It's You

The next day, Li Xingluo finished refining the medicinal pills required by Yan Yun and informed Liu Yuntian that he intended to leave the Imperial Capital.

Upon hearing this news, Liu Ya exclaimed in surprise, "You're leaving?"

Li Xingluo nodded slightly. "I have troubled you all for these past few days; it is time for me to move on."

Liu Ya seemed to find it difficult to accept that Li Xingluo was leaving, her voice soft and tinged with a hint of reluctance.

"Where are you going?"

Li Xingluo naturally had his own plans, but Liu Ya's expression made him feel somewhat awkward.

Xiao Yi Xian noticed Liu Ya's lingering attachment, her hand tightening slightly as her beautiful eyes dimmed, as if some hidden emotion stirred within her.

Watching Li Xingluo's retreating back, Liu Ya's gaze darkened, a trace of melancholy hanging on her face as she became lost in thought.

Seeing this, Liu Yuntian shook his head and sighed; some things and some people were simply never meant to be one's own.

They had traveled no more than fifty miles outside the city when the black ring emitted a faint red glow, causing Li Xingluo to become instantly alert.

"What is it?" Xiao Yi Xian felt strange seeing Li Xingluo stop in his tracks.

Li Xingluo made a "hush" gesture and pressed his hand lightly against the black ring. Seeing Li Xingluo acting as if facing a formidable enemy, Xiao Yi Xian stood back-to-back with him, scanning their surroundings with equal vigilance.

Almost simultaneously, a low voice drifted toward them: "The vigilance of you two little ones is not bad at all."

In an instant, a figure flashed by, and before they could clearly see him, he stood blocking their path, barely three to five meters away.

"It's you!" Li Xingluo recognized the man blocking their way as the strange elder he had encountered at the market.

The Black-Clad Elder exuded an aura of deathly black mist, as if he were a messenger from the underworld.

"Heh, the little one still remembers this old man. Not bad, not bad."

"Did you come here for that Bronze Fragment?"

Ever since he had purchased the Bronze Fragment—which featured a snake carved on one side and special symbols on the other—at the market, Li Xingluo had studied it, even taking it into the space within the black ring to examine it, yet he had found no answers.

Now that the elder had reappeared, clearly targeting the fragment, Li Xingluo couldn't help but wonder what was so special about this object.

"You are very clever. I like dealing with clever people."

The elder did not hesitate in the slightest, stating bluntly that he had come specifically for the Bronze Fragment.

"I am curious, what secret lies behind that Bronze Fragment? Would the elder be willing to tell me?"

A look of awkwardness appeared at the corner of Xiao Yi Xian's mouth; you aren't actually taking him for a fool, are you?

No one would ever tell you such a thing, yet Li Xingluo seemed unbothered, wearing an expression of genuine anticipation.

Xiao Yi Xian couldn't help but cover her forehead and shake her head; how could this guy's intelligence suddenly go offline?

The elder turned slightly, sweeping a glance at Li Xingluo from the corner of his eye, his expression one of natural disdain.

"Little one, there is no need for you to know. You only need to hand it over. Otherwise..."

A mass of black mist slowly condensed in the elder's palm, forming a small snake that coiled up his arm, reaching his shoulder before suddenly flicking its tongue toward Li Xingluo.

Li Xingluo's brows furrowed slightly, his dark face revealing a streak of resolve.

"Are you threatening me?"

"You may understand it as such."

"And if I refuse to hand it over, what will you do?"

"Die!" The elder spat out the single word with crisp, chilling force, the coldness enveloping the surrounding area.

Li Xingluo clenched his fists slightly. He had paid for the item with his own money, and now this man wanted to take it with a single sentence. Furthermore, judging by the elder's attitude toward the fragment, Li Xingluo was even more convinced that it contained some sort of message.

Li Xingluo whispered a message: "Xiao Yi Xian, I will draw him away in a moment; take the chance to leave."

Xiao Yi Xian naturally refused, grabbing Li Xingluo's sleeve, unwilling to leave and filled with worry.

"Trust me. Keep the map safe, and we will meet at that location. Remember, don't look back. I recall that Xiao Lan should be nearby."

Xiao Yi Xian lowered her beautiful eyes as Li Xingluo patted the back of her hand, signaling her not to worry.

The elder watched the two of them, feeling annoyed that they still had time for such intimate whispering.

"Little one, have you decided? With your ability, you cannot protect that piece of bronze. It would be better to hand it over, and this old man can let you both leave."

"Do you keep your word?"

"Naturally, this old man is, after all..." The elder realized he had almost revealed his identity and immediately shut his mouth, indicating he would not go back on his word.

"How do I know you won't break your promise? How about this: you let her leave first. Once she is safe, I will give you the item."

"Very well!"

Li Xingluo had not expected the other party to answer so crisply and decisively.

From the moment the elder appeared, Li Xingluo had sensed a faint killing intent. Now, holding the fragment, he knew that if the elder dared to take one step closer, he would not hesitate to crush the bronze. The only reason the elder had followed them was likely out of fear of the Aus Auction House; otherwise, he would have likely stormed the auction house to seize it.

Now that they were some distance from the Holy Capital, the elder certainly had the strength to kill and plunder.

Li Xingluo gave Xiao Yi Xian a look of reassurance, trying to comfort her.

"Remember, don't look back. Rest assured, I will arrive as promised."

Xiao Yi Xian turned back, still filled with reluctance, but Li Xingluo remained firm, leaving her no choice but to turn and depart.

Not until Xiao Lan and Xiao Yi Xian streaked across the sky did Xiao Yi Xian call down to Li Xingluo below: "Xingluo, don't forget what you promised me. Do not break your word, or I will never forgive you, even if I have to follow you into the underworld."

As Xiao Yi Xian rode Xiao Lan into the distance, the old man watched, stunned.

His internal calculations were completely ruined, and not a single change in the old man's expression escaped Li Xingluo's eyes.

"Little fellow, I let your little lover go; you should hand over the item to this old man now, shouldn't you?"

The old man approached Li Xingluo, who revealed a wicked, charming smile.

"The item? What item? I don't recall ever promising to give you anything."

"Little thing, you are courting death."

"If you want my life, you'll have to see if you have the ability to take it."

Li Xingluo stowed the Bronze Fragment into his storage ring and assumed a combat stance.

"Very well, little thing, you have successfully enraged this old man. I had intended to spare your life if you handed over the Bronze Fragment, but it seems you are hell-bent on dying."

As the old man spat out these words, he already brought a palm crashing down toward Li Xingluo.

Li Xingluo dodged to the side, simultaneously channeling his Dou Qi to shift his footing in the same direction, widening the distance between himself and the old man.

"Hmph, do you think I would believe your ghost stories? From the moment you appeared, you never intended to let me leave. Don't think I don't know what you're thinking."

Having his inner thoughts laid bare, the old man's expression shifted drastically, and he flew into a rage.

Palm after palm rained down, leaving Li Xingluo's arms feeling somewhat numb from the impact.

"Snake Art!"

Dozens of black snakes flicking their tongues coalesced beneath the old man; with a wave of his hand, the black snakes lunged rapidly toward Li Xingluo.

Snake Art? The Snake-People tribe? No, he isn't a Dou Emperor, let alone a Dou Zong; he cannot achieve true transformation.

While channeling his Dou Qi to swing the Wind Spirit Split-Form Sword in his hand and slaughter the black snakes, Li Xingluo pondered the opponent's identity.

If not the Snake-People, then what? Li Xingluo's eyes suddenly lit up. That's right, the Heavenly Snake Mansion; they are also capable of wielding snake arts.

Could he be from the Heavenly Snake Mansion? Seeing Li Xingluo easily block his attacks, the old man grew furious and drove even more black snakes to launch an assault on Li Xingluo.