"Leave this matter alone." Ye Luotian let out a cold laugh. "Yue Jinghong isn't stupid either. The Sun family can't stir up much trouble."
Ye Lanshan nodded. "Mm, I understand."
The Sun family was finally going to rebel. It was time for the capital to descend into chaos. Yue Jinghong, you fought alongside the Holy Land to snatch my son away. This time, let's see if you still have the energy to fight for my granddaughter. I will never let my granddaughter fall into your hands again.
Ye Luotian gazed at the crescent moon, shaped like a banana, and recalled that night years ago when Ye Feng was taken away. Back then, I lacked the power to protect Ye Feng, but that doesn't mean I can't protect Ye Lanshan now. A faint flame slowly rose in Ye Luotian's hand, shimmering like gold—clearly no ordinary fire.
Ye Lanshan was lying in bed, about to sleep, when Wu Jiao woke her. "You still have the heart to sleep? A third of our three-year pact has already passed. When will you go save my people?"
Ye Lanshan reluctantly sat up in bed. She glanced at Wu Jiao, lowered her head in thought for a long moment, and finally recalled the oath from years ago.
"Got it. Isn't it just about improving my strength? Once I finish dealing with the Holy Land matter, I'll go save your people right away, okay?"
Wu Jiao sneered disdainfully. "With your current strength, forget saving my people—you can't even beat me."
He shot her another look. "Hurry up and cultivate."
"Stop. I have a few questions for you first. Answer them, and then I'll cultivate. That works, doesn't it?" Ye Lanshan immediately cut him off. She had enough troubles lately and didn't want to hear Wu Jiao nagging.
"How did you get out of that space? And if I can't even beat you with my current strength, how strong are your enemies? Oh, and I remember when I summoned you before, you said you were severely injured and couldn't use your mystic power. So why are you now saying I can't even defeat you?"
Ye Lanshan eyed Wu Jiao with amusement, curious to see how he'd spin this lie.
"What I said was that I was severely injured and couldn't use my power. But now my injuries have healed, so naturally I can spar with you. As for the space—don't you know the artifact spirit inside has full control over everything there? I had him send me out, so out I came."
If Wu Jiao could take human form at that moment, he'd definitely be clutching his head in frustration. He couldn't help but wonder if he'd chosen the wrong person. Could this clueless girl, who didn't even know basic常识, really save his people?
"Fair enough. In that case, how about we spar?" Ye Lanshan suddenly felt like testing Wu Jiao to see just how big the gap between them was, given how much he looked down on her.
"Sure, but are you sure you want to spar here?" Wu Jiao glanced around the cramped room, worried the place would collapse before they even started.
This time, it was Ye Lanshan's turn to be speechless. "Of course not here. We'll spar in the space."
"Hun Tian probably won't agree to that," Wu Jiao said uncertainly.
Ye Lanshan wasn't as hesitant as Wu Jiao. "This space has already formed a contract with me and recognized me as its master. Don't I have any authority over it?"
"Let's go. Don't worry—just focus on sparring." Ye Lanshan waved her hand and brought herself and Wu Jiao back into the space.
"Oh? What brings you here? Usually, I have to beg you to come."
Ye Lanshan didn't reply. She walked past him to an open area and tilted her chin at Wu Jiao.
Wu Jiao shot Hun Tian a sympathetic look, leaving Hun Tian utterly confused and bewildered.
But the next second, he understood why Wu Jiao had given him that look.
"Wings of Carnage." The feather-like flames Ye Lanshan shot at him couldn't harm him at all.
Ye Lanshan's eyes narrowed, and her movements quickened. This time, she condensed not fire mystic power but light mystic power. "Holy Light Bird."
Unfortunately, even the Holy Land's signature mystic technique failed to injure Wu Jiao.
"My turn now." Wu Jiao spat out a barrage of water arrows.
Of course, water arrows of this level couldn't hurt Ye Lanshan. She dodged them easily.
But the moment she evaded, all the water arrows exploded like bombs. Countless droplets, each carrying considerable force, flew toward her, leaving no room to escape.
"Six-Sided Fire Shield." Ye Lanshan had no choice but to summon a fire shield to block the attack.
"Silent Rain." This attack was different from the usual ones. Other mystic techniques were at least visible, but this one—if not for her sharp perception sensing something invisible slicing through the air—she'd have thought no technique had been used at all.
Even with her fire shield's protection, she couldn't avoid her skin being cut.
Tiny specks of red began to appear on Ye Lanshan's body. She smirked. "That was just an appetizer, and you're already struggling."
"Is that so? I'd like to see your real moves. How tough are they?" Ye Lanshan's gaze was cold and proud, unfazed by the minor scratches on her skin.
Wu Jiao said casually, "Since you want to know, don't blame me for being harsh. 'Tsunami.'"
Waves of water, condensed into massive surges, crashed toward Ye Lanshan. But she remained calm, still protected inside her fire shield.
Yet under the tsunami's violent assault, the fire shield shattered.
Ye Lanshan did a backflip to escape the tsunami's range and quickly summoned several more fire shields in front of her.
"Hmph, you think that's enough to dodge it?" Wu Jiao sneered at her tactics.
"Volcanic Inferno." Vast sheets of flame appeared before the giant waves.
Though their levels were far apart, this fire was at least the Crimson Lotus Night Flame, barely allowing her to hold her own against Wu Jiao.
"See? I haven't even gone all out, and you're already on the verge of collapse. That's the gap in strength. Hurry up and cultivate, or I wonder how you'll ever save my people."
Wu Jiao paused the match and urged Ye Lanshan.
"I know. I'll cultivate properly." Ye Lanshan had thought she was already strong, but she never expected she couldn't even beat her own mystic beast.
"Looks like I really need to train harder." Ye Lanshan emerged from the space, murmuring to herself.
The long night passed as she cultivated.
"Lanshan, are you there? Mu Ziming wants to discuss something with you." Ye Luotian brought Mu Ziming to the entrance of Ye Lanshan's courtyard.
"Mm, tell him to wait a moment." Ye Lanshan opened her eyes.