Chapter 241: Azure Mist Sword, Lin Xiuyuan
Along a lush green forest trail, two figures moved swiftly—no, three. Upon closer look, one of the smaller figures was actually being "carried" on the back of the white-robed young man leading the way.
At his side was a young woman in a white dress, her face veiled. Her simple yet elegant gown was adorned with accents of purple and gold. She exuded a serene and refined aura, like an orchid blooming in a secluded valley.
"Xiao Yuan, aren't we there yet?"
The little purple-haired girl pouted on his back, her voice tinged with impatience.
"We're close."
Xiao Yuan's gaze was sharp, scanning the surroundings as he responded calmly.
The Black-Corner Region was chaotic and dangerous. Even though both he and Xiao Yi Xiang were Dou Huang-level, it didn't mean they were untouchable here. Some veteran hidden experts were at the Dou Zong level. Under normal circumstances, Xiao Yuan wouldn't be afraid. But now, he was being tracked by someone from the Soul Hall. He had to avoid unnecessary trouble.
If they drew the attention of a Soul Hall Elder, the consequences would be catastrophic.
"Someone's following us, aren't they? I feel a little uneasy."
Zi Yan didn't act up anymore and asked seriously.
"Mhm. You're close to advancing. We can't get caught in a fight. Let's return to the Inner Academy first."
Xiao Yuan nodded.
"Ugh, I shouldn't have eaten so much…"
Zi Yan frowned, slightly annoyed. She was indeed on the verge of advancing and couldn't recklessly use her Dou Qi. If she started evolving without sufficient energy or got interrupted, the consequences could be dire.
Xiao Yuan shrugged, about to reply, when he suddenly paused. His dark eyes narrowed as he stared into the distant forest.
"What's wrong?" Zi Yan blinked curiously.
"Someone's headed this way. Looks like they're running from something," Xiao Yi Xiang said casually. She glanced at Xiao Yuan, waiting for him to decide.
"No need to get involved. Let's keep moving."
Xiao Yuan smiled faintly. In a place like the Black-Corner Region, ambushes and bloodshed were daily occurrences. He had no interest in playing hero every time.
As they spoke, two staggering figures emerged at the end of the trail. Behind them, shadows flickered as killing intent surged through the trees.
As the two women ran closer, Xiao Yuan saw them more clearly. One was a mature, elegant woman; the other was a youthful girl in a white dress with a well-developed figure despite her young age.
The older woman was injured, her blue robes stained with blood. The younger one was in better condition but had a determined, unyielding look on her pretty face.
Suddenly, the older woman stumbled. The younger girl quickly caught and supported her, helping her keep moving.
But the delay allowed the pursuers to draw dangerously close. Their icy killing intent pressed down like a tide.
Desperation filled the young girl's eyes as she looked up and saw three figures ahead. Like grabbing a lifeline, she cried out:
"Please, help us! Canaan Academy will surely repay you handsomely!"
As she shouted, the pursuers surged forward, quickly forming an encirclement. Xiao Yuan's group was caught in the middle of it.
"Heh, still trying to run?"
One of the black-clad men sneered from atop a nearby slope.
Seeing their path sealed, the mature woman's heart sank. She turned to Xiao Yuan's group with pleading eyes.
???
Then she froze.
And the younger girl's eyes lit up with joy.
"You'd best stay out of this, stranger. Mind your own business," the leader of the black-clad men warned coldly.
"Are you teaching me how to behave?"
Xiao Yuan tilted his head, a smirk forming on his lips.
"You brat—kill them all! Leave no witnesses!"
The leader snarled. Immediately, a dozen assassins surged forward, blades drawn, killing intent suffocating the air.
The mature woman's face darkened but didn't move.
She believed in Xiao Yuan.
The black-clad men, thinking the two women were frozen in fear, grinned viciously. Two blades gleamed and shot toward the women like vipers.
Then—crack! A faint thunderclap echoed through the forest. The women suddenly felt themselves lifted into the air. It all happened in a flash.
When they came to their senses, they were standing between Xiao Yuan and his companions. Xiao Yuan's hand was still on their waists.
A moment later, he retracted his hand and snapped his fingers.
Snap!
Dark ice mist bloomed, instantly encasing all the assassins in ice coffins.
"Shatter."
Xiao Yuan sighed. The ice coffins exploded. The would-be killers didn't even leave behind intact corpses.
"Instructor Ruolin, I didn't expect our reunion to be like this."
Xiao Yuan turned around, smiling at two familiar faces.
"Glad it was you who found us."
Instructor Ruolin smiled weakly. Then her face turned pale and blood dripped from her lips.
"Rest now. This is a fourth-tier healing pill. It'll restore your strength."
Xiao Yuan handed her a pill, nodding gently.
"I'll rest. If you have questions, ask Qinglin."
Ruolin nodded and sat down to recuperate.
Xiao Yuan turned to the white-dressed girl, his expression softening.
"Not bad. Last time you were a two-star Dou Practitioner. Now you're at peak Dou Practitioner. Just one step away from Da Dou Shi. You've had some lucky encounters."
He rubbed her head with a smile.
"Gongzi!"
Qinglin threw herself into his arms, eyes full of joy.
She'd thought she would die without ever seeing him again. Yet he had come to save her once more.
Beside them, Xiao Yi Xiang gave Xiao Yuan a strange look.
This girl… she's even more developed than me in some places, but she's still too young!
"Alright. Now tell me—what's going on at the academy?"
Xiao Yuan patted Qinglin's back gently.
Still nestled in his arms, she took a deep breath of his scent before answering:
"Gongzi, ever since Black-Corner Region forces started attacking the academy, we've sent students out every six months for training. Usually, someone from the Inner Academy shadows them for protection.
"This time, Elder Lin led the group. Everything was going well until we were ambushed by the Magma Flame Valley during a beast hunt. Elder Lin fought back, managing to lead many students into a hidden valley—but we got trapped. Instructor Ruolin and I broke out to seek help but were spotted and chased all the way here."
Xiao Yuan nodded thoughtfully.
So it was the Magma Flame Valley. But why had they turned against the academy? And Elder Lin—Lin Xiuyuan—if even he couldn't handle the threat, the enemy must be at least peak Dou Wang or even Dou Huang.
"Gongzi, over thirty of us are trapped! If they fall into Magma Flame Valley's hands, it'll be a disaster! Xiao Yu-jie is with them too!"
Qinglin added urgently.
At that, Xiao Yuan's face darkened.
He pressed two fingers to his brow, and his soul force flooded out. Within moments, he pinpointed the group's general location.
They weren't far. But Lin Xiuyuan's condition was deteriorating fast—there was no time to waste!
"They must die."
Ruolin, her injuries quickly healing, looked up and saw Xiao Yuan's stern expression.
"Zi Yan, Xiao Yi Xian—take them and catch up later. I'm going ahead!"
With that, Xiao Yuan's body vanished.
"…Such speed…"
Ruolin stared, dazed. The genius youth she once mentored had become a true powerhouse.
Deep in a mountain gorge filled with greenery, a valley split open at the base of steep cliffs. Sheer rock walls made escape impossible. The only exit was a narrow path less than two meters wide.
Inside the valley, a group of students stood in a tight circle. Most looked pale, but there was little panic in their eyes. Weapons were drawn, and their gazes were sharp.
They were all about seventeen to nineteen years old, brimming with youthful vigor—boys and girls alike. Though the girls looked fragile in their pale states, their beauty and spirit were striking.
At the front stood several older students and instructors. At the valley mouth, cold glints of weaponry flashed.
"Elder Lin, what now? The Magma Flame Valley has us completely surrounded. And those cliffs… only a Dou Wang could scale them."
A middle-aged man sighed.
Lin Xiuyuan turned, revealing his handsome yet grave face, and said:
"We wait. Hopefully Ruolin and Qinglin escaped. If they get word out, someone might come."
He scanned the students and sighed again.
"If we get out of this, the Magma Flame Valley will pay. I've already sent word to Xiao Yuan. He should reach the Black-Corner Region in the next two days."
"Let's hope so," a tall woman in red said coldly—Xiao Yu.
But Lin Xiuyuan's face darkened again.
"I'm afraid they won't give us that time…"
Everyone tensed and pulled back, shielding the younger students.
"Hehe… never thought we'd find the famed Azure Mist Sword, Lin Xiuyuan, here. What a treat."
From the cliffs above, a gray-robed man floated down, Dou Qi wings beating as he hovered with a sinister smile.
More than ten black-clad men stood behind him, eyes like knives.
"Still skulking in the shadows, Magma Flame Valley dogs."
Lin Xiuyuan stared coldly.
"Haha, your name echoes across the Black-Corner Region. Even Dou Wangs have died by your sword. You nearly got me earlier. But today, we'll settle things."
Another voice laughed as another Dou Wang appeared.
Lin Xiuyuan's heart sank. He was only a five-star Dou Wang. These two were at least eight-star. One-on-one, he could manage. But two-on-one… even if he lost, he'd make them pay dearly.
If only Liu Qing were here, things would be easier.
Come on, Xiao Yan. Please get here in time.
Thinking of Xiao Yan—who had somehow reached peak four-star Dou Huang after coming out of seclusion—and then of Xiao Yuan who had killed Dou Zong experts…
What kind of monsters are these two brothers?
(END CHAPTER)
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