Boom!
At a distance more than two kilometers away, Berith and Vepar, who had escaped, could sense intense tremors from behind. Both quickly turned back to look in shock. The bright red light pillar formed from gathering flames was shooting up into the sky, visible even from this far away.
"...Barbatos?"
Berith, sensing Barbatos's power gradually disappearing, widened his eyes in shock. He knew well how powerful Barbatos was when serious. So he suddenly realized their mission had failed.
"What should we do?"
Vepar asked uncertainly. Berith, who had lower seniority, could only grit his teeth. He prayed Barbatos was still safe and decided to turn back.
"Return to the lodging first. You quickly send the raw materials we got last time to my lady and report everything that happened."
He knew well that just his power wasn't enough to handle what had happened...
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Barbatos appeared in pitiful condition when all the flames went out. His body was full of burn marks and smoke soot. His eyes were wide open—if you didn't see his regular breathing rhythm, people would think he was dead.
Bai Fanxian descended from the sky. The moment her feet touched the ground, people started regaining their senses.
"My god! What was that flame just now!?"
"Like a red pillar holding up the sky..."
"Was it that young woman's doing? What's her name?"
Even though citizens were getting more familiar with the cultivator world, opportunities to see clashes so intense that the environment changed like this were rare.
"...Bai Fanxian. She's the Alchemy Empress, Bai Fanxian."
No one knew who spoke this sentence, but all the people in this area were trying to memorize this young woman's name. What she displayed could stimulate interest in the cultivator path for many people who had hesitated before.
As expected, besides her own people, no one realized the action just now was the Dragon Queen's doing. She approached Barbatos lying on the ground and spread her hand open. One pill appeared in her palm.
This little red one seemed to have acted a bit too heavily.
She still had many things she needed to question this man about. So she couldn't let him die like this.
The moment the pill entered his mouth, Barbatos's body glowed white faintly. His burn wounds were restored slowly at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Liu Yianfei and Sword Master Zheng Renyi walked over to Bai Fanxian and looked at Barbatos warily. The power this man displayed still lingered in both their minds.
That irresistible trembling feeling they hadn't experienced in a long time. Especially being at a level far above the masses like this—besides the Dragon Queen and Bai Fanxian, neither thought there were still people on this world who could make them feel that way.
"...You're healing him?"
Liu Yianfei asked uncertainly. He feared if this man woke up and went on a rampage, they couldn't handle it. Especially since he was still staggering because he forced himself to use certain techniques. His body was unprepared to clash with anyone at this time.
But Bai Fanxian shook her head. She spoke with a calm tone.
"I'm only healing these external wounds..."
Because the pill she gave him was wound medicine. It had properties to heal various forms of external injuries. But at the same time, it had no ability to restore internal injuries at all.
"General!"
The same inspector who came last night rushed in with an alert expression. He looked at Barbatos fearfully. He had received reports about this man's destructive power. But at the same time, he feared Bai Fanxian's power even more. He had learned what high-level cultivators were capable of.
"You should let the military handle this..." Liu Yianfei nodded to that inspector. He knew that ordinary police couldn't handle cultivator matters. So he had already contacted the military and special units since this incident occurred.
"Phew... I thought so too." The inspector, a middle-aged man, let out a breath of relief. He turned to order subordinates to guard and not let unrelated people enter, then waited for the military to arrive to take over.
Fwoosh!
Soon, from the north direction appeared two figures flying through the air straight toward them. It was Eastern King Ma Fufeng and Marshal Zhang Xianyuan who rushed from military headquarters immediately upon receiving news.
"What happened here?"
Ma Fufeng looked at the location's condition in surprise. The surrounding garden had been destroyed by impact force, leaving it collapsed in strips. Parts of the building showed cracks and had a large hole pierced through the top.
But what was most important was Barbatos lying still at the bottom of the hole created by the Dragon Queen's fire pillar.
"General Liu, is anyone injured?"
Zhang Xianyuan nodded respectfully to Bai Fanxian once then got straight to the point. But since she was here, he could relax somewhat that the situation should be easily controlled.
"One injured. He's being sent to the hospital now." Liu Yianfei pointed toward Fu Rong being helped by police as they extracted him from the wall with a stretcher. Looking at his condition, he'd probably have to lie in the hospital for several months.
"I'd like to borrow your Red Tiger unit, General Ma."
Liu Yianfei turned to request Ma Fufeng. His own Black Hawk unit was farther away. By the time they traveled here, it would take several more hours.
"No problem."
Ma Fufeng assessed the situation and agreed. Red Tiger unit members who had rushed to follow gradually appeared. They took control of the situation from the police agency and started cleaning up the place as quickly as possible. General Ma pointed at Barbatos and asked:
"So what should we do with this guy?"
Because this man was a criminal many countries wanted. A Night Shadow thief who had never been caught anywhere before. So even the government would definitely be interested in this person.
"...I still have things I want to ask him."
Bai Fanxian, who had been silent throughout, showed her intentions. She was still curious about the techniques and power source of these people. That was why she still stood here.
Ma Fufeng was rather tense facing Bai Fanxian. He still remembered well the scene of this woman clashing with the Dragon Queen that day.
"If so, the military will take custody. Once he wakes up, you can talk with him. Alright?"
Zhang Xianyuan offered an opinion. This way would be best for all sides. Because he himself, as the country's Marshal, couldn't let Bai Fanxian take this criminal away.
Bai Fanxian nodded. It looked like this competition couldn't continue filming and proceeding anytime soon. It was probably time for her to return home too.
"Then I'll excuse myself. Let me know when he wakes up."
She walked away to her own followers. The children were waiting for her. Including the little red one whose small tail was starting to get restless too.
"Me too. See you later, Marshal."
Liu Yianfei smiled and followed Bai Fanxian along with Sword Master Zheng Renyi. After walking three steps, he acted like he just remembered and turned back.
"Oh! Looks like I'm seriously injured. Seems I'll need to take another month to recover. I'll send in a leave form. Help sign it for me..."
"..."
He grinned widely one last time and hurried away. Not caring at all about Marshal Zhang Xianyuan's weary attitude behind him.
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A few hours later, Bai Fanxian's party returned safely to the same seaside vacation home. That evening's meal was prepared grandly by Huang Zihuan. Although the children were sad about not continuing the competition, they understood and kept it as valuable experience instead.
As for the Dragon Queen, she was biting a good steak grilled with Huang Zihuan's skill. She chewed until her mouth was full while thinking this small form wasn't bad either. She could enjoy this large plate of meat much longer than in her normal form.
At the balcony area extending toward the beach, Liu Yianfei and Zheng Renyi sat together. Both were discussing today's events with strange feelings.
"...I didn't think besides the young lady, there would be others who reached those realms."
Zheng Renyi opened the topic while sighing. Meeting Barbatos today was an eye-opener for the confident man.
"From my data, there's no record that they were this strong before either..."
Liu Yianfei threw down a thick file of information he used connections to obtain onto the table. His injuries had eased much already.
"...Or could it be as the Dragon Queen said?"
Zheng Renyi murmured.
"...We ourselves can become stronger than this too, right?"
His eyes gleamed. He recalled the Dragon Queen's words. She had said he and Liu Yianfei could step over to the next realm—Sage.
"Yes... you two should now be able to step into the Sage realm."
Before they could speak further, Bai Fanxian holding a cup of tea appeared behind both of them. They jumped in shock, but she only lifted the glass to sip lightly as if unaware. Huang Zihuan, pushing desserts and a tea tray following, secretly smiled because he noticed the small smile at the corner of his lady's mouth.
Probably only the old butler knew she intentionally made both of them jump playfully. Lately, his lady's sense of humor seemed to have increased a bit. Looks like letting her meet more people was truly beneficial.
"You're my people but trembled like fledglings with just Sage-level pressure... looks like I've neglected you too much."
Bai Fanxian put down the glass in her hand and sighed.
"Wait until Xie Xuyao returns, then I'll give you special training..."
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(Now Chapter 130)