Chapter 36: Holy shit! That's ruthless!

The second day.

Zheng Tuo prepared some soy milk and delicious pork bun fillings.

Watching Shen Xian'er eat with great relish, he asked, "Xian'er, how is the taste?"

"Delicious! Senior Brother's cooking is the best in the whole world. Xian'er loves it most!"

Shen Xian'er gazed at her Senior Brother with eyes full of admiration.

In her worldview, cultivators who could fly through the heavens and boil the seas were not the strongest. Instead, it was her Senior Brother, who could create such exquisite food, who was the ultimate powerhouse.

Zheng Tuo decided not to keep hiding it any longer.

"Xian'er, Senior Brother is researching formations. Why don't you help me? In return, I'll cook for you every single day, okay?"

"Really?" Shen Xian'er's small face instantly bloomed like a flower.

"Of course. You are my Junior Sister; how could I possibly lie to you?"

"Good, good, good... when do we start?" Shen Xian'er rolled up her sleeves, unable to wait. In this world, what could be more blissful than eating Senior Brother's cooking every day?

"Xian'er, won't you ask me what kind of formation I am researching?"

"No need to ask! Senior Brother is the best to me, so it must be a very interesting formation. Senior Brother would never want to hurt Xian'er." Shen Xian'er lifted her fair neck, wearing a proud, "I already knew it" expression.

Beside them, Xiao Bai saw how naive Shen Xian'er was and could only shake her head helplessly. Based on her understanding of Shen Xian'er, whoever provided the food was effectively her "father." Encountering a guy like Zheng Tuo meant Xian'er was facing a tribulation in her destiny.

"Of course. I am your Senior Brother; I certainly won't harm you," Zheng Tuo nodded.

In the days that followed, Shen Xian'er transformed into the perfect tool, helping him test various illusion formations. It had to be said that every illusion formation was a brand-new world to her. She played and frolicked within these diverse realms, the only constant being her innocence.

Three months later, with Shen Xian'er's cooperation, Zheng Tuo completed the testing of all the illusion formations. Through his continuous refinements, he had achieved the most perfect configuration for a First-Tier Immortal-Trapping Formation.

With the illusion tests finished, the remaining formations were all offensive or defensive in nature. Clearly, these types were not suitable for Shen Xian'er to test. Thus, he turned his sights on Xiao Bai.

Under the parasol tree, Xiao Bai, who was napping on a stone table, suddenly shuddered! A chill raced up her spine, straight to the crown of her head, as if something terrible was about to happen.

"Xian'er, lend Xiao Bai to me for a bit." Zheng Tuo looked at Xiao Bai, who was staring at him, with a beaming smile.

"Meow!" Xiao Bai immediately turned her head away, looking pitifully at Shen Xian'er.

"Senior Brother, Xiao Bai says there's danger. Is it true?" Shen Xian'er asked, her voice muffled as she held a stick of candied haws.

"Don't worry. Xiao Bai is your favorite pet; how could I let her face danger?" Zheng Tuo maintained a smile as bright as sunshine.

"Meow, meow!"

"Senior Brother, Xiao Bai says she refuses, and she'd rather die than help you," Shen Xian'er said, acting as a translator while eating her treats.

The corner of Xiao Bai's mouth curled up. Her feline face was full of smugness. *You just bullied me three months ago, and now you want me to help you? In your dreams!*

Zheng Tuo looked at the unafraid Xiao Bai. "Xian'er, Senior Brother has a delicacy called Braised Pork. It's incredibly delicious."

"Xiao Bai, go help Senior Brother!"

Xiao Bai: "..."

"Holy crap! Heartless!"

"Meow, meow!" Xiao Bai's eyes widened. She put on a pitiful, helpless, and cold-fearing expression, attempting to win Shen Xian'er's sympathy. This trick had never failed her before, but this time, it clearly missed the mark.

"Be good, Xiao Bai. Senior Brother said he won't hurt you. You have to trust him, right, Senior Brother?" Shen Xian'er turned to Zheng Tuo.

"Of course. Xiao Bai is your favorite pet; how could I bear to hurt her? Don't worry, it's just a simple formation test. There won't be any life-threatening danger," Zheng Tuo promised, patting his chest.

"Xiao Bai, did you see? Senior Brother said there's no problem. So... um... Senior Brother, when are we eating the braised pork?"

Xiao Bai rolled her eyes in fury. How did she end up with such a gluttonous master? There was no helping it; as Shen Xian'er's pet, they had signed a contract. She had to obey Shen Xian'er's commands one hundred percent.

Looking at the "ready-to-die" expression on Xiao Bai's face, Zheng Tuo felt a sense of amusement. He suspected Xiao Bai had only agreed to the contract because she thought Shen Xian'er was pure. He hadn't expected Shen Xian'er would sell her out for food.

"Don't worry, I won't mistreat you." Zheng Tuo took out a Second-Tier Demon Core from his bronze ring. "If you help me test the formations for one day, I'll give you this Second-Tier Demon Core. Is that a fair deal?"

Xiao Bai was utterly disdainful of demon cores. She turned away, attempting to use her cuteness to change Shen Xian'er's mind, only to find that Shen Xian'er was already sitting cross-legged on a stone stool, munching on sunflower seeds with a loud crunch. As Xiao Bai looked over, the girl gave her an encouraging nod.

"No time to lose. Let's test one formation before dinner to see the results." Zheng Tuo picked up Xiao Bai.

Xiao Bai refused to go, even unto death. Her two paws gripped the stone table tightly, leaving several claw marks in the stone. Seeing this, Shen Xian'er immediately gripped her sunflower seeds, her large eyes brimming with tears.

Seeing this, Xiao Bai thought her mistress had changed her mind.

"Senior Brother!" Shen Xian'er looked at Zheng Tuo with tearful eyes.

"What's wrong, Junior Sister?" Zheng Tuo's heart skipped a beat. *Has Shen Xian'er finally controlled her greed?*

"Um... um... what I wanted to say is... these sunflower seeds are really delicious!"

Xiao Bai: "..." Zheng Tuo: "..."

"If they're good, eat more. If you run out, ask me."

"Mhm, I know, Senior Brother."

Zheng Tuo walked away, carrying a cat whose face looked utterly devoid of hope.

Offensive formations were the most dangerous of all. In Zheng Tuo's view, Xiao Bai's identity was definitely extraordinary. He decided to take this opportunity to see exactly what this little cat was capable of. Killing two birds with one stone—he was quite brilliant.

Inside the bronze mirror, the offensive formation was activated.

*Whoosh...*

A white figure darted past. Xiao Bai's expression was serious as she remained vigilant of her surroundings. Suddenly, several ice spikes, carrying a bone-chilling cold, lunged toward her.

Xiao Bai's face was full of disdain. *With such meager tricks, you think you can hurt me?* She didn't meet them head-on; instead, her four paws moved in rapid succession, using agile footwork to easily dodge the ice spikes.

"The concealment of the ice spikes needs improvement," Zheng Tuo noted, taking out a small notebook to record the data.

*Thud!*

Xiao Bai landed steadily, her expression still wary. Given Zheng Tuo's methods, it certainly wouldn't be this simple. Just as she thought, a sense of danger suddenly surged from beneath her feet the moment she landed. Without thinking, she leaped high into the air.

Simultaneously, several sharp blades shot out from the ground without warning. Had she been a second slower, she would have been impaled on the spot. While mid-air, she twisted her body, preparing to descend.

Suddenly, a violent wind rose, causing her to instantly lose control of her body.

*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...*

From the sky, several fireballs descended, sealing off all her escape routes. Seeing the fireballs approaching with no way to avoid them, Xiao Bai did not panic. In an instant, a golden character for "King" (王) appeared on her forehead. As the golden light flashed, Xiao Bai vanished from her spot, reappearing elsewhere to dodge the fireballs and land steadily on the ground.

Just as Xiao Bai thought the continuous attacks had ended, the ground beneath her feet exploded with a loud *boom!* The power of the explosive talisman was terrifying, sending her flying instantly.

*Splat!*

Xiao Bai slammed hard against the hard ground. Her originally snow-white fur now looked filthy and blackened, like a lump of coal.

"Zheng Tuo!"

Xiao Bai's killing intent exploded. Her most cherished white fur had actually been singed; this was absolutely intolerable! Since it had come to this, don't blame her for destroying his great formation.

Enraged, the "King" character on her forehead flashed with streaks of golden light. The light was as blinding as a divine sun, threatening to tear apart the entire Immortal-Trapping Formation.

A third of a second later, the golden light vanished.

"What happened?! Where is my spiritual energy!" Xiao Bai discovered to her horror that she could no longer feel her own spiritual essence.

"Wait! What is that smell?" Xiao Bai sniffed her blackened fur.

"Spirit-Severing Powder!"

The explosion had been mixed with Spirit-Severing Powder! *Spirit-Severing Powder: A substance that blocks the connection between the body and spiritual energy for a certain period, achieving a severing effect.*

The moment she realized she was covered in it, Xiao Bai knew she was in trouble. Just as she feared, several vines ensnared her.

"Ghost Vines!"

*Ghost Vines: A type of plant life capable of absorbing spiritual energy and life force.*

Because her energy was severed, Xiao Bai was powerless to resist the vines. She could only allow them to drain her spiritual energy. Once that was exhausted, the vines would begin to absorb her life force.

"Use your trump card, quickly!"

In front of the bronze mirror, Zheng Tuo whispered, his eyes fixed on the screen showing Xiao Bai. He was certain she possessed some powerful hidden move.

"You bastard, Zheng Tuo!" Xiao Bai gritted her teeth. She hated him more than anything, especially as she felt her spiritual energy being sucked dry.

With no other choice, she mentally recited an ancient technique. Faint golden spiritual runes began to emerge upon her body.

*Sizzle...*

The Ghost Vines were scorched and evaporated in minutes, like squid on a hot griddle.

*Thud.*

Xiao Bai collapsed onto the ground, looking utterly exhausted. Clearly, she had used a somewhat unrefined divine ability. However, under Zheng Tuo's methods, the destruction of the Ghost Vines did not mean the end of the attack.

*Rumble...*

The ground trembled and then transformed into a giant hand. The massive hand moved to close around her, intending to suppress Xiao Bai.

"Zheng Tuo, you bastard! Just how many traps have you prepared to screw me over?!" Xiao Bai could no longer maintain her elegance and couldn't help but curse loudly.

In most formations, the attacks only happened two or three times. But for him, the attacks were as endless as if they cost nothing, one after another.

Hearing Xiao Bai's cursing, Zheng Tuo couldn't help but rub his nose.

"Freeze!" He raised his hand, halting the giant hand within the formation.

In his understanding, an offensive formation was meant to drive the opponent to their death. Therefore, it had to include a variety of trap combinations. *Besides, I didn't set that many traps—it was just a combo set of 88 attacks,* Zheng Tuo complained inwardly.

However, he was quite satisfied with Xiao Bai's performance. If she could achieve this much on her first test, there would surely be more surprises in the future.

Opening the formation gates, Xiao Bai stumbled out, looking dazed.

"Go take a bath. We'll continue testing tonight."

Xiao Bai wanted to cry. Her heart wanted to refuse, but her body was being strangely honest. She was surprised to find that after consuming a Second-Tier Demon Core and helping Zheng Tuo test the formations, her strength had actually increased.

*A blessing in disguise. You, Zheng Tuo, calculated everything, but you didn't account for this, did you?*

"Zheng Tuo, with my talent, my strength will recover quickly. When that time comes, just wait and see how I deal with you," Xiao Bai vowed silently.

Zheng Tuo, unaware of her thoughts, looked somewhat troubled. He had added plenty of spiritual energy to the formation, and Xiao Bai had even consumed a Second-Tier Demon Core, yet her strength hadn't increased. *Is her talent really this mediocre?*

He had his own plans. Although Xiao Bai was strong, she was only at the third stage of Qi Refinement. He needed someone even stronger to help him test the stability of his formations. Moreover, he didn't want to find anyone else. Shen Xian'er was familiar, and Xiao Bai was familiar; finding a stranger might just bring him trouble. And he hated trouble more than anything.

Just as that thought crossed his mind, the bronze mirror suddenly emitted an alarm: someone was intruding into the Immortal-Trapping Formation.