Moonlight cascaded like a stream, enveloping the complex of buildings leaning against the mountain.
The dark blue glazed tiles shimmered under the bright moonlight.
Jiang Ning walked on the gray-white floor tiles, moving through the courtyard surrounded by corridors on all four sides, heading towards the room in front.
At this moment.
Everything was silent.
Only the occasional whispers drifting from afar, and the intermittent "cuckoo, cuckoo" birdcalls from below.
Deep within Xiao Qiushuiâs sleeping chamber, Jiang Ning even more acutely felt the chilly emptiness devoid of human presence.
He shook his head quietly, dispelling distractions, and silently approached the place where Xiao Qiushui was.
The large main hall ahead.
...
In the eight-meter-high vaulted main hall.
A woman in a white dress sat cross-legged on a meditation mat.
Three inches in front of her chest, a small silver sword hovered in mid-air.
The small sword, about six or seven centimeters long, floated before Xiao Qiushui, continuously vibrating and emitting a faint silvery glow.
Behind her stood a statue of a woman seemingly carved from White Jade, shining brightly in the dark and empty hall.
It was the moonlight from above, streaming through the skylight and reflecting off the statue.
Suddenly.
Xiao Qiushui opened her eyes, her pupils sharply contracted.
She saw a tall and sturdy figure standing at the hall entrance.
The night wind rushed in from the entrance, stirring the figureâs black hair, and the robes flapped wildly.
"Itâs you!!" Xiao Qiushuiâs gaze turned serious.
Seeing Jiang Ning, she instantly understood why she had felt uneasy all day, with her right eye twitching.
Now she understood.
The source of her premonition was perhaps this very moment.
As a Heavenly Human Grandmaster, she could sense fate and fortune through celestial intuition.
She didnât think Jiang Ning revealing himself now was due to recklessness.
Appearing before her at this moment, only detected at the doorway, already revealed much.
"Itâs me!" Jiang Ning said.
"Looks like youâre very confident!" Xiao Qiushui slowly stood up, her long dress flowing like water, concealing her graceful figure.
After rising, she opened her mouth, and the silver small sword before her instantly turned into a gleam and entered her mouth.
Jiang Ning couldnât help but take another glance.
Surprise flickered in his heart, then he suppressed distracting thoughts.
The next moment.
He clenched his fist, channeling strength through his body, Qi-Blood surged.
His entire body instantly emitted a golden glow.
Seeing this, Xiao Qiushuiâs expression momentarily froze.
Boomâ
The floor tiles beneath Jiang Ning exploded, airwaves surged like tides, a ring of white mist spread from around him.
Xiao Qiushuiâs previously calm expression was instantly enveloped by shock.
This was the external manifestation of breaking the sound barrier with physical force, yet her ears couldnât hear the eruption of the tiles.
What kind of monster is this?!!
She was incredulous.
Breaking the sound barrier with physical power, even she couldnât accomplish it.
Or rather, most grandmasters could not achieve it.
At this moment, she suddenly understood why Jiang Ning would sneak into her sleeping chamber at night.
His display already indicated Jiang Ningâs physical body surpassed hers.
Not to mention that faint golden glow enveloping Jiang Ningâs body.
...
In the hall.
Xiao Qiushui swiftly retreated, moving with incredible speed.
Dressed in white, she fled like a ghostly specter.
Witnessing Jiang Ning breaking the sound barrier and the golden glow, Xiao Qiushui completely abandoned the thought of meeting Jiang Ning head-on.
However, she moved fast now.
Jiang Ning was even faster.
The air broke away like rippling waves.
Then, he abruptly stepped out heavily.
Rumbleâ
A thunderous blast seemed to echo in the void.
The airwaves around Jiang Ning disappeared, the air resistance against his body significantly diminished.
In an instant.
He was only a step away from Xiao Qiushui.
Xiao Qiushuiâs pupils contracted violently, the two were less than a meter apart.
She could feel Jiang Ningâs physical body near her, like a blazing furnace, emitting intense heat, a powerful pressure confronting her.
Simultaneously, she saw the reflection of her shocked face in Jiang Ningâs pupils.
Next moment.
Her vision was fully occupied by Jiang Ningâs hand enveloped in golden light.
The hand approached, like five towering mountains expanding in her view.
Canât hit head-on.
A thought flashed through Xiao Qiushuiâs mind.
Then.
She opened her red lips.
A silver light appeared.
Within the silver glow was a small silver sword.
The small sword was no more than two inches long.
Yet its appearance made Jiang Ning suddenly feel a thorn-like threat.
His gaze focused, not retreating but fully urging the Qi-Blood within.
Qi-Blood surged, instantly dragons seemed to roar within him.
The two layers of golden light covering his muscles grew even brighter.
The next moment.
Buzzâ
The silver light struck heavily against Jiang Ningâs palm.
The golden light shattered, a sharp pain pierced his palm.
Yet simultaneously, the silver light was swatted away by Jiang Ning, the silver small sword let out an anguished sword cry in mid-air.
In the face of this strike, Jiang Ningâs steps involuntarily paused.
Xiao Qiushui then swiftly widened the gap again.
At this moment, she couldnât afford to care about Jiang Ning behind her.
Her figure suddenly took flight.
As a Heavenly Human Grandmaster, she could walk on air.
She understood, as long as she ascended high, no matter how strong Jiang Ningâs physical body, he couldnât reach her.
This was the greatest advantage of a Heavenly Human Grandmaster.
But.
In the next moment.
She felt her ankle being firmly grasped by a scalding big hand.
Those big hands were like iron hooks, locking tightly around her slender ankle.