The Daoist appeared like a towering, immovable mountain, standing before the two of them.

The sudden appearance of the Daoist instantly threw the two into disarray, with assassins pursuing from behind and the Daoist blocking their way ahead.

This was unbelievably unlucky.

The woman gritted her teeth, holding Ji Qianfan and watched Chen Ye warily, "Please, Dao Venerable, let us pass."

The burly man said nothing, his rugged face heavy, brows knitted. One hand held Ji Qianfan, while the other reached for his waist—any sudden move and he would strike.

Chen Ye kept his hands tucked into his sleeves, his expression calm. The woman's words didn’t faze him; he merely said faintly, "Give her to me and I will deal with the assassins for you."

"Then I apologize for offending you!"

At the instant the words rang out, cold, sharp blades merged with drifting snow, dazzling and blinding, instantly aiming for Chen Ye’s throat.

Bang!

A sudden, heavy force struck. The dazzling white blade in the man’s hand shattered, the blade vanishing and the surging power pushed their bodies back, loosening the hand holding Ji Qianfan.

Chen Ye’s fair, jade-like hand reached out from his sleeve and Ji Qianfan’s body was uncontrollably pulled toward him, their expressions changing.

Both of their bodies were dragged uncontrollably to either side, the swirling blades entwined with frigid wind and snow, tearing the sky apart, a wailing scream about to fall upon Chen Ye.

"Who is this little Daoist? Seeking death, don’t blame us!"

The assassins sneered coldly. They were all masters of the Spiritual Sea Realm, their blades infused with spiritual power, capable of splitting mountains and rivers with ease. The Daoist in the black robe looked frail, face decent, yet foolishly ran into the blade!

Then they would all die together!

The inn couple’s faces changed drastically and before they could speak, the swirling snow suddenly froze, the bone-chilling cold halted by an invisible, terrifying force.

Like them, the assassins’ bodies were immobilized by some inexplicable power, eyes wide open, able only to watch but not speak. What happened next would haunt them forever, blood and gore incomparable to anything they had ever seen.

The drifting snow was churned by a terrifying spiritual force, collapsing in an instant.

A full, moon-like, jade-clear hand tore through the hazy sky, a tremendous roar covering the heavens and earth as if cleansing all within!

Everyone froze as if struck by lightning, their minds ringing. The oppression of the enormous hand felt like a divine mountain pressing down upon them!

A pair of eyes emerged from the sky, indifferent, calm, like gazing down at ants in the mortal world.

It was… the Daoist!

They heard his calm voice, like thunder striking their ears, "Suppress."

The colossal hand above the horizon fell with a crash, occupying the assassins’ sight completely, the last godly gaze their final destruction!

Ripples spread outward, forming visible waves of energy surrounding the colossal hand.

The assassins hadn’t even screamed when…

Bang!

A cataclysmic explosion echoed through the skies.

They were crushed to dust by the terrifying hand!

The hand dissipated and the world returned to silence.

The howling snow buried the assassins beneath the deep snow.

The inn couple’s pupils constricted, unable to recover from the terrifying force of that strike.

‘What kind of powerful being was this?!’

Had they attempted to intervene, they would have been killed without a trace in that single strike!

When they finally regained their senses, Chen Ye no longer had the terrifying aura. Not a trace of energy remained as he stood holding Ji Qianfan with one hand, quietly watching them.

It seemed what they saw before had been an illusion in their dazed state.

Fear still filled their hearts, impossible to dispel.

"Ji Qianfan, I’m taking you."

Leaving only that, Chen Ye turned and vanished from their sight in an instant.

Cold sweat had already turned into frost, piercing and enveloping their bodies and souls.

"It’s over… Her Highness has been taken!"

The woman collapsed to the ground with a thud, dazed, murmuring.

The man was equally shaken, the earth-shattering scene still shocking his mind.

The two of them had originally been Ji Qianfan’s mother, the Spiritual Consort and her bodyguard.

Since Ji Qianfan lost her power, the Spiritual Consort had sent people to investigate, uncovering some clues. Other princes had conspired against her, leaving the Spiritual Consort powerless, so she sent protectors for Ji Qianfan.

Ji Qianfan went out seeking spiritual medicine; they were assigned to the borderlands to support her, ready to respond immediately if she encountered danger.

While outside, her bodyguards were assassinated, leaving her alone to flee, finally reaching the borderlands, where they joined her.

Yet… she was taken by an unknown Daoist?!

How could they report this to the Spiritual Consort?!

Had they tried to stop him, the Daoist could have killed them with a single strike.

The Daoist had just crushed those assassins as if stepping on ants, expression unchanged.

The two sat in the snow, regaining their composure after some time, covered in frost.

The man drew a deep breath, saying gravely, "That strike could not have come from someone of the Divine Soul Realm. That Daoist is at least a Master of the Hidden Sanctum Realm!" [TL: Hidden Sanctum was Gui Cang but felt it was too weird of a name.]

Their own power was only at the Spiritual Sea Realm. Above it lay the Divine Soul Realm and as members of the imperial court, they had seen such masters before.

Yet none had been so terrifying, bringing such overwhelming shock.

The woman nodded in agreement but wondered, "Why did the Daoist take Her Highness? Could… she know him?"

"How could we know? We should report this to the Spiritual Consort immediately." The man stood, releasing spiritual power to melt the frost and snow, his expression urgent.

If Her Highness were in danger, their incompetence as protectors would bring utter catastrophe!

Thud, thud, thud!

Suddenly, the distant rumble of iron hooves sounded. Looking up, they saw a dense army of riders charging forward!

The intense aura of killing and desolation sent chills down their spines.

* * *

[Ding, congratulations Dao Venerable on completing the mission Search for Ji Qianfan. Mission rewards have been issued, please check.]

The system’s notification echoed in Chen Ye’s mind.

At that moment, he stood on the sea of clouds, Ji Qianfan lying on the mist beside him.

The girl’s delicate, tall frame, though weak, still seemed endearing. Her pale face gave her the fragile, sickly beauty of a gentle maiden, evoking pity.

They had already left the borderlands, heading into the territory of the Xuanyuan Imperial Dynasty.