The moment the black-clothed figure moved, Ye Wushuang had already taken the first step. He strode forward and threw a punch at the slender, masked man.

His golden fist, like a beam of light, tore through the void and smashed into the masked man.

BANG!

The masked man’s body shot out like a cannonball, crashing against the mountain rock. He was reduced to a bloody pulp, as dead as could be.

Seizing the opportunity, Ye Wushuang wrapped an arm around Ye Rou’s slender waist and instantly retreated.

The black-clothed figure saw all this but didn’t intervene, his mind completely focused on the Saber Dao inheritance of the World-Destroying Slash.

’First, I’ll take this inheritance. As for Ye Wushuang, he won’t be escaping today either.’ He wasn’t worried.

Just as the black-clothed figure’s hand was about to grasp the ball of light, the corner of Ye Wushuang’s mouth tilted up. With a push of his Divine Sense, the ball of light, as if it had its own Spiritual Sense, shifted half a meter, causing the black-clothed figure to grab at empty air.

WHOOSH!

In an instant, the ball of light turned into a streak and vanished into the space between Ye Wushuang’s eyebrows.

"You bastard! You dare to trick me?"

Seeing this, the black-clothed figure flew into a rage. His palm transformed into a sharp claw, and with a surge of True Essence, he lunged for Ye Wushuang, preparing to capture him alive.

The other black-clad figures in the vicinity also moved, closing in to attack from all directions.

At the same time, Ye Wushuang used his Dragon Spirit True Essence to break the seal on Ye Rou.

"Xiaoshuang, leave them to me!"

Her seal broken, Ye Rou could finally speak. Like an enraged lioness, she took out the Grand Emperor’s Bow of Destruction and began shooting at the encroaching figures.

Ye Wushuang, in turn, locked his gaze on the main black-clothed figure. His hands formed a seal in an instant, and blood clouds filled the Firmament as the Heavenly Concealing Hand descended.

"This is..."

The black-clothed figure was startled. ’This technique... even I feel threatened by it.’

"You have already received it." Ye Wushuang strode forward, drew a Spirit Communication Treasure Level Treasure Sword, and slashed through the air.

’Heavenly Concealing Hand... Could this be the power of a Saint-Level Lower-Grade Combat Skill?’

Hearing Ye Wushuang’s answer, the black-clothed figure was overjoyed. The power of the Heavenly Concealing Hand had clearly exceeded his imagination.

"Thunder Sword!"

"Mad Demon Sword!"

"Life-Taking Sword!"

While the black-clothed figure was still ecstatic, a flurry of violent Sword Auras shot toward him in a dense, seamless barrage. They were incomparably sharp, their murderous Sword Intent so potent it became tangible.

The attacking claw of True Essence was annihilated by the infinite Sword Intent. The mortal danger turned the black-clothed figure’s ecstasy into horror.

"Tearing Sky Claw!"

He let out a cold shout, his hands lashing out like a pair of sharp eagle talons. They tore through the void, creating ten crescent-shaped gashes as they clawed at the Mad Demon Three Swords.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

A terrifying tearing force destroyed everything in its path, shattering the endless Sword Intent.

Seizing the chance, the black-clothed figure lunged for Ye Rou. ’If I capture Ye Rou, I’ll have Ye Wushuang by his weak spot. Why wouldn’t he surrender then?’

How could Ye Wushuang not know his intentions? All eighty-one of his Qi Vortexes stirred as he unleashed the Barbaric Tyrant Dragon Fist. A torrential wave of True Essence surged forth like floodwaters from an opened dam, spreading out with unstoppable force.

ROAR!

A golden Shadow of Tyrant Dragon roared into existence. The mountains trembled and the walls of the valley collapsed.

’How is this kid so strong?’

The black-clothed figure was even more horrified. He abandoned his attempt to capture Ye Rou and turned his attack into a defense.

BOOM!

The Shadow of Tyrant Dragon rolled through the void, roaring at the sky. Its ferocious head slammed forward with a deafening crash, and a boiling wave of energy spread out in all directions across the valley.

The valley, once vibrant with life, was instantly laid to waste. As the energy spread, the grass and trees were all snapped and broken.

Riding the momentum, Ye Wushuang activated his Treasure Body and charged against the shockwave, throwing another punch at the black-clothed figure.

The black-clothed figure’s eyes narrowed. The shockwave was a product of their clashing energies; although much of its power had dissipated, it was still deadly.

He never expected Ye Wushuang would dare to charge right through it.

A golden light shot through the chaos like a roaming True Dragon. Ye Wushuang’s fist smashed into the black-clothed figure with a loud BANG, sending him flying.

PFFT!

The black-clothed figure was stunned, his body flying back like a scarecrow.

However, a Spiritual Spring expert was truly formidable. Despite taking a direct hit, he did a kip-up to get back on his feet and glanced at his subordinates, who had almost all been shot down.

He hesitated for a moment, then his figure flickered and vanished, fleeing the valley.

After shooting down the last man, Ye Rou raised her Grand Emperor’s Bow of Destruction and was about to give chase, but Ye Wushuang stepped forward and stopped her.

"Sister, are you alright?" Ye Wushuang looked Ye Rou over, and the worried expression on his face made her heart tremble.

"Xiaoshuang, I’m fine. But that man stole your opportunity. We can’t just let him get away."

Ye Rou had heard their earlier exchange and thought that Ye Wushuang had given the Saint-Level Lower-Grade Combat Skill to the black-clothed figure to save her.

"No opportunity is more important than you." Seeing that Ye Rou was unharmed, Ye Wushuang finally breathed a sigh of relief.

But Ye Rou was still filled with self-blame. She hadn’t expected to be a burden to Ye Wushuang again.

Seeing her expression, Ye Wushuang knew what she was thinking and smiled. "Sister, don’t worry. Are my things so easily taken? He might have the life to take it, but he won’t have the life to enjoy it."

Hearing this, Ye Rou’s beautiful eyes lit up as she stared at Ye Wushuang.

"Hehe!" Ye Wushuang suddenly chuckled. "I tampered with that Saint-Level Combat Skill. Anyone who dares to practice it might not notice anything at first. Even after mastering it completely, the cultivator themselves would have a hard time detecting the flaw. However, once they reach the Great Success stage, the drawback will erupt. In the best-case scenario, their meridians will shatter. In the worst, they will die and their dao will be extinguished."

"Xiaoshuang, you..."

Listening to Ye Wushuang’s explanation, Ye Rou stared with her beautiful eyes, a little dazed. It had been a long time since she had seen such a devilish smile on her little brother’s face.

She remembered that when they were children, Ye Wushuang would always have that same mischievous smile whenever he was about to play a prank, and it always meant someone was about to suffer.

"Let’s go. As for the man who captured you... if I don’t kill him, I’ll write my name, Ye Wushuang, backward." Ye Wushuang’s gaze shifted toward the Ancient Spirit Sect.

Regardless of whether it was Elder Mo, Ye Wushuang had already left a mark on the man when he landed that punch.

All he had to do was compare it, and he would know, wouldn’t he?

Retracting his gaze, Ye Wushuang wrapped his arm around Ye Rou’s waist and leaped into the sky.

Held in Ye Wushuang’s arms, Ye Rou felt an unprecedented sense of security. Even though she was older than him, she found herself cherishing his embrace.

Involuntarily, Ye Rou’s small hands wrapped around Ye Wushuang’s strong waist. She suddenly asked, "Xiaoshuang, did you come to save me just because I’m your sister?"

"Of course," Ye Wushuang replied.

"Is that the only reason?" Ye Rou asked again.

"You’re not just my sister; you’re my dearest, closest sister. I will always protect you."

Ye Wushuang smiled. For the past ten-some years, Ye Rou had protected him. From now on, he would be the one to protect her.

But he had no idea what was truly on Ye Rou’s mind.

’We’re not even related by blood... can’t we be...?’

Ye Rou gave Ye Wushuang a complicated look before lowering her head in disappointment. ’I’m already his dearest sister. What more could I ask for?’