4: Yun Yun's shock

Deep within the Magical Beast Mountain Range, ancient trees grew ever taller, their dense crowns almost obscuring the sunlight. Only scattered patches of light stubbornly filtered through, dancing on the ground covered in decaying leaves. The air was permeated with the scent of damp soil and the faint musk of some ancient vegetation. Deeper inside, the occasional low, heart-stopping roar of an unknown magical beast could be heard.

Li Ao walked in front, his steps steady. Every step he took seemed to be firmly welded to the ground, silent, yet carrying a rock-solid determination. His back was straight, like a walking blade, naturally slicing through the tangled vines and low-hanging branches ahead.

Yun Yun followed about three steps behind him.

Most of the time, her gaze rested on the back of the simply dressed youth ahead.

It was too quiet.

Aside from necessary, brief confirmations of direction, he barely spoke a word. He showed no curiosity about her identity, made no inquiries into why she was being hunted, and did not even display the slightest bit of the reverence or flattery that ordinary people should have toward her, the Sect Master of the Cloud Mist Sect.

This silence was a stark contrast to the fierce brutality he had displayed earlier when slaying the three Great Dou Masters. It was like... like a divine weapon sheathed in a simple scabbard; you knew its edge was unparalleled, but you couldn't see the truth hidden within the sheath.

Was he truly just passing by coincidentally? Yun Yun's slender fingers unconsciously brushed away a leaf hanging near her forehead, her doubts lingering. Although the Wolf Head Mercenary Group was not a top-tier power, the interception led by three Great Dou Masters was no small matter. Li Ao's appearance was too coincidental, and his methods were too... efficient.

That single slash that severed the wrist, that whirlwind-like rapid slaughter... there was no Dou Qi radiance, only the purest speed and strength, along with a kind of "intent" that she found hard to comprehend, an intent that seemed capable of cutting through all obstacles.

"Hiss." A subtle sound of air being sliced.

Li Ao, walking ahead, did not turn his head. He joined his fingers like a blade and casually sliced backward and to the side.

An invisible surge of energy swept past, and a venomous snake, brightly colored with a triangular head, that had silently dropped from the branches, was instantly severed into two pieces. It fell to the ground, still writhing.

Yun Yun's pupils contracted slightly. She hadn't even sensed the lurking viper. Yet he, as if having eyes in the back of his head, acted as casually as if brushing away a speck of dust.

"Thank you," she whispered. This was the third time since entering the depths of the mountain range that he had eliminated a small, hard-to-detect threat for her. Each time, his precision was staggering.

Li Ao did not stop walking, merely responding with a faint, "Mm."

Another bout of silence followed. There was only the rustling sound of their steps on the thick layer of decaying leaves, and the faint roars of beasts in the distance.

Yun Yun looked at his back. His silence felt almost tangible, making her feel breathless. She was accustomed to being looked up to and revered. When had she ever been so... ignored by a youth? No, it wasn't ignorance; it was something stranger—a sense of equality, as if she were fundamentally no different from the surrounding trees and stones... or perhaps, apathy.

She finally couldn't help but speak, her voice sounding particularly clear in the quiet forest: "Young Master Li... seems very familiar with this mountain range?"

Li Ao paused slightly but did not turn around: "Not exactly familiar. I rely on feeling."

Feeling? Yun Yun was stunned. What kind of answer was that?

"Earlier... thank you, Young Master Li, for lending your aid." She thanked him again, attempting to break the uncomfortable silence, and also with a hint of probing, "The three leaders of the Wolf Head Mercenary Group were not weak. Especially Mu Ba, who was already a Five-Star Great Fighter... Young Master Li's methods are astonishing."

Li Ao finally turned his head and glanced at her. His eyes were calm, deep like two ancient wells, reflecting no emotion. "They rely too much on Dou Qi," he said flatly, as if stating a simple, undeniable fact. "Their power is scattered and uncohesive. Too many flaws."

Yun Yun’s heart trembled. Rely on Dou Qi? Too many flaws? This was a Great Dou Master! A realm that countless cultivators struggled their entire lives to reach, yet in his mouth, they sounded like utterly worthless, vulnerable targets?

She couldn't help but press further: "Young Master Li, you seem to follow the path of pure Body Cultivation? This method is extremely perilous and rarely seen in the world. May I ask your inheritance..."

"No inheritance," Li Ao interrupted her. He turned back and continued walking. "I trained myself."

Trained... himself?

Yun Yun was utterly frozen in place. No inheritance? Training himself, he could reach the point of instantly killing a Five-Star Great Fighter with a single strike? How was this possible! Even she, as the Sect Master of the Cloud Mist Sect, having witnessed geniuses from the Jia Ma Empire and surrounding nations, had never heard of anything so unbelievable!

She looked at the figure ahead, who had once again fallen silent, feeling that the fog surrounding this youth had not dissipated but had grown even thicker. Overbearing, mysterious, impossibly strong, yet he had saved her life, and his actions implied an indescribable sense of integrity (or perhaps, a disdain for taking advantage of others?).

A strong curiosity, like a vine, sprouted and wrapped around her heart. She desperately wanted to know: who exactly was this youth named Li Ao?

Just then, Li Ao suddenly stopped and raised his hand to signal.

Yun Yun immediately composed herself and looked intently. Not far ahead, in the center of a relatively open patch of forest, several strange plants were growing. The plants were not tall, dark purple in color, with long, narrow, sword-like leaves. At the top of the plants, several red, crystal-clear fruits the size of longans had formed, emitting a strange, sweet fragrance.

"Sword Heart Orchid, crimson sun fruit," Li Ao stated. "The age is sufficient. The crimson sun fruit is fiery in nature, containing pure Yang essence, and will be somewhat useful for suppressing the cold poison within your body."

Yun Yun's beautiful eyes lit up. The Sword Heart Orchid was an auxiliary ingredient for refining certain high-grade medicinal pills, and the crimson sun fruit was exactly what she needed—one of the spiritual fruits that could temporarily alleviate the poison's erosion! She had searched all this time without success, yet she hadn't expected Li Ao to find this place directly.

"This place must be guarded by a magical beast," Yun Yun reminded him, sweeping her spiritual sense across the surroundings. A place capable of nurturing such spiritual fruits would certainly not be without danger.

Before her words had finished, a foul wind suddenly rushed out from the bushes to the side!

It was a magical beast covered entirely in dark green scales, shaped like a leopard but bearing a single horn! Its speed was astonishing, its four limbs landing silently. Only its pair of scarlet eyes, flashing with cruel and greedy light, rushed straight toward the crimson sun fruit plants!

A peak Tier 2 magical beast, the Wind Shadow Leopard! Known for its speed, its sneak attacks were lethal!

Yun Yun's expression changed slightly, and she subconsciously raised her sword. Her injuries were not yet healed, and her Dou Qi circulation was sluggish. Facing this peak Tier 2 magical beast, renowned for its speed, she felt it would be quite troublesome.

However, someone was faster than her!

The moment the Wind Shadow Leopard lunged, Li Ao moved.

He did not use his ghostly Thunder Sound Steps, but instead performed the simplest forward stomp!

"Boom!"

The ground beneath his feet violently shook, like a small earthquake! Using the force of that stomp, his entire body shot forward like a cannonball. He moved later but arrived sooner, intercepting the Wind Shadow Leopard and blocking the path to the crimson sun fruit!

The Wind Shadow Leopard clearly hadn't expected anyone to be faster than it. A trace of astonishment flashed in its scarlet eyes, instantly turning into fury. Its sharp claws, accompanied by a shriek that tore the air, fiercely swiped toward Li Ao's face!

Li Ao did not dodge or evade, his gaze icy.

He clenched his right fist. Beneath his bronzed skin, his muscles instantly tensed like iron!

One punch, blasted straight out!

Still, there was no Dou Qi radiance, only strength pushed to the absolute extreme! The air in front of his fist was compressed by this immense power, emitting an unbearable buzzing sound!

"Bang!!!"

Fist and claw met!

There was no deadlock, no back and forth!

There was only a muffled thud, accompanied by the distinct sound of bones cracking!

"Awoo—!"

The Wind Shadow Leopard let out an extremely mournful howl. Its claws, capable of tearing through fine steel, instantly shattered like fragile glass the moment they connected with Li Ao's fist! Immediately afterward, that terrifying power surged up its forelimb—arm bones, shoulder blades... fracturing segment by segment!

Its massive body was sent flying backward faster than it had arrived, as if struck by a high-speed mountain. It crashed through several large trees before collapsing limply onto the ground, bleeding from its seven orifices, clearly not alive anymore.

One punch!

Just one punch! It annihilated the peak Tier 2 magical beast, the Wind Shadow Leopard!

Yun Yun's hand, holding her sword, froze in mid-air. Her crimson lips were slightly parted, and her stunningly beautiful face was filled with shock.

She saw clearly that Li Ao had not used a single trace of Dou Qi from start to finish! He relied entirely on physical strength! That kind of power... was tyrannical, savage, and utterly overwhelming! It simply didn't seem like something a human could possess!

Li Ao shook his fist, as if he had only completed a trivial task. He walked up to the crimson sun fruit, carefully plucked the bright red fruits, placed them in a jade box he had prepared earlier, and turned to hand them to Yun Yun.

"For you."

His tone remained flat, as if he were handing over not a spiritual fruit that Great Dou Masters would fight over, but just a few ordinary wild berries.

Yun Yun looked at the jade box offered to her, then at the corpse of the Wind Shadow Leopard on the ground, and finally at Li Ao's calm, emotionless face. Her heart was a turmoil of mixed emotions.

Shock, gratitude, confusion, and a hint of... stirring, which she herself hadn't even noticed.

She reached out a slightly trembling hand and took the jade box. Her fingertips inevitably brushed against Li Ao's palm. The touch was not rough, but carried a warm, solid feeling, completely different from the terrifying power he had displayed.

"Thank you... Young Master Li." Her voice unconsciously softened slightly. This time, her thanks held less formality and more genuine sincerity.

Li Ao nodded, said nothing more, turned, and continued walking.

Yun Yun held the jade box, which still retained a trace of warmth, and looked at the figure ahead, silent as a mountain once again. This time, the intense desire for inquiry in her heart had nearly reached its peak.

This youth, who exactly... was he?

Meanwhile, far away in the Xiao Family of Wutan City, Nalan Yanran was staring blankly at a simple piece of paper. The letter contained fragmented information about the simply dressed youth, which she had secretly sent someone to investigate after accidentally witnessing Li Ao's astonishing display in the market.

"Li Ao... unknown origin, appeared in Wutan City several days ago, suspected of having a past grievance with Xiao Yan... strength unfathomable, suspected to be a Dou Master or even higher... cultivation path is bizarre, suspected to be pure Body Cultivation..."

Nalan Yanran's slender fingers rubbed the edge of the letter, and a light flickered in her beautiful eyes.

"Pure Body Cultivation... can it be that strong?" she murmured to herself. The cold, stern figure standing with a knife, defeating Xiao Yan in a single move, reappeared in her mind.

Compared to Xiao Yan's current decline and incompetence, this mysterious and powerful Li Ao was like a blazing sun suddenly rising in the night sky, making it hard for her to open her eyes.

The letter of annulment she had already drafted now felt somewhat hot in her hand.

Perhaps... she should wait and see?