Li Xiya stood in the courtyard, replaying the day's events. She considered if she had any chance of being exposed, concluding that she likely hadn't, otherwise Yang Feilong wouldn't have fled in such a panic.
He was a master who could kill all five sixth-tier Elemental ability users who attacked him. She herself found it difficult to achieve, which was why she dared not act rashly.
The setup today was a multi-layered trap. The wine, the food, the cake, and even the aura she emitted, were all laced with substances that would cloud judgment. Though she had taken an antidote beforehand, it wasn't entirely effective, and she was somewhat influenced.
Of course, for the most part, she remained calm and clear-headed.
But when Yang Feilong removed her shoes and massaged her feet and ankles, she felt flustered and nervous.
She was of mixed heritage, but her mindset wasn't as open as that of people from Meiguo. Because her mother was from Longguo, her thinking was imbued with Longguo's reserve and conservatism. Her outward personality, however, exhibited the optimism and openness of a Meiguo person. This apparent contradiction was, in fact, not a contradiction at all.
Optimism and openness were her disguise; aloofness and reserve were her true nature.
The embrace she had given Yang Feilong, seemingly to keep him there, was actually a sign of her growing urgency when he refused to be trapped. Had Yang Feilong stayed, she would have employed further stratagems, easily killing him. After all, this plan had been meticulously calculated for a long time.
But Yang Feilong, unswayed by temptation, had intended to leave. So, she prepared to resort to her next tactic: embracing Yang Feilong and then striking directly. Her hand, seemingly caressing and seducing him on his chest, was in reality an attempt to unleash her ability and instantly shatter his heart!
Even for a high-level cultivator, a shattered heart, while not immediately fatal, would drastically reduce their strength. Then, with her and some helpers, she could easily kill Yang Feilong!
Yet, at that very moment, a flicker of hesitation crossed her mind.
She didn't even know why she hesitated. Was it reluctance to see the person who always greeted her with a smile and maintained a polite demeanor die before her eyes? Logically, he had touched her feet and had intimate contact with her, which should have disgusted her, making her want to get rid of him quickly. But why couldn't she bring herself to do it?
This brief moment of hesitation caused her to lose her opportunity, and Yang Feilong broke free.
What Yang Feilong said next infuriated her. "Please have some self-respect." Did she lack self-respect? She was an unmarried woman who had never embraced a man like that before, and all for the sake of…
Never mind, best not to mention it.
Her heart was in turmoil. After dismissing her two subordinates, she lay on the sofa, gazing at the stars in the night sky outside, her mind a mess.
She felt no inclination to cultivate, and no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't sleep, tossing and turning. Every time she closed her eyes, the image of Yang Feilong's earnest smile, his gentle bow as he removed her shoes, and his massaging of her ankles, flooded her mind.
"This is infuriating!" Li Xiya bit her lip and opened her eyes. Her cold and stunningly beautiful face was etched with frustration.
Even in her frustration, she remained breathtakingly beautiful!
However, such beauty went unappreciated, a regrettable fact.
Suddenly, Li Xiya flipped over on the sofa, standing up with a defensive posture. "Who's there?"
The next moment, she saw a figure appear in the living room, seemingly out of nowhere. It was an ugly man in his forties, dressed in grey. He brazenly scrutinized Li Xiya, his eyes filled with lecherous glints, as if he wanted to devour her.
She sensed the terrifying aura of this person. As a peak sixth-tier Wind ability user, she felt insignificant in his presence.
"Heh heh heh, what a sexy beauty, and a rare Wind ability user at that. Most importantly, you're still pure. Excellent, truly excellent! If I can seize your primal yin, tsk tsk, perhaps my cultivation can advance further, reaching the mid-stage of the Celestial Martial Realm!" the ugly man cackled.
At this moment, Li Xiya's heart sank to the bottom. She touched the watch on her wrist, which had a button to contact her subordinates, signaling that she was in danger.
Even after doing this, Li Xiya felt no sense of security, because this man before her was actually a cultivator in the early Celestial Martial Realm!
The Celestial Martial Realm was equivalent to a seventh-tier ability user.
From the sixth tier to the seventh tier, from the Earth Martial Realm to the Celestial Martial Realm, these were two distinct levels.
Seventh-tier ability users could become high-tier ability users, while sixth-tier ability users were only mid-tier. Similarly, the sixth level of the Earth Martial Realm was considered an intermediate cultivator, while the seventh level, the Celestial Martial Realm, marked entry into the ranks of advanced cultivators.
Beings of this caliber held high positions within the Black River Group and would not risk their lives for a storage ring or billions in wealth.
Furthermore, seventh-tier cultivators entering the country without authorization would attract the attention of certain special forces within Longguo.
This was precisely why no seventh-tier ability users had accompanied this mission.
*Whoosh!*
Li Xiya's figure flashed, instantly appearing in the courtyard. Just as she was about to flee her residence, a mysterious force repelled her. Her eyes narrowed involuntarily. What was going on? When had her villa been equipped with a formation?
"You cannot escape. This formation is called the Seven Echoing Swirl Formation, a seventh-tier formation. It's easier to enter from the outside, but to break it, one must break it from within. Otherwise, you cannot leave this grand formation. So, beautiful, just surrender to this old man obediently. Rest assured, though I am old, my abilities are quite potent. Those who have tried me all say I'm good!" the ugly man chuckled sinisterly.
"You..." Li Xiya panicked.
She was truly panicked!
Her speed was her greatest pride. Even if the opponent's cultivation level was higher, she hadn't panicked before. But now, trapped like a turtle in a jar, a fish on a chopping block, how could she remain as calm as before?
*Swish, swish, swish!*
The next moment, several figures appeared in the courtyard.
They were Li Xiya's subordinates.
With their arrival, although Li Xiya's heart was still unsettled, she became much calmer. Herself plus seven subordinates, all of them sixth-tier ability cultivators!
If not for the loss of five Elemental ability users, their lineup would have been even stronger. Despite their varying strengths, their combined might was formidable. They could contend with an early seventh-tier ability user, though killing them was uncertain, as seventh-tier ability users were too powerful. It typically required ten to eight top-tier sixth-tier masters working together to deal with them.
The primary issue was the difference in power levels between tiers!
"Officer!"
"Officer Mary!"
Upon their appearance, these individuals looked at the ugly man with grave expressions!
"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven... Tsk tsk, seven helper ability users, all sixth-tier. Quite a lineup. All eight of you, attack!" the ugly man said, looking at the assembled group with a sneer. "Let me show you with my strength how weak you so-called ability users are when facing true ancient martial cultivators, especially those at the seventh level!"
"Attack!" Hearing this, the Black River Group's ability users were filled with rage, deeply provoked by the man's disdain.
*Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!*
Instantly, the eight of them, united, charged towards the ugly man. Yes, Li Xiya also joined the fray, as her strength was the greatest among them.