Chapter 114: Snatching People

Guihai Xin issued his orders.

Guihai Rong'an nodded. "Rest assured, Father. As long as the Great Armory remains secure, once we defeat those greenhorns from the Yihua Sect at the Spirit Ascension Arena today, we can sit back and await the arrival of the Ancient Dream Master. Hmph, when that time comes, we shall let them taste the might of the Guihai clan." As he spoke, he could not help but brim with high spirits.

A faint flush seemed to color Guihai Xin’s aged face. Perhaps his two sons were the only remaining attachments in his life. After hearing Guihai Rong'an, Guihai Xin turned and, accompanied by Shangguan Qing and the Xu brothers, headed toward the Myriad Spear Armory.

Lan Ruoting’s face was twisted in pain. A long, deep gash had been carved into her left shoulder by Guihai Yidao. Never in her wildest dreams had she expected that it would be Guihai Yidao himself, rather than her Senior Sister, who intercepted her.

The Guihai clan had issued a Guihai Decree—a command of the highest order. The city of Guihai had been conducting a full-scale search. The moment Lady Yu departed and her spiritual aura dissipated, the city’s scouts had tracked this location, their speed naturally far surpassing that of Lan Ruoting’s spirit birds.

Guihai Yidao flicked his long, narrow blade, Phantom, causing a drop of blood—Lan Ruoting’s blood—to fall. "Miss, I do not wish to kill you here. If you simply step aside and allow me to escort Young Master Wu back to Guihai City, everything shall be as if it never happened."

Lan Ruoting’s eyes widened. "Don't even think about it! We of the Yihua Sect found Young Master Wu first. Do not imagine you can intercept us halfway. If anyone is to hand him over, it should be us taking him to Hero Mo."

Wu Luohua looked dejected. He had never imagined he would become the center of such intense attention, though this kind of prominence felt rather like a tasteless burden. If only he and Gan Yu possessed even a sliver of spiritual power, they would not be forced to stand here listening to these people prattle on.

"Miss Lan, since you choose to court death, do not blame me for being heartless." Guihai Yidao flipped his wrist, the edge of the Phantom blade flashing as he lunged at Lan Ruoting once more. This strike was faster and even more treacherous than the last.

Lan Ruoting desperately manifested a white Yihua flower, which rippled around her. Guihai Yidao sneered, "The Yihua appears, but its level is too low. I wonder if it can withstand a single blow from me!"

Just then, a red Yihua flower manifested in the sky and landed precisely in front of Lan Ruoting. With a sharp clang, Guihai Yidao was sent reeling by the impact. A voice laughed, "Young Master Yidao of the Guihai clan, I never imagined that since we could not determine a victor at the Spirit Ascension Arena, we would be crossing blades in the desolate wilderness outside Guihai City."

Wu Luohua swallowed hard, thinking to himself, *What desolate wilderness? What crossing blades? Damn it, if my heart weren't already pledged to another, I might have been swayed by this Red Forest Maiden’s words.*

The newcomer was indeed the Red Forest Maiden. She had arrived just in time, releasing the red Yihua from mid-air to save Lan Ruoting. Seeing her Senior Sister, Lan Ruoting gasped, "Senior Sister," and collapsed, unable to hold on any longer. Fortunately, Gan Yu was quick enough to catch her in his arms.

"Senior Sister, leave him to me. You take the Junior Sister and Young Master Wu to find Mo Bai." A frigid voice sounded from behind Guihai Yidao, sending a chill through his heart.

The Red Forest Maiden knew this was no time for bravado. Furthermore, she and Jiu Xi had a prior agreement to accomplish a great task at the break of dawn. Seeing the hour was late, she nodded to Xiao Xue. "Take care, Xue."

Guihai Yidao barked, "You think you can leave? Not so easily! Stop them!" At his command, a group of Guihai City spirit cultivators swarmed forward. Suddenly, Xiao Xue leapt high into the air, coldly drawing her weapon—a tool that looked like a sword but was not one: a Millennium Frost Spike!

"You think you can stop a chariot with a mantis's arms?" Xiao Xue shouted. She flicked the Frost Spike, and in an instant, several blades of spiritual energy shot forth, followed by a chorus of screams.

Even Wu Luohua and Guihai Yidao were deeply moved, having never witnessed such massive destruction caused by simple energy blades.

The Red Forest Maiden, however, seemed unfazed. She channeled a stream of spiritual energy into Lan Ruoting’s back and fed her a spirit pill. Lan Ruoting immediately regained consciousness. After a few words from the Red Forest Maiden, the two of them wove a field of spiritual energy and, shielding Wu Luohua and Gan Yu, sprinted toward the direction of Guihai City.

Their departure sent Guihai Yidao into a frenzy. He let out a strange cry, and his Phantom blade whipped up a gale of wind as he charged after them. But suddenly, a woman descended from the sky like a celestial maiden, releasing a blast of icy spiritual energy that sent his blade flying.

Guihai Yidao looked up to see Xiao Xue attacking him with her Millennium Frost Spike. A single drop of ice-cold water fell from the crystalline weapon, and the sound of it hitting the ground sent a tremor through his heart. The next moment, the tip of the spike was inches from his eyes. Shouting in alarm, he poured all his strength into a single parry, clashing against the Frost Spike with a sharp metallic ring.

Xiao Xue smiled coldly, flipping her wrist as the Frost Spike glided along the edge of his blade. In an instant, she lunged again, her movements even more cunning and rapid.

Panic-stricken, Guihai Yidao tried to deflect her, but he could no longer keep pace. He felt a bone-chilling cold strike his wrist. His grip failed, and his Phantom blade clattered to the ground. With a solemn expression, Guihai Yidao retreated several paces, his face filled with murderous intent. "Since I cannot take the target, I shall have to take lives instead." He slowly raised his injured hand, glaring at Xiao Xue with lethal intent.

Xiao Xue watched him calmly. She knew that was his hand-blade—his most formidable weapon.