Chapter Fifty-Nine: The Enchantress’s Bewitching Sorcery

Jiao Na, the alluring fox spirit, turned her bright eyes upon the crowd, covering her lips as she laughed softly. She reached out a slender finger to gently brush aside a strand of hair by her ear. The sheer veil draped over her body failed to conceal her fiery figure, revealing and concealing in turn, enticing beyond measure.

Her movements twisted gracefully as she danced, like a willow swaying in the wind, or a fish gliding through water. Compared to the celestial maidens of the highest heavens, she lost nothing in elegance, but surpassed them in captivating charm.

Cui Yue stared at the mesmerizing figure on the screen, his gaze following her every move. Unconsciously, his entire breath and heartbeat seemed to be tied to her every gesture and expression. He felt his blood surge, his heart restless and agitated.

Just then, a chant suddenly echoed in his ears, starting low and slow, then rising and quickening, never ceasing.

“Star of the Supreme Platform, ready to respond without pause. Drive out evil, bind spirits, protect life, shield the body. Wisdom clear and pure, mind calm and peaceful. Three souls everlasting, spirit unbroken. Let it be done as decreed!”

As Cui Yue listened to the incantation, his mind gradually cleared, his turbulent blood settled, and his breathing grew steady.

He glanced sideways and saw Qingquan seated on the floor, murmuring the chant, hands forming mystical gestures.

“Don’t be careless. Beware the fox spirit’s enchantments. This Purification Chant will keep your mind clear and help you hold fast to your true self,” Qingquan said quietly, his gaze calm.

“Purification Chant?” Cui Yue was startled, cursing inwardly. What a powerful enchantress—he’d nearly fallen prey again. If she pushed him too far, he’d strip her of that fox fur.

“Yes. Most important of all, you must guard your true heart. Only then can you resist her bewitching arts. If your heart falters, you’ll become a plaything, manipulated at will.”

Cui Yue nodded solemnly, silently memorizing the Purification Chant once more, keeping himself on high alert for fear of succumbing to the fox spirit’s tricks.

Vigilant, he looked about, when suddenly something moved at his side. Looking down, he saw Qingquan, in his white shirt, quietly slipping something into his hand—a small peachwood sword, three inches long, simple and unadorned, inscribed all over with fine runes.

Cui Yue didn’t understand, his eyes questioning Qingquan.

Qingquan only spoke six words, then said no more: “For emergencies, just in case.”

Seeing this, Cui Yue didn’t protest, nor bother to thank him, but carefully hid the peachwood sword in his sleeve, thinking that if anything happened, he’d strike without hesitation.

“Remember, in any situation, you must trust me!” Qingquan’s eyes turned, reminding him again.

“Careful,” Qingquan warned, his gaze shifting.

Cui Yue quickly steadied his mind.

On the screen, the beautiful figure suddenly dissolved with a soft sound, becoming a cloud of mist. Strands of this mist seeped out from the screen, drifting to a corner of the front hall, swirling and condensing, then reforming into the purple-clad figure.

“She’s out,” Qingquan said, a sharp gleam flashing in his eyes.

Cui Yue stared in disbelief as the figure on the screen turned to mist and floated out—was he dreaming?

He kept his eyes fixed on the hall, barely daring to breathe for fear the fox spirit would notice him.

The mist gradually took human shape, becoming the same alluring fox spirit, Jiao Na, clad in her purple veil, her lips curled in a smile—though now with a touch of menace.

Jiao Na turned her delicate hand, opened her mouth, and spat out a puff of purple smoke. The fragrant smoke quickly dispersed, darting toward the sleeping crowd and entering their mouths and noses.

The smoke moved so fast that Cui Yue hadn’t time to react before it was inhaled by everyone. Oddly, the smoke didn’t drift toward Cui Yue and Qingquan, perhaps because of Qingquan’s spells.

Cui Yue saw Zhang Hao and Da Zhuang inhale the smoke, growing anxious, unable to cover their mouths in time.

Strangely, after the purple mist entered their bodies, the crowd slept even more soundly. The hall was as silent as death, not a sound to be heard.

Cui Yue looked closely and saw thin streams of white vapor slowly seeping from the seven orifices of each person, gathering above their heads, forming currents that flowed toward Jiao Na.

Jiao Na now held a white pearl the size of an egg in her right hand, and the white vapors were continuously drawn into it. As the vapor poured in, the pearl’s light grew ever brighter.

“What is this?” Cui Yue stared, aghast.

“This is the essence of living people. At this moment, all the pure yang energy of those here is being siphoned away by the fox spirit and stored in her Soul Gathering Pill,” Qingquan replied, his expression unchanged but his eyes flickering.

Zhang Hao and Da Zhuang were also having their essence drawn into the pearl, their faces paling as their breath weakened and their expressions stiffened.

Cui Yue was frantic—this was intolerable! Damn fox spirit, just as Zhang Hao said, she was going to drain them dry. If this continued, would anyone in this hall survive?

“Damn it all!” At this critical moment, Cui Yue didn’t hesitate, ignoring Qingquan’s instructions, and leaped out with a shout.

“Hah!” Not knowing where his courage came from, he grabbed a long bench and charged forward.

Jiao Na, gazing at her Soul Gathering Pill in delight, was startled by the shout behind her. Her mind thrown into chaos, she quickly clasped her hands together—the pearl’s light dimmed and vanished.

The river of essence also dispersed as the Soul Gathering Pill’s suction ceased, and the crowd’s seven orifices locked tight. Yet they remained trapped in illusion, unable to awaken.

Before words could be spoken, a strange wind rose behind Jiao Na—Cui Yue was upon her, brandishing the bench!

Determined, Cui Yue swung the bench at the purple-clad figure, teeth gritted with hatred.

Jiao Na, caught off guard, sensed the threat behind her. Not daring to delay, she spun to evade, her delicate hand slicing out.

With a sharp crack, the bench was about to strike her robe when a flash of light split it in two, leaving only two sticks in Cui Yue’s hands.

Stunned, Cui Yue had hoped for a successful blow, but with a single move, his bench was reduced to kindling.

Jiao Na paused, seeing who had entered the fray. Her seductive eyes lifted, and she laughed, silver bells ringing.

“Oh, so it’s you, good sir! Why not enjoy the pleasures of the dreamland? What brings you here?”

Cui Yue, tense and wary of her charms, pointed at the fox spirit and retorted fiercely, “Bah! You witch, using your tricks to harm others! Watch me strip your fox skin!”

Jiao Na, seeing Cui Yue’s bluster, laughed even more, her laughter cascading like silver bells.

“Haha, good sir, if you desire my body, why resort to violence? I’m happy to oblige. Does this form please you?”