Unable to escape, Yin Li's mind first recalled Cui Yuan's appearance.
If she had known she would perish here, she shouldn't have agreed to that person's engagement request so early.
Yin Li sighed softly in her heart, her eyes burning with tears.
"Those who dare to eavesdrop on the sacred decree shall be killed!"
The purple-robed figure had no intention of giving Yin Li a chance to explain or escape. She stood on the back of the Red-lined Falcon, then clasped her hands together and gathered strength to strike downwards.
A palm print several zhang in size detached from her body, and the powerful palm wind stung Yin Li's cheeks.
She lowered her body, tightly holding her contracted spirit beast, the Phoenix Crown Nightingale, and then calmly awaited death.
*Boom!*
Another earth-shattering roar.
Yin Li's expression remained unchanged. After a moment, she sensed something was wrong, and as she suddenly opened her eyes, she saw a familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar figure blocking her.
She hesitated for a moment before tentatively asking, "Xu Yi? Is that you?"
The person dressed in a green Daoist robe turned and smiled slightly at her, "Fellow Daoist Yin, it's been a long time."
"It really is you." Yin Li's expression softened slightly, then she remembered something and said loudly, "You must be careful, that..."
As soon as the words left her mouth, Yin Li looked in astonishment at the purple-robed figure lying not far in front of her, unconscious and with an unknown fate. The rest of her words could not be spoken.
How... how did she do it...
Yin Li had learned from Xiong Zhuang Zhuang that Xu Yi was no longer comparable to her past self, but seeing her resolve the purple-robed figure with a single strike, she still found it hard to believe.
She stiffly turned her neck. The Red-lined Falcon, which had been so arrogant moments ago, circling above them, had also crashed to the ground, head down and feet up. Although not unconscious, it dared not move, and its current state could only be identified by its constantly trembling wings.
Yin Li suddenly felt fortunate that she hadn't been possessed by a demon to oppose Xu Yi, otherwise whether she could still sit here intact would have been an unknown.
Xu Yi was also very emotional at this moment, especially when she saw Xiong Zhuang Zhuang, who had finally arrived, her emotions became even more intense.
"Xiong Zhuang Zhuang!"
"Xu Yi! You finally appeared! You worried me to death!"
Xiong Zhuang Zhuang immediately discerned the situation and, knowing the crisis had passed, happily ran towards Xu Yi, reaching out his hand and patting her vigorously.
Even though Xu Yi was strong and robust, she stumbled from these angry slaps from Xiong Zhuang Zhuang.
But she knew she was in the wrong and didn't dare to resist, only offering a wry smile.
This was not a good time for reminiscing. After a brief greeting, the two of them hurried to check the injuries of Yin Li and the others. After confirming they were not seriously harmed, they then walked up to the purple-robed figure.
The purple robe worn by the purple-robed figure was now tattered, as if burned by fire, filled with scorched holes.
And the face that had been hidden beneath the purple robe was finally revealed.
"Is this the Saint Attendant of the Holy Maiden Sect?"
Xu Yi looked at the delicate face and asked Xiong Zhuang Zhuang beside her.
"That's right. We met her once before. We accidentally exposed our location then and were chased by her. This time, we don't know when our target was exposed again, and we were caught up by her. Fortunately, you arrived in time and saved Junior Sister Yin and the others."
Xiong Zhuang Zhuang recalled the scene he had just witnessed, and a wave of fear washed over him.
He arrived a moment too late and happened to see the purple-robed figure being thrown away.
But if Xu Yi hadn't arrived in time, what he might have seen would have been his junior brothers and sisters perishing at the hands of the purple-robed figure.
"By the way, why did you come here? Are you also targeting the Holy Maiden Sect?" Xiong Zhuang Zhuang asked.
"There is part of the reason." Xu Yi explained, "After I came out of seclusion, I received news from the sect that the Holy Maiden Sect was active in this area. Later, I learned from Xiao Yu that you were also here, so I decided to come over and also visit the masters of Qiming Academy."
Xu Yi's original plan was to return to Kunlun Academy.
After she learned about the Holy Maiden Sect, she immediately became wary of this peculiar sect. Coupled with the news that Xiong Zhuang Zhuang was nearby, she changed her mind and headed to Rongzhou.
She originally intended to visit Qiming Academy first, and then contact Xiong Zhuang Zhuang. She didn't expect to encounter Yin Li being ambushed on the road and thus meet Xiong Zhuang Zhuang again.
Xiong Zhuang Zhuang slapped his thigh happily, "Haha, I was thinking the same thing. I was just about to go to Mozheng City, but I was delayed by this matter."
Old friends reunited, Xiong Zhuang Zhuang's joy was irrepressible, and he grinned, revealing a row of white teeth.
Xu Yi was infected by his smile and couldn't help but laugh.
After laughing, Xu Yi began to search the purple-robed figure, wanting to see if she could find any clues on her.
But on her body, besides the purple robe, there was only a purple snake-shaped token.
Xu Yi held the purple snake-shaped token in her hand, and after carefully sensing it, she said to Xiong Zhuang Zhuang, "This token contains a very dense lightning power, which should have come from the Holy Maiden."
"It is said that the Holy Maiden can control lightning power and is the reincarnation of the Holy Maiden of the Nine Heavens."
"Reincarnation of the Holy Maiden of the Nine Heavens sounds like a rumor, but being able to control lightning power should not be false."
Xu Yi's Pixiu stone contained sealed lightning power, so she was somewhat familiar with this lightning power.
She could feel that the lightning power in this token was extremely pure, even comparable to the lightning power she had sealed.
This Holy Maiden might be a rare high-level cultivator with lightning spiritual roots in the Kyushu Continent, which is why she could control this difficult-to-control lightning power.
Xiong Zhuang Zhuang agreed with Xu Yi's speculation. He suddenly remembered something and pointed to the other side, "I also met two acquaintances related to you here. They also have an intricate connection with the Holy Maiden Sect."
"Acquaintances?"
Xu Yi was startled, then followed Xiong Zhuang Zhuang's guidance and quickly walked to the front of two lying bodies and stopped. She observed them carefully, her brows gradually furrowing, revealing surprise.
They were indeed her acquaintances.
"This is Zhang Nannan and Wang Yao, my classmates from Qiming Academy. Why are they here too?"
Zhang Nannan and Wang Yao had shed their youthful innocence, but their features had not changed. Xu Yi recognized their identities after a brief recollection, which made her even more surprised.
"We followed the guidance of the treasure-seeking rat to the barren mountain where we had gone before. We found Wang Yao, whose eyes had been gouged out, in a cave there, and then we captured Zhang Nannan, who had hidden Wang Yao in the cave."
Xiong Zhuang Zhuang simply described the scene that had happened at the time to Xu Yi.
Xu Yi's eyes flickered, lost in thought.
"Junior Sister Xu, your life-saving grace is unforgettable."
Just as Xu Yi and Xiong Zhuang Zhuang stopped their exchange, Yin Li slowly walked up to Xu Yi, cupped her fists, and expressed her gratitude.
"Your senior brother is an old friend of mine, and I already consider you all like junior siblings. This is also my duty."
"Junior Sister Xu saved me out of righteousness, but I cannot be ungrateful. If you ever need my help in the future, please let me know so I can repay some of your kindness."
Seeing Yin Li's sincere words, Xu Yi naturally nodded in agreement and did not refuse further.