Ling Xiaoyou gathered all the ice sculptures together, gazing at the “ice mountain” before her with a sigh.
“If I were still alive and spent summer here, I probably wouldn’t even need to buy an air conditioner.”
Bai Shuanglian smiled.
“If you ever want to cool down, you can come find me.”
“I’ll be your air conditioner.”
“Eek~”
Ling Xiaoyou looked at Bai Shuanglian, wiping the goosebumps from her arm.
“That was so cheesy. Well said—just don’t say it again next time.”
Bai Shuanglian’s smile froze. She coughed lightly.
“Alright, let’s start burning.”
She raised her right hand as she spoke.
A golden flame flickered in her palm, then transformed into a Yang Flame as radiant as the sun.
When the Yang Flame appeared, its scorching heat seemed to burn like the sun itself.
Standing not far away, Su Lihua hurriedly retreated several steps until she was beyond the reach of its light.
Ling Xiaoyou also reached out her small hand alongside Bai Shuanglian, manifesting a ghostly blue Guo Huo in her palm.
In perfect sync, they tossed the two flames—one Yin, one Yang—onto the ice mountain.
Then, like boiling water, the cold ice mountain began to melt.
The two flames fused together and instantly swallowed the entire ice mountain.
The two stood quietly, waiting in place for a while.
The flames gradually dissipated.
The icy mountain, once radiating cold, had completely vanished.
All that remained was a mass of bright red blood swirling in the air.
Staring at the blood, Ling Xiaoyou frowned slightly, her delicate brows furrowing.
She turned to Bai Shuanglian.
“Bai Shuanglian, are you sure this method really works? Why does it feel a bit… sinister to me?”
“I think so too. The technique is indeed rather sinister.”
Bai Shuanglian nodded, agreeing with Ling Xiaoyou.
“I found this method in an Ancient Book at home. I thought it might be useful, so I memorized it.”
“Supposedly, there was once a Neng who could mimic any living creature through blood. Later, that Neng was killed by our Bai Family Ancestor, and his spell techniques and some ideological books ended up in our Bai Family’s possession.”
“But the most sinister parts were sealed away. What we descendants can read are only the relatively harmless and useful techniques.”
After hearing Bai Shuanglian’s explanation, Ling Xiaoyou nodded knowingly, then said:
“So, your Bai Family is also a practitioner of ‘Ideological Borrowing,’ huh?”
“.How do you keep coming up with these strange terms?”
Bai Shuanglian looked at Ling Xiaoyou, a bit helpless.
“Eh hey~”
Ling Xiaoyou made a cute face, trying to get by with a bit of charm.
Seeing this adorable expression, Bai Shuanglian pinched Ling Xiaoyou’s soft cheek.
The latter spoke unclearly:
“But, speaking of which, there was actually a Spirit Pivot Stage among these Devils. If a Spirit Pivot Stage could be made a subordinate, doesn’t that mean their boss is probably a Yin General-level Devil?”
A Yin General was already the fifth realm among the nine stages of cultivation—considered a Neng in ancient times.
And even the strongest among the three of them, Bai Shuanglian, was only at the fourth realm: the Golden Core Stage.
Upon hearing this, Bai Shuanglian paused, her smile gradually fading into seriousness.
“Most likely. Only a Devil at the level of Yin General could arrange such a flawless Law Array.”
“What? Yin General?!”
At that moment, Su Lihua, who had just returned, was stunned on the spot, disbelief on her face.
Wait, I was only gone for a little while, and the Boss has already upgraded to Yin General Stage?!
If I leave again, will a Director of the Bureau of Grievance Spirits (sixth realm of the Mysterious Nether Realm) appear next?!
“What’s wrong? Thinking of running away?”
Ling Xiaoyou glanced at her.
“It’s still not too late to leave now, Su-kun.”
“Hmph, who’s running away?”
“I’ll tell you—I’m not afraid of any Yin General!”
Ling Xiaoyou’s words had provoked Su Lihua. Like an unwilling little deer, she marched straight toward the mass of blood.
“Hey, what are you doing?”
Ling Xiaoyou, her face full of confusion, grabbed Su Lihua.
“Of course, to enter and use the Blood Qi Concealment Ritual. What else?”
Su Lihua looked back at Ling Xiaoyou in puzzlement, as if it were obvious.
“.You don’t think the Blood Qi Concealment Ritual means soaking yourself in blood, do you?”
Ling Xiaoyou stared at Su Lihua in disbelief.
“Eh? Isn’t it?”
Su Lihua looked to Bai Shuanglian for confirmation.
The latter shook her head, indicating that it definitely wasn’t.
Then, Bai Shuanglian pointed at the mass of swirling blood.
Instantly, it split into four parts. One larger piece and two smaller pieces floated before Bai Shuanglian, Ling Xiaoyou, and Su Lihua.
Next, the three masses of blood transformed into intricate runes, flying onto the backs of their hands and forming gorgeous, complex patterns.
“See? Isn’t this enough?”
Ling Xiaoyou pointed at the rune on her hand with her chin and looked at Su Lihua.
Awkward. Very awkward.
Su Lihua finally understood what embarrassment felt like.
Though, if possible, she would have preferred not to learn.
“Ahahaha, cough, quite the method!”
Su Lihua scratched her head, trying to ease the embarrassment.
But Ling Xiaoyou wouldn’t let her off so easily, covering her mouth to let out a soft laugh that Su Lihua could hear.
Hearing the laughter, Su Lihua immediately glared at her.
Ling Xiaoyou smugly hummed twice, then ignored her.
“Bai Shuanglian, what do you plan to do with the remaining mass of blood?”
Ling Xiaoyou looked at the blood, which had shrunk to less than half its size, and asked Bai Shuanglian, who was also staring at it.
“I intend to craft it into a Demonic Transformation Suit that can transform someone into a Devil. But it’s only enough for one person, so we have to choose who will become the Demonic Transformation Suit wearer.”
“So, who should be the Demonic Transformation Suit wearer?”
Su Lihua asked curiously.
At her words, Ling Xiaoyou immediately looked at her.
Bai Shuanglian also turned her head at just the right moment, and together they gazed at Su Lihua.
Su Lihua froze, pointed to herself, and said:
“Don’t tell me… it’s me?”
The two nodded in unison.
Su Lihua’s expression turned stiff.
“Can I not go?”
The two shook their heads and started moving toward her.
As they drew closer, Su Lihua tried to retreat, but suddenly a wall of water appeared behind her, blocking her escape.
She could only watch as the two girls approached, letting out a terrified scream:
“Don’t come any closer!”