The Peeping Observer

"Good! Good! Excellent!" Old Man Gu said "good" three times in a row.

He rubbed his hands excitedly, his eyes gleaming. "Heaven blesses our Body Sect! Heaven blesses our Body Sect! Hahaha!"

He slapped his thigh and made his decision. "Kid!"

"When we get back this time, stop learning those conventional things from those half-baked elders in the sect!"

"Stay here with me! I'll personally teach you for three months!"

"For these three months, I'll teach you every useful thing I've kept hidden away!"

"After three months, wherever you want to go and whatever you want to do, I won't interfere anymore!"

"But during these three months, you must put your whole heart into learning from me!"

Seeing Old Man Gu's excited expression, as though he had found a priceless treasure, Long Zhanye actually felt as if he had become someone chosen by the gods. He did not know whether to laugh or cry.

However, he had already seen a small glimpse of Old Man Gu's knowledge and methods. If the old man was willing to teach him everything, it would undoubtedly benefit him enormously.

Without hesitation, he nodded. "Alright, Elder Gu. Learning is learning, no matter who I learn from. I couldn't ask for more than to learn more from you."

"Haha! That's more like it!" Old Man Gu stroked his beard in satisfaction, in an excellent mood.

"Let's go! This isn't a place to linger. We'll return to the sect first!"

Just as the three of them composed themselves and prepared to leave.

Zhua Yun, who had remained silent and vigilant all this time, suddenly furrowed his brows.

His expression turned somewhat ugly. Lowering his voice, he said solemnly:

"Master... just now... I think I sensed someone spying on us from afar? It was when Junior Brother displayed his Fifth Soul Skill!"

"What?!" The smile on Old Man Gu's face vanished instantly, replaced by immense gravity and a hint of chill.

"Who was it? What was their cultivation? How far away were they?"

Zhua Yun carefully recalled what he had sensed and said in a low voice, "They were very far away, at least a thousand meters. They hid themselves well, and their aura was almost completely fused with the surroundings."

"If Junior Brother's domain hadn't stirred the ambient natural energy when it unfolded, allowing me to catch an extremely faint ripple of Soul Power..."

"I probably wouldn't have noticed either. As for their cultivation... if I didn't sense wrongly, they should be a Spirit King, or close to a Soul Emperor."

"A Spirit King... a thousand meters away... spying..." Old Man Gu's face darkened, cold light flickering in his eyes.

"The sect masters and sages of our Body Sect throughout the generations have all warned us:"

"Soul Skills, especially exclusive techniques and powerful trump cards, must never be displayed lightly before others!"

"Because every use means becoming more familiar to potential enemies!"

"Only at the moment of life and death, or when it can serve as the decisive blow, may one reveal their true trump card!"

"Keep your abilities as secretive and unexpected as possible!"

He abruptly looked toward the area where Long Zhanye had just unleashed his Soul Skill, his voice icy enough to pierce bone. "And now..."

"That Spirit King hiding in the shadows may have already seen the brat's Fifth Soul Skill, and may even have glimpsed some of the domain's properties!"

"This ability is far too special and powerful. If someone with ulterior motives remembers it, analyzes it, or even spreads word of it..."

"If they become enemies in the future, it will bring immeasurable trouble and danger!"

A frigid Killing Intent abruptly surged from Old Man Gu's seemingly hunched body.

The excitement and kindness in his eyes were gone, leaving only cold determination.

"Kill her!"

"We absolutely cannot leave behind this future threat!"

"Zhua Yun, find her immediately and deal with her cleanly!!"

Zhua Yun nodded without hesitation. "Yes, Master! I'm going now!"

However.

Just as Zhua Yun was about to move, Long Zhanye stepped forward and blocked his path.

"Senior Brother, wait." Long Zhanye's voice was calm.

"Since this began because of me, and this spy saw my Soul Skill... then I should be the one to handle it."

He turned to Old Man Gu, his gaze sharp. "Elder Gu, you're right. Abilities shouldn't be shown lightly."

"Since it has already been shown and may bring hidden danger, then the responsibility of eliminating that danger should be borne by me, the person involved."

"Besides, I also want to see... just how strong I really am in actual combat."

Before his words had faded.

Long Zhanye's Double Pupil opened slightly, gray light flowing within them as he instantly locked onto the approximate direction Zhua Yun had pointed out.

He relied solely on the visual insight and energy perception far beyond ordinary people that came from the fusion of his Double Pupil!

"There!"

He gave a low shout, and Soul Power exploded beneath his feet.

His figure instantly became a blurred afterimage as he shot toward the suspicious area deep within the forest!

He was far faster than an ordinary Spirit King, even carrying the faint bearing of a Soul Emperor!

As Old Man Gu and Zhua Yun watched his decisive retreating figure, a trace of surprise flashed through both their eyes before turning into tacit approval.

Old Man Gu muttered, "Fine... let him handle it himself. Whether he's a dragon or a worm, he'll have to see blood and sharpen his claws eventually."

"I only hope... that spy is merely an ordinary Spirit King."

However.

When Long Zhanye rushed into that suspicious area and pushed aside the dense shrubbery.

What entered his sight was not the sneaky, loathsome spy he had expected.

Instead, it was a strikingly beautiful figure completely out of place in this forest.

She was a young woman of exceptional beauty and distinctive temperament.

She appeared to be around eighteen or nineteen, with a head of smooth golden hair falling in large waves.

Beneath her slanted bangs were a pair of bright, lively eyes, clear as autumn water and carrying an air of intelligence and alertness.

A pair of delicate gold-rimmed glasses rested on her nose, adding a touch of refinement and scholarly elegance.

Her outfit was neutral and fashionable: a dark beret on her head and a slightly loose, pure white shirt on her upper body.

Her collar was slightly open and her sleeves rolled up, making her look casual yet capable.

She wore fitted black trousers below, paired with black leather ankle boots.

A small brown leather backpack hung diagonally from her waist.

The smooth lines of her attire outlined her slender, well-proportioned figure perfectly.

She leaned casually against a tree, utterly composed, as though she had merely stopped here to rest during a stroll through the forest.

Whether walking or simply standing there, she carried a brisk, heroic air and a unique sense of style.

Her temperament blended the approachability of a girl next door with an elevated, elusive charm, making her unforgettable at first sight.

Seeing Long Zhanye charge toward her with Killing Intent, she did not panic or hide. Instead, a friendly smile appeared on her face.

She took the initiative to greet him, her voice crisp and pleasant. "Hi, hello. My name is Ye Guyi. It's nice to meet you."

Her tone was natural, as though she had merely run into a fellow traveler on the road.