"Pity, you've already gone all out, but I haven't even exerted myself yet."
As Wang Li finished speaking, her body's spiritual energy suddenly shifted, changing from a Half-Step Golden Core to a true Golden Core.
It was only then that Xu Yu Zhu realized the person she had been fighting was merely a Half-Step Golden Core; it was just that the pressure the other party exerted was so intense she had thought they were using Nascent Soul power.
This demoness had no Moves; any casual strike of hers could turn the mundane into the miraculous. Her spiritual energy was pure beyond anything she had ever seen, and she could even mobilize the surrounding spiritual energy at will, making it indistinguishable from her own. She had never heard of such a divine technique.
"It's not over until the end; the outcome is still uncertain."
Xu Yu Zhu slashed down fiercely, splitting the golden wall another meter open.
But Wang Li gave her no more chances. With a single thrust of her sword, it transformed into tens of thousands of Flying Swords, striking Xu Yu Zhu's chest. Sword after sword hit the same spot until, with a "shatter," the ice layer broke.
"You are definitely more than just a Golden Core!" Xu Yu Zhu could no longer hold on and fell downward like a kite with a broken string.
Xu Yu Zhu collapsed onto the thick snow at the bottom of the cliff, spitting out a mouthful of blood that stained the white snow like a blooming rose. Wang Li stood firmly beside the carriage, but once she steadied herself and looked down, she saw a golden rope tied around her hands.
A woman with a high ponytail emerged from nearby. She had a delicate face, large round eyes, a small elegant nose, and rosy cherry lips, looking incredibly spirited, like a Fairy from a world of elves.
"Demoness, this Binding Immortal Rope can bind even a Nascent Soul. Now that you can't Move your hands or use your spiritual energy, you have no choice but to surrender."
Zheng Linger gritted her teeth and glared viciously at Wang Li, wishing she could skin and swallow this Hehuan Demoness alive for humiliating her Senior Sister.
Just as Wang Li was about to use her spiritual energy to break free, the carriage door behind her opened with a "creak," and Ji Shengyao stepped out.
Ji Shengyao wasn't wearing handcuffs but didn't flee because she understood that if her Junior Sister failed and was captured, the demoness would use her to threaten her. The demoness excelled at such things; she would eventually have to crawl back obediently anyway.
In a commanding tone, Wang Li said to Ji Shengyao, "Lady Saintess, untie my rope. This is a Magic Treasure refined by your Master; surely you and your Junior Sister can open it with ease!"
Ji Shengyao lowered her head in silence, seemingly weighing the pros and cons. In contrast, Zheng Linger gripped her precious sword tightly, wanting to strike the demoness, but she felt a twinge of fear remembering how the demoness had defeated Senior Sister Xu in a single Move.
But she still shouted angrily, "In your dreams! Senior Sister, this Binding Immortal Rope was refined by Master; she definitely won't be able to break free."
Wang Li didn't bother with Zheng Linger and spoke directly to Ji Shengyao, "Lady Saintess, have you forgotten the previous lesson? Do you want me to spank you a hundred times again, until you beg for mercy and your bottom is black and blue?"
Ji Shengyao kept her head down, but her pretty face turned as red as a cherry.
Zheng Linger also heard these words clearly. In her eyes, her Senior Sister had always been the indifferent and noble Tianchi Saintess, devoid of worldly desires.
She always spoke in that calm, steady manner; Zheng Linger truly couldn't imagine the scene of her Senior Sister being spanked hundreds of times and then begging for mercy.
She thought to herself, "Senior Sister, just what kind of life have you been living these past five days!"
Past experiences told Ji Shengyao that the demoness was cunning and treacherous; she might be tricking her again. If it were just her, it would be fine, but Senior Sister Xu and her Junior Sister's lives were at stake. If she made the wrong choice, either their lives would be lost, or they would all become the demoness's Choice Cauldrons or Disposable Cauldrons.
Now that she had defeated the 7th Layer Golden Core Senior Sister Xu in one Move again, her cultivation level was becoming more and more of a mystery, like a layer of fog that no one could see through.
After much thought, she hardened her heart and made a decision that went against her sect's principles, gripping one end of the rope tightly, intending to pull it off.
"No! Senior Sister, what's wrong with you? Are you really going to let her go? If you release her, how could the two of us possibly be her match? We'll be at her mercy!"
Zheng Linger was shocked; if the demoness were released, there would be no way out for her and her Senior Sister.
If the demoness used her Senior Sister to threaten her, she would have to comply for her sister's safety, and then if she used her to threaten her sister, her sister would have no choice but to give in. It was an unsolvable dilemma.
Senior Sister, what has happened to you? Where is the you who hated evil and never gave up? Has your vision been clouded? Wake up!
"Ji Shengyao, I can promise you that if you do as I say, I won't kill them."
"Junior Sister, I'm sorry."
Hearing Wang Li's assurance, Ji Shengyao gritted her teeth and pulled the Binding Immortal Rope right out, releasing the demoness back into the world.
Wang Li took the Binding Immortal Rope, which seemed to possess a Soul as she controlled it. With a casual toss, the rope made of spiritual energy found its targets, splitting into two and tightly binding the wrists of Zheng Linger and Xu Yu Zhu.
Zheng Linger watched in shock as the Binding Immortal Rope directly betrayed them. She finally understood her Senior Sister's actions; she knew the rope couldn't contain this wicked demoness at all. Watching the demoness approach step by step, she cried out in fear, "Don't come any closer!"
"I have no interest in a little brat like you who hasn't even matured yet. Keeping your Senior Sister as a Cauldron already takes all my energy. Though, if possible, you could be a backup Cauldron for me."
Wang Li started a warm fire in the clearing and heated some low-quality spirit wine over the flames.
They were now out of Hurricane Canyon. Zheng Linger was bound to an old tree with the extended Binding Immortal Rope wrapped around her waist, while Xu Yu Zhu stared blankly at the flames with an anxious heart.
Wang Li took off her embroidered shoes and entered the carriage. Looking at Ji Shengyao curled up in the corner, she smiled gently, "Lady Saintess, have you forgotten your promise? If I let them go, you'd choose one of my two conditions. First, let me kiss you however I want; second, let me kiss you... no, I mean, kiss the part I specify."
"In your dreams, I only said I'd consider it..."
Wang Li removed her veil, revealing a stunningly beautiful face with a hint of charm. "So, how is your consideration going? I won't allow you to choose neither."
"Then just wait a few years for me to consider!"
"No way you're backing out!" Wang Li reached out and grabbed Ji Shengyao's ankle, pulling her over.
Ji Shengyao knew the demoness might not hold back this time. She desperately pushed against Wang Li's shoulders, only to find those slender, fragrant shoulders were like iron plates, unbudgeable no matter how hard she pushed.
"Let me go!" Overcome with shame and anger, she slapped Wang Li's shoulders with some force, but her strikes grew weaker and weaker. She had to admit that deep down, she might have already prepared herself to be completely consumed by her.
Though she had long since resigned herself in her heart, she still felt unwilling. Her mind was in turmoil, and in her panic, she blurted out something that shocked even herself: "Why aren't you using my Junior Sister to threaten me? Isn't that your specialty?"
Wang Li grabbed Ji Shengyao's wrists and pinned her hands firmly above her head, watching her fists clench in nervous agitation.
Wang Li's face also flushed slightly with emotion. "I won't say it because I don't want to give you a reason to convince yourself to submit to me."