Qian Duoduo's vision went dark, and he fainted.
Looking at the former Little Peddler before her, Zeng Zifang felt a bit lost in thought.
Just over half a year ago, Qian Duoduo was only at Condensing Qi Stage Level Eight, but now he had already reached Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, and his Artifact Refining level had skyrocketed from first-rank to being able to refine initial-level xuan weapon, possessing the skill of a Four-Rank Refiner; now, even more terrifyingly, he had attracted the Ethereal Weapon Tribulation.
Relying on a woman's intuition, she didn't entirely believe that the Ethereal Weapon Tribulation was 100% related to Qian Duoduo, but she couldn't yet confirm whether it was, as he claimed, caused by refining the Four-Unlike.
This fourteen or fifteen-year-old youth, who allowed himself to be knocked out, either had an honest heart and could withstand scrutiny, or he had powerful backing and wasn't afraid of her turning hostile.
Zeng Zifang felt that the first reason was more likely.
She composed herself and looked at the Four-Unlike, saying with a smile, "Let's have a match."
The Four-Unlike gestured to her, signaling Zeng Zifang to make her move.
Zeng Zifang was at Golden Core Middle Stage, and the Four-Unlike didn't even put her in its sights.
Being underestimated by a Puppet, Zeng Zifang felt a surge of anger, channeling all her Spiritual Qi, and fiercely struck the Four-Unlike's head.
The Four-Unlike lightly met the blow, and with a "boom," it easily blocked Zeng Zifang's full-power strike.
Zeng Zifang felt as if she was facing her own grandfather's Golden Man Puppet.
"Can I use a Magic Treasure?" Zeng Zifang took out a Senior Dan Artifact, the Blood Demon Sword.
Qian Duoduo's hall was, after all, not a Martial Arts Stage, so she couldn't use her Lifebound Treasure, the Nine-Section Poison Whip.
She took a deep breath, her aura rising to Golden Core Late Stage, then touched her left temple, and her aura rose again to Golden Core Great Perfection.
Activating the Blood Sword Skill, a dense crimson sword wave appeared on the Blood Demon Sword.
Zeng Zifang flicked her wrist, and the crimson sword wave solidly struck the Four-Unlike's forehead.
"Put some force into it." The Four-Unlike didn't budge, speaking to Zeng Zifang with its Spiritual Awareness.
Its fur, repaired with Sacred Artifact soul liquid, could not be harmed by a mere Dan artifact.
Zeng Zifang's face immediately flushed, and she showed a charming smile, "Still quite arrogant."
She looked back at the unconscious Qian Duoduo, confirming that this pride-hurting remark was not made at Qian Duoduo's behest.
If she found out Qian Duoduo had ordered it, she would kick his head.
Qian Duoduo lay on the chair, still unconscious.
Zeng Zifang breathed a sigh of relief, tightened the sash around her waist, her body shrinking by a circle, and her aura surged, leaping to Nascent Soul Initial Stage.
With a slender waist and rounded hips, she was even more captivating than before.
She held the Blood Demon Sword with both hands, and a crimson flame emerged from the sword.
Taking a step forward, Zeng Zifang thrust the Blood Demon Sword towards the Four-Unlike's neck.
The Four-Unlike raised a front paw, and with a "boom," it intercepted the Blood Demon Sword.
Although it was pushed back half a step by the sword's momentum, there was no sign of defeat.
Its front paw was from a Mystic Sky Crocodile, and in terms of rank, it wasn't afraid of a Nascent Soul Initial Stage.
It stood up from the ground, its large eyes wide, and said, "Again."
Zeng Zifang pushed off the ground with her feet, and the Blood Demon Sword drew a crimson ray of light, striking towards the Four-Unlike's head again.
The Four-Unlike moved its body forward, still raising its front paw, blocking the Blood Demon Sword.
This time, its other three paws gripped the ground firmly, not retreating an inch.
Zeng Zifang was unconvinced and, channeling all her Nascent Soul Initial Stage Spiritual Qi, charged forward fiercely.
But the Blood Demon Sword was like striking a giant mountain, unable to advance even a hair's breadth.
"You are not my opponent."
The Four-Unlike shook its head, then lay back down on the ground, looking at the unconscious Qian Duoduo.
"That's enough, wake up the little brother."
Zeng Zifang strained and charged twice more, still without any effect.
Yet, she was unwilling to give up, raising her right leg and kicking fiercely towards the Four-Unlike.
The Four-Unlike opened its mouth, and a stream of icy water sprayed out, instantly freezing Zeng Zifang's right leg into an icicle, firmly stuck to the ground.
"Ah!"
Her right leg lost all sensation, and Zeng Zifang shrieked in fright.