C16 The Stubborn Lee Xiao'er!

"You lecher? Are you afraid I'll humiliate you after I've caught you?" Xing Yun couldn't help but feel both amused and annoyed as he released Lee Xiao'er.

It seemed that, due to the saintess incident, every woman thought he was a libertine.

"Isn't that so?" Lee Xiao'er, still shaken, patted her chest and countered with a trembling shoulder.

Xing Yun didn't reply but instead swiftly reached out and pulled off Lee Xiao'er's veil.

A stunningly beautiful face with a touch of anger came into view, prompting Xing Yun to marvel, "No wonder you're so confident in your looks."

Lee Xiao'er's beauty was certainly on par with Ling Ji's. Her cultivation of a sinister technique added a bewitching charm, igniting a powerful urge to dominate in those who beheld her.

"Pervert!" Lee Xiao'er, flushed with embarrassment and anger, hurled insults at him.

Xing Yun smirked and huffed, "Relax, I've already said I don't want to kill you, and I certainly won't humiliate you."

Lee Xiao'er, taken aback, clutched her chest, "I don't believe you! Your reputation as a lecher is known throughout the Shadowlands!"

"Just because I touched the saintess's chest?" Xing Yun retorted with irritation.

"Exactly!" Lee Xiao'er shot back, a trace of fear in her voice.

She didn't want to end up at his mercy, yet the sight of Xing Yun's half-smiling face made her want to punch it repeatedly.

Xing Yun gave her an exasperated look, "I'm not ready to disclose the reason, but I'm certainly not lusting after her beauty. I don't even know what she looks like, so what's there to lust after?"

Upon hearing this, Lee Xiao'er pondered. The saintess had indeed been veiled, yet the saintesses of the Order of the Celestial Veil were invariably stunning beauties.

Xing Yun's words seemed dubious to her. She was unsure how to judge, as his gaze did not seem lascivious.

But the scorn in Xing Yun's eyes fueled her fury even more. She snapped, "So you've captured me and spared my life, hoping to coerce information out of me? I won't reveal a single word to you!"

"That Phantom Waltz of yours..."

Before Xing Yun could finish, Lee Xiao'er's face drained of color. "How could you possibly know the name of that technique?!"

In martial combat, only a fool would announce their moves as they performed them, effectively telegraphing their intentions to the opponent.

Moreover, the Phantom Waltz was a closely guarded secret of their sect, taught only to women and passed down exclusively within their family lineage.

"Forget it..." Xing Yun shook his head with a sigh. "You shouldn't use that move carelessly. Each time you do, your Martial Spirit suffers greater erosion."

The origins of the Phantom Waltz were so astonishing that it was doubtful Lee Xiao'er and her backers fully grasped its implications.

Lee Xiao'er's Phantom Waltz was merely a fragment of its true potential, its power barely reaching the upper echelons of the earthly tier. Yet, the complete Phantom Waltz was a pinnacle technique among heavenly martial arts, and Xing Yun had mastered it as well!

"This is none of your concern!"

Lee Xiao'er grew more defiant, but then a thought struck her. "How can you, at the Mysterious Veins Realm, defeat me when I'm at the peak of the Awakened Soul Realm?"

Xing Yun burst into hearty laughter. "You still fail to recognize the gap between us."

As Lee Xiao'er's cheeks flushed with anger, echoing the words Xing Yun had once said to her, she looked stunningly beautiful, which momentarily captivated him. "If you were to practice a legitimate cultivation method, you'd achieve greatness. Why stoop to this?"

"What right does a scoundrel like you have to lecture me?" retorted Lee Xiao'er with a cold laugh.

"Scoundrel?"

Xing Yun chuckled at the accusation. "If I'm a scoundrel, then what does that make the Order of the Celestial Veil? If they're so righteous, why do they harbor those who practice forbidden arts? Why do they welcome Gu Yu, who cripples others' martial veins and even contemplates murder?"

At the mention of Gu Yu, Lee Xiao'er was startled but maintained her composure. "Righteousness or evil is determined by actions, not the martial arts one practices. Miss Gu Yu may be quick-tempered, but she's courteous to our fellow sect members. There's no issue with her joining the Order of the Celestial Veil."

Xing Yun chuckled lightly, "So, you so-called paragons of virtue are nothing but hypocrites with double standards. Cloaked in the guise of righteousness, you sanctimoniously strip others of their lives, yet you still manage to feign moral superiority. The cunning and shamelessness of human nature are fully embodied in you."

"You're spouting nonsense!" Lee Xiao'er retorted angrily, "The Order of the Celestial Veil is not the vile institution you imagine! The saintesses have always been compassionate, never once taking the lives of the innocent!"

"The goodness of one cannot conceal the wickedness of another. Do you truly believe that by aligning yourself with the saintesses, you embody justice? If so, then I, Xing Yun, would rather spend my life as the antagonist, specifically to expose the hypocrisy of your so-called righteous lot!" Xing Yun declared.

Having lost hope of winning over Lee Xiao'er, who had proven a great disappointment, Xing Yun had abandoned the effort.

Lee Xiao'er was taken aback by Xing Yun's abrupt change of demeanor. "Then start with me—kill me..."

Xing Yun sighed, "Leave. You once spoke up to save Liang Xing from near death. You showed him kindness, and thus, you have my gratitude. Let's consider the matter settled."

He had initially planned to gradually win over Lee Xiao'er and to help her with the peril lurking within her. But now, it seemed unnecessary.

"Is that the reason?" Lee Xiao'er asked, bewildered.

She had never imagined that her impulsive act to alleviate Liang Xing's suffering would result in her own salvation.

"Did you really think I'd spare you without cause?" Xing Yun said with a cold laugh. "Go on, leave. And don't overestimate your abilities by attempting to assassinate me again, or you'll deeply regret it."

The wolves parted, creating a path, leaving Lee Xiao'er uncertain in the face of Xing Yun's resolute decision.

After a moment of struggle, Lee Xiao'er spoke up, "Let me be clear, I haven't abandoned my intent to kill you. If you wish to eliminate future threats, end my life now..."

Xing Yun suddenly burst into uproarious laughter. Lee Xiao'er, infuriated, accused, "Are you trying to insult me with your words again?"

"How could someone like you ever be an assassin? Return to the Order of the Celestial Veil and hone your skills. Witness the treachery of the human heart and learn not to be so naively earnest, even in villainy." Xing Yun shook his head, his tone laced with a mix of amusement and pity.

Lee Xiao'er remained silent; she wasn't truly an assassin, merely following orders.

After a lengthy silence, Xiao'er finally spoke, "I'll be on my way then."

Xing Yun had no intention of replying, but he abruptly noticed the intense fluctuations of spiritual energy within Xiao'er's body and called out, "Hold on!"

Struggling to contain the turmoil within her, Xiao'er's face paled as she turned and asked, "Are you having second thoughts?"

Xing Yun replied firmly, "Break through right here."

"What?!" Xiao'er exclaimed in shock.

This scoundrel could actually sense that she was on the cusp of a breakthrough!

"Sit down and break through; I'll keep watch. I won't exploit your vulnerability," Xing Yun commanded.

"No!"

Xiao'er shook her head and turned to leave.

"I told you to sit down and break through, so sit down!" Xing Yun's voice grew authoritative, sending a jolt through Xiao'er. She turned to face him, "What are you really after?"

Xing Yun, growing impatient, urged, "This is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. You should count yourself lucky to have met me, Xing Yun. Enough stalling!"

After a moment of internal struggle, Xiao'er reasoned, "He hasn't tried to kill or humiliate me; surely he harbors no further ill intentions..."

So, Xiao'er sat down cross-legged on the spot, expanding her consciousness and readying herself to absorb the spiritual energy.

Xing Yun was correct; the battle had brought Xiao'er to the brink of a breakthrough.

When practitioners reach a bottleneck, they encounter a chance to advance. Missing it could mean never progressing to the next level, possibly missing the chance for a lifetime.

Xing Yun watched Xiao'er and cautioned, "Whatever I do later, stay focused and do not get distracted. Remember, I won't harm you in any way."

With a mix of surprise and suspicion, Xiao'er didn't dare to reply. She concentrated on drawing in the spiritual energy, aiming to challenge her dantian and attempt the breakthrough.

Having been at the pinnacle of the Awakened Soul realm for an entire year, she never imagined she'd find the opportunity to advance in such an awkward time and place, nor did she foresee Xing Yun encouraging her to seize the moment and break through right there.

The spiritual energy of the universe surged continuously into Lee Xiao'er, permeating her internal organs and heading straight for her dantian.

Dark miasma began to emanate from Lee Xiao'er's body, and her already pale red lips started to blanch further.

Xing Yun positioned himself behind Lee Xiao'er, placing his palms on her back, and commenced the infusion of Astral Power.

"What are you doing?" exclaimed Lee Xiao'er, alarmed.

"I've promised not to harm you. Stay focused!" Xing Yun commanded sternly.

Lee Xiao'er remained still, concentrating intently on absorbing the spiritual energy.

"You've been reluctant to release your Martial Spirit, and I've been unable to see through it. You can't keep it hidden any longer!"

Xing Yun silently urged within his heart, as he continued to channel Astral Power into Lee Xiao'er's organs.

With the influx of Astral Power, the dark Qi within Lee Xiao'er began to recede, ultimately converging at her crown and centering at her forehead.

Feeling as though the world was spinning, Lee Xiao'er realized that Xing Yun's power was alleviating the long-standing gloom in her body. She refrained from resisting and kept her focus on drawing in the spiritual Qi.

As the dark Qi at Lee Xiao'er's forehead grew increasingly dense, a peculiar black light flickered at her brow. Her body then shook violently, and she emitted a pained moan.

"Come out!" Xing Yun bellowed, intensifying the flow of Astral Power.

A piercing scream echoed, and a soul emerged above Lee Xiao'er's head.

This soul, towering at ten feet tall and cloaked in black, bore a resemblance to Lee Xiao'er but with an icy demeanor. Engulfed in Astral Power, it looked at Xing Yun with a visage twisted in agony and terror.

The Rank Nine Martial Spirit — the Heavenly Demon Saintess!

Upon reaching the Awakened Soul realm, every cultivator awakens their Martial Spirit. The higher its rank, the more formidable it becomes, offering substantial benefits to one's cultivation.

A Rank Nine Martial Spirit is considered the pinnacle within the Infinite Cosmos, signifying prospects of ascending to the Exalted Realm far beyond those of ordinary prodigies.

The Heavenly Demon Saintess Martial Spirit is a notable exception among Martial Spirits, as it consumes its master from within. It continuously erodes its host, growing stronger in the process, and in turn, intensifies the erosion of the host until the Heavenly Demon Saintess eventually takes full control. At that point, the host's own consciousness vanishes without a trace.

This Martial Spirit possesses an independent consciousness, which is frightening in itself. Moreover, the emergence of the Heavenly Demon Saintess invariably heralds a calamity across the Infinite Cosmos!