The City Lord stood frozen in shock, unable to comprehend the young girl's strength as she fought and killed his guards.
The vast disparity between their realms should have made such a feat impossible.
"Is everyone in the Great Demon Sect this powerful?" he wondered, echoing the same question that had crossed Eren's mind.
Realizing that she would continue to eliminate his guards if left unchecked, the City Lord made his mind to intervene.
Even if the young girl possessed the ability to exceed her realm in combat, he didn't believe that she could cover the gap of two realms.
Determined to protect his guards from certain death, the City Lord made a decision. It was more advantageous to enter the battle while his guards still served as distractions.
Retrieving a sword from his storage ring, he leaped into the fray.
"I've been waiting for you to join," the woman said, defying the City Lord's expectations by displaying neither shock nor concern.
"I can only use this once, but if it allows me to eliminate someone like you, it will be a worthwhile sacrifice!" she declared as she brought out a Talisman.
"Isn't that..."
High in the sky, Eren frowned. He recognised that talisman. It was something that he also borrowed from Xiu Ying.
"That man is definitely dead. But how did she get something like that?"
He remembered that it was a talisman that was sold in the Sect, but it was impossible for an ordinary person to buy. It was the most expensive talisman. It was only sold to the Core Disciples.
Other than the core Disciples, only youngsters who took an Elder as their Masters were able to get one of these talismans for free.
"Just what is her identity? Don't tell me she already has a master? Did I get scammed with this quest?"
It was one thing to accept a disciple. And it was completely different to poach one.
He had already accepted this option. If he didn't complete it, he couldn't get any other options for the rest of his life.
"Even if I have to steal her from another Elder, I must do it."
.....
The girl placed the talisman on her sword.
The Talisman momentarily turned her sword into a treasured weapon into a treasured sword.
The talisman provided essence to the sword, which relieved the burden on her body. Thanks to the talisman, she was able to use strength beyond her realm.
The City Lord could already feel that he was in danger. He knew that she was a disciple of the Great Demon Sect.
He was so distracted by her strength that he had completely forgotten that the Sect could also have many unique treasures.
The Great Demon Sect Disciples rarely used such things as they didn't believe in borrowing external strength. But that didn't mean that they couldn't.
"Attack her together!" He commanded his guards to create a distraction while he ran away.
Her attack was faster than his speed though. A blinding arc of energy shot towards him.
The City Lord watched the arc of energy fly past him. He didn't even feel it, but when he looked down, he noticed that the bottom half of his body was missing. It had already fallen far behind.
His body was sliced in two. And the top half of his body followed suit and fell on the ground. By the time he felt the pain, it was already too late.
Not just him, but all his Guards were also dead.
"Demon..." he could only mutter one word as a puddle of blood formed around him. He only saw her silhouette before his eyes closed.
The girl kept her sword back and sighed. In the battle, her horse had died. She had no ride anymore, which was the most of her concern.
She didn't care that someone tried to kill him. She didn't feel proud that she killed people stronger than her. She didn't feel regret over wasting that talisman.
She only cared about the fact that she had to walk to the next City now.
"These pathetic people. Because of them, I have to walk to the next City. Weaklings."
"You won't have to walk. Because you are not going anywhere."
The girl suddenly heard a voice right next to her. She hadn't even felt anyone's presence there.
Shocked, she ran forward, creating some distance.
"Who are you?!"
Behind him, she saw a woman that had covered her face with a mask. She couldn't even see the strength of that woman, but she felt danger.
She didn't even know if she could have defeated this woman even if she had another talisman.
"I'm the person who will take your life."
"The City Lord of a small city can't hire someone like you. Did the heir of Asura Sect send you?"
"You can ask these questions to the lord of hell."
Xiu Ying was the ultimate villain that Eren had created.
She had changed her hair and even her height with a skill, making sure she wasn't recognised.
"A Senior like you is taking part in children's fights? Don't you feel ashamed?"
"I am just crushing an ant. There is nothing to feel ashamed of for crushing a weakling."
The young disciple had her lips twitch in frustration. She was the one who had been calling others weakling until now. Now she was on the receiving end of these words.
Atop the phoenix, Eren laughed.
"I told that little girl. There are mountains beyond mountains. Though honestly, Xiu Ying makes for a better villain than I expected."
"No matter how strong you are, can you bear the consequences of harming a disciple of the Great Demon Sect? Did you forget who our Sect Master is."
"The Eastern Overlord. I have heard about her. But so what? Can she save you today?"
"Your seven generations would be destroyed if she found out!"
"Who will tell her? Your ghost?"
The young girl stepped back slowly, trying to think of ways to escape. But there was none.
She was all alone here. And it was unrealistic to expect a savior to come.
"What is this? A Senior is bullying a Junior?"
The young girl felt the world close around her as there was no escape from death this time. But right then, another voice came.
A figure came from the sky, landing right before her. All she saw was the back of that person, who was facing that dangerous woman.