Chapter Thirty-Two: An Unexpected Rescue

Xia Yan felt a void surrounding him. With his eyes closed, he even counted the seconds in his mind. One second! Two seconds! Three seconds! Why am I still alive? Confused, Xia Yan opened his eyes.

The space before him had been torn apart, and from that abyssal darkness stepped a woman. Her figure was delicate, her skin pale as porcelain, and her gaze deep as the starry night—an extraordinary beauty, unlike any ordinary woman.

This familiar presence stirred complex and subtle emotions in Xia Yan.

“Heaven!” Feng Qiang cried out, incredulous and unable to comprehend why this formidable figure had shielded Xia Yan from the attack.

“No way—does Xia Yan actually know her?” The white-robed director of the institution was even more perplexed, his expression twisted with confusion.

Many refused to believe it. Many looked on with strange expressions. Many did not recognize this woman, though some did. Among certain races, faces were lit with fervor and worship.

The strange man was utterly flustered, panic written across his face; if he could crush Xia Yan with ease, then this woman could just as easily crush him.

This pure-blood demon, Emilia, was appearing before Xia Yan for the second time. She wore a gloomy, peculiar smile, yet her beauty remained breathtaking—a contrast that was both seductive and unsettling.

“Human, it has been a long time,” the pure-blood demon addressed Xia Yan, her tone calm, betraying little emotion.

Xia Yan did not reply, confusion etched across his face. Yet in that moment, he caught a gentle warmth in her eyes, a softness he had never witnessed before—was it meant for him?

“Emilia of the demon clan,” the strange man stammered in disbelief. “Why would a being as powerful as you appear here?”

“A mere mutated creature dares to call my name directly?” Emilia’s displeasure was palpable. With a flick of her hand, the strange man was lifted into the air, his arms flailing desperately, suffocating.

Casting a glance at Xia Yan, she answered earnestly, “I received a distress signal from my kin and happened to be nearby, so I hurried over. The Second District isn’t far from here.”

Many faces showed doubt—why would a pure-blood demon save Xia Yan? Was Xia Yan himself a demon? Or perhaps a human belonging to the demon clan?

Even if Xia Yan fit either possibility, it was unlikely this pure-blood would intervene on his behalf—did he truly deserve such favor? Indeed, her very presence here was peculiar. With her status, she would never concern herself with such trivial matters; even if all the ability-users of Fuxiang City perished, she should not have come.

Even though a few, like Gong Kui, knew that in two months Xia Yan would journey to the demon clan for a duel with the former director Ai You, this pure-blood should still have no reason to save him.

In short, countless gazes turned on Xia Yan, filled with bewilderment.

Emilia had no intention of killing the strange man, so he remained alive.

“Why, as a pure-blood demon, would you save a human?” The strange man could not understand, grinding his teeth.

“Whether I wish to save a human or not, what business is it of yours?” Emilia’s face darkened, then she turned to Xia Yan. “Human, this detestable mutant can no longer move—you know what to do.”

Xia Yan understood her intent; she was indulging her twisted sense of amusement, wanting him to kill the newly evolved Shadow Leopard.

Without hesitation, Xia Yan unleashed his demonic powers. His wings flashed behind him, and he became a blur, descending upon the black-clad youth.

The youth, grievously injured, had no chance to avoid Xia Yan’s assault. He had believed himself saved, his safety assured, only to see his ally trapped and himself defenseless.

Though Xia Yan’s right arm was ruined, his left remained usable. He readied a charging strike.

The strongest slash, swift as a streak of light, cut through.

“No, no!” the black-clad youth screamed in terror, but as his voice faded, his head was severed cleanly, dead beyond hope.

A level-five mutant, a newly crowned king, had fallen, slain by Xia Yan’s hand.

All who witnessed the scene were struck with fear, sensing the cruel amusement of the pure-blood demons.

What was she planning? To kill their kin before a powerful mutant—it was an unforgivable offense, certain to earn their eternal enmity and perhaps even a bounty on his head.

“The situation grows more unpredictable with every moment. This madwoman—what is she really after?” Gong Kui’s face was grim. She felt Xia Yan was like a puppet, manipulated by the pure-blood, not only facing death but a tragic end.

His life should not be a game, nor subject to others’ whims.

Emilia watched, then suddenly smiled, seemingly pleased. With a wave, the barrier confining the strange man dissolved. Seeing the corpse of the black-clad youth, he nearly went insane.

“Ha ha ha!” Emilia laughed delightedly. “I’m in a good mood today. I was going to slaughter your whole family, but now I’ll spare you. However, ugly mutant, remember: it was not I who killed your kin, but this human. Don’t forget.”

“Human Xia Yan!” The strange man raged, transforming into his true form—a gigantic beast over ten meters tall. The ground gave way, the heavens mourned. “Xia Yan, you killed my kin. You must die!”

Despite his madness, the strange man knew he could not kill Xia Yan now; he could only wait for the right moment.

He gritted his teeth and retreated into the distance, vanishing within moments.

Emilia looked at Xia Yan. “Human, isn’t this amusing? You’ve offended the entire mutant clan. Right before their eyes, you slaughtered their prized newcomer.”

Xia Yan remained silent.

“Human, I have something to discuss with you. Let’s find a place away from prying eyes,” Emilia said.

“Alright,” Xia Yan replied, having no reason to refuse.

“Then come with me.” Emilia took Xia Yan’s left hand, and the space before them began to tear open once more.

“You can’t take Xia Yan away, you vile demon!” A shrill cry rang out from nearby. Nangong Yong, wielding the Arctic Tea Blade, slashed at the fractured space, a torrent of snow and ice enveloping the area.

“Nangong Yong, you’re insane! Completely out of your mind!” Gong Kui, watching from her terminal, was furious. “Provoking a pure-blood demon? Do you have a death wish? Even if your clan’s patriarch, now a council member, tried this, he’d die for it!”

Many shared this sentiment—this woman called Nangong Yong must have lost her mind. If a pure-blood demon could be challenged so easily, there would be no pure-bloods left in the world.

The torn space was not completely destroyed; Emilia swiftly stitched it back together. Exposed, her pupils turned deep violet—seductive and beautiful.

“A creature so insignificant it’s less than an ant dares to challenge my authority?” Emilia sneered coldly. With a thought, the space before her ruptured, expanding toward Nangong Yong’s position.

This madwoman seemed doomed to die from this strike—unless someone could withstand Emilia’s blow.