Leading Mu Ningxue out of the cell, Gu Ming could not help but stop in his tracks. A dense, dark mass of soldiers filled his vision, and standing at the very front of the formation was a woman of heroic spirit.
The woman had an exquisite nose and delicate lips, with skin as white as snow. She possessed a graceful, curvaceous figure. Although the peaks at her chest were not as grand as Mu Ningxue’s, their crescent shape was still enough to catch the eye.
However, the most unforgettable thing about her was her pair of purple eyes—deep, beautiful, and captivating. One look was enough to draw anyone in, making it impossible to pull their gaze away.
She had her long black hair tied casually with a white silk scarf. As she took a step with her long, flawless legs, they swayed in a way that left much to the imagination.
Mu Qianqian.
She was the most capable and efficient right-hand woman under Gu Ming’s command, and she was the only one he could truly entrust with his life.
When Gu Ming had rescued those idiots from the Righteous Path in the past, he had specifically avoided her. He had intended to do the same this time, but the situation had changed. Mu Ningxue had grown suspicious of his identity, and to dispel those doubts, Gu Ming had been forced to spend extra time.
In the end, he was late.
Gu Ming sighed in his heart.
“It’s you!”
Mu Ningxue, who had followed closely behind, felt her hostility surge the moment she saw Mu Qianqian. After being trapped by the Triple Array, it was Mu Qianqian who had dragged her into the Great Prison.
Mu Ningxue moved to rush forward, intending to settle the score, but Gu Ming blocked her path.
She looked at Gu Ming with confusion, her eyes burning with a fury that seemed to ask, ‘Why are you stopping me?’
Gu Ming was somewhat frustrated with Mu Ningxue. She usually appeared to be such a calm and wise beauty, yet she wanted to charge in recklessly the moment she encountered a grudge.
Nevertheless, Gu Ming spoke patiently. “Your Spiritual Energy is still recovering. You are no match for her right now.”
“How do you know I’m not?” Mu Ningxue’s brows furrowed, her voice filled with defiance. “Even though I have only recently mastered the Goddess Cultivation Technique, I have more than enough to deal with her.”
“She is the Fifth Heavenly King’s most capable right-hand woman. Her strength is second only to the Fifth Heavenly King himself,” Gu Ming said in a heavy tone.
“So what?” Mu Ningxue replied with absolute confidence. “Give me half an hour, and I can take her down.”
Lines of frustration appeared on Gu Ming’s forehead. He had not noticed it before, but this woman seemed quite combative.
No, she was just vengeful.
Gu Ming read the determination to wipe away her past humiliation in Mu Ningxue’s eyes. She was likely still brooding over the fact that Mu Qianqian had captured her.
After a moment of thought, Gu Ming decided to scare her. “Half an hour… Are you planning to wait for the Fifth Heavenly King to arrive?”
“Ah.”
Mu Ningxue’s face turned pale and then green as she seemingly recalled something unpleasant. Her entire expression darkened.
She clenched her fists tightly and hissed in a low voice, “One day, I will make that guy pay back his debt in blood.”
Gu Ming withdrew his gaze from Mu Ningxue and said, “Fine. I will hold Mu Qianqian back. You break out on your own first.”
“By yourself?” Mu Ningxue looked at Gu Ming in disbelief.
Gu Ming said heartlessly, “If you stay, you’ll only be dead weight.”
Mu Ningxue had previously been hit by the Triple Array, which had drained her Spiritual Energy. While trapped in the cell, she had been bound by specialized ropes that prevented her from recovering her energy normally.
Even with the gloves to accelerate her recovery, it was impossible for her to return to her peak state in such a short time.
As for Mu Ningxue’s claim that she could finish Mu Qianqian in half an hour, it was nothing more than an unrealistic outburst of anger. Even if her Spiritual Energy had fully recovered, she would not be able to defeat Mu Qianqian in thirty minutes.
Gu Ming knew better than anyone how strong Mu Qianqian was.
However, Gu Ming’s considerations were not based on power alone. He wanted to conclude this rescue mission of the Divine Maiden as perfectly as possible without harming Mu Qianqian.
If Mu Ningxue stayed, it would only make his plan difficult to execute.
Hearing Gu Ming’s cold words, Mu Ningxue felt a flash of anger, but after calming down and thinking it over, she nodded in agreement.
“You think you can leave?”
Mu Qianqian pulled a giant sword from her Storage Bag. The tip of the blade slammed heavily into the ground, and with a loud explosion, rubble and debris scattered everywhere.
She crossed her hands, resting them on the hilt of the sword. “Aren’t you two looking down on me a bit too much?”
“Today…”
She bent her knees slightly, and the giant sword, which looked as though it carried no weight at all, was easily hoisted behind her shoulder.
Her gaze was cold as she stared down Gu Ming and Mu Ningxue without a hint of fear. She spoke slowly. “…Neither of you is going anywhere.”
Swoosh.
The giant sword slashed forward, creating a piercing sound as it tore through the air. Following the strike, the void in front of them cracked, forming a spatial rift.
“A spatial rift?!”
Mu Ningxue was shocked. She had not expected that a single swing from Mu Qianqian’s sword would have such an effect.
Just then, the spatial rift generated a powerful suction force. This force attempted to drag Mu Ningxue toward it, pulling violently at her body.
‘This—’
A flash of surprise crossed Mu Ningxue’s eyes, but her reaction was swift. She thrust her long sword into the ground, trying to resist the suction.
However, just as the sword pierced the earth, Gu Ming grabbed Mu Ningxue and pulled her into his arms.
“What are you doing?”
As her body crashed into Gu Ming’s chest, Mu Ningxue was momentarily dazed. When she regained her senses, she glanced up at him with a look of indignant anger.
“I’m helping you get out of her range,” Gu Ming said calmly.
After hearing his explanation, Mu Ningxue decided not to pursue the matter. Instead, she stared at Mu Qianqian, her expression turning grave. “A spatial skill?!!”
‘She’s so young, yet she has already mastered spatial skills?’ Mu Ningxue’s beautiful face was filled with disbelief.
“That is the Magic Sword. It is worth 100 million high-grade Spirit Stones and has the ability of Space Cleaving.”
Gu Ming’s tone was flat, but his words were like a thunderclap that left Mu Ningxue’s head ringing.
“100 million?!!!”
“High-grade Spirit Stones?!!!”
Mu Ningxue suspected she had misheard. her delicate red lips parted slightly, and she struggled to close them.
As the Divine Maiden of the Divine Maiden Palace, her monthly allowance was only 20,000 high-grade Spirit Stones. She had no idea how long she would have to save to buy a spatial treasure worth 100 million.
“Yes,” Gu Ming nodded.
“How do you know that?” Mu Ningxue raised her eyes to look at him.
‘Because I’m the one who gave it to her!’ Gu Ming thought.
Out loud, however, he said, “I always investigate my enemies and the people around them thoroughly.”
“So, she is the most important person to the Fifth Heavenly King?” Mu Ningxue’s expression was solemn. Only now did she understand what Gu Ming had said at the beginning.
She had indeed been arrogant.
Mu Ningxue asked in a low voice, “Do you really not need me to stay?”
“You being here would only get in the way.”
Upon hearing this, Mu Ningxue looked displeased. She was the Divine Maiden, after all. Just because her Spiritual Energy was currently depleted didn’t mean she was useless.
She huffed in annoyance, turned around without hesitation, and flew off in the opposite direction.