As they continued walking, Ling Xiao suddenly stopped and looked around, his eyes scanning the surroundings. Xiǎo Lán noticed his unease and asked, "What's wrong?"
"I feel like someone is breathing on my neck," Ling Xiao replied, his voice low and serious.
Xiǎo Lán's eyes widened, and she looked around as well. "I notice it too," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
They both stood there, frozen, as if waiting for something to happen. The air was thick with tension, and the silence was palpable.
Suddenly, Ling Xiao's eyes narrowed, and he turned to Xiǎo Lán. "Do you feel that?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Xiǎo Lán nodded, her eyes wide with fear. "Yes, I do," she replied, her voice trembling.
They both stood there, their eyes locked on each other, as if waiting for something to happen. The air was thick with tension, and the silence was palpable.
As they stood there, the camera zoomed out, showing the desolate landscape behind them. The sky was dark and foreboding, and the wind was picking up.
Suddenly, a gust of wind blew, and Ling Xiao's cloak fluttered behind him. Xiǎo Lán gasped, and Ling Xiao's eyes narrowed.
"What was that?" Xiǎo Lán asked, her voice trembling.
"I don't know," Ling Xiao replied, his voice low and serious. "But I think we should keep moving."
They both started walking again, their eyes scanning the surroundings. The tension was palpable, and the silence was thick.
As they walked, the camera zoomed out further, showing the vast expanse of the desert behind them. The sky was dark and foreboding, and the wind was picking up.
Suddenly, a figure appeared in the distance. Ling Xiao and Xiǎo Lán stopped walking and looked at each other.
"What is that?" Xiǎo Lán asked.
"I don't know," Ling Xiao replied, his eyes fixed on the figure. "But I don't like it."
Xiǎo Lán nodded in agreement. "Let's be careful," she said, her hand on the hilt of her sword.
As they watched, the figure drew closer, its features becoming more defined. It was a woman, her face twisted in a snarl, her eyes blazing with fury.
"Who are you?" Ling Xiao demanded, his hand on the hilt of his own sword.
The woman didn't answer, her eyes fixed on Ling Xiao with a malevolent glare. Suddenly, she lunged at him, her sword flashing in the dim light.
Ling Xiao drew his sword, his movements swift and deadly. The two clashed, their blades ringing out as they exchanged blow after blow.
Xiǎo Lán watched in awe, her eyes fixed on the battle. She had never seen anyone fight like Ling Xiao before. He was a master of the sword, his movements fluid and precise.
But the woman was no pushover either. She was skilled in the dark arts, her magic swirling around her like a vortex.
As the battle raged on, the air grew thick with tension. The outcome was far from certain, and Xiǎo Lán found herself holding her breath.
Suddenly, Ling Xiao landed a critical hit, his sword slicing through the woman's defenses. She let out a scream of rage and pain as she stumbled backward, her sword falling to the ground.
Ling Xiao stood over her, his chest heaving with exhaustion. "Who are you?" he demanded again.
The woman glared up at him, her eyes filled with hatred. "I am Han Mei Qin's sister," she spat. "And I will make sure you pay for what you did to my family."
Ling Xiao's eyes narrowed. "You're too late," he said. "The Qin family's reign is over."
The woman's eyes widened in shock, and then she let out a scream of rage. "No!" she shouted, her body beginning to twist and contort.
Xiǎo Lán's eyes widened in horror as the woman's body began to mutate, her limbs stretching and twisting in ways that were not humanly possible.
"What's happening?" Xiǎo Lán asked, her voice trembling with fear.
Ling Xiao's fists flew through the air, striking the woman with precision and force. He hit her with a series of swift and deadly blows, each one landing with a loud thud. The woman's body crumpled under the impact, her limbs flailing wildly as she stumbled backward.
With a final, mighty punch, Ling Xiao struck the woman with all his might. Her body splattered to pieces, her limbs tearing free from her torso as she died on the spot. The sound of her body hitting the ground was like a wet splat, and Xiǎo Lán's eyes widened in shock.
"What happened?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Ling Xiao stood over the woman's lifeless body, his chest heaving with exhaustion. "It didn't even seem like she had any strength at all," he said, his voice laced with confusion. "She seemed weak."
Xiǎo Lán's eyes narrowed. "Weak?" she repeated. "But she was using dark magic. She was transforming into a monster."
Ling Xiao shook his head. "I know. But my fists... they just seemed to go right through her. Like she was made of paper."
Xiǎo Lán's expression turned thoughtful. "Maybe she was using her magic to make herself appear stronger than she really was."
Ling Xiao nodded. "Maybe. But still... I've never seen anything like that before."
As they stood there, trying to make sense of what had just happened, the air grew thick with an eerie energy. The woman's body began to dissolve, her limbs melting away like wax in a furnace.
Xiǎo Lán's eyes widened in horror. "What's happening?" she whispered.
Ling Xiao's face was grim. "I don't know. But I think we should get out of here. Now."
As they continued on their journey, the landscape shifted from desolate plains to bustling streets. They found themselves in the midst of a vibrant city, teeming with people from all walks of life. The air was electric, filled with an almost palpable sense of excitement.
Xiǎo Lán's curiosity got the better of her, and she approached one of the locals, a young man with a wide grin on his face. "What's all the commotion about?" she asked, her eyes sparkling with interest.
The young man's grin grew even wider. "We're having a Cultivation tournament in three days!" he exclaimed. "People from all over the world are flocking to witness it. It's going to be the biggest event of the year!"
Xiǎo Lán's eyes widened in surprise. "A Cultivation tournament?" she repeated. "What's that all about?"
The young man's enthusiasm was infectious. "It's a competition where cultivators from all over the world come to showcase their skills and battle it out for the top spot. The winner will receive a rare and precious cultivation manual, said to hold the secrets of the ancient masters!"
Ling Xiao's interest was piqued. "That sounds like a valuable prize," he said, his eyes narrowing. "What kind of cultivators will be participating?"
The young man's grin faltered for a moment before he leaned in, a conspiratorial look on his face. "I heard that some of the top cultivators from the prestigious sects will be attending. Even some of the legendary cultivators from the ancient families will be making an appearance!"
Xiǎo Lán's eyes grew wide with excitement. "That sounds incredible!" she exclaimed. "We have to attend!"
Ling Xiao nodded in agreement. "We can't miss this opportunity. Let's get ready for the tournament."
As they entered the city, Ling Xiao and Xiǎo Lán made their way through the bustling streets, taking in the sights and sounds of the vibrant metropolis. After asking for directions, they arrived at a local inn, which was moderately filled with people. The inn owner, a friendly old man with a warm smile, greeted them and asked how he could assist.
"We're here for the Cultivation tournament," Ling Xiao said, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "Can you tell us where to register?"
The inn owner nodded, his expression enthusiastic. "Ah, you're here for the tournament! Registration is at the City Hall, just a short walk from here. You can't miss it."
Xiǎo Lán nodded, her ponytail bobbing behind her. "Thank you, sir. We'll head there now."
The inn owner smiled. "But first, why don't you two rest for a bit? You can book a room here and then head out to register. You'll want to be well-rested for the competition."
Ling Xiao and Xiǎo Lán exchanged a glance, and then nodded in unison. "That sounds like a great idea," Ling Xiao said, and the inn owner showed them to a cozy room on the second floor.
After freshening up and resting for a bit, they headed out to City Hall, which was indeed just a short walk away. The building was imposing, with high ceilings and large stone pillars. Inside, they found the registration desk, where a stern-looking official asked for their names, cultivation levels, and other details.
Ling Xiao and Xiǎo Lán registered individually, their eyes locked on each other as they handed in their papers. The official scrutinized their documents, his expression unreadable, before nodding curtly and handing them each a tournament badge.
"You're both registered," he said, his voice firm. "Be at the tournament arena three days from now, at dawn. Don't be late."
With that, Ling Xiao and Xiǎo Lán left City Hall, the
ir hearts racing with anticipation. They knew that the next few days would be intense, but they were ready. Bring it on!