"A... toad?"
Xu Chengling's cry of "toad" surprised not only Liu Qingyu ahead of them, but even Liang Zhu at his side.
She asked quietly through voice transmission:
"You... don't know Liu Qingyu?"
Xu Chengling answered quite frankly:
"No."
He immediately added:
"Ever since Grand-Uncle returned from the Heaven-Treading Contest, I've been training throughout the Chaos Death Domain."
Understanding dawned on Liang Zhu's face.
"So that's why."
After scrutinizing Xu Chengling for a long while, Liu Qingyu suddenly said coldly:
"This is a private matter between Sister Liang Zhu and me. What right does an outsider like you have to interfere?"
With a clang, Xu Chengling summoned his Life-Bound Flying Sword, then said solemnly:
"You can ask the sword in my hand whether I have that right."
Hearing this, Liu Qingyu said nothing more. He abruptly flung both arms downward, snapping his sleeves.
Boom...!
Amid an ear-splitting rush of air, Liu Qingyu's aura suddenly surged out like a roaring tide.
At the center of that surging aura, Liu Qingyu shone like a great sun, dazzling to behold.
Entirely unafraid, Xu Chengling was about to release the restrictions on his aura, but before he could, Liang Zhu suddenly caught his arm.
Under Xu Chengling's puzzled gaze, Liang Zhu took his hand and looked solemnly at Liu Qingyu.
"Liu Qingyu, he is the Dao Companion I've chosen. Stop pestering me."
Liu Qingyu abruptly trembled at her words.
When he saw Liang Zhu's fingers interlaced with Xu Chengling's, his expression gradually darkened.
His gaze toward Xu Chengling was also filled with hostility.
Feeling the warmth of Liang Zhu's palm, Xu Chengling first froze, then sent her a voice transmission as understanding dawned on his face:
"So, Sister Liang Zhu, you wanted me to pretend to be your Dao Companion so Liu Qingyu would