Advancing to Legendary Rank

She forced down the nausea rising in her chest and thought of her mother, who had supposedly died in childbirth. Perhaps there had never been a difficult birth at all, only a lie concocted by a living, perverted demon.

"Grandpa, why? Why would you, a Great Sage, be in league with that evil dragon?"

Liphia suppressed everything she felt as she spoke. She had to pretend she knew nothing, that all her companions had died and only she remained.

The Great Sage walked toward Liphia step by step. When he reached her, he raised a hand and stroked her face.

"Silly girl, haven't I told you? I can belong only to my master, and you've already begun to sway my heart."

His hand crept downward, brushing over her tender cheek until it reached her neck.

Then his fingers suddenly tightened around her throat.

Suffocation struck at once. Already in tears, Liphia lost her voice completely when he seized her neck.

She grabbed the Great Sage's arm and struggled with all her strength to pry his hand away.

Tears filled her eyes as she looked straight into his, crying all the while.

The Great Sage, that sick pervert who wanted his own granddaughter, saw Liphia's eyes, and his twisted desire surged again.

While he struggled to suppress it and bring himself to strangle her, Chen Cheng, who had been hiding underground, finally found his chance.

The Saber Intent at Liphia's brow sensed that her life was in danger and activated at once.

The distance was too close. Saber Intent was a thought to begin with, and the Great Sage's mind had wavered for an instant. The strike landed squarely on his mind.

As his concentration broke, Chen Cheng and the other two seized their opening and attacked.

The moment the wounded