Chapter 0078

Chapter 78: But I Refuse!

Qian Miao Yu had just swallowed the pill when a cool, soothing wave swept through her body and steadied her soul at once. From that moment on, no tempting whisper and no Heavenly Devil aura could shake her.

[No wonder it was made by the guest elder; it really is top quality.]

She praised it in her heart, but on the surface she forced herself to act like she was in pain to fool the enemy.

Tun Lan, the Devil Race Commander, watched her struggle with a cat-and-mouse smile, saying: “Speak up. As long as you tell me, you won’t have to suffer like this.”

Qian Miao Yu glared back, saying: “In your dreams. Even if I die, I will never bow to you.”

He snorted, saying: “Stubborn mouth. Let’s see how long you can hold on.”

Half an hour passed.

Even Tun Lan was shocked. This woman’s endurance was absurd. Time to turn up the pressure, he thought, then barked: “Soul-seizing art, Thousand Devil Roar!”

The Devil Race Commander opened his fanged maw and spewed thicker black miasma. In the haze, countless crying faces rolled and twisted. They were the souls of people slain by the Devil Race, unable to find release, turned into specters to serve evil.

Qian Miao Yu’s eyes burned, and she shouted: “You actually killed so many of my people. I will never forgive you!”

Tun Lan laughed, saying: “What right do you have to talk like that? You can barely protect yourself. If you won’t cooperate, I will send you to meet your people.”

The specters swarmed, rushing to invade Qian Miao Yu’s mind. But they smashed against an unseen shell around her, as if she wore an iron wall. They could not break through.

The Devil Race Commander panicked. With all his methods, he still could not take down a mere Sky-Slashing Realm. If the Devil Marshal blamed him, he would be in serious trouble. He roared: “Heavenly Devil Grand Transformation!”

He went all in. A more terrible demonic force burst out, now attacking not only her spirit but her body as well.

Qian Miao Yu trembled, frowning hard as real pain gnawed through her: “Ugh… ah…”

Just then, a faint gold light flickered under her skin. She forced it down at once. That was her last life-saving card. She would not reveal it unless she had no other choice. It concerned the fate of the Ling Xiao Empire. If it was taken, countless lives would be destroyed.

Tun Lan pressed on, his voice sleazy and coaxing as he circled her: “Hurts, doesn’t it? You are close to your limit. Just confess. I can tell you can’t endure much longer.”

He lowered his tone, saying: “As long as you tell me the location of the Dragon Vein, I will end your pain right now and even let you taste supreme bliss.”

He kept talking, needling her pride: “Why keep resisting? It’s only a few words. Is it worth throwing your life away? You are a lofty empress with endless wealth and honor. Are you really willing to give it all up like this?”

Qian Miao Yu panted, voice weak on purpose as she asked: “If I tell you… will you really spare me?”

Tun Lan gave a strange giggle at once, thinking she had yielded, and said: “Of course. Say it, say it. I promise.”

He leaned in, ears pricked, ready to catch every word.

But Qian Miao Yu’s eyes hardened. She lifted her chin and snapped: “But… I refuse!”

Her look turned steady and mocking, as if laughing at his arrogance. Power surged off her, and hints of gold flared around her. She was ready to fight.

Tun Lan’s face twisted with anger as he stepped forward to crush her: “Overestimating yourself!”

At that instant, a divine radiance split the air and rushed in. It was like a newborn sun tearing the darkness to shreds and burning it away.

A calm voice rang out from the light, saying: “As expected of Her Majesty the Empress. With such backbone, Zhou truly admires you.”

Qian Miao Yu’s heart leaped. She cried with joy: “Guest elder!”

Tun Lan, however, acted unsurprised. He sneered, saying: “You finally came.” The Devil Race high command had learned about Zhou Tong from Zhao Wu Tian and judged him a grave threat that must be removed. That was why they staged this hostage trap. Not only could they take the Empire’s Dragon Vein, but, if lucky, they could also cut down a human powerhouse. Two birds with one stone.

Zhou Tong cast a cold glance across the area and said, bored and sharp: “A mere Commander dares to face us alone. Looks like you are very satisfied with your grave.” He tapped the air around them and nodded, saying: “This place does make a fine coffin.”

In the Devil Race, ranks were strict. A Commander matched a Life-and-Death Realm expert, about the same as Zhang Chu Qiao’s level. Above Commander was Devil Marshal, equal to the Reincarnation Realm. Above that was Devil Sovereign, equal to the Half Saint realm. Above even that was Devil King, a true Saint.

Tun Lan smiled darkly, eyes sweeping over Zhou Tong, Holy Heart, and the girl at his side with deep contempt. He said: “Two little ants in the Harmonization Realm, and a snot-nosed brat. What a waste of my preparations. I can handle you with one hand.”

The little demoness seized the opening. She flicked out a talisman that pulled with fierce force and snatched Qian Miao Yu away from Tun Lan’s side, calling: “Rune Three, Flying Dragon Reaches the Clouds!”

Tun Lan did not care. He did not even try to stop it. In his mind, none of them would escape anyway. Thinking of this, he felt only disdain for Zhao Wu Tian. That lowly human had hyped this Zhou Tong far too much. Humans, in his eyes, were a lesser race, born to be food and slaves.

He spread his arms wide and jeered, saying: “Do not blame me for bullying you. I will stand right here and give each of you one free move. I will not dodge or block. Hit me with your best. See if you can make me retreat half a step.”

Zhou Tong blinked at the pose, then glanced at Holy Heart, saying: “Are all Devil Race this brave?”

Holy Heart answered with a small shrug, saying: “This should be an exception. Do not judge them all by one fool.”

“I will go first,” the little demoness said, stepping forward. A brilliant talisman gleamed in her hand. Even from the outside, it was clearly extraordinary.

Tun Lan scoffed, saying: “Just a sheet of paper. You humans love cheap tricks. That is what weaklings do. We great Heavenly Devils perfect our own bodies instead.”

Before he could finish, the little demoness hurled the talisman and cried: “Talisman Ninety-One, Thousand-Hand Bright-Sky Purge Cannon!”