The White-robed Woman's Gaze

The night wind swept across the wreckage-strewn battlefield, carrying with it a thick stench of blood.

Chen Chen knelt on one knee, his chest heaving violently. The weakness within him clung like gangrene to the bone, leaving him without even the strength to stand.

His gaze was locked firmly on the three figures not far away, his guard raised to the utmost.

The White-robed Woman, and the two Sixth Level of Body Tempering elders behind her, whose auras were as steady as mountains.

When had they arrived?

How much had they seen?

Chen Chen had expected that the astonishing energy fluctuations from his life-and-death battle with Wang Zhan would draw onlookers.

But he had never imagined that those who came would be the very people he least wanted to provoke!

The Qi Condensation Realm!

A terrifying existence whose mere glance could make him feel as though he had fallen into an ice pit!

He was severely wounded now, with his vitality and blood nearly exhausted. Forget resisting—one thought from them would probably be enough to reduce him to ashes.

Chen Chen's heart sank to the bottom.

He clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms. He used the pain to stay awake while his mind frantically searched for a way out.

Yet before an absolute disparity in strength, every scheme seemed pale and laughable.

The mountains and forest were deathly silent.

The White-robed Woman did not move or speak. She merely watched him quietly with those cold eyes behind her veil.

There was not a trace of emotion in that gaze—no surprise, no curiosity, no killing intent. It was as though she were looking at a stubborn rock by the roadside.

Yet the more she acted this way, the more Chen Chen's scalp prickled.

The unknown was the most terrifying thing of all.

Time passed, second by second.

To Chen Chen, every second was like dancing on a blade, so long it felt like a century.

Finally, just as Chen Chen's taut nerves were about to snap, the Grey-robed Elder behind the White-robed Woman stepped forward and spoke in a hoarse voice.

"Miss, this boy... appears to cultivate a demonic art. His aura is strange and sinister, and his nature is ruthless. At such a young age, he already possesses such murderousness. If allowed to grow, he will surely become a demon lord one day and bring calamity upon the people. Why not..."

The Grey-robed Elder made a slashing gesture across his throat, killing intent blazing in his eyes.

Chen Chen's heart instantly leapt into his throat!

However, the White-robed Woman merely raised her hand slightly, stopping the Grey-robed Elder.

At last, a faint ripple appeared in her cold gaze.

She was not looking at Chen Chen's face, nor at the wounds on his body, but at the faint blood-colored Sha Qi still lingering around him.

"Asura God Transformation Art..."

Her vermilion lips parted slightly, uttering five words that struck Chen Chen like a thunderbolt.

Her voice was still cool and clear as spring water, yet it was like a clap of thunder exploding through Chen Chen's mind!

She... she actually recognized this cultivation art!

How was that possible?!

He had obtained this art from the cave dwelling of an ancient cultivator that had been sealed away for who knew how many years. It had even been optimized by the system—how could anyone possibly recognize it?

Could this woman be connected to the former owner of that cave dwelling?

Countless questions churned within Chen Chen's heart.

"It can be considered a stroke of fortune."

The White-robed Woman seemed to have no intention of investigating further. She merely spoke indifferently, then abruptly changed the subject. "Unfortunately, your foundation is too poor, your slaughter too heavy, and Sha Qi has seeped into your heart meridians. Without some heaven-defying opportunity to set things right, within ten years you will certainly suffer a backlash from the art and become a walking corpse that knows only slaughter."

Her voice was not loud, yet every word reached Chen Chen's ears clearly.

Chen Chen's heart jolted.

He knew that she was probably telling the truth.

Though the Asura God Transformation Art was tyrannical, its backlash was equally terrifying. If not for the God of Slaughter System, which could convert energy, his mind would likely have been crushed by that slaughterous resentment on the very first day of cultivation.

Even so, this art had indeed influenced his temperament little by little.

He had become colder and more bloodthirsty.

"But that has nothing to do with me."

The White-robed Woman withdrew her gaze, her tone returning to its earlier indifference.

She turned around, seeming ready to leave.

"Miss!"

The black-robed elder could not help but speak. "Wang Teng of the Wang Family is an outer sect steward of the Azure Cloud Sect and has some ties with us. This boy killed Wang Zhan, and Wang Teng certainly will not let the matter rest. If we leave just like this and Wang Teng learns of it, I fear..."

"Wang Teng?"

The White-robed Woman paused, a barely perceptible contempt in her voice.

"He is merely an outer sect steward. Is he worthy of speaking of ties with me?"

"Must I explain what I do to him?"

Her words immediately silenced the two elders. A fine layer of cold sweat appeared on their foreheads as they hurriedly bowed. "Yes, Miss is right. This old servant spoke out of turn."

The White-robed Woman paid them no further attention. With lotus-like steps, she was about to enter the depths of the forest.

Yet just as she was about to vanish from Chen Chen's sight, her voice drifted back once more.

"The Wang Family of Qingyang City has dealings with the Blood Fiend Tower and has brought calamity upon the region. They deserve to die."

"You did well."

"Take this token. Three months from now, if you are still alive and can personally destroy the Wang Family, bring this token to Heavenly Sword Peak and find me."

As her words fell, an Ice-blue Token, entirely ice-blue and engraved with an ancient little sword, traced a graceful arc through the air and landed with flawless precision before Chen Chen.

Meanwhile, the three figures had already vanished completely into the night after several flashes.

Chen Chen was left kneeling there blankly, staring at the Ice-blue Token before him that emanated wisps of chill, unable to recover his senses for a long while.

Heavenly Sword Peak...

Who exactly was she?

Why had she helped him?

And what kind of organization was the Blood Fiend Tower?

One mystery after another shrouded Chen Chen's heart.

But he knew clearly that he had just walked past the gates of hell once again.

He picked up the Ice-blue Token. It felt icy cold in his hand, and a stream of pure energy entered his body through his palm, restoring a trace of his nearly depleted vitality and blood.

"Good stuff!"

Chen Chen's eyes lit up.

He did not dwell on it any longer and tucked the token away close to his body.

His most urgent task was to recover his strength as quickly as possible, then... take stock of this time's gains!

He struggled to his feet and walked over to Wang Zhan's corpse, which had been split in two. His eyes turned fiery.

The entire fortune of a peak Ninth Level of Body Tempering expert, along with the system's extravagantly generous mission reward...

This time, he was truly going to soar into the skies!