Ye Fan said, "They are gentler than you!"

Instantly, Mu Keqing felt a sharp, painful stab to the heart.

"And then?" she asked again.

"They are more feminine than you!"

Mu Keqing felt another unprompted stab to the heart. There was no doubt about it; she was on the verge of collapsing. At that, she retorted, "How dare you say I lack femininity!"

"You really don’t!"

Mu Keqing is just like Alice was before her transformation—bratty and willful. Whoever marries her is in for a world of hurt.

Mu Keqing was furious. She demanded with righteous indignation, "Then what does it take to be feminine?"

"For example, my wife often gives me gentle kisses," Ye Fan said immediately.

"I can do that too!" Mu Keqing declared. She immediately kissed him, catching Ye Fan completely off guard. I can’t believe she’s actually going for it! Well, only an idiot passes up a freebie.

Since a kiss was being served up on a silver platter, how could he refuse? He immediately reciprocated, and the moment was filled with tenderness. But what came next was anything but.

"AH!"

Ye Fan cried out, clutching his tongue in excruciating pain. He yelled at Mu Keqing, "You bit me!"

"Isn’t that what kissing is?" Mu Keqing asked innocently.

Ye Fan nearly collapsed to the ground. What in the world was that?! It’s official. Mu Keqing will never have a feminine bone in her body.

Mu Keqing wanted to try again, but Ye Fan refused. He couldn’t take that kind of pain.

The next day, the two arrived at Dragon Valley. The place was an unexpected labyrinth of serpentine twists and turns. A thick fog shrouded the complex terrain, and it was clear that a single moment of carelessness could get one hopelessly lost.

In this mystical place, for some unknown reason, I can feel the Ancestor Realm Bloodline inside me practically boiling over. The True Dragon Blood Essence must be here in Dragon Valley. But if that’s true, where are all the other Martial Artists? I haven’t seen a single soul. A moment’s thought, however, was enough for him to figure out why.

Just then, Mu Keqing said, "Yezi, there’s definitely a treasure here. Don’t you dare try to keep it all for yourself later!"

"Am I that kind of person?" Ye Fan said with disdain.

"Yes!" Mu Keqing replied instantly.

Ye Fan felt a sting of hurt. So much for trust between people. He had no choice but to follow behind Mu Keqing. The two of them immediately flew ahead, riding on her Advanced Spiritual Bird.

Suddenly, from within the dense fog ahead, a massive force attacked them.

"BLOCK!" Mu Keqing shouted. She immediately unleashed her Red Sand Divine Power, blocking the immense force. Through the dense fog, they could make out a figure rapidly fleeing.

"CHASE!" With that, Mu Keqing took off in pursuit.

Ye Fan was helpless to follow. While his own speed and strength were considerable, he couldn’t possibly match the pace of a High-level Spiritual Beast. He was left standing there alone.

"It’s probably a trap! Why would you chase after it?" Ye Fan muttered helplessly. "Besides, how am I supposed to find you now?!" This is a disaster.

Ye Fan walked forward. Between the valley walls up ahead, he saw a figure. His heart instantly went on high alert. It was none other than Duan Tianya.

Duan Tianya approached him step by step, his Plum Blossom Fan open. He cut an elegant yet ruthless figure, an impression amplified by the cold wind swirling through the valley.

Ye Fan asked, "Why are you blocking my way?"

"Nothing much," Duan Tianya replied. "I’m just here to take your life."

"Is that so?" Ye Fan stared at him coldly. So it was a ploy. If I’m not mistaken, the person Mu Keqing chased must have been Ximen Hengcheng.

"Are you so sure I’m an easy target?" he asked. My realm might be a little lower, but not so low that I should be considered easy pickings. Yet these people seem determined to treat me as such.

Duan Tianya said, "We’ll see if you’re an easy target soon enough. You don’t deserve to live in this world. If you kill yourself now, I might consider leaving your corpse intact."

"I’m afraid you’re not qualified!" Ye Fan scoffed.

At that, Duan Tianya suddenly flicked his Plum Blossom Fan. Instantly, a massive hurricane formed, taking the shape of a blade as it hurtled toward Ye Fan.

With nowhere to retreat, Ye Fan roared, "BREAK!"

The Returning to the Sect Sword collided with the hurricane blade, triggering a huge explosion. The moment the blast subsided, Duan Tianya moved. He closed in on Ye Fan at top speed, twirling the Plum Blossom Fan with the simple, calm ease of a juggler. For Ye Fan, however, dealing with the attack was anything but easy. His opponent’s strength was truly on another level.

Ye Fan drew his Yuanhong Sword and engaged Duan Tianya in close combat.

A colossal force shot from the fan and exploded on impact. Duan Tianya’s strike sent Ye Fan flying backward, and he crashed through a small mountain, shattering it. He had just crawled out from the shattered rock when Duan Tianya was upon him again. From start to finish, his opponent had only used a few simple moves, yet they were enough to leave Ye Fan bloodied. His strength was not to be underestimated.

Ye Fan shouted, "Futian Sword Dao!"

"Too slow!" Duan Tianya scoffed. While Ye Fan’s technique was immensely powerful, it required a significant amount of energy to channel, making him vulnerable to an opponent like Duan Tianya.

Duan Tianya instantly found an opening and appeared before him as if he had teleported. Ye Fan swiftly swung the Yuanhong Sword, trying to withstand Duan Tianya’s strength. But Duan Tianya was skilled in both offense and defense. His moves seemed simple, yet every one was lethal. He had reached a level where he could turn complexity into simplicity.

"BREAK!"

His Plum Blossom Fan struck Ye Fan’s chest, sending him flying. This time, he coughed up a large mouthful of blood. Duan Tianya’s power was far beyond what he could match. Although they had only exchanged a couple of blows, he already felt he couldn’t hold on. Therefore, Ye Fan immediately fled.

"Trying to escape?" Duan Tianya immediately gave chase.

Ye Fan ran tirelessly through the endless valleys. He wanted to defy the heavens, but for a martial artist in the minor Nirvana realm to fight an opponent four minor stages higher was an impossible feat. Even for him, it defied all logic. All he could do now was flee.

He didn’t know how long he had been running. Gasping for air, he leaned his back against a valley wall. Although they had fought for less than twenty moves, Duan Tianya had already severely wounded him twice. Only now did he realize that Duan Tianya was no simple foe; though arrogant, his mind was sharp and meticulous.

"He shouldn’t have been able to follow me here! Just wait! Next time, Laozi will definitely get even!" Ye Fan said coldly. He always paid back anyone who bullied him.

However, just at that moment, he heard a loud rumbling sound. The rumbling was approaching fast. Reacting in a split second, he dodged just in time to avoid the blast. Ye Fan was panic-stricken.

To think Duan Tianya could find me so quickly... That kind of power is terrifying.