440: Chapter 440 Xu Ruyu: Actually, I am a Saint Realm

Xu Ruyu did not answer, only remaining silent for a moment.

Then, his voice sounded again, still calm, but carrying an unquestionable power: "If I die, from then on, you will be the Sect Master of Hehuan Sect."

Xiao Nianyin shuddered.

Just as she was about to say something, Xu Ruyu's voice rang out again, this time with a hint of a faint smile: "As for that so-called soul fixing bead, you can check it now."

Xiao Nianyin was stunned, subconsciously probing her Dantian with her Divine Sense.

Then, she froze.

In her Dantian, that soul fixing bead she thought had always been there, threatening her life at every moment—was gone.

It hadn't shattered, nor had it dissipated; it simply did not exist.

It was completely empty; there was nothing there.

Xiao Nianyin's mind went blank.

She clearly remembered that Xu Ruyu had personally implanted the soul fixing bead into her Dantian.

She clearly could feel its existence, that subtle sense of oppression, that feeling of being locked in—were they all fake?

Xu Ruyu's voice sounded again, with a hint of playfulness: "Stop guessing.

That soul fixing bead was just a smoke screen.

I used a wisp of Divine Sense to simulate the aura of the soul fixing bead, making you believe it was still there.

In fact, on the night you apologized to me, I had already removed it.

A person who truly repents does not need a soul fixing bead to restrain them."

Xiao Nianyin recalled that before the Taihu Clan besieged the Hehuan Sect encampment, Xu Ruyu had rescued her and actually released her Seal.

At that time, Xiao Nianyin had thought it was just his magnanimity, just him being unable to bear seeing her so pitiful and being bullied.

But what she hadn't expected was that the moment he released her Seal, he had already chosen to trust her.

Yet she had been kept in the dark, always thinking her life was still in his hands, always thinking she was still that shackled prisoner.

And she had even had the thought of killing him the moment her Seal was released?

She choked up and transmitted her voice using Divine Sense: "Why? Why didn't you tell me? Weren't you afraid that I—"

"Afraid of what?" Xu Ruyu's voice remained calm. "Afraid that you would turn against me after recovering your cultivation?

Xiao Nianyin, I've said it before: from the day Senior Qingtian said you were my Bed-warming maid, you have been my person."

Xiao Nianyin lowered her head, not letting anyone see her expression.

Xu Ruyu continued: "As for why I stayed behind to cover the retreat—"

He paused, his voice carrying an unprecedented confidence: "Because, I am stronger than you."

Xiao Nianyin suddenly lifted her head, her eyes full of shock.

Stronger than her? Xu Ruyu? A Qi Refinement Stage cultivator? Stronger than her, a Saint Realm Expert?

She subconsciously used her Divine Sense to probe Xu Ruyu's cultivation—Qi Refinement Stage, still Qi Refinement Stage.

That weak aura, that barely perceptible fluctuation, was almost exactly the same as when she first met him.

But his gaze, his tone, and the confidence that seeped from his very bones were all telling her—he was not lying.

Xu Ruyu seemed to perceive her probing and chuckled: "Stop looking; you cannot see through it.

My cultivation is obscured by the Heavenly Dao; on the surface, I am only at the Qi Refinement Stage.

But in reality—"

He paused, and said word by word: "I am in the Saint Realm."

These four words exploded in Xiao Nianyin's heart like a thunderclap.

Saint Realm.

Beneath the shell of the Qi Refinement Stage hid the strength of the Saint Realm.

She suddenly remembered the things Xu Ruyu had done in the Taihu Clan—completing the saint tablet, breaking the Forbidden Array, gaining the recognition of the taihu tripod, and blasting Mo Feng away with one shot.

She had always thought he relied on Spiritual Artifacts, on tricks, and on the help of the Taihao Clan.

She had never imagined that he himself was in the Saint Realm.

No wonder he dared to crush the soul fixing bead.

No wonder he dared to accept Mo Feng's duel.

No wonder he remained calm when facing Situ E and Zhao Qian.

It wasn't because he had Spiritual Artifacts, nor because he had hidden cards, but because he himself was the greatest hidden card.

Xiao Nianyin lowered her head and smiled bitterly.

So, she had never truly understood this man.

She had always thought she was forced to submit to him, but the truth was, he had quietly possessed the means to contend with her all along.

Xu Ruyu did not have time to pay attention to her reflections.

His voice rang out again, this time to everyone: "Grand Elder, Fifth Elder, Granny Liu, Xiao Nianyin—my plan is, in a moment, I will fire all my Spiritual Artifacts in a volley to blast open a gap.

Xiao Nianyin, use the Sleeve Universe to gather all the Disciples, and then take them and jump down from the canyon. Grand Elder, Fifth Elder, Granny Liu, you stay behind and cover the retreat with me.

Once the Disciples are far away, you leave too.

I will hold them off and buy you a chance to escape."

The Grand Elder's voice was the first to sound, hoarse and firm: "Sect Master, this old one will not leave.

This old one has lived for so many years; it has been enough.

Let this old one stay and accompany you to cover the retreat.

You go; you take the Disciples and go.

The Hehuan Sect cannot be without you."

Fifth Elder Hua Xunhuan's voice also rang out, with a sobbing tone: "Sect Master, I will not leave either.

You take the Disciples and go, I will stay.

I am just an old woman; if I die, I die, it is nothing to regret.

You are still young; you cannot die."

Granny Liu's voice was hoarse and resolute: "Sect Master, this old woman will not leave either.

This old woman has lived for so many years; I have lived enough already.

You go; you take the Disciples and go.

This old woman's old bones can still hold off a few people."