Staring in astonishment at the girl who had materialized like a ghost at the window's edge, Xiao Yan finally whispered in bewilderment, "What brings her here?" "Heh, it seems she has the same purpose as you," the herbal elder remarked, with a somewhat puzzled smile. Frowning slightly, Xiao Yan fully retreated into the shadow, then hesitated before asking in his mind, "Xun'er's strength... how has it grown so formidable? The speed at which she appeared earlier must surely rival that of a senior Battle Seer, if not surpass it." "Her true strength indeed matches what you've usually observed, but currently, she's clearly employing a secret technique that temporarily enhances her abilities. For someone of her standing and background, possessing such a remarkable secret method is no uncommon occurrence," the herbal elder said calmly. Hearing this, Xiao Yan was slightly startled, then chuckled, once again silently marveling at the mysterious background of Xun'er, shaking his head and falling silent. His gaze passed through the silk curtain, fixed upon the strangely eerie room. Within the room, Xun'er, who had appeared like a ghost, had not drawn any attention from Liu Xi. At this moment, the man whose mind had been overwhelmed by passion was gazing with wide eyes at the beautiful woman on the bed, her body fully exposed, while frantically pulling at her garments with both hands. At one instant, Liu Xi's hands, pulling at her clothes, suddenly stiffened. As a six-star Battle User, he finally began to sense something amiss, hesitated slightly, then slowly turned his neck, his gaze shifting toward the now fully open window. By the window, a young girl dressed in a golden gown leaned lazily against the windowpane, her eyes—tinged with golden flames—calmly observing the disheveled man within the room. Golden flames danced like sprites across her pale hands, tracing an ethereal rhythm. Liu Xi gazed呆ly at the girl bathed in moonlight, his gaze slowly drifting to her composed, refined face. A sense of intoxication stirred within his eyes, though the atmosphere was otherwise tense. Even in the face of her nearly flawless beauty and otherworldly grace, Liu Xi could not help but be momentarily spellbound. However, during that brief moment of dazed hesitation, Liu Xi suddenly and abruptly turned around, planted his foot firmly on the ground, and launched himself forward like an arrow released from a bow, rushing wildly toward the main door. Under this strange atmosphere, the cold sense of impending death finally extinguished his burning passion. Though Liu Xi was proud, he certainly wouldn't have believed—at this very moment—that the mysterious young woman who had appeared so unexpectedly had come specifically to talk with him. Although the room was spacious, it only took Liu Xi a few seconds to reach the door from his bed. As he gazed at the wooden door now just a few steps away, a glimmer of hope flashed in his eyes. Once he stepped out of the room, he could shout for help, and Galibis, hearing the cry for assistance, would immediately come to his aid. Yet, as Liu Xi's feet were about to make contact with the doorboard, a sudden sharp pain shot through them, causing his swift running posture to tilt and collapse. He landed heavily on the ground, spitting out several teeth mixed with blood. Lowering his head in sheer fear, he saw two circular blood holes—each the size of a clenched fist—appear on his legs. Around the edges of the wounds, the tissue was blackened, and a faint smell of burnt flesh wafted out. "Help! Someone is trying to kill me!" The intense pain in his legs nearly sent him into unconsciousness, yet he gritted his teeth and shouted desperately. "No need to call for help. My presence has sealed the room; no one can hear you." From the window's edge, the young woman spoke softly, her slender fingers lightly tapping. A golden flame spear formed at her fingertip—clearly, the injury on Liu Xi's legs had been caused by this. "What do you want? What is it you're after? Money? Herbs?" "I'll give you everything, just let me go!" Panicked, Li Xi's face turned pale as the threat of death finally overcame his lingering desire for her beauty. With a calm gaze, the girl lightly leapt down from the window ledge, her graceful steps moving slowly toward him. As she descended, Xiao Yan realized that the once merely waist-length dark hair of Xun had now cascaded down to her hips—clearly the result of the secret technique. In the spacious room, the girl, dressed in a regal golden gown, walked steadily toward the one lying motionless on the ground, constantly moaning. As she approached, she paused, lowered her head, and suddenly smiled gently—her smile striking Li Xi with such force that he felt his heart leap. "You wanted me to be captured, didn't you?" She slowly knelt down, her voice soft and carrying a subtle coldness. Liu Xi took a deep breath, his cold sweat nearly soaking his entire face from fear. "I actually don't like killing people...," Xin'er sighed softly, gazing at Liu Xi's pale, frightened expression. Upon hearing this, a glimmer of hope flashed in Liu Xi's eyes. Yet before he could even utter a plea for mercy, the girl's suddenly cold demeanor plunged him into despair. "I'm not particularly bothered by people's indifferent glances, but why do you insult him? What right do you have to belittle him? Perhaps he doesn't care about someone like you—someone so insignificant—but I absolutely cannot allow it! I truly cannot!" As the girl's tone grew sharply colder, the golden flame spikes on her slender fingers shot out violently, transforming into a streak of golden lightning that struck Liu Xi squarely in the chest. Instantly, a gushing wound of blood appeared. Hit by a life-threatening blow, Liu Xi's eyes widened in shock, his pale face gradually turning gray, his slightly protruding eyes now appearing terrifyingly hollow. She glanced indifferently at the body, whose vitality was gradually fading, straightened up, exhaled softly, and on her composed face, a touch of helplessness surfaced. In a low murmur, she said, "If it weren't for fear of my brother Xiao Yan blaming me for being overly involved, the Wutan City would have lost the Jialie family long ago—how could there be so many complications now?" Shaking her head slightly, she casually scanned the room, then moved her body, reappearing by the window. Leaping gracefully, she vanished into the night. "The old pharmacist smiled faintly. Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan was startled, blinking in surprise, "What does that mean?" "The watch," the old pharmacist said mysteriously, then fell silent. Seeing the old pharmacist's demeanor, Xiao Yan shook his head helplessly and gradually curled himself deeper into the darkness, his eyes fixed intently on every movement within the room. In the slightly dim room, the only sound was the soft breathing of the servant lying on the bed, gradually fading unconscious. After waiting another ten or so minutes, as Xiao Yan's brows began to furrow, his eyes, which had occasionally caught the still form of Liu Xi, slightly narrowed. At the main door, where Liu Xi had previously lost all signs of life, his hands made an imperceptible, subtle movement. A moment later, his tightly closed eyes slowly opened, and the grayish pallor on his face had noticeably lightened. "Ahhh..." Staring at the wound on her chest, Liu Xi drew a deep breath of cool air, her eyes filled with venom. "Damn woman! If it hadn't been for the 'Turtle Breath Pill' I stole from my teacher when I came out, I'd have truly fallen here today." With great difficulty, she extended her hand and withdrew a small jade bottle from her sleeve, carefully pouring a white powder onto the wound. Then, she produced another pale green pill, swallowing it without hesitation. Despite these minor actions, her face grew even paler. "This severe injury will likely take six months to heal. I'll have the Jialei family send me back tomorrow and summon my teacher. As long as my teacher is involved, the Xiao family won't have a good time—by then, I'll have that woman completely worn out!" Clenching her teeth with fierce determination, the pale lines of resentment spread across her face. "Sorry to interrupt, but perhaps you won't have the chance to return anymore..." Just as Liu Xi was imagining the noble maiden being trampled under his feet, a soft, unexpected laugh suddenly echoed through the room. The sudden sound caused Liu Xi's body to stiffen instantly, his face pale as he struggled to turn his head. A figure cloaked in black slowly emerged from the shadows. "The careless girl—it seems I'll have to take care of some final matters myself," came the boy's voice, his laughter resonating from beneath the cloak. With a gentle gesture, he extended his hand, and a strange, pale, eerie flame slowly rose. "Ethereal fire?" Liu Xi's eyes widened in astonishment as he gazed at the unusual pale flame, gasping in awe. "Congratulations—you're correct! You've earned a prize." With a gentle smile, the cloaked figure raised his hand, and a crisp, white flame shot forth, striking Li Xi with lightning speed. In an instant, before Li Xi could even utter a cry, he was swiftly incinerated into ashes. Thus, Li Xi, the first-rate alchemist, vanished completely from this continent. With a composed clap of his hands, the cloaked figure waved his palm, sending a surge of energy that swept the ashes clean from the ground. Then, he leisurely leapt onto the window ledge and soared into the air. His silent departure left no one disturbed. With a light tap of his foot on a rooftop, he had just drifted several tens of meters when he suddenly halted, sighed in resignation, and slowly raised his head. By the edge of a pavilion not far across, a young girl dressed in a golden gown lazily swayed her smooth, snow-white legs, her autumnal eyes—tinged with gentle golden flames—drowsily fixed upon the cloaked figure suspended atop the roof. "Who exactly are you?" she asked, gently brushing a strand of midnight hair lifted by the night breeze with her slender fingers, lifting her refined chin. Her delicate voice echoed softly through this quiet realm.