At midday, the auction finally ended. Bai Tian and Xuan Ying'er immediately left the auction house, carrying the pouches that were now theirs, heading back toward the Rainbow Cloud Sect.
But their journey home was not smooth. Just as they passed through a small forest on the edge of the city, the atmosphere suddenly changed. The wind ceased to blow, and the birds fell silent, as if nature itself was holding its breath.
Bai Tian narrowed his eyes, sensing an unfamiliar aura approaching.
"Young miss, be careful," he whispered to Xuan Ying'er.
From behind the trees, a group of armed figures appeared swiftly, blocking their path. Arrows and projectiles shot from every direction, spreading danger in an instant.
Xuan Ying'er instinctively raised her hand, releasing her perception. At once, her eyes sharpened, assessing the strength of their enemies. She was startled.
"They… are not ordinary at all," she muttered.
A group of cultivators in black and wearing masks began to arrive, led by a mid-stage Divide Soul Realm cultivator, two early-stage cultivators, and five Spiritual Sea Realm cultivators, surrounded by more than a dozen fighters at the Essence Gathering Realm. This was far beyond mere bandits—they were dangerous, seasoned, and well-trained foes.
Bai Tian drew a deep breath. The seed of fire within his body began to tremble, ready to erupt at any moment.
"Young miss, focus on the higher ones. I will lure away those below Divide Soul Realm," he said firmly.
Without delay, Bai Tian charged directly at the dozen Essence Gathering cultivators. His movements were swift and precise, each strike killing several foes at once with ruthless efficiency, leaving no openings.
Seeing this, the remaining cultivators—both Essence Gathering and Spiritual Sea Realm—lost their patience. They attacked and pursued Bai Tian recklessly, consumed by rage, abandoning caution and strategy.
Above, Xuan Ying'er faced the three Divide Soul Realm cultivators who led the enemy forces. Their auras clashed in the sky, pressing against each other like blades.
"So… who sent you?" Xuan Ying'er asked calmly, her gentle voice laced with pressure.
One of them sneered, his tone dripping with scorn."Girl… you think you have the qualifications to ask that?"
Xuan Ying'er smiled faintly, calm yet piercing, as if toying with danger.
"How much did they pay you? I can pay twice as much," she replied casually, her tone both relaxed and provoking.
The leader leaned forward, eyes narrowing dangerously.
"Bold words… But we are always professional in our work," he said, his voice steeped in threat.
Xuan Ying'er slowly raised her hand. A soft yet deadly aura spread around her, cloaking her body like a lethal mist.
"So there truly is a mastermind behind this. Let's see… who can truly control life and death," she said with serene confidence.
As she unleashed her cultivation, the three Divide Soul Realm cultivators immediately realized the true danger. Their auras, which had seemed overwhelming before, now felt challenged.
Xuan Ying'er soared into the sky, her body shrouded in golden-green light. Each movement was swift and precise, like a shadow dancing in the heavens. One cultivator slashed at her with a blade of aura, but she moved like lightning, spinning gracefully and countering with a palm strike that shattered the air, forcing her opponent back.
The second launched a swirling blue energy sphere. Xuan Ying'er shifted deftly, letting the blast smash into the forest below, tearing the earth apart and throwing up clouds of dust.
Meanwhile, the leader, the strongest among them, unleashed the power of a mid-stage Divide Soul Realm. A wave of energy surged from his hands, enough to rend the ground apart. But Xuan Ying'er did not retreat. She focused her energy inward, fusing speed and power, then countered with a single blow that burst into blinding light, halting his devastating strike.
The battle became a deadly dance in the sky—lights and auras colliding, shaking the heavens. Xuan Ying'er moved with lethal calm, anticipating each attack, while her opponents gradually fell behind, overwhelmed by her speed and precision.
After half an hour, Xuan Ying'er pierced through their defenses. With a lightning-fast strike, she kicked the leader away, while the other two were swept aside by a wave of her energy. They reeled in pain and shock—never before had they faced someone so fast and devastating.
In the now-cleared sky, after the fierce battle, Xuan Ying'er hovered, her body weary. The immense energy drained her, and though she remained at the late stage of Divide Soul Realm, her body demanded rest to recover.
She darted across the skies, seeking a safe refuge. Below, forests and gorges stretched endlessly, veiled in mist—the perfect place to stabilize her aura and reignite the fire seed within her.
Choosing a secluded cliff hidden behind a thin veil of fog, she landed lightly, closing her eyes briefly as her energy gradually circulated again. Each breath restored her aura, each heartbeat rekindled her inner strength.
But her eyes stayed sharp, scanning her surroundings. The hidden mastermind could strike again at any moment. Within, she was already planning her next move—not only to defend, but to strike back with deadly precision when the time came.
The gentle wind brushed her face, whispering tranquility. After half an hour, her body slowly recovered, and she set out to find Bai Tian.
One hour earlier, in an unknown location
Bai Tian moved swiftly, leaping from tree to tree, threading through the dense forest. His movements were fluid, but his pursuers refused to give up. Arrows flew toward him, while waves of energy tried to cut off his escape.
One cultivator laughed mockingly as he attacked.
"Hahaha! Boy, do you think you can run forever? I want to see how long you can last!"
Bai Tian steadied his breath, gauging their positions. He leapt high, twisting his body to dodge the wave of energy, then countered with a quick strike that forced one opponent crashing to the ground.
Yet the taunts echoed all around, making the air heavy with tension.
"Chase me if you dare! Cowards!" Bai Tian shouted, springing onto a branch, a faint smirk on his lips, his confidence daring his foes.
The pursuers grew enraged, attacking wildly. But Bai Tian moved with precision, exploiting openings, deceiving them, and striking back when least expected.
At this time, his cultivation was at mid-stage Essence Gathering Realm. Even while chased and pressured, Bai Tian remained calm. The mockery and threats only sharpened his focus. He knew survival depended not only on strength, but also strategy and control.
Throughout the chase, Bai Tian rarely attacked. He simply dodged, blocking when necessary. Each motion carried calm precision, as if he were dancing among countless threats.
Silently, he began gathering external energy into his palm—condensing it into a small sphere of light. It grew denser with each passing moment, glowing faintly with destructive power.
He understood this was no mere weapon—this was his guarantee of survival, his last resort should death close in. Every second of pursuit only sharpened its power, waiting for the perfect moment.
But the enemy pressed harder. Eventually, Bai Tian was cornered. Surrounded from all sides, the cultivators closed in, their auras flaring, arrows and energy waves raining toward him.
Bai Tian glanced around. His enemies sealed every escape. In his hand, the energy sphere now burned with a blinding crimson-gold glow.
Drawing a deep breath, Bai Tian unleashed it.
The sphere exploded in a devastating blast, spreading waves of heat and light in every direction. The forest shattered—trees splintered, the ground cracked apart, and his pursuers were hurled back. Some staggered, others were scorched by the destructive wave.
The explosion's roar echoed, drawing cries of shock.
"Ahhh! What is this…!?" one Spiritual Sea Realm cultivator screamed, struggling to endure the violent shockwave.
Bai Tian stood firm at the center of destruction, his body veiled in faint crimson light. The blast was merciless, consuming everything nearby—yet his necklace absorbed most of the impact, shielding him from a fatal wound.
The survivors lost all coordination. Panic spread among them. Several Essence Gathering cultivators were obliterated to ash, while even Spiritual Sea Realm fighters were gravely injured, howling in pain.
Amid the wreckage and seething energy, Bai Tian's strength finally gave out. Exhausted and drained, he collapsed unconscious, his body still flickering faintly with the fire seed's lingering aura.
The forest fell silent once more. Only the rustle of leaves and rising smoke remained. The battle had left its scar—the proof of Bai Tian's frightening power, and the price of a clash that had nearly claimed his life.
High above,
Xuan Ying'er watched warily. Her eyes fixed on Bai Tian's fainting form among the shattered trees, his fire seed's dim glow fading.
Swiftly, she descended, landing at his side. Her right hand pressed gently against his chest, channeling spiritual energy to stabilize him.
Her sharp gaze swept the forest, confirming the enemies were either crushed or had retreated. Once assured of safety, Xuan Ying'er exhaled deeply, then disappeared into the shadows—leaving behind only smoke, rubble, and the lingering scent of battle in the air.