“Do not be afraid, I will save all of you!” Zhao Wen declared with firm conviction. His eyes, however, betrayed a particular focus—they were drawn toward one of the young women, the fairest among them, whose beauty seemed to outshine the dim torchlight of the underground cell. “But… the young man who promised to rescue us earlier was not you,” the girl replied cautiously, her voice delicate but sharp with suspicion. “He is my companion,” Zhao Wen explained calmly. “At this very moment, he is fighting against the leader of this Sect.” The girl frowned slightly, her eyes narrowing. “If he is your companion, why are you not at his side? Should you not be helping him fight?” Zhao Wen smiled with a touch of arrogance. “Rest assured, even without my assistance, he will triumph. His strength surpasses the leader of this place. There is no need to worry.” His gaze lingered on her with a boldness that made her uncomfortable, for it was as though he sought to strip away her defenses with hi

Two days later, Zhao Wen’s external wounds had fully healed. Together, the three of them decided to descend the mountain to escort Arika back to her home. The other six girls they had rescued had already returned the day before.During that previous day, Fang Yun had scoured every corner of the Blood Soul Sect’s compound, searching for valuables that could serve as provisions for their journey, as well as for distribution to those in need.“Do you know how to ride a horse?” Fang Yun asked Arika.She nodded brightly. “Of course. My father often sends me to collect leaves and herbs in the forest. Riding horses is nothing unusual for me.”Zhao Wen’s face darkened. He had secretly hoped Arika would not know how to ride. He had been fantasizing about riding together with her, imagining her arms wrapped around his waist from behind. That dream now dissolved instantly.“Let’s move,” Fang Yun said, leading the way.The three mounted their horses. After leaving the compound of the Blood Soul S

The winged man bowed respectfully before a middle-aged figure seated upon a magnificent throne-like chair. Although his appearance suggested that he was merely in the prime of his middle age, the truth was far more staggering—this man had lived not for decades, not for centuries, but for hundreds of thousands, perhaps even millions of years. His presence radiated timelessness.“Lord Ju Long,” the winged man reported solemnly, “a human has managed to pass through the sacred gate at the summit of Mount Jiuhua. He is waiting outside the entrance now.”Ju Long raised his brows slightly. His voice, deep and resonant, carried a tone of contemplation.“It has been more than a hundred years since any mortal has succeeded in crossing that threshold. For one to appear now… truly remarkable.”He then waved his hand casually, yet with authority.“Let him enter on his own. You may remain outside and keep watch.”“As you command, my Lord.”The

He suddenly shifted his body aside when one of the tigers lunged forward, its massive paw swiping with sharp claws that gleamed under the dim light.“Hey! At least give me a warning before you try to kill me!” Fang Yun shouted in irritation.No sooner had those words left his lips than the other tiger pounced with lightning speed, tearing through his clothes with its claws. Had Fang Yun been even a fraction of a second slower, his flesh would have been carved with deep, bloody lines across his body.“You beasts just don’t understand reason, do you? Very well then, don’t blame me if I make you feel pain!” he growled, his eyes narrowing in determination.Although Fang Yun had no intention of killing these two tigers, he needed to drive them away from this place. He shifted his stance, feet firm on the ground, ready for the next attack.As one tiger leapt at him again, Fang Yun ducked low, rolling onto his back before unleashing a quick, powerful punch directly into the beast’s ribs. The

Night had only just fallen when Fang Yun and Zhao Wen, who had not yet drifted into sleep, were startled by the faint, eerie laughter of a woman. The sound did not seem to come from a single direction. Instead, it echoed from everywhere at once, darting swiftly from one side to another, as if the voice itself was a phantom weaving through the darkness. Fang Yun closed his eyes for a moment, trying to sense the flow of energy in their surroundings. Yet, to his surprise, there was nothing—no presence, no ripple of spiritual force, nothing that suggested anyone, or anything, was close by. “Could it be that this voice belongs to the guardian spirit of this forest?” Fang Yun asked quietly, his tone calm but edged with curiosity. He remembered the words of Arika’s father, who once warned that the guardians of Karaenta were fond of toying with strangers who dared to enter their domain. “I don’t know for certain, Fang Yun,” Zhao Wen replied, thou