Chapter Two: The Perverted Spirit (Part Two)

At the same time, the gathered demons on the ground simultaneously unleashed a collective assault upon the barrier, using both their bodies and their weapons.

Water fosters wood, yet wood subdues water; the laws of the Great Five Elements that govern the universe are inherently profound. Although the arts of the Underworld are formidable, they cannot exert their full potential within the Demon Realm. Furthermore, Chiyang was already severely wounded, and the Demon Realm was riddled with restrictive spells. Thus, despite possessing the strength of a Nether Commander, Chiyang could not hold out much longer under the siege of the demon horde.

For a moment, red light rippled across the barrier, steam rising as the immense external pressure bore down upon it. It was a perilous sensation, as if a thousand catties of weight were hanging by a single thread.

***

Throughout the demons' assault, Biyuan had stood idly by. Now, seeing an opportunity, a cunning and triumphant expression—like a cat toying with a mouse—crossed her face. "What? Are you eager to taste my power?" With a wild, unbridled cackle, she performed a series of hand seals. A gust of wind swept through, and suddenly, countless snow mice appeared, prostrating themselves at her feet.

"My darlings, attack!" With a flick of her finger, the snow mice surged forward toward the barrier without hesitation.

As these furry white creatures neared the barrier, the unbearable heat forced them to squeak in terror and retreat. Biyuan’s expression soured. "Useless wretches!" she cursed.

She waved her hand, and the snow mice, now beyond their own control, charged headlong at the barrier. Amidst their shrill cries, they collided with it one after another like moths to a flame, their flesh searing and rotting instantly. They perished on the spot, their corpses sticking to the barrier. In the blink of an eye, a thick layer had formed. Following this suicidal assault, the outer surface of the barrier was almost entirely covered in carcasses, and even the heat began to subside.

This tragic scene left everyone, both inside and outside the barrier, stunned. Many of the rodent-kin demons and beasts were livid, but knowing that Biyuan was a deranged, solitary, and ruthless spirit, no one dared to intervene. They could only watch helplessly as the snow mice threw their lives away in wave after wave of attacks.

"Despicable!" Fuyao, pushed to the brink of rage, struck the inner wall of the barrier with her fist. Standing up, she shouted, "Biyuan, you vicious old hag! Why not fight us fair and square instead of tormenting these snow mice? Do you have some grudge against them?"

In the Demon Realm, power is the only currency. Even if the lesser demons were dissatisfied with Biyuan’s actions, they dared not voice it. To think that the only words of justice would come from Fuyao, a "traitor." Although the demons were generally not highly intelligent, they recognized that Biyuan’s actions were truly cruel. Given her cultivation level, she was more than capable of engaging Shi Jun and the others in battle. Sending the snow mice to their deaths served little purpose beyond testing the strength of Shi Jun’s group and satisfying her own twisted sense of play. Though the demons were united in their hostility toward Fuyao, they felt a sense of deflation under these circumstances. The clamor gradually died down as they stood on guard, watching Biyuan.

Biyuan cackled, her white hair flying as if she were insane. "These snow mice belong to me! I can do whatever I please—what business is it of yours?" She then hissed, "You damned fools dared to trespass into my sacred grounds, and now you have the audacity to shout at me? You shall all die!"

The demons were startled. They, too, had been drawn by the anomalies on Snow Ridge and had stumbled into the forbidden zone in their haste, forgetting Biyuan’s rules. Hearing the old woman’s venomous words, they trembled, fearing that they, too, were included among the "damned fools" she meant to kill. One by one, they fell silent, terrified.

***

As they spoke, the snow mice continued to hurl themselves at the barrier. The resentment and misery in their dying eyes were unbearable for those inside to witness.

"Forget it." Unable to hold on any longer, Chiyang sighed softly and withdrew the barrier. The group was once again exposed.

The surviving snow mice, relieved of their burden, scattered and fled.

Though Shi Jun was somewhat nervous, he could not help but be filled with indignation at Biyuan’s behavior. With a mocking smile, he said, "You insane woman, you are truly as old as you are wicked. Although we have no malicious intent, we are, after all, outsiders; being beaten by unreasonable thugs like you is one thing, but these snow mice and those demons are your own kin. They have no grudge against you, yet you are so vicious that you would wipe them all out just because everyone stumbled into this damn Snow Valley. Have you lost your mind, or did you just take the wrong medicine?"

As he spoke, he quickly scanned his mind for offensive spells—partly to vent his frustration, but also to sow fear among the demons and divert their attention, hoping to create enough chaos to escape. He had not considered, however, that a madwoman like Biyuan would only become more unhinged by such remarks. Heaven only knew what strange tricks she might unleash next.

The demons were stunned by Shi Jun’s words. They looked at him with a mix of awe, admiration, and profound pity, all silently agreeing that this reckless young man would meet a truly gruesome end.

The once chaotic and tense scene of life-and-death struggle suddenly seemed somewhat absurd.

But to the surprise of the demons, Biyuan didn't explode in rage. Instead, she paused, staring at him intently for a long moment before suddenly giggling. She shook with laughter, her voice high and shrill, sending chills down everyone's spines. "Oh my, I misjudged you. You’re a mortal, and quite a handsome young man at that!" She rolled her eyes and cast a wink at him, believing it to be full of charm.

The crowd of demons was in an uproar, and even Fuyao was taken aback. She had assumed Shi Jun was from the Underworld; she never imagined he came from the human realm.

Chiyang, though weak and injured, couldn't help but chuckle. He whispered to Shi Jun, "Now you’ve done it! We’re in trouble."

Shi Jun, not understanding the implication, gave Chiyang a gentle smile. "Don't worry, we will make it out of here safely."

Biyuan smoothed her white hair and straightened her clothes with practiced ease, continuing with a coquettish smile, "Little brother, where in the human realm are you from? I... this humble one is a native of Changbai Mountain. And you?"

At these words, the demons with lower cultivation levels nearly collapsed, unable to believe that the notoriously vicious and treacherous Biyuan would use such a tone to say such a thing.

Shi Jun, however, gave a dismissive laugh and shook his head. "What does it matter where I’m from?"