Chapter 4: Breaking the Stalemate Again

"Truly bizarre!"

How could the Human-Headed Dog Demon not be alarmed? What was even more strange was that at this moment, Li Ping'an's eyes seemed like a rainbow hanging in the sky after a rain, his ink-black eyes shining with an incomparable captivating splendor, purer than a baby's but also deeper...

In the next instant, the brilliant light that those exceptional eyes had emitted faded away, and there wasn't anything particular notable about them, let alone breathtaking.

Could this be an illusion?

"What spell did you use? How did you conjure that weapon?"

"Could it be you're an Immortal from the White Jade Capital? A Buddha from the Western Heaven? Impossible! They've long since perished into the infinite cycles of reincarnation!"

"Or are you also a Demon?"

The Human-Headed Dog Demon's eyes were filled with incredulity!

The shock, panic, and unease hadn't dissipated, only now, they had transferred from Li Ping'an to the creature itself, causing its body to tremble violently. Nevertheless, its left claw was still gripping Li Ping'an's shoulder tightly, maintaining their distance!

"Human-Headed Dog Demon, you dare to show off in front of me, a mere Nameless Little Demon?"

After stepping out from his thoughts, Li Ping'an, using his Divine Skills: Secluded Cave that didn't consume any Mana, saw through everything about the Human-Headed Dog Demon, leaving it metaphorically naked!

Whether it was the Human-Headed Dog Demon's various attributes or its cultivation level, except for defense, which was higher than Li Ping'an's, all other stats were lower.

Especially in terms of strength, Li Ping'an was more than half higher than it!

"You vile creature, didn't you inquire about the renown of the Human-Headed Dog Demon of the canyon!"

Li Ping'an took advantage of the Human-Headed Dog Demon's shock and, in one smooth motion, brought his staff down on the arm that the creature was using to grab him.

"Ouch!"

The Human-Headed Dog Demon's wrist throbbed with pain, and it screamed miserably. Judging by the intensity of its screech, it was several times more painful than when the Flying Sword had pierced its back, and it immediately let go of Li Ping'an.

"Now it's my turn to take your head!"

Li Ping'an leapt up three zhang high on the spot and aimed for the most vulnerable part of the Human-Headed Dog Demon's body, its head!

Clang!

Despite still being in a state of shock, the Human-Headed Dog Demon, in a bid to save its own life, reacted quickly and blocked with its Buddhist Blade, averting Li Ping'an's fatal strike but its weapon was directly shattered in half.

With a whoosh, the sound of a sharp blade breaking through the air was heard. In the next second, another Flying Sword had pierced through the back shoulder of the Human-Headed Dog Demon. The pain of this strike was so intense that the creature abandoned its weapon, the Buddhist Blade, used for defense.

"Those hiding in cages and ambushing women is rather common, but the creature before my eyes possesses the abilities of Immortals and Demon Monsters!"

The Human-Headed Dog Demon, already fearing Li Ping'an, found itself weaponless. It thought it had encountered a deceptively powerful Immortal or a kindred Demon King disguising themselves, realized it was no match, and immediately reverted to its original form—a massive Iron Ridge Gray Dog—bolting toward the temple's exit as if it were flying.

Li Ping'an might be unaware of who exactly was inside the cage and why they wanted to help and save him, but right now, survival was what mattered most. What if this Human-Headed Dog Demon had other accomplices? How should he deal with that?

To kill someone, one must see blood; to save someone, one must save them thoroughly. That was the principle!

The Iron Ridge Gray Dog was fast, but Li Ping'an was faster. He instantly employed the Hundred Plays Stick Technique, his steel staff whirling like a spinning flower. He propelled himself into the air, flying above the Iron Ridge Gray Dog's head and, using all his strength as if he were a nursing infant, slammed his staff down onto the Human-Headed Dog Demon's head!

Before the Human-Headed Dog Demon could let out a scream, its entire head was cleaved off by Li Ping'an's staff, rolling several zhang away like a bouncy ball.

With external assistance, Li Ping'an succeeded in killing the Human-Headed Dog Demon. For a moment, he felt as though he was the true Human-Headed Dog.

Apprehensive that the Human-Headed Dog Demon wasn't completely dead, he checked its corpse with his Divine Skills: Secluded Cave and saw the six souls it had devoured crawling out of its nostrils.

He also discovered that the creature was wearing leg armor, specifically the Hundred Plays Iron Greaves (ordinary quality).

Li Ping'an swiftly removed them and donned them himself.

[Congratulations to the Destined One for assembling a four-piece set, all attributes +20.]

Li Ping'an's Attribute Template had undergone another change:

Cultivation: Qi Gathering Realm 1%

Divine Skills: Communicate with Spirits, Expel Spirits

Survival Time: 50 seconds.

Spell: Hundred Plays Stick Technique (1/500)

Strength: 70, Mana: 0, Defense: 70, Charm: 25, Luck: 25

Critical Hit Rate: 5%, Critical Hit Combo: 0%, Damage Bonus: 0%, Damage Reduction: 0%

Four Disasters Resistance:

Cold Immunity: 0%, Fire Immunity: 0%, Poison Immunity: 0%, Lightning Immunity: 0%

But before he could take pleasure in this, he saw the two Flying Swords embedded in the Human-Headed Dog Demon behaving as if they had their own consciousness. After dislodging from the demon, the swords circled in the air and then swiftly stabbed towards his face!

"This is bad! The only survivor in the cage wants to kill me too?"

Li Ping'an instantly spun in midair to dodge the strike of the Flying Swords, but as soon as he landed, two even faster swords pressed against his throat and the back of his neck, one in front and one behind.

Before Li Ping'an could resist, the cage shattered to reveal a woman slowly rising from a meditative pose, seemingly having been healing her wounds until now.

"A cultivator?"

At this moment, the rain was getting lighter, and some moonlight began to shine through. Only then could Li Ping'an clearly see the true appearance of this woman!

The woman was dressed like a cultivator, not to mention her beautiful face, her skin was as pale as snow.

The Female Cultivator wore a gray Taoist robe over a green blouse, a pink undershirt, and carried a travel bag on her back. She wore a Sword Box at her waist and just a plain short skirt on her lower body.

The voluptuous curves of her body were full of delightful artistic beauty, especially her long legs which were faintly visible beneath the Taoist robe. However, the scars that appeared were quite an eyesore.

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"Are you human?"

The Female Cultivator slowly approached Li Ping'an, frowning as she scanned everything inside the dilapidated temple, especially when she saw the neatly cleaved wound on the neck of the Human-Headed Dog Demon's corpse on the ground, her eyes widened in shock.

"This demon is known as the Iron Ridge Gray Dog, with an iron-like body, especially from the neck to the back, the hardest part. Ordinary weapons can injure it but cannot kill it."

"And you managed to slice open this demon's toughest part in one go? Using a stick, no less?"

The Female Cultivator looked at the bloodstains on the iron stick in Li Ping'an's hands and finally confirmed.

"Expert, although it was I who killed this evil creature, you also exerted a lot of effort. If not for you, I would have died early!"

Li Ping'an flattered as he spoke, then graciously asked:

"Could you please withdraw your technique so we can have a good talk?"

"Haha, do you truly believe you are human?"

The Female Cultivator pressed again, her sharp gaze fixated on Li Ping'an's eyes, making him extremely uncomfortable.

"I really am human!"

"Really? If you're neither from the Taoist sect nor a demon, how could you possibly kill the Demon King that has plagued Dog Head Peak for decades in a single blow?"

The Female Cultivator's words were full of disbelief, her suspicions about Li Ping'an's identity grew, and she became more vigilant.