In the desolate temple, the usually calm Gu Sangbo couldn't help but feel his heart tighten. Li Laogui had once been a legendary assassin, renowned for his deadly skills. Though most of his cultivation had been destroyed due to some unknown reason, he still remained unmatched in the art of poison. Now, this young man was his direct disciple, and the potency of the poison powder he wielded was certainly no match for ordinary craftsmen. Even a marginal figure in the cultivation world could easily fall victim to it without realizing.
He quickly swallowed several rare detoxifying pills and circulated his true energy to probe the situation. When he detected no abnormality, he sighed in relief. His gaze fell upon the severed arm of the Buddha statue in his hand. His anger surged, but he dared not dismantle it carelessly, fearing the cunning young man might have set another deadly trap inside.
However, as he turned his attention back to the statue, he suddenly froze—besides Lin Tian, there was a young woman in white, carrying a sword on her back, standing there.
The woman looked to be only sixteen or seventeen years old, but her figure was so enchanting it made one's blood surge. Her face, however, was cold as ice, exuding an air of purity and aloofness that made one involuntarily fantasize. Gu Sangbo even forgot to think about how she had silently appeared under his nose.
Lin Tian secretly guessed—could this be the "celestial and demonic figure" from the rumors? Her frosty brows and fiery figure seemed like something out of a myth from the foreign realms.
Gu Sangbo felt an uncontrollable restlessness rising within him, his tongue running over his cracked lips. A desolate temple and a lone girl—such a scenario was enough to excite any man.
The girl's gaze, however, was cold and fixed solely on Lin Tian, not even sparing a glance at Gu Sangbo.
"Miss, are you here alone?" Gu Sangbo suppressed his greed, trying to act serious as he spoke.
The girl didn't answer but crouched down to examine Lin Tian's injuries, taking out a cool white ointment and gently applying it.
Gu Sangbo's face darkened, but secretly, he felt pleased—he couldn't see through this woman's cultivation, which might mean she was a formidable opponent. But now that her back was turned to him, wasn't this the perfect opportunity to strike?
Just as his hand was about to reach for the sword hilt, a chill suddenly ran through his throat—the girl had risen without him noticing, her long sword now pointing directly at his throat. Gu Sangbo's heart froze. Any slight movement on his part, and the blade would easily pierce through his throat.
"What is the meaning of this?" he chuckled nervously, having no idea how to respond. Only moments ago, he had easily dealt with Lin Tian, but now, in the presence of this girl, he was completely helpless.
How could this be? He had practiced martial arts for over a decade and had reached the peak of the early stage of Qi Transformation, only one step away from breaking through to the next realm. He also had excellent spiritual roots and had made considerable progress in the path of magic. Though he hadn't yet formed a spiritual wheel, he was far stronger than most at his level. By all logic, his power should allow him to dominate over disciples from the outer sect, yet this girl made him powerless to fight back.
"In the palace, those with malicious thoughts are executed on the spot." The girl's voice was as cold as frost.
"In the palace?" Lin Tian's heart skipped a beat, confused by her words. Gu Sangbo's expression became horrified, and for a long time, he could only stutter, unable to speak.
"I will spare your life for now. Why is this boy injured?" The girl asked coldly.
"He stole my things, so I had to take action..." Gu Sangbo stammered, but Lin Tian only sneered, not bothering to argue.
The girl's gaze shifted, landing on the severed arm of the Buddha statue in Gu Sangbo's hand: "What is this for?"
Instinctively, Gu Sangbo hid the arm behind his back, but the girl's eyes narrowed. With a flick of her wrist, the sword edge moved away from his throat and aimed at his hand, forcing him to release the severed arm. The arm was lifted in mid-air, held by the tip of her sword.
"Don't touch it! There's poison smoke inside," Lin Tian urgently warned.
Gu Sangbo's spine grew cold—had he shattered it earlier, he would have already fallen victim to the poison.
The girl smiled faintly, her icy beauty brightening for a moment, like a spring dawn, causing Lin Tian to freeze for a second.
With a gentle flick of her sword, the mud statue's severed arm shattered into dust, revealing a copper smoking pipe, blackened by years of exposure. Faint pink smoke began to waft out, and Gu Sangbo immediately felt his energy sealed, his limbs stiffened, unable to even twitch his fingers.
"This is potent poison... I underestimated you." The girl's eyes slightly narrowed, her tone indifferent.
Lin Tian merely smiled, not saying more—this girl surely had an antidote or perhaps her cultivation was so advanced that she was immune to all poisons. But... could someone at the Innate stage be so young?
"Are you from the Tian Can Sect?" The girl suddenly spoke.
Gu Sangbo's heart shook violently—she had seen through his background with a single sentence!
The Tian Can Sect was one of the three major sects in the southern border! Lin Tian's eyes flashed coldly, finally learning the identity of his enemies, giving him a direction for future revenge.
"I don't care about your grievances. I'm waiting for someone tonight. You both move aside," the girl said as she sheathed her sword. With a swift motion, she tossed both Gu Sangbo and Lin Tian behind the Buddha statue, as easily as one might discard firewood.