Chapter 92: The Strength of the Red Elder

The words had barely left his lips before a wave of intense regret washed over Chen Qi.

It was for no other reason than the fact that, as an otaku who had consumed countless novels and movies, he found the line incredibly cringeworthy. If it were a girl from Earth, such as one of his classmates, she would likely have responded with, "Thanks, Chen Qi, you’re a nice guy, but we’re really not a good match..." or perhaps, "Chen Qi, did you lose a dare? Why are you suddenly acting so weird?"

"Mm."

To Chen Qi’s surprise, Yun Tianxin offered a soft, obedient nod, accompanied by a small, nasal hum. Her cheeks were already flushed a deep crimson, her beautiful face made all the more radiant by the lingering traces of tears. She leaned in, allowing Chen Qi’s hot breath to brush against her skin, which only served to dislodge the last few stray droplets from her lashes.

*Should I kiss her?* Chen Qi, lacking any experience in such matters, was suddenly struck by the thought. His pupils dilated, and his heart began to hammer against his ribs. On one hand, he desperately longed to taste the sweetness of her lips; he had long coveted her unique, ethereal temperament. On the other hand, the stubborn, "virgin-style" chauvinism deep within him told him that this was not the right time.

He hesitated again.

Even though, by any rational standard, a kiss now would be a tacit mutual understanding—or, to put it more selfishly, a reward for a male who had spent the better part of the day comforting a female—he still held back. He was certain, with the confidence of a man, that he could win her over; she would likely be half-reluctant, half-willing. His rudimentary knowledge of psychology told him just how much a woman, stranded in the wilderness and stripped of her defenses, craved protection and affection. This sentiment was only amplified by her status as the daughter of a sect leader, a position that usually kept her perched high above others.

But he didn't want it this way!

In that brief moment, Chen Qi’s inner sense of pride swelled. He swore that he would earn his way into her life, enjoy the rest of their days together, and share in her every joy and sorrow only when she was free of worry and wearing a genuine smile. He would not resort to taking advantage of someone in their moment of vulnerability, as if he were a predator preying on the weak.

He was the type of man who met challenges head-on; he wanted to tackle the highest difficulty level even when it came to the woman he adored.

He was confident he wouldn't lose.

Just as the internal war in his mind concluded and his eyes began to brighten with resolve, Yun Tianxin finally snapped out of her trance. She wiped away her tears and laughed, "Hee hee, Junior Brother, you don't have many skills, but you sure know how to boast."

"Heh heh, I also know how to make my Senior Sister happy!" Chen Qi seized the opening, lifting his left hand to gently brush the remaining tears from her face. A tender smile touched the corners of his mouth, as if he could smooth away all the unease in her heart.

Looking at her pure, innocent smile, a new wave of guilt washed over him. This guilt had nothing to do with his physical actions, but rather with the fact that he was using PUA techniques he had picked up on Earth on a girl whose heart was as pure as a blank sheet of paper, a girl who bore unimaginable responsibilities.

In short, it felt shameful.

Once he realized this, his mind felt light and clear, as if his blade techniques had become purer, much like his admiration for Yun Tianxin. *Yes, pure!* In a daze, Chen Qi felt as though he had discovered the reason for his rapid progress in swordsmanship.

Watching her soft, fair hand rest obediently in his palm, Chen Qi smiled slightly and leaned toward her ear, whispering, "Senior Sister, it’s time to go. I promise to see you safely back to the sect."

Seeing her nod, he kept hold of her hand and quickly packed up the tent. The two of them walked closely through the mountains, looking like a pair of lovers on a leisurely post-meal stroll. After a while, realizing they were barely making any progress, Chen Qi sighed and suggested, "Senior Sister, let me carry you."

Yun Tianxin realized the same, hesitating for a moment. She seemed to visualize the embarrassing position of being carried and froze, seemingly forgetting how to speak or how to refuse.

*Has this girl lost her mind from shyness?* Observing the blush that had never faded from her face, Chen Qi found it amusing and couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. He humbled himself and crouched down, waiting for his beloved to climb onto his back. He felt a weight settle behind him, followed by a faint warmth against his palms. No words were needed; everything was understood.

...

In the southern mountains, on an unremarkable hill south of the Miasma Demon Mountain.

"Boom!"

A withered figure slammed into the ground in a sorry state. The violent impact created a shockwave that spanned nearly ten meters, leaving the ground within the radius barren and sunken by several feet.

Marquis Yunshan trembled as he rose, coughing up a mouthful of blood. He roared at the sky, his voice bordering on madness: "Chi Liantian, have you lost your mind? The southern border camp of my Yuyang Kingdom is only a few dozen miles away! I have already sent a distress signal—are you not afraid that one of the Imperial Elders will arrive and put an end to you here?"

The crimson silhouette in the sky became clearer, revealing the cold, harsh expression of Old Chi. His long, blood-red hair danced in the wind, and his face was twisted in defiance. He held a massive, blood-stained broadsword that towered over him, and he sneered, "And so what? Your title as Governor of Yunhai Province won't matter when you're dead."

As he spoke, a crimson blade-shadow, dozens of meters long, materialized, pressing down relentlessly toward the man below. Before the shadow even landed, the rock and soil beneath it began to crack, and the swirling sand and dust were sucked into the vortex of the blade, ground into fine powder—a testament to the overwhelming pressure of the strike.

Marquis Yunshan was now truly frantic. He hurriedly tossed several pills into his mouth with his left hand while pointing his right at the blade-shadow, his entire body turning a pale yellow. As the blade drew near, the medicinal power took effect; his skin deepened in color, and thick, overflowing spiritual energy rendered him a brilliant gold. His luxurious robes were vaporized by the sheer force of his own aura.

Ignoring his state of undress, he thrust his right hand toward the blade-shadow, his true energy burning like a human torch. In an instant, his form was swallowed by a clash of red and gold.

"Three Yang True Essence: Heaven-Supporting True Yang! Chi Liantian, you cannot kill me!"

A hysterical roar echoed from the center of the light. The yellow energy continued to intensify, its brilliance reaching a point that would sting the eyes of any mortal who dared to gaze upon it. The leaking energy formed a pillar of light that shot into the sky, accompanied by the Marquis's agonizing screams and the sound of energy grinding against energy. The hill beneath him had been leveled, and it was rapidly turning into a crater.

"Is that so? Try this then! Let me teach you what it truly means to be in the Spirit Sea Realm!"

Old Chi, hovering in mid-air, wore a grim expression. Even the clouds around him were stained a deep, blood-red. Most striking was the swirling vortex of viscous, lava-like spiritual energy rising above his head, causing the sky for miles around to bleed with red clouds, releasing a destructive aura that felt capable of erasing everything.

Though it was a vortex of spiritual energy, it looked to the observer like a vast, surging ocean of red, flowing with the vortex at its core. As this power emerged, the temperature for miles around began to climb. Trees ignited without a breeze, and the earth became scorched and scarred, as if a natural disaster were about to descend.

"Don't forget! You are still wounded! Have you lost your mind? Even if those Imperial Elders are lazy, they'll be here soon!"

At the heart of this apocalyptic scene, the Marquis’s graceful demeanor had completely vanished. He crawled on the ground, his face pale with fear, yet he still tried to weaken Chi Liantian’s resolve with words. His aged, well-maintained skin had begun to flake off, and the searing red energy was drawing the moisture and blood from his body, leaving him increasingly frail.

Knowing he could never survive this strike, the Marquis seized the moment while Chi Liantian was still gathering power and forced out, "I have a top-secret piece of intelligence. Can it buy my life?"