Volume 1, Chapter 38: A Hero Saves the Beauty

The vast earth stretched endlessly, a boundless wasteland. A lone figure appeared, footsteps light as if untouched by dust, gliding like the wind.

An hour later.

Mu Yi had reached the edge of the wasteland, where suddenly a world of clear mountains and flowing waters emerged before him.

“Hmm? I never expected such a desolate world to harbor such a splendid pure land.”

Mu Yi gazed upon the verdant mountains, their layers overlapping like dark ink strokes, creating an almost surreal illusion.

“Mu Yi, within this place lies the ruins of a sect, one of the two greatest opportunities in the entire Longmen battlefield,” a mysterious woman spoke again. “You must gain great rewards from these two opportunity sites; they will be crucial for your future.”

“I understand. Thank you,” Mu Yi nodded and pressed onward, delving deeper into the towering mountain ranges.

“Help! Someone save me!”

As Mu Yi entered the forest, a woman’s desperate cries echoed through the dense woods.

“Hahaha! Pretty little lady, you won’t escape! Serve us well, and maybe we’ll spare your life,” came the lecherous laughter of two men.

Mu Yi quickened his pace.

Soon, a figure in white appeared before him.

“It’s a disciple of the Yaochi Academy,” Mu Yi recognized immediately from her attire.

Behind her, two burly men leapt out to her left and right, trapping her in the middle.

“Hahaha! Beautiful, you keep running? Keep screaming? We’ve played this cat-and-mouse game enough; now it’s time to get serious,” sneered the men, their faces rough and fierce, radiating a violent aura. They looked less like sect disciples and more like ruthless bandits.

“Qi Mountain’s Two Fiends, you’ve committed countless atrocities, assault and plunder. How did you even qualify to enter the Longmen battlefield?” the woman in white demanded, eyes blazing with fury, her chest heaving in anger.

“Hahaha! We brothers had no right to join the Longmen competition, but all we needed was some money to register under a sect’s name and then we could compete as their disciples,” one of the men boasted arrogantly.

“Do you know I’m a disciple of the Yaochi Academy? If you dare lay a hand on me, can you bear the consequences?” she threatened.

“Hmph, we roam far and wide, seen all kinds of trouble. Yaochi Academy is indeed not to be trifled with, but around here in these mountains, who else is there besides us?” one growled fiercely. “We brothers only do no-capital deals, pretty lady. In this secluded forest, after we’ve had our fun with you, we’ll kill you and vanish without a trace. What can your academy do to me?”

The Qi Mountain Two Fiends were notorious bandits, brutal and merciless. Even disciples from the four great academies dared not cross them in these lonely woods.

“Sir, please save me…” At that moment, the woman spotted a man in a green robe behind her.

“Hm? Only at the second level of the Divine Transformation Realm…” But the hope in her pretty face faded instantly.

The man’s cultivation was too weak—just Divine Transformation Realm, second level—while she herself was at the fifth level.

And the Qi Mountain Two Fiends were at the eighth level.

“Save you? Hahaha! Just a trash at Divine Transformation Realm, second level?”

Mu Yi had appeared silently, unnoticed by the bandits until now.

Seeing his cultivation, they sneered contemptuously.

“Trash?” Mu Yi’s lips curled into a faint smile.

“The Longmen battlefield is a competition arena for sect disciples, not a place for vicious bandits like you. Meeting me today is your misfortune.”

“Shut up! Let me deal with this brat first,” one of the Qi Mountain Two Fiends snarled and swung his blade at Mu Yi.

Mu Yi didn’t even glance at the attack; he flicked his finger.

Bang!

The man swung his blade, only to explode on the spot.

Since awakening the second meridian of the Dragon Elephant Divine Battle Body, Mu Yi had gained the power of two dragons and elephants—terrifying strength.

His physical might alone could crush an eighth-level Divine Transformation cultivator without any martial skill.

“Brother!” The remaining man, seeing this, was so frightened that he wet himself and fled.

But before he could get far, Mu Yi, swift as the wind, appeared silently behind him.

With a single punch, the man’s body exploded, dissolving into a mist of blood.

“So powerful…”

The woman in white stared in disbelief, her small cherry lips agape.

A mere second-level Divine Transformation cultivator had instantly slain an eighth-level powerhouse.

What was more astonishing was that the man in green seemed to exert no effort at all; it was as effortless as eating or drinking.

“Alright, you’re safe now. I’m leaving,” Mu Yi said, casting a glance at her before turning away.

“Wait! I’m Bai Shasha. Thank you so much for saving my life,” she quickly stepped in front of him, bowing in gratitude.

“It was nothing. No need for thanks,” Mu Yi waved her off, already intent on delving deeper into the mountains to find the sect ruins.

“Brother, this place is desolate, full of monsters. Why not travel together until we’re out of the forest, then part ways?” Bai Shasha’s eyes sparkled as she pleaded, “I won’t let you work for free. I’ll reward you handsomely—I promise you’ll be satisfied.”

“So you wanted me as your bodyguard,” Mu Yi turned to look at her again.

Her fine eyebrows, oval face, delicate nose, rosy cherry lips, crescent-like large eyes, snow-white skin, and graceful long legs—indeed, she was an enchanting beauty.

“This deep forest is too dangerous for me alone. If I hadn’t met you, I might have already been dead here,” Bai Shasha teased playfully, sticking out her small tongue. “Would you really leave me here all alone?”

“Fine. I need to leave the forest anyway. Since it’s on the way, let’s go together,” Mu Yi nodded.

“Wonderful! Brother, may I ask your honorable name? And whatever reward you want—just say the word!” Bai Shasha beamed.

“Disciple of the Hidden Spirit Academy, Mu Yi,” he answered calmly. “As for the reward, don’t mention it. I just saw you alone in this dangerous forest, so I’m helping you out of kindness.”

“Mu Yi?” Bai Shasha found the name unfamiliar.

That was understandable. Although the Great Qian Academy had issued a decree to kill Mu Yi, it was still only known within a small circle. Many disciples from other sects had never heard of him.

Simply put, Mu Yi was not yet famous.

“Let’s go,” Mu Yi continued forward.

Howling!

As Bai Shasha had predicted, they soon encountered their first group of monsters.

A pack of massive wolves clad in armor-like hides leapt down the mountain like the wind, numbering around thirty.

“Trouble! Armored Demon Wolves! Their strength is equivalent to human Divine Transformation Realm, eighth level! And they always appear in packs!” Bai Shasha’s face paled as she hid behind Mu Yi.

“Monsters of the Longmen battlefield at the eighth level are indeed dangerous for lone disciples from major sects,” Mu Yi observed the pack encircling them but did not flinch.

He was about to strike when suddenly, from the eastern forest, sharp sword qi flashed, and many armored demon wolves were instantly slain.

“Wooo…”

The remaining wolves fled in terror.

“Peak tenth level Divine Transformation aura,” Mu Yi said calmly, glancing toward the eastern woods.

A group emerged. Among them was a man carrying a long sword on his back, dignified and outstanding—a true paragon among men.

“Brother Liao Lin! Senior Sister Nan Yan! You’ve finally arrived!” Bai Shasha smiled brightly upon seeing them.

Mu Yi also noticed that aside from the man with the long sword, the rest were all women—clearly disciples of the Yaochi Academy.