My strength increases by one percent every day; I can destroy stars with my bare hands.

Li Xuancang led his troops to remain in Huifeng County, reported the situation to Du Tianfeng, and continued to investigate the whereabouts of the heretical cultivators.

Both the burly man and the black-robed evil cultivator were severely injured by Li Xuancang and would not recover for a while. As long as they found their hiding place, there would be a chance to kill them.

In the dead of night, with dark clouds obscuring the moon, a figure stealthily approached the Li residence under the cover of darkness.

Nangong Zhan resolutely carried out Li Xuancang's orders, leading Zhang Yuanxiong and more than a dozen personal guards to guard Li's residence every day.

The night was as dark as ink, and the Li residence was quiet, with everyone fast asleep.

The newcomer was dressed in a dark robe, his aura of yin energy concealed. He silently crossed the high walls of the mansion, avoiding the night patrol guards, and headed straight for Li Ling'er's boudoir.

As he approached the boudoir courtyard, Nangong Zhan, who was guarding inside, suddenly opened his eyes.

He successfully broke through to the Bone Forging Realm yesterday, greatly increasing his cultivation. He sensed a faint sinister aura and was immediately awakened.

"Something's happened, everyone get up!"

Nangong Zhan dared not be careless in the slightest and woke up all his personal guards.

He quickly grabbed his weapon and rushed out.

"Who?!"

Nangong Zhan saw a black figure approaching Li Ling'er's boudoir and immediately roared angrily.

"You're asking for death for trespassing on the Li residence."

Before Nangong Zhan could finish speaking, he had already charged out.

This person sneaked into the Li residence with malicious intent; Nangong Zhan must apprehend him immediately.

Seeing that his whereabouts had been exposed, the man in black robes stopped hiding and unleashed his aura, revealing a hideous, grayish-blue face that grinned sinisterly.

"How dare a mere ant block my way?"

As Nangong Zhan charged in, the black-robed man's blood and qi surged, gathering in his palm, and he struck Nangong Zhan with a palm.

"Bang!"

With a single palm strike, Nangong Zhan was powerless to retaliate and was sent flying.

"Snap!"

A dented palm print appeared on his chest, and his bones were shattered.

"kill!"

At this moment, more than a dozen guards rushed in and attacked the man in black robes without hesitation.

"If you want to die, I'll grant your wish."

The man in black robes turned cold and rushed toward his dozen or so guards, intending to kill these troublemakers first.

"puff!"

"what!"

"Well!"

"..."

The man in black robes was at the Blood Condensation Realm. Although these personal guards were not weak, they were no match for him at all.

"kill!"

Despite being knocked away, Nangong Zhan ignored his severe injuries and attacked again.

The guards were also fearless and fought to the death.

They were Li Xuancang's personal guards, utterly loyal to him, and would rather die than allow anyone to harm Li Xuancang's family.

"What happened?"

The sounds of fierce fighting woke everyone in the Li household. Servants and maids quickly appeared, and Mr. and Mrs. Li were also awakened and went out.

Upon seeing Li Ling'er appear, the man in black robes focused his gaze on her and was about to rush towards her.

"Don't even think about it!"

Nangong Zhan grabbed the man in black and shouted at Li's parents at the top of his lungs, "His target is Miss! Get Miss away from here!"

Nangong Zhan knew they couldn't stop the man in black robes, so he wanted to buy time so Li Ling'er could escape.

West Street is where the powerful and wealthy reside, and there are troops patrolling day and night. As long as Li Ling'er is not arrested immediately and can be delayed until the patrolling troops arrive, there is a glimmer of hope for her.

"What?"

Upon hearing this, Mr. and Mrs. Li were terrified, their minds went blank, and they stood frozen in place, at a loss for what to do.

"Miss, let's go!"

Zhang Cuier reacted quickly, grabbing Li Ling'er and rushing out of the mansion gate, running wildly into the vast night.

"Everyone, fight to the death, hold him off!"

Nangong Zhan shouted angrily, and blood splattered out.

Of the dozen or so guards, only five remain; the others lie in pools of blood, their fates unknown.

"kill!"

Despite their severe injuries, the group charged at the man in black robes without hesitation.

"Die!"

Seeing that Li Ling'er was about to escape, the man in black robes was enraged and attacked even more violently.

"puff!"

"what!"

"Bang!"

"..."

Nangong Zhan and the others were all sent flying, covered in blood and barely breathing.

Everyone else had fainted, and only Nangong Zhan was holding on with his strong will.

After dealing with his personal guards, the man in black robes didn't dare waste any time and was about to chase after Li Ling'er.

"Um!"

The next moment, the man in black robes was enraged.

Lying on the ground, Nangong Zhan tightly hugged his feet with both hands, his eyes showing no fear, but unwavering determination.

"So tenacious."

Nangong Zhan's tenacity even moved the man in black robes.

An ordinary Bone Forging Realm cultivator would have fallen after just one or two moves from him, yet Nangong Zhan, despite enduring numerous attacks, was still able to hold onto him tightly—it was simply unbelievable.

"What are you standing there for? Get up there!"

Just then, a most unexpected voice rang out.

Zhang Erzhu, who was usually cowardly, suddenly found courage. His eyes were bloodshot, and he charged at the man in black robes with a death wish, slashing at the man's head with his sword.

The man in black robes didn't even glance at him before casually throwing a punch.

"Bang!"

Zhang Erzhu was sent flying, his blood staining the sky. His body crashed heavily to the ground, blood gushing from his throat. He convulsed a few times before losing consciousness completely.

"Oh, my son!"

"Big brother!"

Upon seeing this, Yang Cuihua and Zhang Chunhua's worry for their loved one outweighed their fear, and they ran crying towards Zhang Erzhu, who had fallen to the ground.

"Let's all attack together."

Although the servants were trembling with fear, they still mustered their courage and rushed forward to try and hold back the man in black.

"court death."

Enraged by being blocked by a swarm of ants, the man in black robes sent them all flying.

"Bang!"

He kicked Nangong Zhan away, not caring whether Nangong Zhan was dead or alive, and quickly chased after Li Ling'er in the direction she had fled.

After leaving the Li residence, Li Ling'er and Zhang Cui'er fled to a nearby street.

When they came to an alley, Zhang Cuier stopped. "Miss, hide here and don't make a sound. I'll go and lure them away."

Zhang Cuier's face was resolute. Even though she knew that her actions would lead to her death, she did not hesitate for a moment.

If the Li family hadn't rescued her in Qingxi Village, she would have died a violent death long ago.

The Li family had shown her immense kindness, and she could only repay them with her life.

"Cui'er..."

Li Ling'er is kind-hearted and couldn't bear to let Zhang Cui'er be in danger in her place, so she immediately refused.

But Zhang Cuier didn't give her a chance to refuse and turned and ran out.

The man in black robes gave chase and soon spotted Zhang Cuier fleeing.

In the darkness, he couldn't see clearly whether it was Li Ling'er or not, so he immediately chased after her.

"Don't run away, you can't escape my grasp."

The black-robed man's cold voice came from behind, and Zhang Cuier felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave, her whole body chilled.

"I can't stop. The longer I delay, the safer the young lady will be."

Zhang Cuier unleashed her potential, not only not stopping, but running even faster.

"hateful!"

Seeing this, the man in black robes became even more furious and sped up to catch up, seemingly about to capture Zhang Cuier.