Chapter 333: The Hero Saves the Beauty
"Ying Xiaoxiao?"
Hearing the name of the woman in dark robes, Lin Langtian paused, a hint of surprise appearing on his face. Although he'd never met her, he was no stranger to who she was. Ying Xiaoxiao, the eldest daughter of the Dao Sect's leader and a powerful young master within the sect, was famed not only for her beauty but also for her remarkable talent. In the East Xuan Region, only Ling Qingzhu of the Nine Heavens Palace could be said to rival her.
But perhaps what drew the most attention to her was her family: she was the older sister of Ying Huanhuan, the reincarnation of the Ice Lord, and, one day, the sister-in-law of Lin Dong, the future Martial Ancestor who would shake the entire Great Thousand World.
"I never thought Ying Xiaoxiao would show up in the Bloodhorn Region...and she's already being targeted by the Shadow Seven," Lin Langtian muttered, watching Ying Xiaoxiao struggle against her attackers. It seemed the Shadow Seven weren't satisfied with just attempting to assassinate him. Now, they were also hunting the Dao Sect leader's daughter, fearlessly antagonizing not one but two of the East Xuan Region's Eight Great Sects.
As Lin Langtian pondered the situation, Ying Xiaoxiao's cool, steady gaze shifted to the four black-robed figures surrounding her. Her tone was calm but resolute.
"You are the notorious Shadow Seven of the Bloodhorn Region, aren't you? Now that you know who I am, why would you continue to stand in my way?"
"It's precisely because you're Ying Xiaoxiao that we're making our move," Yang Li replied, his tone icy.
"Oh? Aren't you afraid of retaliation from the Dao Sect?" she asked, her voice firm though her chest rose and fell slightly with a hint of tension.
"Heh, we dared to attack a direct disciple of the Yuan Gate. Do you really think the Dao Sect's senior disciple matters to us?" sneered a thin, black-robed figure at Yang Li's side. "Three years ago, you crippled a young man named Wu Li here in the Bloodhorn Region. His grandfather, Elder Wushan, has since posted an enormous bounty on your life. Once we get our hands on that prize, we'll leave the Bloodhorn Region and start our own sect in the West Xuan Region. Tell me, what could your Dao Sect do about it then?"
Hearing the name "Wu Li," Ying Xiaoxiao's expression changed slightly, recalling the events of three years prior. At that time, she'd encountered a young man named Wu Li while honing her skills in the Bloodhorn Region. Arrogant, domineering, and insatiably lecherous, Wu Li had been infatuated with her beauty and even tried to force her to become his concubine. As a senior disciple and Dao Sect leader's daughter, Ying Xiaoxiao had punished him, ultimately taking his life.
She'd thought little of it at the time, given her position, but she had not anticipated that Wu Li's death would one day bring her such trouble.
"It seems you do remember now," Yang Li sneered. "Well, then, it's simple: when a life is taken, it must be repaid in kind. Today, we're here to claim yours!"
"You've got quite the nerve. Let's see what the Bloodhorn Region's most notorious assassins are really made of!" Ying Xiaoxiao's chest rose once more as she drew in a sharp, steadying breath, her beautiful eyes hardening with resolve.
Boom!
In the next moment, a powerful surge of energy exploded from her body. Her Yuan Power was strong, even surpassing that of Qin Lang, the Wood Sect spiritual leader.
"Oh, the peak of the Nine Yuan Nirvana Stage…" Lin Langtian muttered to himself, still concealed in the shadows. The Dao Sect, one of the Eight Great Sects of the East Xuan Region, had truly impressive resources. As the Dao Sect's eldest disciple, Ying Xiaoxiao was undoubtedly skilled enough to contend with some of the higher-ranking spiritual leaders within the Yuan Gate.
Swish!
Ying Xiaoxiao's slender hand tightened around her weapon, and a slender blade bathed in a faint blue glow appeared. The sword's edge gleamed in her sharp gaze as she lunged forward, her figure a streak of light as she aimed a precise, lethal strike at Yang Li.
Just as her attack neared, Yang Li's eyes flashed with a fierce, dark glint, and a cold aura burst forth from his body. In an instant, his hands moved, fingers grasping the blade's edge firmly.
Clang!
The gleaming sword stopped just short of piercing Yang Li's brow. With a sneer, he twisted his hand to divert her blade, and his other hand moved like a venomous snake, aiming for her wrist.
Ying Xiaoxiao's eyes narrowed as she sensed the frightening power in his strike. She twisted her wrist, sending a brilliant green light along the blade, but at that moment, Yang Li's eyes grew dark, and his free hand lashed out with lightning speed, smashing against her shoulder with terrifying force.
Boom!
The impact struck Ying Xiaoxiao like a landslide. Her expression changed as her body shuddered from the blow, a pained gasp escaping her lips as she fell to the ground in a dazed heap.
"Half-step into the Life Transformation Stage…" she whispered, her face pale as she stared at Yang Li in shock. She hadn't expected the Shadow Seven's leader to be so close to the Life Transformation level. Even a half-step beyond the Nirvana Stage was more than enough to endanger her.
"Without sufficient strength, would I dare to take on the Dao Sect's senior disciple?" Yang Li smirked coldly, gesturing toward one of his men.
A black-robed figure dashed forward, arm outstretched to seize her, but just as his hand came within inches of Ying Xiaoxiao, he froze. A powerful surge of energy flew toward him, striking his chest with unrestrained force.
Thud!
The sudden blow left the Eight Yuan Nirvana Stage assassin pale, his body collapsing with a spray of blood as he tumbled back across the ground.
This unexpected turn of events seized everyone's attention, and Yang Li's expression darkened.
Ying Xiaoxiao's parted lips showed her own surprise as she looked at the fallen assassin. As she sensed a familiar presence, she turned her head sharply, her eyes landing on a figure in a green robe who slowly came into view.
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