Investment Return System, Start by taking Demon Empress as a Disciple

Chapter 119: The Heavenly-Demon Finger, an Abyssal Gap

For a moment, Li Shenruo fell into silence, her clenched fists trembling uncontrollably. It wasn't that she couldn't accept losing to Leng Yanran, but rather, she couldn't accept how she had been defeated so effortlessly!

Throughout the entire exchange, Leng Yanran hadn't even wielded her artifact. One could even say she had stood in place, inviting her attacks. Yet every single time, she swiftly created a situation where victory was assured.

"This is bad… Shenruo's mental state is wavering! But regardless, staying alive is the most important. As long as she's alive, her mental state can be repaired sooner or later!"

"Shenruo, concede..."

Several elders, witnessing Li Shenruo's reaction, were suddenly alarmed. It was evident that her mental state had faltered.

Even they dared not intervene now. If external forces were to interfere, it might only deepen the turmoil within! All would be decided by Li Shenruo.

To strike meant death; to surrender meant shattering the belief in inevitable victory. Meanwhile, Leng Yanran remained tranquil throughout, standing with crossed arms, calmly watching Li Shenruo.

Whether in their previous exchanges or now, she had not displayed a hint of turbulence. Li Yourong stood aside, blinking as though not fully comprehending the intense tension of the situation. Her thoughts likely lingered on the white goose taken away by the Second Elder for handling.

"Thank you, Fairy Leng, for letting Shenruo understand what it truly means to be a peerless genius. Although… Shenruo has no regrets in dying, I implore Fairy Leng to grant me one wish."

Though Li Shenruo tightly clenched her fists, sweat forming on her forehead, her gaze regained a resolute edge as she slightly bowed towards Leng Yanran.

"Okay, tell me."

Leng Yanran nodded in agreement, a flicker of surprise crossing her eyes. She hadn't expected that Li Shenruo would genuinely overcome her fear of death, willing to face her in battle once more.

"I beseech Fairy Leng, go all out in a single strike. Let Shenruo truly comprehend the extent of the disparity between her and you!"

Li Shenruo took a deep breath, earnestly gazing into Leng Yanran's calm eyes as she slowly spoke.

"Very well."

Leng Yanran continued to nod in acquiescence.

Seeing this, Li Shenruo smiled, a touch of bitterness mixed with a hint of self-deprecation.

"From childhood till now, whether it's the elders or the various powers of the Eastern Region, they all chant that Shenruo is the genius of the heavens, the number one in the Eastern Region. Yet, today, only in sparring with Fairy Leng did I realize how limited I truly am. Given this, why not witness the true extent of a genius."

Li Shenruo sighed with mixed emotions, and having spoken, she resumed her stance. This time, she pushed her aura to its limits, almost exceeding the capacity of her own body. Even the recently acquired Immortal-Grade technique was operating with increasing proficiency in this face-off against death, bordering on mastery.

"This… between life and death, one gains profound insights!"

"But…"

Several elders of the Holy Mountain observed Li Shenruo's transformation. While some were pleasantly surprised, most were worried.

Even as they looked toward Leng Yanran, there was an undertone of pleading in their gazes. While Li Yourong had been rather indifferent to cultivation, having Li Shenruo as the sect's face had been sufficient. Even now, Li Yourong had been taken away by Senior Chen, leaving behind only Li Shenruo.

If Li Shenruo were to fall now, their Holy Mountain would be in dire straits. The Central Region would undoubtedly unleash its wrath, and there would be no calming the storm.

Observing Li Shenruo's earnest demeanor, Leng Yanran decided to release her suppressive aura. She even heightened her own aura to its zenith, causing spiritual energy to swirl around her like a gentle vortex. Around her, a thick aura of malevolence exuded, as though a demonic entity had descended from the heavens. This sudden change doubled the pressure on Li Shenruo. The mere weight of this presence caused beads of sweat to form on her forehead.

Even the several Divinity Separation Realm Elders standing nearby couldn't help but feel the strain after witnessing Leng Yanran's state pushed to the extreme.

Though separated by three significant realms, in the eyes of these Divinity Separation Realm Elders, the current Leng Yanran undeniably possessed the strength to contend with them in battle! It was a notion utterly inconceivable!

Had they not seen it with their own eyes, they would never believe that a cultivator at the First Heaven of the Unity Realm could exert pressure on those at the Divinity Separation Realm.

"Have you made up your mind?"

Leng Yanran gazed at Li Shenruo, who was forcibly resisting her oppressive aura, and softly inquired. Though Li Shenruo gritted her teeth and had no time to respond, she nodded emphatically.

The moment she nodded, Leng Yanran vanished from her original position. Before their eyes could blink, she stood right before Li Shenruo, her fingertip touching the latter's forehead.

"Heavenly Demon Finger."

As her vermilion lips gently parted, the already dense malevolent aura around her surged a hundredfold! The malevolence gathered and coalesced, forming a phantom of a demonic being behind her, scarlet eyes fixed upon Li Shenruo.

In an instant, Li Shenruo lost all consciousness, unable even to evade. The pressure emitted by the Heavenly Demon Finger caused even the Divinity Separation Realm elders to break into a sweat. Even they lacked confidence in blocking this strike!

Even if it were a battle in the Divinity Separation Realm, facing Leng Yanran, the odds of victory would be slim.

"Bo——" A soft sound, the activation of the Heavenly Demon Finger. The demonic phantom behind Leng Yanran let out a roar, and in an instant, it transformed into a malevolent energy, shooting forth from her fingertip.

"Shenruo!!!"

"Little friend, be merciful!"

"No!"

Several elders were utterly panicked. In the blink of an eye, they appeared by Li Shenruo's side, intending to inspect her injuries. But they understood that if that fingertip struck her forehead, there would be no possibility of salvation. Under that one finger, both body and spirit would be annihilated.

"Heh...heh… This is… Beyond One!"

Li Shenruo's pupils slowly regained consciousness and muttered to herself.

In that critical moment, the great hall behind Li Shenruo rumbled and collapsed. At the last instant, Leng Yanran had altered the direction of her strike.

Her declaration of Li Shenruo's impending death was indeed a means to temper Li Shenruo's temperament. If she could survive this life-and-death ordeal, it would be an opportunity for her, solidifying her mental fortitude like unyielding stone. If she failed, it would indicate her mental state was not yet mature. After all, she was Li Yourong's elder sister, and she didn't want to hurt her or actually kill her.

Furthermore, though the other party was not particularly likable, she hadn't done anything wrong.

"Alright, I'm going to cultivate now. Elders, please lead the way."

Leng Yanran paid no mind to Li Shenruo, who was still dazed, and turned to the flustered elders.

"Thank you, Fairy Leng, thank you!"

"Fairy Leng, this way please. We've already prepared a cultivation room for you."

Seeing that Li Shenruo was unharmed, the elders' attitudes underwent an immediate shift towards Leng Yanran. Their address even changed from "Little friend / Junior" to "Fairy Leng."

"Um... Senior Sister, wait a moment. Senior Sister, the hall you just shattered... belonged to Yourong… Yourong's place is... gone..."

Just as everyone was rejoicing, Li Yourong weakly grabbed her senior sister's arm. Tears welled in her eyes, misting her vision. She pouted, her voice laden with grievance.

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