Without hesitation, Yu Tianheng picked up Hu Liena, supporting her knees with his left hand and protecting her back with his right.
The Thunder power around him circulated once more, forming a light blue protective shield that isolated some of the scorching air and killing intent.
Then, he suddenly exerted force with his feet, and with Thunder roar, he rose into the air and continued flying forward along the narrow Hell Road.
Hu Liena in his arms seemed to sense a familiar presence and shifted restlessly before finally settling down. Her long eyelashes, however, continued to tremble slightly, as if silently struggling against the malevolent energy within her.
Yu Tianheng, however, stared intently ahead, his eyes reflecting the fiery light of the lava, as he walked step by step into the depths of the Hell Road.
I don't know how much time passed.
Hu Liena suddenly opened her eyes, her consciousness as if she were struggling to break free from a scalding swamp. The blinding red light of the lava made her squint instinctively.
The next second, she belatedly realized that she was being held—her arms were wrapped around the other person's neck, her cheek was almost pressed against a solid chest, and she could clearly feel the steady and powerful heartbeat.
Hu Liena froze, then looked up abruptly, meeting a pair of deep, calm eyes.
It is Yu Tianheng.
Fine beads of sweat glistened on his forehead, clearly indicating that carrying her was no easy feat. The Thunder shield provided by his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul flickered slightly around him, protecting him from the scorching heat of the outside world. Noticing that she was awake, he merely raised an eyebrow, his steps unwavering. "Awake?"
This seemingly casual question struck Hu Liena like a thunderbolt. She suddenly realized how intimate their position was—she was nestled in his arms, her arms unconsciously wrapped around his neck, almost touching him.
"Ah!" Hu Liena exclaimed, her cheeks flushing bright red, the blush spreading from her ears all the way down her neck, making her ears feel incredibly hot. She hurriedly tried to struggle to get down, but Yu Tianheng tightened his arms around her, holding her even more securely.
"Don't move," his voice was deep and carried an undeniable air of authority. "You've just regained consciousness, and the murderous aura hasn't completely dissipated. Landing will only make things more dangerous."
Hu Liena froze instantly, only able to maintain the position of being held, her heart pounding as if it would burst out of her chest.
From childhood to adulthood, apart from her own brother Xie Yue, she had never had such close contact with any man, let alone Yu Tianheng —the heir of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan with whom she had clashed in the All-Continent Soul Master Tournament.
She could clearly smell his crisp scent, mixed with the slight tingling sensation unique to Thunder, and a faint smell of sweat, but it wasn't unpleasant. Her nose almost touched his chin, and she could even see his taut jawline and the slight movement of his Adam's apple.
"I... I can walk by myself." Hu Liena's voice was barely audible, her cheeks were burning hot, and her eyes darted away in a panic, not daring to look at him again.
Yu Tianheng glanced down at her, noticing that although her face was flushed, her eyes were clear and her breathing had calmed down, before slowing his pace. "Are you sure? The road ahead is narrower and hotter."
Hu Liena bit her lip and nodded vigorously, but her hand loosened slightly, her fingertips accidentally brushing against his neck. They both paused for a moment. Her face turned even redder, and she almost buried it in her collar.
Seeing her like this, Yu Tianheng knew it wouldn't be appropriate to hold her any longer, so he did as Hu Liena wished, slightly bending his knees to let her land steadily.
The moment her feet touched the ground, Hu Liena took a half-step back like a startled rabbit, creating some distance, and whispered with her head down, "Th... thank you."
Yu Tianheng glanced at her flushed ears, gave a soft "hmm," and turned to continue walking, "Keep up, don't fall behind."
Hu Liena looked at his tall, straight back, touched her burning cheeks, and felt her heart still pounding wildly.
She took a deep breath, suppressing the strange feeling in her heart, and quickly followed. But when her gaze occasionally fell on his back, she couldn't help but recall the feeling of being held in his arms, and her cheeks began to burn again.
On the dark, Hell Road, the air seemed to solidify into a viscous substance, carrying a bone-chilling cold and the stench of blood.
Yu Tianheng's body crackled with blue-purple lightning as he warily scanned the area ahead. Hu Liena frowned slightly, a barely perceptible hint of seriousness flashing in her eyes—from the moment they stepped onto this path, a chilling sense of oppression permeated the air.
"Watch out!" Hu Liena's voice suddenly rang out, and almost at the same time, a dense flapping sound came from the darkness ahead, surging in like a tide.
The next second, hundreds upon hundreds of small, dark golden bats appeared in their field of vision. Their eyes gleamed with a scarlet light, and their sharp fangs gleamed coldly in the dim light. They swarmed towards the two of them, accompanied by piercing screech.
" Hell Bat!" Yu Tianheng shouted, but Hu Liena had already struck first. Her fluffy fox tail suddenly unfurled, gleaming with a faint orange-gold light, and lashed out at the swarm of bats with a sharp, swift wind, like a nimble whip!
"Thud, thud--" Several muffled sounds rang out as the dozens of bats at the forefront were struck by the fox's tail and instantly turned into dust.
But many more bats, seemingly oblivious to pain, continued their charge, stepping over the remains of their companions, their dense swarms almost obscuring the view.
Hu Liena's fox tail swung repeatedly, clearing a small patch of ground with each strike, but against the endless swarm of bats, these casualties were nothing more than a drop in the ocean.
"This won't do, there are too many!" Hu Liena's forehead was covered in sweat, and the frequency of her fox tail's swaying began to slow down.
Seeing that Hu Liena's fox tail attack was gradually slowing down, and the flames at the tip of her tail were dimming due to the continuous consumption of Soul Power, Yu Tianheng frowned.
The swarm of dark gold bats surged forward like an ever-renewing tide, their momentum undiminished. Each of Hu Liena's attacks could only tear open a fleeting gap, proving extremely inefficient.
"This can't go on," Yu Tianheng said in a deep voice. Before he finished speaking, he had already taken a step forward and stood in front of Hu Liena.
The purple-gold lightning suddenly surged, forcing the bats in the front row to pause their attack by half. He slowly raised his right hand, palm facing up, and the " Nine Heavens Divine Lightning Prison Suppression Scripture " technique within his body instantly reached its peak. The surging Nine Heavens Thunder was like a sleeping beast awakening, emitting a muffled thunderous roar in his meridians.
"Buzz--"
As the cultivation technique was activated, a dazzling purple light suddenly shone in the void.
At first, it was just a few tiny sparks of electricity, but in the blink of an eye, it transformed into countless lightning snakes roaming the sky. The purplish-gold Thunder seemed to come alive, weaving together in the air to form a huge electric net.
This Thunder was no ordinary Soul Skill; it carried a suppressive intent derived from the laws of heaven and earth, fierce and domineering, causing the surrounding resentment to freeze.