"It's nothing special, is it?" Danzhu, or rather Phantylia, gazed at Yanqing, who was cutting down the lives of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus in the distance. After a moment, she spat out a mocking remark.
"Leader, will you take action yourself?" a follower of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus asked cautiously.
"Take action myself? Heh, no need." Danzhu shook her head, her gaze drifting slightly to the distance, as if something there warranted her attention.
"I'll leave this to you. Don't disappoint me."
…
"Jing Yuan's apprentice, my grand-disciple? Still too young, lacking in temperament, brave but reckless. Yet, this determination and conviction are quite reminiscent of him…"
Not far away, concealed by the mist, Jingliu let out a soft sigh. Beneath her black blindfold, a pair of crimson eyes locked onto Yanqing, who was fighting fiercely. Clearly, the black blindfold did nothing to obstruct her vision.
On the other side, Yanqing was unaware that someone was quietly observing him. He only felt that the number of Disciples of Sanctus Medicus before him was overwhelming—cut down one group, and another appeared. Heaven only knew how many enemies lurked in the stillness of this mist.
"Cough, cough, this mist…"
Having lingered too long in the fog, Yanqing felt his body growing heavy. At the same time, a surge of violent and hateful emotions began to well up in his heart.
Glancing back at the Cloud Knights who had already withdrawn beyond the mist's range, Yanqing summoned his sword and prepared to charge through the Disciples' encirclement.
"Stop him!"
The Disciples of Sanctus Medicus saw through Yanqing's intent. A massive Body-Forger stepped forward, bending back to gather strength. In the next moment, his spear whistled through the air, chasing Yanqing into the sky.
"Damn it! Sword, come!"
Yanqing's brow furrowed as he channeled the power of the Path of the Hunt into his sword. In an instant, the blade split into six, clashing with the spear in midair.
Bang!!
As expected, the sharp sword energy crushed the Body-Forger's spear with overwhelming force. The Disciples showed no surprise at this outcome.
Their goal hadn't been to stop Yanqing outright but to create an opportunity and buy time. After all, they didn't believe a single spear could bring down the prodigy of the Luofu, the Cloud Knight Lieutenant.
"Time to close the net!"
As the words fell, twenty or thirty Inner Alchemists of the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus formed seals simultaneously. A massive formation materialized above Yanqing, and with a whoosh, a giant net woven from the power of the Abundance descended, blanketing the sky as it enveloped him.
Facing the overwhelming net, Yanqing took a deep breath, focusing his mind. Knowing escape was unlikely, he mustered all the power of the Path within him, preparing to fight the Disciples to the death.
However, at this critical moment…
Swish! Swish! Swish…!
Several massive crescent-shaped sword energies sliced through the air, instantly shredding the all-encompassing net into fragments.
This sudden turn left everyone present stunned, especially our young Yanqing. He had been ready to fight to the death, and now…
Though he didn't know who had helped him, the youth knew this wasn't the time to stand dazed. Activating his Sword-Control Technique again, Yanqing, now unhindered, rode his flying sword, streaking through the sky like a comet.
"Damn it! He got away! Who are you? Why are you interfering with us?!"
Seeing their prey escape, the Disciples of Sanctus Medicus erupted in impotent rage. Their gazes turned to a silver-haired woman who had appeared beside them unnoticed.
"Who are you?! Why are you opposing our Disciples of Sanctus Medicus?!"
After sizing up the woman for a moment, a leader-like Disciple spoke warily.
Though their hearts burned with fury, he wasn't foolish. Someone who could so easily shatter a net woven by dozens of Inner Alchemists was no ordinary person!
"Opposing you? I'm not opposing you," the woman shook her head, her expression indifferent.
"Then why did you—"
The Disciple began to speak, but the woman suddenly interrupted him.
"You don't have the qualifications to oppose me."
"You!" "Courting death!" "Kill her!" "…"
Her words ignited the boundless rage spreading among the Disciples. The followers, incensed, roared, eager to tear this arrogant woman to shreds.
"Are you serious?" the lead Disciple's face darkened instantly.
To their question, Jingliu offered no further reply. She silently drew her "Tanhua" longsword from its sheath.
…
"Phew~ Phew~ I finally escaped…" Yanqing, having fled on his sword, gulped in the fresh air around him.
Recalling the Disciples' "Heavenly Net" and the powerful sword energy that had torn the Abundance-woven net to pieces, his heart still trembled with lingering fear.
"Who helped me…?"
Filled with questions and confusion, Yanqing reunited with the Cloud Knights who had retreated earlier. Upon seeing their Lieutenant return, several resting Cloud Knights stepped forward and saluted.
"Lord Yanqing!" ×N
"Hm." Yanqing nodded in acknowledgment, then frowned as he noticed several Cloud Knights behind them, covered in ice crystals as if performing some kind of behavioral art. Nearby, a few artisan-like figures were carefully chipping away at the ice with hammers and chisels.
"What's going on over there?" Yanqing asked.
"Lord Yanqing, those are the Cloud Knights left behind to clean the battlefield. According to them, a woman entered the depths of the Alchemy Commission. They tried to stop her, but somehow, she sealed them in ice."
"A woman? What kind of woman?"
At Yanqing's question, the Cloud Knight shook his head. "I'm not certain of the details, but they said she had silver-blue hair, was about 1.6 meters tall, and her most distinctive feature was…"
As the Cloud Knight described the woman's appearance to Yanqing, our Miss Jingliu emerged from the mist with steady, unhurried steps. Seeing her, the Cloud Knight's eyes lit up, and he pointed at Jingliu.
"Her most distinctive feature was that her eyes were covered by a black cloth, just like that lady… uh?"
Staring at Jingliu as she approached, the Cloud Knight's words caught in his throat. Silver-blue hair, about 1.6 meters tall, eyes covered by black cloth… wasn't this the woman herself?!
"I understand. You may step back," Yanqing said, his eyes fixed intently on Jingliu as she drew closer. He drew his longsword, his entire body tensing.
"Yes, Lord Yanqing."
The Cloud Knight saluted and retreated, leaving the stage to Jingliu and Yanqing.
Warily sizing up the woman before him, Yanqing raised his sword, his voice cold. "Who are you?"