Standing amidst the swirling sand and wind, after a long while, the black-robed figure sighed softly, gradually turning around. With slender hands, they pulled down the black hood, revealing a delicate, fair face that was somewhat stunningly exposed to the ravaging elements. Her beautiful eyes gazed at the boy whose face was filled with a bright smile. Yun Zhi’s rosy lips couldn’t help but curve into a gentle smile. She didn’t take the words Xiao Yan had shouted, which were quite damaging, too seriously. She knew it was just a joke he made in excitement, though it did stir something soft within her…
“Alas, I was still recognized…” Yun Zhi swept aside the green hair from her forehead with her delicate hand, shook the strange long sword in her hand, and a look of helplessness appeared on her lovely face.
“Hehe.” Seeing the familiar, beautiful face, Xiao Yan couldn’t help but grin. He stepped forward two steps, holding the Blue Lotus Seat in his hands, and said, “It’s been half a year. How have you been?”
“Mm, I’ve been pretty good…” Yun Zhi slightly pressed her red lips together, as if trying to maintain her usual indifference. But whenever she glanced at the boy’s bright smile, the forced calm on her face would quickly crumble. After a few such cycles, Yun Zhi could only sigh softly, nodding slightly and murmuring.
Her gaze swept over Xiao Yan, and her beautiful eyes lit up a little. After six months of training, Xiao Yan’s body seemed more upright. His once clear face, now slightly tanned from months in the desert, showed a hint of firmness. Clearly, the boy had grown a lot in these six months.
With Yun Zhi’s status, she had seen many young talents, some so handsome that women would throw themselves at them. But none of them had ever made her feel a mix of surprise and joy due to their growth—except for this boy with the complicated relationship in front of her.
“You’ve become a Daoshi?” Yun Zhi was slightly surprised, then nodded in understanding. When they parted, Xiao Yan was already at the peak of a Fighter. With his talent, breaking through was only a matter of time. However, achieving such a breakthrough and stabilizing his strength in just half a year was unexpected.
“Mm, just luck,” Xiao Yan replied with a smile, nodding.
As he looked at Yun Zhi, the initial surprise gradually faded. He pondered for a moment and hesitantly asked, “Why are you with the Pill King Gu He?”
Hearing Xiao Yan’s question, Yun Zhi was a bit taken aback. Then her eyes flickered, and she said softly, “Pill King Gu He has a wide network of friends in the Jia Ma Empire. I also know him and owe him a favor. This time, he invited me along when he came to the desert to find the Heavenly Flame.”
“Oh,” Xiao Yan nodded, once again amazed by Gu He’s status in the Jia Ma Empire. Then, he looked down at the Blue Lotus Seat and asked, “Then…if you don’t bring back the Heavenly Flame, won’t he blame you?”
“Maybe, but my task is just to protect their safety. Other than that, I don’t have much obligation. Plus, he thinks of you as a mysterious Battle Emperor. So, he should know how difficult it is to take a Heavenly Flame from a Battle Emperor. If I fail, he won’t say much, though he might be a bit disappointed.”
Yun Zhi sighed lightly. Although she and Gu He were old acquaintances, she knew Xiao Yan’s stubborn nature. If it came to snatching the flame, this little guy would probably turn hostile. Though Xiao Yan often seemed mature beyond his years, he could be as obstinate as a three-year-old when it came to certain things. Once he wanted something, he wouldn’t let go easily.
Rubbing her aching forehead, Yun Zhi gave a bitter smile. She inwardly sighed at her bad luck. Out of all people, why did she have to meet this little guy? If it were anyone else, even a Battle Emperor, Yun Zhi would have found a way to take the flame. Though she could snatch the flame in a blink, she couldn’t bring herself to harm this man with whom she had a complex relationship.
“Hehe…” Seeming to understand Yun Zhi’s dilemma, Xiao Yan chuckled awkwardly, hugging the Blue Lotus Seat. “Sorry, I’ve been tracking this thing for half a year. Even if you didn’t come to the desert, I would have gone to the Medusa Queen…”
“But what do you need the Heavenly Flame for? With your current strength, even a touch of it would be fatal.”
Staring at the blue lotus seat in Xiao Yan’s hand, Yun Zhi’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, puzzled.
“Hehe, maybe, but I really need it,” Xiao Yan replied vaguely.
Seeing his vague response, Yun Zhi could only shake her head helplessly. Since he didn’t want to talk about it, she wouldn’t press. She turned her head slightly, looking towards the distant desert, and said, “You should leave first. Two Snake-People Tribe Daowang strongmen are chasing after us. I’ll hold them off for a while.”
“And then? I thought you’d disappear without saying goodbye again,” Xiao Yan shrugged, smiling.
“Sorry, there was an urgent matter last time, so…” Hearing the slight grievance in Xiao Yan’s voice, Yun Zhi explained softly. “After intercepting them, I’ll rejoin Gu He and the others. We had an agreement.”
“So rushed?” Sighing helplessly, Xiao Yan said with a bitter smile, “We finally meet, but we have to part right away. I don’t know when we’ll meet again. You people are always so mysterious.”
Yun Zhi smiled lightly, looking at the boy’s face, hesitated for a moment, and suddenly asked, “Have you been practicing alone all this time?”
“Mm, yes…” Rubbing his chin, Xiao Yan nodded with a smile, not revealing Yao Lao’s presence.
“Though your cultivation talent is good, even the best jade needs careful polishing. Practicing alone will lead to many unnecessary detours… If you don’t mind, I can introduce a place to you. There, you can get the best conditions for cultivation.”
Yun Zhi’s beautiful eyes sparkled as she smiled.
“What place?” Xiao Yan, though not very interested, asked out of curiosity.
“Yunlan Sect,” Yun Zhi smiled. “Yunlan Sect has great power in the Jia Ma Empire. I happen to have a friend there. If you’re willing, I can…”
Her words abruptly stopped as she noticed the boy’s face, which had been filled with a smile, suddenly turn dark.
“What’s wrong?” Yun Zhi asked, slightly puzzled.
“Haha, never mind. What business does a small person like me have in a place like Yunlan Sect? It would only invite ridicule,” Xiao Yan shook his head and sneered.
Seeing Xiao Yan’s sudden change in attitude, Yun Zhi’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she defended, “Yunlan Sect isn’t as bad as you think. With your cultivation talent, who would mock you? I’m doing this for your own good. There, you can directly get the most suitable Dou Qi techniques and skills. And the disciples in Yunlan Sect are all top-notch, you should get along well with them.”
“Sigh, forget it, forget it. I don’t have much good feelings about that place. I’m fine practicing alone. I don’t have the mood for those sects.”
Hearing Yun Zhi praise Yunlan Sect, Xiao Yan felt a bit annoyed. When she mentioned the quality of the disciples, a flash of anger rose in him. Quality? A place that could raise someone like Nalan Yanran could hardly be of high quality.
His face darkened slightly, and Xiao Yan exhaled, waving his hand impatiently. “Alright, no more talk. Since you’re going to find Gu He, let’s part here. I have urgent matters too. Goodbye! If we meet again, it’s fine. If you really don’t want to see me, that’s fine too.”
“Thank you for today. If there’s a chance, I’ll repay this favor…”
With that, Xiao Yan didn’t waste any more words. He held the Blue Lotus Seat, turned around, and his wings flapped slightly, soaring into the sky. He sped off into the distance without looking back.
Standing dumbfounded on the sand dune, Yun Zhi watched as Xiao Yan turned into a black dot. After a while, she bit her red lips, stomping her feet in frustration. A look of resentment spread across her beautiful face. She had sincerely considered Xiao Yan’s well-being, but instead, she had provoked such a strong reaction. She felt like her kindness had been met with ingratitude.
“Stubborn guy, if you don’t want to go, you don’t have to be so dramatic,” Yun Zhi muttered, kicking the sand dune with her foot. A fierce wave of energy shot out, carving a trench several meters long in the dune.
“Repaying a favor… do I really care about the gratitude of a mere Daoshi?”
Venting her frustration, Yun Zhi’s face flushed. She gripped the long sword, exhaled, and the rare emotions on her face quickly disappeared, replaced by a cold, indifferent expression.
Turning her head slightly, Yun Zhi glared coldly at the two tiny black dots rapidly approaching in the distance.
“A bunch of sticky cowhide candy, do you really think I won’t kill you?”
Holding the sword at an angle, the sharp sword aura shot out from the tip. Yun Zhi stared indifferently at the two approaching figures, her lips curling into a cold smile. Evidently, the girl, full of grievances and anger because of Xiao Yan, was ready to use these two as outlets for her fury.
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