Top Soldier Pursued by a Beauty

Listening to the young man's story, Zhao Dong felt a surge of sympathy. Betrayal was horrifying enough, but to be betrayed by the one you loved and trusted most… not everyone could withstand that kind of blow.

"Fellow Daoist, you appear to be only a few years older than me, yet your experiences are truly heartbreaking," Zhao Dong said bitterly. "If you don't mind, may I address you as Senior?"

"HAHAHAHA… as you wish!" the young man replied magnanimously.

Zhao Dong bowed. "I still do not know your name, Senior."

"Su Li," the young man said indifferently.

Su Li!? Why does that name sound so familiar?

Zhao Dong's eyes narrowed in thought before suddenly flying wide open. "Could it be that you are the legendary Sword Immortal Su Li from back then?" he exclaimed. "The Sword Immortal Su Li who defeated countless masters across the four eastern provinces with a single longsword, striking such fear into them that none dared to call themselves a Sword Cultivator anymore!?"

Zhao Dong was stunned.

However, Su Li just smiled faintly and waved his hand. "Those are all things of the past, not worth mentioning."

Not worth mentioning!? How could something like that not be worth mentioning?

Zhao Dong couldn't help but admire Su Li's cavalier attitude. If it were anyone else, they could boast about that title for a lifetime.

No wonder! No wonder Su Li is so unrestrained, and no one in the Qingyun Sect dares to interfere with him. The great Sword Immortal Su Li… how could a group of mere mortals like them possibly control him? He said he was at the seventh level of the Martial Saint realm? He was probably just being modest, afraid of frightening me. His true cultivation is likely far beyond the seventh level of the Martial Saint realm!

After the shock passed, Zhao Dong thought of his own dire situation and bowed. "May I ask, Senior, if I may use this place for cultivation?"

"Cultivation? Cultivate what?" Su Li asked, puzzled.

Zhao Dong took out the Ten Thousand Thunder Technique. "Elder Dongfang bestowed this upon me," he said. "I would like to try cultivating it now."

Su Li naturally understood Zhao Dong's intentions. He still wasn't out of danger, so improving his strength was undoubtedly what he urgently needed to do.

Su Li took a big swig of wine and waved his hand casually. "As you wish."

"Many thanks!"

Zhao Dong hurriedly bowed his thanks, then sat cross-legged and unrolled the scroll for the Ten Thousand Thunder Technique. Although it wasn't a particularly profound Cultivation Technique, it was exactly what he desperately needed right now.

After a few glances, Zhao Dong had a rough understanding of it. Using one's Spiritual Energy as a conduit, one would absorb the power of heaven and earth to summon thunderclouds and unleash the force of lightning. The move Great Elder Lin Feng had used against him was this very technique. Overjoyed, Zhao Dong immediately began his cultivation.

An hour later, Zhao Dong's eyes snapped open. He formed a seal with his right hand and pointed toward the sky.

BOOM!

Thunderclouds gathered, and a bolt of lightning as thick as a bowl struck down instantly, obliterating a large tree in the distance. If that strike had hit a person, it would have been comparable to a full-powered blow from a first-level Martial Saint. However, Zhao Dong was not yet proficient. This single attack had consumed a full tenth of his Spiritual Energy.

Seeing Zhao Dong master the Ten Thousand Thunder Technique in just an hour, a hint of appreciation appeared in Su Li's eyes. "Not bad, not bad at all. Although the Ten Thousand Thunder Technique is an entry-level skill for a Martial Saint, mastering it in an hour is quite impressive."

Zhao Dong had no time for excitement. He put away the technique and immediately bowed to Su Li. "Many thanks, Senior. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have mastered it so easily."

Hearing this, the appreciation in Su Li's eyes deepened. "You noticed?"

"Of course!" Zhao Dong said gratefully. "I am not yet skilled with the technique. Just now, when the thunderclouds were gathering, they showed clear signs of dissipating. It was you, Senior, who stabilized them with your Spiritual Energy, allowing me to successfully cast the technique. If I couldn't even notice that, how could I be worthy of drinking with you again?"

"HAHAHAHA… Good! Very good! Kid, you're growing on me more and more!" Su Li laughed heartily and tossed another wine flask to Zhao Dong.

Zhao Dong was elated. He caught the flask and was about to take a deep drink.

However, just then, a group of people barged into the courtyard.

There were three men, all dressed in black. The leader, a middle-aged man, possessed an aura so terrifying that it far surpassed that of Great Elder Lin Feng. His face was ashen, and the longsword in his hand pulsed with a horrifying light. Seeing the two men drinking so casually, the man instantly flew into a rage.

He pointed his sword at them and roared, "You have some nerve! Two prisoners who should be in the dungeon dare to escape and drink here? You're courting death! Take them away!"

As he spoke, the three men started to move forward. Facing the man's terrifying might, Zhao Dong found he couldn't muster any will to resist.

He's too strong! Definitely above the third level of the Martial Saint realm!

But at that moment, Su Li spoke with a faint smile. "Not going to make a move? You want to get captured again?"

Zhao Dong gave a bitter smile. "I don't, but I'm already grateful that you brought me out, Senior. If I fight back, won't I just implicate you?"

Hearing this, Su Li's eyes narrowed slightly.

This kid... On death's door himself, yet he still has the heart to worry about others? He is certainly loyal and righteous.

Su Li waved his hand slightly, and an invisible aura immediately stopped the men in their tracks, preventing them from advancing a single step.

"I'm not afraid of you implicating me. If you don't want to be locked up again, then defeat them."

What!? Zhao Dong's eyes widened in disbelief. Even if Su Li isn't afraid, he's still a member of the Qingyun Sect. How could he say such a thing? Could it be that he wants to help me?

Zhao Dong was shocked to his core but still managed a bitter smile. "I appreciate your kind intentions, Senior, but I'm no match for them. Even a bloody battle would be fruitless."

"Nonsense!" Su Li's nonchalant gaze suddenly flashed with anger. "Cut the helpless act! I'm in a pathetic enough state as it is; I don't want to see that same wretched air on someone else! As a cultivator, if you think of giving up the moment you face a stronger enemy, then what are you even cultivating for? You might as well go home and sell sweet potatoes!"

"I…" Zhao Dong's face flushed red with shame.

Su Li snorted coldly. "Fight or not, decide for yourself!"

Seeing Su Li's resolute expression, Zhao Dong understood. He hates his own pathetic state, but he just can't bring himself to face the mistakes he made. That's why he became so furious upon seeing me starting to retreat as well!

With that thought, Zhao Dong's resolve hardened. Even if it meant death, even if it was doomed to be futile, he would fight to the very end! If not for himself, then for Su Li.

An overwhelming battle intent blazed in Zhao Dong's eyes. He nodded firmly. "I'll fight! Of course, I'll fight!"

"HAHAHAHA… Good! Now that's more like a man!" Su Li laughed loudly. With a wave of his hand, he released the restrained men, who immediately charged forward.

"Little thief, surrender now!" the leader bellowed as his longsword, imbued with fiery power, shot straight for Zhao Dong.

With a single slash, a rain of fire fell from the sky.