The morning sky, approaching noon, was still shrouded in dark clouds, casting a chill over Liuyao City. Suddenly, an old man in a brown robe appeared in the sky, hovering calmly yet radiating authority. His overwhelming aura seemed to press down on every corner of the air. His white hair gleamed, and his gaze fixed on Xue Yao.
Xue Yao, already alert, sensed a different kind of pressure. The old man's presence was clearly stronger than Xing Mu's. Perhaps the talisman that Xing Mu had destroyed was meant to summon a senior expert—and now he had appeared before her.
"Greetings, Elder Xing Yang!" Xing Mu called out, his voice a mix of respect, fear, and excitement.
Xing Yang, senior elder of the Xing Family, ignored the greeting. He descended slowly, his expression calm, and the aura of his power radiated like the shadow of an ancient mountain. His silence was not weakness but carried thousands of unspoken threats.
Xue Yao swallowed hard, her whole body tensing. She quickly mobilized her power; her instincts told her she could not defeat this suddenly appearing old man. Xing Yang's aura seemed slightly leaking, perhaps at Heavenly King level 7, while Xue Yao was only at Heavenly King level 1. The gap was too vast—like a small bird facing a dragon soaring in the sky.
As Xue Yao tried to escape, Xing Yang merely moved his hand. Instantly, a heavy pressure pinned her down, as if an invisible force held her to the ground. Xue Yao gritted her teeth, struggling to breathe under the suffocating force.
Her body leaned slightly forward, the strapless red dress slipping down just enough to reveal the captivating curve of her chest, She felt an odd mix of pride and familiarity, she was used to garments like this. The dress, supported only by her chest, prevented it from falling entirely. This was not merely sensual; it was a method she often used to disarm opponents with subtlety. But before a powerful expert, such a tactic was ineffective.
"Xue Yao! This is what happens when you offend the Xing Family!" Xing Mu shouted.
His voice trembled with both delight and curiosity, watching Xue Yao struggle. Yet Xue Yao remained silent, her gaze cold and full of hatred as she stared at the old man.
In the distance, Yao Yue observed. Her face showed slight surprise; she had not expected the sudden appearance of the elder. Her eyes were sharp, analyzing, evaluating. She only observed, not moving an inch.
In the city, people who had come to watch gathered at a distance. Some stood atop buildings, others on the streets.
"Hey, who is that woman in red?"
"Looks like a demon cultivator. See the aura? That's a demonic aura!"
Some began discussing, analyzing the scene like experts trying to solve a mystery.
"Hmm… I think I recognize those two men. Aren't they from the Xing Family in the western region?"
"What!! Then that demoness must be…"
"Yes, it's her! She's here!"
Immediately, the topic became a point of interest. The people realized that the demoness, likely the same one who had massacred the western region and been hunted, had now appeared in the north. Unexpected, indeed.
"Will that demoness die?"
A man in a straw hat suddenly spoke, like a splash of cold water silencing the crowd. Everyone was curious what would happen next. Would the alluring, captivating demoness fall? Yet, amidst the tension, some restrained themselves, unwilling to see her harmed. Her charm was not for nothing—only abnormal men would be unaffected.
All eyes remained fixed on Xue Yao, trapped under Xing Yang's overwhelming aura. Their breaths were held, every movement tense. Xue Yao endured the pressure, the slightly fallen dress making her appear even more alluring.
Xing Yang remained still, his eyes carefully scanning Xue Yao's body, evaluating her movements. The aura he emitted was invisible to most, yet beneath him, the ground and air seemed to hold every grain of dust in place. Xue Yao realized she faced not only power but experience and composure capable of overcoming many opponents at once.
From afar, Yao Yue furrowed her brows, vigilant and thoughtful. She did not wish for the demoness to die; in fact, she hoped to recruit her to the Liuyao Pavilion. The girl's talent intrigued her. Yet conflict with the Xing Family could cause major problems, leaving Yao Yue in a dilemma.
Tension thickened; the city's streets seemed to hold their breath. Even distant cultivators watched with anticipation, some discussing anxiously.
"Can the demoness survive?"
"Wait, just see what happens next."
Xue Yao remained pressed, her hands clenched tightly. She hated this helpless feeling. In the midst of her predicament, her thoughts wandered to another scenario: had the handsome young man she met earlier been the one capturing her, perhaps she would have surrendered willingly. Even if he desired her body, Xue Yao would have consented. But the present reality was far different: two ugly old men hunting her, cursing in her heart, leaving her frustrated and powerless.
As Elder Xing Yang prepared to strike, suddenly a sword shot out of the void. It moved with incredible speed, its dominant aura carving the air around it. Without warning, it struck Xing Yang.
Zing!!
An object fell to the ground, spraying crimson liquid everywhere. The sword moved too fast to be tracked, even by Elder Xing Yang himself. When he glanced at the fallen object, a shocking scene struck his eyes.
"Ahh!!!" Xing Yang screamed in pain, a sudden agony spreading through him.
His right hand, which had just been poised to strike Xue Yao, was severed effortlessly. Tension gripped the air. Everyone's breaths seemed to stop.
Xing Mu, standing behind Xing Yang, leaped back in shock. His heart sank. The senior elder of the Xing Family, who had reached the high Heavenly King realm, had suddenly lost his hand? A chill spread through his entire body.
Xue Yao herself was stunned. Her hands instinctively raised, eyes wide. How could the seemingly formidable old man before her suddenly lose a hand? Her mind filled with questions, sparking a glimmer of hope. Had someone come to her aid? She searched for the source of the strike but found nothing.
In the distance, Yao Yue watched in astonishment. An attack had appeared without a trace, then vanished. She could sense a faint sword aura when it struck Xing Yang.
"Could it be a sword? Where did it come from?" she thought, her beautiful face serious. She scanned the area with her spiritual senses, but strangely, she detected no hidden experts. This unsettled her deeply. Sweat began to dampen her skin. Yao Yue realized that while she had been observing the scene behind the curtain, someone far stronger was silently watching.
The distant crowd froze, seemingly mesmerized. Faces full of disbelief, shock, and awe. A hand of a high-level Heavenly King, a body as strong as steel, could be severed so easily—how was this possible?
"Wh… what happened?!" a nervous voice exclaimed.
Suddenly, silence spread.
"How is this possible!"
Xing Yang panicked, looking around for the source of the attack while clutching his wounded hand. His usual composure, unshaken even in the face of disaster, was gone. Panic replaced calm. He knew that only an expert far stronger than him could wound him so easily. Was there a hidden cultivator here? Why was he attacked?
His breaths came rapidly, his heart raced. He also realized that if the strike had not targeted his hand, it could have ended his life. Fear coursed through his body.
"Who is it?!" Xing Yang shouted, panic and vigilance in his voice.
"Old man, if you dare harm her, you might as well commit suicide!"
A young man's voice suddenly rang out amidst the tension, calm yet exuding a chilling aura that resonated across the area. All eyes turned toward the source. Xue Yao's breath caught slightly. A strange, inexplicable hope stirred within her. The mysterious young man, whose form had yet to appear, had given her a glimmer of salvation amid the overwhelming pressure.