3: Resentment from the Chosen One

In the clearing in the forest, the atmosphere was as heavy as iron.

Three Great Dou Masters in black formed a pincer movement, their aura firmly locking onto Yun Yun in the center. The Five-Star Great Fighter leading them had a gruesome Centipede Scar on his face, his eyes as sinister as a viper, and he spoke hoarsely: "Sect Leader Yun, hand over that item, and perhaps we can leave you a complete corpse."

Yun Yun's beautiful face was cold and clear, and the long sword in her hand glowed brightly with a green light. Although her aura was slightly disordered, her eyes remained firm: "Wolf Head Mercenary Group? What benefits did Mu She give you to dare ambush me?"

"Dead people don't need to know too much!" Centipede Scar roared, and the three of them simultaneously burst forth with Dou Qi. The powerful aura pressed down the surrounding vegetation, and the air itself seemed to become several times heavier. A Three-Star Great Dou Master was the first to attack, his fist wind whistling, condensing into a giant earth-yellow wolf phantom that roared as it pounced towards Yun Yun.

Yun Yun's sword tip trembled slightly, and a sharp wind blade instantly slashed out, splitting the giant wolf phantom in half. But her figure also swayed slightly because of this, and her face became even paler. Clearly, her old injuries had not healed, and facing three opponents of the same rank at the same time put her under immense pressure.

Seeing this, the other two Great Dou Masters' eyes gleamed with even more ferocity. They attacked from left and right, their Dou Technique lights shining, unleashing all their killing moves!

Yun Yun swung her sword to parry, her green sword shadow like a peacock spreading its tail, barely fending off the attacks from both sides. However, she was shaken so much that her blood surged, and a trace of fresh red blood overflowed from the corner of her mouth. Centipede Scar seized the opening, let out a sinister laugh, and formed his five fingers into a claw, bringing with it a Blood Wind as he aimed straight for Yun Yun's back! If this claw strike landed, even a Dou Spirit expert would be severely injured!

Yun Yun sensed the malicious wind behind her and wanted to turn around, but it was too late. A hint of determination flashed in her beautiful eyes.

Just at this critical moment—

"Chii!"

A faint sound of air being torn, too fast to be heard.

A dark blade light, as if cut from nothingness, without any Dou Qi fluctuations, without any warning, so abruptly and precisely appeared before Centipede Scar's wrist.

The blade light swept past, bringing with it a stream of blood beads.

Centipede Scar's charging movement suddenly froze. The sinister smile on his face solidified, then transformed into extreme horror and bewilderment. He looked down at his arm, severed at the wrist and gushing blood, seemingly not yet understanding what had happened.

Immediately after, the excruciating pain like a tsunami crashed into his nerves.

"Ah—! My hand!!!" A shrill scream pierced the silence of the forest.

The other two Great Dou Masters who were attacking Yun Yun stopped in horror, looking suspiciously in the direction of the blade light.

At the edge of the clearing, a young man in plain clothes had appeared at some point. In his hand, he held an unremarkable fine steel blade, its tip still dripping with crimson blood beads. The young man's face was calm, his eyes indifferent, as if he hadn't been the one to just sever the wrist of a Five-Star Great Fighter.

It was Li Ao.

Yun Yun was also stunned, her beautiful eyes falling on Li Ao, filled with an unbelievable shock. She could feel that there were no powerful Dou Qi fluctuations from this young man; at most, he was at the Dou Practitioner level. But that strike just now... it was incredibly fast, accurate, and ruthless! That extremely pure sharpness made her heart palpitate.

"Kid! Who are you? How dare you meddle in the affairs of our Wolf Head Mercenary Group!" The excruciating pain of his severed wrist distorted Centipede Scar's face. He stared fixedly at Li Ao, his eyes full of venomous hatred.

Li Ao flicked the blood beads from his blade, his gaze sweeping over the three of them, finally resting on Yun Yun's beautiful yet pale face, and he said lightly: "Passing by, couldn't stand to watch."

His voice was calm, yet it carried an undeniable dominance.

"You're courting death!" The other two Great Dou Masters roared in anger. Although they were terrified by Li Ao's bizarre strike, relying on their numbers, they simultaneously activated their Dou Qi and pounced from left and right! One's fist struck like a fierce tiger descending from the mountain, the other's blade slashed like a waterfall hanging upside down, the Dou Qi light dazzling and the momentum terrifying.

Facing the enraged attacks of two Great Dou Masters, Li Ao's eyes turned slightly cold.

Furious Wind Quick Blade! Thunder Sound Steps!

Beneath his feet, a faint rumble of thunder seemed to explode, and his figure instantly transformed into a blurry afterimage. Instead of retreating, he advanced, directly crashing into the gap between their attacks!

Blade light flashed!

It was no longer the silent strike from before, but had transformed into countless strikes! Fast! Faster than the limit of visual capture! It was as if dozens, even hundreds, of blade lights erupted simultaneously, forming a deathly net of blades!

The blade light swept like a furious wind, accompanied by a shriek that seemed to tear everything apart!

"Clang clang clang clang...!"

Dense clanging sounds, like rain on banana leaves, exploded!

The two Great Dou Masters only felt cold blade light filling their vision. Their Dou Techniques and weapons, in front of that violent and swift blade net, were as fragile as paper! Their protective Dou Qi was easily torn apart, their weapons were knocked away, and countless bloody gashes instantly burst open on their bodies!

"Puff!" "Puff!"

Two figures flew backward faster than they had come, crashing heavily to the ground, covered in blood, clearly beyond saving.

From Li Ao's attack to the death of the two Great Dou Masters, it was but a breath's time!

Centipede Scar watched in utter terror. His remaining hand clutched his severed wrist, his face ashen, completely devoid of any ferocity. He looked at Li Ao with eyes full of fear, as if looking at a demon crawled out of hell.

"You... what kind of monster are you?!" His voice trembled.

Li Ao ignored him, his gaze turning to the sole remaining Centipede Scar, walking towards him step by step.

"Don't... don't kill me! I'm the third leader of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group! If you kill me, Leader Mu She won't let you get away with it!" Centipede Scar retreated in terror, threatening incoherently.

Li Ao's steps did not stop, and a cold arc curved at the corner of his mouth: "Mu She? He'll be joining you soon."

Before his words finished, the blade light flashed again.

Centipede Scar's head flew into the air, extreme fear still frozen on his face.

Li Ao sheathed his blade, not even glancing at the three corpses on the ground, and turned to walk towards Yun Yun, who was still somewhat dazed.

Yun Yun looked at the approaching young man. His plain clothes were stained with a few bloodstains, but he didn't appear disheveled at all; instead, it added a few points of murderous aura. His young face had hard lines, and his eyes were deep, forming a stark contrast with the violent and sharp blade techniques he had just displayed, causing ripples in her heart.

"Thank you for your assistance, honored sir." Yun Yun suppressed her surging blood and bowed slightly, her voice still clear and cold, but with a hint of solemnity. She could feel that this young man was far from as simple as he appeared.

"It was nothing." Li Ao's tone was flat, his gaze falling on Yun Yun's slightly pale face, "Are you injured?"

Yun Yun was slightly startled, not expecting him to be so direct. She nodded: "My old injuries haven't healed, and I aggravated them a bit just now."

Li Ao took a few steps closer, and a faint, orchid-like fragrance wafted to his nose. His gaze swept over Yun Yun's lips, slightly stained with blood, and her jade-like hand, which trembled slightly as she held her sword. Suddenly, he extended his hand.

"You..." Yun Yun instinctively took half a step back, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, and Dou Qi subtly circulated within her. With her noble status, how could she ever be approached so closely by a strange man?

Li Ao's hand stopped in mid-air, a barely perceptible sharpness seemed to flash across his fingertips. His expression remained unchanged, he only looked into Yun Yun's eyes: "You've been poisoned. The more urgently you circulate Dou Qi, the faster the poison will erode."

Yun Yun's delicate body trembled, and a hint of shock flashed in her beautiful eyes. She had indeed been poisoned by some insidious toxin, and had been suppressing it with Dou Qi. Even Ge Ye hadn't fully understood it, yet this young man knew at a glance?

Without waiting for her reply, Li Ao's hand, which had been suspended in mid-air, suddenly brought his fingers together like a blade, swiftly tapping several acupoints near her wrist. The skin his fingertips touched was warm and smooth, but his movements showed no hesitation, precise and decisive.

Yun Yun only felt several faint but sharp energies penetrate her body. Her previously somewhat sluggish Dou Qi actually smoothed out a little, and the numbness caused by the poison also lessened considerably.

She was stunned once again, and her gaze towards Li Ao completely changed. This young man was not only powerful and strangely formidable, but his eyesight and methods were even more unfathomable!

"I've temporarily sealed the spread of the poison." Li Ao withdrew his hand, as if he had done something insignificant, "It's not advisable to stay here long; the Wolf Head Mercenary Group might have more people coming."

Yun Yun took a deep breath, suppressing the shock and confusion in her heart, and nodded: "Thank you. May I ask your esteemed name, honored sir? I will surely repay this kindness today."

"Li Ao." He stated his name, his gaze calmly fixed on Yun Yun, "There's no need for repayment. I also happen to be heading deep into the Magical Beast Mountain Range to find some medicinal herbs. If Sect Leader Yun doesn't mind, we can travel together for a while."

Yun Yun looked at the mysterious and powerful young man before her. He had saved her, pointed out the severe poison, and then suggested traveling together... Was it a coincidence, or did he have another motive? But right now, her injuries hadn't healed, and she was afflicted by a strange poison. Traveling alone in this perilous Magical Beast Mountain Range was indeed dangerous. Although this Li Ao acted domineeringly and directly, he didn't seem to bear any ill will... After a brief thought, Yun Yun nodded slightly: "In that case, I shall trouble Young Master Li Ao..." She had originally intended to say "honored sir," but seeing his young face, she changed her address at the last moment.

Li Ao's lips curved into a barely perceptible smile. He turned and led the way towards the depths of the mountain range.

Yun Yun watched his tall, blade-like back, then glanced at the three Great Dou Master corpses on the ground, a flicker of light in her beautiful eyes. This young man named Li Ao was like a mist—powerful, mysterious, domineering, yet he had come to her aid in her most critical moment... She took a light breath, suppressing the strange feeling in her heart, and stepped forward to follow him.

Sunlight filtered through the dense foliage, casting mottled shadows on the figures of the two, one in front and one behind. The mountain forest was silent, with only the rustling sound of footsteps.

Meanwhile, in Wutan City, the Xiao Family.

Xiao Yan had shut himself in his room, his wrist heavily bandaged, his face so gloomy it could drip water. The humiliation at the market and the pain of his severed wrist gnawed at his heart like venomous snakes.

"Xiao Yanzi, calm down." Yao Lao's ancient voice echoed in his mind, "That kid... he's not simple. He seems to be following an extremely rare path of pure body refinement, and he has already mastered it. That hand-blade strike, the sharpness it contained, is definitely not an ordinary Dou Technique."

"Body refinement? Is it stronger than Master's Burning Technique?" Xiao Yan growled unwillingly.

"Cultivation techniques have no inherent superiority or inferiority; the key lies with the person." Yao Lao said in a deep voice, "This child has a ruthless and decisive character; he is a formidable opponent. But you possess the Burning Technique, with boundless potential, so there's no need to belittle yourself. The most pressing task is to quickly improve your strength and secure an enrollment spot at Jia Nan Academy; there are resources you need there."

Xiao Yan clenched his uninjured hand, his fingernails digging deep into his palm.

"Li Ao..." He gritted his teeth as he uttered the name, flames of humiliation and hatred burning in his eyes, "The revenge for my severed wrist, the humiliation at the market, I, Xiao Yan, will repay it a hundredfold! And Nalan Yanran... you all just wait!"

He didn't know that Nalan Yanran, whom he constantly thought about and regarded as his future companion, was currently sitting in the Cloud Mist Sect's villa in Wutan City, listening to Ge Ye's report, but her mind was constantly replaying the cold, stern figure of the young man with the blade from the market.

And that young man who had brought him endless humiliation was currently walking side by side with the Sect Leader of the Cloud Mist Sect, whom even his Master was quite wary of, deep in the Magical Beast Mountain Range.

The trajectory of fate had quietly diverged the moment Li Ao transmigrated and swung his first blade.

The trajectory of fate had quietly diverged the moment Li Ao transmigrated and swung his first blade.