The streets of Liuyao City were still quiet, with only the wind occasionally rustling the rooftops. From a distance, a woman in a red dress walked slowly. Her entire body was enveloped in swirling dark mist, like the night fog reluctant to part from its master.
The woman was Xue Yao.
The black mist gradually dissipated, revealing her graceful figure exuding a dangerous aura. Sensing something approaching, she stopped and stared straight ahead. At the end of the street, a middle-aged man approached with steady steps.
Squinting, Xue Yao knew who he was: Xing Mu, Elder of the Xing Family from the western region.
Yet instead of panic, a thin curve of a smile appeared on Xue Yao's lips. In the past, when pursued by numerous powerful experts at once, she had still managed to escape. Now, only one person had come. To her, Xing Mu was little more than a minor threat, though she remained cautious. In the cultivation world, true assassins often hide in the shadows of others.
As Xing Mu approached, Xue Yao gazed at him with a neutral expression.
"Xing Mu, I know you're not looking for me just to capture me, right?" Xue Yao said, guessing at his motive.
"Silence! You killed members of my family!" Xing Mu denied it, believing it a slander. He wanted revenge for his family's deaths—how could he be accused without evidence?
Xue Yao chuckled.
"Oh, so that artifact isn't important, huh? Very well, then I shall keep it with me…"
A brief silence fell.
Xing Mu's laughter suddenly echoed, breaking the stillness of the street.
"Hahaha… demoness, you are clever. This time, where will you run?"
His tone was filled with triumph, as if he had just defeated a thousand enemies single-handedly.
"Xing Mu, relying on only yourself is not enough to catch me."
Her cold tone cut like a blade, every word dripping with insult. To Xue Yao, this man was merely a village rooster pretending to roar like a dragon.
Xing Mu's laughter faltered.
"Don't act so mighty! You were running like a terrified cat before!"
"Hahaha… indeed, and you were one of the dogs chasing me," Xue Yao retorted with a mocking gaze.
A vein on Xing Mu's temple throbbed.
Earlier, Xue Yao had escaped the encirclement of many experts. Xing Mu was also among her pursuers, and yet she had likened her hunter to a dog. Was this amusing? Apparently, Xing Mu had a sense of humor.
"Xue Yao! Surrender the artifact and return with me to the Xing Family!" Xing Mu shouted.
Xue Yao snorted.
"Go home; the artifact is no child's toy. I fear you might get hurt."
Xing Mu's face darkened. As an esteemed elder of the Xing Family, he was being insulted by this homeless demoness? His temper flared.
"Seeking death!"
His aura exploded, shaking the air.
He revealed his cultivation aura: Heavenly King, level 3! The pressure alone was enough to make lower-ranked cultivators kneel and shake the stones nearby.
With swift motion, he drew a sword materializing from the void. Its silver blade glimmered, etched with star patterns along its edges. It was a level 3 artifact. Artifacts themselves had ranks, from level 1 to the highest level 9.
He raised the sword high, starlight gathering at its tip. Its aura carried the power of the stars, a specialty of the Xing Family, rare and difficult to master. Xing Mu's slash could annihilate anyone below the Heavenly King rank.
Xue Yao did not remain idle. From her storage ring, she drew a blood-stained sword, its blade seemingly dripping thick crimson liquid. The aura of blood surged, stabbing the senses and weighing down the surrounding air. Xue Yao also emitted her cultivation aura: Heavenly King, level 1. Two minor ranks below Xing Mu, yet Xue Yao was undaunted.
The clash erupted.
BANG!!!
Their attacks collided with a deafening roar, shaking the air until a small storm formed. Dust and shards of stone flew. Close-quarters combat broke out. Xue Yao pressed Xing Mu relentlessly, moving like lightning.
Xing Mu held firm, eyes sharp as he analyzed every movement. He realized Xue Yao was extremely troublesome; no wonder she had escaped the encirclement of many experts. Yet he remained calm, confident. Then he stepped back slightly, focusing his power into the sword.
"Xingchen Sword Technique! Slash of Stellar Destruction!"
His sword radiated deep blue light, star patterns forming a formation in the air. The aura generated by the strike was a unique hereditary technique, created by the founder of the Xing Family, Elder Xing Chen, a legendary ruler of the western region in the past.
Xue Yao narrowed her eyes, immediately forming a hand seal. The blood aura in her sword thickened, emanating the Blood Dao, allowing her to control the Law of Blood. Dao is a principle or law that cultivators select and master. There are three thousand Daos in the world. Astonishingly, Xue Yao had mastered one! Even Xing Mu appeared surprised, as he had yet to understand any Dao.
"Blood Demon Slash!"
From her sword emerged a vague red demon figure howling, carrying an intent to drench the world in blood.
The clash erupted again.
BOOM!!
Xue Yao's strike shattered Xing Mu's slash, then surged toward him. Xing Mu was shocked, hastily activating a high-level defense.
BANG!!
His body was forcefully thrown back, hitting a large rock that shattered. Dust billowed, the crash echoing for kilometers. People from afar noticed, realizing a great battle was underway. Only brave cultivators dared to approach; for mortals, it was a death wish.
From a distance, a woman in yellow observed the battle from the start. The woman was Yao Yue, concealing her aura. She did not intend to interfere, but her eyes widened slightly seeing Xing Mu being repelled. Her interest in Xue Yao grew.
Xing Mu rose, breathing heavily, blood dripping from his mouth. He did not look well. Meanwhile, Xue Yao stood calm, her red sword raised, her gaze cold. Yet she trembled slightly, perhaps because she had unleashed all her energy in the previous strike, quickly depleting her power. After all, Xing Mu's cultivation was higher than hers—it was a miracle she could repel him.
A cold thought entered Xing Mu's mind: this demoness must be captured quickly! Without a word, he hurriedly activated a blue talisman and immediately shattered it. Xue Yao noticed, her brows furrowing in seriousness.
Instantly, a heavy aura pressed down over the entire area.
"Xing Mu, you've humiliated my Xing Family!"
A hoarse, icy voice echoed through the air, making anyone who heard it shiver.