Volume 5 Chapter 91

Volume 5 + Chapter 91: Black Flames

Faced with such a dire situation, Xia Yi found herself at a loss for a moment. She turned to Little Red, seeking her advice.

“At this point… there’s only one option left…”

In response to Xia Yi’s question, Little Red’s expression gradually grew serious. From her mouth came a single word, simple, unmistakable, and impossible to misinterpret, 

“Run!”

“Ah?” Xia Yi froze in place.

Run, one could also call it retreat, or escape.

To be honest, she hadn’t expected Little Red’s suggestion to be so… astonishing.

After all, Little Red was a spiritual remnant left behind by the Red Fox God to deal with the evil manifestation. Under normal circumstances, she should at least have some kind of countermeasure, right?

So why offer a plan that seemed so empty and utterly meaningless?

“You’re not joking, are you?” Xia Yi’s cheek twitched. “Even jokes have their timing.”

“I’m not joking. Retreating is the wisest choice. Unless you possess the power to completely annihilate the evil manifestation, it’s better to preserve your strength!” Little Red explained with utmost seriousness.

“Haven’t you heard the old saying of this land? Of the thirty-six stratagems, retreat is the best. We should advance step by step, proceed cautiously, and fight only when we’re certain of victory…”

“Hahaha, HAHAHAHA!”

The evil manifestation, already fused with the serpent head, did not immediately pursue. She had been curious to hear what kind of plan Little Red would propose.

And what she got was a joke, one so absurd she couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

“What a perfectly reasonable suggestion. It suits your nature so well, facing difficulty and choosing to run away. Just like back then, when you split me off and cast away all your troubles. That ridiculous, laughable side of you hasn’t changed at all.”

“What do you know? This is called a strategic withdrawal!” Little Red retorted. “When you know you can’t win, why insist on a head-on clash?!”

“…”

Xia Yi fell into brief contemplation.

The last time she fought the resentful remnant of the Azure Fox God, she had nearly drained all her magic just to block a single attack and buy herself a chance to escape.

From another perspective, that had also been a “strategic withdrawal.”

This time, she had no immediate means of leaving the sealed domain. Even if she exhausted herself to block one strike from the evil manifestation, she still wouldn’t be able to kill it.

And by then, she would be spent, while her opponent could continue fighting. That would be the end of her.

“Little Red, let me ask you something first.”

While the evil manifestation was still laughing, Xia Yi quickly asked the most crucial question.

“The evil manifestation can’t kill you, right?”

“Of course,” Little Red replied without hesitation. “You can see how much it hates me, but all these years I’ve remained in the sealed domain. That’s because we were once one and the same, neither of us can truly destroy the other.”

“Alright, I understand. Then lend me a hand.”

Xia Yi stood up, walked over to Little Red, and picked up the small red nine-tailed fox in her arms.

For a moment, Little Red had no idea what she intended to do.

“Go, Little Red, bite it to death!!”

Xia Yi hurled Little Red straight at Yamata no Orochi, treating her like bait.

“Eek!?”

By the time Little Red realized what was happening, she was already hurtling toward Yamata no Orochi at incredible speed.

She was completely stunned.

As expected, the silver dragons were all scoundrels, and she’d actually been sold out!!

Driven by instinctive hatred, Yamata no Orochi’s gaze was drawn to the small red fox flying toward it, and it reflexively turned its attention.

Seizing that instant, Xia Yi activated her movement technique and bolted, beginning her escape.

“Stop! Ignore that spirit body!”

The evil manifestation shouted, halting the creature’s reaction.

“Go after the Fox God’s shrine maiden!!”

The mountain-sized monster began to move, launching into pursuit of Xia Yi across the ground.

Though its body appeared massive and cumbersome, Yamata no Orochi moved with startling speed, crushing the scattered bones of nine-tailed foxes beneath it into powder as it advanced.

As she fled, Xia Yi raised her rose staff and tapped it lightly against the ground.

At first glance, the action seemed pointless, even slowing her down.

But as Yamata no Orochi passed over that spot, a surge of frigid energy erupted from the earth. Ice-aspected magic clung to its body, freezing parts of the serpent.

“Petty tricks.”

The evil manifestation was visibly annoyed.

She could have simply controlled Yamata no Orochi to unleash a magical beam at Xia Yi.

But doing so would reduce Yue Liu to ashes, leaving nothing behind as nourishment.

“This dragon’s reserves of magic are rather excessive… In that case…”

The evil manifestation had already made her judgment.

Yamata no Orochi released a black, burning aura, violently dispersing the freezing energy before continuing its pursuit.

Standing atop one of the serpent heads, the evil manifestation summoned a shadowy demon. She took the bow from its hands, drew the string, and a pitch-black arrow formed, composed entirely of black flames.

A serpent head slammed into the ground, sending a shockwave that blasted Xia Yi into the air.

At that moment, the evil manifestation took aim at the little fox and released the arrow.

“Fox-radish!”

Xia Yi hurriedly pulled the little fox into her arms, shielding her tightly, while simultaneously attempting to form an ice barrier through controlled incantation.

“ROAR!!!”

Yamata no Orochi let out a thunderous roar. The violent soundwaves stunned Xia Yi momentarily, interrupting her casting.

The arrow struck her body, erupting into a pillar of black flames that shot into the sky, engulfing her entirely.

As the black fire burned, she felt her strength rapidly draining away, her magic seeming to be scorched dry…

“It’s over!”

The evil manifestation commanded another serpent head to descend from above, intending to devour Xia Yi along with the little fox in one fell swoop.

At that critical moment, the small red nine-tailed fox rushed over, leaping straight into the black flames without hesitation.

The evil manifestation sneered. “Useless. I may not be able to kill you, but you can’t block my attacks either, you can’t protect them…”

“Who says I can’t?!”

A brilliant light burst forth from Little Red’s body, forming a protective barrier.

“Have you gone mad? Placing your hopes on an outsider!”

Shock flashed across the evil manifestation’s face.

The spirit body was burning the last traces of divine power that sustained its existence, just to protect Xia Yi and the little fox.

For the moment, the barrier held, blocking the serpent head’s attack.

“…Damn it!” the evil manifestation cursed.

She hadn’t expected such a move. Her eyes widened as she directed the other serpent heads to attack Little Red together, attempting to shatter the barrier.

In the end, amidst a cataclysmic surge of power, the earth collapsed. Everything on the surface fell into a vast abyss below.

…

…

Through blurred consciousness, Xia Yi felt herself falling endlessly into the void.

The pink and red little foxes were not far away, both unconscious, descending alongside her.

At this rate, they would all be crushed to death.

…She had to do something. She had to save Yue Liu and Little Red.

But in her current state, she could no longer use magic.

Even so, dragons were not helpless without magic.

Gritting her teeth, the little princess forced herself to act, making the only choice left to her.

“Dragon form… release…!”

[https://ko-fi.com/golden_dragon]