Exposure

The two quickly found an inn. As soon as they entered, a lively atmosphere washed over them.

Liu Yucheng nodded in satisfaction, but Xiao Yuxian, standing beside him, was clearly displeased, frowning and pursing her lips.

As the eldest daughter of the Qingcheng Sect, Xiao Yuxian had always frequented elegant places and met refined, well-mannered individuals.

These past few days, however, Xiao Yuxian felt as though she had fallen from heaven into hell. Looking at the jianghu figures before her, who spoke with crude language and behaved indecently, Xiao Yuxian suddenly felt very angry.

"Senior Brother, why don't we just leave?"

Liu Yucheng was momentarily taken aback and replied foolishly, "Why should we leave? Isn't it nice here?"

Xiao Yuxian's face immediately darkened. "Senior Brother, are you opposing me? Do you think I'm wrong?"

Liu Yucheng's head felt twice its normal size. Dealing with Xiao Yuxian, even as an Innate Martial Artist, left him somewhat helpless.

So, he could only beg for mercy, "Junior Sister, don't be angry. Senior Brother was wrong. We'll leave, we'll leave right now, immediately!"

A seasoned old simp, that was Liu Yucheng.

Seeing Liu Yucheng like this, Xiao Yuxian's mood calmed slightly. If Liu Yucheng had dared to retort even once, he would have faced endless fury and thunderous rage.

Just as Xiao Yuxian was about to leave with Liu Yucheng, several men in tight-fitting clothes entered through the doorway. If there were any Martial Artists from Nine Lions City present, they would have recognized these men as belonging to the Thirteen Protectors.

The leader was Ding Zhen, one of the Thirteen Protectors, an Innate fifth-layer Martial Artist!

Liu Yucheng's pupils constricted, clearly sensing the terrifying aura emanating from Ding Zhen.

He was only at the Innate second layer and was no match for Ding Zhen, who was at the Innate fifth layer.

So, Liu Yucheng lowered his head, minimizing his presence as much as possible.

As the two passed by, Ding Zhen suddenly stopped and said, "Hmm, it smells so good!"

He then turned around and discovered the graceful Xiao Yuxian. His expression immediately lit up, and he exclaimed, "Hahaha, I didn't expect to find such a beauty in this godforsaken place. Heaven truly favors me!"

"Stop right there, little beauty. Don't be in such a hurry to leave. Keep this old man company!" Ding Zhen shouted arrogantly.

In Nine Lions City, the Thirteen Protectors were synonymous with top-tier power. Therefore, Ding Zhen, as one of them, had always been accustomed to acting arrogantly.

Ding Zhen's words reached Xiao Yuxian's ears, instantly enraging her.

"Are you calling me?"

Liu Yucheng's face contorted in bitterness, and he inwardly cursed his bad luck.

Things were clearly developing in the direction he least wanted, yet he was powerless to stop it.

"Nonsense, who else would I be calling? Don't just stand there, come and keep this old man company for some food and drinks!" Ding Zhen said as if it were only natural.

Xiao Yuxian's chest heaved with anger, and she drew her sword, intending to kill Ding Zhen.

"Shameless scoundrel, die!"

The sword was good, and the momentum was strong, but Xiao Yuxian's own strength was too lacking. Despite enjoying the best resources of the Qingcheng Sect, she was only at the Viscera Tempering stage at nearly thirty years old!

So, could Xiao Yuxian, at the Viscera Tempering level, harm Ding Zhen, an Innate fifth-layer expert? It was clearly impossible.

Ding Zhen used only two fingers to firmly clamp Xiao Yuxian's treasured sword.

He said without a hint of displeasure, "Not bad, not bad. Such a fiery temper, such a spirited personality. I like it!"

With that, he reached out to pull Xiao Yuxian into his embrace.

Xiao Yuxian's face turned ashen with shock, but she was powerless to resist. Her Senior Brother Liu Yucheng, standing by, sighed and stepped forward to block Ding Zhen.

"Junior Sister, we're in a bit of trouble this time. You should leave quickly. I'll hold these guys off!"

Liu Yucheng stood resolutely in front of Xiao Yuxian, looking sternly at the smiling Ding Zhen.

"Oh, oh, oh, so you're Senior Brother and Junior Sister. But with your Innate second-layer strength, you dare to boast and block me? Truly seeking death!"

Saying that, a powerful aura of the Innate mid-stage pressed down directly on Liu Yucheng.

Searching for the book title did not yield results. You can try searching for the author. Perhaps the title has been changed!

Seeing the situation turn dire, the people in the inn began to slip away.

Xiao Yuxian glanced at Liu Yucheng, whose face had turned a little pale, and said indifferently, "Senior Brother, can you handle it?"

Her tone was somewhat doubtful, but to the devoted Liu Yucheng, it sounded like his Junior Sister's strong concern for him.

"Yes, of course, I can. Junior Sister, you go first. I'm afraid I won't be able to look out for you if a fight breaks out!" Liu Yucheng's face flushed red with excitement, and his true qi circulated rapidly.

"Alright then, Senior Brother, I'll wait for you ahead!" Xiao Yuxian no longer hesitated and ran off.

Liu Yucheng, on the other hand, charged towards Ding Zhen and the others as if he had been injected with chicken blood.

"Foolish fellow, since that's the case, I'll send you on your way!" Ding Zhen grinned ferociously.

His true qi surged out, fully displaying his Innate fifth-layer strength.

As for Liu Yucheng, a true disciple of the Qingcheng Sect, although his realm was only Innate second-layer, the Beast King Art he cultivated was a Martial Art that could be cultivated to the Innate peak.

Furthermore, the characteristic of the Beast King Art was its fierce combat power, making him invincible among those of the same level.

Liu Yucheng seemed to transform into the king of a hundred beasts, each move filled with a desperate, life-or-death intent.

Relying on the Beast King Art, Liu Yucheng was actually able to briefly contend with Ding Zhen. It had to be said, this cultivation method was indeed quite remarkable.

"Good kid, you're quite something. Looks like you're a big fish after all! This Cultivation Method, it can't be wrong. You're a remnant of the Qingcheng Sect!"

"I've heard of the Qingcheng Sect's 'One Dragon, One Tiger' for a long time. It seems you've cultivated the 'Tiger'! Hahaha!"

Ding Zhen, worthy of being one of the Thirteen Protectors, had broad knowledge and immediately recognized Liu Yucheng's origins.

As Ding Zhen changed his tactics, Liu Yucheng suddenly found himself in an awkward position. His lower realm meant his true qi was far inferior to Ding Zhen's in both quantity and quality.

If it came down to a prolonged fight, he would inevitably lose.

Thus, Liu Yucheng decided to go for one last gamble.

"You scoundrel, take your life!" Liu Yucheng outwardly attacked with all his might, but secretly he had already found an escape route.

He seized the opportunity when Ding Zhen retreated, immediately changed his move, and used a movement technique. With a few leaps, he was gone!

Ding Zhen only reacted then and hurriedly gave chase.

However, as a true disciple of the Qingcheng Sect, Liu Yucheng's movement technique was by no means ordinary. He easily left Ding Zhen behind.

In less than the time it takes for a cup of tea to steep, Liu Yucheng had completely escaped!

But news of him and Xiao Yuxian spread back to Nine Lions City. Numerous powerful factions in Nine Lions City dispatched large numbers of people to search for the pair.

Liu Yucheng and Xiao Yuxian instantly became like rats crossing the street, with everyone wanting to kill them. Helpless, the two could only hide outside the city.

In a secluded wooden house within the territory of the Black Wind Bandits, a figure was cultivating with all their might, circulating their Cultivation Method. Waves of potent true qi erupted, giving the distinct impression of a fierce tiger condensing!

After a long while, the seemingly tangible true qi finally broke through the last barrier. The previously somewhat sluggish true qi suddenly became much more agile. Streams of black airflow continuously condensed, finally transforming into a small, fierce tiger.

Faintly, one could even hear the roar of this little fierce tiger!

Exhaling a mouthful of turbid air, Shen Fan finally opened his eyes, a smile on his face.

"Finally broke through. The Black Tiger Fiend is indeed quite good, much stronger than the Cold Shadow Art!"

Just now, Shen Fan had cultivated the Black Tiger Fiend to the Great Accomplishment realm, breaking through to the eighth level of Innate. With a little more refinement, he could reach the ninth level of Innate!

At this moment, opening his Attribute Panel, a hint of joy appeared on Shen Fan's face.

Host: Shen Fan
Aptitude: 34 (Rare in a century)
Physique: Ice Spirit Body
Lifespan: 480
Martial Arts: Black Tiger Fiend (Great Accomplishment), Spirit Ape Transformation (Great Accomplishment), Cold Shadow Art (Great Accomplishment), Savage Bull Fist (Great Accomplishment), True Combined Strength (Great Accomplishment), Three Yuan Art (Great Accomplishment), Ape Strike Technique (Great Accomplishment), Thousand Mechanisms Hand (Great Accomplishment), Iron Shirt (Great Accomplishment), Startling Swan Art (Great Accomplishment), Great River True Scripture (Great Accomplishment), Sea Wave Fist (Great Accomplishment), Evergreen Cultivation Method (Beginner)...
Realm: Innate Layer 8