429: I can't keep up the act any longer!

The ice-blue Sword Qi tore through the air, carrying a soul-freezing chill, directly piercing towards Yao Delong's shoulder!

Han Ruyan's strike held nothing back, her Mid Nascent Soul Stage cultivation fully displayed.

She intended to force out the true capabilities of this 'Xiao Chen' before her!

In a flash of lightning, Yao Delong no longer held any hope.

The act? He couldn't keep it up anymore!

Facing this icy Sword Qi, which was enough to severely injure or even kill an ordinary Golden Core Cultivator,

Yao Delong's eyes blazed with sharp light, no longer showing any of 'Xiao Chen's' effeminate arrogance.

Instead, there was a profound steadiness, like a deep abyss and towering peak, and a sharp decisiveness that commanded everything!

"Hmph!"

A cold snort, like a muffled thunderclap, exploded in Han Ruyan's Sea of Consciousness! Her thrusting sword-finger involuntarily paused slightly!

It was in this imperceptible moment of delay that Yao Delong moved!

The seemingly ordinary Cyan Steel Flying Sword in his hand suddenly erupted with an unimaginably brilliant light!

The sword hummed, as if a magnificent great sun was contained within it!

A scorching, domineering, and righteous Sword Intent soared into the sky,

instantly tearing Han Ruyan's bone-chilling Sword Qi Domain to shreds!

"Instant Movement!"

Yao Delong uttered two cold words.

Buzz—!

The sword light flashed! It wasn't Sword Flight, but true spatial displacement!

Yao Delong's figure at his original spot suddenly became blurry and illusory, as if merging into distorted light.

Han Ruyan's certain-hit ice-blue Sword Qi only pierced through the lingering afterimage,

instantly freezing and shattering a huge black rock behind it!

And Yao Delong's true body had vanished without a trace!

"What?!" Han Ruyan's pupils constricted, and for the first time, an unconcealed look of shock appeared on her cold face!

Teleportation?! True spatial Teleportation! This was absolutely incomparable to a Nascent Soul Cultivator's escape speed!

Even a Nascent Soul Great Perfection Cultivator would require time to cast an Escape Art, leaving a discernible trace!

But that just now was a complete, unannounced spatial leap!

Her Divine Thought surged out like a tide, instantly covering dozens of miles!

Blackstone Town, the surrounding mountains and forests, the Gobi Desert... all corners were swept by her powerful Divine Thought!

Nothing! Not a trace of aura was left! It was as if that person had never appeared!

"How is this possible..." Han Ruyan's mind reeled, her hand gripping the sword-finger trembling slightly.

That fleeting glimpse of scorching Sword Intent, magnificent as the great sun, utterly domineering, was definitely not the sinister Qi of the Demonic Path!

Yet this Teleportation method far exceeded the Nascent Soul realm! Who exactly was this person?

What was the purpose of impersonating Xiao Chen? Could it be... related to the strange disappearances in the Demon Skeleton Mountain Range recently?

Just as Han Ruyan's mind was turbulent and filled with doubt, several sharp sword lights tore through the air and landed beside her.

Leading them was an old man dressed in a simple gray robe, with a gaunt face and eyes as sharp as an eagle's.

Behind him followed four young men and women, each carrying a long sword and exuding a calm aura.

Each of them had sharp eyes, and their cultivation levels were impressively between Mid Nascent Soul Stage and Nascent Soul Perfection!

The old man did not deliberately exude any pressure, but merely standing there,

he was like an peerless divine weapon hidden in its sheath, and the surrounding air faintly whined.

He was precisely the Elder leading the Myriad Sword Valley's expedition—Ling Xuzi, a Mid-stage Soul Transformation mighty expert!

"Junior Martial Niece Han,"

Ling Xuzi's gaze was like electricity, sweeping over the frozen black rock on the ground and the lingering, rapidly dissipating scorching Sword Intent and icy aura in the air. He frowned slightly.

"The elemental energy here fluctuated violently just now. What happened? Was it a demon brat causing trouble?"

Han Ruyan quickly composed herself, suppressing her turbulent thoughts. She couldn't determine the person's identity or purpose,

but the methods displayed and that magnificent Sword Intent were definitely not those of a Demonic Cultivator. If she rashly brought up the matter of 'Xiao Chen',

involving a prince of the Hegemonic Summer Imperial Dynasty, it might create unnecessary complications and affect the Sect's mission.

She took a deep breath, respectfully saluted Ling Xuzi, and her voice returned to its usual coldness:

"Reporting to Junior Martial Uncle Void-Soothing, it was not a Demonic Cultivator. Just now, this Disciple saw a young Sword Cultivator with impressive cultivation.

His Sword Intent was scorching. This Disciple, delighted by the challenge, wished to spar a little.

Unexpectedly, the other party had a reclusive nature and directly used a Secret Technique to escape. It was this Disciple's rashness that disturbed Junior Martial Uncle."

"Oh? Scorching Sword Intent? Directly escaped?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Ling Xuzi's eyes. His Divine Thought also swept the surroundings; although the lingering scorching Sword Intent was weak,

he could still feel its righteous and magnificent essence, and a hint of... indescribable profundity.

And the method of escape, which even he couldn't immediately trace, was indeed strange.

"Never mind."

Ling Xuzi waved his hand, not delving deeper, but his expression grew a little more solemn.

"This place is a mixed bag, with hidden talents. There might be reclusive masters.

Our mission this time is very important, so let's not create any more complications.

Many Cultivators have recently gone missing in the Demon Skeleton Mountain Range, and even several of our Myriad Sword Valley Disciples have perished.

This matter is strange, and there might be a Demonic Path Magnate secretly causing trouble.

The urgent task now is to quickly uncover the truth!"

"Yes! This Disciple understands!" Han Ruyan and the four elite Myriad Sword Valley Disciples behind her responded in unison, their expressions solemn.

They had come precisely for this matter.

Hundreds of miles away, in an desolate area of reddish rock formations.

Space subtly warped, and Yao Delong's figure appeared out of thin air, landing steadily on a massive rock.

"What rotten luck!"

He cursed under his breath, his face somewhat grim. He had just reached the outskirts of the Demon Skeleton Mountain Range,

and he had already run into Han Ruyan, who knew Xiao Chen, almost exposing his true strength.

He had originally intended to impersonate Xiao Chen to conveniently shift blame, but now it seemed this appearance couldn't be used for the time being.

"Big Brother, why did you run away?"

From his sleeve, Qiong Shuang's small head popped out again, looking puzzled and displeased.

"That Mid Nascent Soul Stage chick, I could knock her out with one claw! Why hide? It's so humiliating!"

Yao Delong gave it another rap on its head, annoyed.

"Ow! You hit me again!" Qiong Shuang bristled in indignation.

"Stupid Flood Dragon! All you know is fighting and killing!"

Yao Delong glared at it. "There's a Soul Transformation Stage old monster sitting in that town!

His aura is deeply hidden, but there's no mistaking it!

Once we make a move and attract that old fellow, even if we can leave, it will definitely cause a huge commotion!

Then the entire Great Yan Dynasty will know that a 'Xiao Chen' is causing trouble here. How can I then quietly go and subdue the Earth Core Blazing Flame Fire?"

Qiong Shuang shrank its neck, muttering, "Soul Transformation Stage... that is a bit troublesome... but Big Brother, you're not afraid of him, are you?"

"It's not fear, it's simply unnecessary!" Yao Delong said in a deep voice.

"Our goal is only one—the Earth Core Blazing Flame Fire! Any action that might alert the enemy or create complications must be avoided!"

He ignored Qiong Shuang's incessant chatter, sat cross-legged, and quietly circulated the Thousand Mechanisms Formless Art within his body.

Buzz!

A profound aura emanated from his body.

His facial muscles and bones subtly rippled like water, and the handsome, effeminate 'Xiao Chen' face quickly receded.

It was replaced by an extremely ordinary young man's face, one that would be lost in a crowd.

His skin was darker, showing signs of weathering, and his eyes, which were previously profound, now appeared somewhat dull and ordinary.

At the same time, the wood-attribute spiritual energy he had been simulating, belonging to Xiao Chen,

receded like a tide, rapidly transforming into a scorching, pure, and explosive fire-attribute spiritual energy!

This fire attribute was similar in origin to the Blazing Sun Origin Essence of the Nine Yang Heaven Burning Art he cultivated.

Not only could he wield it without any hindrance, but he could also unleash its full power, no longer needing to conceal anything!