Chapter 43: Audacity

The black-robed man stared in utter disbelief, his eyes wide as he realized the one who had struck him was a young girl—barely more than a child, delicate in appearance.

He had been hit squarely by her fist—there was no sign of battle aura or spiritual energy, yet the force was immense, the speed astonishing. She had struck and retreated in a flash, landing a blow that left him wounded and shaken.

He wasn't the only one stunned. He Zhongyi, too, was bewildered. The technique Gu Qingli had used bore no trace of traditional battle aura. What was it?

That punch had landed solidly, and the black-robed man could feel the damage—it was as if his internal organs had been violently jarred.

Gu Qingli knew from the start she wasn't a match for this old man in a head-on fight.

She had only one option—ambush. Utilizing the inner power of the Wind-Fire Art, she struck before he could react. It was her best chance to injure him and create an opening. Yet even so, the gap in power was immense. That single strike had been the full extent of her strength.

Truthfully, she hadn't intended to meddle, especially not for these two arrogant young men.

But as she watched, it became clear they weren't truly bad people—merely brash. And besides, Gu Qingli was nothing if not bold; she had long been curious to test her might against a King-tier warrior.

"You old scoundrel," she said coldly, her delicate features touched with a mocking smile. "Luring people out here with no explanation—how vicious, how cunning."

Though she appeared calm, Gu Qingli was anything but. Her guard was fully raised. This old man in black was dangerously powerful.

The black-robed elder finally regained his senses. The blow had been humiliating. But once he sensed the girl's cultivation level—a mere Great Martial Warrior—he let out a furious laugh. He, a dignified two-star Martial King, had been caught off guard by a slip of a girl? If word got out, he'd be a laughingstock.

"Little girl, you're bold to the point of madness. Just a mere Great Martial Warrior, and you dare try to play hero? Are you not afraid of losing your life?"

He shrugged his shoulders, testing his injured chest, and a murderous aura surged from his body.

It had been years since anyone had wounded him—let alone a young girl.

Gu Qingli gave a cold laugh. Had he not been injured, she would have had no confidence at all. But now—it was a different story.

The wound gave her a chance. And she knew exactly how to seize it.

"Miss Qingli, you—you should leave, now!" He Zhongyi gasped between ragged breaths. He couldn't believe she had followed them, let alone intervened. But she wasn't this old monster's match—she couldn't be.

He had already doomed the young master; he couldn't drag another innocent down with them.

"So noisy."

Gu Qingli shot him a glance, her voice dismissive. As the word fell, twin streaks of green light shot toward the old man.

The black-robed elder, still nursing his wound and growing wary of the girl's strange aura, dared not take her lightly. Despite her age, the strength behind her technique was real—and unsettling.

He raised his hands swiftly, unleashing blue light in return.

The battle energies collided mid-air. Gu Qingli's body jolted, and she was forced to retreat five steps, a flash of surprise flickering through her eyes. Still, the force hadn't exceeded her expectations.

"You've got some nerve, little girl—but this level of skill won't make you a hero."

The black-robed man saw her stumble and smiled, cold and cruel. The chasm between a Martial King and the lower tiers was absolute—a wall of power not easily crossed.

As he spoke, his dark silhouette surged forward, intent on ending this the same way he had with He Zhongyi and Sikong Ran.

But Gu Qingli didn't move. Her smile only deepened, colder than before. As the old man's fist hurtled toward her, her eyes narrowed like blades.

With a sudden motion, her ten fingers spread—silver light exploded outward, so bright it forced the eye away.

Sensing something was wrong, the old man retreated in haste—but the silver light, now laced with a glint of violet, followed relentlessly.

His eyes widened in shock—the girl's speed was no less than his own.