Whoosh!
Just as Yang Yun wavered—hesitant to advance yet unwilling to lose face retreating—rumbling suddenly erupted behind him.
He turned, eyes flashing with relief.
At the same time, Wang Jianqiang noticed two figures on the horizon.
One fleeing, one in pursuit.
The girl in front looked very young, her frame slender and delicate, her features exquisitely perfect.
The woman behind was plain of face but towering in build, muscles bulging with explosive power.
Even Yang Yun, already a burly brute himself, seemed smaller in comparison. Her every move radiated raw force.
Mu Lingxi!
Su Su!
Wang Jianqiang recognized them instantly.
He instinctively checked their auras.
Su Su, it seemed, had also gained a tremendous opportunity. Her cultivation had risen to mid Foundation Establishment—on par with Lin Xian'er.
Mu Lingxi, however, was still at Qi Refining, the same as before entering the secret realm.
What shocked Wang Jianqiang was that despite Su Su's mid Foundation Establishment pressure, Mu Lingxi, though on the defensive, was not without recourse.
Her speed was inferior, allowing Su Su to close distance again and again.
Yet each time Su Su struck, Mu Lingxi managed to block with minimal cost, then used the recoil to widen the gap once more.
In this deadly chase, the two rapidly drew closer to Wang Jianqiang and Yang Yun.
"So it's you."
Seeing Wang Jianqiang, a trace of disappointment crossed Mu Lingxi's flawless face.
She had been hunted for half a day.
Sensing battle fluctuations nearby, she had hoped to shake off her pursuer.
Never imagined it would be him.
Her gaze swept past to Yang Yun.
"You're being targeted too?"
"Well, since I'm here, I'll lend you a hand."
Before her words finished, she thrust out her palm.
Crack!
A bolt of lightning tore toward Yang Yun.
His face hardened, fist blasting out.
The lightning shattered, but his body stiffened for an instant.
Then Mu Lingxi's voice sounded directly in Wang Jianqiang's mind.
"Run, quickly!"
At the same time, Su Su's voice reached Yang Yun.
"Junior Brother Yang, don't bother with that old man—help me catch this little demon girl first!"
The next moment, both women frowned.
Wang Jianqiang and Yang Yun hadn't moved, as though they'd heard nothing.
Mu Lingxi nearly fumed.
She'd just helped—why was this old man so ungrateful?
She had been ready to leave, but Wang Jianqiang's indifference only made her change her mind.
Whoosh~
In a flash of lightning, Mu Lingxi appeared before him, face puffed with anger.
"Old man, what's your problem? I helped you out and you don't even appreciate—"
"Huh?"
Halfway through her words, her eyes fell on the battered figure behind him.
Lin Xian'er?!
Her eyes widened, then flicked back to Wang Jianqiang in shock.
"You did this?"
At that moment, Su Su caught up and halted beside Yang Yun.
"Junior Brother Yang, I told you to block her just now—why didn't you move?"
A trace of reproach colored Su Su's expression.
This little demon girl's lightning attribute was too troublesome.
Her speed and attack power outstripped other elements, and the numbing jolt of each strike was maddening.
That was why the chase had dragged on so long.
If Yang Yun had helped her earlier, they might already have subdued Mu Lingxi.
Facing Su Su's scolding, Yang Yun could only give a wry smile.
It wasn't that he didn't want to help, nor that he feared the old man would slip away.
It was that he dreaded being ambushed the instant he struck.
This old man was far too uncanny.
Even Lin Xian'er had fallen to him—how could he not be cautious?
"Senior Sister Su, look there…" He pointed behind Wang Jianqiang.
Su Su, about to rebuke him further, froze.
She turned—and her pupils shrank sharply.
That was…
Lin Xian'er?
Impossible.
The number one outer disciple of Xuanqing Palace, in such a miserable state?
Could it be… this old man's doing?
Realization dawned, and she instantly understood Yang Yun's hesitation.
Better safe than sorry.
If Lin Xian'er really had been defeated by this old man, his strength was no small matter.
She quickly sent a voice transmission to Lin Xian'er.
"Fairy Lin, can you tell me what happened?"
She needed clarity.
If the old man was truly capable of wounding Lin Xian'er, today's plan to kill Mu Lingxi might be impossible.
Lin Xian'er's expression darkened.
Falling into this Hehuan Sect elder's hands was humiliation enough.
Now, being stared at with surprise and curiosity—it crushed her pride completely.
Normally, gazes upon her brimmed with admiration, awe, envy…
When had she ever endured this?
It was like having her lofty dignity trampled into the dirt.
Hearing Su Su's voice transmission, her face flickered.
She was just about to respond—
When Wang Jianqiang looked her way.
Her expression froze.
"Hey, I'm talking to you."
Beside him, Mu Lingxi nearly stomped her foot in fury as Wang Jianqiang ignored her yet again.
Wang Jianqiang spared her a glance, then turned to Su Su and Yang Yun, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"You two want to know who injured Fairy Lin?"
Su Su's gaze chilled. "What, are you claiming it was you?"
Wang Jianqiang shook his head and patted the little green-feathered bird on his shoulder.
"Little Chick, tell them."
Chirp chirp chirp~
The bird screeched nonsense.
Su Su, Yang Yun, and Mu Lingxi all stared, bewildered.
Did he really think anyone could understand bird language?
Wang Jianqiang flicked the bird's head with a sharp snap. "Stupid bird—you really tried answering them?"
"Go fry them."
The bird's eyes gleamed with grievance, but its actions didn't hesitate.
It shot into the air, tiny wings fluttering.
The heavens suddenly turned scorching hot.
Vast cyan flames condensed, surging toward Su Su and Yang Yun.
As the flames approached, the terrifying heat seemed to melt their flesh, while even the spiritual energy within their bodies began to boil like water.
Shock flashed across both faces.
"Careful! This fire can burn spiritual energy!"
Su Su reacted first, her fist like a cauldron slamming out.
Boom!
The fire burst apart, fragments of cyan flame scattering.
Two figures shot out from the blaze, retreating far away.
Though quick to evade, the sheer number of scattered embers was overwhelming.
Despite their efforts, both were touched by the blue fire.
It took them a great struggle to extinguish it, leaving them in a sorry state.
Looking back at the little bird, horror flashed across their faces.
What kind of freak bird was this?!