Ji Yuan and Shui Xisi were laughing softly as they strolled together.
They were actually alone in the mountain wilderness, away from their main party.
The main reason why they were alone was because they were actually 'scouting' for their party.
Shui Xisi had a light flush on her lovely cheeks because she was finally allowed to scout alone with Ji Yuan.
The other maidens had actually purposely given her the chance to scout with Ji Yuan because they all knew that she was waiting for such an opportunity.
As Wan'Er and Hanhan were the new additions to their party, they had no clue what the 'scouting' actually entails.
Shui Xisi laughed softly as she eyed Ji Yuan. "So, what are you going to do next?"
Ji Yuan rubbed his chin as he chuckled teasingly. "Naturally I am going to pick a direction for us to scout."
"Is that all that is going on in your pea size brain?" Shui Xisi returned a tease.
Ji Yuan pretended to be annoyed as he frowned. "Isn't it the most natural thing since this is our objective?"
Xiang Li could not resist chipping in even though her voice could only be heard by Ji Yuan as she was hiding in Ji Yuan's soul sea. "Big Brother! She wants you to kiss her. I'm betting my everything on this…"
"As though you got any possession," Ji Yuan interrupted her.
Xiang Li giggled jovially. "I've my clothes."
Ji Yuan almost choked as he coughed out all of a sudden, trying to imagine Xiang Li naked in front of him.
When Shui Xisi saw that he was suddenly choking, she growled softly. "Do you have to feel so exaggerated disgusted? Men are all so frivolous. You sound like I'm courting you instead. Listen up, I have countless number of men that are always wooing me."
Ji Yuan smiled weakly. "I believe…"
He could not tell Sisi that he was being distracted by Xiang Li.
Shui Xisi inhaled softly as she looked at the surrounding terrains. "We're now on the fourth level of the Warrior Empyrean Labyrinth now. The upper half of the lab won't be easy. We actually don't have to force ourselves to traverse to the higher up level. It is better to live to fight another day."
Ji Yuan rolled his eyes before he said quietly. "I have to go to the top level to have a look. The rest of you can remain."
Shui Xisi looked at him curiously. "Are you crazy?"
Ji Yuan inhaled deeply before he said solemnly. "Ever since I've arrived on this fourth level, I have sensed the presence of a powerful opponent that is waiting for me. This is a fight that can't be avoided."
Shui Xisi: ???
"The presence of a powerful opponent that is waiting for you?" Shui Xisi laughed softly as she rolled her eyes. "Are you sure? Why you?"
All of a sudden there was a dark countenance that had suddenly dawned upon Ji Yuan.
He narrowed his golden eyes as he looked at the sandy desert that was ahead of him before he nodded slowly. "I can sense his malevolent air. He is waiting for me."
Shui Xisi giggled. "You are a great saint and we've so many great saintesses in the party. If he is just a single foe, we can help to dispatch him for you."
Ji Yuan sighed softly. "This foe is very, very strong. We may not be able to defeat him."
"I don't believe." Shui Xisi shook her head with a smile. "You just don't want our help because it serves your manly pride to fight your battle alone…"
Shui Xisi gasped all of a sudden when Ji Yuan had suddenly placed his hand on her shoulder. "Sisi, I am serious. I've never known fear before but ever since I've arrived on this level, my body has been trembling. I know that this opponent is very strong and he is waiting for me. He knows that I am here."
"How did he know that you're here? You're joking, am I right?"
Ji Yuan shook his head as he continued to look at the sandy desert that was beyond the lofty mountains. "His malevolent air is just there. I must confront him."
"Wait a minute!" Shui Xisi gasped softly. "If you know that he is in that direction and he is such a strong opponent, isn't it wiser to go into the other direction instead?"
Ji Yuan smiled bitterly as his fingers trembled on Shui Xisi's shoulder. "I think that he may be an immortal…"
All of a sudden Ji Yuan had lifted his divine sword against Shui Xisi, causing her to be startled as she stumbled backward.
"Ji Yuan, what are you doing?!..."
But before she could ask Ji Yuan, there were dozens of falling boulders from the cliffs above and she was forced to evade out of the way.
She could only see Ji Yuan's shadow speeding down into the sandy desert below as his voice echoed to her. "Sisi, I love you. You are a wonderful maiden. Don't follow me…"
By the time she had freed herself from the falling boulders that were caused by Ji Yuan's sword energy bursts and was about to follow Ji Yuan, a furious sandstorm that covered the entire desert had suddenly appeared from nowhere and was blowing with great fury.
This forced a startled Shui Xisi to take shelter under the cover of a crevice as she shook her head with disbelief. "Where did this sandstorm come from all of a sudden?"
As Ji Yuan sped into the desert, he was trembling and he was muttering incoherently. "Xiang Li, your Big Brother will protect you. No one is going to take you away from me…"
Xiang Li was also startled by the sudden change in events. "Big Brother, where are we going?"
"Did you sense the numerous sword energies arrays that are in the desert ahead of us?" Ji Yuan inhaled solemnly. "He is there and he has arrived sooner than I've expected."
"This sandstorm is caused by his sword energies…" Xiang Li muttered. "I can sense his presence now. He is…a desolate immortal…"
Ji Yuan nodded slowly. "Xiang Li, are you afraid?"
Xiang Li shook her head with a playful grin. "I'm not."
"Good." Ji Yuan laughed as he brandished his divine sword as he forced his way into the sword energies arrays that had suddenly sprang up all around him.
"Whoever you are, don't you think that these sword energies arrays are pointless to display in front of a sword saint?"