Everyone's heart leaped into their throat. They even forgot to breathe as the Purple Lightning Thunderbolt in their sight descended toward the motionless Emma Swei at an unbelievably slow speed.
Get out of the way!
The single young men, and even several who had brought partners, cried this out in their hearts. The urgency of those silent cries betrayed their affection for Emma Swei, flowing out so naturally at this critical moment, even if only they themselves knew it.
Just as the Purple Lightning Thunderbolt was about to touch Emma Swei, barely an inch from the tip of her nose, and the violent purity of its energy had already shaken her until she could hardly stand steady, an invisible force swallowed the lightning. It stopped abruptly, then vanished in an instant.
Even Xia Bojin failed to sense how that lightning had disappeared. He knew only that Duke Jerry, who had been watching from the side, had done it, because he had felt a resonance from elemental power of the same kind.
The elemental mark on his forehead receded, and the violet light faded. Once his body returned to normal, he hurriedly lowered his head and apologized to Emma Swei. "Miss Emma Swei, please forgive my recklessness."
She recovered and waved a hand as though unconcerned. Her face had not paled, but her voice lacked its earlier confidence. "It's all right. This was an elemental contest, after all."
Only after she finished speaking did Xia Bojin raise his head. From the corner of his eye, he glanced at Duke Jerry as he approached. He saw none of the displeasure he had expected on the duke's face. Instead, there was only unmistakable gratification.
"Whew..." Only then did he relax. He thought that if he had truly injured the duke's daughter just to