Chapter 115: Close Combat with Miss Mu
The scarlet-haired maid embraced the woman in black, her clear pink pupils intently scanning their surroundings.
The master's kind could emerge from anywhere, so caution was essential—Hmm? Suddenly, she felt her spirit body twist, and in an instant, a man's form materialized within her, filling her completely—
Abruptly—due to the incompatibility of spirits, her spirit body was forced back, displaced by another presence!
Xia Feng now occupied the maid's former position, his fingers clamping around the black-clad woman's slender throat as he lifted her slightly. A smirk played at the corner of his lips as he leaned close to her earlobe and whispered, "That's it?"
His low, teasing voice sent a shiver through her. In response, two pale golden mist tails unfurled from behind him, releasing a sharp, spike-shaped surge of spiritual pressure that pierced straight through Mu Qingtong's heart. The searing pain forced her back to arch, her body instinctively lurching forward.
Yet beneath the half-rimmed gold-wired glasses, her calm, beautiful eyes curved slightly—an unprecedented spark of excitement and madness igniting within them.
"Mr. Xia, what are you so proud of?"
A woman's soft voice echoed in the darkness. Xia Feng frowned, glancing down only to realize the figure in his grasp had transformed into the maid. The twin tails he had unleashed now impaled her heart instead!
The maid's spirit body disintegrated instantly. At the same time, a slender hand reached from behind, gripping his jaw and tilting his head up. Soft lips brushed against his ear as a cold, mocking voice whispered, "Is this your limit?"
So she can swap places with the maid? Xia Feng tilted his neck, analyzing the situation. Before he could react, Mu Qingtong mimicked his earlier move—two pale golden pointed tails thrust toward his heart!
Bang! He crossed his own tails in defense, shielding his chest. Golden flames erupted around them, the shockwave rippling through the air.
[Observing your stubborn resistance, Mu Qingtong gained further insight into the substructure of the "Six-Tailed" spirit. Your comprehension of spirit attire has deepened significantly.]
Narrowing his dark eyes, Xia Feng summoned his third tail! But just as the elongated appendage formed at his coccyx, poised to strike Mu Qingtong's abdomen from behind, he felt an unexpected resistance—
His tail had become entangled with hers!
Xia Feng's pupils dilated rapidly, his back involuntarily arching forward. For some reason, the third tail carried an acute sense of touch. Now, he could distinctly feel the way their tails coiled together—and how Mu Qingtong tightened her grip!
A stifled groan escaped his throat.
The battlefield fell into eerie silence.
Mu Qingtong studied his profile with a puzzled expression. "What was that noise?"
"I didn't make any noise!"
"You groaned."
"You hurt me—am I not allowed to react?" Xia Feng's retort was stiff.
"But it sounded… odd."
"Odd?" He scoffed, disdain lacing his tone. "Dirty thoughts dwell in dirty minds, Miss Mu. What exactly are you imagining?"
"Heh~" She chuckled, intrigued, and yanked hard again!
"!!!!!!!!!"
The tailbone linked directly to the spinal nerves, sending sharp currents racing to his brain. Xia Feng's head jerked back, teeth gritted to suppress another cry.
Mu Qingtong watched with quiet amusement as sweat beaded on his forehead, his expression a mix of pain and irritation. A strange sense of satisfaction curled within her. Yes, just like that. This reaction—it delighted her.
But then, her golden eyes widened in shock. Xia Feng, seizing the moment, suddenly pulled back with force!
Her legs buckled, nearly sending her crashing to the ground.
"Miss Mu, what's wrong? A mere second-tier dares to challenge me in spiritual pressure?" Having turned the tables, Xia Feng now toyed with her, his voice dripping with arrogance.
Mu Qingtong quickly realized he had amplified his spiritual energy output. Overwhelmed, she could no longer match him in their tail-bound struggle. Her body weakened, a soft gasp escaping as she slumped against his back.
"Is this all?" Xia Feng patted the flushed cheek resting on his shoulder, smugness oozing. "Miss Mu, you're not as formidable as you thought, huh~"
"..." She tried to retreat, but Xia Feng's tail coiled around hers, yanking intermittently. Each tug sent jolts through her nerves, leaving her immobilized.
Seeing his advantage solidify, Xia Feng exhaled in relief and turned. The woman in black crumpled limply into his arms.
Their long tails remained intertwined beside them. Every few seconds, Xia Feng gave another deliberate pull, making Mu Qingtong twitch helplessly, her resistance futile.
Unfazed, he leaned closer, his breath warm against her reddened ear. "Well, Miss Mu? Cat got your tongue?"
"!!!!" Her golden eyes burned, the pupils contracting as the symbol within them rotated once more.
Xia Feng froze, momentarily dazed. Seizing the opportunity, Mu Qingtong tried to break free—but a woman materialized behind her, pressing her forward and trapping her between Xia Feng and the princess.
Now sandwiched between them, she stiffened.
"Madam, you should surrender. You can't defeat the master," the princess murmured into Mu Qingtong's ear, her tone sweetly mocking.
Madam?! Mu Qingtong's eyebrow twitched in indignation.
Meanwhile, Xia Feng's vision cleared. Now at the third tier, his enhanced mental fortitude allowed him to shake off her control within seconds.
The princess's domain had long since vanished, but as a contracted creature capable of free movement, she was perfect for restraining Mu Qingtong during his hypnotic lapses.
Mu Qingtong's control ability had a cooldown period. Based on Xia Feng's estimation, it took roughly twenty seconds before she could use it again.
This meant Xia Feng had a full twenty-second window to do as he pleased. He gazed at the Witch of Destruction sandwiched between himself and the princess, then reached out to gently pat the woman's head.
"Tsk tsk, Miss Mu, you're just... average. I thought you were supposed to be impressive~"
His tone dripped with disdain and disappointment.
Truthfully, he was a little disappointed.
After their entire battle, he had only evolved from two tails to three—no new spirit attire had manifested.
Staring at Xia Feng's infuriatingly smug face, Mu Qingtong's eyes darkened. Strangely, she detected genuine disappointment beneath his arrogant taunts.
This wasn't mere provocation. He truly felt that way.
Really, did this fool actually believe he'd won?
Tsk. Mu Qingtong's slightly hoarse voice remained flat. "Mr. Xia, I must say—you've succeeded in angering me."
"Oh?" Xia Feng arched a brow, his dark pupils glinting with contempt as he tapped her cheek. "And what will you do about it? Right now, Miss Mu, it seems all you can do is talk."
The moment the words left his mouth, a violet light erupted from the center of Mu Qingtong's damp, disheveled forehead.
It was a prism—a multifaceted purple crystal shimmering with starlight. As it floated free from her brow, it disintegrated into swirling violet mist shaped like a swastika, only to reform into the prism again, cycling endlessly.
The instant Xia Feng saw it, a bone-chilling sense of dread gripped him. His face paled as he immediately activated Lightning Step, hurling himself backward.
Frenzied violet light flooded the dark room. The black-clad woman arched her slender neck, arms spread wide as she slowly...
...ascended into the air. Her silver-white hair lashed wildly behind her. Xia Feng could only watch in shock as Mu Qingtong's aura skyrocketed, her spiritual pressure surging uncontrollably.
She didn't rank up—yet her spiritual pressure soared straight to third-tier.
Bzzzt—
And it showed no signs of stopping.
She reached the peak of third-tier in an instant!
Whoosh. The silver-haired woman opened her eyes, pale gold irises gazing down with the imperious dignity of an empress claiming her throne. She gazed at him calmly.
"..."
Xia Feng's expression froze. He retreated step by step until his back hit the unyielding doorframe with a thud.
His hands scrambled blindly behind him, searching for the door handle—but found nothing.
"Warning! Unauthorized door breach will result in electrocution—Warning! Unauthorized—"
As the security alarms blared, the violet light abruptly vanished, plunging the room back into darkness.
Silence.
At the same tier, Xia Feng stood zero chance against Mu Qingtong's spirit weapon control. His mental strength was simply too lacking.
Now that Yin Yu had been used, he had no countermeasures left.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
The slow, measured click of heels echoed in the dark as the woman approached. Xia Feng tried to flee—but his body no longer obeyed him.
He was paralyzed.
Then, a soft, slender hand emerged from the shadows, pressing lightly against his left chest.
Thud. Thud-thud—
"Mr. Xia, your heart is racing. Are you frightened?"
Her fingertips trailed up his neck, her index finger tilting his chin upward, forcing him to meet her gaze. In the darkness, a pair of regal golden eyes stared down at him as she murmured, "If you're afraid, Mr. Xia, you may choose to surrender."
[Mu Qingtong's exhilaration triggered a sudden epiphany about matrix-like spirit particles, further deconstructing the 'Six-Tails.' Your comprehension of spirit attire has deepened significantly.]
Swish.
Four pale golden mist tails unfurled behind the black-clad woman.
Xia Feng's pupils dilated—but inwardly, he rejoiced. Another breakthrough! It seemed this battle was far from over.
Though only his face remained mobile, he didn't speak. Instead, he met her gaze with a defiant sneer, his expression utterly fearless.
The woman narrowed her beautiful eyes.
[Your expression pushed Mu Qingtong's joyful mood toward euphoria, triggering her sudden realization of linear spirit substructure. Your understanding of spirit attire slightly improved. You successfully mastered N-level spirit attire "Tail Touch"]
[N·Tail Touch]
[Enhances sensory perception of tail-shaped spirit attire manifestations. Sensitivity to pain, itching, numbness, and soreness will double]
Xia Feng: "???"
Miss Witch, why are you learning this kind of spirit attire now?
And "joyful emotions"? What exactly are you happy about?!
Panicking, Xia Feng tried to retract all three tails but found himself completely unable to control them. Once released, the tails maintained their form without spiritual pressure but lost all offensive and defensive capabilities.
"Mr. Xia, I'm pleased to confirm you truly are a worthy opponent."
The black-clad woman maintained her calm expression while gripping Xia Feng's jaw. Meanwhile, her long misty tail quietly coiled around his ankles.
Xia Feng's face stiffened. What is this witch planning now?!
No! This can't continue. Xia Feng hurriedly exclaimed: "Wait, stop! I admit de—"
His voice cut off abruptly as he realized he could no longer speak! Even his spiritual pressure was blocked, preventing any sound transmission.
His pupils dilated as he watched the cold-faced woman lean closer, her lips brushing his ear as she whispered: "Mr. Xia, what were you trying to say earlier?"
In the darkness, Mu Qingtong's beautiful eyes seemed to curve briefly - a flash of twisted amusement before returning to serene gentleness. "Hmm?"
When Xia Feng remained silent, merely glaring at her with furious eyes, Mu Qingtong sighed softly: "It seems Mr. Xia still refuses to yield. In that case..."
Her tone turned icy, golden eyes radiating majesty: "I'll have to make you submit completely!"
Three minutes later.
[Your humiliation pushed Mu Qingtong into complete euphoria, granting deep understanding of linear spirit substructure. Your spirit attire comprehension greatly improved. Successfully mastered D-level spirit attire "Super Tail Touch"]
Five minutes later.
[Mu Qingtong admires your "never beg for mercy" attitude. Spirit attire comprehension greatly improved. Successfully mastered D-level spirit attire "Unyielding"]
[D·Unyielding]
[When humiliated, all physical attributes including but not limited to senses, hematopoiesis, speed and strength will double]
Xia Feng felt despair. After enduring such humiliation, all he got was this useless spirit attire? Couldn't this perverted witch learn something more practical?!
Realizing he couldn't wait any longer - that no useful spirit attire would come from this - Xia Feng decided it was time to show this arrogant witch her true place.
Slumped against the door with hollow black pupils, panting heavily, Xia Feng watched as the black-clad woman stood over him. Her clear golden eyes gazed down as her tail roughly lifted his chin: "Well? Do you yield now?"
Finding his voice restored but choosing silence, Xia Feng slowly raised his vacant eyes, deliberately allowing a trace of mockery to surface - a silent jeer at Mu Qingtong's arrogance and absurdity.
"Copy!" The command flashed through his mind.
Suddenly, a flood of information about the Black Crow Spirit Weapon poured into his consciousness.
[Target: Spirit Weapon Space]
[Detected attack from Spirit Weapon Space. Copy successful—]
[Current spirit weapon slots full. Overwrite?]
[Overwritten N·Wind Listening Ring successfully—]
[Current Spirit Weapons: Forest Scepter (C), Vermillion Bird Armor (B), Spirit Weapon Space (A)]
[A·Spirit Weapon Space]
[Absorbs target's soul into this space. Defeating the Spirit Weapon Incarnation allows target to awaken psychic energy potential]
[Note 1: Can forcibly absorb souls. Effectiveness varies with spiritual pressure difference between user and target]
[Note 2: Eye contact enhances absorption effect]
Having thoroughly dominated her infuriating opponent, Mu Qingtong felt more relaxed than ever before. She was just about to force Xia Feng to reveal the truth about Anubis's death when she suddenly noticed the mocking glint still present in his half-lidded eyes.
Still refusing to yield? Her beautiful eyes remained calm as she instinctively met Xia Feng's gaze - only for her expression to freeze.
"What—" A sudden dizziness struck her, accompanied by the terrifying sensation of her soul being torn from her body.
Damn it! He'd been hiding another trump card! Mu Qingtong immediately realized the danger and tried to look away, but it was already too late.
Her soul was violently ripped free!
Thud—
The black-clad woman's body collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut, her vacant-eyed form falling limp into Xia Feng's arms.
(End of chapter)