Thastrum frowned in obvious disdain. “Real men don’t fight women. Send a man out to face me!”
“Thastrum, don’t underestimate her!” Leonel warned quickly. “That female demonic cultivator doesn’t look ordinary.”
The cultivators watching midway up the mountain erupted in shouts.“Thastrum, don’t chicken out! Kill that female demonic cultivator!”
“Doesn’t matter if it’s a man or woman. If she’s a demonic cultivator, must die!”
“Hurry up! Don’t make level six look weak!”
Lilith heard the crowd’s jeers but did not get angry. Instead, a strange smile curved lips. “Since everyone’s so impatient, I’ll play with Mr. Sandoval.”
She lifted the black flute in hand. Her voice was soft and seductive, but cold at the edge. “I’m Lilith. I’ll test Mr. Sandoval’s strength.”
Thastrum scowled. “If you won’t behave, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”
Golden spiritual energy swirled around as prepared for battle.
Lilith, however, did not move to attack. She brought the black flute to lips and began to play. The melody floated softly at first, then twisted with a strange demonic power, reaching the crowd and making many cultivators dizzy and disoriented.
“Something’s wrong with that music!” Infinides shouted, his face paling.
“Everyone, circulate your spiritual energy to protect your minds!” The cultivators quickly responded, forming protective shields around themselves.
Thastrum, standing in the center of the battlefield, felt the flute’s power hit first. His mind swirled, and his spiritual energy became sluggish and unsteady.
“Cowardly trick!” roared, forcing his focus back and leaping toward Lilith.
“Gold Cloud Fist. Second form. Gold Sweeper!” shouted.
Golden fist shadows surged forward like a violent wind, aiming straight for Lilith. She remained calm, moving as lightly as drifting leaves, letting every strike miss by a hair.
The flute’s melody suddenly quickened. Countless black soundwaves burst forth like razor-sharp blades aimed at Thastrum.
He swung his fist shadows to block them, but the soundwaves passed right through, striking directly.
A sharp pain shot through his body, and his spiritual energy faltered, forcing to take several steps back.
“How is this possible?” Thastrum’s face filled with shock. He had never imagined that a seemingly delicate female cultivator could wield such strange and powerful techniques.
Lilith paused, a faint, eerie smile playing on lips. “Mr. Sandoval, this is only the beginning.”
She raised the flute once more. This time, the melody was even stranger, seeming to pierce directly into the mind and dragging anyone who heard it into illusions.
Thastrum felt darkness cloud his vision, as if countless vengeful spirits were rushing toward him, making stumble back in fear.
He knew was caught in an illusion and tried to force his spiritual energy to break free, but Lilith’s demonic power was too strong. His mind grew hazy, and his awareness started to fade.
“Thastrum! Wake up!” Aurelius shouted urgently from the ranks. Yuliana clenched fists tightly, eyes full of worry.
The cultivators halfway up the mountain tensed as well, holding their breath as they focused on Thastrum in the middle of the battlefield.
Just as Thastrum was about to be completely swallowed by the illusion, a loud, booming laugh rang out. “Ha! Thastrum, you’re useless! You’re defeated by a female cultivator?”
At the same moment, a figure struck the battlefield like a bolt of thunder.
Tall and imposing, his upper body human but his lower body that of a tiger, with two golden horns sprouting from his head. He was the top-ranked beast race genius in the Martial Rankings, Half-Beast King Imorn!
Thastrum’s vision cleared instantly upon hearing the laugh and seeing Half-Beast King Imorn, a flash of irritation crossing his face. “Half-Beast King Imorn? What are you doing here?”
Half-Beast King Imorn patted Thastrum’s shoulder, teasing. “Of course, I came to save you. Otherwise, you’d be done for today. Step back now. Don’t embarrass yourself here.”
