Inside the Cave
Bai Tian slowly opened his eyes. The gentle glow of Xuan Ying'er's energy still lingered around his body, calming the turbulent flow of energy that had nearly slipped out of control. He took a deep breath, feeling every muscle and joint aching from the earlier explosion, but slowly recovering.
His gaze swept through the silent cave. Carefully, Bai Tian moved his body, sat up, and felt his internal strength begin to stabilize again. He turned toward where he believed Xuan Ying'er had been, but her figure had vanished, leaving him alone in the silence.
Though exhausted, his vigilance still burned. He knew the battle wasn't over. The mastermind behind the ambush must still be lurking, and the remaining enemies could appear at any moment.
Suddenly, Xuan Ying'er appeared again. Her sharp eyes locked onto Bai Tian, and a mischievous smile curled on her lips.
"Quite strong… and resilient," she said, her tone laced with playful mockery yet carrying admiration.
"Let's rest here for the night," she continued.
Bai Tian merely nodded, then followed Xuan Ying'er's lead. Together, they created a barrier to conceal their presence from anyone.
He sat with slight tension, watching Xuan Ying'er move gracefully as she prepared their resting place. As though her role as mistress was ingrained in her, he felt the need to stay alert, even as fatigue pressed down on his body.
"Xiao Tian, you look exhausted," said Xuan Ying'er, brushing aside branches and leaves to make their seat more comfortable. Her tone was gentle, yet carried a hint of superiority, as though she were evaluating a servant at work.
"I… it's fine," Bai Tian replied, his voice slightly hoarse. "I just need a little time to recover."
Xuan Ying'er leaned closer, her eyes scanning his expression."That's all? The way you act is truly like a desperate prey. Train harder."
Bai Tian lowered his head, slightly embarrassed.
"I understand, Young Miss. I will cultivate more diligently."
A faint smile tugged at Xuan Ying'er's lips.
"Hah, you really are a loyal little dog. Very well, I'll allow you to rest… recover your condition," she said while pulling out a blanket from her storage.
Bai Tian only nodded obediently, and though tired, he realized that behind her superior demeanor, she was still a teenage girl. He began closing his eyes, leaning against the cave wall.
Time passed, and suddenly Xuan Ying'er straightened her body. Her eyes narrowed, fixed on the cave entrance.
"Silence," she whispered, her tone serious, quickly extinguishing the light.
Bai Tian immediately sat upright.
"What is it?""The enemy… they've found us," Xuan Ying'er replied, her voice low but firm, like giving an order.
"Prepare yourself, I can't hold them all back."
Before Bai Tian could respond, a giant palm shadow shot into the cave entrance—swift as the night wind.
BOOM!
The sudden strike sent dust flying, hurling Bai Tian against the cave wall, while Xuan Ying'er leapt aside, her sword dancing in the air, slashing at the attacking palm.
Xuan Ying'er kicked through the swirling dust, her eyes locked on the enemy's movements. The giant palm lunged again, but this time she was ready. With one swift swing of her sword, she slashed at the wrist, forcing it to recoil in pain.
Bai Tian tried to move, but his body still trembled.
"I… I can't…" he muttered, breath ragged.
"Don't you dare step forward!" Xuan Ying'er snapped, then with agile movements she leapt out of the cave toward the forest's edge. The night shadows and trees concealed them from the enemy still searching.
The fight outside the cave was short but brutal. Xuan Ying'er dodged enemy strikes, deflecting some with her sword, exploiting the darkness and tree shadows. One by one, the reckless enemies fell to her blade.
After securing the path, Xuan Ying'er glanced at Bai Tian, who nearly stumbled from exhaustion. Without hesitation, she grabbed him, hoisted him up—like carrying a chicken—and sprinted through the underbrush, leaving behind the heavy footsteps of their pursuers.
"Hold on tight," Xuan Ying'er said as she ran, her breathing steady but eyes sharp.
"Once we're out of this forest, you can walk on your own."
Bai Tian remained silent, stunned and weak, his body feeling light while his heart pounded—torn between fear and admiration for Xuan Ying'er's prowess.
From the forest's darkness, massive figures emerged—five individuals at the Late Divide Soul Realm, their bodies radiating terrifying auras, followed by over a dozen younger, agile cultivators at the Spiritual Sea Realm.
"Looks like… they're chasing us!" Bai Tian whispered, breathless.
Xuan Ying'er nodded, her tense face showing lines of fatigue.
"Stay calm… don't panic. I can handle five Late Divide Soul Realm cultivators, but… can you escape from a dozen Spiritual Sea Realm cultivators in this state?"
Bai Tian fell silent, his heart racing as he struggled to match her pace. But the shifting shadows of trees and Xuan Ying'er's extraordinary speed made it nearly impossible to break through the forest's natural defenses.
Half an hour passed, and the footsteps of their pursuers echoed louder. The enemy began attacking recklessly, branches snapping and leaves scattering around them. Xuan Ying'er kept summoning artifacts to deflect strikes, but sweat soaked her forehead, and her breath grew heavy. Gradually, her speed faltered, her body showing signs of exhaustion.
Realizing that weakness, the enemies grew even more ferocious. Their attacks became wild and merciless, forcing Bai Tian and Xuan Ying'er to evade every danger with near-perfect vigilance. The tension in the forest felt as if every second could be the end…
Sensing the enemies drawing closer, Xuan Ying'er halted her steps for a moment. With agile movements, she channeled spiritual energy into her sword. Instantly, the blade was engulfed in blazing flames, and she shouted: "Five Elements Sword: Fire Slash!"
Fiery sword energy surged forth, forming a semicircle that shot toward the pursuing cultivators. The five cultivators in the late stage of Divide Soul Realm quickly formed a defense. The fiery slash crashed against their energy shields with a deafening roar. Sparks scattered, cracking and scorching the ground around them.
BOOM!
The first clash sent some of the cultivators staggering backward, while the others held their breath against the dazzling wave of heat.
Xuan Ying'er gave them no chance to recover. She channeled spiritual energy once again into her sword, and the wind began swirling around its blade. The sword was now filled with sharp currents of wind, and she cried out: "Five Elements Sword: Wind Slash!"
The slicing wind energy tore through the air, striking the cultivators' defenses head-on.
BOOM!
The impact unleashed a tremendous explosion, forcing the enemies several steps back. Leaves scattered as if swept by a storm, dust billowed upward, and the blaze intertwined with the whirling wind, creating a scene both breathtaking and tense. The thunderous echoes lingered, as though the forest itself was holding its breath.
Without wasting a moment, Xuan Ying'er vanished into the darkness of the forest with a speed nearly impossible to follow with the eye. In the next instant, she struck a light blow that rendered Bai Tian unconscious. With swift movements, she concealed Bai Tian's body within thick bushes and undergrowth, a place difficult for anyone to reach.
Before leaving completely, she glanced back. Her eyes reflected complexity—a mixture of worry, calculation, and unyielding resolve. The night wind swept through her loose hair, while the moonlight illuminated her firm features. Then, with graceful movements like a shadow, she soared away, scattering a mysterious aura to lure the enemies away from Bai Tian.
The forest fell silent for a moment after the clash, only the rustling of leaves and faint echoes of energy remained. Yet Xuan Ying'er's fleeting shadow left behind an oppressive aura, as if the battle was far from over.
She hid among the trees, moving silently like a phantom. With deadly precision, she struck down cultivators at the Spiritual Sea Realm one by one. In mere moments, half of them lay lifeless, never realizing the danger stalking them.
The once-silent forest was now filled with the faint yet deadly scent of blood and destruction. Xuan Ying'er gazed coldly at the fallen bodies, though a trace of tension flickered in her eyes—every step she took was calculated, every strike instilling fear in any who witnessed it.
The forest, once tranquil, had now become a terrifying battlefield. Xuan Ying'er soon realized the remaining enemies had surrounded her from all directions. They were cultivators from both the Divide Soul Realm and the Spiritual Sea Realm, their eyes blazing with fury and killing intent.
"Little girl… why struggle? Better accept death!" shouted one of them, a woman wielding a sword that gleamed like moonlight.
Xuan Ying'er exhaled softly, her gaze sweeping around. With a smooth motion, her sword rose, forming a vortex of energy.
"Then let's see who lasts longer," she replied coldly, her voice cutting through the night like ice.
"Five Elements Sword: Lightning Slash!" Xuan Ying'er's blade struck at two cultivators simultaneously. Lightning and sparks filled the air as her sword clashed against their shields.
Another cultivator leaped down from the trees, attacking from behind. Xuan Ying'er moved swiftly, spinning her sword before unleashing: "Five Elements Sword: Flame Dance!"
A surge of fire danced wildly, burning branches and releasing thick smoke that cloaked the battlefield.
"Damn... too strong!" one of the enemies cried, panting heavily.
Xuan Ying'er smirked faintly, but her eyes remained sharp.
"You're too weak!"
With a spinning motion, she launched a new attack: "Five Elements Sword: Wind Fang!"
Each slash became a shard of cutting wind, piercing through shields and forcing the enemies back.
But the enemies did not relent. They attacked simultaneously, swords and spears slashing from every direction. Xuan Ying'er fought desperately, every step and strike executed with meticulous precision. Explosions of energy, sparks of fire, and surging winds engulfed the forest, while the clash of steel echoed like rolling thunder
BOOM! BOOM! CRASH! BOOM!
The deafening clashes continued. For a moment, Xuan Ying'er was cornered by three enemies. Her breath quickened, sweat dampened her brow, yet her eyes never wavered. With an acrobatic leap, she swung her sword upward, unleashing a surge of energy!
BOOM!
The blast erupted in all directions, shattering trees and sending enemies flying back.
As the dust began to settle, Xuan Ying'er stood at the center of the battlefield, her sword still gleaming with remnants of spiritual energy.
"Is it over," she whispered to herself, having unleashed her full strength and paid dearly to injure the five Divide Soul Realm cultivators.
In the distance, the remaining Spiritual Sea Realm cultivators moved silently, almost soundlessly. They formed a precise circle, each standing at exact intervals. Their auras vibrated faintly in the air, like waves ready to explode. Xuan Ying'er sensed it—not a direct strike, but a formation capable of unleashing devastating power at once.
"Damn… so they prepared this," she muttered softly, her eyes fixed on the tightening formation.
Realizing it would activate soon, Xuan Ying'er quickly swallowed several pills, restoring her spiritual energy to full. But it wasn't just the Spiritual Sea Realm cultivators—the Divide Soul Realm expert stepped into the formation as well. His cold voice pierced through the night air:
"Little girl… you may have defeated many of us, but this time, we will end your path. Embrace death."
The tension surged. The formation moved in unison, their steps synchronized, channeling energy into an overwhelming strike. Waves of force spun outward, crushing branches and leaves in their path.
On the other side, Xuan Ying'er stood tall, her breath heavy yet her eyes unwavering. She poured all her spiritual power into her sword, forming a spinning shield of energy around her—a barrier capable of withstanding the enemies' combined formation strike.
The cultivators moved in harmony, their energy converging into waves that pressed down upon the forest surrounding Xuan Ying'er. The moment the first strike hit her shield, a massive explosion shook the ground. Xuan Ying'er staggered back several steps, branches and dust scattering into the air.
But the waves of the formation did not stop. Each impact was like colliding with a colossal wall; she was forced back again, nearly collapsing onto the cracked earth. Her breath grew heavy, sweat streamed down her forehead, yet her gaze remained firm. She felt the pressure of her enemies—the crushing force pressing from all directions, making every step unbearably heavy.
A Divide Soul Realm cultivator launched a direct strike at her sword: "There's nowhere left to run!"
Xuan Ying'er smirked faintly, forcibly restoring her spiritual energy, even as her body trembled under the strain. Yet the impacts continued relentlessly. Each clash pressed harder against her body, branches snapped, dust swirled, turning the forest into a devastated battlefield.