Chapter 110: The Arrival of the Fiancée

As the disciples of the sect were about to flee, the Shadow Hall members accompanying Gu Mingyan prepared to take action.

At that moment, Gu Mingyan sharply commanded, "Stop!"

Feng Wu immediately cupped her hands and said, "Hall Leader, if these people escape and spread the news, it could be detrimental to the Young Master and Ghost Valley."

Gu Mingyan sneered coldly. "Anyone who can escape his grasp hasn’t even been born yet! You need not worry."

"But these small fry hardly warrant the Young Master’s continued effort, do they?"

"You can try if you want. I guarantee that the moment you make a move, you’ll lose your head just like those fools. Ling Xiao is a man of great pride; he won’t allow anyone to interfere in his fight!"

Mu Yiren’s gaze was peculiar. "You know Ling Xiao well?"

Gu Mingyan paused, then smiled softly. "Not very well, but I know two of his weaknesses. One, his pride is too strong; the other... is you."

Mu Yiren’s face flushed, yet her eyes held boundless affection as she looked at Ling Xiao.

"You don’t need to doubt anything. If Ling Xiao wanted to be with another woman, he would have been already."

Mu Yiren nodded. "I trust him. It’s just that I can’t help him much. Sometimes, I wish there were more formidable women around him to support him and ease his burden."

Gu Mingyan’s eyes lit up. "I’m perfect for that! Think about it."

"Um..."

Mu Yiren was momentarily stunned. Feng Wu behind her covered her face, muttering, "Hall Leader, please spare the Shadow Hall some dignity."

Below, Ling Xiao was close to finishing the fight. About a hundred or so opponents were fleeing upward into the sky.

These hundred-plus were not foolish; they scattered as they fled, not grouping together. Whoever could escape, would.

Ling Xiao glanced coldly and snorted lightly, "The ones I want to kill, can they really run away?"

With that, he swiftly formed hand seals in the air.

"Supreme Sword Intent, Wind Sword Infinity!"

Those who had just escaped the mountaintop sighed in relief; Ling Xiao hadn’t pursued into the valley, so it seemed they would live this time.

But at that moment, the atmosphere suddenly shifted. In an instant, over a hundred people were torn apart alive, not a single one escaped.

Not even a scream was heard.

Feng Wu and the hundreds of Shadow Hall disciples behind her shivered involuntarily.

"Oh my god, just how far does the Young Master’s limit go?"

Gu Mingyan let out a long sigh. "Perhaps only heaven knows."

She paused, then said again, "Let’s go down. We can collect the spoils now."

"Yes!"

They swiftly descended to Ling Xiao’s side. The lake water below was stained red with blood, resembling a crimson eye—terrifying beyond words.

"Ling Xiao, are you alright?" Mu Yiren asked with immediate concern.

Ling Xiao shook his head. "I'm fine."

"That’s good!"

She patted her chest, but suddenly frowned slightly, glancing at Gu Mingyan and then at herself, a hint of insecurity in her eyes.

No one else noticed, as they all focused intently below.

"If we drain the water here, we can retrieve the spirit crystals," Ling Xiao said, frowning.

"There’s something beneath."

"Something?"

Gu Mingyan was startled, carefully examining below. Her expression gradually grew serious.

"A guardian spirit beast? That makes sense; so many spirit crystals have formed here, it’s natural for a guardian beast to appear. What should we do?"

"Killing this spirit beast is easy, but taking the spirit stones now is of little use. Let’s leave them here for now. They’re underground, and can form more spirit crystals—far better than having them in our hands."

"Good! I’ll send someone to spread the word that we’ve already taken the spirit crystals, so no one else covets them."

Ling Xiao nodded.

"You should return to your sect to report. Tell the elders I won’t be betrothed to that so-called Young Palace Lord of the Divine Water Palace. The Hundred Sect Contest is my own affair; he need not meddle."

Gu Mingyan laughed wryly. "In the entire martial world, only you, Young Master, can boss around sect leaders! Very well, I’ll leave. With the Hundred Sect Contest about to begin, I probably won’t come out again. But I’ll send you the information you need in time. Call me if anything comes up."

"Understood!"

...

After parting with Gu Mingyan, Ling Xiao and Mu Yiren did not return to the Xu family but left Jianglin directly.

In the following days, Jiangzhou was unusually peaceful, as if the world itself was celebrating in harmony.

But those with insight knew this calm was only the prelude to a storm.

...

Time quickly flew to the eve of the Hundred Sect Contest!

That night, a passenger plane flew over Jiangzhou.

In the first-class VIP cabin sat a woman.

Her features were exquisite, her face small and flawless, extraordinarily delicate.

Dressed in a pure white chiffon folded dress, she looked ethereal.

Her expression was indifferent as she gazed out the window at Jiangzhou’s nightscape, a trace of coldness in her eyes.

Beside her sat another tall young woman, also delicate, but her clothes were far less refined, and her aura was worlds apart.

"Young Palace Lord," the latter whispered, "We secretly slipped out to Jiangzhou to find the Young Master of Ghost Valley. If the Palace Leader finds out, will we be punished?"

"Don’t worry. The Hundred Sect Contest starts tomorrow. She won’t imprison me for self-reflection or beat me up. That would only harm the contest."

The girl sighed helplessly.

"Young Palace Lord, I know you’re fine, but I might not be so lucky."

"With me protecting you, what do you have to fear?"

"Ah! Why bother? That Young Master of Ghost Valley has only trained three years and comes from a modest background. But he is still the Young Master of Ghost Valley and one of the Four Young Talents of the martial world. His future is boundless! Young Palace Lord, why insist on breaking off the engagement with him?"

The Young Palace Lord’s eyes narrowed, her expression cold and proud.

"My man, Tie Xinlan, won’t be satisfied with just 'excellent.' Either I have him, or I want the very best!"

"But among the hundred great sects, who can claim to be the best? No one dares say they are number one."

"No! There is one who can."

Tie Xinlan’s eyes shone with admiration.

In her mind, a proud figure appeared vividly.