12 – Like a Slave Pet: Utterly Bitter and Sour, Double.
The moment the barrier shattered, the two-headed demon lizard roared and charged forward.
Yuan Lan focused solely on attacking with his fan, but Liu Wuzhi noticed the giant lizard’s unnatural movements—each time it landed, its right forelimb trembled slightly. Looking closer, the scales in that area were slightly darker, as if injured.
As sharp claws brushed past her ear, Liu Wuzhi seized the chance to slip beneath the magical beast’s chest and abdomen, finally seeing clearly: all the claws on its right side were torn and upturned, with a festering wound embedded with gravel and sand.
Just as her fingertips were about to touch the wound, the magical beast suddenly thrashed its body, its barbed tail stirring up a cloud of yellow dust from the ground. Liu Wuzhi was thrown back by the shockwave, her back slamming into the ground and her arm cut open.
Only by experiencing it firsthand did she realize that pain truly was an unpleasant feeling.
Though the magical beast was fierce and untamed, Liu Wuzhi inexplicably recalled the puppy she had rescued in the back mountains of the Azure Mist Sect when she first took human form. Trapped in a hunting trap, it had trembled in pain yet bared its teeth, biting through her sleeve.
Fierce yet pitiful.
Liu Wuzhi’s eyes softened, and she completely dropped her defensive stance, her tone growing even gentler. “Don’t be shy. I have no gender, and Brother Yuan Lan is male, just like you.”
She wasn’t lying—the combination of hyphae and spores was complex, and Lingzhi had no specific gender classification.
“Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. Dirty things will make the wound hurt more. Let me help you clean it.” She scrambled to her feet before Yuan Lan could, pointing in the direction of the Demon Lord and whispering a warning to the injured creature, “If you keep fighting, the Demon Lord will use Brother Yuan Lan to sharpen his claws.”
Yuan Lan: ?
Two-headed demon lizard: ?
The girl appeared gentle and harmless, yet an oppressive demon energy had unknowingly gathered around her, surging like deep-sea currents, silently enveloping the area. The two-headed demon lizard seemed to have its vital point seized, both heads lowering slightly as its earth-shaking roar turned into a low, menacing growl.
This woman was not to be eaten.
Seizing the opportunity, Liu Wuzhi inched closer step by step to the colossal creature. Under its wary gaze, she gently applied medicinal powder to the wound on its right forelimb.
Sharp fangs hovered above her head, warm breaths blowing against her face, its killing instinct suppressed and struggling to break free. The healing power seeped into the wound, releasing a translucent purple demon breath.
Once the wound was cleaned, Liu Wuzhi looked up and asked, “The toxins have been expelled. Do you feel better now? Does it still hurt?”
Why would a trapped beast in an arena need healing?
Yet, under the gaze full of resistance, the two-headed demon lizard allowed her to tear a strip of cloth from her hem and skillfully tie it into a bow. Moments later, the giant beast retracted its injured claw and gently crouched at the girl’s feet.
The audience erupted in an uproar.
This was absolutely not in line with the arena’s conventions. Beast tamers either subdued magical beasts with force or controlled their minds with talismans—no one had ever treated a magical beast’s wounds as if it were a friend.
The audience glared angrily at the two-headed demon lizard: Why? Why didn’t you tear her apart? Are you even still a magical beast?
The two-headed demon lizard paid no heed. As it lowered its gaze, a hand extended before it, holding a few bright red wild fruits in its palm.
Two-headed demon lizard: ?
Liu Wuzhi smiled. “Freshly picked. They’re delicious.”
These snacks were originally saved for the Nether Butterfly Dusky Crow, but since the big lizard was so well-behaved, shouldn’t it be rewarded?
Besides, it even eats snails!
Bold to such an extent, the crowd glared angrily at the two-headed demon lizard, clamoring: You are a ninth-tier magical beast, how could you possibly eat such handouts? Hurry up and tear her apart!
Ten thousand scorching gazes could not compare to a single strand of chilling oppressive aura.
Just as the two-headed demon lizard was about to stubbornly resist, the cold pressure once again descended overwhelmingly.
Three breaths later, it lowered its head in humiliation, rolling the wild fruit into its mouth. Soon, the other head was also fed the same snack.
Extremely sour and astringent, double the dose.
“She actually tamed a ninth-tier demonic creature!” The voice of a demon attendant broke the silence, applause and exclamations surging like a tide.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, the Beast Taming Token for this round had to be handed over to this slender young girl—with this token, she could enter the auction.
Before Liu Wuzhi could receive it, the Beast Taming Token flew to behind her.
Turning around, she saw Baili Zheque landing lightly, puffing her cheeks in anger: This freeloading big villain had snatched her prize again.
“I tamed it,” she said, reaching out to grab it.
The Demon Lord sidestepped to avoid her: “You tamed it?”
“It even licked my hand.”
“Oh?”
“If you don’t believe me, I’ll tame it again.”
With that, Liu Wuzhi turned to the two-headed demon lizard, mouthing a hint: Roar at him.
Hearing this, both heads of the magical beast lowered, looking utterly dejected.
Thinking it might still be injured, Liu Wuzhi checked but found it was only trembling, seemingly afraid of something.
At the end of its desperate gaze was the Demon Lord in the form of a young man. As his gaze swept over, the two-headed demon lizard’s eyes grew increasingly watery, clearly conveying “dare not move.”
Liu Wuzhi snorted in defiance, taking out a few more sour wild fruits and coaxing the magical beast: “Come, eat a bit more and you won’t be afraid.”
Unable to force-feed it, a nearby demon attendant couldn’t bear to watch and reminded her: “Miss, demonic creatures usually feed on flesh and blood.”
“Lizards eat fruits, you know. It already ate some just now,” Liu Wuzhi waved her left and right hands separately, emphasizing, “Both heads ate.”
Baili Zheque silently toyed with the Beast Taming Token, but upon hearing this, the corners of his lips lifted slightly, as if smiling yet not.
Though ninth-tier demonic creatures cannot speak, their intelligence is actually quite high. The two-headed demon lizard deeply understood that the silent man was its grim reaper, while this woman was its lifeline.
Her foolishness brought him joy. His joy meant it could live.
In the end, the will to survive overpowered the resistance of its taste buds. Its crimson tongue rolled out, swallowing the wild fruit whole, and it even rubbed against Liu Wuzhi’s wrist to show closeness.
Wagging its tail and begging for mercy, akin to a domesticated pet.
The audience: Couldn’t bear to watch.
“You’re so obedient,” Liu Wuzhi proudly patted the fierce beast. Seeing that the Demon Lord had no intention of acknowledging her or returning the Beast Taming Token, her raised eyebrows furrowed again.
Heartless villain.
Nearby, Yuan Lan rose while supporting his injured area, not feeling ashamed of losing to Liu Wuzhi but rather distressed over his disrupted plans.
Everything was in chaos, completely chaotic. Now that the beauty had dragged the Sovereign Lord into the spotlight, he himself could no longer slip into the auction. What should he do?
When he looked up, the Demon Lord did not glance at him. Though he still wore the face of a slender youth, merely standing there like a pine or bamboo, he seemed to possess the overwhelming power to calm winds and still waves.
Yuan Lan belatedly realized.
He didn’t need the Beast Taming Token—he was, after all, the Supreme Lord of Ten Thousand Demons.
Ninth-tier demonic creatures are inherently ferocious. It wasn’t that the little girl was lucky; clearly, the Sovereign Lord had secretly used his oppressive aura to help her tame the beast.
Recalling that Ember Ruins Guardian token, Yuan Lan found herself somewhat unable to discern whether the Sovereign Lord had spared her life truly only for the sake of Baili Xuanye’s clues.
At this moment, the Demon Lord, once again enveloped in that detestable emotion, raised his bloodstained hand. His knuckles flexed, and with a cold, effortless motion, he flipped the little girl over.
Liu Wuzhi: “…”
Yuan Lan: “…”
Sovereign Lord, wake up! She’s a spy who could take your life at any moment!