The enormous deep blue fire phoenix circled gracefully in the air once before flapping its wings to fly back. It landed on the ground and transformed into a young divine lord dressed in black general’s armor. He raised his hand to return the feather blade to his waist, the fiery red jewel on his forehead swaying gently.

Since getting to know Shao Yi, Xuan Yi had always felt he gave her an extremely strange feeling. She had never been able to articulate what that feeling was, nor had she carefully considered it. But at this moment, she suddenly found an appropriate phrase: deliberate intent.

The Qingyang Clan could be mentioned alongside the Zhuyin Clan, so naturally they had their unique strengths. Yet in the Mingxing Palace, he was like gray stone and clay tiles, completely without any notable qualities. In terms of studying, he was mediocre; in terms of martial skills and cultivation, he was ordinary. Aside from those romantic and dissolute behaviors of his, he really placed himself in an utterly inconspicuous position—neither too poor nor too outstanding—so much so that in her impression, Shao Yi was by no means any kind of strong warrior.

She seemed to have underestimated him a bit… or perhaps not just a bit, but severely underestimated him.

His unhurried pace, his methodical way of handling matters, his ability to make demons scream and wail with a single strike—all of this was enough to get him into a more elite war division. Yet he remained somewhere inconspicuous, deliberately restraining his brilliance. He would occasionally shine briefly, then quickly return to being ordinary. He always had ways to hide himself thoroughly and securely.

Regarding this point, not a single deity had grown suspicious, herself included.

He had used his heart feather to save her but didn’t sever the binding connection. What exactly did he want to do? Was it related to the old grievances between the two clans? Even now, not even Lord Baize knew the reasons behind those ancient matters—would he know?

Shao Yi walked over gracefully, looking down at her with what seemed like a smile but wasn’t quite, his frivolous tone teasing: “Only willing to freeze but not willing to strike? Seeing this kind of Zhuyin Clan member, one’s lungs could explode with anger.”

Xuan Yi raised her hand to withdraw the Zhuyin darkness, and the dim sky immediately brightened considerably. She didn’t look at him, only saying coolly: “If I have to do everything, what do we need such capable war generals like Senior Brother Shao Yi for?”

Shao Yi let out what might have been a bitter laugh or mockery, and suddenly his hand shot out like lightning, gripping her chin firmly: “Little mudfish, you’re always speaking to me with such hidden meanings. I don’t even know whether I like this clever streak of yours or dislike that you’re too perceptive. A young goddess would be cuter if she were occasionally a bit dumber.”

Xuan Yi resolutely and slowly pushed his hand away, but who knew he would reach out again. She immediately tilted her head to dodge, but how could she be faster than him? Her chin was once again gripped firmly. She pushed away three times in a row, and he easily continued to grip her chin three times in succession. Her brows knitted tightly as she stared at him without speaking.

“Completely lacking in physical skills,” Shao Yi’s eyelashes lowered as he smiled leisurely, “only that mouth of yours is the most wicked, along with a belly full of devious schemes. I should strip you naked, and only when you become more obedient will I let you put clothes back on.”

Xuan Yi’s gaze slowly turned cold. Shao Yi only felt a bone-chilling coldness assault his face, and saw two completely transparent ice blades about to stab down toward his eyes. He had no choice but to release her, catching one ice blade in each hand. Suddenly he felt a chill at his throat and had to lean his body aside as another nearly invisible ice blade shot past his throat.

“Using these ice blades for skinning you should work quite well,” Xuan Yi said coldly.

Shao Yi gently wiped at his throat with his hand. Sure enough, the ice blade had still managed to cut him slightly, drawing a thin line of blood.

He slowly crushed the ice blades, still wearing a smile, his voice very soft: “Truly frightening.”

On the opposite side, Zhanglu was being bound by the generals of the Yibingyin Division with demon-binding cords and cinnabar incantations. The commanding general’s face flushed red with excitement—they could capture Zhanglu alive! What kind of military achievement was this?! This was the same level of merit as when the Dingmao Division had slain Lord Fuquan!

His voice trembled uncontrollably: “Quickly—bind him securely and rush him back to the South Heaven Gate immediately!”

Suddenly, Zhanglu struggled violently several times, and the demon-binding cords and cinnabar incantations that hadn’t finished wrapping around his body snapped one by one like rotten wood. His massive palm swept down, and several generals were instantly sent flying backward by the hurricane force.

He suddenly flipped himself upright, his blood-red giant eyes staring sinisterly at the divine realm generals opposite him who had swiftly reformed their battle array. He took a deep breath, then let out a long, piercing roar. His demonic power surged like violently turbulent ocean waves, stirring the deities’ garments.

The demonic wind mixed with blades sharp enough to grind everything to pieces rolled between heaven and earth. He stamped the ground, and several nearby continuous green mountains crumbled along with it. The generals watched him charge toward them like thundering flood waters. No one dared to face him directly and could only dodge in alarm. The commanding general shouted sternly while evading: “Qingyang Clan member! Zhuyin Clan member! Go freeze and burn him again?!”

Setting aside the Zhuyin Clan member who had suddenly barged in, that Qingyang Clan member had originally been a general in the Wuchen Division. After the recent decree for slaughtering demons across all heavens, the war divisions were reorganized. He had offered a phoenix heart feather as his pledge, and even the Qingyuan Great Emperor couldn’t resist such temptation, agreeing to transfer him to divisions. He came to this Yibingyin Division tasked with exterminating demon generals near Mount Taihang in the lower realm.

The Wuchen Division was a thankless assignment, so naturally his wanting to change divisions was understandable. Moreover, he was a member of the Qingyang Clan, so the commanding general had actually been quite expectant. Who knew this fellow’s sharpest skills were all devoted to seducing goddesses? The Yibingyin Division didn’t have many goddesses to begin with—the commanding general’s heart was bleeding.

At least he was from the Qingyang Clan. That deep blue fire phoenix technique just now was quite formidable, wasn’t it? Continue using it!

A layer of sweat appeared on Shao Yi’s face as he shook his head helplessly with a bitter smile: “I can only use that move once a day. I really can’t burn anymore.”

What kind of excuse was this?! The commanding general could only call out again: “Zhuyin Clan member! Freeze him!”

Xuan Yi blew out a gust of snowflakes, but when they fell on Zhanglu’s body, they had no effect whatsoever. Presumably her divine power was also insufficient. The commanding general saw that today’s situation wouldn’t end well and couldn’t help but let out a long sigh: “All generals of the Yibingyin Division, immediately retreat five thousand li!”

These experienced generals were clearly also quite skilled at fleeing. They immediately scattered in all directions, each riding the wind at high speed in different directions. Not even mice could run as fast as they did—in the blink of an eye, they had all fled.

This time, Xuan Yi finally knew to observe in all directions and listen in all quarters. Seeing the generals flee for their lives like smoke, she immediately followed suit, firmly refusing to linger for even a moment. Suddenly, Shao Yi’s voice sounded from behind: “Why not freeze him? At the very least you could freeze him for a day.”

She frowned: “Why doesn’t Senior Brother Shao Yi burn him?”

How ridiculous—he was allowed to hide his true strength, but she wasn’t allowed to be evasive?

He laughed once, and his voice suddenly drew close to her ear: “Your skill at provoking anger is still so good. Come, let’s flee together.”

Her body was firmly grasped, and his long sleeves, scorching hot with the aura of flames, wrapped around her tightly like wings. Shao Yi abruptly transformed into a blazing wind, spinning rapidly and gracefully as he swept past the shattered mountain ranges. She was nearly spun sick by him, her face turning green as she desperately clawed at his face, her fingernails scratching a deep mark across his forehead.

The wing-like long sleeves seemed to have a mind of their own, wrapping around her layer by layer until she was bound tight. Xuan Yi gradually felt she couldn’t even breathe, and she couldn’t open her mouth to recite incantations either—otherwise she really would vomit. She could only claw randomly at his face with both hands.

Without warning, this rapidly rushing blazing wind turned head-down and spiraled toward the ground. The intense phoenix nirvana flames instantly burned the hard mountain rock into soft sand. Xuan Yi felt like she was rapidly falling through a scalding pile of sand. The falling momentum gradually eased and finally stopped.

The long sleeves that had been binding her so tightly finally released her. Xuan Yi’s face was a sickly green. For a moment she couldn’t think about anything else, covering her mouth and holding back for quite a while, ultimately managing not to vomit. Breathing heavily, she looked around in all directions. This place seemed to be some mountain hollow with branches crossing over scattered rocks. Wild mortal-realm flowers were everywhere—a cluster of red here, a patch of purple there.

Shao Yi was standing before an enormous bluestone boulder, hands clasped behind his back, his back to her, his long hair gently stirred by the breeze.

Not running or dodging this time?

She slowly walked to his side, contemplating when to strike to restrain him, when Shao Yi suddenly spoke: “Little mudfish, ah, what bad thing are you thinking of doing now?”

He suddenly yanked her arm. Xuan Yi only felt herself pulled by an irresistible great force and crashed headlong into his shoulder, then was immediately shoved hard against the bluestone. In that instant, shattered stone flew in all directions.