The streets of Liuyao Town lay in eerie silence, the occasional gust of wind rattling the tiles atop the houses. Dry leaves skittered across the cracked pavement, dancing in erratic patterns. Street lamps wavered, as if holding their breath, while the night mist curled through every corner, unwilling to part from its master.
The woman was Xue Yao.
Gradually, the black mist receded, revealing her elegant form—graceful, yet exuding a subtle, dangerous aura. As if sensing something approaching, she halted, her gaze fixed straight ahead. At the end of the street, a middle-aged man advanced with measured, deliberate steps.
Xue Yao's eyes narrowed. She knew who it was. Xing Mu, Elder of the Xing Family from the Western Region.
Yet, instead of panic, a faint curve appeared on Xue Yao's lips. In the past, when cornered by numerous formidable opponents, she had still managed to escape. Now, only one man had come. To her, Xing Mu was no more than a minor threat—but she remained cautious. In the world of cultivation, true killers often hid in the shadows of others.
As Xing Mu drew closer, Xue Yao's gaze stayed level, cool and calculating. "Xing Mu… you didn't come here just to capture me, did you?" she asked, a knowing edge in her voice.
"Silence! You murdered members of my family!" Xing Mu's words carried the sting of denial, an unjust accusation. He sought revenge for his fallen kin; how could he be blamed without proof?
Xue Yao let out a soft chuckle. "Oh, really? If this artifact means so little to you… then fine. I'll just take it with me."
A hush fell over the street.
Suddenly, Xing Mu's laughter rang out, shattering the quiet. "Hahaha… demonic woman, you are clever indeed. Tell me, where do you plan to run this time?"
There was a triumphant tone in his voice, as if he had personally defeated a thousand foes.
"Xing Mu, relying on just yourself won't be enough to catch me."
Her words were cold, each syllable slicing like a blade. To Xue Yao, this man was merely a farmyard rooster crowing like a dragon.
Xing Mu's laughter abruptly ceased.
"Hmph! Acting all high and mighty, yet you ran like a cat chased by hounds!"
"Hahaha… true enough. And you? One of those hounds, aren't you?" Xue Yao's eyes glinted with challenge.
A vein throbbed in Xing Mu's temple. Anger and shame boiled within him. Once, he had been among those chasing Xue Yao. And now… he was likened to a hound by the very prey he pursued. Irony bitterly stung.
"Xue Yao! Surrender the artifact and come back with me to the Xing Family!" Xing Mu's shout carried an edge of desperation.
Xue Yao snorted. "Run back to your family. This artifact isn't a toy for children. You wouldn't want to get hurt, would you?"
Xing Mu's face darkened. As a respected Elder of the Xing Family, he had been insulted by this outcast demon woman. Fury ignited within him.
"Seeking death!"
Xing Mu's aura erupted violently, shaking the very air. He revealed his cultivation: third-stage Heavenly King. The sheer pressure was enough to make lesser cultivators kneel, stones quivering under the force.
With a swift motion, he drew a sword that had appeared from thin air. Its silver blade shimmered, etched with star patterns along its edges—a Tier 3 artifact. Artifacts, after all, were ranked from Tier 1 up to the highest Tier 9.
The sword rose high, starlight coalescing at its tip. Its aura carried the power of the stars, the signature of the Xing Family, rare and difficult to master. Xing Mu's strike launched forward, a force capable of obliterating anyone beneath the Heavenly King realm.
Xue Yao did not hesitate. From her storage ring emerged a bloodstained sword, its blade seemingly dripping a thick, crimson liquid. A crimson aura surged, suffocating the senses, weighing the air around her. She emanated her cultivation within the Heavenly King first-stage, two stages beneath Xing Mu, yet she showed no fear.
The collision came.
BANGG!!!
Their attacks clashed with a deafening roar, sending winds spiraling, dust and fragments of stone scattering. The close-quarters battle had erupted.
Xue Yao pressed forward relentlessly, leaving no room for Xing Mu to breathe. Each step left a wisp of mist in her wake, her sword's glint reflecting off broken windows. She exploited every opening, measuring distance, waiting for the perfect moment to strike with lethal precision.
Xing Mu held firm, eyes sharp, analyzing each movement. He realized Xue Yao was far more troublesome than he had anticipated, no wonder she had escaped the encirclement of the other experts. Yet he did not panic. He stepped back, focusing his energy into his sword.
"Xingchen Sword Technique! Star Destruction Slash!"
Blue light erupted from his sword, star patterns forming in the air. The aura born of this strike was a hereditary ability, crafted by the Xing Family's Ancestor, Xing Chen, a legendary ruler of the Western Region in ages past.
Xue Yao's eyes narrowed. Quickly forming a hand seal, the aura of blood from her sword intensified, manifesting the Blood Law.
A Law was a principle, a path chosen and understood by a cultivator. There were three thousand Laws in the world. Astonishingly, Xue Yao had grasped one, albeit superficially. Xing Mu's shock was evident; he had not comprehended any Law. Generally, only the faintly aware Heavenly Venerables could start to understand even a single Law.
"Demonic Blood Slash!"
From her blood sword, a blurred form emerged—a demonic figure howling, intent on bathing the world in blood.
The clash continued.
BUMM!!
Xue Yao's strike shattered Xing Mu's slash, pressing forward relentlessly. He scrambled, activating a high-level defense.
BANG!!
He was thrown backward, crashing into a massive stone that splintered under the impact. Dust rose in clouds, the echo of the blow carrying for thousands of meters. Observers from afar began to notice the massive confrontation, some daring to approach—but for mortals, witnessing such a battle was courting death.
From a distance, Yao Yue observed. Concealing her aura tightly, her heart raced. Her eyes widened slightly as she watched Xing Mu falter beneath Xue Yao's attack.
'Who… is this woman? Such power… incredible…' she thought.
Xing Mu rose, his breath heavy, blood trickling from his mouth. He was battered, barely steady. Meanwhile, Xue Yao remained composed, her crimson sword raised, her gaze icy. Still, a subtle tremor betrayed her; she had poured everything into that strike, draining her energy rapidly. After all, Xing Mu's cultivation surpassed hers—it was a miracle she had managed to hold him off.
A cold resolve settled in Xing Mu's heart. This demonic woman must be captured—now! Without another word, he swiftly produced a blue talisman and shattered it. Xue Yao's brows knitted in serious concern.
Instantly, a heavy aura pressed down across the town.
"Xing Mu, you disgrace the Xing Family!"
The harsh, chilling voice echoed through the streets, sending a shiver down anyone's spine who heard it.