Fang Zhiluo slowly raised her hand, but ultimately let it fall. She turned her head away, her voice cold and rigid: “I have a fiancé.”
Yun Xiao not only failed to release her but embraced her even tighter: “He doesn’t have you in his heart, and you don’t like him. You two don’t need to be together.”
Fang Zhiluo pushed Yun Xiao away with force, twisting her body to face away from Yun Xiao: “I will pretend I never heard what you said today.”
Before her words faded, she had already torn open a Swiftness Talisman and quickly vanished from Yun Xiao’s sight.
Yun Xiao stared blankly in the direction Fang Zhiluo departed, the sound of something shattering ringing in her ears.
She gave a bitter laugh and took a step back, the starlight in her peach blossom eyes gradually fading into gray defeat. Even standing became difficult.
She slumped weakly against the stone wall, letting the tears at the corners of her eyes roll down.
She told herself over and over not to be sad, that she had already tried her best, and at least when she looked back in the future, she would have no regrets.
Yet, her heart still ached terribly.
Sliding to the ground, Yun Xiao curled herself up, burying her head between her legs. Her body occasionally twitched, and she gradually merged with the surrounding darkness.
Fang Zhiluo, who had already left the cave dwelling, waited at the entrance for thirty minutes, but Yun Xiao still didn’t come out.
She turned as if to go back, but pulled her foot back in. She took a deep look into the cave, pursed her lips, and left.
She had to meet up with her fellow disciples soon.
Even a tenth-tier demonic beast could do nothing to Yun Xiao; there was no need to worry about Yun Xiao’s safety.
Yun Xiao emerged the next day. A hint of sorrow was added to her once-shining eyes, and her entire demeanor had changed, no longer as lively as before.
She couldn’t help but look around.
Sure enough, no one was there.
She gave a self-deprecating smile and used the Light Body Technique to head toward the secret realm’s exit.
Simultaneously, in the southeast of the secret realm.
Bai Mofeng stared in terror at the Black Sky Giant Python standing upright, retreating cautiously and defensively.
Xie Yunfan, whose injuries had mostly recovered, cursed “trash” under his breath. He threw out his high-grade flying artifact and fled.
Chu Hui mentally cursed Xie Yunfan roundly. Steeling herself, she was about to speak when the Black Sky Giant Python’s tail swept toward them.
Even the activated seventh-tier defensive array was instantly shattered before the tenth-tier Black Sky Giant Python.
The defensive array was broken, and Chu Hui was sent flying by the enormous tail.
The others fared no better, all being knocked down and rendered motionless by the same strike.
Chu Hui struggled to climb up from the ground. Once she confirmed the Black Sky Giant Python had left, she staggered toward the motionless Bai Mofeng, calling out as she walked, “Senior Brother Bai, Senior Brother Bai, are you alright?”
After a long time, Bai Mofeng finally stirred, managing to squeeze out a few words: “I’m fine.”
Chu Hui’s anxiety subsided. She turned and called out to the other disciples.
Although all were injured, thankfully their lives were safe.
After taking a Rejuvenation Pill, Chu Hui angrily punched the ground: “What ‘noble gentleman’? Senior Yun was right; he is nothing but an arrogant and shameless scoundrel! We worked so hard to protect him, and we were even angered by the Black Sky Giant Python because of him. Yet, he was fine just abandoning us and running away!”
The others chimed in one after another, their words filled with contempt for Xie Yunfan.
Bai Mofeng, feeling somewhat better, timely interrupted: “That’s enough. We have fulfilled our duty.”
He activated a sixth-tier defensive array and instructed, “Everyone, enter the array to sit in meditation and recover.”
Xie Yunfan, who had fled using the high-grade flying spiritual artifact, was not having an easy time either. The Black Sky Giant Python was too fast and had already caught up to him.
He frantically called out to Elder Qiu in his Sea of Consciousness, asking urgently, “How can I shake off this beast?”
“With your current cultivation, you are no match for this beast. You only have one path left: divert the disaster to others to buy yourself a chance to escape.”
Xie Yunfan looked behind him. The Black Sky Giant Python had closed the distance again. Its contemptuous gaze seemed to mock his futile struggle.
His competitive spirit was roused at that moment. He gritted his teeth and said, “I want this beast dead.”
Having said his piece, he resolutely charged forward, disregarding Elder Qiu’s dissuasion.
The Black Sky Giant Python paused, looking down at Xie Yunfan condescendingly: “Hand over what is mine, and I will spare your life.”
Xie Yunfan looked up and laughed loudly, disdainfully: “A mere beast dares to challenge me! Today, you are doomed to die.”
He summoned his Lifebound Sword and began to fight with the Black Sky Giant Python.
“Your sword technique is certainly better than that female cultivator’s, but you do not possess her inexhaustible spiritual power,” the Black Sky Giant Python easily neutralized Xie Yunfan’s sword moves. After more than thirty rounds, Xie Yunfan was already starting to feel powerless.
Xie Yunfan took out the Supreme Fog Fruit he had stolen from the Black Sky Giant Python and took a large bite right in front of the beast.
True to its reputation as a spiritual fruit desired even by Void Refinement cultivators, his spiritual energy surged immediately after one bite.
He used his ultimate move, striking the Black Sky Giant Python with his sword.
The Black Sky Giant Python was enraged by Xie Yunfan and slammed its tail toward him.
Xie Yunfan was prepared and dodged the attack.
The Black Sky Giant Python gave him no chance to breathe, pressing relentlessly, finally slamming Xie Yunfan to the ground.
This still didn’t extinguish its hatred. It opened its enormous mouth, intending to swallow this thieving cultivator whole.
Xie Yunfan fought back fiercely but was ultimately no match for the Black Sky Giant Python.
Just as the Black Sky Giant Python thought it had succeeded, the life-saving sword talisman on Xie Yunfan’s body was triggered. The Venerable Sovereign of Cloud-Splitting’s ultimate technique, Sky-Shaking Sword, cleaved toward the Black Sky Giant Python.
The Black Sky Giant Python narrowly avoided the attack and began fighting the sword talisman.
The Venerable Sovereign of Cloud-Splitting was already at the Void Refinement stage a century ago. Now, a hundred years later, his cultivation had reached the late-stage of Void Refinement.
Even though it was only a sword talisman, the Black Sky Giant Python had to give it its undivided attention.
Seeing that the sword talisman could not immediately slay the Black Sky Giant Python, Xie Yunfan immediately conveyed his intention through thought: “Elder Qiu, help me! This beast must die.”
Elder Qiu sighed deeply: “Consume the rest of the Fog Fruit, and I will assist you with my remaining strength.”
Xie Yunfan consumed the unfinished Fog Fruit. His entire body was filled with spiritual energy. He faintly sensed that once he left the secret realm, his cultivation would advance to the Soul Transformation stage.
That would be Yun Xiao’s death date.
Seizing the opportunity, the moment Xie Yunfan soared into the air, his aura drastically changed, his cultivation instantly elevating to the Soul Transformation stage. He then used the Sky-Shaking Sword move against the Black Sky Giant Python.
He had inherited the true essence of the Venerable Sovereign of Cloud-Splitting’s teachings and had grasped the core of this move ten years prior. With Elder Qiu’s assistance, he used it now with effortless skill.
The Black Sky Giant Python failed to dodge, and a section of its tail was severed.
With both old and new hatreds burning, its eyes turned blood red. Its demonic nature was fully unleashed; it would drag this accursed human cultivator down with it, even if it meant death.
After more than twenty rounds, its massive body crashed heavily to the ground. Consumed by hatred and unwillingness, it died under Xie Yunfan’s sword.
The sword talisman faded, and Elder Qiu returned to Xie Yunfan’s Sea of Consciousness. Xie Yunfan himself was like a stranded fish, powerlessly collapsing onto the ground.
Tens of breaths later, he struggled to sit up, swallowing several Rejuvenation Pills and Spirit Replenishment Pills in quick succession.
He glanced triumphantly at the Black Sky Giant Python’s corpse, sneering: “You relentlessly pursued me just for stealing some of your spiritual fruits and digging up some spiritual herbs.”
He walked over unsteadily and fiercely kicked the Black Sky Giant Python: “Now, everything in your cave dwelling belongs to me.”
Elder Qiu weakly reminded him: “Demonic beasts above the eighth tier have an inner space. Cut it open and look.”
Noticing spiritual energy fluctuations around him, Xie Yunfan quickly threw out a seventh-tier defensive array. Only after his spiritual energy recovered by half did he cut open the Black Sky Giant Python’s stomach.
He gazed at the objects before him, unable to contain his joy: “These are Spiritual Treasures! This beast actually still had Spiritual Treasures hidden!”
Xie Yunfan didn’t mind the mess and manually dug through the Black Sky Giant Python’s stomach.
In the end, he retrieved three Spiritual Treasures, numerous high-grade spiritual herbs, and more than twenty extreme-grade spiritual herbs.
He raised his hand and wiped away the blood that had splattered on his face, coldly snorting: “In consideration of you providing me with so many treasures, I will be the bigger man and forgive you this once.”
He consecutively cast several Dust Cleansing Incantations on the pile of treasures on the ground. Just as he was about to put these items into his storage ring, a hand suddenly reached out and moved faster than him. Immediately afterward, he was kicked to the ground.
“Such unsightly greed! Stealing someone’s home wasn’t enough; you still had to dig out their inner space. If all righteous disciples are this caliber of goods, then the Heavenly Origin Realm is truly finished,” Yun Xiao mocked.
Seeing activity here, she immediately changed direction and hurried over.
Hearing the Black Sky Giant Python’s roar, she tore up five seventh-tier Swiftness Talismans in a row, but she was still a step late.
Fortunately, she didn’t let Xie Yunfan pocket these treasures; otherwise, he would have been even harder to kill.
Xie Yunfan spat out a mouthful of clotted blood. Supporting himself with one hand, he struggled to lift the upper half of his body and looked at Yun Xiao, gritting his teeth: “It’s you again! Hand over those things, and I will spare your life.”
Yun Xiao let out a slight laugh. Her face darkened, and she instantly teleported in front of Xie Yunfan, raising her leg and delivering another kick to his chest.
“A vanquished foe is still so arrogant? It’s time to teach you a lesson.” Before her words were finished, Yun Xiao had summoned Zishuang and attacked Xie Yunfan.
She had seen earlier that the life-saving sword talisman on Xie Yunfan had been triggered. If not now, when was the time to seek revenge?