Qian Renxue streaked through the sky like a golden comet, her speed rivaling that of an Agility-Type Soul Sage despite being only a Soul Emperor.
"Twenty seconds—no, fifteen at most—and I'll reach Shen An. Then I'll crush that Soul Sage to dust. Shen An, you must hold on!"
Qian Renxue's aura blazed uncontained, distorting the air around her as golden light illuminated her path like a divine descent.
What immense power! But is she friend or foe? Shen An's keen senses detected her immediately, given her lack of concealment.
Having consumed a speed potion, Shen An deftly dodged the razor-sharp black feathers, his eyes narrowing at the relentless Soul Sage trailing him.
He gritted his teeth. I must find a way to kill him quickly. If that newcomer is an enemy, I'm in deep trouble.
Summon Kung Fu Tom!
Shen An abruptly descended to the ground. While aerial combat allowed evasion, it hindered decisive strikes—especially against a flying martial soul.
Landing, Shen An exchanged a glance with Tom and Jerry, who nodded in understanding.
Tom extended one leg hundreds of meters forward, scientifically and logically, before retracting it to normal size. Whistling innocently, he secretly palmed a brick behind his back.
[Brick That Knocked Out Spike: A light tap to the head causes 30 seconds of stun.]
Everything happened in an instant. As Shen An touched down, the black-cloaked Soul Sage landed nearby, his massive martial soul form cracking the earth beneath him.
The Soul Sage seethed with rage. A mere three-ring Soul Elder, yet so troublesome! But no matter—he must be out of soul power now.
"Out of tricks, boy? I'll make you wish you were dead," the Soul Sage sneered, his humiliation at being pushed this far by a Soul Elder fueling his cruelty.
"Huh? Is that whistling?" The Soul Sage froze, unnerved by the faint sound beside him.
To reduce one's presence so effectively near a Soul Sage—how terrifying! If this is an ambush...
His panic eased upon spotting Tom. Just a cat. Scared me for nothing.
"Die with your master!" The Soul Sage's blade-like feathers slashed toward Tom.
"Swish!"
Tom was cleanly bisected—yet no blood spilled. He stared dumbfounded at his severed body.
Did I just get hit?
Fuming, Tom held his upper half in place with one hand while smacking the Soul Sage's head with the brick in the other.
"Thunk!"
The crisp impact echoed. The Soul Sage turned sharply, only to see the supposedly bisected cat unharmed.
Before his shock could fully register, his vision swirled into a dazed vortex. Staggering like a drunkard, he was now utterly defenseless.
Seizing the opportunity, Shen An poured all his soul power into the Nine-Leaf Sword Grass. A towering sword intent pierced the heavens as he unleashed the Cloud-Severing technique—a strike as brilliant and devastating as a white rainbow splitting the sun.
Despite the 30-second stun, Shen An didn't dare take chances. Better to strike multiple times out of respect for a Soul Sage's resilience.
The blade sank into the Soul Sage's neck, the stench of blood filling the air. The pain seemed to rouse him slightly, his eyes locking onto Shen An with lifeless intensity.
Gripping the hilt firmly, Shen An twisted the sword, shredding flesh and spraying gore.
"Crack!"
Death claimed the Soul Sage. The stun had worn off, leaving only clarity—too late to change his fate. All his resentment now amounted to a lifeless corpse.
Shen An used a small soul power recovery pack. The massive drain from that strike demanded immediate replenishment for whatever came next.
Sword in hand, Shen An watched warily as a radiant golden figure approached, transforming the dark night into a dazzling spectacle.
Qian Renxue hovered in midair, her face now masked by golden soul power. She silently observed Shen An standing over the fallen Soul Sage while Tom handed glue to Jerry to reassemble himself.
Qian Renxue felt dizzy. I knew you were strong, but a Soul Elder defeating a Soul Sage? That's just absurd.
After a long pause, she spoke. "I was sent by His Highness to protect you. Did you... kill that Soul Sage alone?"
Shen An's eye twitched at her angelic, otherworldly presence. Really? You see my three soul rings, right?
"I had a fortunate encounter years ago and obtained a powerful soul tool. Without it, I'd never stand a chance against a Soul Sage," Shen An explained.
Qian Renxue found this plausible. Using external aid to defeat a Soul Sage makes sense. Otherwise, it'd be too monstrous.
But having revealed her true self, she couldn't just leave after two sentences.
"Is there anything else, Miss? Where is His Highness now?" Shen An asked cautiously.
"No need. His Highness will arrive shortly. Since you're safe, I'll take my leave."
"Remember—I'm His Highness' secret guard. My existence must not be revealed."
As Qian Renxue vanished in a golden streak, Shen An felt uneasy. Though clearly an ally, her demeanor felt incongruous.
She claimed to be sent by Xue Qinghe, yet exuded an aura of imperial authority, as if she were the true ruler of this world.
Moreover, Shen An detected genuine concern in her gaze, coupled with her insistence on secrecy.
Shaking his head, Shen An dismissed his doubts. She means no harm, and I'll keep her secret.
Tom and Jerry, now fully intact without a single hair out of place, exchanged knowing smirks as they watched Qian Renxue disappear.
You're putting on quite the act. Sooner or later, you'll have to be honest with Shen An.