Thump!
Inside the ancient Su family mansion, Dongfang Xiaoyao held her breath, hidden behind the door of her room. She clearly sensed the approach of the black-robed youth, knowing he had entered the Su family courtyard, and her heart gave a jolt.
But she still didn't act rashly, choosing to remain concealed.
This was because she couldn't be sure if the other party had discovered her presence and was coming for her, or if he had another objective.
Soon, she got her answer!
After entering the courtyard of the Su family mansion, the black-robed youth walked directly towards Dongfang Xiaoyao's room, his target clearly defined.
Moreover, as he walked, he chuckled mockingly, "Little mouse, no need to hide. Come out."
Whoosh!
Hearing the black-robed youth's mocking words, Dongfang Xiaoyao's expression changed, and a look of determination flashed across her eyes!
The next moment, she no longer concealed her aura. She madly circulated her internal energy, instantly breaking through the bottlenecks within her body, and rapidly converting her internal energy into true qi.
In this moment of crisis, Dongfang Xiaoyao directly broke through to One-star War God!
"Tsk tsk, little mouse, you know you can't escape, so you're breaking through to fight me? No need to struggle, you can't escape my grasp."
In the courtyard, the black-robed youth instantly sensed the change in Dongfang Xiaoyao's aura and saw through her thoughts, chuckling mockingly again.
There was no reply.
After breaking through to One-star War God, Dongfang Xiaoyao's aura continuously strengthened, as if it were limitless.
First stage, second stage, third stage...
Dongfang Xiaoyao's realm finally settled at the fourth stage of One-star War God!
Having just broken through to the One-star War God realm, she had already reached the fourth stage. If this news were to spread, it would undoubtedly shake the entire world!
This was because even those legendary martial arts prodigies might not have performed as well.
"Fourth stage, not bad. It was worth my trip."
Sensing the change in Dongfang Xiaoyao's aura, the black-robed youth showed no surprise on his face, merely commenting mockingly.
Creak!
This time, as soon as the black-robed youth finished speaking, the sound of a door opening could be heard.
Dongfang Xiaoyao abruptly pulled open her room door, her figure flashing, transforming into an illusion, and shooting rapidly towards the black-robed youth not far away!
At this moment, she not only activated the internal energy cultivation technique of the Daoist sect but also employed the Dragon-Tiger Swordplay.
Wind follows the tiger, clouds follow the dragon.
This was the essence of the Dragon-Tiger Swordplay, connecting wind, tiger, clouds, and dragon, possessing both the speed of a tiger and the power of a dragon.
Unlike the Thunder Treasure technique, the Dragon-Tiger Swordplay was one of the Zhenpai martial arts passed down through generations of the Daoist sect, and its cultivation was not dangerous.
Although Dongfang Xiaoyao was not accepted as a disciple by Daoist Tianlong, Zhu Yong treated her as his junior sister and secretly taught her martial arts, including the Dragon-Tiger Swordplay.
Daoist Tianlong turned a blind eye, pretending not to notice.
As for the Daoist sect's secret, the internal energy cultivation technique, it was taught to Dongfang Xiaoyao by Jiang Wuming!
At this moment, Dongfang Xiaoyao was using her strongest internal energy cultivation technique and her strongest martial art, essentially fighting with her life on the line!
In an instant, the true qi within Dongfang Xiaoyao surged madly, flowing to her skin, manifesting a Daoist master's divine pattern.
All sword styles and techniques in the world used true qi to manifest swords, but the Dragon-Tiger Swordplay emphasized controlling the sword through oneself.
Heaven blesses all beings; man controls all things.
Whoosh!
Dongfang Xiaoyao pounced towards the black-robed youth. The Daoist master's divine pattern on her body came alive, as if a Daoist master held a divine sword, thrusting out with peerless power.
Swoosh!
In an instant, a sharp whistling sound pierced the air.
The dagger in Dongfang Xiaoyao's hand seemed to pierce a hole through the air, transforming into a white light, and stabbing towards the black-robed youth at close range.
Facing the fierce stab of the dagger, the black-robed youth stopped his steps. Without dodging or evading, he casually waved his left hand, extending his index and middle fingers, both enveloped in dense true qi.
Clang!
With a light clang, the dagger, sharp enough to cut through iron, was caught between the black-robed youth's two fingers, unable to advance an inch!
Swish!
Dongfang Xiaoyao's body suddenly jolted, her face changing drastically!
Although she had long sensed that the opponent was a Nine-star War God, and knew the vast disparity in their strength, she hadn't expected such a result.
Trembling inwardly, Dongfang Xiaoyao continued to exert force, trying to pull out the dagger, but it remained motionless, as if seamlessly welded to the black-robed youth's two fingers.
"Your swordsmanship is decent, but your strength is too weak."
The black-robed youth's face was filled with a mocking smile, as if he were playing with a mouse.
Swish!
Dongfang Xiaoyao's expression changed again. Making a swift decision, she transformed her left hand into a sword, her palm suffused with true qi, and slashed at the black-robed youth's head with a hand sword.
"No need to struggle. Any struggle is futile."
The black-robed youth spoke mockingly again, simultaneously flicking out his right hand and grabbing Dongfang Xiaoyao's wrist, bringing her attack to an abrupt halt.
This outcome sent Dongfang Xiaoyao's heart sinking to the abyss, but she didn't give up. She immediately let go of the dagger and attempted to withdraw her left hand.
However—
The black-robed youth no longer gave Dongfang Xiaoyao a chance to attack. A golden crescent on his forehead flickered with golden light, and a powerful and terrifying spiritual force surged out, instantly entering Dongfang Xiaoyao's brain and her mental world.
A mental attack!
After easily neutralizing Dongfang Xiaoyao's assault, the black-robed youth employed his most formidable mental attack.
In an instant, that golden light, within Dongfang Xiaoyao's mental world, was like a cicada spinning silk, instantly manifesting thousands of fine threads. These threads spread throughout Dongfang Xiaoyao's mental world, as if constructing bridges between Dongfang Xiaoyao and the black-robed youth.
Dongfang Xiaoyao's body trembled violently. Her originally indifferent face instantly became dazed, her gaze somewhat vacant, completely losing her ability to resist.
The black-robed youth released the dagger and Dongfang Xiaoyao's left wrist. Through the 'mental bridges', he rapidly acquired Dongfang Xiaoyao's memory information.
"A tragic childhood, a low-self-esteem secret crush. Your life has been truly bitter. Come, let me see what kind of man it is that makes you willingly become his shadow, willing to die for him!"
A moment later, the black-robed youth obtained some of Dongfang Xiaoyao's memories and learned her secret. He once again commented mockingly, simultaneously developing an interest in Jiang Wuming, whom Dongfang Xiaoyao secretly admired, and began to extract information about Jiang Wuming from Dongfang Xiaoyao's memories.
However—
This time, the black-robed youth encountered an obstruction.
At this moment, Dongfang Xiaoyao seemed to have had her pride wounded. Her previously shattered mental will instantly coalesced again, forming a gate, blocking the black-robed youth from pilfering information about Jiang Wuming from her memories.
Her expression even changed accordingly!
Under the setting sun, her eyes were scarlet red, a fierce killing intent flickering within them, and the muscles of her face contorted slightly!
"It seems this man is your spiritual pillar. Because of his existence, your mental will has actually become so powerful, truly a pleasant surprise."
Dongfang Xiaoyao's re-solidified mental will surprised the black-robed youth, and also excited him.
At this moment, he was like a shameless villain, about to pry into the girl's innermost secrets and defile her spiritual faith!
However—
Soon, the black-robed youth found the anger and hatred on the girl's face instantly disappear, replaced by sorrow and resolve.
In her mental world, she walked out of the gate formed by her mental will, then stopped, turned, and waved goodbye to the young man within the gate, her eyes full of lingering affection.
Daoist Tianlong had asked her to serve the young man, and the young man treated her as a sister.
The young man took her to fight in the underground world, taught her martial arts, and instructed her in the laws of survival in darkness.
The young man brought her back to Nanguang, uncovering painful childhood memories, dispelling the shadows of her past, and allowing her to begin to live like a normal girl, slowly... slowly integrating into this world.
She cherished every second spent with the young man, treasuring every moment they were together.
If possible, she was willing to follow the young man her entire life, acting as his shadow, doing anything for him.
If necessary, she could die for the young man at any time!
"Goodbye, Brother Wuming."
The girl said to herself in her heart, then madly urged the true qi within her body!
She intended to self-destruct, to kill herself!
All to protect the young man's secrets!
...