"Still planning to run?"
Steel Shadow suddenly stopped in his tracks.
With the Lightweight Body Technique Zhao Ya had just displayed, he couldn’t catch up even if he pushed his limits.
So, running now was meaningless.
He took a deep breath, the muscles and veins beneath his skin started writhing like snakes and worms.
In the blink of an eye, Steel Shadow’s build swelled a full size larger, much like the imposing Protection Dharma Guardian Celestial Deity in a temple.
This was Steel Shadow’s lifesaving technique, gaining a temporary power boost by burning his own Qi Blood.
He knew begging for mercy was useless, his survival depended on his fists, so in this state, he let out a low roar and charged at Zhao Ya.
Zhao Ya was exhilarated.
In truth, he’d been wanting to test his current strength as well.
So, when he saw Steel Shadow coming at him, Zhao Ya’s response was straightforward and direct.
He clenched his hand into a fist, leaped down from the tree, and swung his fist to strike.
Boom!
With a loud bang, the two clashed fists in mid-air.
A shockwave erupted from their intersecting fists, scattering the raindrops away.
With a few sizzling sounds, the scattered raindrops bore deep holes into the surrounding trees, showcasing the terror of the shockwave.
Immediately, Steel Shadow’s face turned from pale to red, then from red to a deep purplish color.
Poof.
After vomiting a mouthful of blood, Steel Shadow crashed heavily to the ground like a boulder.
With just one punch, Steel Shadow lost disastrously, even though he burned his Qi Blood in an attempt to save his life.
Zhao Ya landed on the ground and glanced at Steel Shadow.
He was convulsing non-stop.
This was because Zhao Ya’s punch was too powerful, not only shattering his internal organs but also breaking all his bones, meridians, and even the muscles beneath his skin.
In this state, Steel Shadow was like a bottle of beer that had been vigorously shaken, the gasses swollen to the point where they had nowhere to go, causing his convulsions.
This was a sure sign of death.
Zhao Ya, however, felt little about it.
From the first glance he had at Steel Shadow, Zhao Ya sensed a deep pretense.
From his behavior to his actions, the clumsy imitation was too obvious.
So obvious that Zhao Ya could see he was pretending to be crazy.
As for why he did it.
Perhaps to establish an untouchable persona, or maybe it was just teenage arrogance.
As for why others didn’t see it, it was likely related to prowess.
Because Zhao Ya’s strength was enough to crush Steel Shadow, he was able to observe him from a commanding position.
As for others, lacking in strength and filled with fear, they naturally couldn’t see through it.
From the moment Zhao Ya appeared to Steel Shadow being killed with one punch, the entire event transpired within just over a minute.
But to Wu Bao’Er, this brief moment felt like a century.
Especially after witnessing Zhao Ya delivering that earth-shattering punch, Wu Bao’Er felt as though time had stopped.
All she could do was try her best to remain silent, blending in with the surrounding foliage, reducing her presence to the minimum.
Hoping that Zhao Ya wouldn’t notice her.
At that moment, Wu Bao’Er saw Zhao Ya in the distance turning around and heading back, seemingly to meet those Instructor Elders.
She breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Thank goodness, it seemed like she had managed to hide.
But at that moment, a voice suddenly came from behind her.
"How long do you plan to hide here?"
Wu Bao’Er’s entire body froze instantly.
Because that voice was too familiar.
But he was clearly still far away just a moment ago, how had he suddenly appeared right behind her?
Had his Body Technique reached such an inconceivable speed?
These thoughts flashed through her mind rapidly.
And then Wu Bao’Er resignedly turned around slowly.
As expected, standing on a slender branch not far behind her was Zhao Ya, swaying with the wind and rain.
Upon seeing Wu Bao’Er, Zhao Ya smiled.
"Did you come with this Steel Shadow?"
Wu Bao’Er nodded with difficulty, then explained, "I had no choice; it’s all under Chief Executioner Ye Xunhuan’s orders from the tower, otherwise I wouldn’t have accompanied him."
After saying this, she seemed afraid Zhao Ya wouldn’t believe her, and hurriedly added.
"This Steel Shadow has always been drooling over me..."
Zhao Ya waved his hand to make Wu Bao’Er stop talking, then spoke lightly.
"Where is your Chief Executioner Ye Xunhuan now?"
"In a dilapidated Mountain God Temple thirty miles away, but whether he’s still there, I don’t know." Wu Bao’Er replied honestly.
"How many of you came this time?"
"Including the people from North Canglong, approximately fifty."
"Do you know about the release of Jingping Saint from North Canglong? Are you aware of the specifics?"
"I know about this, but I don’t really understand the specifics, though from Ye Xunhuan’s snippets, it seems like Jingping Saint is consolidating his strength, preparing to descend the mountain once ready."
Zhao Ya succinctly asked a few questions, and Wu Bao’Er answered with sincerity.
After finishing the questions, Zhao Ya looked Wu Bao’Er up and down, suddenly smiling.
"You’ve got good swimming skills. I walked quite a distance along the water’s edge and didn’t detect you."
Wu Bao’Er didn’t know why Zhao Ya suddenly brought this up, but to save her life, sincerity was necessary.
Thus, she honestly replied, "It was pure luck, if you had gone a bit further, I wouldn’t have lasted."
Zhao Ya nodded, then suddenly said, "Come now, use the Technique you fought me with last time, and attack me with all your might."
Wu Bao’Er’s face turned pale upon hearing this.
Was he using this as an excuse to kill her?
"I..."
"If you want to live, do as I say!" Zhao Ya said icily.
Looking at Zhao Ya, who was smiling earlier yet now cold as ice, Wu Bao’Er felt a turmoil inside.
She truly didn’t know what Zhao Ya intended.
But at this point, she could only brace herself.
"Then please forgive me."
As the words dropped, Wu Bao’Er let out a sharp cry, and scales appeared on her skin, akin to a serpent’s.
Even though it wasn’t his first time witnessing this, Zhao Ya was still somewhat in awe.
This was the first time Zhao Ya witnessed True Power that could alter one’s form.
No matter how strong the Azure Dragon True Power was, it didn’t have this effect.
After all, cultivating Azure Dragon True Power didn’t literally turn one into an Azure Dragon.
After activating Witch Snake True Power, Wu Bao’Er rushed at Zhao Ya.
Zhao Ya smiled as he watched.
For a moment, Wu Bao’Er even felt a fleeting delusion she could use the might of the Witch Snake True Power to kill him.
But that delusion shattered swiftly.
Because as she approached, before she could make a move, a powerful True Power surged from Zhao Ya.
Once this True Power emerged, Wu Bao’Er felt an innate fear and dread from the depths of her bloodline.
This feeling was like a subordinate facing a superior.
Resistance wasn’t even a remote thought.
At that moment, Wu Bao’Er just wanted to kneel and worship Zhao Ya.
After witnessing Wu Bao’Er’s change, a suspicion Zhao Ya had been harboring was finally confirmed.
He wanted her to use the Witch Snake True Power to verify if such "Divine Spirit" powers had levels or strength suppression.
And indeed, it seemed there was.
At that moment, Zhao Ya even felt a sense of control over Wu Bao’Er’s life and death.
Meaning, even if Zhao Ya ordered Wu Bao’Er to commit suicide, compelled by the pressure, she wouldn’t dare disobey.
Yet, Zhao Ya didn’t plan to kill Wu Bao’Er just like that.
She still had potential left to explore, perhaps even being a plant he could use within the Separation Tower.