Slowly stepping out of the dust cloud, the youth said casually, "Let me correct that. It’s you who will die today."

Feeling the blatant killing intent, Valen didn’t hesitate. He grabbed his long sword and struck first.

Without dodging, the youth—suddenly enraged—pressed his palm against the blade’s tip. With a forceful shove, the finely forged sword shattered into a shower of fragments.

Grabbing Valen’s neck with one hand, the youth’s face twisted in fury as he shouted, "Tch! You dare swing a sword at me without even knowing qi? Ignorant mortal—how dare you underestimate me?!"

"Qi? What is qi?" Lily murmured in confusion, still immobilized. She could only try to distract him with words.

"You don’t know qi? Hmph. I suppose beings like us—born supernatural—have no need for such things!"

"Born supernatural? Impossible! I’m human!" Lily retorted, reeling from the shocking revelations.

Casually tossing the choking Valen aside, the youth laughed heartily, arrogance dripping from his voice. "Hahaha, absurd! How could an ordinary human withstand my attacks and stand here unharmed?"

"Isn’t that right, descendant of the former king?"

"What are you even talking about?!"

Seeing the youth crouched inches away, Lily gathered her meager regained strength and thrust her Wooden Sword fiercely.

"Oh? Strong killing intent, but your power’s pitiful," the youth sneered, snatching the Wooden Sword away. His voice laced with contempt, he grabbed Lily’s neck and lifted her effortlessly into the air. "You haven’t even awakened. You’re not worthy to fight me."

Her fragile neck clamped like iron, Lily couldn’t break free. Suffocation closed in. ...Master, I’m sorry... Lily might... disappoint you again!

"Idiot! Even Yan Wang wouldn’t dare take you without my permission!" As her consciousness blurred, Lily faintly heard that scolding voice—strangely comforting.

Intense curiosity shone on her pale face. Half-conscious, she murmured cutely, "Yan Wang... who’s that?"

No sooner had the words left her lips than the world trembled. Birds and beasts scattered. The azure sky rippled; the very air seemed to solidify.

His pupils contracted sharply at the spatial tremor. "This... feeling!" the youth gasped in shock.

"Then... am I qualified?" A pale, slender hand had landed on his arm. A teasing voice rang out leisurely.

Staring at the sudden hand, the unprepared youth shouted, "Who are you?"

"Boom!" No answer came—only a ferocious punch.

The blow surged like a tidal wave, unstoppable. One punch sent the arrogant youth flying dozens of meters, collapsing forests with its scattered force.

Muffled booms followed. Beneath a storm of spatial fragments, the crumbling pocket dimension split open—a jagged hole just big enough for one person.

In a flash, Ink Ash caught the falling girl gently. Sighing helplessly, he murmured, "Honestly, can’t you give me a moment’s peace?"