Heaven-Dominating Martial Emperor

The noblewoman's reaction was incredibly swift.

She snorted coldly and swatted away the encroaching black light with a wave of her hand. Then, her eyes, glinting with a cold light, scanned the distance.

From behind a distant mountain crag, a group of people suddenly emerged. Leading them was a woman with long, flowing hair and a slender, graceful figure.

She was slender and stunningly beautiful, with curves in all the right places.

Although she had a touch more youthfulness than the noblewoman, her voluptuous figure still exuded an astonishing allure.

"A great and mighty faction of the Righteous Dao, always spouting nonsense about upholding justice and vanquishing evil. And yet, in the end, all you do is bully juniors from a desolate land of cultivation..."

"I have to say, I'm starting to look down on you, Saint Mother Jinglian!"

The woman's voice was crisp and cool. She crossed her arms, a half-smile playing on her lips as she watched the noblewoman.

Yes, this noblewoman was none other than Saint Mother Jinglian—a renowned senior instructor at Feihong Academy and a famous powerhouse in the eastern dynasty!

The sudden turn of events left the disciples from Feihong Academy stunned.

Several of the male disciples' gazes first swept over the woman's stunning figure. Then, recognizing her familiar face, they couldn't help but cry out in alarm.

"It's you!"

The noblewoman, Saint Mother Jinglian, furrowed her brows slightly and said with indifference, "I never expected the most outstanding prodigy of this generation's Cyan Rainbow Hall to be such a meddler."

"How could you call this meddling?"

At her words, the woman just shook her head and chuckled lightly. Her bright eyes seemed to capture everyone's attention. "My Cyan Rainbow Hall is one of the three great Demon Dao factions in the eastern dynasty, after all."

"And now, you self-proclaimed champions of the Righteous Dao are brazenly bullying a weak and innocent Demon Cultivator right in front of me, all under the guise of some noble cause."

"In that case, as a leader of the Demon Dao in the eastern dynasty, it is my duty to intervene."

"Saint Mother Jinglian, I may not be your match, but if you insist on making a move, I will see it through to the end."

"Just don't come to regret it if we end up delaying our entry into the Dragon Prison Cave."

Seeing the woman's brilliant smile, Saint Mother Jinglian's expression slowly darkened.

"Song Yubing, Feihong Academy will remember this."

"Dealing with a junior like you is beneath me."

"Once we are inside the Dragon Prison Cave, a prodigy from my Feihong Academy will kill you with their own hands! Let's see if you're still so smug then."

With that said, Saint Mother Jinglian knew that staying here any longer was just a waste of time.

She had no choice but to lead her disciples away.

"Master, are we just leaving like this?"

A charming female disciple beside Saint Mother Jinglian asked through gritted teeth, her tone resentful.

"Song Yubing has a Guardian at the Divinity Transformation Realm with her."

"If she insists on interfering, that Guardian will surely not stand idly by. We wouldn't stand a chance."

Saint Mother Jinglian took a deep breath and spoke, her expression calm.

"The Divinity Transformation Realm?!"

The disciples were all astonished.

Even within Feihong Academy, the status of a Divinity Transformation Realm Cultivator was incredibly revered, placing them high above all others.

'It's no wonder Song Yubing is the most outstanding young disciple of her generation from Cyan Rainbow Hall. Her Guardian is truly powerful!'

"Rest assured. We will settle this score with them sooner or later."

Saint Mother Jinglian's gaze turned icy as killing intent surged within her.

'I can't believe it. Here, in a barren land like Lei Province, before I've even entered the Dragon Prison Cave to compete against the other prodigies, I've already lost a disciple.'

For someone as naturally proud as her, this was a difficult truth to accept.

As the group from Feihong Academy gradually disappeared into the distance, the turbulent aura around Ye Chen quickly subsided.

He looked toward the long-haired woman not far away, with her bright eyes and pearly teeth, and cupped his fists in gratitude. "Thank you for your timely rescue."

"No need to thank me."

"We are both Demon Cultivators. How could I stand by and watch you be bullied by those self-proclaimed 'righteous' Cultivators?"

Song Yubing smiled faintly, a smile that seemed to outshine the very heavens and earth.

"However, if I'm not mistaken, even if I hadn't intervened, Saint Mother Jinglian probably wouldn't have been able to do much to you, right?"

At these words, Ye Chen couldn't help but look up in surprise.

Even the Guardian beside the woman couldn't help but speak up. "This boy is just a Demon Cultivator at the Third Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm. His cultivation is low, and he's worlds apart from Saint Mother Jinglian."

"What makes you think that?"

Song Yubing just shook her head with a light laugh. "I don't know. It's just... a gut feeling, I suppose."

"Little brother, I can see you have extraordinary talent. Lingering in Lei Province is nothing but a waste of your gifts."

"Why not join my Cyan Rainbow Hall? We are one of the three great Demon Dao factions in the eastern dynasty. If you join us, no one will ever dare to bully you again."

The Guardian standing to the side watched this exchange quietly, saying nothing.

In fact, when Ye Chen had instantly killed the Feihong Academy disciple at the Peak of the Spirit Sea Realm, they had been watching from the shadows and had seen everything.

It was obvious that for someone to reach such a level of cultivation in the resource-poor Lei Province, the young man before them was undoubtedly a genius who could not be underestimated.

Song Yubing had taken a keen interest in his talent.

However, Ye Chen shook his head. "Thank you for your generous offer, Miss Song, but I currently have no intention of joining any faction."

"Oh?"

Ye Chen's reply made the Guardian beside her furrow his brows, while Song Yubing herself cried out in disbelief, "For the vast majority of Demon Cultivators in the eastern dynasty, my invitation is an irresistible temptation."

"I can't believe you actually refused."

"Are you sure you won't reconsider?"

"I command a faction of my own, and I am not yet willing to abandon them," Ye Chen said calmly. "However, I will be sure to remember your kindness, Miss Song."

"I presume you are also heading to the Dragon Prison Cave, Miss Song? If the opportunity arises, I will certainly repay this favor."

Hearing this, the Guardian let out a contemptuous sneer.

'Repay?'

'You're just a measly Demon Cultivator from Lei Province at the Third Layer of the Spirit Sea Realm. What could you possibly offer to repay the most brilliant prodigy of this generation's Cyan Rainbow Hall?'

'She paid you a few compliments, and you actually took her seriously?'

He didn't say a word, but the mockery on his face was unmistakable.

Song Yubing didn't press the matter. She just sighed, her tone full of regret. "Is that so? May I ask what faction you lead?"

"The Demon Sect."