Being Watched

However, to everyone's surprise, Fatty Wang's seemingly clumsy and plump body erupted with an astonishing speed completely disproportionate to his size at this moment!

Almost at the exact moment the black light appeared, it was as if springs were installed under his feet. With a speed difficult for the naked eye to catch, he narrowly brushed past the black light and instantly shrank back into the safe zone behind Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu!

The entire process was as fast as lightning!

As soon as he landed, Fatty Wang patted his chest. His plump face showed no lingering fear; instead, it revealed a sly "just as I expected" expression. He put his hands on his hips and shouted triumphantly in the direction the black light had shot from:

"Bah! I was already on guard against you bastards! I knew someone wouldn't be able to resist taking a cheap shot!"

Just as his voice fell, Fang Hanyu, who had been standing as still as ice, moved.

He didn't look at Fatty Wang. Instead, he simply formed his fingers into a sword and indifferently slashed toward the direction Fatty Wang was shouting at, aiming at the shadow of the shattered rocks.

A subtle gray sword mark silently sliced through space.

That shadow of the rocks, along with the half-ruined wall behind it and the peak Heaven Realm aura hidden within, were instantly reduced to absolute nothingness, as if erased by an invisible eraser.

An instant kill! Clean and decisive.

Fang Hanyu slowly retracted his fingers, as if he had merely brushed away a speck of dust.

Seeing this, Fatty Wang became even more smug, raising his plump face. "See that? Dare to attack me, and this is the result! My second brother specializes in curing all kinds of defiance!"

Xiao Ruobai looked at the two who cooperated perfectly—one acting as bait and the other executing the kill—and shook his head helplessly, though a hint of a smile flashed in his eyes.

This damn fatty, although greedy and afraid of death, his cleverness and trust in his brothers were truly beyond question.

"Alright, stop running your mouth, let's go!" Xiao Ruobai shouted in a low voice.

The three did not linger any longer. They transformed into three startling rainbows, instantly breaking through the clouds and disappearing into the distance, leaving behind a mess on the ground and a crowd of onlookers with varying thoughts.

In the shadows, those covetous gazes, those old monsters nearing the end of their lifespans who prided themselves on their formidable strength, also quietly followed like ghosts.

A fiercer pursuit and storm had clearly just begun.

Inside the temporary camp of the Azure Profound Sect.

"Damn it! Master Yuji, that old bastard, even in death he still schemes against people!"

Shi Wanshan glared with his bell-like eyes, furiously smashing a fist into a boulder beside him, instantly turning it into powder.

"The Undying Divine Medicine... this has truly pierced the heavens!"

The flesh on his face twitched, showing both shock at the strength of his two martial nephews and deep worry about the current situation.

Although he was reckless, he was not stupid.

He knew very well what kind of terrifying existences would be drawn over once this news spread.

No matter how strong Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu were, they were still young. Facing a continuous stream of unscrupulous coveters, it was inevitable they might slip up.

"No! I have to follow them and take a look!"

Shi Wanshan suddenly stood up and quickly said to Ye Guying, who also had a solemn expression beside him, "Junior Brother Ye, you stay at the camp and watch over the disciples! I'll go secretly look after those three brats! Just in case some shameless old undying decides to strike, I can provide timely backup!"

Hearing this, Ye Guying furrowed his brows. He knew Shi Wanshan's temper, but he also understood that they indeed needed an expert to provide covert support right now.

He said in a deep voice, "Senior Brother Shi, you must be careful! If things go south, prioritize the safety of the three of them. Do not linger in battle!"

"Don't worry! I know what's important!"

Shi Wanshan patted Ye Guying heavily on the shoulder. His figure flickered and disappeared as if melting into the earth. Retracting his aura to the extreme, he quietly sneaked in the direction Xiao Ruobai and the other two had left.

Purple Bamboo Peak.

Gu Changge, dressed in white, stood with his hands behind his back, quietly overlooking everything happening below.

His gaze was calm and tranquil, as if watching a play that had nothing to do with him.

Seeing Fang Hanyu instantly counter-kill the ambusher, an imperceptible curve rose at the corner of his mouth.

"Decisive nature, swift reactions. Not bad."

His gaze swept over those auras hidden in the dark, ready to make a move, especially those few old monsters nearing the end of their lifespans with decaying yet exceptionally powerful auras. His eyes grew profound.

"The Seven Stars Secret Token... the Undying Divine Medicine... it really drew out quite a few old turtles hiding in their holes."

He muttered softly to himself, "So be it. Young eagles must weather the storm. With this tempering, they can grow faster."

He looked up at Little Black, who was leisurely circling high in the sky looking harmless, and sensed the dormant, terrifying power within its body that was enough to instantly overturn mountains and rivers.

He also sensed the life-saving measures he had left on his two disciples, as well as Shi Wanshan, who was quietly following them with his aura perfectly concealed.

"With Little Black watching over them in the dark, Senior Brother Shi providing covert support, and the backup plans I left behind, nothing major will go wrong."

Then, with a slight shift in his thoughts, a gentle intent fell into the mind of Ling Xi, who was quietly comprehending the Dao of the Sword at the summit of Purple Bamboo Peak.

A moment later, a cold and aloof figure quietly appeared by his side, like frost condensing under the moonlight, silent and soundless.

It was Ling Xi. She wore a moon-white Daoist dress, her black hair flowing like a waterfall. Her body was faintly surrounded by an un-dissipated, sharp devouring intent and the majestic aura of the early stages of the Heaven Realm.

"Master." Ling Xi bowed in greeting, her voice as clear and crisp as an icy spring striking jade, carrying heartfelt respect.

Gu Changge did not turn around. His gaze remained cast toward the distant place where the winds and clouds were gathering. His tone was as peaceful as usual, "Xi'er, how has your cultivation been recently?"

Ling Xi slightly raised her cold eyes, a profound light flashing in them. "To reply to Master, I have benefited immensely from fighting the projections of the Great Emperors in the Eternal Prodigy Tower. With the Devouring Method combined with the cultivation resources bestowed by Master and the endless spiritual energy of Purple Bamboo Peak, I have broken through to the Heaven Realm today. It's just..."

She paused slightly, as if weighing her words, "It's just that although the projections in the tower are strong, they ultimately lack the life-and-death tempering of real combat."

Gu Changge nodded slightly, seemingly having expected this. Only then did he slowly turn his head, his gaze falling on Ling Xi. The look was calm, yet it seemed able to see through the flow of every strand of devouring power within her body.

"Mm, your foundation has been polished well." His tone was indifferent, showing neither praise nor criticism. Then, he changed the subject. "Your two senior brothers have encountered some minor trouble while gaining experience outside."

Hearing this, a very faint trace of surprise brushed across Ling Xi's cold face. She was clear about the strength of Xiao Ruobai and Fang Hanyu. Especially after experiencing the crazy tempering of the Prodigy Tower, if those two joined forces, ordinary King Realm experts wouldn't even be enough to look at.

"Minor trouble?" She frowned slightly, her voice carrying a hint of confusion and... an almost imperceptible pride.

"With the current strength of my two senior brothers, who else among the younger generation of the Eastern Region could bring them trouble?"

She really couldn't think of anyone among their peers who would warrant her Master using the word "trouble" to describe, or even require him to specifically summon her to go.