498: Chapter 498 True Immortal Realm, are you panicking or not?

He felt a terrifying aura erupt from Xiao Nianyin, an aura as heavy as a mountain and as deep as an abyss, pressing down on him until he could not catch his breath.

His sword was trembling, his legs were turning to jelly, and his heart felt as if it had been gripped by someone; even breathing became difficult.

"You... you are..."

His voice was shaking.

Xiao Nianyin did not answer.

She only looked at him, her gaze as calm as water.

"Scram."

She said.

Just one word.

But within that one word lay the terrifying pressure of a Mid-stage True Immortal.

That pressure was tangible, like the might of heaven, like an irresistible fate.

The middle-aged man's face turned deathly pale in an instant; he felt his own Soul trembling.

The Sword Cultivators behind him collapsed to the ground directly, unable to even stand steady.

"You... you..."

The middle-aged man's voice was shaking.

Xiao Nianyin did not speak again.

She simply raised her hand and gave a gentle wave.

An invisible force sent all those Sword Cultivators flying, crashing heavily onto the ground.

They struggled to crawl up, looking at Xiao Nianyin, their eyes filled with fear.

Some could not even hold their swords, which fell to the ground with a 'clang'.

"Leave," Xiao Nianyin said.

The middle-aged man gritted his teeth and waved his hand: "Go!"

Those people scrambled away in a panic; the one running in front even tripped after a few steps, but scrambled up and kept running, not even daring to look back.

Xu Ruyu looked at their retreating figures and shook his head: "Is that it? I thought there would be a fierce battle."

Xiao Nianyin rolled her eyes at him: "What did you expect? The experts of the Tianshu Sword Sect are mostly dead. Tian Jianzi is dead, Zhao Qian is dead, and those remaining are just small fries. They cannot withstand the pressure of a Mid-stage True Immortal."

Xu Ruyu nodded, thoughtful: "Then what should we do next? They will come again. The Tianshu Sword Sect will not let this rest."

Xiao Nianyin looked at him and was silent for a moment.

"Don't you want to know how they found you?"

Xu Ruyu looked at her and smiled: "You know?"

Xiao Nianyin nodded: "The Tianshu Sword Sect has a Thousand-Mile Tracking Mirror. As long as you are tainted by Karma with them, you will be locked onto. Unless you die—body and Soul destroyed—it is useless to run to the ends of the earth. This mirror has been passed down for ten thousand years and has never missed."

Xu Ruyu's brows furrowed: "Then what do we do? We can't keep running like this."

Xiao Nianyin looked at him without speaking.

She was waiting, waiting for him to ask her.

But Xu Ruyu did not ask.

He just looked at her, waiting for her to continue.

His gaze was very calm, without anxiety or panic, only a kind of indescribable trust.

Xiao Nianyin suddenly smiled.

"Aren't you going to ask me how I know these things?"

Xu Ruyu shook his head: "If you want to say it, you naturally will; if you don't want to, asking is useless. Besides, you are my person, and you would never harm me."

Xiao Nianyin looked at him, a warm feeling welling up in her heart.

This man knew his boundaries.

He asked what he should ask and did not ask what he shouldn't.

Just like her.

He would not press her on things she didn't want to talk about, nor would he force her to do things she didn't want to do.

He respected her, trusted her, and treated her as his own.

She took a deep breath and spoke slowly: "I know the method to break it. But I don't want to say it right now."

Xu Ruyu was stunned for a moment, then smiled: "Then don't say it."

Xiao Nianyin looked at him, her eyes filled with tenderness.

She reached out and gently grasped his hand.

His palm was large and warm, his fingers long and strong.

She interlaced her fingers with his, holding his hand tightly.

"When we reach the Tianyan Sect, I will tell you," she said.

Xu Ruyu nodded and grasped her hand in return.

His grip was neither too light nor too heavy, just right to make her feel at ease.

The two stood on the mountaintop, looking into the distance.

Sunlight spilled onto them, stretching their shadows long.

The wind blew by, catching their robes and hair, fluttering behind them.

In the distance, those people from the Tianshu Sword Sect were nowhere to be seen.

In the forest, bird calls rose and fell, and the stream murmured as it flowed.

Everything was so calm, as if nothing had happened.

But Xiao Nianyin knew this was just the beginning.

The Tianshu Sword Sect would not let this rest.

They had lost Tian Jianzi and Zhao Qian; they would not let it end like this.

Tian Jianzi was their Grand Elder, their spiritual pillar.

His death was a massive blow to the Tianshu Sword Sect.

They would surely spare no cost to take revenge.

The next ones to come would not be these small characters at the Nascent Soul Stage, but true experts.

However, she was not afraid.

She was already a Mid-stage True Immortal.

In this Lower Realm, those who could contend with her could be counted on one hand.

The Sect Head of the Tianshu Sword Sect was only at the Late Stage of the Saint Realm. Before her, they were vulnerable.

And all of this was thanks to this man.

Xiao Nianyin turned her head to look at Xu Ruyu, a complex emotion welling up in her heart.

He hid too many secrets, but she did not ask.

But she knew that one day, he would take the initiative to tell her these secrets. She would wait.

A smart woman knows not to ask what shouldn't be asked.

She did not need to press, did not need to probe, did not need to doubt.

She only needed to trust him, only needed to stand by his side, only needed to be the person he could rely on when he needed it.

Just as he was her reliance now.