Could it be that I am the cruel villain?

Swoosh!

A tall figure dashed through the mountain gate and stepped into the courtyard.

Without stopping, without even catching his breath, the motion was seamless; a light push sent him flying over ten meters, and the person weighing around eighty pounds felt practically weightless in his grip.

Even Jiang Feng himself didn't realize what exactly he had just done.

With one hand gripping the Thunder Sword, he absorbed all the lightning energy into his body, without any side effects, and effortlessly carried Liang Yu away, all without any reaction.

In other words, he had absorbed all of the lightning energy that Liang Yu released using his own body. If Liu Tangxi interrupted or the Sect Leader or those protectors took action, no one would have been surprised.

But Jiang Feng had only reached the Core Formation.

Even he hadn't realized how extraordinary his physical condition had become, nor had he specifically tested the limits his body could endure. He simply saw his younger sister raising her sword, intending to overextend her body, so he instinctively reached out to grab her.

To be honest, besides his right hand feeling slightly numb at first, his body didn't feel much abnormal.

"Senior Brother, I'm sorry, I was a bit reckless and embarrassed the sect..."

The girl's voice was very soft.

Her tone was subdued, clearly showing that the little princess was feeling down. She initially wanted to prove herself at this martial arts competition, to show her sister's judgment was correct, to prove her senior brother's excellent guidance.

Because her goal was never just friendly sparring with fellow disciples, nor to stop at a certain point, but rather...

"You, no, you little girl really are not being sincere at all."

Jiang Feng just gave her a little squeeze. He could feel the girl's body trembling violently, some places still twitching and spasming, this kind of Daoist skill was too strenuous for a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

He only noticed that Liang Yu's solid power was absolutely above Core Formation, but he completely overlooked the little girl's physique and cultivation realm, ultimately resulting in this situation.

At least she didn't suffer any major injuries; he didn't want his younger sister to end up like him, lying in bed for days after conducting research.

"I asked you before, what ranking you aimed for at this martial arts competition."

"And you told me some nonsense about making friends through martial arts and learning from senior siblings, and I actually believed it."

"What exactly is your goal? Tell me, honesty is leniency, resistance is severity!"

He slid his left hand under her legs and his right hand under her armpits, the holding position somewhat resembling carrying a child, a classic princess carry.

Her face turned red, not actually out of shyness. Although she hadn't been with Jiang Feng for a long time, they often spent nights together, of course, not doing anything strange.

But rather attending classes through the night.

Otherwise, how do you think she learned so fast?

The reason for her flushed complexion was the fierce battle just now, which caused her blood and energy to surge, every vein in her body trembling, blood flowing beyond limits, leaving her uncomfortable, eyelids drooping, wishing to faint but unable to due to the physical strain.

Despite the fatigue, Liang Yu's mental state was quite good. Ever since arriving at Swordmaster Peak, she hadn't carried herself in the same royal manner as before, fitting her age more, sensible yet a bit playful, curious about everything outside.

Under her senior brother's intense questioning, the girl softly said, "Wanted to take first place... Ah!"

The girl let out a startled cry.

The old hand shook, almost throwing the little girl he was holding out!

His eyes nearly popped out onto the floor, mouth wide open, unable to speak for a moment, only managing to squeeze out a few words after a long pause.

"You, you sure are ambitious."

"First place, first place!"

"I don't even dare to dream of the top ten, do you really not see us sect disciples as worth anything! Do you know what it means to be in the top ten of the third generation disciples of Purple Cloud Palace? What does first place mean?"

He almost spat out a mouthful of old blood.

The fearless lack of knowledge, after all, since entering the sect, she'd been immersed in grueling training at Swordmaster Peak, unfamiliar with the senior brothers and sisters from other mountain gates. This little girl was even crazier than he was, as he only dared to dream of the top ten.

She dared to dream of being first!

"You little girl, I..."

"It must be because you're used to bullying those Wild Fox Zen outside, I know you usually deal with those at the Core Formation Stage like slaughtering pigs, and you're capable of crossing realms, but our Purple Cloud Palace is still a reputable sect."

"Normally, those with abilities are performing duties outside, so you hardly see them in the mountain gate. That brother He whom you just fought, his cultivation technique and mental method are top-notch, having received inheritance from Divine Wood Peak's Peak Master Zhang, his spiritual energy is solid and steady as a mountain."

"Although his explosiveness falls slightly short compared to you, he undoubtedly has no weaknesses. Among the third generation disciples, there are surely thirty to fifty of his level, regularly working outside, rich in combat experience. It's just that in your recent duel, he didn't go full force initially, a bit lax, unfamiliar with you. Otherwise, if he preserved his strength and fought strategically, you wouldn't handle it."

"That brother He just now is at most a top thirty standard; your current match is from thirty-two to sixteen, regardless of who wins, neither can continue advancing. Even if you smoothly reach Core Formation, you still can't make it to the top ten."

"Don't believe it? You've encountered an upper Core Formation, not even the peak. That brother He is merely an inner disciple, not direct lineage; suppose his realm advances further, armed with several high-grade Earth rank magic treasures, with multiple Earth rank cultivation inheritances, do you think you can cope?"

"Could you even clash with a Nascent Soul Stage?"

Curled up in his arms, the girl's expression hesitated for a moment but honestly shook her head.

The fearless ignorance, Liang Yu hadn't faced the harsh realities of society. Previously, she was too well-protected at home, or the people she encountered weren't highly skilled, since those with genuine talent mostly apprenticed under reputable sects,

in Wild Fox Zen, strong individuals exist, but the ratio is too low.

Jiang Feng was the first tough one she met, and this He brother was the second. Listening to her senior brother's tone, there seemed to be dozens more of similar strength in the mountains, merely the thought made her scalp tingle.

The little princess in front of him may have excellent talent, but Purple Cloud Palace has seen similar figures before. Not to mention Liu Tangxi, even previous chief disciples and current candidates for Sect Master possess similar aptitude.

At most, they are slightly inferior in innate physique compared to Liang Yu. After all, bearing the nation's fortune is indeed rare, like the current chief disciple Gu Miyun, who had already achieved great feats of slaying Nascent Soul stage evil cultivators upon reaching Core Formation.

And then, there's the previous chief, Liu Shuanghan, fellow disciple of Liu Xianzi. When he barely stepped into the Nascent Soul Stage, having just become chief, his first act was to purge internal evil spirits, brandishing a sword to directly cut down a Divinity Transformation stage thorn in the sect.

Carrying Liang Yu all the way to her room and laying her down, he could still see the occasional twitch in the girl's lips. In extreme excitement or combat, the body instinctively blocks some pain, but once relaxed, side effects become amplified.

Seeing his junior sister's pained grimace, Mr. Jiang couldn't help but quip.

"Adrenaline made you a war god, now you've calmed down?"