Chapter 21: The Demon Cult Enchantress and the Aloof Buddhist Heir (7)

"It is just a shed insect skin," Fan Sijin added, fearing he might misunderstand. "Rest assured, it is not poisonous."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xiao’s complexion shifted instantly. He was a man who prized his appearance above all else; not only did he look as delicate as a young girl, but his instinctual fear of insects was also much like a girl’s. Yet now... he had actually swallowed an insect shell! His stomach felt as though it were churning violently.

Seeing him look as if he wanted to vomit but could not, wearing an expression of utter disgust, Fan Sijin rolled her eyes. "Hey, don't be ungrateful. I wouldn't sell that for ten thousand taels of gold even if someone offered. You were so severely injured; the fact that you recovered so quickly is entirely thanks to its effectiveness, alright?"

Xiao Xiao covered his mouth, suppressing his nausea, and managed a forced word of thanks: "Th-thank you!"

"Hmph." Too lazy to bother with him, Fan Sijin let out an arrogant huff and turned her attention back to Abbess Cifa. "If I can defeat you, does that mean I can challenge that old monk?" As she spoke, she pointed her finger unceremoniously at the Shaolin Abbot, Master Kongjing.

"You wicked girl, cease your wild talk!" The Abbess was incensed. For so many years, no one had dared to claim they could defeat her—what right did this little demon girl have? She added fiercely, "Hand over the antidote first!"

Fan Sijin glanced around at the nuns beneath the stage and suddenly chuckled. "It has only been a few days, but all you sisters seem to have become quite plump. I never expected that the life of a renunciant could be so comfortable. If my father allowed it, I might even consider becoming a nun myself!"

Although they were ascetics, the nuns were still young and inevitably cared about their appearance. Upon hearing this from Fan Sijin, they all showed expressions of anger and shame. Even Yueguang, a girl so kind she could not bear to step on an ant, showed a flash of irritation. "Young lady! My master kindly saved you that day; why do you return kindness with enmity, and today, assist the evildoers of the Demonic Cult to disrupt the Martial Arts Assembly?!"

"I never asked you to save me. Besides, your master tried to kill me the moment she saved me—can I not fight back to protect myself?" Fan Sijin retorted with a tone of self-justification, determined to cement her image as a lawless and reckless troublemaker. "Since this is a Martial Arts Assembly, by what right do you forbid me from participating? Today, I intend to become the Alliance Leader. What do you think of that?"

Behind her, Xiao Xiao chuckled. "I like you, girl. Your temperament suits my tastes!"

Fan Sijin, however, looked down on him. "I don't make friends with people who are afraid of bugs."

Xiao Xiao’s face stiffened, but he then laughed. "That’s a bit cold, isn't it? We are to be partners fighting side-by-side from now on, after all. How can you be so heartless?"

He was sharp enough to guess her identity from just a few words. Fan Sijin grinned, channeled her inner energy, and declared in a loud, clear voice: "Today, this gentleman beside me and I represent the Miao Border and the Batian Cult to hold this arena. If anyone is dissatisfied, feel free to come up and challenge us!"

"Voice projection over a thousand miles?!"
"It’s even more powerful than the Buddhist Lion's Roar!"
"This young girl is incredible!"

In truth, strictly speaking, this was not a form of martial arts. If one had to define it, it could be called sorcery or Taoist arts, but since ordinary people could not understand such things, Fan Sijin let them wallow in their misconceptions.

The system remarked silently, "Host, using cheats to fight in an arena—isn't this bullying?" *Is there no end to this? I should never have kept the buff that allows you to retain combat power from other planes.*

At the assembly, Fan Sijin’s actions were clearly a slight to Abbess Cifa. As a prestigious figure in the martial arts world, being so thoroughly disregarded by a young junior on the arena stage was deeply humiliating.

Seeing this, Yueguang immediately stepped onto the stage to save her master some face. She bowed to Fan Sijin and said, "Young lady, my master is your senior; it would be unfair for her to spar with you. How about I take her place and exchange moves with you instead?"

Fan Sijin looked at Yueguang and smiled with amusement. This nun was clever; her gesture preserved Cifa's dignity while simultaneously raising her own standing in the Abbess’s eyes. An ordinary person would have accepted, but unfortunately... she was no ordinary person.

"Oh, I don't want to. I refuse."

"You—" Yueguang was furious. How could such a young girl be so spiteful in her words and actions?

Fan Sijin smiled brightly. "The Abbess was the one holding the stage. Since I am challenging, it is naturally against her. Yet you insist on taking her place—is this Martial Arts Assembly just a game?"

A wave of agreement rose from beneath the stage. "The young lady is right. This isn't a friendly spar; it's a contest for the position of Alliance Leader. How can there be substitutes?" "Exactly! Is the old nun Cifa afraid of losing, so she’s making her disciple take the fall?"

Abbess Cifa was red with fury. Having suffered a great loss at the hands of this demon girl, she was determined not to let it end here. She sneered, "Little demon girl, since you insist, you should know that in a duel, one might be injured or even lose their life. I will not hold back!"

"Fine! My life is right here. If you have the ability, Abbess, come and take it."

Fan Sijin smiled craftily and raised her hands. Before the crowd below could see what happened, Abbess Cifa had dodged in a panic, a faint streak of blood appearing on her cheek.

"It won't do to underestimate me, you know," Fan Sijin said with a charming smile.

On the nearby viewing platform, the various sect leaders looked grave. They had no idea where this girl came from, but her martial arts were bizarre and unpredictable—a style they had never seen before. Judging by her movements, she must have been using a weapon, but it had happened so fast that no one could see what she had used to wound the Abbess.

The sect leaders exchanged glances. Master Lu of the Kunlun Sect gritted his teeth, strode onto the stage, and gestured with one hand. "I am Lu Yi, leader of the Kunlun Sect. I have come to learn a few moves from you. Please, young lady."

He was born with immense strength and excelled at blade work. Having practiced the Tiangang Blade Technique to the seventh level, he believed his internal power was deeper than Cifa's. He reasoned that if he could not subdue Fan Sijin, there would be no hope of eradicating the Demonic Cult.

"You are much better than that old nun! She calls me a demon girl, but you call me a young lady," Fan Sijin smiled at Lu Yi. "I won't hurt you too badly."

Lu Yi was both annoyed and amused—annoyed by her arrogance, and amused by her ignorance of the world. "Those words should have come from me. Young lady, why trouble yourself with these murky waters? If you turn back now, we can let this matter go, and I can ensure you return home safely."

There was a hint of genuine concern in his tone. Fan Sijin appreciated the gesture, but her face remained whimsical. "Are you ready? I'm going to strike."

As she spoke, Lu Yi did not see her move. She remained standing in place, yet he felt a sharp, piercing energy cut through the air toward him, making his back numb and his hair stand on end!