formation, the Fairy Qingli fighting the fox demon within is probably just a step away from reaching the Golden Core stage."

"And the last thing she needs for that breakthrough—is precisely the fox demon's core. Kill the demon, extract her core, then refine its spiritual essence. With this power, she can break through Foundation Establishment and form her Golden Core."

Elder Zhang's eyes widened. Although he didn't understand much about cultivation levels, the phrase "kill the demon and extract her core" made him tremble involuntarily.

He glanced sadly at the struggling fox shadow behind the barrier, shaking his head bitterly. At this moment, Elder Zhang had no energy left to wonder how this young Daoist knew so much. 

He lowered his head despondently and muttered, "Then, according to your words, isn't Miss Ji doomed to die today? Even if I rush inside and beg for her life, with such crucial matters of personal cultivation involved, there's no chance the immortal master will spare her, right?"

"Of course not." Chen An smiled faintly. "Killing a demon not only brings peace to the people but also solves her bottleneck problem. It's a win-win situation, isn't it?"

Elder Zhang pursed his lips stubbornly, retorting, "But Miss Ji never harmed anyone…"

Chen An calmly replied, "Didn't she forcibly possess the deceased infant daughter of the Ji family?"

"This…" Facing Chen An's pointed questioning, Elder Zhang helplessly dropped his arms, no longer able to argue.

After all, looking at the matter objectively, Ji Qingge's action had indeed been wrong. Even if the child had died naturally at birth, it was no justification for quietly occupying someone else's body.

At this point, the onlookers had lost patience, loudly calling out in irritation:

"Hey, you fake Daoist over there! Haven't you embarrassed yourself enough?"

"Elder Zhang, hurry and step away! Don't associate with such dubious characters!"

"You there, Daoist! If you still don't leave the Ji estate immediately, don't blame us when we have you beaten and thrown out!"

"Exactly! How profound is this immortal master's Demon-Sealing Formation—how could a mere mortal like you comprehend it by staring blankly here? I advise you not to humiliate yourself further."

This final jab triggered another round of derisive laughter from the crowd. Although tricked by Ji Ping, they considered this visit quite worthwhile. 

Not only had they witnessed an immortal master subdue a demon, but they'd also been entertained by this Daoist's antics.

Chen An snapped out of his thoughts and stood up, gently brushing his Daoist robes. With a sudden realization, he nodded. "You're right. I almost forgot—it's about time I went inside."

Then, calmly taking Su Chichi's hand, he stepped forward into the courtyard.

The pale-yellow barrier rippled slightly this time, yet unlike before, it didn't push them back. Instead, the barrier gently shimmered and swiftly returned to normal.

Watching this scene unfold, the nobles, dignitaries, and even Ji Ping himself stared in shock, eyes wide with disbelief.

"This… how can this be?"

The immortal master's formidable formation simply allowed him entry?

The previously noisy crowd abruptly went silent, completely stunned.

"Perhaps… the immortal master allowed him entry?" someone ventured uncertainly.

Others dismissed this indifferently. "Who cares? Even if he entered, he's just rushing toward death. The mere aftershocks from the battle between the immortal master and demon will obliterate him instantly."

…

Pain.

Excruciating pain.

Countless dazzling sword energies crisscrossed violently within the villa courtyard. They sliced mercilessly through Ji Qingge's garments, revealing large expanses of fair skin beneath. 

Yet these beautiful white patches instantly turned crimson with blood, waves of stabbing pain radiating from every fresh wound.

Her hair was now in complete disarray, a stark contrast to her earlier elegant appearance at the Ji estate's gate. The only unchanged feature was her stunningly beautiful face, now even more vividly striking against trails of fresh blood.

Trembling uncontrollably, she gazed at the slender figure calmly wielding a sword not far away.

It was terrifying.

So this was what a genuine top prodigy of Shenzhou was like?

Completely hopeless—she stood no chance at all. Despite both being at the peak of Foundation Establishment, the difference between them was akin to a vigorous young man bullying a helpless child. They were on entirely different levels.

"Within this Demon-Sealing Formation, escape is impossible," the slender figure slowly approached, speaking indifferently. 

In terms of appearance, she was no less beautiful than the fox demon, yet where Ji Qingge was alluring and captivating, this woman's beauty was icy cold and ruthless—her mere glance seemed capable of killing.

This woman was precisely Fairy Chu Qingli.

Ji Qingge pressed her lips tightly, despair evident in her eyes. She asked softly, "If I neither flee nor resist, would you be willing to spare my life?"

Surprisingly, Chu Qingli genuinely nodded. Pointing her sword at the fox demon, she calmly said, "I only happened to pass by and sensed your demonic energy. That's why I decided to capture you and bring you back to my sect."

Hearing this, Ji Qingge abruptly laughed—a bitter, despairing laughter that bent her over at the waist. "Do you even believe your own words? The moment I surrender, won't you eagerly rush forward to kill me and extract my core, helping you break through your bottleneck?"

Clearly, Ji Qingge was fully aware of how enticing a peak Foundation Establishment demon core was to a human cultivator stuck at the same stage. Countless cultivators had spent decades, even centuries, unable to overcome this final hurdle. 

With an easy shortcut to breakthrough right in front of them, who could possibly refuse?

Chu Qingli was silent for a moment, then quietly responded, "You haven't harmed anyone. I won't kill you."

Her sincere expression stunned Ji Qingge briefly. Yet soon, she mocked bitterly, "Even if you spare me, once we arrive at your Zhengqing Sect, do you seriously think they'll let me live?"

Chu Qingli frowned slightly, puzzled. "Why wouldn't you survive? You'd merely lose your previous freedom."

She patiently explained further, "Our Zhengqing Sect maintains a special iron tower specifically for imprisoning demons and evil cultivators. Provided they haven't committed unforgivable crimes, they can still live…"

"Enough!" Ji Qingge sharply interrupted, eyes cold with mockery. "How naïve you are! Don't you know—or rather, do you simply refuse to admit—what miserable fates await those imprisoned in your so-called Demon-Locking Tower?"

"Aren't you tired of these self-deceiving games yet?"

Facing the fox demon's angry, bitter rebuke, Chu Qingli turned her head slightly, her expression still icy and indifferent.

"I must bring you back to the sect," she declared firmly. "Leaving such a powerful demon freely roaming the mortal realm is ultimately too dangerous."

"If you have any remaining hidden tricks, now's your chance. However, if your methods are only at Foundation Establishment level, don't waste your time."

She calmly stared at Ji Qingge, voice utterly cold and confident.

"Within the same realm, I am invincible."

…

Meanwhile—

Chen An, who had just stepped into the villa courtyard, casually inspected the broken Golden Core still faintly glowing within his spiritual platform.

"Well," he mused lightly, "although my cultivation has fallen back down to Foundation Establishment, I suppose I'm also invincible within this realm. Taking care of this so-called Fairy Qingli shouldn't be too difficult."

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