This was a dim, ink-blue small world.
Surrounding them were the boundary walls of this small world, with wisps of dark element spiritual energy drifting about.
In the center of the small world was a platform where one could stand. Yuan Shu stood on the platform, meeting Li Xie's gaze with a calm expression.
"There are no treasures here. The reason I came in was to cultivate in peace; the spiritual energy concentration here is very high."
Yuan Shu smiled at him and explained.
As soon as she finished speaking, Li Xie's cold sneer rang out. "Do I look stupid to you? You think I'll believe whatever nonsense you spout?"
Someone who could easily find an ancient secret realm could perhaps also find its hidden treasures a step ahead of everyone else.
He didn't believe she would go through so much trouble just to enter an empty small world!
Perhaps she had already taken what she wanted before he even came in!
Is that why she is so fearless now?
"You don't believe me? If you don't believe me, then there's nothing I can do." Yuan Shu spread her hands and shook out her pockets and lapels. "Otherwise, why don't you search me?"
Li Xie didn't speak. His cold eyes looked her up and down.
"I'll give you one chance. Hand over what you've taken and come with me, and I will spare your life!"
He had to admit that in the few short days they had spent together, he had developed a slight interest in this woman, Yuan Shu.
It would be a pity to just kill her like this.
Besides, she was smart, beautiful, and lively.
She knew how to find secret realms, and she also knew how to make things difficult for others behind their backs.
Her charming and mischievous nature had left a deep impression on his heart.
He had never met such an interesting woman!
"Come with you?" Yuan Shu was a little surprised. "To where?"
"Back to the Demon Race, naturally!" Li Xie said as a matter of course.
He was the First Prince of the Demon Race; could he really stay in the Fallen Immortal Sect for a long time?
"In what capacity?"
"What capacity do you want?"
Li Xie answered immediately after Yuan Shu asked.
Yuan Shu reached out and stroked her chin. Her gaze swept over Li Xie's face before she suddenly laughed. "First Prince of the Demon Race, could it be... you've fallen for me?"
Li Xie's eyes suddenly narrowed, and his thin, crimson lips pressed tightly together, but for once, he did not retort.
He was a man with no interest in women.
He had always believed so in the past.
But looking at Yuan Shu's beautiful and charming little face, he felt that bringing her along by his side wouldn't be a bad thing.
This woman was bold enough to talk back to him, and she was very smart, knowing how to play the submissive role to protect herself when necessary.
He felt she was someone who understood the times!
Therefore, he thought she would be ecstatic about the conditions he had just offered.
But right now, the gaze Yuan Shu directed at him held a hint of mockery.
This made him inexplicably annoyed.
"What are you trying to say?"
"Ahem, Your Highness, I only just obtained a few inconsequential treasures in the Azure Profound Hall. If you want them back, I can just take them out and be done with it."
"As for those words you just said, let's just forget about them, alright?"
"Considering that I helped your Demon Race find the secret realm this time, let's mind our own business and go our separate ways. How about we each return to our own homes and sects?"
It wasn't that Yuan Shu hadn't thought about changing locations, but this was a critical moment for her to advance in rank.
The providers for the first layer of the Acacia Divine Tree's foundation were all in the Fallen Immortal Sect, so she couldn't leave for the time being.
Furthermore, if she followed Li Xie and went to the Demon Race all by herself, was she supposed to spend the rest of her life devoted to him alone?
That was not her style.
She had never thought about becoming any man's accessory!
Not to mention giving up an entire forest for just one tree—that was impossible!
"You are unwilling?"
Li Xie frowned. He heard the meaning behind Yuan Shu's words.
It was a rejection.
She didn't want to follow him back to the Demon Race.
Why?
Since she was willing to lead the way for the Demon Race to find the secret realm left behind by her own ancestral master, she clearly didn't have much sense of belonging to the Fallen Immortal Sect either.
Why was she unwilling to go with him?
Yuan Shu didn't speak, which was a tacit admission.
Li Xie was angered.
To think that he, the dignified First Prince of the Demon Race, would be refused! Other than the Demon King, who dared to reject his demands?
Not to mention, the other party was merely a lowly Qi Refining stage female cultivator from an orthodox immortal sect!
"So you are saying you would rather die than come with me?"
His expression turned cold, and a ball of dark red fire element spiritual energy had already begun brewing in his hand.
Yuan Shu's expression chilled slightly. From the moment she saw Li Xie in the Azure Profound Hall, she knew it wouldn't be so easy to get away today.
Calling him into this small world was merely to separate him from his group of demon subordinates.
Otherwise, even if she painstakingly managed to subdue him, if those demon guards rushed out, all her efforts would still fall short!
Since reasoning with him wouldn't work, she could only resort to fighting!
Li Xie did not receive a response from Yuan Shu, and Yuan Shu had no intention of answering him.
After spending these past few days together, the two had gained an understanding of each other.
Li Xie was ruthless and decisive. Having been in a position of power for a long time, he did not allow anyone to contradict his words.
And Yuan Shu happened to be the type who responded to persuasion but not coercion.
Once they clashed, no amount of words could change their attitudes.
"I will give you one last chance. Hand over the things, come with me, and I guarantee your safety."
The response he got was a mocking smile at the corner of Yuan Shu's mouth.
Li Xie's expression turned gloomy. As if thinking of something, he withdrew the dangerous and violent dark red fire element and suddenly launched a close-combat attack on Yuan Shu!
The fire element energy was violent. If it accidentally hit a lowly Qi Refining female cultivator like Yuan Shu, the damage left behind would likely be permanent.
Even though he had been rejected, Li Xie had no intention of truly hurting her.
At worst, he would just capture her first, take her back, and slowly train her!
Yuan Shu snorted softly and hurriedly dodged to the side.
Her power level was inferior to Li Xie's, but her combat experience was still there. She wasn't someone who could be easily pushed around by just anyone.
The more they fought, the more startled Li Xie felt.
This woman's skills were actually this formidable?
He tried to grab her several times, but she was like a slippery fish, narrowly dodging his attacks again and again!
"Just how many things about you do I not know? However, this ends here. The gap in levels cannot be made up for by agility alone!"
Li Xie's eyes darkened slightly. He stopped his offensive steps, suddenly raised his hand, and several walls of fire shot up from behind Yuan Shu.
He was previously afraid of hurting her, but now he realized that without using spiritual energy, he might not be able to take her down!
Li Xie felt a bit stifled, but thinking of the final result, he still unhesitatingly controlled the fire walls to close in on Yuan Shu!
With Yuan Shu's current strength, it was naturally impossible for her to clash head-on with his fire walls.
And he also took this opportunity to attack Yuan Shu once more.
Yuan Shu's movement space was compressed, forcing her to confront Li Xie.
"Bang, bang, bang!"
After several moves of physical combat, Li Xie found an opening, grabbed her hands, spun around, and pulled her into his arms, binding her tightly.
Yuan Shu struggled a couple of times, panting slightly, but could not break free.
"What a formidable Qi Refining stage. To think you actually forced me to use elemental power?"
"Yuan Shu, are you really only in the Qi Refining stage?"
