Raging currents of electricity swept through the courtyard, reducing the once-exquisite pavilions and courtyards to rubble in an instant.
Ji Bingyan moved with ethereal grace, her steps light and her body fluid as she skillfully dodged the lightning strikes, rendering Song Yu's attacks completely futile.
Yet this was the extent of her advantage. Her superior agility could not bridge the vast gap in their cultivation foundations.
Knowing she couldn't outlast him, she feigned a kick, sending debris flying as she sprang upward, aiming to escape.
"You think you can escape?"
Unfortunately, Song Yu had seen through her plan. The moment Ji Bingyan leaped, he sprang upward, positioning himself half a body length above her and unleashing his ultimate technique.
"Imperial Zenith Heaven Scripture: Command the World."
"Ugh~"
Song Yu transformed raw power into refined skill. With lightning-fast precision, he closed the distance, seizing Ji Bingyan's shoulder and slamming her back to the ground.
"Hmph, a mere Hu girl. Even with your peerless agility, you're still no match for this king's casual grasp."
Ji Bingyan glared at him, her shoulder throbbing with pain. "Damn it, you half-step Manifested Saint are picking on me, huh? Give me three years, and I'll beat you into a pulp!"
Song Yu sneered, his face full of disdain. "You're right. At just seventeen, you've already forced your cultivation to the Egoless Realm through forbidden techniques. If I hadn't observed closely, you might have truly deceived me. In time, I might not be able to defeat you. That's why I must crush you now, before you grow stronger."
"Hmph."
"Tell me, what's your true purpose in infiltrating my Dragon Han Celestial Dynasty? And what's your relationship with Di Feijing? Confess everything truthfully, or I have plenty of ways to make you talk."
"I've already told you I'm not a Xiongnu spy! Why won't you believe me? I only want to see Di Feijing, nothing more."
"Are you Di Feijing's lover, putting on a show of star-crossed lovers for me? Do you think my imperial sister is some common fool?"
Ji Bingyan's face darkened. "No. How could someone of my lowly status be worthy of him? Stop spouting nonsense."
Song Yu sneered. "It seems you won't talk honestly without a little... persuasion."
Just as Song Yu tensed to torture Ji Bingyan, a sudden, icy wind swept through the chamber from behind him.
He decisively abandoned Ji Bingyan, sidestepping with a swift movement.
An invisible force of finger energy grazed his cheek, striking a nearby ruined pavilion and punching a thumb-sized hole through it.
"What kind of coward attacks from the shadows? Dare you show your face and face me like a true hero?"
As the words fell, a figure in white robes descended gracefully from mid-air.
"Such a beauty, Your Highness. Why press her so relentlessly?"
Shen Zhao gently waved his folding fan, landing steadily more than ten paces away from Song Yu.
"Are you her accomplice?" Song Yu frowned, unable to discern the other man's cultivation level.
Shen Zhao touched his nose, closed his fan, and clasped his hands in a formal greeting. "I am Chu Liuxiang, from the Eastern Region. Having just arrived in the Celestial Dynasty, I pay my respects to Prince Rui."
"You know my identity?"
"I witnessed everything that transpired between you and the young lady earlier. Knowing your status as Prince Rui is hardly surprising."
Song Yu froze, thinking: *When did he appear? How could someone of my cultivation level not sense his presence at all?*
Seeing Song Yu's hesitation, Shen Zhao continued, "Prince Rui, would you grant Chu this favor? Release the young lady, and consider it a debt I owe you."
Song Yu snapped out of his daze. "Do you think everyone is worthy of owing this prince a favor? Ultimately, it depends on whether you have the qualifications."
Shen Zhao unfurled his folding fan again. "Then what does Prince Rui consider qualifying?"
"Survive three of my moves. If you can still speak after that, I might consider releasing her."
"A deal. Please, Prince Rui, teach me."
With that, Song Yu struck out with a palm strike, channeling half his Primordial Art to test Shen Zhao's defenses.
Yet faced with the surging force, Shen Zhao remained unperturbed. With a fluid sidestep and evasive maneuver, he effortlessly evaded the attack, his agility even surpassing Ji Bingyan's.
"Hmm? Remarkable footwork."
"You flatter me."
Startled by his opponent's agility, Song Yu immediately channeled seventy percent of his power.
"Imperial Zenith Heaven Scripture: Sunset Surging Wave Palm!"
A devastating palm strike, like a mountain collapsing, instantly kicked up all the debris on the ground, forming a raging tide of rubble that crashed toward Shen Zhao.
Seeing this, Shen Zhao twirled his fan between his fingers and leaped upward in a spinning motion. A hurricane swirled around him, obscuring the sky and blinding the eyes.
*Boom!*
The clash of their energy forces produced a deafening roar.
When the dust cleared, Shen Zhao was nowhere to be seen.
"Defeated already? I thought I'd encountered a truly formidable opponent."
Just as Song Yu was puzzled, Shen Zhao's voice sounded in his ear, "Prince Rui, only one move remains."
Startled, Song Yu quickly turned his head. He saw Shen Zhao standing on a broken pillar, still casually fanning himself and observing him with an unperturbed expression.
"Impressive skills. You possess the finest footwork I've ever witnessed. Even my elder sister, the Princess, might not be able to surpass your agility. I'll remember you."
"Thank you for your praise, Your Highness. Though what you say is indeed true."
"Youngsters lack humility. Do you truly believe your footwork alone can withstand my next attack?"
"I await your guidance."
No longer holding back, Song Yu unleashed nine-tenths of his power, activating the Imperial Zenith Heaven Scripture.
In an instant, purple lightning crackled all around—the prelude to the Violet Thunder Raging Tide.
"If you survive this strike, I'll agree to your terms."
The Violet Thunder Raging Tide erupted, its dense, violent currents ravaging the already ruined courtyard once more.
Yet Shen Zhao moved with divine agility, weaving through the electric sea like a god of wind. With effortless grace, he evaded every surging current, teetering on the edge of disaster but ultimately safe.
In a fleeting moment, Shen Zhao had effortlessly evaded every one of his opponent's attacks.
When the final move had been made, Shen Zhao stood gracefully atop a pile of rubble, still gently swaying his folding fan, exuding an air of peerless elegance.
"Prince Rui, three moves have passed. Please honor your promise."
Song Yu, watching the self-satisfied Shen Zhao, nodded almost imperceptibly. "Very well. A bet is a bet. This prince will release her as promised. But I warn you, you'd best not act against the interests of this Celestial Dynasty. Otherwise, this prince will not let you off lightly."
Shen Zhao closed his fan and cupped his hands in a formal bow. "Naturally. Thank you for your leniency, Prince Rui. I will remember this debt."
"Hmph. This prince will return to test your skills another day. And remember this: you have never met this prince today. Nothing happened between us. Do you understand?"
"I do."
Song Yu nodded, then turned to Ji Bingyan. "Whatever your purpose in visiting this Celestial Dynasty, I will only say this: do nothing that harms our nation's interests. Otherwise, even to the ends of the earth, this prince will hunt you down."
With that, Song Yu vanished from the spot in a blur.
Once he was gone, Shen Zhao rubbed his nose and walked toward Ji Bingyan.
"What do you want? Stay back! Don't come near me!"
Ji Bingyan flinched, covering her chest with both hands and stumbling backward, instinctively adopting a defensive stance.
Shen Zhao stopped, fanned himself, and smiled. "I saved your life, yet you treat your savior with such disrespect. How rude."
"Why did you save me? Do I even know you?"
Shen Zhao chuckled awkwardly.
He remembered the first time he'd met Ji Bingyan. Her face had been filled with suspicion and wariness, trusting no one. It had taken him great effort to lower her guard and convince her to return to Po Jun Manor with him.
This was a common trait among intelligence operatives: except for the most trusted comrades on the same side, no outsider was worthy of trust.
"Never mind, Miss. This place isn't safe for you. You should leave as soon as possible. I'll take my leave now."
Having saved Ji Bingyan, Shen Zhao had no desire to linger. He clasped his hands in farewell and strode toward the front hall of the Heaven and Earth Pavilion.
Watching his retreating figure, Ji Bingyan frowned slightly. Slowly, she removed the veil from her face, revealing a stunningly beautiful and alluring face.
"Why does this man feel so familiar?"
-----------------------
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