[A/N: I apologize for the previous chapter, but I got the timelines slightly mixed up. Unfortunately, I'm unable to go back and make any major changes, so I can only pick up where the scene should've continued. Anyways, this chapter starts before the Crimson Slayer Sect began moving when Aelina was rewarding the disciples. 3 days prior to the end of the last chapter.
Thank you all for the support!
-Dreyerboys.]
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Under the silver veil of moonlight, a radiant figure streaked across the sky like a meteor. Her vibrant pink hair flowed like a river of roses behind her, dancing in the night air. The grandeur of her attire, a collage of silk and brocade, painted an illustrious portrait against the celestial canvas. With a relentless momentum, she pierced through the mountains, tearing apart the clouds, an embodiment of reckless destruction.
Aelina stood atop the tallest peak of the Battle Maiden Sect with a light smile and hands behind her back, her gaze fixed on the incoming figure. A ripple of tension flowed through Aelina as she braced herself. The calmness of her demeanor belied the storm brewing within her.
She could feel the oppressive power from the approaching figure's body, but that only caused her smile to widen.
Sue Ming's arrival was like a tempest, disturbing the tranquility of the mountain range. She tore through the Sect's barrier, her arrival announced by the thunderous collapse of the protective shield. She landed with the force of a comet, causing the earth beneath her to tremble. Still, Aelina stood there, unbothered.
Arrogance sparkled in her eyes as she swept her gaze across the mountain peak, a smirk curving her lips. Her gaze finally shifted to Aelina as she stared the woman up and down, a disdainful chuckle leaking out of her mouth.
Sue Ming's voice sliced through the tense silence, each word laced with disdain. "So, you're Aelina, huh? Or should I call you the Invincible Thundermaiden?"
Her words hung in the air like a challenge, her sneer as blatant as a slap across the face.
Aelina's eyes narrowed slightly, yet her smile didn't falter. A soft chuckle escaped her lips, her amusement resonating within the mountain peaks. "Ah, the Invincible Thundermaiden," she mused, her tone dripping with sardonic, malicious charm, "That name sure brings back fond memories."
Although, the 'Thunder' part could be a bit misleading… She wasn't complaining.
Back then, during what was known today as the Ancient Wars, she was a fledgling who had just broken through to the Soul Transformation Realm. The continent was in constant chaos, with large-scale battles breaking out almost every day.
Territories were constantly finding new owners, and higher-grade resources were harder to obtain, as the Beast Clans occupied more of the Ancient Beast Mountain Range than they do now. The humanoid races were forced to fight for the scraps like flies around a pile of shit, constantly fighting for every little piece of power we could get our hands on.
The major Sects still sat inside the Ancient Beast Mountain Ranges, some in the same locations to this very day, but their territories were much smaller and their resources limited. Times were tough as the humanoid races strived for more and more power, all searching for the path to immortality.
Naturally, she wanted to make a name for herself and steal… no, gather as many resources as possible to boost her cultivation. So, she went down the mountain and provoked all kinds of people from all different Sects, initiating an uncountable number of life-and-death duels.
With every win, her desire for battle and greed for resources grew, causing her to challenge stronger, more renowned, and more talented people. Eventually, after thousands of battles, she earned that moniker. Those weren't her proudest moments, as she caused plenty of trouble for the Sect, incidentally being the reason for many of her disciple's deaths, but it was necessary.
Without going through such experiences and without those resources, she wouldn't be where she was today.
No, the entire Battle Maiden Sect wouldn't be nearly as renowned.
She paused for a moment, reminiscing on the past, before her eyes lit up, and she exclaimed, "Ah! By the way… How's Victor? After taking that beating from me all those years ago, I sincerely hope my old friend is doing well."
The corners of Aelina's mouth raised as she gave the woman a derisive sneer, "Though, with a strong woman like you by his side, I'm sure he's doing just fine."
Taken at face value, it really did seem like Aelina cared about Victor's health, but Sue Ming didn't miss the hidden meanings in her words. Aelina had defeated Victor before, and she was ready to do the same to Sue Ming if it came to it.
Sue Ming's features hardened, her vibrant eyes flickering with a volatile mixture of indignation and barely concealed rage. Her hand curled into a tight fist, knuckles white against the moonlit backdrop, an unspoken promise of impending violence.
But Aelina merely chuckled, her laughter reverberating through the silent peaks. "I see you caught on," she replied, a mischievous glint dancing in her eyes. "Good, then. It makes things more interesting."
Leaning back, Aelina exhaled slowly, gazing up at the night sky, where myriad stars twinkled like a swath of scattered diamonds. "Ah, the good old days," she said with an amused sigh. "Back when I was young, I thrived on chaos and sought challenge in every shadow. Nowadays, the world is full of cowards and dogs, some even falling out of the sky. Nobody dares to challenge me."
Sue Ming's gritted her teeth, her earlier poise giving way to an openly hostile glare. "Don't think I'm here to exchange pleasantries or hear your tedious nostalgia, Thundermaiden," she hissed, the 'Thundermaiden' thrown out like a venomous taunt. She used this time to study Aelina carefully, even trying to pry into her secrets with her Divine Sense, but the woman in front of her was like a dark ravine shrouded in fog.
The more she looked, the further away she was from perceiving the truth. She had talked with Victor Steele and numerous other people who had fought, or seen Aelina fight, during this time, but most didn't have anything to say. Aelina killed anyone who had ever seen her full strength. Everything else was merely guesswork.
The only one who lived was Victor, but even that was years ago. The only advice that he could give was, "That hag is as strong as an ox but as slippery as an eel. The moment you let your guard down, you lose. You might be stronger than her, but killing her is a different story. Do not let your guard down around her."
Sue Ming had brushed off his words before, but now, she began to understand what he meant.
The corner of Aelina's lips curled upward in response, her amethyst eyes returning Sue Ming's glare. "Then, by all means, let's skip the trivialities," she retorted with a casual shrug, her tone shifting towards a chilling nonchalance. "What brings the Unorthodox Faction's 'noble' envoy to my humble mountain?"
More veins popped on Sue Ming's head as she gnashed her teeth. However, Aelina continued as if she didn't notice this, "Ah! My bad! For a second there, I almost confused you as someone under Victor! I totally forgot that you were someone else's bitch instead."
Sue Ming's patience snapped like a strained cord, the veiled insults pricking her pride beyond endurance. The tension that had been brewing suddenly erupted into a violent storm.
"Dammit! I've had enough of your shit, woman! Just die already!"
With a roar that shook the mountain peaks, she lunged at Aelina, all pretenses abandoned, her demeanor morphing from that of a noble envoy to a wild beast thirsting for blood. Her hand, glowing with a lethal pink aura, shot forward like a meteor, aimed straight at Aelina's heart.
Aelina merely laughed in response, her icy eyes sparking with amusement and a hint of ferocity. Her demeanor hadn't changed, still as calm as the moon above.
Channeling her Qi, she made a quick clone of herself, giving it 20% of her power and making it so realistic that even someone on their level would need at least a second to notice the difference.
In a blink, Aelina's main body disappeared, a mere afterimage dancing in the moonlight.
Sue Ming's palm, brimming with power, slammed into the clone. She felt the satisfying give of flesh beneath her attack, the resistance of bone that shattered under the force of her strike. She relished in the sight of the light flickering out of the clone's eyes and the warmth of blood splashing against her fingers. A triumphant grin spread across her face.
'Finally, I've gotten rid of this nuisance. I don't know what that idiot was talking about. How could this arrogant ant possibly contend with someone from the Immortal Realm!?'
However, before she could get too happy, the body in front of her dissipated like the wind.
"...What?!"
Before the word could fully leave her lips, a chill spread down her spine, a premonition of incoming danger. But before she could react, it was too late.
A hand as unyielding as stone grabbed the back of her head and slammed it into the ground. A formation activated below them, preventing that attack from decimating the entire mountain. Aelina knew it wouldn't last forever, but she didn't care as she picked up Sue Ming's dazed head before bashing it against the stone once again.
While Sue Ming's face was stuck in the ground, Aelina bent down and whispered in her ear, "You never should have come here."
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