Chu Yunfei, who was standing to the side, understood the meaning behind the other person's words.
Someone had hung his name on the Blood Baleful Intent Tower. He didn't have many enemies: Zhang Qingfeng of the Azure Mystic Sect, the Blazing Fire Sect, and Nangong Wuhen, who had just suffered a great loss in the Cangwu Mountain Range.
Knowing that the princess was protecting him, and having the ability to mobilize the Blood Baleful Intent Tower, only Nangong Wuhen was capable of doing so.
"You Blood Baleful Intent Tower people are quite shrewd in your business dealings."
As Chu Yunfei spoke, he slowly steered the Cloud-Chasing Boat backward. "But are you so sure you can kill me?"
A hint of disdain flashed in the green-faced assassin's eyes.
" Chu Yunfei, you do have some skill in killing Heavenly Origin Realm expert in the Cangwu Mountain Range, but in front of me, you won't even have a chance to draw your sword."
The words had barely left his mouth.
His right palm descended from a distance, a gray palm print piercing through the giant net and pressing down on the Cloud-Chasing Boat.
Before the palm print even got close, the array on the surface of the flying boat had already extinguished in large sections, and fine cracks appeared on the white jade hull.
"He's going to destroy the ship, get off the deck!"
Chu Yunfei grabbed Ling Xueyao's wrist and activated his Divine Movement Art at full power.
The two had just leaped off the deck when a hundred-foot-long palm print slammed into the center of the Cloud-Chasing Boat.
Boom!
The priceless royal airship exploded, sending countless white jade fragments flying in all directions amidst the flames.
The sound transmission talisman in Ling Xueyao's hand was blown away by the shockwave, and before it even hit the ground, it was shattered by a Blood Baleful Intent Tower assassin's blade.
Ling Xueyao's face paled slightly.
This communication talisman was personally crafted by Shen Qianyue and could transmit messages within a thousand miles. Now that the talisman has been destroyed, the last connection between her and Shen Qianyue has been severed.
You go first.
Using the smoke and dust from the exploding airship as cover, Chu Yunfei flung Ling Xueyao dozens of feet away, then transmitted his voice in a deep voice. "Their target is you. Head east, I'll cover your retreat. As long as you create distance, with your cultivation level, you might have a chance to escape."
Ling Xueyao turned and glanced at him, her expression complex.
At this point, his first reaction was actually to help her fend off the pursuers.
But the blue-faced assassin didn't give them time to choose.
"Want to leave? Not so easy."
He pressed his palm down again, and the palm print that had shattered the Cloud-Chasing Boat reappeared, heading straight for Ling Xueyao's back in the distance.
Ling Xueyao was still hesitating when she sensed the terrifying pressure behind her; the palm print was already less than ten feet away from her.
The attack from the Divine Sea Realm Third Level sealed off the surrounding energy, preventing her from even dodging.
Chu Yunfei's eyes suddenly turned cold.
He unleashed the full power of the Divine Movement Art at its peak, taking seven consecutive steps, each leaving a clear afterimage in the void.
By the time he landed on the seventh step, he had already covered dozens of feet and arrived in front of Ling Xueyao.
He didn't have time to draw his sword, so he could only open his arms and hug Ling Xueyao, intending to forcefully dodge away, but he didn't expect the palm print to come so fast.
Bang!
The protective spiritual energy was shattered the moment it touched the palm print.
Chu Yunfei felt as if a mountain had crashed into his back, and his internal organs were almost dislocated.
He carried Ling Xueyao and flew hundreds of feet away. He could no longer suppress a mouthful of blood, which he sprayed all over her pale yellow dress.
Large patches of warm blood spread along the hem of his clothes.
Ling Xueyao's mind went blank.
From childhood to adulthood, she has never lacked people to protect her.
Those people revered imperial power, obeyed their father's orders, and were willing to risk their lives to protect the Great Qian Princess.
Chu Yunfei, however, was different.
The two had only known each other for a few days, and he had even made advances towards her not long ago, but when that slap landed just now, he didn't hesitate for a moment.
Chu Yunfei!
Ling Xueyao caught Chu Yunfei as he fell, her voice losing its usual composure for the first time.
Chu Yunfei coughed up blood, then used his right hand to grab her arm and steady himself.
His robes were torn on the back, and a hideous palm print was imprinted on his skin. Gray energy continued to erode his flesh around the wound.
"Stop yelling, you're not dead yet." Chu Yunfei suppressed his surging blood and stared at the gray-robed assassin in the distance. " Divine Sea Realm Third Level is indeed powerful. I'll remember this palm strike."
The blue-faced assassin was surprised to see that Chu Yunfei was still alive.
He landed slowly on a protruding black rock and looked down at the two of them.
Twelve dark figures followed closely behind, swooping down from the sky.
"To withstand my attack and survive, your physical body is indeed ridiculously strong. Unfortunately, that blow has already damaged your internal organs. If you forcefully circulate your spiritual energy, it will only worsen your injuries."
Chu Yunfei wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and took out the Abyss-Devouring Sword.
Dark gold patterns slowly lit up the black sword, and a deep sword sound spread in all directions. The weapons of several Heavenly Origin Realm assassins trembled as if they had encountered some terrifying being.
The blue-faced assassin stared at the Abyss-Devouring Sword, a strange glint in his eyes.
"No wonder someone offered extra money to kill you." The blue-faced assassin scrutinized Chu Yunfei, his tone now showing more interest. "You seem to have more secrets than the intelligence indicated. It's a pity the Blood Baleful Intent Tower only handles killings, not interrogations."
Chu Yunfei remained silent, secretly activating his Myriad Poison Tyrant Body.
The insidious spiritual energy that had invaded the body was gradually devoured and transformed into a weak energy to repair the damaged meridians.
He showed no signs of improvement in his injuries, but simply stood slightly unsteady in front of Ling Xueyao.
The blue-faced assassin watched this scene unfold, a cold smile playing on his lips.
Sacrificing one's life to block another's attack sounds heroic, but it's meaningless in the face of an absolute difference in skill level.
If Ling Xueyao is going to die, this arrogant brat won't escape either.
"Make your move. Leave the princess's body intact. Chu Yunfei should cut off her limbs and take them with him. Her sword and storage ring must not be lost either."
At the command of the blue-faced assassin, twelve assassins simultaneously advanced.
Ling Xueyao wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth caused by the impact and reached out to pull Chu Yunfei behind her.
"You've already taken one blow for me, now it's my turn."
She took out a golden rapier from her storage ring.
As the sword was drawn, a loud phoenix cry echoed through the mountains, and a dazzling golden light dispelled the darkness of the surrounding night.
An aura of the Eighth Level of the Heavenly Origin Realm erupted from her body.
The Eighth Level of the Heavenly Origin Realm!
A hint of surprise flashed in Chu Yunfei's eyes.
Ling Xueyao is younger than Nangong Wuhen, but her cultivation level is one level higher than that of the Heavenly Sword Sect Sect's Holy Son. No wonder the Emperor of Great Qian was willing to pass the throne to her. Such martial arts talent would be enough to surpass most of the Holy Sons and Holy Daughters in the Seven Great Sects.
The twelve Blood Baleful Intent Tower assassins paused in their tracks.
The blue-faced assassin also narrowed his eyes slightly.
It has long been rumored in the Eastern Continent that the eldest princess of the Great Qian Dynasty possessed extraordinary talent and had refused a marriage alliance with the seven major sects, yet no one has ever known her true level of cultivation.
According to the information provided by the employer, Ling Xueyao's cultivation level was at most the Heavenly Origin Realm Fifth Layer.
The royal family had concealed her true cultivation level so well.
"Her Highness was very discreet, but unfortunately, even the Eighth Level of the Heavenly Origin Realm couldn't change the outcome."
The green-faced assassin raised his right palm, and the pressure of the Divine Sea Realm poured down like a mountain torrent.
I will personally send you on your way!
A blood-red palm print pressed down across the mountain ridge, causing black rocks along the way to explode one after another.
Ling Xueyao did not back down.
She raised the golden slender sword in her hand, and a vast amount of spiritual power gathered at the blade. A golden fire phoenix several meters in size shot out from the sword to meet the palm print falling from the sky.
The fire phoenix collided with the palm print, and a dazzling golden-red light burst forth above the mountain ridge.
The rock beneath Ling Xueyao's feet could not withstand the impact and cracked open. She took seven steps back, each step leaving a deep footprint in the ground.
As the bloody palm print faded, her right hand, which was holding the sword, was trembling slightly.
There is a huge chasm between the Heavenly Origin Realm and the Divine Sea Realm.
When a martial artist in the Spirit Martial Realm breaks through to the Heavenly Origin Realm, they need to compress their gaseous spiritual power into a liquid state. After entering the Divine Sea Realm, their dantian will expand further, condensing into the Divine Sea that can contain spiritual power.
The amount of spiritual energy that the two sides can mobilize is simply not on the same level.
Ling Xueyao's ability to withstand a direct attack from Divine Sea Realm Third Level cultivator with her Eighth Level of the Heavenly Origin Realm was enough to shake the entire Eastern Continent.
The blue-faced assassin showed no appreciation whatsoever.
The stronger Ling Xueyao's talent became, the stronger his killing intent grew.
Reaching the Eighth Level of the Heavenly Origin Realm at such a young age, if given another ten years, the Great Qian Imperial Family might truly have another top-tier expert.
At that point, it would be a catastrophe for the Blood Baleful Intent Tower.
"Rumor has it that Great Qian eldest princess of the Great Qian Dynasty possesses unparalleled martial arts talent within the royal family, which I previously thought was somewhat exaggerated. Now it seems that the information released by the royal family is actually rather reserved."
The blue-faced assassin descended from the rocks, a blood-red scimitar appearing in his hand. "It's a pity you shouldn't have left the imperial city, and even more so, you shouldn't have brought only Shen Qianyue, a mere retainer. Slaying you here today might be the most boast-worthy achievement of my life."
Ling Xueyao stared coldly at him.
" The Blood Baleful Intent Tower has been hiding its true location for fifty years, not even daring to reveal its real stronghold. If you truly have the courage, remove your mask and state your name, so I can remember who you killed."
She's stalling for time.
Chu Yunfei was seriously injured, and the twelve Heavenly Origin Realm assassins had blocked his escape route. If he wanted to leave here alive, he could only wait for Shen Qianyue to arrive.
The blue-faced assassin saw through her thoughts.
"Wait for Shen Qianyue to save you? He's facing one of the Blood Baleful Intent Tower's Golden Masked Assassins. He's lucky to have survived. Once I kill you and then join forces with the Golden Masked Assassin, Shen Qianyue will die too."
Ling Xueyao's heart sank.
The color of the masks worn by members of the Blood Baleful Intent Tower represents their status and strength.
Ordinary assassins wear faceless white masks, those in the Early Stage of the Divine Sea Realm wear cyan masks, those in the Divine Sea Realm Middle Stage wear red masks, and gold masks represent higher strength and status, indicating at least Divine Sea Realm Seventh Level.
The person who stopped Shen Qianyue just now was actually the Golden-Faced Assassin from the Blood Baleful Intent Tower.
Even if Shen Qianyue could resist, he would have no chance of escaping in a short time.
"Your Highness, leave them to me."
(P. S.: In the realm: the first to the third level is the early stage, the fourth to the sixth level is the middle stage, the seventh to the ninth level is the late stage, and the ninth level is the peak.)