Cang Ling shook the Spiritual Herb in her hand and flashed a wild, confident smile at Jiang Huai, whose expression instantly darkened.
“Sorry, fellow Daoist. This thing is fated to me—it looks like it belongs to us now.”
Cang Ling studied the male cultivator before her with curiosity.
The Western Desert Yellow Dragon Clan mainly cultivates physical strength, with women holding the highest status.
Powerful male cultivators were extremely rare; even when encountered, they were mostly unremarkable.
Jiang Huai’s handsome appearance and unique aura, combined with the decisiveness and sharpness of his earlier strike, caught her attention.
This was the first time she’d seen such a man, and she found herself glancing at him several more times, a teasing interest stirring in her heart.
Beside her, Cang Jing was also watching Jiang Huai, her face calm and expressionless.
Yet those eyes, identical to Cang Ling’s, revealed a flicker of curiosity.
Having spent their lives in harsh training within the clan, the twin sisters had barely seen men.
The twins were tall and agile, their skin a healthy wheat color shaped by years under the Western Desert’s relentless winds and sands. Their bodies moved with smooth, explosive power.
Though their faces were identical, one was lively and outgoing, the other quiet and reserved—their temperaments a stark contrast.
The one thing they shared was a physique built more for strength than grace, their chests less prominent, and their Dragon Tails flicking alertly behind them.
Zhu Siyao’s eyes flared with anger upon seeing the Spiritual Herb taken.
“We were the first to find it, and we killed the Guardian Beast to get it! How can you just snatch it away?”
That herb was useful to her mother—how could it be taken like this?
But Jiang Huai didn’t even bother to explain or waste words.
His face was ice-cold, and a flash of killing intent sparked in his eyes.
Daring to snatch something without question—he didn’t even ask.
In a sudden move, his longsword emitted a low hum, transforming directly into a sharp, grey sword light that pierced straight for Cang Ling’s neck.
His intention was clear—kill!
Xiao Yue reacted instantly.
Almost simultaneously with Jiang Huai’s strike, she flicked her sword finger, drawing her sword from her waist with a crisp sound.
A cold sword curtain appeared just in time to block Cang Jing, who was moving to assist.
“Your opponent is me,” Xiao Yue said evenly.
She wanted to test this master’s true strength and his mastery of the Wenxuan Sword Technique.
Cang Ling, still half playful, laughed lightly as Jiang Huai’s sword came at her.
Her fists, covered in dense yellow dragon scales, met his blade.
Her punches were fierce, embodying the wild physical style unique to the Western Desert Yellow Dragon Clan, attempting to overpower skill with brute force.
But from the moment they clashed, she sensed something was off.
Jiang Huai’s swordsmanship wasn’t just skillful—it was cruel and cunning.
Every strike aimed straight for vital points, with strange angles and overwhelming force, as if he wanted to kill her with the very next blow.
What was more terrifying was the sword’s power shifting between scorching heat like the sun and piercing cold, the yin-yang transition seamless and relentless.
She was caught completely off guard.
A careless moment and that sharp sword tip could carve a hole in her neck.
Cang Ling’s heart raced in shock.
Where had this killing god come from? He looked human enough, yet his attacks were so vicious!
Jiang Huai naturally felt anger—of course he was furious someone dared steal his prize.
Cang Ling no longer dared be cocky.
Her expression hardened, and the dragon scales on her arm thickened densely and heavily.
Her fingers morphed into sharp dragon claws, blending offense and defense as she tried to turn the tide.
But Jiang Huai’s sword attacks grew even fiercer.
Each strike more ruthless than the last.
Yin and yang energies entwined around the blade, and the sword’s might vibrated so powerfully it made Cang Ling’s arm go numb.
Fine sword scars even appeared on her dragon scales.
“Clang!”
Another clash forced Cang Ling back half a step.
She bit her lip, shaking her numb wrist, and scolded sharply, “Hey! You’re such a handsome young man, how can you be so fierce and ruthless?”
“With this aggression, which girl would want you?!”
“Give the herb back!” Jiang Huai ignored her teasing, his eyes fixed coldly on the Immortal Herb.
This was something he was giving to Zhu Rongxin.
Anyone who got in the way would die.
Cang Ling’s eyes flickered. Suddenly, she pretended to throw the “Scarlet Sun Return Yin Grass” back to Jiang Huai.
“Alright, alright, I’m scared of you. Take it back!”
“With that kind of temper, no one will want you.” Jiang Huai instinctively reached out to catch it.
But the moment his attention was drawn to the herb, she twisted her waist sharply.
A strong, powerful yellow Dragon Tail shot out from behind her, sweeping toward Jiang Huai’s waist with lightning speed.
The Yellow Dragon Clan was best known for using every advantage of their dragon bodies in physical combat.
Jiang Huai’s eyes narrowed. His reflexes were astonishingly quick.
His sword stance shifted instantly from forceful to flexible, from yang to yin.
His longsword carved a graceful arc, using softness to overcome hardness, cleverly diverting and neutralizing the overwhelming force.
But just as he deflected the tail attack, Cang Ling gave a low shout.
A pair of yellow Dragon Horns on her head flickered with light.
She charged forward like a wild bull, lowering her head and ramming Jiang Huai’s chest with her Dragon Horns, emitting a deep, resonant dragon roar.
Jiang Huai’s anger flared after being toyed with repeatedly.
With a thought, the Black Dragon Mark on his lower abdomen and the Spirit Sword Pattern on another part of his body simultaneously glowed faintly.
In stunned silence from Cang Ling, Cang Jing, Xiao Yue, and Zhu Siyao, two slightly translucent yet terrifyingly fierce black Dragon Horn illusions appeared above Jiang Huai’s head, exactly like those of Qin Qingyue.
On those horns, sharp sword energy twisted and pulsed fiercely.
“Come! No one dodge!” Jiang Huai roared angrily.
He stood his ground, not retreating or evading, charging headlong with the strange Black Dragon Sword Horns at Cang Ling’s yellow Dragon Horns.
The clash of Dragon Horns rang out sharply, sending rippling shockwaves through the air.
Cang Jing’s pupils constricted as she muttered, “Eastern Wilderness Black Dragon Horns? No, there’s another aura too. Sword Qi?”
Each of the Five Great Dragon Clans’ Dragon Horns had distinct shapes and energies.
She wouldn’t mistake the Eastern Wilderness Black Dragon’s aura, but the sword Qi on Jiang Huai’s horns left her confused.
Moreover, Jiang Huai was a human—how could he have Dragon Horns?
Was that a faint tail behind him?
Cang Ling felt a brutal, domineering, and razor-sharp aura pulsing through the Dragon Horns, shaking her blood and qi violently, giving her a splitting headache.
Terrified, she quickly used the momentum to leap backward and create distance.
She shook her dazed head and waved her hand, shouting, “No more fighting, no more fighting! You’re way too fierce! The herb’s yours!”
This time she really threw the Scarlet Sun Return Yin Grass over, her eyes strangely fixed on the slowly fading black Dragon Sword Horn illusions above Jiang Huai’s head.
Jiang Huai caught the herb in one hand, quickly inspecting it before stashing it in his Storage Ring, his face still icy and without the slightest softening.
But Cang Ling, as if discovering a priceless treasure, her eyes shining bright, forgot how badly she had just been beaten.
She stepped forward with a teasing smile and said, “It’s the first time I’ve seen such a powerful male cultivator. Can I get to know you?”
“My name’s Cang Ling, from the Western Desert Yellow Dragon Clan. Where are you from? Can I visit you sometime?”
Her straightforward personality immediately liked Jiang Huai’s decisiveness and formidable strength.
Jiang Huai remained expressionless, his tone cold as ever.
“No need.”
He turned to leave.
Cang Ling hurried after him. “I didn’t really mean to steal your stuff! I haven’t even transformed into a dragon yet! Otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to beat me!”
“Just get to know me, at least tell me your name?”
Jiang Huai’s aloofness only made her heart beat faster.
She imagined how impressive it would be to bring such a cold, powerful male cultivator back to the Western Desert.
What surprises might he have in bed?
Especially with her Dragon Clan’s Desire Period—
Her thoughts burning hot, she hurried forward and bowed.
“I apologize sincerely. Just tell me your name, please?”
“I have good things to offer as compensation!”
Cang Jing showed a displeased look but followed helplessly.
When they first saw Jiang Huai’s group, she had advised Cang Ling not to stir trouble, but Cang Ling insisted on teasing the handsome cultivator.
Now, not only did she fail to defeat him, but he also ignored her.
“Don’t follow me. I’m not interested in you,” Jiang Huai said coldly, turning his head.
His attitude only made Cang Ling’s heart beat faster.
Still unwilling to give up, she shouted, “You don’t even know me, how can you not be interested?”
Watching Jiang Huai fight so desperately for his mother’s Immortal Herb, even willing to risk life and death against the Yellow Dragon Clan’s prodigy, Zhu Siyao’s hostility quietly softened.
Complex feelings of respect and approval grew within her.
She stepped forward, blocking Cang Ling.
Almost at the same time, Xiao Yue smiled and joined her, both speaking in unison,
“The flower already has an owner.”
The crisp and cold voices overlapped, and the two women glanced at each other with subtle expressions.
Nobody knew if the “owner” they referred to was the same person.
Cang Ling blinked, her gaze flickering between Jiang Huai, Zhu Siyao, and Xiao Yue, her smile turning more mischievous.
“A flower with an owner…”
She whispered covetously.
If it already had an owner, she’d just snatch it away—such a cultivator was hard to come by.
Among the two female cultivators before her, only Xiao Yue posed a real threat. The red-armored one was no match.
The opponent wasn’t strong; sooner or later, she’d walk away victorious.
Outside the Secret Realm, Qin Qingyue and Wu Zhaohua exchanged a glance, their faces troubled.
Not only had Jiang Huai activated the Black Dragon Mark, but he also used the Spirit Sword Pattern.
Who was bullying him this time?