Chapter 1141: 再看一眼

Yan Xuehen was speechless. She was almost fainting from anger. Could something like this really be called even? Yan Xuehen's anger points surged.

The key was that the other party seemed genuinely committed to this idea. As he spoke, his internal energy circulated throughout his body, causing his clothes to burst open.

A blush flashed across her face, and she quickly turned away. "What are you doing, you wretched boy!"

She had experienced many trials and tribulations over the years, so her mindset was naturally not like that of a young girl. If he had only exposed his upper body, she wouldn't have even blinked. But then she remembered that her own skirt had just...

If he wanted to make things even, it clearly meant his trousers would also be ripped off. Although she cultivated the 'Supreme Emotionlessness' path, she was still a woman and felt too embarrassed to witness that scene.

Suddenly, she heard a whooshing sound beside her. She quickly turned her head and saw Zu An pulling Yu Yanluo, disappearing around a bend in the mine tunnel. Although he was bare-chested at the moment, his trousers were still perfectly intact. Clearly, he had no intention of stripping for her to see... Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey. He had clearly done that deliberately to trick her.

"Wretched boy!" Yan Xuehen gritted her teeth so hard they felt like they'd shatter, and with a light step, she pursued them. Yan Xuehen's anger flared even more intensely.

Just as she turned the corner, a sudden warning surged within her, and she quickly halted. At that moment, a strange red glow appeared before her eyes.

Medusa's Eye!

Yan Xuehen sneered, "A spent force!" Yu Yanluo had exhausted all her strength in the previous attack, so its power was now greatly diminished. She didn't even need to activate her domain to resist; she simply channeled her internal energy and blocked it. However, her physical agility seemed slightly lower than usual.

Yet, she didn't relax in the slightest, as her Grandmaster-level spiritual perception allowed her to sense Zu An emerging from the shadows, lunging at her with a sword. Although the recent incident made her want to flay him alive, as a sect Grandmaster, she had to admit his choice was indeed wise. If the two of them tried to escape, it was clear they couldn't outrun her. Rather than being chased until they were exhausted, it was better to counterattack while still in peak condition. Many masters would likely be caught off guard by such a sudden counter-strike.

It was a pity he greatly underestimated a Grandmaster's abilities. The gap between an ordinary cultivator and a Grandmaster was as vast as heaven and earth. The opponent was incredibly fast, almost appearing in an instant, but in her eyes, it was still like slow motion. She raised her sword, her movements as elusive and untraceable as a hanging antelope's horns, yet she struck later but arrived first, able to stab directly at his vital point. This sword technique, almost approaching the Dao, was beyond the comprehension of anyone below the Grandmaster level. They would only notice the outcome, perhaps dying without understanding why their opponent's sword seemed so slow and from such a distance, yet still struck them first.

Just then, she suddenly heard a sharp, mournful bird cry and vaguely saw a strange bird charging towards her. Then, her entire spirit felt as if it had been pricked by a needle.

Unfortunately, Yan Xuehen's expression didn't change in the slightest from beginning to end. She coldly said, "Is this your trump card?" How powerful was a Grandmaster's spirit, especially an old-guard Grandmaster like her? Although the 'Hundred Calls' skill was mystical, its power was linked to Zu An's own strength, and at its current level, it couldn't harm Yan Xuehen.

Then, as if nothing had happened, she plunged her longsword into his chest, right before his astonished eyes. Blood spurted. Yan Xuehen hesitated for a moment, wondering if she had gone too far. Chu Yan seemed to still harbor feelings for him. If she, as his master, killed her beloved, it might lead to a rift between them in the future. Moreover, strictly speaking, Zu An wasn't truly to blame for what had just happened...

However, her 'Supreme Emotionlessness' mindset, cultivated over many years, instantly cooled her expression, and the ripples in her heart immediately subsided. Heaven and Earth are unkind, treating all beings as straw dogs. All cultivators below the Grandmaster level were mere ants. He had sheltered a demon and offended her; he deserved to die. As for Chu Yan, she might hate her at first, but in the future, she would surely understand her good intentions. Once Chu Yan comprehended 'Supreme Emotionlessness,' she would realize how boring and time-wasting youthful affections were.

Having thought all this through, her eyes became as cold as a ten-thousand-year-old snow mountain, and the sword in her hand no longer hesitated. To her surprise, however, the opponent showed no sign of pain or panic after being stabbed. Instead, he grabbed her sword and pressed his entire body forward.

"This fellow's body is quite tough?"

However, the longsword in her hand was a supreme treasure from White Jade Capital. It had been by her side for years, nurtured by her energy, and could easily cut through even a dragon's body. Thus, without any doubt, the longsword effortlessly pierced through his body.

"This fellow didn't even flinch; he's quite a man." Yan Xuehen was used to his usual frivolous demeanor, so seeing his current bravery, she felt a hint of admiration. If not for what had just happened, seeing a junior with such excellent character and talent might have made her want to cherish his abilities.

Two slender, jade-like fingers lightly pinched his Tai'a sword. With a casual flick, she expected her Grandmaster cultivation to be enough to shatter the longsword. To her surprise, the sword hummed faintly like a dragon's roar, but remained completely undamaged.

"Oh?" She hadn't expected this unassuming sword to be a divine weapon.

Just then, she noticed a faint smile playing on his lips, and simultaneously, a powerful warning signal surged within her. At that moment, a dull, black dagger shot out from Zu An's sleeve. The strange black runes on it seemed to represent an incredibly profound Dao principle, one that even her vast knowledge couldn't decipher. However, she knew very well that this dagger was extremely dangerous. Even for a Grandmaster like her, being wounded by it would likely mean certain death. She finally understood why he was willing to suffer severe injuries just to get close to her – it was to conceal this true killing blow.

*Clink!*

With a crisp sound, a Bagua compass suddenly appeared out of thin air at the critical moment, blocking the black dagger's path. The black dagger lost all momentum and finally fell to the ground. Seeing his plan fail, Zu An quickly retreated, putting distance between himself and her.

Yan Xuehen also felt a surge of lingering fear. At such close range, let alone an ordinary cultivator, even a Grandmaster like her had almost been defeated. If she hadn't previously used the 'Heavenly Evolution of Creation' technique to foresee the dangers of this trip and remained cautious, she might have fallen for it by now.

At this moment, Yu Yanluo saw Zu An severely wounded. She rushed over to support him, taking out various precious elixirs. "Quick, take these medicines to regulate your breathing and heal your injuries."

Zu An shook his head, gently pushing her hand away. "I'm afraid there won't be a chance."

By this time, Yan Xuehen had approached step by step. "With your cultivation, not even at the Grandmaster level, to force me into such a disadvantageous position, if word gets out, it will be enough to make you famous across the land."

Zu An calmly replied, "I'm already famous across the land."

Yan Xuehen's breath caught. Although this fellow's cultivation was ordinary, what he said seemed to be true. He seemed to have been involved in all the recent major events. From the Emperor personally issuing a bounty for him, to his later solving major cases in the capital, and helping the Crown Prince pass the trials and secure his position... There were probably few factions under heaven that didn't know his name.

No, wait. While his cultivation was nothing before a Grandmaster, how old was he? To have such cultivation at his age was truly astounding. Even her favored disciple couldn't compare to him. In fact, looking across the entire history of humanity, she had never seen anyone so young with such high cultivation.

She said indifferently, "I'll give you one last chance. Kill the snake demon, then become my disciple. At the same time, swear a Heavenly Dao oath that you will abandon all emotional attachments and focus solely on cultivation, and also that you will never disturb Chu Yan again. If you agree, I can spare your life." As things stood, she had developed a soft spot for his talent and decided to give him a way out.

Zu An was surprised. "You don't mind that I just saw your naked body?"

Yan Xuehen was left speechless. "He really knew how to rub salt in the wound!" she thought. "This Grandmaster finally gave him a chance, and he's being so ungrateful?" Yan Xuehen's anger surged once more.

She took a deep breath and said, "This Grandmaster is far older than you. If you become my disciple, you will be my junior. Looking back twenty years, you would have still been in your swaddling clothes. Being seen by a junior of my own house is not a big deal."

Zu An exclaimed, "It's really no big deal? Can I take another look?"

Yan Xuehen was utterly dumbfounded.