A Deal

Boom!

Runes collided in the void, erupting with blinding radiance. Terrifying waves spread outward, sweeping in all directions and destroying everything around them.

In the distance, everyone watched in horror. Just one clash had been so terrifying. It was one thing for Bear Child to have opened his tenth heavenly grotto, but that purple-robed girl had not fallen behind in the slightest. Could she be another prodigy who had opened a tenth heavenly grotto?

The runes dispersed. Yun Ying and Bear Child stood opposite each other, their gazes locked.

"Vicious beast, again!"

Bear Child charged forward again, brimming with excitement. That exchange had confirmed that his opponent had also opened her tenth heavenly grotto. Meeting an opponent like her filled him with delight.

A fierce battle erupted. Bear Child howled, his body pouring forth radiant light. Every movement, every attack carried unparalleled might, capable of sweeping aside everything and shaking heaven and earth.

Facing Bear Child's frenzied assault, Yun Ying remained calm and composed, unshakable. Her purple robes rippled gently as her slender, jade-like fingers traced through the void, sharpness flowing from them to destroy everything.

In the distance, experts from the various sects watched in horror. It was as though two deities were battling, making heaven and earth tremble as if they might explode at any moment.

With a thunderous rumble, a purple suanni charged out from behind Bear Child and pounced on Yun Ying. Enormous bolts of lightning descended, blanketing the sky with astonishing power.

Yun Ying brushed her jade-like hand through the void. Transparent sword qi emerged, as clear and lustrous as crystal, cleaving heaven and earth and cutting the purple suanni in two. It exploded in midair.

A figure burst out of the boundless lightning, bringing a foot down toward Yun Ying like a falling divine mountain.

Yun Ying stepped lightly aside, evading the kick while striking a palm toward Bear Child's flank.

With a bang, Bear Child reacted swiftly and blocked her palm, but the impact still sent him flying.

"Shall we stop here?"

Yun Ying did not pursue him. She stood where she was and spoke softly.

"We're not done yet! Again!"

Bear Child refused and charged like a little tyrannosaur. Golden light blazed from his entire body, as though he had transformed into a golden peng. With a beat of his wings, golden sword-feathers filled the sky, whipping up fierce gales as they swept toward Yun Ying.

"This is... a Golden-Winged Roc? No, a kunpeng?"

A flicker of surprise appeared in Yun Ying's eyes. Her opponent was manifesting the Kunpeng Method. Though he had only scratched its surface, it was still astonishing.

As she considered this, Yun Ying pointed a finger forward. Ripples spread through the void, strands of sword qi springing into existence and blossoming out of thin air like opening flower buds.

Boom!

An explosion rang out, and the golden radiance swiftly dissipated. Strange flowers and grasses filled the void, translucent and crystalline, their leaves like swords with terrifying sharpness flowing through them.

"What are those?"

In the distance, everyone stared blankly. They did not quite look like flowers or grasses, nor did they look like swords. They seemed more like a combination of the two. It was simply too strange.

"Incredible! This child's understanding of the Sword Dao is actually so profound!"

But some of the old-monster-level experts discerned clues and marveled, praising her repeatedly.

How could they fail to see that these transparent flowers and grasses were all formed from sword qi? Accomplishing such a thing was so difficult that even old monsters like them could not do it.

"What kind of technique is this?"

Bear Child narrowed his eyes. He sensed a terrifying aura from those transparent flowers and grasses.

"How about this? I'll tell you where to find one of the Ten Fiends' precious techniques, and you release that Chi Dragon."

Yun Ying swept her sleeve, and all the Sword Qi Grass in the void dissipated.

"A precious technique of the Ten Fiends?! You're that kindhearted?"

A keen light flashed in Bear Child's eyes at the mention of a precious technique of the Ten Fiends.

"It is neither kindness nor malice, merely a trade. Moreover, I can tell you that it is the Kun Peng Precious Technique. If you agree to release that Chi Dragon, I'll give you the details."

Yun Ying's tone was calm, without the slightest ripple.

The Kun Peng Precious Technique!

Towering waves surged through Bear Child's heart. He had been studying this precious technique all along, hoping to recreate the power of the kunpeng through his own efforts. But that was far too difficult. Relying on himself alone, who knew how many years it would take to fully work it out?

"How do I know you won't trick me? Unless you give me the information first. I'll see whether it's true before deciding whether to release that Chi Dragon."

Bear Child's eyes darted about, and the wicked schemes in his belly began churning again.

"All right. I hope you'll keep your word."

Yun Ying agreed, then told him that the Northern Sea Kunpeng Nest had appeared, along with some specific information.

After hearing Yun Ying's information, Bear Child's thoughts raced. He could tell that she had not lied to him.

Still, sending him off with just that would be far too easy. He had to make a little more use of this opportunity. After all, she was from the Primordial Sacred Mountain.

"How about this? If you agree to help me with one more thing, I'll release that Chi Dragon."

Bear Child opened his lion's maw and demanded more.

"Tell me, as long as it's something I can do."

Yun Ying frowned. This Bear Child really was difficult to deal with.

Then Bear Child conjured images of a man and a woman, asking Yun Ying to find out about them.

"Are these two a married couple?"

Seeing the man and woman, Yun Ying was slightly surprised. She vaguely remembered that more than ten years ago, a middle-aged human couple had indeed gone to the Primordial Sacred Mountain to request Sacred Medicine, only to be refused.

Because they had asked for Sacred Medicine, it had been a matter of great importance, drawing the attention of the various Primordial Sacred Mountains. Yun Ying had heard about it from her clansmen.

"Yes. As long as you agree to this, I'll release that Chi Dragon."

Bear Child took a deep breath, a hint of seriousness entering his expression.

"All right. I'll inquire for you once I return."

Yun Ying asked no further questions and agreed outright. She could tell that the couple's relationship with Bear Child was probably far from simple. Otherwise, he would not have asked her to help investigate.

At present, many forces in the outside world were deeply curious about Bear Child's origins. Unfortunately, he was like a wild boy who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere, and they could uncover nothing.

"Good. Once you find anything, come here and tell me. Also, don't let word get out. I'll wait for you here in the meantime."

Seeing Yun Ying agree, Bear Child added another reminder.

"No problem. I won't go back on my word. Now you should release him."

Yun Ying looked toward the Chi Dragon, signaling to him.

This time, Bear Child was quite obliging and immediately undid the Chi Dragon's restraints. "What a pity. I didn't get to stew all of you into soup. Go on, go on."

Hearing Bear Child's words and seeing him drool over him, the Chi Dragon fled without another word.

"Want to try some? My treat."

Bear Child called out to Yun Ying, pointing at the pot before him. The Chi Dragon meat inside was already cooked.

"No, thank you."

Yun Ying shook her head, then turned and left.

"Suit yourself. I'll enjoy it all on my own."

Bear Child took out a spoon and drank a mouthful of soup, utterly pleased.

Meanwhile, Yun Ying returned to Yun Xi's side. The Golden Beast said, "Thank you for lending us a hand, Miss Yun Ying!"

"You're welcome. Let's head back."

Yun Ying nodded lightly.