In the eastern district, a streak of light suddenly shot into the sky. Taking advantage of the moment when everyone was focused on Chi Lin King pressuring Ye Chen, it moved with extreme speed, streaking across the sky as it fled.
"It's her, that thief! It's not this kid! Chase her quickly!"
The powerful experts searching the eastern district shouted loudly. While sending messages to Chi Lin King and the others, they also gave chase.
But that streak of light was incredibly fast, immediately breaking free from the pursuit of the Chi Shen Valley experts and escaping beyond the city walls.
"Don't let her escape! Chase her now!"
The other Chi Shen Valley experts in the city all soared into the sky one after another, giving chase. Chi Lin King was among them. After giving Ye Chen a sinister glance, he transformed into a crimson streak of light and shot forward, his speed far surpassing that of the other Chi Shen Valley experts.
The Demi-Saint naturally followed behind him. After bidding farewell to the Demi-Saint in the city, he strode away and vanished from sight.
Only then did many people in the city let out a sigh of relief. The vast majority harbored resentment and indignation because the people of Chi Shen Valley were too overbearing, actually being so arrogant. If there hadn't been a Demi-Saint present in the city, they would undoubtedly have been even more unrestrained.
Many also felt relieved for Ye Chen. If that thief hadn't suddenly fled, once Chi Lin King made his move, it would certainly have been more than this young man could withstand.
Ye Chen offered no explanation, silently turning to leave. When he reached a deserted alleyway, he suddenly stopped and said, "You've been following me for quite some time now, sir. It's about time you showed yourself. Sneaking around isn't the conduct befitting a powerful expert."
His perception was exceptionally sharp. He had long since detected someone following behind him, though their aura was quite obscure, flickering in and out. If not for his keen perception, enhanced by absorbing part of the Void Dao Divine Blood, he would have had great difficulty noticing.
This showed just how remarkable the other party's concealment ability was.
"Oh? You actually managed to detect my presence." A voice like silver bells rang out, crisp and clear—a young girl's voice, like large and small pearls falling onto a jade plate. It sounded somewhat familiar.
From the void behind, a figure suddenly appeared, shrouded by a pitch-black robe that concealed her form, making her features indistinguishable. Moreover, the black robe was extraordinary, seemingly no ordinary artifact. It actually prevented Ye Chen's perception from penetrating the robe to see the girl's face. However, he could vaguely make out the graceful, exquisite silhouette of a young girl beneath the robe, standing tall and slender.
Ye Chen focused his gaze on the black-robed girl ahead. Although he didn't know who she was, he felt a sense of familiarity. He couldn't help but ask, "Who are you?"
Beneath the black robe, the girl's faint facial contours were visible, possessing a special, mysterious beauty. One could predict she was a peerlessly beautiful young girl. She seemed to wrinkle her crystal-clear, jade-like nose, appearing very wary. She gave a delicate hum and said, "Why are you asking that? Do you want to pursue me?"
Ye Chen was instantly dumbfounded. What kind of logic was this? He felt he couldn't keep up with this girl's train of thought and hurriedly said, "Miss, please don't misunderstand. I don't mean that at all."
"Really?" The girl was still somewhat wary. Beneath the black robe, one could see a pair of bright, large eyes, clear as if containing an autumn spring, radiating flawless spiritual energy that made anyone who met her gaze feel a slight tremor.
These eyes were not only clear and bright but also seemed capable of piercing through all secrets.
Ye Chen was startled, almost feeling his blood energy surge within him. Old Yan's voice also rang out in his mind: "Little Chen, don't underestimate this little girl. She's extraordinary, far more remarkable than imagined. I can't even see through her origin; there's some kind of barrier."
Ye Chen was astonished. Just who was this girl before him? She was definitely no ordinary person.
Then he heard the girl say, "Sorry, because Uncle Blackface once told me that if any boy asks who I am the first time we meet, he must want to pursue me. I might have misunderstood a bit."
What kind of logic was this? Asking who you are upon first meeting equals wanting to pursue you? Ye Chen felt he couldn't quite process this; the girl's thinking had completely broken through the heavens.
"You must be the thief who stole the treasure from Chi Shen Valley," Ye Chen suddenly asked.
The girl gave a delicate hum and said, "So what? What's so great about that mysterious Chi Shen Valley? What defenses, what experts as dense as a forest—hah! This young lady entered without any difficulty at all. Those so-called defensive formations, I passed through them with a wave of my hand. With this young lady taking action, what place in the world could possibly stop me?"
This girl's tone was truly grand. Even Ye Chen wouldn't dare speak like that. However, listening to her words, she seemed completely childlike at heart, probably a little princess who had run away from some major power.
Then the girl said, "You should thank this young lady. If I hadn't created an illusion to attract those people's attention and stolen the treasure, you would have been killed by that so-called Chi Lin King."
Ye Chen was speechless. If not for you, why would I have been targeted in the first place?
"By the way, what's your name?" the girl suddenly asked.
"Ye Chen." Ye Chen didn't conceal it. His name was very common, and from this name alone, no one could tell he came from the Tian Du Continent. There was no need to hide it.
"Ye Chen, Ye Chen... This name is so-so, very ordinary." The black-robed girl evaluated it, then giggled and said, "I know. Remember this: this young lady is called Chen Ruo."
Chen Ruo? That name was rather elegant. Ye Chen silently remembered it, then waved his hand and said, "Miss Chen Ruo, if there's nothing else, let's part ways here."
With that, he turned to leave. He still needed to head to the Domain Lord's Divine City to cross domains and proceed to the center of the Myriad Domains.
Chen Ruo blinked her dark, distinct eyes, looking at Ye Chen and saying, "Hey, Ye Chen, where are you going?"
"Away from here."
"I'm coming too." Chen Ruo followed him.
"Miss Chen Ruo, where are you going?" Ye Chen asked.
"Wherever you're going, this young lady is following." Chen Ruo replied.
Ye Chen turned around, his eyes shining brightly as he stared at the girl. He said seriously, "Miss Chen Ruo, you're a girl, and I'm a man. A lone man and a lone woman together—aren't you afraid something dangerous might happen?"
"Not afraid. This young lady has treasures left by my mother and other gifts from uncles. If you dare have any improper thoughts about me, this young lady will send you straight to the Western Heaven." As she said this, Chen Ruo even waved her delicate, pink fist, threatening fiercely, though it looked utterly innocent and adorable.
Ye Chen couldn't help but smile warmly. This girl was indeed innocent and adorable, making one reluctant to harm her.
"Little Chen, just let her follow. This little girl probably has an extraordinary background and isn't afraid of the Immortal Sacred Land. Having her with you might avoid a lot of trouble when necessary," Old Yan said.
Ye Chen nodded. But the main reason was, for some unknown reason, he always felt an inexplicable sense of closeness toward this girl. He very much wanted to be near her and couldn't bear to abandon her and leave alone.