68- Girl Wake Up

"I think it's time we left this place," Zhen Huan said, glancing back one final time at the now-silent Aqua Valley. The weight of nearly two and a half years of trials was heavy on his shoulders—but his gaze was calm.

The group began to ascend from the valley when—

BOOM!

A figure crashed down in front of them, spiritual pressure bursting like a storm wave.

Zhen Huan stepped forward. "Who's there?"

The figure laughed coldly, madness flashing in his eyes. "Hah! You slaughtered my sect, killed my elders, and now you dare ask who I am?"

Behind him, the surviving elder cackled. "Hahaha! See? That's our sect leader. You're done for now! Just spare me and I'll tell him to kill you… gently."

Zhen Huan cracked his neck. "Oh? You think your sect leader can stand against me?"

Before they could blink, his fingers surged with earth energy.

"Earth Finger Ray!"

A flash of golden light shot forward—piercing the sect leader's chest. The man froze in place, his expression still twisted in laughter as he crumbled to the ground.

Ding

You killed Soul Transformation - 9th Layer Cultivator.

XP Gained: 14,000

Current XP: 119,700

Zhen Huan turned slowly. "Now then, elder… tell me."

The elder collapsed to his knees, trembling. "Ah… ahh, forgive me, please! Don't kill me!"

Zhen Huan didn't blink. "Feng Xuan."

The blade flashed. The elder's head rolled to the ground.

Just then, Yun Sha cried out, "Zhen Huan—her fingers moved!"

Zhen Huan's eyes snapped toward the unconscious girl. "Alright. We're heading to Marine City. She might wake up there."

They soared through the sky at full speed.

Six minutes later, they landed before an inn, rented five rooms, and quickly gathered in one to examine the mysterious girl.

Yun Sha gently laid her on the bed.

"She's still unconscious," Zhen Huan said, studying her closely.

"But her fingers definitely moved," Yun Sha insisted.

"Hmm… we'll wait."

Thirty minutes later.

"HEY, BASTARD Zhen Huan, don't fall asleep! She's awake!" Mu Lingyao shouted, kicking Zhen Huan's leg.

"Huh?" He looked up—and indeed, the girl was sitting upright on the bed, blinking with confusion.

"Hey, girl," Zhen Huan said, stepping forward. "What's your name?"

She looked around, eyes narrowing. "I'm Qing Chen. Where am I? The spiritual energy here… it's so thin."

*Zhen Huan I don't know but I heard that Zhen surname in upper world ah forget it.*

Zhen Huan tilted his head. "Upper world cultivator, huh?"

Her eyes sharpened. "So you do know where I'm from. Then can you send me back?"

He shrugged. "We… don't know how to get there just yet."

She frowned. "My cultivation is being suppressed here…"

"Suppressed to Emperor Realm, right?"

Qing Chen stiffened. "You… You're only Soul Transformation. How can you see my cultivation?"

"Ah, must've been a mistake," Zhen Huan lied smoothly.

"Do you know how to return to the upper world?" she asked.

"Maybe. But you'll have to wait."

She raised a brow. "And what do we do until then?"

Zhen Huan smirked. "I'll take you there… on one condition."

Qing Chen's expression turned icy. "A condition? Are you threatening me?"

Zhen Huan stood firm. "Yes."

She unleashed a surge of spiritual pressure.

Everyone else staggered.

But Zhen Huan remained unmoved.

"I also know you're from the Qing Clan of the upper world."

Qing Chen's face paled. "H-how… That's impossible. You must be guessing."

"Second daughter of the Qing Clan…?"

She gasped. "W-What?! How do you really know that!?"

Zhen Huan smiled slyly. "Do you think if my master wanted to destroy your Qing Clan, he'd even need to try?"

Her lips quivered. "What did you just say?"

"My master said that to me just now."

She clenched her fists. "Fine. I accept. What's the condition?"

Zhen Huan's gaze hardened. "You protect us. Until I reach the upper world."

She scoffed. "What, your master's too scared to protect you himself?"

"No," Zhen Huan said, eyes gleaming. "He said… if he descended to protect me, this world would be destroyed."

Silence.

"…Alright," Qing Chen said slowly. "I'll protect you. Just take me with you when you go."

Zhen Huan smiled. "Good. And I'll stop calling you by name—Lady Qing."

She nodded coldly.

Zhen Huan turned to his group. "Rest up. We'll need our strength."

The group quietly exited the room, leaving Qing Chen staring at the ceiling—eyes unreadable.