Ian furrowed his brows, silently pondering in his heart.
Lu Fei was indeed insignificant, but the mention of another person who had yet to make a move vaguely unsettled him.
“Princess, should we take a detour?” Kars stepped forward at the opportunity, his tone tinged with flattery.
“After all, the opponent’s strength is unknown. Rushing ahead recklessly might not be in our favor.”
Sophia glanced coldly at Kars, then spoke slowly, “According to the map, this is the only path leading to the Central Region. If they keep blocking the way, shall we never move forward?”
She lifted her head slightly, a trace of pride shining in her eyes.
“Besides, do you think I’m afraid of some unknown rabble?”
“Those who dare to block the road and rob others must be prepared to be robbed in return.”
Watching Sophia’s confident demeanor, Ian understood that her confidence was not blind but based on real strength.
Apart from a few individuals, she likely hadn’t taken the others seriously at all.
Before long, Ian’s group approached the Passage to the Central Region.
From afar, two figures—one short, one tall—stood guard.
“A few more small fries again. Looks like Lu Fei’s points are about to rise once more,” said the short one, Lu Fei, her green twin tails bouncing.
The corners of her mouth curled up, eyes full of anticipation for the approaching group.
Sparks of lightning flickered across her fingertips.
Next to her, the tall girl frowned deeply, wearing the expression of one facing a formidable enemy.
“Be careful. I feel like this time, they’re not at the same level as before.”
“I’m telling you, Beiqi, you’re just a small fry. With me around, you can rest easy.”
“Whoever they are, once I, Lu Fei, shock them, they’ll behave.”
Lu Fei’s tone was filled with disdain as she dismissed the newcomers.
When she mentioned the electric shock, her cheeks flushed slightly, as if harboring a strange fetish.
As Sophia’s group drew near, Lu Fei habitually sneered, “Hey, small fries over there, when you see Lord Lu Fei, why don’t you hurry up and hand over your points?”
“Or else, Lord Lu Fei will have to ‘take good care’ of you.”
She deliberately emphasized the words “take good care,” lightning faintly dancing around her fingertips, revealing her true intent.
Ian’s serious gaze swept over Lu Fei, then rested on Beiqi beside her.
Though Beiqi appeared unassuming, Ian sensed that her strength might actually surpass Lu Fei’s.
Seeing the lightning in Lu Fei’s hands, Kars felt a surge of retreat, but then glanced at Beiqi beside her and his eyes lit up.
“Princess, I’ll take care of that one.”
In Kars’s mind, one always picks the softer target.
Lu Fei was obviously not to be trifled with, and the person beside her seemed to be just freeloading off Lu Fei’s points.
So Kars volunteered to challenge Beiqi.
“Then you may proceed.”
Sophia slowly stepped forward, letting out a light laugh, “Just two petty bandits, and they dare to be insolent before me.”
A flame suddenly sparked at Sophia’s fingertips, the terrifying heat warping the space around them.
Lu Fei froze for a moment, then burst into loud laughter, “Hahaha, you really don’t know when to quit until you see the coffin. Fine, I’ll properly ‘entertain’ you small fries.”
Before the words even left her mouth, the electric light at Lu Fei’s fingertips surged violently, transforming into several lightning serpents that lunged toward Sophia.
Ian clearly understood that although Lu Fei mocked Sophia openly, deep down she viewed her as a major enemy.
A blue halo shimmered around Lu Fei’s body—that was her first skill.
Sophia merely scoffed at Lu Fei’s first skill, choosing not to activate any of her own but simply gathered a few balls of flame and charged at Lu Fei.
The collision of their powers produced a tremendous sound that made Ian’s ears ring, and the impact resulted in both forces canceling each other out.
Lu Fei, having failed her first move, did not surrender but quickly rushed at Sophia, intending to use her electric power at close range to shock her.
Seeing Lu Fei’s action, Ian knew his moment had come.
He touched the Soulstone engraved with Elia’s portrait, channeling some of the Blood Power he had recovered these past few days into it.
Immediately, several chains of light shot out from the Soulstone, binding Lu Fei’s limbs.
“What the hell is this, small fries?” Lu Fei struggled fiercely against the chains, but the more she struggled, the tighter the chains held her.
“Despicable, shameless, vile.” Lu Fei was tightly locked in midair, unable to move.
“Let me down at once, or I’ll make you small fries regret it.”
Lu Fei shouted until her throat was dry, but Ian had no intention of releasing her.
“Then don’t blame me.”
Suddenly, a powerful electric current surged from Lu Fei’s body, striking the light chains.
Ian knew Lu Fei was trying to break free by conducting electricity through the chains, but he was not worried at all.
After all, these chains were the kind that even the King of Sand Scorpions couldn’t break.
It was a pipe dream to think Lu Fei could escape them by herself.
As Ian expected, the light chains didn’t break; instead, the electricity conducted through the chains and flowed back into Lu Fei’s body.
“Ah!”
Lu Fei screamed miserably, her body trembling violently as she was struck by her own lightning.
“Lu Fei!” Beiqi wielded a long sword carved from ice, fighting alongside Kars and the others.
Unlike Lu Fei’s defeat, Beiqi appeared composed even under their combined assault.
After a round of shrieks, Lu Fei unexpectedly began to laugh strangely.
“Hahaha.” Her hair stood on end from the electricity, but there was no sign of pain on her face.
Instead, her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes shone with a peculiar light as she muttered, “This feeling… so strange.”
“I… I want more.”
Then, as if cursed, Lu Fei actively poured more lightning into the light chains, causing the current to bounce back into her own body once again.
This time she emitted nearly pleasurable moans, her entire body tingling, legs growing weak.
“Amazing, this is exactly the feeling.” Lu Fei’s eyes were hazy, a fanatical smile curling her lips.
“So this is how wonderful being shocked feels.”
Ian shuddered.
As Lu Fei intensified the electric current, the Blood Power within Ian’s body rapidly drained.
Instinctively, he loosened some of the restraints.
“Don’t stop, I want even more,” Lu Fei called out obsessedly, completely forgetting the fight’s original purpose.
“Have I accidentally helped her develop some weird addiction?”
Seeing Lu Fei like this, Beiqi felt a headache coming on.
After fending off Kars and the others with her ice sword, she took out a Space Scroll from her bag.
“We have plenty of time ahead.”
With that, Beiqi took Lu Fei away with the scroll.
The Passage to the Central Region appeared before Ian and the others.