Destination Yunshui City

Time slowly passed, and Li Yi finally opened his eyes with a long sigh. This period of secluded cultivation not only healed his injuries but also stabilized his realm that was previously unstable. His Dou Qi, which felt hollow a few days ago, was now many times stronger. However, he was still just a four-crystal Fighter. Li Yi was somewhat satisfied with his realm, but seeing Gong Wushuang, a woman only a few years older than him, already advanced to Emperor level, left him with indescribable feelings, especially since her advancement occurred right in front of him. Li Yi frowned slightly and looked towards Gong Wushuang, who was still in meditation. Around her, a circular ice crystal formed naturally, thickening with each breath she took. The air in the cave seemed to get colder because of her cultivation, but what was most astonishing was the powerful aura she inadvertently emitted, almost too overwhelming to look directly at. Li Yi believed that under normal circumstances, he wouldn't be able to withstand even one of her attacks. Winning her over this time and gaining a bodyguard was more luck than skill. Had she been an Emperor-level fighter before, even his Blood Moon Fury might have been useless.

"Feeling jealous?" The Serpent Venerable's voice sounded faintly. Li Yi shook his head and replied inwardly: "Not really, just a bit reflective... I wonder if I can reach the Emperor level at her age."

"Just an Emperor level," the Serpent Venerable scoffed. "If you're really envious, why not kill her and refine her Dou Qi seed? Although it won't directly promote you to Emperor, advancing to a Warrior wouldn't be a problem. Maybe reaching the second or third change of the Heavenly Devil Nine Transformations could bring you even greater benefits..."

Li Yi sighed, "If I wanted to do that, I would have acted already. It's better to progress step by step in cultivation, or else an unstable realm might cause problems..."

"Good that you understand. Now, quiet down, she's about to wake up... Better handle her well, with her accompanying you, the trip to Yunshui City should be very smooth!" After chuckling, the Serpent Venerable's voice faded away.

Gong Wushuang, who had been meditating, had already opened her eyes. With an exhale, the ice crystals around her turned into pure Dou Qi and were slowly absorbed into her body. Her icy flame wings flickered and finally dissipated into the air. Seeing Gong Wushuang finish her cultivation, Li Yi smiled and said: "Congratulations on solidifying your Emperor realm, Sister Gong. I'm quite envious!"

Gong Wushuang smiled gently, "With your abilities, reaching the Emperor level shouldn't be an issue, right?"

Their mutual smiles brought a rare warmth to their relationship, quite different from their previous life-and-death struggle. Knowing that Gong Wushuang wouldn't dare hurt him and that he wouldn't miss the opportunity to have such a bodyguard, their relationship was surprisingly harmonious.

Li Yi sighed, "Even if I can reach it, who knows when that will be? Maybe I'll fall before then. There are countless talents on this Dou God Continent, and many have fallen, haven't they?"

Gong Wushuang smiled faintly, tidying her hair, "I need to change clothes, you should leave. If I find you peeking, I might not be able to kill you, but gouging out your eyes is easy."

Li Yi chuckled, "I've already touched and kissed, would one more look kill me? So stingy..." He left the cave without waiting for her reaction, breathing in the fresh air outside and changed clothes from his Storage Ring. As he studied the map to determine their location, Gong Wushuang emerged, dressed in light leather armor that accentuated her extraordinary beauty. Seeing Li Yi's gaze, her face turned slightly red, "I didn't expect to spend the night in the mountains, so I didn't bring spare clothes."

Li Yi nodded nonchalantly and returned his attention to the map, "How do you know we are here?"

Gong Wushuang answered, "I've been to the Naga Mountains before. It's not hard to guess our location based on where we were the other day... Where do you plan to go next? It looks like you want to cross the Naga Mountains, right?"

"I want to go to Yunshui City," Li Yi pointed on the map and said lightly.

"To attend the old Nalan family patriarch's birthday celebration?" Gong Wushuang frowned.

Li Yi smiled lightly and said, "I'm not just here to join in the fun. I just need some help from them..."

"Help?" Gong Wushuang frowned. "You don't seem to have any relation to the Nalan family. You know, the people from the Nalan family always have their noses up in the air... What you want to do, why don't I help you instead? I believe if the Nalan family can do it, so can I."

"When did you become so kind, Sister Gong?" Li Yi smiled faintly. "However, I'm afraid this is something you can't help with... Only the Nalan family can help with this, and no one else."

"What if the Nalan family refuses to help?" Gong Wushuang asked.

"Then... I don't know what the outcome will be..." Li Yi chuckled, his expression indescribably calm. Gong Wushuang didn't know that her family had already been prepared to be a pawn and support, thinking this little rascal had some tricks up his sleeve, so she just kept silent.

Li Yi didn't waste any more words, just frowned slightly and asked, "In which direction is Yunshui City?"

Gong Wushuang casually pointed and then said, "It's not slow to go directly to Yunshui City from here; it takes less than a day. However, the depths of the Naga Mountains are extremely dangerous, with not many safe routes to choose from. If safety is a concern, it would take at least three days to reach Yunshui City."

Li Yi pondered for a moment. With more than twenty days to spare, he didn't mind the adventure. He nodded slightly and said, "Then let's choose the three-day route... Sister Gong, please lead the way?"

Gong Wushuang's expression changed slightly. With her status, when had she been ordered around like this? But under the circumstances, she had no choice but to grit her teeth and agree. Her figure flickered slightly, and she had already dashed towards a defensive line.

"This time, I really hit the jackpot!" Li Yi chuckled inwardly. Then he quickly followed Gong Wushuang, disappearing into the dense forest behind her.

They traveled on, not very fast, but due to Gong Wushuang's familiarity with the Naga Mountains, their speed was not slow. The route chosen by Gong Wushuang seemed to avoid the territories of higher-level magical beasts, so they didn't encounter many along the way. Even when they did encounter some, they fled in terror upon sensing Gong Wushuang's formidable aura. As for those that dared to approach, they were promptly obliterated by an irate Gong Wushuang.

Li Yi followed behind Gong Wushuang without having to lift a finger, feeling somewhat like he was riding on someone else's coattails. Although he didn't like this feeling, the thought of a Fighter level practitioner being led around by an Emperor level powerhouse amused him. After all, he didn't know what the damned Demonic Incarnation Pill was; those words were just taught by The Serpent Venerable. But regardless, he was very satisfied with the outcome.

The two continued their journey, occasionally hunting for game and foraging for wild fruits, with little rest, as the Naga Mountains were not a place for peaceful respite. By the afternoon of the second day, they were increasingly nearing the central part of the deeper Naga Mountains. Gong Wushuang's figure swiftly landed on a huge rock, her brow furrowed as she stared at the towering mountains ahead, saying softly, "The area ahead is different from the previous one. There's no high-level magical beast occupying it, but there are definitely quite a few wandering around... Although we are not afraid of them, it would be troublesome to get entangled."

"Is there no way to take the route that the merchant caravans always use?" Li Yi frowned.

Gong Wushuang shook her head. "No way. If you want to take that route, we need to go out first and then choose the path. But going back and forth like that will take at least half a month. Can you wait?"

Li Yi sighed and said, "Then let's stick to the current route."

Gong Wushuang nodded and was about to continue with Li Yi, but at that moment, a loud explosion came from the dense forest ahead. The intense sound and the fluctuation of fighting spirit made both of them furrow their brows, giving each other a look of mutual understanding. That aura...

"This aura, at least a King level powerhouse is going all out... It's surprising to find people here... And that aura is not just one person!" Gong Wushuang suddenly frowned, her sensing ability as an Emperor level practitioner was naturally much stronger than Li Yi's.

"King level powerhouse..." Li Yi's mouth twitched slightly. The Naga Mountains were really demoralizing. As a mere Fighter, he kept encountering Kings and Emperors. Such characters in Wanchao City were rare.

Ignoring Li Yi's lament, Gong Wushuang suddenly gasped and shouted, "Hide quickly, if you don't want to get into trouble, it's best not to show your face... It seems that this time..."

Before she could finish, they saw dozens of figures swiftly approaching from the front. Gong Wushuang had no time for further words. She pressed her hand on Li Yi's shoulder, and their figures quickly fell into the dense forest.

"Whoosh—" Three figures chased each other through the air, their rising auras clashing in mid-air, causing the whole forest to shake continuously. Dozens more figures were quickly catching up from behind, clearly divided into several groups, engaged in fierce combat.

Gong Wushuang slightly furrowed her brow, and after a moment whispered, "Two Emperors, seven Kings, and more than a dozen Warrior peak powerhouses... This lineup..."