Wang Jianqiang burst out of the cold pool and swept his hand back.
The Five Elements Sword Formation instantly unfolded into a barrier, sealing the surface of the icy water.
Without looking back, he pushed his speed to the limit, rushing toward a distant range of snow-covered peaks.
"Pointless struggle."
Beneath the pool, Lin Xian'er sneered, pointed a single finger, and the Five Elements Sword Formation shattered instantly. In the next breath, she shot out of the pool like a streak of white light, chasing Wang Jianqiang without hesitation.
Now freed from the cold water's suppression, her mid-Foundation Stage speed erupted to its fullest—like a rainbow tearing through the sky, she closed the distance in an instant.
Her palm pressed down.
A massive hand of spiritual energy came crashing down.
Forced to halt his escape, Wang Jianqiang spun and countered with a punch.
Boom!
The collision shook the air. Blood trickled from his lips, yet he steadied himself and flew onward toward the icy mountains.
Lin Xian'er's gaze was glacial as she pursued again, overtaking him in a flash.
Boom!
Another thunderous impact sent him tumbling, only to right himself midair and stubbornly press toward the mountains.
"So resilient?"
Surprise flickered across Lin Xian'er's flawless face, then she sneered coldly. "I'll see just how long you can endure."
Her figure blurred once more, and the heavens rang with one explosion after another.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
Wang Jianqiang was battered back again and again, his body trembling under the relentless strikes. Even with the might of nine hundred sixty spirit marks coursing through his flesh, he could not withstand her assaults unscathed. His injuries piled up, blood staining his robes, but so too did the distance to the mountain range grow shorter.
Boom!
Another strike hurled him down to the base of a towering glacier.
Whoosh!
Lin Xian'er descended, white skirts fluttering, ethereal as a celestial maiden. She stood above him, hatred twisting her delicate features.
"At last. You can't hold on anymore, can you?"
Her fingertip glimmered with light, poised for the killing strike.
Whoosh—!
The world around them suddenly blazed hot.
Lin Xian'er's eyes narrowed. She dodged aside just as a ball of fire roared past her.
Even without touching her, the heat seared her skin. Spiritual power in her meridians stirred dangerously, as if ready to ignite.
Before she could recover, a sharp cry split the air.
Whistle!
She looked up.
A streak of azure light plunged from the heavens—a tiny blue-feathered bird, no larger than a palm.
Fragile in appearance, it radiated a suffocating aura of speed and heat.
Whoosh!
It was already upon her.
Lin Xian'er's heart lurched—she dodged frantically.
Boom!
The ground quaked. Azure flames erupted, devouring snow and ice, leaving scorched earth in their wake.
Wang Jianqiang, seizing the chance, fled.
But Lin Xian'er's cold eyes locked on him, intent on pursuit.
Cry!
The bird's shrill call rose. In the next instant, a sea of azure fire engulfed her path.
She abandoned her chase, forced to defend.
Her protective auras melted like paper before that fire.
"What beast is this?!"
Panic clawed at her chest. Dodging desperately, she still failed to avoid entirely—just a thread of flame brushed her shoulder.
Her flesh blackened instantly, fire spreading outward.
Alarmed, she smothered it with force, but at a staggering cost—nearly a tenth of her spiritual power burned away, not consumed but erased.
Fear seized her.
This fire was monstrous.
Terrified now, she retreated. Yet the bird pursued mercilessly, firestorms raining down.
Scorched and bloodied, her robe in tatters, more than eighty percent of her power consumed, she finally faltered.
Whoosh!
The blue-feathered bird slammed into her chest.
Crack!
She spat blood, body flung aside like a ragdoll. She extinguished the flames crawling across her body, but at the cost of the last dregs of her power.
Broken, her breath ragged, she lay trembling in despair.
Then—a thunderous sound rumbled from afar.
The bird turned its head, veered away, and vanished toward the noise.
Lin Xian'er sagged with relief, sweat soaking her pale face.
Just as she prepared to slip away and find safety, a figure dropped from the sky.
Her eyes lifted—her heart sank.
Wang Jianqiang.
He descended slowly, his gaze cool as it fell on her. Surprise flickered in his eyes at first—then a hint of amusement.
"Lin Xian'er. Who would've thought we'd meet again so soon?" His lips curled. "And in such a… pitiful state."
Despair gnawed at her.
From tiger's maw to wolf's den.
In her condition, even a mere late-Stage Qi Refining cultivator could subdue her easily. Against this old fox? No hope.
"What's wrong? Weren't you arrogant before? No words now?"
Wang Jianqiang's eyes gleamed with mockery.
Lin Xian'er snorted coldly, forcing steel into her voice. "Enough nonsense. What do you want?"
"What do I want?"
He chuckled darkly, eyes narrowing as he leaned in closer, voice dripping with meaning.
"I want."
Lin Xian'er froze, her mind blank. Then realization struck like ice water down her spine.
Her face drained of color.