428: An unexpected encounter

The sleeve moved slightly, and Qiong Shuang's pure white little head poked out.

Facing the howling hot wind, it comfortably narrowed its eyes:

"Phew! We're finally out. It was suffocating inside! Big Brother, aren't you flying a little too slow?

At this speed, it will take half a day just to reach the outskirts of the Demon Skeleton Mountain Range!

How about I carry you? I guarantee we'll travel ten thousand miles a day!"

Yao Delong bent his finger and landed a precise sharp rap on Qiong Shuang's forehead.

"Ouch!" Qiong Shuang covered its head with its small claws, looking wronged.

"Stupid Flood Dragon!" Yao Delong transmitted his voice irritably,

"I am currently Xiao Chen, a Yin Yang Sect Disciple at the Early Golden Core Stage!

Riding an Eighth Rank Peak (equivalent to Nascent Soul Perfection) Yao Beast around town?

Are you saying I'm not conspicuous enough, or do you want to attract the encirclement and suppression of the Great Yan Dynasty's Nascent Soul Old Monsters?

What would be the point of my disguise then?"

Qiong Shuang stuck out its pink little tongue and said sheepishly:

"Uh... I guess... that makes sense..."

It shrank its neck and obediently lay on Yao Delong's sleeve,

only exposing two eyes to curiously observe the rapidly passing crimson Gobi Desert below.

Yao Delong maintained the "normal" speed expected of an Early Golden Core Stage Cultivator, traveling neither fast nor slow.

He only wanted to stealthily infiltrate the Demon Skeleton Mountain Range, find the Earth Core Blazing Flame Fire,

subdue and refine it, and then retreat successfully, avoiding unnecessary complications.

After flying for most of the day, the crimson earth below was gradually replaced by rugged black mountain rocks,

and the sulfurous smell and dry heat permeating the air became increasingly intense.

In the distance, the outline of the dark red mountain range, stretching like the spine of a giant beast, became clearer and clearer,

exuding an ancient, savage, and ferocious Qi.

The Demon Skeleton Mountain Range was close at hand!

In a mountain hollow near the outskirts of the mountain range, a sizable Cultivator gathering place had formed—Black Stone Town.

The town was built against the mountain, and the houses were mostly constructed using black rocks quarried nearby,

the style was rough and simple, yet full of vitality.

The streets were crowded with people, even more bustling than Burning Flame City.

Various temporary stalls lined both sides of the road, and the sounds of hawking and bargaining were incessant.

"High-quality Fire Scale Lizard Skin! Top-grade Materials for refining Fire Resistance Dharma Robes!"

"A freshly hunted Scarlet Flame Scorpion! The venom sac is intact, and the scorpion tail can be used for Artifact Refining!"

"Earth Fire Mushrooms' picked from the outskirts of the Demon Skeleton Mountain Range! Old enough, with abundant fire Spiritual Power!"

"Forming a team to enter the mountains! Missing a Fellow Daoist proficient in Earth Evasion Technique! Generous compensation!"

The air was mixed with the smell of blood, sweat, the pungent odor of Yao Beasts, and the strange aromas of various Spiritual Materials.

This place was a mixed bag of people: Loose Cultivators, mercenaries, Sect Disciples,

and merchants—all here for the resources of the Demon Skeleton Mountain Range.

Yao Delong restrained his aura and entered Black Stone Town like an ordinary treasure-hunting Loose Cultivator.

He planned to rest here briefly, gather some latest information, and then enter the mountains tomorrow morning.

At night in the Demon Skeleton Mountain Range, the Yao Beasts are more violent, and the danger doubles.

He walked casually down the street, his gaze sweeping over the items on the stalls on both sides, most of which failed to catch his attention.

Just as he passed a stall selling various Yao Beast bones and Ore,

the corner of his eye caught a glimpse of a somewhat familiar, graceful figure not far away.

The woman was wearing a water-blue flowing cloud Dharma dress, tall and graceful,

her demeanor was cold and refined, making her stand out among the surrounding group of rough Cultivators.

She was standing in front of a stall selling fire-attribute Spiritual Plants, seemingly picking something out.

Han Ruyan!

Yao Delong's heart sank abruptly, and he inwardly cried out: "This is bad!"

Just when you fear something, it happens! Why has this Eldest Young Miss of the Duke Hans Residence run off to the Demon Skeleton Mountain Range in the Great Yan Dynasty?

Moreover... the Spiritual Power fluctuations emanating from her body were clearly those of the Mid Nascent Soul Stage!

This rate of Cultivation—as expected of the Duke's legitimate daughter, her resources and talent are top-notch!

What's worse, the face he was currently wearing belonged to the Third Prince of the Ba Xia Dynasty—Xiao Chen!

Yao Delong instantly recalled the scene of their encounter in Canglan City.

As a Princess of the Duke Hans Residence, she must know Xiao Chen.

Furthermore, the real Xiao Chen should still be recuperating from his injuries in the Moyang Sect,

for him, this "Xiao Chen," to suddenly appear in the Great Yan Dynasty, tens of thousands of miles away, was inherently extremely suspicious!

Yao Delong made a quick decision, immediately turned around, lowered his head, and sped up his pace, intending to blend into the crowd and slip away.

However, the moment he turned around, Han Ruyan seemed to sense something, and her cold gaze happened to sweep over!

Upon seeing that handsome, slightly feminine face belonging to "Xiao Chen,"

a trace of extremely obvious shock and suspicion flashed across Han Ruyan's cold eyes.

"Third Prince Your Highness?"

Han Ruyan's clear, sharp voice, carrying a hint of unbelievable chill, clearly penetrated the surrounding noise,

sounding behind Yao Delong, "What a... coincidence!"

Yao Delong paused his steps, cursing inwardly, but quickly adjusted his expression,

turning around with a perfectly measured amount of "surprise" and "detachment," cupping his hands toward Han Ruyan,

imitating Xiao Chen's usual, somewhat reserved tone:

"It turns out to be Princess Han. It has been a while. I didn't expect to meet you here; it truly is a coincidence.

However, I still have important matters to attend to, so I will take my leave first!"

After speaking, he turned to leave, wanting only to get rid of this trouble as quickly as possible.

"Your Highness, wait!"

Han Ruyan's figure flickered, instantly blocking Yao Delong as if she had teleported.

Her water-blue skirt swayed without wind, and although the Spiritual Pressure of a Mid Nascent Soul Stage was not deliberately released,

it still caused the surrounding air to solidify slightly, forcing nearby low-level Cultivators to retreat in shock.

Her cold eyes were like a frigid pool, staring intently at "Xiao Chen," as if trying to see through him:

"As far as I know, Your Highness was severely injured by that Yao Delong in the Secret Realm, damaging your Foundation. You should be recuperating in the Moyang Sect right now.

How could you... suddenly appear here in the perilous Demon Skeleton Mountain Range, hundreds of thousands of miles away? Furthermore..."

Her gaze swept over Yao Delong, full of scrutiny,

"The aura on Your Highness seems to show no sign of damaged Foundation. Instead... it is pure and refined, even stronger than before?"

Every word was damning! Every syllable highlighted a point of suspicion!

Thoughts flashed through Yao Delong's mind, but his face revealed a hint of offended anger, and his voice turned cold:

"Princess Han, it seems my movements and injuries do not require reporting to you, do they?

How can the sacred healing medicine of the Moyang Sect be something you can fathom? Move aside!"

He tried to use his status as "Prince" and the excuse of "injury recovery" to force his departure.

However, Han Ruyan not only refused to move but stepped forward, and an invisible Qi mechanism instantly locked onto Yao Delong!

A cold curve appeared on her lips: "Your Highness, calm your anger.

It's just that this place is dangerous, and Your Highness's status is noble. Coming here alone is truly worrisome.

Why don't... I, Ruyan, 'escort' Your Highness for a while? That way, I can also see exactly how strong Your Highness's 'recovered' power is!"

Before her words finished, she joined her fingers like a sword,

and an extremely condensed, ice-blue Sword Qi carrying a bone-chilling coldness, struck towards Yao Delong's shoulder without warning!

The speed was swift and the angle was tricky—it was clearly a full-power probe from a Mid Nascent Soul Stage!

She did not believe the person before her was the real Xiao Chen!

She wanted to force out the opponent's true identity!