"Thank you."
Ye Guyi tightly grasped the hand Liu Yuan extended, using that steady strength to barely pull herself upright.
After the long pursuit and the complete exhaustion of her spirit power, her fingertips still trembled slightly. However, the resilience granted by her Angel Spirit allowed her breathing to quickly stabilize once she stood firm.
She looked up at the young man before her. Bathed in moonlight, Liu Yuan's calm and handsome features gave her an inexplicable sense of security.
"My name is Ye Guyi," she said softly, her voice still hoarse from narrowly escaping death. "Thank you for saving me just now. If it weren't for you, I would've already become a sacrifice for those monsters."
Liu Yuan released her hand and returned the courtesy with a composed nod. "Liu Yuan."
The moment she heard that name, the composure Ye Guyi had just regained shattered instantly.
Her eyes widened as she stared at him in disbelief. "Liu Yuan? You're… the young Duke of the Sun Moon Empire? The Liu Yuan who fought a Level 99 Limit Douluo?"
Though she had been living under false identities and moving between border cities to evade pursuit these past years, Liu Yuan's exploits had long spread across the entire Douluo Continent.
Among commoners and independent Spirit Masters alike, the name Liu Yuan was practically synonymous with miracles and insurmountable strength.
She had heard countless rumors about this peerless genius in rundown taverns and beside weathered notice boards. In her imagination, someone of Liu Yuan's status and power should have been surrounded by attendants at the center of Bright Capital's authority—not appearing alone in the desolate wilderness of Black Wind Canyon.
"I truly didn't expect to meet you in person here," Ye Guyi said, her gaze filled with genuine awe as she looked him over.
Liu Yuan merely smiled faintly and shook his head. "Just an exaggerated reputation. Rumors shouldn't be taken too seriously. I'm only here on a cleanup mission."
His expression then turned serious as he looked directly at her. "You possess an Angel-type Spirit. With that talent, you should be fought over by major powers. How did you end up being hunted by a few ordinary Evil Soul Masters?"
Ye Guyi's expression darkened as she clenched her fists.
"Because my Spirit is the Holy Angel," she said coldly. "It naturally perceives and purifies evil energy. It's the born nemesis of Evil Soul Masters."
"To them, someone like me either becomes a 'Fallen Angel' or a threat that must be eliminated."
"To avoid their pursuit and assassinations, I've been hiding and changing identities for years. Today, I accidentally discovered one of their secret strongholds—and that's why they chased me all the way here."
After listening, Liu Yuan showed no sentimental pity. Instead, his gaze remained rational and direct.
"Then hiding forever isn't a solution," he said plainly. "Why not join my faction?"
"I won't sugarcoat it. I value your talent, and even more so, the Holy Angel Spirit's natural suppression of Evil Soul Masters."
"If you're willing to serve me, I can provide cultivation resources and protection. In Bright Capital—within my Duke's Mansion—no one will be able to take you away."
His words were clear and straightforward, laying out benefits and risks without false righteousness.
Ye Guyi froze.
Looking into Liu Yuan's steady, sincere eyes, she fell into intense inner conflict.
She was used to being alone. Used to trusting no one. Yet the man before her possessed strength and backing she simply could not ignore.
"…Can you give me some time to think?" she asked hesitantly after a long pause.
"That's fine," Liu Yuan replied calmly. "You have the right to decide."
He then turned his gaze toward the dark depths of the forest. "But before that, we'll wipe out the nearby branch you discovered. Since you found it, you'll lead the way."
Ye Guyi nodded. Her hatred for Evil Soul Masters left her with no reason to refuse.
She led Liu Yuan and the mobile squad through the forest, relying on memory, until they reached a sheer rock wall deep within Black Wind Canyon.
Beneath layers of withered vines, a cave entrance revealed itself—reeking of filth and glowing with a dim, dark-red light.
The guard commander immediately began issuing orders, directing the squad to spread out and prepare for a standard multi-stage assault.
"Duke," the commander reported, "this branch isn't small, and the interior terrain is complex. We recommend an echeloned advance—vanguard first to destroy defensive spirit tools."
"No need."
Liu Yuan raised a hand, stopping them. His voice was calm, yet utterly decisive.
Under everyone's puzzled gazes, he stepped forward. The first Soul Core within his body let out a low hum, and emerald-green divine light surged skyward, tearing apart the mist above the canyon.
A colossal figure appeared in the void above.
Mega Rayquaza.
It coiled through the heavens, dominating the sky over Black Wind Canyon.
"Fall back," Liu Yuan said simply.
He raised his right hand and clenched it.
In that instant, dark-red lightning wrapped around Rayquaza's body. The sky split open, forming a massive vortex as three enormous pink clouds spiraled around the dragon.
Dynamax.
Under the stunned gazes of Ye Guyi and the entire squad, Rayquaza's body expanded explosively, reaching a size of nearly a thousand meters. Its scales, larger than spirit-tool war vehicles, gleamed with metallic luster, completely filling the space above the canyon.
Liu Yuan's eyes were ice-cold as he pressed his hand downward.
"Max Attack."
A soul-piercing roar echoed as Dynamax Mega Rayquaza's massive tail, wrapped in destructive dark-red energy, slammed down toward the mountain.
Boom—!
A world-shaking explosion erupted.
Under overwhelming force and surging law energy, the entire mountainside collapsed like fragile sand. Ancient trees were uprooted, and the hidden branch—its buildings, formations, and Evil Soul Masters—was erased before they could even react.
When the dust settled, the canyon was gone, replaced by a gigantic crater dozens of meters deep.
Silence fell.
Ye Guyi stood frozen behind Liu Yuan, her battle stance forgotten. This wasn't combat—it was annihilation.
The mobile squad guards were equally stunned, their awe for Liu Yuan reaching an unprecedented height.
Liu Yuan withdrew his Spirit, his expression calm, as if he had merely brushed aside an insect. Turning to Ye Guyi, who was still dazed, he spoke softly:
"Let's go. To the next location."