Plan C

No matter how ruined and ghastly the corridors appeared, it failed to inspire dread to Xiao's heart as she walked its dark hallway, for the sole thing occupying it is the desire for vengeance. Right at the end, where the massive concentration of malicious qi gathers, is where her quarry to settle should be.

Xiao opened the sliding door to come face to face with the behemoth of a muscular man, his eyes closed while in a lotus position. It was no secret that cultivators are at their most vulnerable when they meditate. Their senses, the sixth included, are all working to elevate the cultivator's stars or carry them to the next realm of power.

A single ice sword formed above Xiao, aimed at Qiang's temple.

A single ice sword to pierce and end the demonic cultivator's wickedness.

As the blade flew, true to its target, Qiang's eyes opened. His massive hands stopped the blade, an inch away from claiming his life.

The ice stronger than steel easily crumbled by Qiang's fist, treating them as if they were glass.

With the masked woman before him, it would mean that both of her sworn brothers are already dead. His lamentation came in the form of a smirk, although he was a bit disheartened by that fact, he would still live and press on, becoming the Shadow Order's rightful leader.

Qiang coated himself in iron from the get-go, the morphing of his skin into metal sent out a wave of killing intent, manifesting as a force that shattered windows and cracked the walls, worsening the already decrepit state of the building. Although enough to cause physical harm to cultivators in a lower realm, Xiao stood her ground and braved Qiang's outburst.

No words would be exchanged as Qiang already let his intentions known, if the masked woman was strong enough to kill Yong and Jingfei, that would automatically make her worthy to be devoured.

Xiao's mask spit out a blue pill into her hand before the iron demon could begin his assault. Once in her stomach, the pill instantly scattered like dust, transforming into qi that would be absorbed and power up her meridians.

In the blink of an eye, Qiang's speed allowed him to instantly cross the distance.

The demon's massive fist was about to turn Xiao's skull into mush, but to his surprise, Xiao was able to flawlessly defend by crossing her arms together.

That may well be, the force behind Qiang's strike still sent her crashing through the ruined walls and out into the darkness of the field, illuminated only by the moon's light.

As Xiao landed on grass, Xiao immediately dusted herself while Yanmei took her side.

It didn't take long for Qiang to emerge through the hole that Xiao made.

A sinister smirk crept on her lips as she saw another next to Xiao.

Two in one night, with how high their cultivation level must be, he might just break through the barrier of 'Peerless Daeva' and finally become 'True Immortal' in a single night. 

Blessings just kept falling into his lap!

"So plan A has failed. Plan B then?" Yanmei questioned while her gaze remained locked onto Qiang, ready to react to any kind of movement.

"No, Xuanwu pills only last 10 minutes, Baihu 7. If we delay the fight he's going to gain the advantage and kill us both. We're going with plan C."

Yanmei gasped at the conclusion that Xiao arrived at. 

"Are you sure? That Liu woman is watching."

"Let me take care of her afterwards. All that's important is that we both survive."

Putting all of her trust on Xiao, Yanmei faintly smiled. Xiao tossed her lover a blue and white pill that she immediately ingested.

Like a destructive gale, wind qi surged across the battlefield as Yanmei's true form was revealed to everyone present. The five symbols of her power jutted from Yanmei's back, taking the form of tails. The fox ears, slit pupils, along with the markings on her face imparted to her a visage of savageness.

Leaving no time for Qiang to comment on her transformation, Yanmei kicked the ground and charged, as swift as the element of her qi.

Yanmei's innate and ferocious spirit beast martial art was able to hold the demonic cultivator at bay. In fact, Qiang was being taken aback as the strength boost given to her by the Baihu pill made it seem as if they were on the same realm while the Xuanwu pill allowed her to resist Qiang's monstrous blows.

As her lover traded attacks with Qiang, Xiao stared at the 5 Baihu pills in her hand.

<<Are you sure you don't want my aid? I would gladly lend it to you if you ask.>>

Xiao could only smile at her master's words.

"No, master. Yanmei's help is pretty embarrassing enough, this was supposed to be my revenge."

<<Very well, then do what you must. I shall remain as a spectator.>>

Xiao ingested a pill. Once she felt her strength elevated, she took another. Her strength expanded again.

Take more than one Baihu pill in a single night and it might induce side effects like delayed cultivation due to imbalanced meridians.

Xiao took another pill. Pain wracked her entire body as if she was being attacked from the inside.

Take three and it will cause serious harm to your organs.

Ignoring the pain, Xiao took another.

Take four and will thoroughly mess up your meridians, making her feel as if her qi pathways were on fire.

With her fifth pill, Xiao fell to her knees as she started to vomit blood.

Take five and you would risk life and death.

Yet the gate of the afterlife is still not for her to cross, and for the transgression of knocking without entering, she would hurl the demonic baldie right through.

Xiao wiped the blood from her lips as she stood, Xiao pointed both of her fingers to the sky.

+++

Qiang tensed his body, soon his fists began moving at a speed enough to induce after images, making him look as if he was attacking with six fists at once. With a war cry, Qiang's trump card was unleashed, his 'Furious Demon Barrage'.

The demon turned malicious bodhisattva barraged Yanmei with glee, even as her tails defended, a fist would occasionally slip through by sheer power and speed, though the Xuanwu pill protected her, it still roughed her up pretty good. His final punch barreled into Yanmei's gut, sending her flying, landing right under Xiao's feet.

With smoking arms, Qiang released an ominous laugh. Even with their tricks the spirit beast was no match.

A laugh that soon faded when he witnessed the glints of ice above Xiao, reflecting the moonlight. It was pretty as it was plenty, akin to a sea of stars that could drown them.

A Xiao's smirk formed, so too did the ice into a hundred…no, a thousand of blades!

All of her overdose enhanced qi elevated the quality and quantity of her ice swords off the charts, its hardness would surpass even diamonds. Granted that she would suffer afterwards, it is a price she was willing to pay for the humiliation of being battered helplessly and stripped of her limbs.

Xiao's ice blades blotted the moon, acting as a lunar eclipse.

With a single gesture, an attack that would put an entire army's arrow volley to shame rained down upon Qiang. His true mettle of being 'Invicible' would be tested now.

The dust cleared to reveal Qiang kneeling, pierced with ice swords all over his body. Even so, his demonic grasp on life kept him on the edge, as he tried to stretch his arm littered with swords, only for it to fall as he finally succumbed to the afterlife.

Qiang - The Iron Demon - is now dead.