The punch from an eighth-grade sand bear was no joke, especially with its eyes glowing red in a berserk state.

Meng Xilou was struck in the chest and staggered backward, nearly falling onto the sand.

Xiang Haikui was delighted.

Well done, Meng Xilou. You disgust me, so I’ll disgust you right back.

Come on, let’s hurt each other.

She pretended not to notice the blood at the corner of his mouth and pleaded with her hands clasped like a begging puppy: “Senior Brother, please, just subdue the bear, don’t hurt it!”

As another bear paw descended, Meng Xilou rolled awkwardly to avoid it, wiped the blood from his lips, and grew angry!

This little wretch was mocking him!

His carefully selected avatar shell was handsome and dignified, from an excellent family background. Countless women threw themselves at him.

In the Upper Realm, he merely needed to stand still to attract the covetous gazes of innumerable women.

He had always disdained them all.

Yet now, this mere mortal woman kept tormenting him despite his repeated kindness and thoughtful efforts.

Forget whatever expert was behind her—kill her!

“Young Master, small impatience ruins great plans!” an elderly voice entered his sea of consciousness. “You’re only one step away from success, don’t give up now!”

“One step away?” The enraged Meng Xilou dodged another bear paw and got a mouthful of sand. “And what terrible ideas have you been giving me? You claimed to be well-read and experienced with women?”

Just wait for your death.

“Young Master doesn’t understand.” The elderly voice continued, “The ‘expert’ has already influenced her thinking, so naturally she finds you disagreeable. Why not try the opposite approach and do as she says…”

“Her smile will gradually fade, and she’ll ask why you’re following her demands despite knowing she’s mocking you.”

“You can silently bleed from your mouth, and softly say, ‘As long as Little Junior Sister is happy,’ or ‘Since you like bears, I’ll give it to you,’ or ‘Whether your affection is genuine or not, I’ll do anything you ask.'”

“This old servant doesn’t believe we can’t win her over…”

Meng Xilou considered it: “I’ll trust you once more.”

But how to fight without hurting the bear?

This was an eighth-grade sand bear, and he would certainly suffer serious injuries.

No matter—he had come this far, and he wasn’t one to abandon a task halfway.

Tian Kuang trembled in its sheath as a warning, and Xiang Haikui sensed that he had developed murderous intent.

But soon after, Tian Kuang settled down, indicating that Meng Xilou had restrained himself.

Then, Xiang Haikui watched as he withdrew his sword and summoned a gleaming long whip, engaging in “wrestling” with the sand bear.

Hearing his bones crack as he was beaten, his hair disheveled and dignity lost, Xiang Haikui was momentarily stunned.

But quickly, Tian Kuang became excited in its sheath again.

This was…

It was that evolving monster!

Yes, this was the sensation.

Meng Xilou must have sensed it too, so he changed his strategy, pretending to seriously fight the sand bear to lure the great monster closer.

Seeing her smile gradually disappear, Meng Xilou became more convinced of his “strategist’s” advice, gritting his teeth as he fought the sand bear hand-to-paw.

His internal organs were nearly displaced from the beating, but he finally managed to subdue the sand bear, binding it securely with his whip-turned-rope.

Before he could follow the elder’s “script” and “communicate” with Xiang Haikui, the sand beneath his feet suddenly collapsed!

Meng Xilou quickly escaped.

When he looked back after steadying himself, the sand bear had already been devoured!

“Senior Brother, your technique of using yourself as bait is truly impressive,” Xiang Haikui drew Tian Kuang and genuinely complimented Meng Xilou.

His acting might be terrible, but the man was certainly fierce.

To achieve his goals, he was ruthless toward obstacles and even himself.

“That wasn’t…” Meng Xilou was confused; he hadn’t endured that beating to catch the monster.

Bang—!

Xiang Haikui threw Tian Kuang, knowing the monster moved extremely fast underground, and first divided its sword energy.

The sword energy split into five streams, flying to five positions to surround the sand pit.

This formed a small sword formation that could temporarily trap the monster within.

“The Five Interlocking Heavenly Net Formation?!”

Just as her formation was completed, a surprised voice rang out.

About twenty sword cultivators arrived, riding their swords.

Their uniforms were identical, and they rode oddly-shaped flying swords that could slide across the sand surface, looking exactly like skateboards.

Xiang Haikui recognized them as members of a sword cultivation sect near Yin Sha.

They had a strange name: “Send You to Blue Heaven,” abbreviated as the “Send You Sect.”

Later, a disciple with a perverse nature violated sect rules and was expelled.

After wandering far and wide, this person returned to establish an evil cult near his alma mater, naming it “Send You to Western Heaven,” abbreviated as the “Send You Cult.”

These opposing righteous and evil factions became the two largest unofficial powers in the border region.

To distinguish themselves, the sword cultivation sect changed their abbreviation to the “Blue Heaven Sect.”

The group of sword cultivators reached Xiang Haikui’s dune and put away their skateboard-like flying swords.

The leading young sword cultivator stepped forward, seemingly forgetting his purpose, tilting his head to observe, immersed in the Five Interlocking Heavenly Net Formation.

He didn’t recognize Tian Kuang but inquired about the formation: “Those who understand this formation are rare in the world. May I ask who your master is, young lady?”

Her master had taught this formation casually, and Xiang Haikui had learned it just as casually. Was it so impressive?

She glanced at Meng Xilou’s expression. Indeed, there was a faint trace of mockery at the corner of his lips, as if saying, “Country bumpkins, rustics, ignorant mortal dregs.”

Xiang Haikui replied: “My master has been in seclusion for a long time.”

The young sword cultivator asked again: “Our sword sect has countless treasured swords and sword techniques. We are willing to exchange them for the secret of this formation. What do you think, young lady?”

Xiang Haikui shook her head: “Thank you for your appreciation, Senior.”

The young sword cultivator’s expression soured.

Xiang Haikui thought it amusing—whether she exchanged or not was her freedom. What was with that expression suggesting she didn’t know what was good for her?

The young sword cultivator persisted, sternly lecturing her: “Young lady, the Five Interlocking Heavenly Net Formation is meant for multiple people to operate together. Using it alone, you can only utilize one or two tenths of its power, truly wasting its potential…”

Damn it, Xiang Haikui realized she was truly unlucky this year, encountering mentally disturbed people. She closed her mouth and ignored him—let him ramble on his own.

“Young lady…”

“Uncle Master!” A disciple behind him reminded the young sword cultivator, urging him not to delay their important task.

The young sword cultivator came to his senses, nodded, and resumed his previous composure: “Young lady, you are no match for this demon. Leave it to us.”

By now, Meng Xilou had tidied up his appearance and cupped his hands in greeting: “Elder Fang, this area has always been under the jurisdiction of our Yin Sha City. There’s no need for your intervention.”

Surname Fang—Xiang Haikui recalled the dream world. He should be the Grand Elder of the Blue Heaven Sect, eighth-grade sword cultivator Fang Zhiyou.

Rumored to be a sword fanatic, he normally focused on cultivation in seclusion and rarely ventured out. That he suddenly led disciples beyond the border suggested this evolving monster was more significant than she had imagined.

Moreover, Fang Zhiyou completely ignored Meng Xilou’s territorial claim and raised his arm.

The sword cultivators behind him all drew their swords, lined up, and pointed their blades toward the sky.

Like a fireworks display, sword energy erupted from the sword tips, converging in midair to form a massive sphere of light.

Hum…

The light sphere finished charging and released lightning chains downward, penetrating beneath the sand layer.

This greatly resembled the lightning ball that had trapped Xiang Haikui in Phoenix Garden.

Xiang Haikui withdrew her sword, pushed out of the battle circle, and anger accumulated in her heart.

The Blue Heaven Sect’s sword cultivators were excessively domineering. She hadn’t even recalled her Five Interlocking Heavenly Net Formation when they had already formed their greater sword formation, overlapping her smaller one.

Had she not moved quickly, she would have been injured.

This wasn’t helping—it was monster-stealing.

They wanted to capture this evolving monster for themselves.

And there was also an implication of teaching her a lesson for not recognizing their kindness, while showing off their sect’s superior sword formation.

She could see through it, and Meng Xilou understood even more clearly, his irritation growing!

In his territory, everyone was slapping his face today—this was truly intolerable!

Fang Zhiyou glanced at Meng Xilou.

While his disciples set up the formation to capture the monster, he remained motionless, guarding against others who might try to snatch it.

But in this desert, only Yin Sha’s Great City Lord Xiang Heng could surpass him, and he was reportedly in seclusion.

Only two people could match him in battle: the Send You Cult’s cult leader and the Dual-Form Demon Lord in the Devil City.

He didn’t consider the mere Meng Xilou, a noble young master from the capital, worthy of notice.

Shortly after, the ground beneath everyone rumbled.

The evolving monster hiding beneath the sand layer was forced out by the lightning chains, finally revealing its true form.

Xiang Haikui was contemplating how to mess with these unreasonable sword cultivators when a pitch-black thing burst from the sand pile, startling her into retreating several steps.

It was spherical, looking exactly like a sea urchin, covered with spikes.

A crevice opened in the middle, revealing saw-like teeth, angrily trying to bite the sword energy that was piercing it.

Initially, Xiang Haikui hadn’t recognized it, but after it landed and rolled a few times on the sand, she suddenly realized it!

It wasn’t an evolving monster at all—it was her boss’s little black sphere palace!

The supreme magical treasure that combined a light-speed engine with a storage space ring!

No wonder it had suddenly appeared in Yin Sha—it had come along with her boss.

No wonder the Blue Heaven Sect had come to seize it. Not only would mortals fight over such a treasure, but those two Underworld officials behind her probably couldn’t sit still either.

Mortals might not know, but they knew this was her boss’s “traveling palace,” filled with his possessions.

Those possessions far exceeded the value of the little black sphere itself.

They had to seize it during the chaos.

“Senior Brother,” Xiang Haikui quickly urged Meng Xilou, “this doesn’t seem to be a monster.”

Meng Xilou also realized it wasn’t a monster but a celestial treasure he had never seen before.

He hastily contacted the elderly advisor: “What is this thing?”

The elder: “I’ve never seen it before. I’m searching through ancient texts now.”

Meng Xilou considered: “Send word to Devil City and the Send You Cult to stall for time. Also, send a message to the Buddhist cave to get my sister here.”

The elder: “Yes.”

Meng Xilou: “Search quickly, and ask others if you don’t know. I need to know all information about this treasure before my sister arrives, to help her subdue it.”

The elder: “…Yes.”

Xiang Haikui also wanted to notify her boss. She wondered if, after his soul possession, the little black sphere would still recognize him if he came personally.

If he could reclaim it, Bai Xingxian could take her boss away, and they could escape again.

But her boss was currently weak, and the situation here was too dangerous. Better to be cautious—she would seize it herself.

At the critical moment, she would expend all her berserk energy, transform into a flood dragon, grab the little black sphere, and flee to the Buddhist cave to deliver it to her boss.

Tian Kuang hummed, happily adding some berserk energy, indicating he approved of this plan!

Xiang Haikui raised her eyebrows and began to observe from the sidelines.

She watched the tug-of-war between the Blue Heaven Sect and the little black sphere.

Two hours later, the sky darkened, and Tian Kuang hummed loudly, its berserk energy continuously rising.

Some powerful figures had arrived with their forces, hiding in the shadows.

After another hour, several more powerful figures seemed to arrive. The progress bar of Tian Kuang’s second-level berserk energy was almost full.

With her power fully charged, Xiang Haikui’s cheeks flushed with excitement, she suddenly shuddered.

What was happening? That expectant gaze, like a left-behind child, had returned.