Chapter 371: Chapter 367: Subduing Luo Zijie

The Bull Demon King charged out and instantly entered a combat stance. Black Demon Qi boiled around his body, and he brandished an Iron Rod, its afterimages filling the sky.

"Taste a blow from this old bull!"

With the Iron Rod in hand, the Bull Demon King’s momentum was like a clap of thunder. A whirlwind suddenly erupted, and within a hundred paces, sand flew and stones scattered. A fierce, violent tornado surged forth, its power terrifying.

Luo Zijie looked up at the sky, which seemed on the verge of collapsing. As the whirlwind swept over him, a suffocating sensation assaulted his body and mind.

The cyan longsword in his hand let out a hum. Countless faint cyan Sword Auras flashed from the blade, like rivers converging into an ocean, weaving together as they rushed toward the Bull Demon King.

"Haha! Is this paltry Sword Qi all you’ve got?"

The Bull Demon King swung his rod in wide, powerful arcs. The aura of his Qi was immense and biting, incomparably fierce and domineering, inspiring fear in all who witnessed it. He shattered the incoming streams of Sword Qi one by one.

Then, he appeared directly above Luo Zijie, bringing his rod crashing down on his head.

The scene was terrifying. Luo Zijie’s face was so pale it was nearly translucent, his veins bulging. His eyes were half-closed, as if he were about to enter an ethereal state. Then, his eyes snapped open, a brilliant light erupting from them.

"Ruling the World! Unity of Man and Sword! Kill—"

In an instant, Luo Zijie’s entire body flickered with a faint cyan light. He somersaulted into the air, his body surrounded by layers of brilliant light that resembled a blooming Lotus. Then, his entire person transformed into a giant sword, shooting upward to meet the attack. The hum of the sword soared to the heavens, impossibly sharp.

The Bull Demon King was slightly surprised, but his power was still terrifying. His rod, carrying Heaven Shocking Power, smashed down upon the giant sword.

CLANG!

The space within the villa’s courtyard was suddenly torn apart, like an erupting mountain flash flood. The phenomenon was terrifying, an omen of the heavens collapsing and the earth sundering.

Not far away, Tu Xiao’an was buffeted by the shockwaves, yet his eyes shone with interest as he watched the flickering human figure within the illusion of the giant sword.

’This Luo Zijie barely has the strength to match a Rank 3.’

’The power of a Sword Cultivator is hard to predict. One sword to right all the wrongs in the world. One sword to slay any Immortal or demon who stands in their way. A sword suffused with Evil Qi can kill Immortals, demons, monsters, and ghosts.’

’This is the Sword Intent of a Sword Cultivator.’

’Unfortunately, the Bull Demon King is a Demon Spirit who reached the Rank 3 level many years ago. His combat prowess is terrifying.’

’Even I had to use the power of three mixed Elements to forcefully defeat him.’

Beneath the Bull Demon King’s Iron Rod, black Energy blotted out the sky. The giant sword rang out with a clang, and then... CRACK...

The crisp sound of a sword shattering echoed.

The giant sword vanished, and Luo Zijie’s figure reappeared. He was sent flying backward, violently spitting up a mouthful of blood. The cyan longsword in his hand, now broken in two, fell to the ground.

"Haha! Little human whelp, you actually blocked a strike from this old bull. Not bad, not bad. But with the next one, you’ll be nothing but a meat paste!"

A cruel smile played on the Bull Demon King’s lips as he watched Luo Zijie fly backward. A vicious glint shone in his large, bell-like eyes as he suddenly gave chase. Before his opponent could even hit the ground, he appeared in the air above the flying Luo Zijie, his Iron Rod containing a terrifying power as he furiously smashed it downward.

Now without his sword, Luo Zijie could only await his death beneath the rod.

If this blow landed, he would, without a doubt, be turned into a pile of meat paste.

As he flew backward, Luo Zijie’s heart filled with despair. ’It’s over. This Rank Three Demon Spirit is too powerful... nearly invincible.’

’Little brother, I’m coming to join you.’

His heart full of resentment, Luo Zijie closed his eyes, accepting his death sentence. ’If I was Rank 3, the outcome of this fight would be uncertain, but now...’

"Bull Demon King, stop!"

Suddenly, just as Luo Zijie was about to meet his end, a cold voice rang out. The Bull Demon King froze for a moment upon hearing it, but his Iron Rod was already in motion—a blow that could not be taken back.

He had no choice but to divert its path. BOOM!

The Iron Rod smashed into the ground, leaving a deep crater. Luo Zijie had narrowly escaped death, his body crashing into the courtyard wall.

His entire body felt like it was falling apart. He had lost all ability to fight and was gravely injured.

He had blocked the strike, but it had cost him half his life.

"Master, why did you stop this old bull?" the Bull Demon King asked, turning to Tu Xiao’an.

Tu Xiao’an said calmly, "Did I tell you to kill him?"

"Ah... I guess you didn’t."

"Go stand aside. Your task is complete."

Tu Xiao’an walked toward Luo Zijie, who lay paralyzed on the ground, continuously coughing up blood. He moved as if taking a leisurely stroll.

When he reached him, he looked at the gravely injured Luo Zijie and shook his head. "Now do you see how vast the gap between us is? You’re not even a match for my Battle Companion."

"Tell me, should I send you to be reunited with your brother?"

Luo Zijie’s face was as pale as a sheet of paper. He gave a wretched smile. "The two of us, brothers of the Luo Family, both had the potential to reach the Rank Three Creature Level. To think we’d be destroyed by a Snake Demon like you. Go on. My skills are inferior, I failed to avenge my brother. If I must die, then so be it."

"Your brother came to my residence on his own to capture my Immortal Spirit Peacock. You can’t blame me for what happened," Tu Xiao’an said flatly.

Luo Zijie roared, "Enough nonsense! If you’re going to kill me, just do it!"

He didn’t care who was right or wrong. All he cared about was that his brother had been killed. That he was dead.

"You’re a genius among human Sword Cultivators. It would be a waste to kill you," Tu Xiao’an said, watching him.

Luo Zijie was stunned. "What do you mean? Are you going to let me go? Even if you let me go this time, I will still come back for revenge!"

The feud over his brother’s murder was irreconcilable. How could Luo Zijie possibly let it go?

Tu Xiao’an smiled, his eyes glinting. "I don’t plan on killing you, but I’m not about to release you and cause myself future trouble either. So..."

"So, I want you to acknowledge me as your master and submit to me."

Huh...

As soon as he said this, Luo Zijie’s eyes flew open, as if he had just heard the biggest joke in the world.

"Haha..."

"Have you gone mad, you Snake Demon? You want me to acknowledge you as my master? How could a human Martial Cultivator ever be enslaved by a Demon?!"

Tu Xiao’an watched Luo Zijie, who seemed to have been driven half-mad by his words, and smiled faintly.

’Nothing in this world is impossible. There are no absolutes. One should never be too quick to draw conclusions.’

’I have already subjugated two Rank Three Demon Spirits; I just haven’t subjugated a human Martial Cultivator yet.’

’To me, humans are just living creatures. There’s no difference.’

’I can use the system to subjugate them just the same.’

’This Luo Zijie is a genius Sword Cultivator with immense potential. He’s already at Level 29 Peak, so reaching Rank 3 should be no great challenge for him.’

’Subjugating someone like him would be an excellent choice for me.’

’To subjugate and enslave a human genius... that’s even crueler than simply killing them.’

"Live or die," he said.

"Then I choose death. Come on!" Luo Zijie was a genius among human Martial Cultivators, and a genius has their pride. How could he grovel and live on as a subordinate?

Tu Xiao’an’s voice was cold and flat. "I want you to live—to live for me. Because you lost. The defeated have no rights."

His quiet words carried boundless arrogance.

"In your dreams! Delusional! I, Luo Zijie, would rather die than be humiliated!"

"Is that so?" Tu Xiao’an’s expression turned cold and indifferent. The corner of his mouth curled into a slight smile, and a playful glint flashed in his demonic eyes as they narrowed.

’Envelop his consciousness.’