Chapter 28: An Unexpected Interruption

"It is of no consequence. This sword is merely a worldly possession; if giving it away can preserve a life, then so be it."

Chen Ping'an waved his hand, smiling with an air of breezy indifference.

The Patriarch has truly lost his mind. How could he give away his beloved sword? Xia Xiaoliang stared in disbelief, rendered speechless by the thought. Having witnessed the recent skirmish, she could tell this blade was no ordinary weapon; by her estimation, it was at least a high-grade Earth-tier artifact. As a proud disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect, even the sword she carried was only a low-grade Earth-tier weapon.

"That Wang Ye, he’s truly gone senile. How could he give away such a fine sword?"

Inside the teahouse, Fu Hongying abruptly stood up, ready to rush out and reclaim the sword for Chen Ping'an.

"Hongying, don't be hasty. Let’s just watch the show; with your cultivation, there's no need to get involved," Fu Qiushui said, grabbing her and smiling persuasively. She did not want her niece to embarrass herself, as that would diminish the standing of her beloved niece in the eyes of the Azure Cloud Sect's Patriarch.

Watch the show? Fu Hongying swallowed hard, her spirit dampened by Fu Qiushui's interference. She felt her aunt had been acting extremely strange today, constantly singing the praises of that scoundrel. Even when the scoundrel did something so foolish, her aunt remained unbothered. Glumly, she picked up her tea and drank it in silence, ceasing to ask about the events on the street, though her spiritual sense remained cast outward to monitor the commotion.

The youth in the brocade robe grabbed the drifting Blood-Devouring Demon Sword. As soon as he touched it, a chilling sensation crept up his arm, causing him to shudder involuntarily. Under his gaze, the sword pulsed with a rhythmic light, as if it were breathing like a living creature, exuding a profoundly sinister aura.

"A fine sword! Ha-ha!"

Just as the youth in the brocade robe laughed, the Blood-Devouring Demon Sword suddenly surged with a layer of blood-red light, piercing into the youth’s palm like a spike. In an instant, the youth was reduced to a withered corpse.

The event unfolded in the blink of an eye; the other experts in the God-Void Realm hadn't even had time to react.

"Young Master!"

The man in the ghost mask was the first to snap out of it, rushing to support the youth as he collapsed. The Blood-Devouring Demon Sword flew from the youth's hand, and with a wave of Chen Ping'an’s hand, it returned to his palm.

"My sword carries ill fortune. Without sufficient virtue, one is simply not worthy of possessing it..." Chen Ping'an said with a faint smile.

Xia Xiaoliang leaned in, inspecting the Blood-Devouring Demon Sword from top to bottom, her face filled with terror. "Patriarch, your sword is terrifying."

"It's alright," Chen Ping'an said, reaching out to gently stroke the blood-red blade. The frequency of the red light flickered faster, as if a child were cheering and enjoying the touch of its father.

"You dare to kill my Young Master!"

The man in the ghost mask was overcome with grief. He placed the youth on the ground, his face deathly pale, and with trembling hands, retrieved a black ring.

*Hum, hum, hum...*

The moment the black ring appeared, a sound like the buzzing of mosquitoes filled the air. Many onlookers in the distance covered their ears, their faces contorted in fear. Others looked at Chen Ping'an’s back with pity.

"That’s Black Life-Severer, the steward of Vice City Lord Yin’s household, an expert at the second level of the God-Void Realm. The Soul-Chasing Life-Taking Ring in his hand is also a high-grade Earth-tier treasure. This boy at the Golden Body Realm is a dead man..." someone on the street sighed softly.

Chen Ping'an’s ears twitched, catching the surrounding murmurs. So, he was the son of the Vice City Lord; no wonder he was so arrogant and overbearing.

"Die, you brat!"

The man in the ghost mask roared and threw the black ring.

*Hum, hum...*

The ring seemed to possess a strange magic, causing the void around it to churn. It spun frantically, emitting waves of soul-snatching sounds. Countless shadows of the ring appeared in the void, crashing down upon Chen Ping'an and Xia Xiaoliang with overwhelming force.

Xia Xiaoliang was already affected by the soul-snatching sound; she stood listless and lost, forgetting to even resist. The steamed bun in her hand fell to the ground and rolled away.

A mocking smile appeared on Chen Ping'an's lips. Just as he was about to unleash the aura of the Blood-Devouring Demon Sword, a seven-colored light descended from mid-air, piercing directly into the area of the ring’s attack.

*Whoosh!*

A fierce wind seemed to rise from the ground, and the attack of the Soul-Chasing Life-Taking Ring was instantly swept away without a trace. A beautiful woman in a seven-colored dress appeared proudly on the street as the wind dissipated.

"So beautiful..." The onlookers in the distance gasped in awe.

The woman wore a floor-length dress of seven colors. Her features were delicate, her face exquisite, and her bearing noble. Simply standing on the street, she looked like a stunning seven-colored flower in full bloom. Her figure was tall and graceful, with striking curves and long, slender legs that radiated an astounding beauty, a faint shimmer flowing across her entire body. Even from behind, she would stir endless fantasies.

The beauty in the seven-colored dress turned to look at Chen Ping'an, a flicker of undetectable surprise flashing in her dreamlike, peach-blossom eyes. She hid it well; even Chen Ping'an, standing so close, failed to notice the deep longing hidden within her gaze.

"Get out of here!" The beauty in the seven-colored dress turned and glared at the man in the ghost mask and his companions.

"Get out?" The man in the ghost mask looked the woman up and down, saying coldly, "Do you intend to meddle in this affair?"

"Get out!" Impatient, the beauty flickered her slender hand. A violent gust of wind surged forward. The man in the ghost mask and the other men in black were instantly blown into the air, landing far away where they crashed into the ground, creating large craters and falling unconscious.

Seeing the beauty’s extraordinary display of power, the onlookers were shocked.

"Who is she? Why have I never heard of her?"

"She sent Black Life-Severer and his men flying with a single move; her strength must be at least the sixth level of the God-Void Realm!"

Inside the teahouse, "Aunt! You wouldn't let me intervene, and now someone else has beaten me to it!" Fu Hongying said in frustration, so angry she crushed her teacup.

Fu Qiushui was slightly taken aback. She hadn't expected someone to intervene out of nowhere.

"Hongying, he is such an outstanding man—what woman in this world wouldn't be moved?" Fu Qiushui took a deep breath, an idea forming in her mind, and patiently persuaded her: "As the saying goes, it is better to share joy than to enjoy it alone. You must learn to share an outstanding man with other sisters so that you can truly possess him, don't you see?"

Fu Hongying: "..." She was completely stunned. How could her aunt, who had always been so devoted to love, say such things today?

"Although this woman stole the spotlight, it doesn't matter. Let us head to the Azure Cloud Sect now..." Fu Qiushui stood up. She could not bear to see her niece perish within the Fu family and was determined to help her by any means necessary. In her view, only the Patriarch of the Azure Cloud Sect, an expert in the Transcendence Realm, could resolve the crisis looming over Fu Hongying.

Fu Hongying sighed helplessly, knowing her aunt meant well, and stood up as well. Just as they were about to leave, seven or eight members of the Fu family appeared around them.

"The Clan Head has issued an order: all members of the Fu family must return immediately!" A middle-aged man with a stern face held an ancient token and stared at them.

"We were a step too late!" Fu Qiushui’s face turned pale with despair. Faced with such overwhelming force, she, as a member of the Fu family, was powerless to resist.