No doubt, the slumbering soul in front of her belonged to none other than her disciple, Min Er. Ariana took a moment to regain her composure, her breath hitching slightly as she let out a sigh. Her gaze fixed intensely on Liang’s face, studying his features for any signs of deceit. "What do you want?"
Seeing the change in attitude, Liang’s smile widened, revealing a glint of satisfaction. "That’s more like it,"
Then his gaze shifted between both of them, a calculating gleam in his eyes. "How about we make a trade?"
"A trade?" Ariana’s eyes narrowed, suspicion creeping into her voice. She was not one to make deals lightly.
Liang nodded, his expression unwavering. "I will be direct – give me the Pendant, and I will give you Min Er," he stated firmly, his words carrying a weight of determination.
Anger flashed through Ariana’s eyes upon hearing this, her emotions swirling in a tempest of conflicting thoughts. She struggled to maintain her composure, her mind racing to evaluate the possibilities and consequences.
"You better make your decision fast," Liang urged, his fist tightening.
Ariana could see the pain on Min Er face, her body becoming translucent and insubstantial, as if her very essence was being stripped away.
Seeing her disciple on the verge of death, Ariana felt a surge of desperation. With a deep breath, she finally broke the tension and opened her mouth to speak. "Fine, I will give you the Pendant,"
Retrieving the pendant from her robes, she held it out, her hand trembling slightly with a mix of apprehension and defiance. "But how do I know you will give Min Er back if I give it to you?"
Liang chuckled in response, his amusement bordering on mockery. "You don’t have any choices here,"
Ariana’s brows furrowed, her mind racing to find a solution. Her divine sense scanned Liang’s body, "The rune power of the Runestone Civilization, right?"
Liang nodded, a glimmer of admiration in his eyes. "As expected from you, Vice President."
"You aren’t really here, are you?" Ariana’s voice turned colder, a note of accusation seeping into her words.
Liang laughed lightly, a sound tinged with mystery and mischief. "The current me is just an incarnation created by a formation," he revealed, his amusement unabated.
Gritting her teeth, Ariana summoned her resolve. With a fierce determination, she threw the pendant towards Liang, her eyes burning with a mix of anger and defiance. She watched as he caught it, inspecting the precious artifact with his void sense. A satisfied smile danced upon his lips, his satisfaction evident.
Then, with a wave of his hand, Min Er’s soul drifted towards Ariana, Prepared, Ariana swiftly retrieved a unique jade container, its intricate engravings pulsating with ancient energy. She stored Min Er’s soul within it, her movements precise and practiced.
Letting out a sigh of relief, Ariana’s gaze shifted to Liang, who still stood in his place, his presence as enigmatic as ever. "Why are you still here?" she asked in bewilderment, her voice tinged with a mix of confusion and suspicion.
Liang chuckled, the sound carrying a hint of wickedness. "Do you think I met you for the sake of this pendant alone?" he teased, his eyes gleaming with hidden motives.
"What else do you want?" Ariana’s voice turned colder, her gaze piercing as it fixated on his face. She was not one to be easily swayed or deceived.
"I actually have a gift for you," Liang replied with a grin, a glimmer of mischief dancing in his eyes. He threw a jade slip towards Ariana, its smooth surface glinting in the ambient light.
Caught off guard, Ariana instinctively caught the jade slip, its cool touch sending a shiver down her spine. She scanned it with her divine sense, the surge of information causing her initial surprise to transform into shock.
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Ariana asked,"Is that true?"
Liang laughed, his laughter filled with intrigue and mystery. "You should check that for yourself. When you are ready, contact me through the jade slip,"
As Liang’s voice faded, he abruptly transformed into countless threads of light, dissipating into nothingness. Ariana was left alone in the quiet forest, her mind ablaze with thoughts and unanswered questions.
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"I should bring this matter to the Union Lord," Ariana murmured, her voice determined. "But before that, I should settle the matters here first." With a decisive step, she vanished, leaving the forest as silent and enigmatic as it was before.
****
The Witch’s eyes widened with realization as she saw the dagger hovering in front of her. She took a step back, a flicker of fear crossing her face before she regained her composure. With a wave of her hand, a wave of dark energy surged towards the Ominous Dagger Lord, attempting to repel his attack.
"Don’t flatter yourself, old hug," he replied, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "I’ll enjoy dismantling your feeble magic."
The Ominous Dagger Lord swiftly dodged the incoming wave of energy, his eyes gleaming with a mix of cunning and confidence. With a swift movement, he summoned the dagger back to his hand, gripping its hilt tightly.
The Witch’s anger flared, and she unleashed a barrage of spells, sending a flurry of elemental attacks towards her opponent. Fire, ice, lightning, and dark energy clashed in the air, creating a spectacle of power and destruction.
"Is that all you have?" the Witch taunted, her voice filled with contempt. "Your lack of skill is truly laughable."
The Ominous Dagger Lord danced among the chaos with preternatural grace, his movements fluid and precise. He effortlessly dodged and parried each attack, his gaze challenging and unwavering.
"You may think you’re powerful, Witch, but you’re nothing more than a pathetic fraud," he spat, his voice dripping with contempt.
The battle intensified as both opponents showcased their unique and intricate techniques.
The Witch conjured a tempest of swirling earth and rocks, directing them towards her opponent with devastating power. The stones whirled through the air, aiming to crush the Ominous Dagger Lord in a torrent of destruction. But his agility matched his foe’s power, as he weaved through the onslaught, his movements a dance of evasion and counterattacks.
"Is that the best you can do?" the Ominous Dagger Lord taunted, a derisive laugh escaping his lips. "I’ve seen insects with more power than you."
With a flourish of his dagger, he released a flurry of razor-sharp shadows that sliced through the air, seeking to pierce the Witch’s defenses. Each shadowy blade moved with precision and deadly intent. The Witch countered with a barrier of dark energy, deflecting some of the onslaught while retaliating with waves of poisonous miasma.
"You’re nothing but a pitiful insect," the Witch seethed, her voice filled with venom. "I’ll enjoy watching you squirm."
The Witch’s attacks grew more desperate as the battle raged on. She conjured tendrils of shadow that snaked towards the Ominous Dagger Lord, attempting to ensnare him in their grip. But he countered with an array of swift and precise strikes, each slash cutting through the shadowy restraints before they could bind him.
"Is that all the great Witch has to offer?" the Ominous Dagger Lord mocked, a sinister smile tugging at his lips. "I expected more from such a self-proclaimed sorceress."
Fatigue began to settle in the Witch’s movements, and her spells wavered in intensity. Realizing her weakening state, she decided it was time to retreat.
"You may have won this round, Ominous Dagger Lord," she sneered, her voice filled with contempt. "But mark my words, I’ll have my revenge."
In a flash of dark energy, the Witch disappeared, leaving the Ominous Dagger Lord standing alone amidst the remnants of their battle.
"Run, old hug! Hide all you want, but you cannot escape your fate!" he shouted into the void, his voice laced with a mix of triumph and frustration.
The Ominous Dagger Lord’s piercing gaze fixated upon the young man, whose body at some time was helplessly splayed on the ground, entrapped by a network of ethereal dark daggers. Each dagger pulsed with ominous energy, exerting pressure on the young man’s chest, causing him to struggle for breath.
"Brat, consider yourself fortunate," the Ominous Dagger Lord sneered, his voice a malevolent hiss that slithered through the air. "To meet your end at the hand of such a superior being as myself, it is a great honor indeed."
As he stepped closer, the Ominous Dagger Lord’s sinister laugh erupted, reverberating with cruel delight. The sound seemed to vibrate with dark power, sending a shiver down the young man’s spine.
Despite the dire circumstances, the young man’s gaze remained defiant. His eyes burned with an indomitable flame, and a sneer etched upon his lips.
"Death at your hand?" he scoffed, his voice dripping with disdain. "You truly have a high opinion of yourself, don’t you?"
The Ominous Dagger Lord’s face contorted with rage, his dark eyes smoldering with fury. The air around him grew heavy with malevolence, as if his very presence summoned forth a tempest of darkness.
"You dare to mock me?" he growled, his voice a guttural snarl. "You insolent fool. Your insolence will be the last mistake you make."
A surge of dark energy crackled around the Ominous Dagger Lord, tendrils of shadow lashing out with relentless force.