"What a failure! After all this time, I still don't even know where Han Yue's family is..." Andrew slapped his forehead, extremely annoyed. During his interactions with Han Yue, he had asked about her family background, but Han Yue hadn't answered. Seeing this, Andrew didn't press her. He was confident that even if Han Yue was a princess of the Yulan Empire, with his strength and talent, he was worthy of her.
If it weren't for Baird's threat, Andrew would have proposed to Han Yue long ago. But now, until he eliminates this threat, Andrew dares not do anything. The emperor has promised to protect the Lance family, but he may not necessarily protect the Han Yue family.
Because of this, Andrew still doesn't know Han Yue's family background, and now that he suddenly wants to find her, he doesn't know where to go.
"Let's go to the Divine Grace Academy instead."
Upon arriving at the Divine Grace Academy, Andrew found Bandeni. Bandeni was a third-year Earth Element magic instructor and a disciple of a reclusive Saint-level Magus within the academy; he was quite famous at the Divine Grace Academy.
Bandeni was also happy to see Andrew. The two had rarely met in recent years. Andrew usually spent his time cultivating, while Bandeni was busy with academy affairs.
" Andrew, it's really not easy to see you," Bandeni said with a smile.
Andrew said, "Aren't you the same? Come to think of it, it seems like I'm the one who initiated the visit today, aren't I?"
Bandeni laughed and retorted, "You'd come to visit me on your own initiative? I think you're looking for someone else, aren't you?"
As one of Andrew's few friends, Bandeni naturally knew about his relationship with Han Yue.
Andrew blushed slightly and gave an awkward smile.
"I knew it," Bandeni joked. "It would be strange if you came to me on your own initiative. But you're probably going to be disappointed this time..."
"What's wrong?" Andrew asked.
" Ling'er and Han Yue went to the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts for training last month..." Bandeni's message startled Andrew.
"What?" Andrew shouted, "Why didn't Ling'er tell the family? And you, Bandeni, don't you know how dangerous the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts is?"
Bandeni said helplessly, " Andrew, calm down. Of course I know what you're saying. However, this training will be personally supervised by my teacher, so you can rest assured about safety."
Bandeni's teacher was a powerful Earth Element Saint Magus. However, he did not hold any position at the Divine Grace Academy and had always lived in seclusion.
Andrew thought about it and was still a little worried.
"No, I have to go check it out. Bandeni, tell me the route for this training mission!"
Bandeni smiled wryly and handed him a map, " Andrew, in my memory you've always been very calm. But when it comes to Ling'er and Han Yue, your calmness vanishes."
Andrew took the map. "Stop nagging, let's talk when I get back." At the same time, he Soul Transmission to Golden Peng.
" Golden Peng, take me to the Mountain Range of Magical Beasts as fast as you can!"
The Golden Peng took flight from his shoulder, its body rapidly growing larger until it was three meters tall. Its wingspan stretched to seven or eight meters. With a cry, the Golden Peng circled low in the sky. Andrew lightly jumped and landed on its back.
"Gurgle!"
The Golden Peng soared into the sky, its figure transforming into a golden light and disappearing rapidly, its speed exceeding the speed of sound.
Not long after leaving the capital, Andrew and Golden Peng headed southeast, the direction from which Ling'er and the others would be training.
Golden Peng was incredibly fast, so fast that it surprised Andrew. In just a few minutes, it carried Andrew across the Yulan River.
"Being able to fly is truly different," Andrew said, facing the wind with a hint of envy. He wasn't Wind Element mage; to fly, one needed to reach the Saint-level.
"Gurgle!"
About seven hundred miles from the capital, the Golden Peng suddenly cried out. Andrew quickly used Soul Transmission to ask what had happened.
"Master, I was just attacked." Golden Peng's voice was furious.
An attack? Andrew suddenly stood up. To be able to attack the Golden Peng while it was flying—that strength was undoubtedly from the Saint-level. Why would the Saint-level attack them without reason? Unless, the attacker was an enemy!
" Baird, come out!"
Andrew stopped Golden Peng and hovered in the air, shouting loudly to those around him.
A warrior in a short shirt stepped out from the air ahead. Standing in mid-air, he was none other than the Holy Domain warrior, Byrd.
Facing him, Andrew was no longer afraid. After four years of arduous training, his Battle-qi had reached the Peak of the Ninth Rank, and his magic had also reached level nine. With dual cultivation of magic and martial arts, plus the fusion of lightning and fire, Andrew felt that in terms of attack power, he had already reached the Saint-level level. What he lacked was the understanding of 'momentum' and Laws. If he could break through this barrier, achieving the Saint-level would be a piece of cake!
Andrew let the Golden Peng land, and then jumped to the ground himself.
"I didn't expect you to actually make a move. Baird, you've been waiting for me for a long time, haven't you?"
Baird was annoyed by his tone.
"Why wouldn't I dare to make a move? Kid, do you think that just because you've pledged allegiance to the Yulan Empire, they'll protect you? Let me tell you, for Saint-level expert, no one's protection is of any use!"
"Hmph, Baird, you're still the same old bully. Why don't you dare say that in the capital?" Andrew had long seen through Baird's true nature and scoffed.
Baird was furious and humiliated. "Who do you think you are, daring to speak to me like that?"
Andrew drew his Godslaying Saber: "Enough with the nonsense! Come on, the humiliation you inflicted on me four years ago, I'll take it back today!"
"Naive!" Baird uttered two words coldly. As soon as he finished speaking, a black spear appeared in his hand. Clearly, he also had a spatial ring.
Andrew waited intently, choosing to defend as the weaker party. Azure Battle-qi permeated his entire body, giving him an almost ethereal appearance.
Baird brandished his spear, and fine black lines appeared at the tip. These lines were so pure that they swayed in the air, seemingly capable of cutting through it.
"Today, I'll show you how the Saint-level fights!" Baird's deep voice rang out, and then he vanished.
Andrew frantically searched his surroundings for him, but found nothing. In his haste, he mobilized all his Battle-qi and simultaneously created a magical shield around him.
"Snap!"
The black spear thrust at him from behind, revealing Baird's body. The spear pierced through the magic shield and easily touched Andrew's Battle-qi barrier. The azure Battle-qi barrier didn't last long before being breached by the spear. However, even that short time was enough for Andrew to do many things.
" Explosive Steps!"
Andrew believed that within a small area, even Saint-level being couldn't outrun his Explosive Steps. In a flash, he bypassed the spear and appeared behind Baird. Following Baird's method, the Godslaying Saber, carrying azure Battle-qi, struck Baird.
"Afterimage!"
Andrew watched as the Godslayer Godslaying Saber through Baird's body, yet he felt nothing in his hand. He immediately realized he had struck Baird's afterimage. Without a second thought, he dodged again, leaving an afterimage in place. This afterimage was quickly pierced by Baird's spear and vanished into thin air.
The two exchanged two blows, but neither could gain the upper hand!
Facing Baird, Andrew's confidence finally returned. Four years ago, Baird cast a long shadow over him, weighing heavily on his mind. Today, he finally dispelled that shadow with his own strength!
"You're a genius!" Baird's voice echoed all around, but he didn't appear. The voice seemed to come from all directions, making it impossible to pinpoint.
Andrew laughed, "I'm not just a genius, I'm a strongman!"
"Not bad, you're already very strong, Ninth-level Warrior. You've survived two moves against me, you have every right to be happy. But don't think that's all I've got! The Saint-level is far beyond your imagination!" Baird became unusually calm, and his voice turned cold.
Andrew roared, " Baird, you always act superior to those weaker than you, but you lack the courage to challenge those stronger than you! You say you haven't broken through for thousands of years, but in my opinion, it's not for any other reason, but because your mindset has bound you! You want to kill me? Fine, use your methods!"
"You're asking for death!" Baird, enraged, appeared above Andrew, swooping down with his gun pointed at Andrew's head. Andrew dodged, leaving only an afterimage.
The black spear vanished without a trace, shifting its direction and thrusting again along Andrew's path. This time, Andrew did not dodge; his fighting spirit surged, and his black outfit rustled with a powerful aura.
"Let me see just how powerful Peak of the Ninth Rank Fusion Battle-qi really is!"
Andrew was surrounded by azure Battle-qi, like a mountain, and slashed downwards with his Godslaying Saber, incredibly fast and incredibly fierce.
"Laugh!"
At this moment, Andrew's eyes were fixed on the black spear, and the Godslaying Saber, which sliced through the air, struck the spear solidly.
" Fusion Battle-qi, unleash it!"
Andrew roared inwardly!
"Bang!"
A powerful sonic boom resounded, and at the point where the gun and knife clashed, a strange vortex appeared. The vortex spun rapidly, devouring everything around it. At its center, black and cyan Battle-qi intertwined and clashed, emitting hissing sounds. In the end, the two forces were evenly matched and gradually disappeared!
In a direct confrontation, Andrew, with his Peak of the Ninth Rank Fusion Battle-qi, blocked Baird was at the Saint-level Late-Stage! This is the power of the Fusion Battle-qi lightning and fire!