Jing Qiao

Chapter 505 Exiting Seclusion and Encountering Setbacks

The moment Yun Fan arrived in the outside world, things had indeed changed. The immortal energy permeating the air was even denser than before, and it carried a distinct aura of the Primordial Immortal Realm. It was richer and more ancient than anything he had encountered previously. He hadn't expected the 'San' to possess such capabilities, which far surpassed his predictions. If he had such methods at his disposal, he could transform the universe into a similar world in the future.

Suddenly, Yun Fan spotted a figure flying towards him in the sky. The individual's strength was formidable, exceeding his own, at least reaching the third realm of the Saint Emperor. Such a being would undoubtedly be among the most powerful experts. The figure landed before Yun Fan.

"This is the center of the transformation. You are forbidden to approach until it is completed!" the figure warned Yun Fan.

Yun Fan nodded, preparing to leave. However, at that moment, the figure sensed his bloodline.

"War God Bloodline!" The figure exclaimed in utter confusion, surprised that Yun Fan was a descendant of the War God Clan.

Yun Fan inquired, "Is there a problem?"

"No problem!" the figure replied. "It's unexpected that a War God Clan member has survived. It's a pity that due to the passage of time, your War God Clan has become obsolete." The figure's tone was a mixture of regret and mockery.

Yun Fan did not engage further. For now, his priority was to develop discreetly. Only when his strength surpassed others would he have the right to be arrogant.

"Wait a moment!" the figure suddenly commanded.

"Is there something else?" Yun Fan asked, puzzled.

"They say your War God Clan bloodline is the foremost bloodline of the Primordial Era. Since you are here, why not extract your bloodline and give it to me?" Although the figure spoke casually, Yun Fan understood the implication. If his bloodline were extracted, he would no longer be a pure War God Clan descendant. He hadn't anticipated that the figure would target him.

In fact, the figure hailed from Sky City and was named Tai Yi. He was a minor figure, and although the higher powers had issued a directive to spare the War God Clan due to their past merits – for they might be needed to face the Immortal Dao curse in the future – seeing Yun Fan alone had ignited his greed. The War God Bloodline was the supreme bloodline of the Primordial Era; who wouldn't covet it? Tai Yi himself had longed for it for a long time, but historically, no one had truly integrated with the War God Bloodline to become a genuine War God Clan powerhouse. However, he believed he could extract Yun Fan's War God Bloodline, study it gradually, and ultimately succeed. Therefore, at this moment, he was determined to possess Yun Fan's War God Bloodline.

"What if I refuse?" Yun Fan asked coldly.

Tai Yi directly responded, "If you refuse, I will have to take it by force. But at that point, your life will be forfeit!" In truth, once he obtained the bloodline, he intended to kill Yun Fan. The rules of the three major factions stipulated that the War God Clan might be needed to act as a shield against the Immortal Dao curse. If others discovered he had violated this rule, he would face severe punishment, possibly even death. Thus, he could not afford to leave any witnesses.

Yun Fan stated, "I can give you part of my bloodline, but only a portion for now."

"No problem!" Tai Yi said with a playful smile. He was confident he had numerous ways to make Yun Fan surrender his entire bloodline.

At that moment, Yun Fan indeed gifted him a surge of bloodline power. However, it quickly dissipated.

"Are you playing me?" Tai Yi roared in anger, unable to believe Yun Fan would dare to trick him.

Yun Fan calmly replied, "It's not a trick. It's because there's nothing to contain the bloodline power. It will dissipate instantly without a vessel."

"How do I contain it?" Tai Yi asked, bewildered.

Yun Fan explained, "It's very simple. You need to absorb my bloodline into your body and seal it, not directly integrate it." Understanding dawned on Tai Yi.

"You're quite cooperative, aren't you!" At this, Yun Fan began channeling his inexhaustible bloodline power into Tai Yi's body. Soon, more than half of it had been transferred. Tai Yi, feeling the potent and pure bloodline energy, was astonished. Indeed, the War God Bloodline was formidable. Even he marveled at it.

However, at that very moment, Yun Fan ceased the transfer.

"Why stop?" Tai Yi demanded, enraged. He was insatiable and wanted all of Yun Fan's bloodline.

Yun Fan replied, "Your body has reached its containment limit; we cannot continue."

"I don't believe you!" Tai Yi declared angrily. "I know my body's limits better than anyone. You don't need to lecture me!"

Reluctantly, Yun Fan continued. As he sensed the opportune moment, his eyes suddenly grew cold. He then began to burn the War God Bloodline within Tai Yi. Instantly, Tai Yi became engulfed in flames. Under the inferno, he experienced immense agony and desperately circulated his power, attempting to extinguish the flames. But once the burning began, it could not be extinguished. In his rage, he lunged at Yun Fan.

"Kid, you're seeking death!" If this wasn't Yun Fan's doing, he wouldn't have believed it.

Yun Fan sneered, "This is the consequence of greed. No one dares to trifle with the War God Bloodline. Since you dared to covet my War God Bloodline, you must accept the punishment!"

The flames intensified, burning brighter and hotter. Tai Yi's strength, which had previously allowed him to dominate Yun Fan, was now merely a notch above Yun Fan's due to the burning bloodline. Under these circumstances, Yun Fan found it not overly difficult to resist. He realized that despite Tai Yi's formidable power, he was ultimately a fool. Knowing the might of the War God Bloodline, he still acted with such avarice. Now, he had fulfilled his own desires.

At this point, Tai Yi's strength, which had initially surpassed Yun Fan's, began to flow into Yun Fan's body due to the torment of the burning bloodline. Tai Yi knew the situation was dire; he was no match for Yun Fan.

"Stop!" Realizing he had become the prey, Tai Yi threatened Yun Fan, "I am from Sky City. If anything happens to me, not only will you die, but your entire War God Clan will perish!"

However, Yun Fan remained undeterred by his threat. "Don't worry," he stated calmly, "I won't leave any evidence!"

"Burn completely!" Yun Fan roared. The bloodline burned with increasing speed. Before long, Tai Yi, who had been barely able to resist, entered a state of despair. Even his soul was being consumed. After an indeterminate amount of time, not even ashes remained.

Yun Fan had fully absorbed Tai Yi's power. He had to admit, Tai Yi's strength was exceptionally potent. With this influx of power, his cultivation realm directly advanced to the peak of the second realm, just a step away from the third realm of the Saint Emperor. He was certain that if he could burn and devour another being as powerful as Tai Yi, he would break through to the third realm. However, such an opportunity would not present itself again. After all, not everyone was as foolish as Tai Yi; this scheme would be useless against a more astute opponent.

Yun Fan then meticulously erased all traces of his presence and vanished from the scene. He himself hadn't expected that merely stepping out from seclusion would lead to someone delivering him experience. This life was truly enjoyable. He wondered if more such good fortune awaited him.

Long after he had departed, two powerful figures descended upon the location.

"Strange, Tai Yi died right here, yet there are no traces whatsoever. Not even signs of a struggle!" The newcomers were two men, both affiliated with Sky City. They had received orders from the transformation base to investigate after Tai Yi's soul lamp had suddenly been extinguished. Their deductions led them to this spot, but the absence of any struggle was perplexing. Given Tai Yi's formidable power, anyone capable of killing him would at least be a half-step Saint Venerable. Moreover, it was almost impossible to leave no trace, even if they attempted to conceal their actions. This led them to the conclusion that their target had killed Tai Yi without him even having a chance to fight back. However, this was an impossibility, even for a half-step Saint Venerable. After a thorough investigation, they decided to personally apprehend the culprit, lest they fail to report back to the base.

...

A day later, Yun Fan continued his journey, a sense of unease growing within him. While the transformation of the myriad worlds appeared to be beneficial on the surface, he couldn't shake the feeling that it might accelerate the arrival of the Immortal Dao curse. Therefore, he resolved to investigate this matter thoroughly. However, his current strength was insufficient, and he wished to avoid provoking the three major factions unless absolutely necessary. Yet, sometimes, avoiding conflict was not an option; others might initiate it.

At that moment, a powerful aura descended. It belonged to an astonishingly beautiful woman. Her beauty was flawless, on par with Mu Qingxian. Seeing such a stunning woman, Yun Fan needed no further guessing about her origin; he immediately categorized her as belonging to the Immortal Clan, as only they could produce such exquisite beings. However, Yun Fan was unsure why she was targeting him.

The woman spoke coldly, "This is Immortal Clan territory. Leave immediately, or face death!"

Yun Fan replied, "Very well, I will leave at once!" He had no choice; reality dictated his actions. Previously, he could traverse the myriad worlds freely, but now, with the forceful intervention of the three major factions, he was forced to live a life of dependency. Though the day of his resurgence was not far off, he detested this existence.

Just then, the woman called out, "Wait!"

"Is there something?" Yun Fan asked, suspecting she was after his War God Bloodline. Could this be another opportunity for easy gains? For him, such an event would be most welcome. If he could absorb her power, he would break through to the third realm and then return home.

"Our clan is transforming this realm, but we are short-handed. Seeing your strength, you should come with me and assist our clan in the transformation!"

Upon hearing this, Yun Fan realized the woman was not after his War God Bloodline but was conscripting labor, much to his disappointment.

"I am happy to help!" Yun Fan agreed. He intended to infiltrate the transformation process, observe their methods, and ascertain whether their transformation efforts would indeed invite the Immortal Dao curse. For Yun Fan, this was an opportunity with two distinct advantages. Without her invitation, he would never have been able to get inside.

"Let's go!" The woman remained silent throughout, maintaining an aloof demeanor. Yun Fan attempted to communicate with her several times, but each attempt was met with a warning: speak again, and he would be killed. Thus, Yun Fan wisely fell silent. What was so remarkable about her?

Soon, Yun Fan and the woman arrived within the transformation base. He discovered that many powerful individuals were present. The Immortal Clan members managed the operations, while the former powerhouses of the myriad worlds who had not joined the alliance were responsible for the actual transformation. The method was straightforward: they channeled their power into arrays, which then converted it into the power of the Primordial Immortal Dao. Once the arrays were saturated, they would gather their strength to absorb the immortal energy from outside, convert it through the arrays, and then release it. This cyclical process resulted in the energy Yun Fan had previously sensed. The secret of the transformation was thus revealed, much to his surprise.

After the woman brought him there, the Immortal Clan members at the base urged him to begin working. Yun Fan mimicked the others, channeling a portion of his power into the arrays and performing the same tasks. However, this method was highly draining for cultivators, explaining why the Immortal Clan needed to conscript so many individuals. As the day concluded, Yun Fan observed that the security was exceptionally tight. Once inside, leaving would be extremely difficult, as the Immortal Clan maintained a heavy guard outside. To escape, one would need to reach the half-step Saint Venerable realm, which was practically impossible under such exploitation; maintaining one's original strength was challenging enough, let alone improving it.

Of course, Yun Fan had no immediate intention of leaving. He needed to comprehend the secrets of the arrays, as they were the core of the operation. Once he understood the arrays, he would depart. Whether this process would trigger the Immortal Dao curse was no longer his primary concern.

At that moment, a squadron of Immortal Clan members arrived, led by someone with the cultivation of a third-realm Saint Emperor. He scanned the crowd and his gaze settled on Yun Fan.

"Fellow Daoist, you will accompany us!"

"Where to?" Yun Fan asked, feigning ignorance.

The leader replied, "Based on your strength, you are qualified to join our Immortal Clan. If you pass the test and your potential meets our requirements, you will become a member of our Immortal Clan!"

Upon hearing this, envious glances flooded the crowd. In recent times, the number of individuals chosen by the Immortal Clan, while not in the hundreds, was certainly in the dozens, all meeting the clan's expectations. They had never returned, and in the eyes of the onlookers, this meant they had joined the Immortal Clan. This was undoubtedly an opportunity for rapid advancement.

Yun Fan had no desire to join the Immortal Clan. However, at this juncture, he had no choice but to cooperate. During the test, he would deliberately suppress his potential to the lowest possible level, ensuring he would not be accepted. After all, he needed to return to study the structure of the arrays. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, he felt a sense of foreboding.

Subsequently, he followed the group into a grand hall.

"They're here!" A hoarse voice echoed from within the hall as an elder addressed the escorting party.

"Elder, the individual has been brought. The rest is up to you!"

"Very well. You may leave."

"Yes!"

After the escorting party departed, the elder addressed Yun Fan, "Stand there. I will activate the array to test your talent."

"Understood!" Yun Fan stood at the designated spot. Instantly, an array integrated with his being. As the elder chuckled malevolently, Yun Fan realized the array was dissecting his power, not testing his potential. Seeing this, Yun Fan's expression changed drastically. He understood now: the structure of the external array was comprised of the power and souls of powerful individuals. The dozens of powerhouses taken away previously had not joined the Immortal Clan but had been decomposed to sustain the array's operation.

"You Immortal Clan are committing atrocities!" Yun Fan cursed.

The elder ceased operating the array and mockingly replied, "How can this be called atrocities? This is what we call sacrificing the individual for the greater good! You have cultivated the system created by the Immortal Clan; what's wrong with giving back to the clan?"

Yun Fan retorted furiously, "I'll give back to your ancestors! You sacrifice others to fulfill your Immortal Clan's ambitions. How dare you call yourselves the Immortal Clan!"

"You're still defiant even as death approaches. Enjoy your final moments!" the elder said to Yun Fan. "After all, you will soon become a part of the array!"

Seeing this, Yun Fan immediately dispersed.

"Not good!" The elder's expression changed instantly. Not for any other reason than that Yun Fan's maneuver revealed that it was merely a clone of Yun Fan. He had underestimated Yun Fan, never imagining him to be so cunning.

"Guards, quickly!" he commanded. The escorting party rushed out to apprehend Yun Fan. Meanwhile, Yun Fan's true form had already escaped the Immortal Clan's transformation base. If he hadn't been cautious and used the Spirit Mirror to replicate an identical copy of himself to take the risk, he would have been finished. It was precisely this foresight that saved his life. Having learned the secrets of the three factions, he discovered they were far more insidious than he had imagined.

Just as he thought he had escaped, he found a figure waiting for him ahead. This figure was none other than the woman who had brought him to the base and then left.

"Why are you not at the base?" she asked him coldly. It seemed she was unaware of the events that had transpired at the base.

Yun Fan replied, "I did not pass the base's test, so I was expelled."

"Is that so?" the woman said sternly. "Anyone who goes to the base cannot fail. Go back! I will pretend I saw nothing."

However, Yun Fan stated, "It seems you are forcing my hand?"

"Contributing to the new world is the responsibility and obligation of every cultivator. After the transformation is complete, our Immortal Clan will compensate you double for your lost power!" Clearly, at this moment, she had no intention of letting Yun Fan go.

At that instant, Yun Fan, without any hesitation, unleashed his puppet and attacked the woman. The woman chuckled disdainfully, "Pathetic!" The next moment, as the puppet reached her, she cleaved it with a single sword strike. Instantly, the puppet shattered. However, during this brief distraction, Yun Fan had already fled.

"Trying to escape? No way!" The next moment, the woman fiercely pursued him.

...

Before long, the woman caught up to him. After all, this was Immortal Clan territory, making it incredibly simple for her to track him. Yun Fan's expression darkened. The power disparity between them was too great; he was no match for her.

She then addressed him, "What did you do at our Immortal Clan's base? Otherwise, you wouldn't be fleeing in such a panic!" This was her intuition.

Yun Fan replied, "I apologize, I truly did nothing!"

"Really?" she said, "It seems I will have to take you back by force before you confess!" The next moment, she attacked Yun Fan. As they clashed, Yun Fan was forced to retreat in disarray. He had initially believed her to be merely a third-realm Saint Emperor, but he had underestimated her true strength. She was a being of the same caliber as his father, a half-step Saint Venerable. Thus, with just one move, Yun Fan was sent flying, spitting blood, his face ashen.

"So strong!" Yun Fan gasped. A third-realm expert might be a challenge he could barely contend with, but a half-step Saint Venerable was an entirely different matter. The gap was immense; he was no match for her. As she advanced step by step, Yun Fan lacked the strength to escape. Indeed, as powerful as he was, he had been defeated in a single blow. The difference was simply too vast.

Just as he believed he was about to be captured, two figures appeared. These were the individuals investigating Tai Yi's death.

"Two friends from Sky City, what brings you to our Immortal Clan's territory?" the woman demanded forcefully. This was a border region between the Immortal Clan and Sky City, and she seemed to assert her dominance. Although the two men were enraged, they did not immediately escalate the confrontation.

"So it is Young Master Shui Xian. We are here solely to investigate the death of our junior brother!" they informed Shui Xian.

Shui Xian said coldly, "The death of your junior brother has nothing to do with our Immortal Clan. Be gone!"

Upon hearing this, the two insisted, "The cause of our junior brother's death is unclear, there are no signs of a struggle at the scene, and it occurred at the border between our two great powers. We will depart after clarifying the situation!"

"Hmph!" Shui Xian sneered and was about to speak when Yun Fan interjected.

"Esteemed immortals, was your junior brother's name Tai Yi?"

"How do you know?" At this moment, looking at the severely wounded Yun Fan, the two realized he was merely a minor figure at the second realm of the Saint Emperor.

Yun Fan replied, "Of course, I know. Not only do I know he is dead, but I also know who killed him!"

"Who?" the two asked, bewildered.

Yun Fan pointed at Shui Xian. "She did!"

At these words, the two men's anger flared, and they glared at Shui Xian.

"How can you be sure it was her?" they pressed, still hesitant.

Yun Fan explained, "Because I witnessed the entire process. Immortal Tai Yi encountered her at the border. They debated over who would take me to their respective bases, and she eventually conceded. Then, as Immortal Tai Yi was escorting me away, she suddenly launched a sneak attack, and Immortal Tai Yi was struck down without any trace of a struggle!"

This statement sent a shockwave through the two men. The scene perfectly matched Yun Fan's description. Given Shui Xian's strength, a sneak attack on Tai Yi would indeed leave no evidence. Shui Xian was simply too powerful. Thus, the truth was revealed. Yun Fan inwardly sneered. The two had fallen for his deception. Now, he had to deal with Shui Xian's defense. If there were any flaws in his story, he would have to compensate. After all, Tai Yi had died at his hands.

"Young Master Shui Xian, do you not owe us an explanation?" they demanded of Shui Xian.

Shui Xian scoffed, "If you truly believe I killed the man named Tai Yi, then by all means, attack!"

"What?" Yun Fan was momentarily stunned. He had expected Shui Xian to offer an explanation, but instead, she was so defiant that she refused to even explain. Indeed, in this world, strength was paramount. If he possessed such power, he too could be so arrogant. Unfortunately, he lacked such might.

The two men became enraged. "Young Master Shui Xian, our junior brother died at your hands. Even if you won't give us an explanation, you should at least offer compensation. Otherwise, it will be difficult for us to report back!"

"Is it any of my concern whether you can report back?" Shui Xian's tone was dismissive. She held no positive regard for Sky City and thus showed them no courtesy.

The two men gritted their teeth and declared, "Is Young Master Shui Xian trying to provoke a war between our two factions? To kill someone from Sky City without explanation, Sky City will not stand idly by!"

Facing their threats, Shui Xian coldly stated, "You two do not represent Sky City. Leave now, or I will kill you!"

"Hateful!" The two men felt they had never been subjected to such humiliation. They coldly told Shui Xian, "If you do not provide compensation, we will not leave!"

Upon hearing this, Yun Fan felt a wave of relief. If these two had simply retreated sheepishly, he would have been doomed. He was counting on them to stall for time, allowing him to recover his strength. Of course, a fight would be even better.

However, the two men were not simply being stubborn. They knew that after weighing the pros and cons, Shui Xian would likely agree. After all, the three major factions maintained a policy of non-interference, and if this incident were to be escalated, it would affect the relationship between the two factions. Once they obtained their compensation, they could divide it and concoct a plausible excuse to appease their superiors. As Shui Xian was the young master of the Immortal Clan, they assumed her compensation would be substantial.

Unexpectedly, Shui Xian directly drew her sword and, with a single strike, instantly killed one of the triumphant cultivators. The remaining man was stunned into disbelief. He could never have imagined Shui Xian would dare to kill them. Yun Fan, however, was not particularly surprised, thinking that if he were in her position, he would have acted decisively as well. But at this moment, his awakening was bitter; he merely wished to know if people from Sky City were inherently foolish. With one of their own so easily killed, there was no way this would buy him any time. Undoubtedly, Yun Fan was greatly disappointed in these two.

"You dare..." The remaining man was completely dumbfounded. He had never expected Shui Xian to be so decisive. At that very moment, Shui Xian struck again. The remaining man had no choice but to resist and fled through the void. However, Shui Xian's power far exceeded Yun Fan's expectations. With full force, she killed him across the void.

"Hiss!" Yun Fan inhaled sharply. Such immense power; he didn't know if his father and the three elders could withstand it. At any rate, this single strike was enough to instantly kill a weakling like himself. No, even third-realm experts were mere weaklings; he, not yet in the third realm, was likely not even worth that designation.

At this point, Shui Xian turned her cold gaze towards Yun Fan. "Did you think these two weaklings could save you? You are too naive!"

Despite her scorn, Yun Fan could only say, "Since that is the case, then kill me! It would be far worse if you captured me and took me back to the base."

"What do you mean?" Shui Xian, who had intended to take Yun Fan with her, displayed a look of confusion.

"Pretending ignorance!" Yun Fan said coldly. "What heinous deeds has your Immortal Clan committed that you are unaware of? Are you asking me?"

At these words, Shui Xian became confused. Yun Fan's behavior was entirely beyond her expectations. Ultimately, Yun Fan recounted everything that had transpired at the Immortal Clan base. Shui Xian was momentarily stunned. She had never imagined such events to be occurring, which were completely contrary to what her elders had told her.

"Why should I believe you?" Clearly, at this moment, she still did not believe Yun Fan. In her eyes, this was merely a fabrication by Yun Fan. After all, the Immortal Clan was her place of birth, and she would not doubt it based on Yun Fan's one-sided account.

Yun Fan stated, "If you do not believe me, you are welcome to investigate yourself! I will not lie to you!"

Shui Xian replied, "I will investigate. However, until then, you cannot escape!"

"If what you say is false, I will kill you!"

"I am indifferent!" Yun Fan said. "In any case, you will only uncover the truth by investigating in secret. Otherwise, they will not tell you the truth!"

"Very well!" Shui Xian said. "Come with me."

At this, Yun Fan was prepared for her to seal his cultivation, as prisoners were typically subjected to this.

"Why are you still standing there?" Shui Xian asked coldly. "Do you need me to invite you?"

"You're not sealing my strength?" Yun Fan inquired, puzzled.

Shui Xian disdainfully replied, "There's no need!"

Alright! While this was exactly what Yun Fan had hoped for, he still felt insulted. He then followed Shui Xian to the base. Shui Xian did not inquire openly but, following Yun Fan's guidance, investigated discreetly. The results of her investigation were identical to Yun Fan's account, completely shattering her worldview. In her eyes, the Immortal Clan would never be so cruel, yet they had resorted to such measures to expedite the process.

Subsequently, she summoned the base commander and instructed him to temporarily halt the conversion of immortal energy into Primordial energy. The commander, though hesitant, had no choice but to obey Shui Xian's command, as she was the young master of the Immortal Clan. He then asked Shui Xian when they could resume. He reminded her that the deadline from above was extremely tight, with only one year to complete the transformation, and failure to do so within the stipulated time would result in death. However, Shui Xian stated unequivocally, "We will resume after I report to the clan elders." With that, she turned away from the commander and led Yun Fan directly onto the Immortal Ship.

This was the Immortal Clan's main stronghold. Upon arriving on the Immortal Ship, Yun Fan witnessed true power. Such a formidable race was unlike anything he had ever encountered. Although the Immortal Clan had established the cultivation system in the Primordial Immortal Realm, they were not considered a top-tier power. If the Immortal Clan was this powerful, Yun Fan could only imagine the might of the War God Clan at its peak. Even though the War God Clan's zenith was in the past, Yun Fan remained confident that he could restore it to its former glory, and even surpass it, in the future. As long as the problem of the Immortal Dao curse could be overcome, anything was possible.

At this moment, Shui Xian arranged for Yun Fan to stay in her residence and then proceeded alone to meet her master. This was the most prominent location on the entire Immortal Ship, its very center, as it was inhabited by the Immortal Clan's patriarch. However, at this moment, a charming yet playful voice echoed with a sarcastic remark.

"Junior sister, weren't you supposed to be safeguarding the base? Why have you returned?" The speaker chuckled playfully, "I see you've brought a man back. Is he your lover?"

Upon hearing this, Shui Xian's expression turned furious. "Chun Xian, if you dare to speak such nonsense again, I will tear your mouth apart!"

"Hmph!" Chun Xian scoffed. "Do you think I fear you? I am your senior sister. In terms of strength, I am far superior to you. Let's see who tears whose mouth apart then!" Clearly, the two women were unwilling to concede, each believing herself to be stronger. Ultimately, Shui Xian took a step back. "I'll deal with you later. I have to see Master! Otherwise, you are as good as dead!"

"Very well! I will wait for you here! Let's see who deals with whom?" Chun Xian said with utter disdain. However, after Shui Xian departed, she smiled playfully and began to take an interest in the man Shui Xian had brought back.