Chapter 41: Duel of Abilities

Chapter 41: Duel of Abilities

The bow twanged like thunder.

As the arrow was released, the bowstring vibrated incessantly, and birds scattered in the mountains. Xiang Ling instinctively froze in fear.

The quintuple stone bow had a range of a hundred paces, but wild spirits and demons were inherently agile and alert. Although the fox was old, its reactions were swift. It immediately sidestepped twice, half of its body concealed behind a blue stone.

The arrow landed where Xiang Ling had been standing, causing the ground to crack, demonstrating the power of the heavy arrow.

"Ignorant brute, a mere arrow, how can it harm my immortal body?" The old fox clearly had taken cover, yet it still mocked him.

Meng Yuan's heart grew heavier. This old fox spoke with composure, clearly indicating that it had read books and classics.

Moreover, it had experienced the world, knew how to duel with martial artists, and understood the ways of the world. That's why it mocked him, hoping that this young man would be provoked into repeated angry shots, thus exhausting his energy.

Earlier at Peach Blossom Ridge, Meng Yuan had heard about Xiang Ling being deceived by this fox matchmaker. He had thought that the old fox was just a cunning wild spirit.

But today, when the topic came up again, he learned that the old fox had once disregarded the Buddhist teachings of the Great Tail Venerable, instead talking about celestial nourishment and the freedom of the Daoist path.

Observing the old fox's actions now, it was clear that it was no ordinary spirit. Furthermore, it wasn't following the path of martial cultivation but was likely practicing the methods of the Daoist path.

Meng Yuan was inexperienced, having only fought against martial artists of the same rank. However, he had heard Nie Shi mention other paths.

The Daoist path emphasized cultivating both the body and spirit. Celestial nourishment and roaming the heavens were indeed possible, but one had to wait until they reached a higher rank.

At lower ranks, there wasn't much capability. Their energy wasn't as robust as those who endured rigorous training, and their bodies were not as strong as martial artists. However, they possessed some supernatural abilities and techniques.

But in terms of power, it wasn't considered significant.

To put it bluntly, at lower ranks, scholars, Buddhists, and Daoists were inferior to martial artists. If they were to engage in close combat with a martial artist, they would likely be defeated on the spot, or even killed by a higher-ranked opponent.

The teachings of scholars, Buddhists, and Daoists all made sense, but the martial artist's blade held even more logic.

"I'm coming out, and I'm going in!" The old fox leaned on a wooden staff, its movements incredibly agile, using the blue stone to repeatedly peek out. Its behavior was truly despicable.

Meng Yuan wasn't going to let it off easily. He nocked an arrow and shot.

However, with a hundred paces between them, the old fox was as agile as if it had taken aphrodisiacs, making it genuinely challenging to hit. Moreover, it continued to mock him but didn't take action.

After shooting three arrows, Meng Yuan reflected that a hundred paces was too far, and the old fox was too cunning, making it unlikely to hit it.

Of course, if the heavy bow struck, it would be fatal or leave one severely injured.

When the old fox had first appeared, it had mentioned the matter of the great medicine, but it hadn't directly attacked to steal it, indicating that the old fox didn't have a guaranteed plan for victory.

Meng Yuan held the bow in his hand but didn't shoot again. He turned to look at Xiang Ling and saw her hiding her head, sticking her buttocks out as she peeked over, looking foolish.

Even if she was useless, Xiang Ling was still his.

Regardless of the situation, with two against one, the advantage was on their side! Meng Yuan pulled the bow, focusing intently, but he didn't shoot. Instead, he asked, "Honorable one, you still haven't taken action?"

The old fox, hiding behind the scarred blue stone, laughed mockingly, "Do foolish mortals dare to witness the wonders of my immortal techniques?"

This old fox had a sharp tongue! Meng Yuan remained calm and said, "Xiang Ling, go pick the fruits and find the person who sent you to deliver the message. Tell him there's a fox demon causing trouble and ask him to bring brothers from the Demon Control Bureau!"

"Ah?" Xiang Ling was originally crouching in the thorn bushes, covering her head with her two front paws, secretly peeking over. Hearing the castrator's words, she quickly responded, "Is he also from the Demon Control Bureau?"

Although she found it strange, Xiang Ling nimbly climbed up, first pulling the small bundle on her neck before jumping into the gap in the thorn bushes.

Naturally, Meng Yuan didn't expect little Xiang Ling to be able to handle the old fox.

The old fox was reluctant to use her abilities, clearly lacking confidence in her skills and wary of the heavy bow in her opponent's hands. This was the advantage!

Using this advantage to force the old fox into a decisive battle would only increase the advantage! As long as she showed the slightest weakness, it would be the old fox's death sentence!

Soon, Xiang Ling, clutching her bulging bundle, emerged from the crack. She didn't move, but stood up, looking at Meng Yuan with pleading eyes, then at the distant old fox.

"Little Castrator," Xiang Ling ran to Meng Yuan's side, tugging at the hem of his robe, and said, "Why not give me to the old matchmaker? What if you get injured in a fight? What if you can't work when you return? Better to live than die!"

Meng Yuan glared at Xiang Ling.

"Little Castrator, she's willing to give me to you, and you're still pretending to be a good person? Are you planning to swallow me whole?" The old fox's laughter echoed, and she also used the term "Castrator."

"This is a robbery, not a gift. You deceived Xiang Ling and her mother for the dowry, and you should enjoy yourself in the mortal world. I won't interfere. If you take advantage of my absence and trick her into giving up the Great Medicine, I won't say anything." Meng Yuan released an arrow from his hand, "But today, I'm here, and I won't let a simple person who knows gratitude be deceived and humiliated by you."

Meng Yuan drew another arrow and aimed, "Xiang Ling, run!"

Xiang Ling was stunned for a moment, but finally nodded, "Then I'll run faster to call for reinforcements!"

As soon as she finished speaking, she disappeared like smoke.

Sure enough, the old fox grew impatient, "If that's the case, then let's both stay!"

She hid behind a large green stone, holding a bamboo stick in her hand, and chanted, "Wind, break the earth; water, rise to the heavens; earth, fire, water, and wind, arise!"

A gust of wind blew past, causing the trees to sway incessantly, stirring up dead leaves and pebbles on the ground.

It was approaching noon, and although there were many trees in the mountains, the scorching sunlight made the area quite bright. But as soon as the cold wind blew, it felt dim.

"Flying Heaven Fire!" The old fox performed her skills behind the large green stone.

As soon as she finished speaking, a rain of fire fell, stirring up the dead leaves, and instantly, the wind carried fire in all directions, surrounding Meng Yuan. The barrier quickly contracted.

Meng Yuan's heart grew more and more calm. This Wind Fire Harmony technique seemed powerful, but in reality, its might was average, causing minimal damage at most, only obscuring vision to facilitate an ambush.

The wind fueled the flames, and the fire intensified the wind's might, both driving dead leaves and pebbles towards Meng Yuan.

At this moment, the old fox emerged from behind the large green stone, laughing loudly. She stepped on the wind and fire, and rushed towards Meng Yuan.

"Isn't this seeking death?" Meng Yuan raised his bow to shoot, but immediately lowered it and ran backwards.

After taking a few steps out of the wind and fire barrier, he saw a figure in a green robe ahead, clearly the old fox.

Sure enough! The old fox who just emerged from behind the stone, flaunting and seemingly fighting for her life, but there was another fox here, it must be that the old fox used some kind of illusionary technique.

The old fox above the wind and fire, seeking to fight for her life, was a fake, and the real one came to chase Xiang Ling! Meng Yuan fully opened Lower Triple Thirty-Three Art, and True Energy immediately flowed into his limbs, striking first and arriving before the old fox.

The old fox realized that Meng Yuan had caught up, and her face was filled with terror. Her furry hands wanted to form a seal, but she saw the blade of light had already fallen.

"Ah!" A scream of agony echoed through the mountains.

A flash of blood, and the old fox's tail was severed.

With this successful strike, Meng Yuan's confidence soared. This old fox had some demonic illusions and a slight understanding of wind and fire techniques, but her true form couldn't withstand a single blow!

Meng Yuan dared not hesitate and immediately moved forward to deliver another blow.

The old fox lay on the ground, her eyes filled with resentment. Her furry hands grabbed something, biting her teeth, and said, "Draw!"

For a moment, Meng Yuan and the old fox's eyes met, and he felt the world spinning.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end