Chapter 69: Mortal Enemies

Chapter 69: Mortal Enemies

Qi Chan'er clasped her hands and said, "Thank you, young master, for saving me. I hope we may meet again after the trial concludes. When that time comes, Chan'er will surely present you with a generous gift as thanks. For now, I must take my leave."

Qi Chan'er was an intelligent young woman. She carried the Black Firewood Pearl, a crucial treasure for passing the trial, and thus could not trust anyone at this moment—not even her savior. She had to leave immediately.

Xiao Li's gaze flickered briefly toward the Heaven and Earth Bag hanging at Qi Chan'er's waist, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. However, upon seeing her exquisite and beautiful face, the coldness in his eyes receded. He quickly caught up to her and bowed politely, saying, "Miss, you haven’t yet told me your name."

"Qi Chan'er of Marquis Qi Tian’s Manor," Qi Chan'er replied. She bore no ill will toward Xiao Li but remained wary of everyone.

She was indeed a stunningly beautiful woman, her skin as fair as carved jade, her long hair flowing gracefully. Her oval face and bright, star-like eyes gave her an ethereal, almost painting-like elegance, exuding a refreshing and otherworldly charm.

Qi Chan'er also possessed extraordinary talent. Having cultivated the Six Profound Art, she had already reached the First Level of the Divine Body Realm. Every movement she made carried an air of celestial grace. Such martial prowess at her age was truly remarkable.

"So you are Qi Chan'er, Madam Silver Pool’s daughter?"

Xiao Li knew that Madam Silver Pool had a daughter named Qi Chan'er, now fifteen years old, a prodigy of her generation. However, she did not cultivate within Marquis Qi Tian’s Manor but had instead taken a master from the Six Profound Sect.

What a twist of fate—to encounter the daughter of that vile woman, Madam Silver Pool, here of all places?

Qi Chan'er had inherited her mother’s peerless beauty, but unlike her mother’s seductive and bewitching allure, she carried an air of purity, elegance, and dignified grace. She frowned slightly and said, "I have never gotten along with my mother. It’s been three years since I last returned to Marquis Qi Tian’s Manor. How do you know I’m her daughter?"

Upon learning that Qi Chan'er was Madam Silver Pool’s daughter, a fierce desire for vengeance surged in Xiao Li’s heart. He clenched his teeth tightly, barely restraining the urge to strike her down with his sword.

No. Killing her outright wouldn’t bring Madam Silver Pool enough suffering. I must make her writhe in agony, repay her for the humiliation she inflicted upon me a hundredfold.

"Madam Silver Pool, since you heartlessly cast me out, I’ll take your daughter as compensation. When you see her groveling beneath me like a bitch, trampled and defiled, you’ll surely regret everything!" Xiao Li roared with laughter inwardly.

Xiao Li dropped to one knee and declared with righteous fervor, "This subordinate pays his respects to the young miss."

"You are...?" Qi Chan'er asked.

"This subordinate is a disciple of Marquis Qi Tian’s Manor. To have the honor of meeting the young miss today is the greatest fortune of my life. I wish to remain by your side and protect you from harm."

Xiao Li swiftly recounted a series of details about Marquis Qi Tian’s Manor, even describing the layout of every hall within the estate. In the end, he succeeded in earning Qi Chan'er’s trust.

Qi Chan'er was severely injured, so having another powerful subordinate to protect her was naturally a good thing. She didn’t refuse Xiao Li’s company.

Ning Xiaochuan knew full well that Xiao Li had long been cast out by Madam Silver Pool and understood his motives perfectly. He sneered, "Xiao Li is quite the character, resorting to any means to take revenge on Madam Silver Pool. Having such an enemy truly makes it hard to sleep or eat in peace."

After witnessing the methods Xiao Li employed to retaliate against Madam Silver Pool, Ning Xiaochuan became even more determined to kill him. An enemy like this absolutely had to die.

However, Ning Xiaochuan was aware of Xiao Li’s formidable cultivation and thus was in no hurry to act. He planned to wait until he broke through to the Second Level of the Divine Body Realm before making his move.

His breakthrough was imminent—within five days, he should be able to advance to the next realm.

For three consecutive days, Ning Xiaochuan followed Xiao Li and Qi Chan'er from a distance, concealing his presence. He couldn’t help but wonder, "Qi Chan'er is severely injured, yet instead of finding a secluded place to recover, she’s constantly on the move. Where is she going?"

The situation struck him as highly unusual.

Once he confirmed they had stopped to rest, Ning Xiaochuan also halted and took out the Golden-Threaded Purple Wood Box. Using the Earth Martial Essence inside, he accelerated his cultivation, absorbing Profound Qi at fifty times the normal rate—as if a Martial Venerable were directly channeling energy into him. Naturally, his cultivation soared rapidly.

Over these three days, Xiao Li had been surprisingly well-behaved, trailing behind Qi Chan'er with utmost respect. Whenever they encountered dangerous mystic beasts, he would step forward to block them, allowing Qi Chan'er to escape first. This only deepened her trust in him.

Ning Xiaochuan had no interest in Xiao Li’s tactics for manipulating women. He focused solely on cultivation, striving to break through to the Second Level of the Divine Body Realm.

Once he reached it, he would seize the opportunity to eliminate Xiao Li.

To hasten his progress, he consumed two Blood Toad Pills in succession, forcibly replenishing the Blood Qi in his Divine Body to push his breakthrough.

Boom!

After three days of cultivation, Ning Xiaochuan reached the peak of the First Level of the Divine Body Realm. His first innate Divine Ability, the Lightning Divine Beast, had achieved Great Perfection, leaving a faint lightning mark on his forehead.

With just a slight circulation of Profound Qi, a bolt of lightning would shoot from his brow, coalescing into the shadow of the Lightning Divine Beast!

A Lightning Divine Beast at the Great Perfection level!

As for how powerful it was?

Ning Xiaochuan didn’t dare test it now, as Xiao Li and Qi Chan'er were only 1.5 kilometers away. Both were elite talents of the younger generation, and any excessive fluctuations from him would surely alert them.

Once the first Divine Ability reached Great Perfection, a second Divine Ability would naturally emerge within the body. If a warrior’s physique was too weak and failed to produce a second Divine Ability, they would have to compensate by cultivating an acquired Divine Ability.

Ning Xiaochuan’s physique was far from weak. After achieving Great Perfection in his first Divine Ability, the "Source of Divine Ability" for his second Divine Ability manifested within him.

The Source of Divine Ability was the origin of Divine Abilities.

Only by activating this source could the second Divine Ability fully erupt, allowing him to advance to the Second Level of the Divine Body Realm.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Within the Source of Divine Ability, Martial Arts Profound Qi swirled and trembled, emitting thunderous roars that reverberated through Ning Xiaochuan's body. His form seemed to transform into a thunderous origin.

At first, the sound of thunder was low, confined solely within Ning Xiaochuan's body. Gradually, it grew louder and more intense, shaking the ground around him!

"I possess the Heavenly Phenomenon Divine Body. My first divine ability is related to 'Lightning.' Could the second one be tied to 'Heavenly Thunder'?"

Lightning and Heavenly Thunder coexist in nature, bound by a profound connection. Where lightning strikes, thunder inevitably follows.

"Boom!"

A deafening peal of thunder echoed across the mountains.

Qi Chan'er, seated cross-legged in a cave on the cliffside, was jolted awake by the thunder. Her bright, watery eyes snapped open, fixing on the fiery landscape below. Her rosy lips parted as she murmured, "Three kilometers away, a martial arts expert is cultivating."

Xiao Li also stood abruptly, stepping to the cliff's edge. His icy gaze locked onto the distant flashes of lightning in the forest, murderous intent gleaming in his eyes. "All along the way, I had a faint sense that someone was following us. I thought it was my imagination, but it seems there truly is a lurking threat. He likely knows Miss carries the Black Firewood Pearl and is biding his time to seize it. He must be eliminated."

With those words, Xiao Li gripped the Mystic Artifact-level Battle Saber left behind by Lin Hen and leaped down the cliff, charging toward the disturbance three kilometers away.

Qi Chan'er, now seventy to eighty percent recovered from her injuries, followed closely behind, descending the cliff in pursuit.

Even at night, the Fire Demon Mountain Range blazed with flames, illuminating the land as waves of heat surged skyward.

Ning Xiaochuan sensed someone rapidly approaching—the sharp whistle of cutting wind filled him with urgency, yet his body remained immobile, bound by the Source of Divine Ability. He channeled all his Martial Arts Profound Qi, striving to unleash it.

Once the Source of Divine Ability was activated, he would break through to the Second Level of Divine Body Realm. But Xiao Li gave him no time. Already standing before him, saber in hand, Xiao Li glared down at the seated Ning Xiaochuan, his voice dripping with cold mockery. "So it really is you. You’ve been trailing us for three days. You must be after me."

Both regarded the other as a mortal enemy—this confrontation would end only in death.

Inside Ning Xiaochuan’s body, it felt as though two iron mountains collided, unleashing muffled thunderclaps. Lightning coiled around him, striking a massive tree thick enough to require three men to encircle. The tree shattered with a deafening crack, crashing to the ground.

"So you’re in the midst of a breakthrough, unable to move." Xiao Li’s eyes narrowed, then gleamed with cruel delight. "Since heaven has granted me this opportunity, today shall be your demise."

Gripping the saber with both hands, Xiao Li leaped ten meters into the air and slashed downward, unleashing a crescent-shaped arc of light!

"Shriek—!"

Ning Xiaochuan sat cross-legged on the ground, motionless like a rock. The lightning mark on his forehead resembled a heavenly eye, shooting out a bolt of lightning as thick as a finger, transforming into a massive Lightning Divine Beast that clashed violently with the terrifying blade light.