It was a question she wasn't sure she wanted an answer to. But then, as if this moment had been scripted by the fates themselves to mess with her, her answer soon came as her gaze shifted ever so slightly to a glorious female form hovering in the air. It was a stunning beauty with raging Qi.
Long Yi soon sensed Wang Yan's presence and welcomed her through soul transmission. He was so weak that Wang Yan had to strain to pick up his voice which was barely above a whisper;
"I see that you are back little sister, a little late perhaps."
Wang Yan's eyes stung with tears because Long Yi was right on so many levels. If she had not been a few minutes late, maybe she and the Golden Dragon would have completely decimated the enemies. If she hadn't been so late, maybe the outcome of the battle would have taken a different turn.
Long Yi knew Wang Yan and predicted that she would probably do something rash and illogical because of the storm of emotions going through her mind. So he summoned the little Qi he had left and tried to warn her;
"Wang Yan plea-"
His concentration was broken by the succuba's condescending voice that came from above;
"Ha, ha! Even you can't deny the fact that time and nature seems to be on my side!"
She then threw her head back and declared; "Indeed, all this is fated!"
While keeping a watchful eye on her comrades on the ground below, Wang Yan glared at the succuba floating in the air. She and Long Yi looked at each other both instantly understood- they had to defeat the succubus! Wang Yan knew she could easily defeat the succuba with her sword, but she also wanted to make an example of her so none ever tried the Purple Sect again. She soon came up with the perfect solution.
"Tell me Lin Xi, are you up for a wager?"
The succuba crossed her hands, inadvertently forcing out a part of her cleavage. She looked amusingly at the younger female;
"Are you insane? This is neither the time nor place for that little girl."
Wang Yan didn't say anything. She didn't have to, she simply pulled out the little box that contained the jade and allowed her a brief glimpse at the Purple Sapphire;
"Well, what do you think? If you win; it's yours."
Lin Xi didn't even bother to mask her greed, it was written all over her that she was more than willing to partake in whatever it was that Wang Yan was scheming so long as the precious jade was involved. Lin Xi was more than aware of the dense power that the jade boasted of. So, eyeing Wang Yan, she asked suspiciously;
"You have my attention alright." Then she snapped at her; "What's the play here?"
"A duel." Wang Yan replied coolly and added; "If you win, you take The Purple sapphire and my Purple Sword. And every single disciple of Purple Sect leaves. If you lose, you don't set foot here again for twenty years. Swear on it."
Wang Yan reeked of a confidence that was not typical of a young girl. The succuba was genuinely intrigued. Wang Yan noticed the new light in which the succuba now regarded her and teased her about it saying;
"What's the matter? Scared of a little friendly bet?"
Lin Xi let a wicked smile form on her lips;
"You are about several centuries too young to be asking me that." Then in a more serious tone, she said again;
"Fine. You have my word."
With that, she commanded all the demons to stand still. The lavishly coordinated demons all bowed in submission to the demon queen's order. Long Yi was not happy at all. Being a logical man, he saw no reason for such an irresponsible act that put the fate and future of Purple Mountain on a mere wager, a wager that Wang Yan was probably lose given the wide gap in the strength between her and the succuba. Despite the strain he was under, he still managed to gather up the will to rebuke.
"Stop this recklessness now! Do you have any idea what you're risking??"
Long Yi was pained because, as powerful as he was amongst his mates in the Purple Sect, somehow, the succuba had managed to handle him without even breaking a sweat. What hope did Wang Yan have against a power hungry vicious demon queen like her? Long Yi factored in the fact that she had two very powerful gems, but that was by far no substitute for actual combat experience which she lacked greatly.
Wang Yan replied him deftly;
"You and I know that this is the only way older brother. We have very limited choices here."
Long Yi also knew that she was right. They really were out of options were in desperate need of a Hail Mary. The dragon's exhausted voice came again;
"Boy, I have to return now to heal my injuries. My apologies for not accomplishing the task you had summoned me for."
Even though he was also tired, Long Yi replied politely;
"I am grateful for your assistance today. Go in peace."
The Dragon wasted no time, immediately he disappeared back to his domain in a flash of golden light- back to the Celestial World. As he watched it disappear, Long Yi knew failure was imminent for he was a rational man. He could see that Wang Yan's intention was noble but it was also impractical. The Purple Mountain brimmed with abundant Qi which made it a haven for cultivators- as well as demons. No other location was as convenient this based on size and other factors. Consequently, every ambitious ruler coveted it for themselves. Long Yi stealthily retreated to the background, summoned his sword and rode it out with lightning speed.
As he left, the succuba mocked Wang Yan;
"Little girl, are you sure you still want to do this?"
Refusing to be intimidated she matched her vitriol.
"Don't be so cocky old lady."
The angered succuba blazed violently;
"Congratulations!" she said with a wicked smile, "You have succeeded in riling me up."
Suddenly, a gust of wind swept the succuba up and the temperature dropped drastically! It was so cold that Wang Yan trembled all over and her breath became frosty. A black cloud of smoke saturated the space behind the succuba and gradually took on the form of a sinister looking giant black skull. It was an astonishing sight to behold! Wang Yan knew she had to make her move now and quickly signed with her hands;
"Separation."
The Purple Sword responded and immediately cloned itself and multiplied into thousands of identical swords which formed a circle around Wang Yan and faced the skull directly.
"Unsheathe!"
In one glorious move, thousands of swords simultaneously surged at the dark skull in a purple-blue stream and struck it like lightning with a thundering sound.
The succuba yawned; "Pathetic."
The succuba would have been fazed if the Dragon was still here but Wang Yan was just one person. She simply twirled her finger and the enormous black skull opened its deadly jaws and began to absorb the flying swords like they were candy canes.
"NO!" Cried Wang Yan as she tried to recall her swords, but it was already too late. The seemingly bottomless mouth of the black skull devoured them all. It was indeed a bone chilling spectacle.
"Give me the Purple Sapphire now and I will consider sparing you."
Xiao Luo was a revered master and the succuba knew that he would surely descend on her with vengeful fury if she killed Wang Yan. It would be a miserable existence to live in constant fear of his return. The worried Wang Yan also considered her chances of winning and knew it was pretty slim especially without her sword.
"Foolish little girl, neither you nor your comrades stand a chance! Make a decision already!"
Wang Yan seethed as she fought to regain control of her swords. The succuba frowned;
"Really? Have it your way then."
Occupying Purple Mountain was the succuba's utmost priority but the thought of Xiao Luo terrified her. Quick as lightning, she took Wang Yan from behind and planted her palm on the girl's neck, completely cutting off her airflow. While Wang Yan fought to breathe, the quick succuba assaulted her vitals in swift graceful movements and watched her writhe.
"I win. Purple Mountain is mine!" she said triumphantly.
"NO!"