The Peeping Onlooker

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

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

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

"When we go back this time, stop studying all that conventional stuff with those half-baked elders in the sect!"

"Stay with this old man! I'll personally teach you for three months!"

"For those three months, I'll teach you everything I have hidden away—anything useful, all of it!"

"After three months, wherever you want to go and whatever you want to do, this old man won't interfere again!"

"But during these three months, you must put every ounce of effort into learning!"

Seeing Old Man Gu look as though he had found a priceless treasure, Long Zhanye actually felt as if he had become someone "chosen by the gods," leaving him both amused and helpless.

But he had already witnessed just the tip of the iceberg of Old Man Gu's knowledge and methods. If Old Man Gu were willing to teach him everything, it would undoubtedly benefit him immensely.

He did not hesitate and nodded. "All right, Elder Gu. Learning from anyone is still learning. I couldn't ask for more than to learn more from you."

"Haha! Now that's more like it!" Old Man Gu stroked his beard in satisfaction, his mood greatly improved.

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

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

Zhua Yun, who had remained silent and vigilant all this time, suddenly frowned tightly.

His expression turned somewhat grim as he lowered his voice and spoke solemnly.

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

"What?!" The smile vanished from Old Man Gu's face instantly, replaced by grave seriousness and a trace 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, "Very far away, at least a thousand meters. They were well concealed, and their aura was nearly fused with the surroundings."

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

"I probably wouldn't have noticed them either. Their cultivation... if my senses weren't mistaken, they should be a Spirit King, or close to a Soul Emperor."

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

"Our Body Sect's successive sect masters and forebears have all warned us:"

"Soul skills, especially unique secret techniques and powerful trump cards, must never be displayed lightly before others!"

"Because every use means giving potential enemies another chance to become familiar with them!"

"Only at a life-or-death moment, or when it can serve as the decisive blow, should one reveal one's true killing move!"

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

He suddenly 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 dark likely already saw the brat's Fifth Soul Skill and may even have gleaned some of the domain's traits!"

"This ability is far too unique 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 fierce Killing Intent abruptly rose from Old Man Gu's seemingly hunched body.

There was no longer any trace of his earlier excitement or kindness in his eyes, only cold resolve.

"Kill her!"

"We absolutely cannot leave behind this future threat!"

"Zhua Yun, find her immediately and clean this up!!"

Zhua Yun nodded without hesitation. "Yes, Master! I'll go at once!"

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 the watcher saw my soul skill... then I should be the one to deal with it."

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

"Since it has already been revealed and may bring hidden danger, then the responsibility for eliminating that danger should fall to me, the person involved."

"Besides, I want to test something too... just how strong I am in actual combat."

Before his words had even faded.

Long Zhanye's Double Pupil opened slightly, gray light flowing through them as he instantly locked onto the rough direction Zhua Yun had indicated.

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

"Over there!"

He shouted softly, and Soul Power erupted beneath his feet.

His body instantly transformed into a blurry afterimage, shooting toward the suspicious area deep within the forest!

His speed far surpassed that of an ordinary Spirit King, even faintly carrying the bearing of a Soul Emperor!

As Old Man Gu and Zhua Yun watched his decisive retreating figure, 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 sooner or later."

"Still... I hope that watcher is only an ordinary Spirit King."

However.

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

What entered his sight was not the sneaky, repulsive watcher 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 looked around eighteen or nineteen and had smooth golden hair falling in large waves.

Beneath her side-swept 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 the bridge of her nose, adding a touch of refinement and scholarly elegance.

Her attire was quite androgynous and fashionable: she wore a dark beret and a slightly loose pure white shirt.

Its collar was partly open and its sleeves rolled up, giving her a casual yet capable appearance.

She wore fitted black trousers below, along with a pair of black leather ankle boots.

A small brown leather bag was slung diagonally across her waist.

The overall lines were sleek, outlining her slender and well-proportioned figure perfectly.

She casually leaned beneath a tree, utterly composed, as though she had merely stopped there to rest during a stroll through the woods.

Whether walking or simply standing still, she carried a dashing air and a distinctive sense of style.

Her temperament blended the approachability of a girl next door with an elevated, elusive poise that made her unforgettable at a glance.

Seeing Long Zhanye charge at her brimming 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 by chance.