“Reasonable? Fine, fine… So this is how you want to play.”

Zhou Jiuyu tightened his grip on Nan Mengling’s hand and lowered his voice. “Use your ability. Teleport us out. Right now—City No. 1, the Sanctum, the Patrol Division, plus who knows where your master’s clone might pop up… This isn’t the place to fight. Let’s get out of the city.”

“But young master, my ability can’t carry living beings…” Nan Mengling slightly furrowed her delicate brows.

“If I say it can, then it can.” Zhou Jiuyu held her gaze.

“Yes. I believe you, young master.”

Without hesitation, Nan Mengling’s Spirit Energy rippled. In an instant, she and Zhou Jiuyu dissolved into mist.

They reappeared on a street three thousand meters away. Her ability had grown significantly; the radius of her Qi Sea domain now spanned three kilometers.

“Young master?” Nan Mengling immediately scanned for him, heart pounding—afraid she’d teleported alone and left him trapped in the Sanctum.

“I’m here. Can you keep moving? Get us out of the city first,” Zhou Jiuyu said calmly.

She nodded, about to reply “Yes,” when her expression shifted slightly. “We can’t run, young master. My Qi won’t expand—a gravitational force is surrounding us…”

Zhou Jiuyu frowned, then took a slow breath. “Then we fight. Take out that Fourth Elder fast, then leave.”

“Take him out?”

A light chuckle drifted from above. Wen Xingsi had arrived. “Who do you think you can kill? Don’t tell me you believe you can slay me right under the Sanctum’s nose.”

Gravity suspended twenty-one elite Sanctum guards midair—floating like celestial soldiers of the Heavenly Court, radiating crushing pressure.

One Ninth Tier. Five Seventh Tier. Sixteen Sixth Tier.

Enough to corner any ordinary Ninth Tier expert.

“Why not?” Black and white energy streams swirled around Nan Mengling. Her sword, White Moon, slid free with a whisper.

“You truly think killing Shao Xiuqi makes you our equal?” Wen Xingsi smiled faintly. “I watched the footage. He fell to a sneak attack.”

“Surrounded by our elites, with me overseeing… your wisest choice is to surrender quietly. I’ll deliver you to Sword God Mountain. Spare yourselves the despair of being crushed.”

His tone was effortless—as if stating fact.

City No. 1 had become a cage. A trap.

To him, their struggle was a cockroach scurrying before the inevitable stomp.

“Old man, too many words. Maid—go! Time to prove your training.”

“Leave it to me, young master.”

Black-and-white energy whirlpools danced with her sword intent. Ninth Tier ability. Swordsmanship bordering first-tier. One full strike could fell most foes. His arrogance? Her advantage.

“This girl is mine. You—handle young master Zhou,” Wen Xingsi ordered.

Gravity wrapped his form as he moved toward Nan Mengling—then abruptly pivoted.

All attacks converged on Zhou Jiuyu.

Zhou could’ve handled the elites. But a Ninth Tier like Wen Xingsi? Imagination alone wouldn’t save him.

“Young master!” Nan Mengling’s calm mask shattered into panic.

“Your worry confirms the rumors,” Wen Xingsi murmured, lips curling. He disdained her, yet respected her tier. He’d seen the footage: Zhou Jiuyu led her from Sword God Mountain, orchestrated Shao Xiuqi’s death, used Tong Che to infiltrate the Sanctum.

She wasn’t the prodigy. *He* was the key.

The Sword God’s words echoed: strategist, not warrior. Weak in combat.

*Seize the leader first.*

In a flash, Wen Xingsi closed on Zhou Jiuyu. “Her escape, her strength—it’s all because of you. *You’re* the real prize.”

“Oh? Then thanks for the compliment. Didn’t know I was this awesome,” Zhou Jiuyu chuckled, utterly unruffled.

“My pleasure, young master Zhou.” Wen Xingsi glanced back—a ripple of energy. Nan Mengling teleporting in. He unleashed repulsive force, shoving her back.

“Think I’m Shao Xiuqi? Let you stab me from behind?” He snorted.

“Not necessarily,” Zhou Jiuyu smiled mysteriously.

“No act. Clever? Yes. Strong? No. That maid can’t save you. You’re dead.”

One hand pulled Zhou Jiuyu inward to crush him; the other repelled Nan Mengling relentlessly.

Sanctum elites surged forward. Abilities erupted. Gunfire rained down—a storm of bullets targeting Zhou Jiuyu alone.

Even Nan Mengling would’ve been gravely wounded here. Zhou Jiuyu? Barely Seventh or Eighth Tier.

“How do you know my maid can’t help me?” Zhou Jiuyu’s voice held zero panic.

*Now.*

The trap reversed.

Wen Xingsi’s gravitational pull on Zhou Jiuyu flipped to repulsion—hurling him clear of the blast zone.

The repulsion against Nan Mengling became attraction.

Riding the pull, White Moon pierced Wen Xingsi’s chest, black-and-white energy trailing like fate.

Blood sprayed. Wen Xingsi froze. Mind blank. Shock etched deep.

*Why… why did my gravity reverse?!*

Pain and weakness crashed over him.

Damn it—

He’d walked right into Shao Xiuqi’s fate…

Stabbed in the back. Again.