But by now, she was powerless to do anything.
There was nothing she could do.
She was simply too young.
She couldn't cast Jade Screen twice in quick succession.
Ningguang's face was deathly pale, her spirits utterly crushed.
All she could do was watch the Ancient Rock Dragon Lizard gather energy for its most powerful attack, unable to do a thing.
The feeling was utterly hopeless.
With a furious roar from the Ancient Rock Dragon Lizard, a blue laser shot straight down toward the crowd.
It carved across the ground, leaving behind a bottomless-looking ravine.
The laser sliced through a mountain along its path, splitting it in two.
Then it shot straight toward the crowd.
In that instant, Ningguang wasn't afraid. Instead, she was unexpectedly calm.
Her mind raced like scenes from a play, flashing past countless people and things.
In the end, the images settled on Brother Fang Xun.
Brother Fang Xun looked at her fondly and gently ruffled her little head.
Whenever Brother Fang Xun ruffled her hair, the little girl would pout in protest.
He always messed up the braids she'd worked so hard to do.
But now that she thought about it, having Brother Fang Xun ruffle her hair was actually pretty nice.
Little Ningguang kind of liked it.
If only Brother Fang Xun could ruffle her hair one more time right now...
Come to think of it,
Little Ningguang had been so worried about her mother and the villagers that she hadn't even had time to think about Fang Xun.
She wondered where Brother Fang Xun was now...
Little Ningguang hoped he'd already retreated when he saw how things were going.
The farther away, the better.
The Ancient Rock Dragon Lizard was simply too powerful.
It wasn't something an ordinary person could deal with.
It would take the Liyue Qixing, or even the adepti, to defeat it.
Brother Fang Xun would only get caught up in the danger if he stayed here.
Before she knew it,
tears had gathered on Little Ningguang's long eyelashes.
"If there's a next life, I hope I get to meet Brother Fang Xun again."
"Then I'll be the one to take care of Brother Fang Xun."
Ningguang closed her eyes in despair,
quietly awaiting her fate.
"Little girl, this life isn't even over yet. Why are you thinking about the next one?"
Just then,
a familiar voice sounded beside Ningguang's ear.
It was Fang Xun!
At some point, Fang Xun had appeared beside her.
"Brother Fang Xun, what are you doing here?"
Little Ningguang opened her eyes, startled.
Then her tears began to fall, one after another.
"I'm sorry, Brother Fang Xun. I got you caught up in this. I'm really sorry."
The little girl was overwhelmed with guilt, sobbing uncontrollably.
If it weren't for her, Fang Xun wouldn't have gotten dragged into this.
And now, he was going to die right along with her.
Fang Xun gently wiped away Ningguang's tears, then spoke softly. "Silly girl, what do you mean, you got me caught up in this?"
"You call me your big brother. How could I ever think you were a burden?"
"Enough. That Ancient Rock Dragon Lizard is getting in the way. I'll take care of it first, then we can talk."
Fang Xun reached out and pinched Ningguang's cheek.
His tone was casual; he didn't seem under the slightest pressure.
Ningguang blinked, finding it hard to believe.
Brother Fang Xun was going to take on the Ancient Rock Dragon Lizard?
The next second,
Ningguang saw Fang Xun cross his arms in front of his chest. As he uncrossed them, a stone stele burst from the earth.
At the same time, a Jade Shield appeared around him.
As the Ancient Rock Dragon Lizard's Geo-spitting attack bore down on him, Fang Xun remained calm.
He stood alone against the attack and walked steadily toward the Ancient Rock Dragon Lizard.
The Jade Shield around him didn't dim under the Geo-spitting attack. Instead, it glowed even brighter.
Fang Xun walked slowly, as though strolling through a courtyard.
Everyone present was stunned by the sight.
This foreigner in such unusual clothes had blocked the Ancient Rock Dragon Lizard's Geo-spitting attack all by himself!
The sight of his back filled them with a deep sense of security!
Amid their shock, the blacksmith remembered Fang Xun saying he'd take care of the Ancient Rock Dragon Lizard and immediately shook his head again and again.
"No, that won't work. The Ancient Rock Dragon Lizard's hide is thick as armor. Ordinary weapons can't even scratch it. You'd need a peerless weapon to have any chance of hurting it!"
The blacksmith hadn't even finished speaking.
Even a peerless weapon would only wound the Ancient Rock Dragon Lizard.
Killing it was impossible.
He didn't dare say that part aloud, afraid it would crush everyone's morale.
Little Ningguang's heart tightened as she gazed anxiously at Fang Xun's back.
"I know the Ancient Rock Dragon Lizard isn't something just anyone can fight,"
"but I believe in Brother Fang Xun..."
"If it's Brother Fang Xun, then he can definitely do it!"
Ningguang was unwavering in her belief.
Fang Xun naturally heard her words from up ahead.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
Without realizing it, Little Ningguang seemed to have become his little fan?
In that case, he'd better wrap this up quickly.
Just then, Fang Xun noticed an ordinary spear lying on the ground.
He hadn't drawn any powerful weapons so far, so he'd have to make do with this one.
The weapon might be mediocre, but it would do.
It was more than enough to deal with an Ancient Rock Dragon Lizard.
Fang Xun picked up the spear and closed his eyes.
When he opened them again, his eyes looked like golden lava, slowly flowing.
Their rich glow shone brightly even in the darkness.
At the same time, the spear in Fang Xun's hand burst into blazing flames with a whoosh.
The flames surged skyward like a soaring dragon.
The Ancient Rock Dragon Lizard sensed a terrifying aura coming from the human before it.
It roared furiously and leaped high into the air,
intending to crush Fang Xun with its hard forelimbs.
But Fang Xun didn't so much as flinch in the face of the Ancient Rock Dragon Lizard's attack.
The next second, Fang Xun swung his spear, tracing a sharp arc through the air.
The flames on the spear rose into the sky like a long dragon.
Even the air crackled as it burned.
Eat well, drink well, and have a nice trip!
Five-star skill: Mystic Aegis!
Although the mediocre weapon couldn't unleash the full power of Mystic Aegis,
it was more than enough to deal with the Ancient Rock Dragon Lizard.
With a single swing of his spear, the Ancient Rock Dragon Lizard turned to ash and scattered on the wind.
Before you continue