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The flying hook shot forward with aggressive force.
Xiaomei's face turned grim. She opened her mouth slightly and spat out a yellow-and-red bead. The bead's earth and fire attributes swirled in harmony, radiating a steady glow. A thick white mist of spiritual energy flowed from her mouth, enveloping the bead and making it shine even brighter.
This mid-level magical weapon, though decent for both offense and defense, wasn't remarkable in any special way. Still, for a casual cultivator, it served its purpose well enough. Saving the spirit stones needed for a stronger weapon had been a worthwhile trade-off.
"You think that pathetic thing can stop my top-tier Flying Hook? Just surrender already," the fat man sneered.
With a mocking smile, he increased the power of the Flying Hook, accelerating its speed.
Boom!
The hook clashed with Xiaomei's red-and-yellow bead, sending shockwaves across the area and toppling nearby trees. Despite her efforts, her weapon was soon overwhelmed.
Xiaomei clenched her fists. She knew her chances of survival relied on a desperate move — and she had no choice. Destroying her own weapon wasn't ideal, but it was her only option.
"Oh no, she's going to self-destruct the magic weapon!"
The fat man's eyes widened with alarm. Drawing on his experience, he quickly slapped his storage bag, summoning multiple defensive talismans. He activated them, called his Flying Hook back, and leapt back to safety.
A deafening explosion erupted as the magic weapon detonated. Trees splintered, and birds took flight in a panic, only to be caught in the blast and fall like rain.
The commotion caught the attention of nearby Chen family members, who hurried to investigate.
Once the smoke settled, the fat man returned to where the battle had taken place — but Xiaomei was gone. The swirling poisonous miasma in the distance made it clear she had escaped into the swamp.
"Damn it," he muttered. He didn't carry any detoxification pills, so pursuing her was too risky. He scowled in frustration.
"That maid… she's surprisingly quick-witted and decisive."
He knew most cultivators would hesitate in such a situation. The loss of a magic weapon was costly, often draining one's resources and leaving them vulnerable. Xiaomei's ability to act without hesitation had likely saved her life.
...
Back at the nameless hill, Xiaomei stumbled out of the poisonous swamp, her face pale and blood seeping from between her fingers. She clutched her chest, each step feeling heavier than the last.
The blast had injured her badly, and the lingering poison in her system sapped her strength. Her body barely held on.
It was sheer willpower that had brought her home.
Xin Ruyin stood at the door, her face tense with worry. She had heard the explosion earlier but didn't dare leave the house. It could have been a trap set by the Chen family.
But when she saw Xiaomei's familiar figure emerge, her heart lifted.
"Miss…" Xiaomei's voice was weak, her vision blurred. The moment she felt safe, her body gave out, and she collapsed.
"Xiaomei!" Xin Ruyin rushed to her side, fed her healing medicine, and carried her inside.
...
The next day, Qi Yuan and Yan Ruyan hurried toward the nameless hill, wasting no time.
As they neared their destination, a sharp voice called out.
"Who goes there? This area is under the Chen family's control. Leave now!"
A stout man emerged from the shadows — the same fat man who had injured Xiaomei.
Yesterday, after failing to capture her, he was scolded by his superiors and sent to patrol a remote area. Angry and frustrated, he was ready to vent his rage on anyone.
"Chen family?" Qi Yuan chuckled. Without a word, he summoned a puppet disguised as a beautiful woman and sent it forward.
"How dare you!"
The fat man sneered, recognizing the puppet's stiff movements. He released his Flying Hook once again, but when it clashed with the puppet's golden claws, the pressure overwhelmed him.
Sweat beaded on his forehead. The puppet's gold-based spells — golden swords, spikes, and cones — rained down relentlessly.
Only then did he sense Qi Yuan's true strength. The man's aura confirmed it — he was at the Foundation Establishment Stage.
"Senior… forgive me!" the fat man stammered. "I didn't recognize you. I'm from the Chen family of Jackdaw Mountain. Please spare me!"
Qi Yuan shook his head. "I killed someone from your family. Go greet the King of Hell for me."
Terror gripped the fat man. In desperation, he slapped several escape talismans on himself and tried to flee.
A flash of light streaked down — a massive golden sword crashed from above, slicing him cleanly in two.
Qi Yuan turned to his puppet, replaced its spent spirit stone, and returned it to his storage bag. Then he collected the fat man's storage bag and magic weapon.
Yan Ruyan, watching quietly, scoffed inwardly.
She had long suspected that Qi Yuan's rapid growth was due to luck rather than talent. She believed he had inherited a powerful legacy or received special resources from his connection to Fairy Hongfu.
Compared to her own strong spiritual roots, Qi Yuan's achievements felt undeserved.
Why had Nangong Wan entrusted her to him? That question lingered in Yan Ruyan's mind — a mystery she couldn't shake.
(End of Chapter)