“Tian Kuang,” Xiang Haikui introduced herself.

“And me, Tian Bao,” Bai Xingxian pulled out another tooth.

That was the third time in one day. Tsk, his gums hurt.

Dao Chen had initially been uncertain of their abilities, but now he smiled: “Well, what a coincidence—so we’re all from the same family.”

Ha! As if we’re family with you!

Though Xiang Haikui inwardly mocked him, she maintained her composure as the Second Young Lady of Yin Sha City, unwilling to embarrass her father: “Dao Chen, considering our shared connection, give me the snake demon, leave Yin Sha immediately, and I’ll spare your life.”

Snake demon?

They didn’t know the truth.

With the Tianren Jian hovering above his head, Dao Chen chanted a Buddhist invocation while contemplating how to kill them: “Young benefactor, you may be young, but your arrogance is immense. In this border region, the deep foundations I’ve built over ninety years cannot be shaken by a city lord’s controversial daughter. If you don’t believe me, go ahead and tell everyone—see who they believe.”

As he finished speaking, the formation before him suddenly grew brighter.

Dao Chen’s eyes also brightened. Yin Changli was indeed formidable, carrying the bloodline of a world-creating divine beast!

With just a trace of soul energy entering the formation, it had such a miraculous effect, drawing in the flowing sand that sealed the Shen Yao!

Xiang Haikui, unfamiliar with formations, observed Dao Chen’s expression and sensed danger: “Dao Chen, I’ve killed many demonic beasts but never a person. Don’t make my first human kill someone from the same sect.”

Killing humans and killing beasts were ultimately different.

Dao Chen’s smile deepened: “Don’t you know that among the Twelve Divine Swords, none can harm another? Especially against my Tianren, your Tian Kuang has already lost its fighting spirit.”

Xiang Haikui could feel it—bathed in the righteous light of the Tianren Jian, Tian Kuang had become lazy and listless.

Seeing the Flowing Sand Formation drawing closer, Dao Chen was in high spirits. He beckoned to her: “Don’t believe me? Try stabbing me with your Tian Kuang!”

“I think the Sword Sect Ancestor should have forged a ‘Showoff Sword’—it would suit you perfectly,” Xiang Haikui rolled her eyes. “I’ll ask you one last time: are you truly unwilling to stop?”

Dao Chen spread his arms, smiling.

His expression said it all: “I’m standing here letting you strike. If you can cut me, I’ll admit defeat.”

“Fine!” Xiang Haikui gripped Tian Kuang with her left hand, shouted angrily, and charged toward him with wind at her feet.

When Tian Kuang chopped down on Dao Chen’s head, there was a humming sound as it struck an invisible golden Buddhist barrier.

Tianren had indeed resisted Tian Kuang.

Just as Dao Chen was about to mock her, he felt a sharp pain in his chest—a dagger had pierced his torso!

Lu Xiqiao, who had been watching from the side, was stunned.

When Xiang Haikui swung Tian Kuang down with her left hand, her right hand quickly drew a dagger from her waist.

One hand chopping, one hand stabbing.

Using both hands, her speed was so fast that only a trail of light remained!

Unlike Lu Xiqiao’s shock, Bai Xingxian had watched Xiang Haikui grow up and found this normal.

Besides, this magical dagger forged by his uncle was something Xiang Haikui had borrowed from him on the way here.

While the dagger could penetrate protective spiritual energy, Dao Chen’s cultivation was far higher than hers, making the stab no easy feat.

Bai Xingxian looked at her wrist—many blood vessels had burst, and her entire arm had turned purple-red with a web-like pattern of cracks forming on the skin.

After the strike, Xiang Haikui immediately retreated several yards, swallowing the blood rising in her throat, laughing: “Dao Chen, are you brain-dead? If divine swords can’t harm each other, I just need to switch weapons!”

All warfare is based on deception.

This wasn’t taught by her master.

She had learned it from her boss.

Though it truly hurt—she was barely holding back from grimacing—she could no longer hold Tian Kuang and had to rest it on her shoulder.

“You…” Dao Chen spat blood. Her cultivation wasn’t enough to pierce his heart, but his protective spiritual energy had shattered.

The formation disk, now powerless, instantly extinguished.

“I’ll kill you!” As Dao Chen withdrew Tianren and prepared to deliver a fatal blow, the black mist hidden in his sleeve—Yin Changli’s spiritual soul—seized the moment when his protective energy shattered to suddenly counterattack, entering his body through the wound in his chest.

Dao Chen was terrified!

Yin Changli was trying to devour his soul and take over his physical body!

Seeing Dao Chen’s sudden panic and expression of unbearable agony, Xiang Haikui was somewhat surprised. Damn, was she really that powerful?

Had she made him cry? Probably from anger?

“Finish him off, Sister Kui!” Lu Xiqiao shouted from behind, pumping his fist.

Oh right!

Just as Xiang Haikui prepared to move forward for the killing blow, an arrow whistled toward her from behind.

She flipped to avoid it.

She saw Wu Mian and his group, who had abandoned their camel beasts and flown directly to the scene.

Besides the Yin Sha guards led by Wu Mian, there were also tribal leaders who had come looking for Dao Chen.

With both Dao Chen and Xiang Haikui coming and going in a hurry, they had keenly sensed something unusual and followed.

Everyone stared in shock and disbelief at Master Dao Chen, who was covered in black energy and had a ferocious expression.

Dao Chen seized the initiative: “Everyone, this female benefactor, together with the young master of the Lu family, intended to release an ancient Shen Yao trapped in the desert. I happened to discover them… You must quickly… This poor monk will go to block the Shen Yao… I’ll block it even at the cost of my life…”

With those words, he made a hand sign, summoned a cloud beneath his feet, and swiftly escaped.

Under these circumstances, Xiang Haikui couldn’t pursue him. Besides, he had already failed, and the snake remained behind, so she let him go.

She stepped forward to pick up the jar. The little black snake had curled into a ball, its body covered with a thick layer of ice.

It wasn’t dead—had it sealed itself?

She wondered if there was any harm in Dao Chen having her use her hair to stitch the little black snake’s wound.

“You vixen!” Wu Mian clenched his fists in fury. “You are a seductress sent from the capital!”

“How dare you harm the Master!” The tribal leader was also enraged.

With Tianren now distant, Tian Kuang came back to life.

Xiang Haikui sealed the jar and tossed it to Lu Xiqiao on the camel’s back: “Hold this.”

Then she signaled Bai Xingxian to prepare for battle.

Trying to reason with them now would be futile.

Surrendering was equally impossible.

Fighting was the only option.

Xiang Tianqing arrived at Dao Chen’s tribe, but naturally didn’t find him.

Following the direction indicated by the tribespeople, she pursued on her camel beast.

Halfway there, she spotted someone buried in the sand, with only a corner of a monk’s robe visible.

She quickly approached and pulled the person from the sand—it was Master Dao Chen.

“Master? Master?”

Xiang Tianqing looked around in surprise.

With a sandstorm approaching, she carried him onto her camel’s back and sought shelter in a cave.

Along the way, Dao Chen kept mumbling.

“Master? What are you saying?” Xiang Tianqing concentrated, vaguely hearing something like “Seventh Lord, kill me,” “Come, let us wager our lives,” and “Who wins and who loses is uncertain.”

Xiang Tianqing couldn’t understand.

After laying him down in the cave, she took out a small bamboo tube and gave him some water to drink.

Afterward, Xiang Tianqing examined him.

She had always felt he was surrounded by a layer of light, making it difficult to see him. Now, looking carefully, she realized how handsome he truly was.

Suddenly, she heard a cough, and the man lying on the ground opened his eyes.

These eyes were cold and gleaming with frost. Xiang Tianqing was startled and backed away, but quickly approached again, crouching beside him: “Master Dao Chen, you’re awake.”

Dao Chen?

This wasn’t Dao Chen.

This was Yin Changli.

His spiritual soul had been extracted by Dao Chen and trapped in his sleeve.

When Xiang Haikui’s dagger shattered Dao Chen’s protective spiritual energy, he had instinctively invaded Dao Chen’s sea of consciousness and taken control of his physical body.

His soul hadn’t fully integrated with the new body yet, so Yin Changli’s vision was somewhat blurred. After a few moments, he vaguely made out her graceful silhouette: “Young lady, you are…?”

Xiang Tianqing was puzzled: “Master doesn’t remember me? I’m Xiang Tianqing, daughter of Xiang Heng, the City Lord of Yin Sha.”

Yin Changli silently repeated this name but didn’t recall it: “You call me Master?”

He touched his head.

His hand froze.

Xiang Tianqing, seeing his unusual state, asked cautiously: “Master? What’s wrong?”

Yin Changli didn’t answer. At this moment, he couldn’t remember who he was, but a faint impression told him he wasn’t Dao Chen.

Yin Changli changed the subject: “Did you save me?”

Xiang Tianqing nodded: “I was passing by and happened to see you collapsed in the sand.”

“Thank you.”

Yin Changli lowered his eyes and tried to sit up, but suddenly groaned in pain.

What was happening?

He clutched his waist—there was no wound, yet for some reason, it hurt terribly.

“Let me help you,” Xiang Tianqing said, moving closer.

“No need.” Yin Changli instinctively raised his hand in refusal, as if by some innate tendency, he disliked others approaching him.

Xiang Tianqing awkwardly withdrew.

Yin Changli couldn’t let anyone discover he had possessed someone else’s body. Thinking about how to soften his tone, his gaze fell on her thick black hair hidden under the red gauze scarf, and he paused: “Young lady, may I… see your hair?”

“Hmm?” Xiang Tianqing bit her lip shyly and removed her gauze scarf, revealing hair like a waterfall.

Yin Changli extended his hand, his index finger slowly reaching out, stopping half an inch from her hair ends, then he closed his eyes to sense it.

It wasn’t her.