Asharuiya was startled by the Black Dragon Emperor's sudden fury. The instant that sky-covering claw descended, her movements visibly froze.
At this rate, the Spatial Scroll in her hand definitely wouldn't activate in time.
Zhou Haoyu's brows furrowed, and he decisively unleashed the power of the Divine Eye of Time and Space.
In the next instant, ripples spread through the air around them, spatial force flooding the entire cliffside.
At the very moment the dragon claw shattered the cliff, the two of them vanished from the precipice.
After a dizzying whirl, Zhou Haoyu and Asharuiya reappeared on an unfamiliar grassland.
Zhou Haoyu opened his eyes, greeted by a sea of lush green and Asharuiya lying on the ground.
Long-distance teleportation always brought a degree of mental strain.
But with the Divine Eye of Time and Space, Zhou Haoyu's adaptation to spatial force was absolute. He felt nothing unusual.
His gaze fell on the holy maiden, her eyes closed, lashes resting gently against her cheeks. Zhou Haoyu couldn't help but swallow.
Out here in the wilderness, even if he did something, the Parthenon Temple would never know.
Of course, it was only a fleeting thought—he wasn't that base.
Suddenly, her lashes quivered.
"Hey, if you don't wake up soon, don't blame me if my hands wander," Zhou Haoyu teased, stretching a hand toward her chest.
In an instant, Asharuiya's eyes flew open. She sprang back a step, shouting, "What are you trying to do!?"
"I said 'do.'" Zhou Haoyu replied flatly.
For a moment, she didn't react. Then, as the meaning sank in, her lips trembled with fury, her cheeks burning red.
Suppressing her shame and anger, Asharuiya focused on the more urgent matter.
"That teleport just now—it was so far. How did you manage it? Do you also have a Spatial Scroll?"
She stood, smoothed her clothes, and fixed him with two pointed questions.
Spatial Scrolls weren't only rare and precious—they also required time to activate. Instant use was nearly impossible.
"Something similar to a Spatial Scroll, but a little more advanced," Zhou Haoyu answered half-truthfully. The Divine Eye of Time and Space did share certain similarities with Spatial Scrolls.
Asharuiya didn't press further. Instead, she asked a new question.
"Do you… know the Black Dragon Emperor?"
Her expression grew solemn. Before that claw struck down, she had noticed a telling detail—Austin's golden eyes had locked on Zhou Haoyu.
Her instinct said that claw had been meant for him.
The truth was exactly that. Austin had sensed a threat from Zhou Haoyu, and so struck without hesitation.
"Why are you asking this all of a sudden? I know of the Black Dragon Emperor, Austin—but I don't 'know' it personally."
"Then why did it seem so hostile toward you?"
Asharuiya frowned. Even if Zhou Haoyu's strength was extraordinary, in the end, he was still just a High-level Mage.
"You're overthinking it."
Still, a thought flashed through Zhou Haoyu's mind—if he really did enslave the Black Dragon Emperor one day, would Asharuiya turn against him?
She was Wenta's adopted daughter, and with Wenta's bond to the Black Dragon Emperor, Austin was half a senior to her.
Forget it—one step at a time. He had no way to contract it yet, anyway.
On a distant coastline, Mu Ningxue stood alone, the sea breeze tugging at her garments and lifting her silken hair. She looked like she belonged to another world entirely.
"Don't hide. Come out."
Her voice carried lightly on the wind, though she didn't turn her head.
"I didn't expect your perception to improve so much in such a short time,"
Pan Xi emerged from the shadows, surprise and wariness flickering in his eyes.
Mu Ningxue's growth had already far surpassed his expectations. Given a bit more time, he might not even be her match.
"You've come for the Ice Crystal Bow?"
Mu Ningxue turned, her ice-blue eyes meeting his calmly.
Pan Xi's gaze flickered in surprise, though he masked it with composure.
"Seems Zhou Haoyu has told you quite a bit. But compared to the Mu Clan, the Zhou Family is nothing more than a firefly beside the moon."
His voice carried unshakable calm.
It was true—the Zhou Family was expanding rapidly, but compared to the centuries-old foundation of the Mu Clan, the difference was immeasurable.
"Mu Ningxue, if you don't want to drag Zhou Haoyu and the Zhou Family down with you, hand over the Ice Crystal Bow yourself."
At that moment, Mu Tingying emerged from hiding as well, several others following behind her.
Mu Ningxue's eyes swept over her with cool indifference. Her appearance was no surprise.
"Hand over the Ice Crystal Bow now, and I'll spare your life. Otherwise, these Disciplinary Mages have the right to execute you on the spot."
Pan Xi's tone was steady—he was simply stating facts.
The Mu Clan's Disciplinary Hall had authority over its own bloodline, able to bypass the Tribunal entirely.
Even execution of clan members could not be challenged by law.
Mu Ningxue's gaze grew sharp. She was just about to summon the Ice Crystal Bow—when a hand slid around her waist.
"She's mine now. What the hell does she have to do with your Mu Clan?"
Zhou Haoyu appeared behind her, his cold eyes sweeping over Pan Xi's group before finally landing on Mu Tingying.
The iciness in his gaze made Mu Tingying's heart lurch with panic.
Pan Xi might not know Zhou Haoyu's true strength—but she knew all too well. This was the man who had slain the Dark Sword Master!
"Hmph~~"
The moment Pan Xi saw Zhou Haoyu appear, his face instantly darkened.
He had deliberately chosen a time when Zhou Haoyu wasn't around, yet still ended up running into him.
"Zhou Haoyu, even if Mu Ningxue has joined your Zhou Family, the Ice Crystal Bow within her body still belongs to the Mu Clan—it must be returned."
Pan Xi tried to reason with Zhou Haoyu. In his eyes, Zhou Haoyu was merely bewitched by Mu Ningxue's beauty.
As long as the Ice Crystal Bow was handed back, relations with the Mu Clan could ease. Any rational person would know which choice to make.
Hearing this, Zhou Haoyu immediately looked at him as though he were a complete idiot.
"I suggest you go get your brain checked."
Pan Xi felt utterly humiliated, pointing a trembling finger at Zhou Haoyu.
"You'd better not fail to appreciate kindness."
"I can't be bothered to reason with you—you're not worthy of hearing it."
With that, Zhou Haoyu clenched the void, seizing Pan Xi by the throat and lifting him into the air.
The Disciplinary Mages behind him rushed forward at once, but the next second they were all blasted dozens of meters away by an invisible force.
"You dare to strike at Disciplinary Mages? The Mu Clan will never let you go!"
Even as his throat was being crushed, leaving him barely able to breathe, Pan Xi still spat out threats at Zhou Haoyu.
But the one thing Zhou Haoyu feared least of all was threats.
If it weren't for concerns about affecting the upcoming official tournament, he would have dealt with them here and now.
Instead, Zhou Haoyu had a better idea—cripple him completely, strip him of all cultivation.
...
For Advance Chapters
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