Chapter 187: A Test of Strength

Chapter 187: Chapter 187: A Test of Strength

Yi Xiaoyao hadn’t intended to hurt anyone. He had only wanted to push the green-robed woman away, so he hadn’t used much force.

But the green-robed woman had attacked without holding back. Even if she injured someone in the Seven Kills Star Hall, with her mistress’s status, no one would be able to do anything to her.

Forced back several steps by the blow, Yi Xiaoyao’s expression darkened as he looked at the woman.

In the Great Shang Dynasty, a Cultivation at the Golden Core Ninth Realm made one an absolute powerhouse. Furthermore, judging from that palm strike, this woman’s strength should be enough to rank on the Hidden Dragon List.

But the most crucial point was that this green-robed woman was a maid!

’What does this mean?’

For a mere maid to have such strength, Yi Xiaoyao was naturally astounded.

Now, he finally realized that the Great Shang Dynasty was indeed, just as the woman had said, nothing more than a small, insignificant place.

The green-robed woman, for her part, was even more astonished. She was no ordinary maid. She had grown up practicing Cultivation alongside her young mistress, enjoying resources unavailable to other servants.

Her young mistress had once told her that her strength was enough to earn a spot on the Great Shang Dynasty’s Hidden Dragon List, which had thrilled her for some time.

’But now, some kid at the Golden Core Sixth Realm actually took my palm strike and was only forced back three steps. An ordinary cultivator at the Golden Core Sixth Realm would have had their arm broken and been left severely wounded on the ground.’

"Hmph! I suppose you must be a genius in this sect. But a genius from a backwater place like this is nothing before me!"

The green-robed woman glared, unleashing her Spiritual Power to attack Yi Xiaoyao with all her might.

’Although I’m just a maid, I consider myself far nobler than anyone from this backwater place. How could I possibly allow him to get past me?’

Seeing that the woman was attacking without mercy, a cold glint appeared in Yi Xiaoyao’s eyes. He snorted, and flames erupted around his right fist as he threw a punch.

A mighty fire dragon roared into existence, its head a gigantic fist of Flame, hurtling directly toward the green-robed woman’s formidable attack.

BOOM!

After a stunning roar, the Flame exploded outward.

"How is this possible!"

The green-robed woman coughed up a large mouthful of blood. Most of her clothes were burned away, her skin was charred black, and her body was sent flying backward uncontrollably.

This was only because Yi Xiaoyao had shown mercy. Otherwise, the woman would have been reduced to a pile of ash.

She was a member of Yun Mengling’s family, after all. For Yun Mengling’s sake, he spared her life.

Without even glancing at the green-robed woman he had sent flying, Yi Xiaoyao turned to enter Yun Mengling’s room.

Just then, the person inside, having noticed the commotion, suddenly opened the door. A woman dressed in a Golden Silk Robe walked out.

Yi Xiaoyao’s eyes narrowed. Yun Mengling was standing right behind that woman.

"Ling’Er!"

Yi Xiaoyao cried out anxiously.

But Yun Mengling’s face was filled with worry. She didn’t dare to acknowledge Yi Xiaoyao, terrified that Yun Shang, who stood before her, would attack him.

Seeing Yun Mengling’s expression, Yi Xiaoyao seemed to sense something was wrong. He frowned and turned his gaze to Yun Shang.

Yun Shang’s gaze first fell upon the green-robed woman on the ground, who was continuously spitting up blood, her body charred black. ’That’s my closest maid!’

"Yun! Who did this to you?"

The green-robed woman, called Yun, painfully lifted her head to look at Yun Shang.

"Young Mistress, it was him..."

Yun pointed at Yi Xiaoyao, her face filled with disbelief. She simply couldn’t believe that she had been so easily defeated by someone at the Golden Core Sixth Realm, especially in a remote backwater like this.

In the next moment, fury appeared on Yun Shang’s face. Her frigid gaze instantly locked onto Yi Xiaoyao as she roared in anger.

"Who are you? How dare you harm my people!"

Yi Xiaoyao looked at Yun Shang coldly and said indifferently, "She blocked my path. I warned her. She brought this on herself."

"Young Mistress, he came looking for your cousin. You were speaking with her just now, so of course I couldn’t let him in," Yun explained to Yun Shang.

Yun Shang’s expression shifted slightly, but the fury on her face didn’t lessen in the slightest.

"Cousin Meng Ling, who is he?"

"He... he’s my friend. Cousin, can we just let this matter go?"

Yun Mengling glanced at Yi Xiaoyao with a worried expression, pleading with Yun Shang.

"Let it go?" Yun Shang sneered. "Cousin Meng Ling, you’ve never liked being around men, let alone making friends with them. I’m afraid this brat is the reason you want to stay here and refuse to come back with me!"

Yun Mengling’s expression changed, and she was about to speak when she heard Yi Xiaoyao’s icy voice.

"So what if I am? Ling’Er is my woman. Where do you think you’re taking her without my permission!"

Yi Xiaoyao’s expression was now incredibly grim. ’This woman really is trying to take Yun Mengling away.’

Hearing Yi Xiaoyao so domineeringly declare that she was his woman, Yun Mengling felt a wave of sweetness in her heart, but it was overshadowed by an even greater sense of worry.

’Just a moment ago, Yun Shang said she wanted to crush any reason I had for staying here, and now Yi Xiaoyao has come looking for me.’

Hearing Yi Xiaoyao’s words, Yun Shang burst into a furious laugh. "Ling’Er? *Your* woman?"

"Do you have any idea who we are? Is a name like ’Ling’Er’ something a country bumpkin like you is qualified to say?"

"I’m taking her with me. Why would I need your permission?"

"Right now, whether or not *you* get to live is what requires *my* permission!"

As soon as the words left her mouth, she launched into the air and flew at high speed toward Yi Xiaoyao.

Yi Xiaoyao’s gaze sharpened.

’Nascent Soul Realm!’

’But that’s to be expected. If her maid is at the Golden Core Ninth Realm, it’s not surprising that the mistress is at the Nascent Soul Realm.’

"Cousin!"

Yun Mengling’s face paled. ’Her cousin is at the Nascent Soul Second Realm; how could Yi Xiaoyao possibly be a match for her?’

At this thought, she hurriedly shouted, "Cousin, let him go! I’ll go back with you!"

"Cousin Meng Ling, it seems you’ve truly developed feelings for him. I never thought you’d fall for such an insignificant nobody."

Yun Shang’s eyes narrowed as she spoke. "But even so, I must kill him. Otherwise, even if you return with me, you won’t be able to let go of this attachment and focus on your Cultivation!"

Seeing Yun Shang fly toward him, Yi Xiaoyao let out a cold laugh. "Kill me? For Ling’Er’s own good? Why dress it up in such noble words? I think you just want revenge for your servant!"

"So what if I do! When I want to kill you, I don’t need a reason!"

Yun Shang laughed furiously. The next moment, with a raise of her hand, streaks of white silk shot down from the sky toward Yi Xiaoyao.

SWOOSH SWOOSH SWOOSH!

Each streak of white silk pulsed with immense Spiritual Power, enough to easily annihilate an expert at the Golden Core Ninth Realm. Dozens of these streaks descended with overwhelming momentum, a truly merciless attack.

Yi Xiaoyao’s pupils shrank abruptly. A fire seemed to ignite in his eyes, his will to fight flaring ever stronger.

"Perfect. I’ll use you to test my current strength!"

After a cold snort, raging flames instantly engulfed Yi Xiaoyao’s arms. With a sharp RING, he drew his sword, and the blood-red Bloodthirsty Sword was transformed in that instant into a Flame Sword!

...