In the distance stood a woman clad in a black attire, her hair adorned with a crimson tie.
As a gentle breeze blew, the mist receded and returned intermittently, causing her silhouette to pulsate in and out of view. Her robes fluttered, emanating a palpable sense of terror.
Unleashing her energy like a surging flood, the woman dispersed the mist entirely. In her vicinity, a few green bamboo leaves danced sporadically, as if caught in a gentle whirlwind.
"I have come to retrieve her," she declared, her tone cold and devoid of emotion, as she pointed her hand at Qing Fu.
"What has she done for such relentless pursuit from all of you?" Xuan Yi could not help but mouth under his breath.
"If you were to find out, I'm afraid you'd have to accompany me as well," the woman responded, having overheard Xuan Yi's remark.
Raising her hand, she directed the swirling energy with a subtle motion, causing a leaf to float between her first and middle finger, where it was delicately caught.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Every movement she made exuded a haunting blend of gentleness and grace.
"Assuming you're prepared to fight, let us conclude this swiftly," she spoke, and began to stride purposefully forward. She didn't not appear to want to waste any more time in niceties, and she had been chasing them a while and she no longer found amusement in her prey's feeble attempt at escaping.
Xuan Yi was first to act, maybe driven by a mix of newly found heroism and the need to gauge the strength of their new adversary, took the initiative.
Launching himself into action like a fired arrow, he extended his hand, from which a radiant green light erupted, coalescing into swirling vines. He summoned the last of his reserves, infusing the light with greater density and solidity.
His mastery over this ability had undoubtedly improved, surpassing what Zhou Baisheng would have been capable of receiving, unless, of course, Zhou Baisheng himself had also grown stronger.
However, this woman was no Zhou Baisheng; she was an entirely different breed of monster.
As the woman's first footfall landed, the dust cleared, revealing a gentle touch upon the ground, accompanied by a spread of chi in the air.
The gentle breeze with the smell of sprint spread out. The atmosphere collided with the vines, causing them to shatter like fragile glass.
The once brilliant and solid light vines dispersed into a thousand shards.
The initial shockwave crashed into Xuan Yi, hurtling him through the air.
Swiftly and fluidly, Tian Wei propelled himself into the sky, catching Xuan Yi mid-flight.
A golden shield materialized around them, absorbing the remaining force of the shockwave. Xuan Yi coughed, blood staining his lips.
The sharp, searing pain from the impact tore through Xuan Yi's body, sending him spiraling into a cloudy haze. He writhed in agony, astonished by the sheer strength of their assailant. Even the slightest footfall carried a devastating force capable of rending him apart and extinguishing his life in an instant.
As the pain coursed through him, he couldn't help but acknowledge the recklessness and foolishness of his actions. If Tian Wei hadn't absorbed the remaining shockwave, Xuan Yi would be greeting his ancestors and telling them of the disappointment and failure that summed up his life.
With eyes glazed by pain, he gazed upon his benefactor, whose ethereal golden aura faintly radiated through. This person holding him was anything but ordinary; the glow surrounding him appeared to stem not just from his chi, but from the very essence of his soul.
Xuan Yi couldn't help but wonder if he truly stood in the presence of an immortal.
"You aren't the impulsive type. Don't be foolish, you're no match for her," Tian Wei whispered icily, still holding Xuan Yi suspended in the air.
Before Tian Wei could fully set Xuan Yi down, the woman's second footfall landed, her casual stride bringing her closer to them.
Another shockwave erupted, this time with even deadlier force than before.
The ground shook violently, and the icy rocks lining the terrain exploded, while the canyon wall on the opposite side fractured under the sheer power unleashed.
She embodied the essence of a titan, effortlessly unleashing shockwaves that tore through the very earth.
Tian Wei poured more energy into the shield just as Qing Fu launched her sword towards the woman with incredible might.
The wind parted in the path of the sword which crackled with energy as it cut through the air like a comet. Yet, with a mere wave of her hand, the woman effortlessly deflected the sword, causing it to explode into shards and fragments.
Her third footfall arrived.
A shockwave rippled outward, carrying the immense energy of cosmic proportions, crashing into the golden shield. The sheer force pressed against the shield, as if it carried the weight of a mountain.
Tian Wei was pushed back several meters, his feet gouging deep furrows into the ground. The shield held steadfast.
Instinctively, both Qing Fu and Xuan Yi moved back, recognizing the overwhelming power possessed by this woman, surpassing even Cheng Di.
As her fourth footfall descended, Tian Wei made a decisive choice to abandon his defensive stance and unleash an all-out attack. His golden sword materialized, causing the ground to crack in terror at its sheer might.
Hovering the sword before him, he aimed it directly at the woman. With a gentle force, he pushed Qing Fu and Xuan Yi several hundred meters away for their safety, and then he closed his eyes in focus.
As his hand swept through the air, a second ethereal image of the golden sword appeared beside the original one, creating an almost mirage-like effect. It felt like there were two sword pressed near to each other. With his two perfectly golden fingers, he tapped them together.
"The severed second sword," he whispered.
As the tap landed, the first shockwave surged outward, causing the ground to rupture into a colossal chasm that stretched like a rift valley for several kilometers.