In the vast, endless desert, a sharp sonic boom echoed through the void. The moment the sound resonated, a figure flickered into existence, pausing briefly before reappearing hundreds of meters away. In the instant that this figure vanished, another shadow followed closely. This black shadow moved through the air with a grace akin to a floating willow leaf, blending speed and elegance in a visually mesmerizing manner.
This black shadow’s speed matched, if not exceeded, that of the previous figure. Each time it shot forward, a faint afterimage remained in its wake, dissipating slowly under the sun’s rays. At one point, as many as eight afterimages appeared simultaneously in the sky, attesting to the sheer, terrifying velocity of the shadow.
As the chase continued, Xiao Yan’s silhouette transformed once more into a small black dot within the sight of the black-robed individual. Gazing up, the black-robed person’s brows furrowed slightly, a soft, puzzled murmur escaping from beneath the hood: “This person’s speed is truly peculiar. There’s no trace of overflowing Dou Qi while flying—such perfect control is exceedingly rare.”
“Why was I unaware of such a powerful individual near the Tager Desert? Even some Battle Emperors would find it hard to match this speed. If it weren’t for my ‘Wind Silk Afterimage’ movement technique, I wouldn’t have been able to keep up.”
The fine, painted eyebrows beneath the hood deepened in a frown, revealing the perplexity in the wearer’s mind. “I can’t continue like this. If a sandstorm rises, I’ll lose my target…”
With a slow exhalation of fragrant breath, the black-robed individual’s snow-white hands slid out from the sleeves, forming a series of seals. A soft murmur escaped, “Within five hundred meters, I can attack. Now, I’m just a little short… let’s accelerate.”
As the words faded, the black-robed individual’s toes lightly touched the void, body gracefully rotating in the air, leaving a lingering afterimage. The actual body, however, disappeared mysteriously, reappearing over a hundred meters away.
“Bees’ nest… ” Sensing an unusual rustling of wind by her ear, Xiao Yan glanced back, noticing the black-robed figure flashing towards him. He couldn’t help but chuckle bitterly in his heart, “Is it that Battle Emperor? No wonder they could catch up.”
“Seems like the black-robed individual has some interest in you. Why don’t you try to see if she’ll spare you again?” Medicine Elder chuckled playfully.
“Ahem… maybe not. Last time, she might have pitied me. But now, the allure of the Heavenly Flame is too great. We don’t know each other, and unless her brain is squeezed, she’ll probably deal with me decisively,” Xiao Yan replied dryly, only to feel a sudden tightening in his chest. His entire body’s hair stood on end.
“Be careful!” “Wind Spiral Wall!”
A calm, cold shout and the urgent cry of the Medicine Elder resounded. As the shouts faded, the space several dozen meters in front of Xiao Yan twisted, forming a solid wall made entirely of howling winds. The wall teemed with countless rotating wind blades, ready to slice anyone who dared approach.
Xiao Yan’s eyes widened, staring at the approaching wind blade wall, his pupils contracting to needle points. Out of sheer momentum, he slowed down, but his body still collided with the wind wall.
“Oh no! Stop!” The shock left Xiao Yan pale. Just as his body was mere meters from the wall, a pale white flame erupted from within, pinning him mid-air, utterly still. His body froze, trembling slightly, as the wind wall churned ominously before him, producing a terrifying grinding sound.
Cold sweat trickled down his forehead. “This is too cruel.”
“Hand over the Heavenly Flame. I don’t know who you are, but offending a sixth-grade alchemist isn’t wise,” a calm, cold voice sounded behind him, slightly breathless from the exertion.
“Teacher, prepare for a fight,” Xiao Yan sighed, his escape plan thwarted. Now, only a direct, brutal confrontation remained.
“I’ll try, but remember, fighting a Battle Emperor, I can protect your life, not the flame,” Medicine Elder sighed, resigned.
“You’re right. Without life, what use is the flame? Let’s focus on survival,” Xiao Yan replied, tossing the blue lotus throne casually behind him. As it left his hand, he stamped the void and flapped his wings, hurtling towards the ground.
The black-robed individual, clearly stunned by Xiao Yan’s prompt surrender, watched the lotus float over, hesitated, then gave up on intercepting. She flapped her wings, ready to retrieve it.
Just as she approached, a powerful suction force erupted from the ground, pulling the lotus down. “Hehe, sorry,” Xiao Yan chuckled, summoning the lotus back as he landed, laughing and flapping his wings, creating a sandstorm.
Suspiciously, the black-robed individual scanned the area, her icy gaze fixed on the rising sand, and muttered, “Four Winds Wall!”
Four massive wind walls appeared, enveloping the area. Xiao Yan, who had hoped to escape, stopped, staring at the barrier, “It’s time to fight. She’s too composed, choosing the most effective interception so quickly.”
“My patience is limited. You’re pushing my limits,” the black-robed individual’s voice, cold and calm, echoed above. She landed, her left hand swirling with a tiny wind vortex, and her right materialized a strange, glowing green sword.
Sighing, Xiao Yan carefully placed the lotus on the sand dune. His expression changed, filled with a fierce determination. Standing, he faced the black-robed Battle Emperor, drawing a massive, black, heavy ruler from his ring.
Gripping the ruler, he planted it in the sand, shrugged at the black-robed individual, and smiled, “You must be surprised. The teenager you saved in the desert is the one causing you the most trouble.”
Indeed, the black-robed individual was shocked, nearly to the point of awe. As Xiao Yan turned, her body stiffened, her eyes wide with disbelief. “How could it be you?”
“Sorry, I need it,” Xiao Yan explained, looking at the flame. “You told me to leave. Why are you still here?”
Angrily, she asked, “Why are you in the desert? I told you to go back!”
“Er… Sister, I came for the Heavenly Flame. The Queen Medusa has what I need. Why should I leave?”
“The flame is mine. If you want it, come and take it, but I won’t give it up easily!” Xiao Yan raised his ruler, pointing at her, a defiant smile on his face.
“You… ” The black-robed individual was both amused and angry. It had been only half a year since they last met, and he dared to challenge her?
She gazed at him, a mix of annoyance and amusement in her eyes. Finally, she sighed, retracting her aura, unable to bring herself to harm him.
“Truly a misunderstanding…” She thought, her cheeks blushing. “Go, take the flame and go. Pretend I didn’t catch up today.”
“Er… you don’t want the flame?”
“I don’t owe Gu He too much. This protection mission was already a big favor.”
Turning, she said, “Reinforcements are coming. Go, I’ll hold them off.”
“Er… Sister, are you sure you’re not related to me? Auntie?”
“Shut up!” The black-robed individual shouted, shooting a gust of sand at Xiao Yan.
Cleaning the sand, Xiao Yan looked at her retreating figure, “Who are you going to?”
Pausing, she said, “There are pursuers. Go, I’ll hold them off.”
“Yun Zhi, is that you? I love you!”
In the raging sand, Xiao Yan’s laughter echoed, reaching the black-robed individual’s ears. Her body froze, standing tall and elegant, a beautiful peony in the wind.
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