After landing, Qi Hao looked at Lu Xueqi before him, his expression complicated.
He had never imagined that his binding plan would fall through once again.
Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, he forced himself to remain calm and raised his hand in greeting.
“Junior Sister Xueqi, I came to the back mountain this time specifically to apologize to you. I hope you can forgive me for what happened before.”
Lu Xueqi snorted coldly. She knew this was nothing more than an excuse from Qi Hao.
The anger in her heart remained, and she said coldly,
“Apologize? Is this how one apologizes? I already had a junior sister pass on the message—I didn’t want to see you. Not only did you trespass into the back mountain of Xiaozhu Peak, you even tried to launch a sneak attack on me just now!”
Exposed, Qi Hao’s heart clenched.
He had indeed wanted to complete the binding while she was off guard, but the powerful pressure emanating from Lu Xueqi’s body made it clear that he was no match for her. He quickly shook his head to explain.
“You misunderstand, Junior Sister! I was only playing a prank, that’s all.”
“Playing a prank? Hmph!”
Lu Xueqi’s expression turned icy.
“Qi Hao, I’ve long since seen through your ambitions. Repeatedly trespassing into the back mountain—today, I will not spare you!”
Before her words had even faded, she suddenly swung her palm. A terrifying burst of energy erupted, and a massive hand formed from condensed spiritual power took shape in an instant, slamming down toward Qi Hao.
Qi Hao was stunned and horrified. Forming a hand seal with his right hand, the **Ice Immortal Sword** appeared in his palm.
Pouring all his spiritual power into the sword, he roared,
“Slash!”
A blade of icy sword light shot forth to meet the massive spiritual palm.
But reality crushed his hopes. As soon as the sword light touched the giant palm, it shattered like glass. The palm continued its descent without losing momentum, pressing down on him relentlessly.
“Junior Sister Xueqi, spare me! It really was a misunderstanding!”
Qi Hao cried out in panic, his voice filled with fear.
But Lu Xueqi remained unmoved. This casual strike was a killing move she had created herself after exchanging martial arts through the chat group.
Combined with her **Fifth Level of Upper Purity Realm** cultivation, its power far exceeded that of ordinary Upper Purity cultivators. How could someone like Qi Hao, who was only at the **Eighth Level of Jade Purity Realm**, possibly resist?
As the giant palm was about to fall, Qi Hao, in a life-or-death moment, cried out.
“System! Activate protection!”
A familiar golden light instantly enveloped Qi Hao’s entire body.
Lu Xueqi’s attack slammed into the **Protective Shield**, and loud booming explosions echoed. The shield trembled violently but never broke.
Seeing this, Lu Xueqi furrowed her brows, clenching her teeth inwardly.
“Damn system!”
From the shadows among the bamboo in the distance, Lin Jingyu stood with his brows tightly furrowed.
The golden protective shield around Qi Hao shone like an unbreakable barrier, completely blocking Lu Xueqi’s fatal strike.
Unconsciously clenching his fists, a wave of bitter jealousy surged in his heart. His own **Heaven Rewards Diligence System** could only slowly improve his cultivation and lacked any instant life-saving functions like this.
At this moment, more than ever, he desperately hoped that Lu Xueqi could shatter that barrier and bring an end to Qi Hao’s life once and for all.
Qi Hao looked at the slightly trembling golden shield, his heart relaxing just a little.
But in the next instant, a surge of rage bubbled up—this was the system’s final protection. Once used, he would have no cards left to play.
He looked at Lu Xueqi in the distance, and his gaze involuntarily turned cold.
However, reason quickly suppressed his anger. He knew very well that the most important thing now was to stay alive.
That mysterious person who had suddenly warned her—who exactly were they?
To be able to conceal themselves without a sound and yet precisely see through his actions—this made Qi Hao shudder.
Without the slightest hesitation, Qi Hao turned around and flew off on his sword, transforming into a stream of light and fleeing in panic.
Lu Xueqi stared coldly at his retreating figure, her fingertips trembling slightly.
A clear chime rang from the sky, and the **Tianyao Divine Sword** instantly unsheathed. The blue sword light surged outward.
Under the pressure of the sword aura, the surrounding bamboo forest rustled violently. The falling bamboo leaves were sliced into powder as if by invisible blades.
“Trying to run? Not that easy!”
Lu Xueqi murmured coldly, then hurled the divine sword with all her might.
The sword light shot across the sky like a meteor and smashed directly into Qi Hao’s **golden protective shield**.
A deafening explosion followed. Waves of energy roared outward, blasting a massive crater into the ground.
Though the shield was not broken, Qi Hao was shaken by the force, his qi and blood churning violently.
His throat went tight, and he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood. His face turned deathly pale in an instant.
Even so, he dared not pause for a second. Using the blast’s force, he accelerated his escape.
Lu Xueqi raised her sword hand slightly but did not pursue.
She scanned the surroundings vigilantly—the mysterious person had yet to appear, and their intentions were unknown.
For someone to avoid her detection, their strength must be unfathomable.
“First, ensure my own safety.”
She thought silently and slowly retrieved the **Tianyao Divine Sword**.
Lin Jingyu, watching from within the bamboo shadows, showed a trace of disappointment in his eyes at the sword light that failed to kill Qi Hao.
But he quickly calmed himself.
After all, he understood well that the golden shield surrounding Qi Hao was most likely a life-saving method granted by his system.
That Lu Xueqi couldn’t break through it with one strike was within reason, given the circumstances.
When he saw Qi Hao blasted away and Lu Xueqi choosing not to pursue, Lin Jingyu’s heart stirred. In an instant, he realized her concern—she was likely wary of someone lurking in the shadows: himself.
He couldn’t help but let out a soft sigh, his gaze once again settling on that graceful figure amidst the bamboo forest.
Lu Xueqi stood beside a pavilion, her robes fluttering gently in the wind.
A look of longing flashed in Lin Jingyu’s eyes, yet he knew this was no time for romance.
After giving her one last deep glance, Lin Jingyu’s figure flickered and vanished like a ghost into the bamboo forest.
He chased in the direction of Qi Hao’s escape, calculating silently in his heart.
‘This threat cannot be allowed to slip away. No matter what, I must find a way to eliminate Qi Hao.’