At this moment, several thousand meters away from Xiao Xue, a mysterious person in black robes was "protecting" her from a distance, hidden in the shadows.
Calling it protection was really just barely managing not to lose her.
The figure was wrapped entirely in a pitch-black robe. He raised his head slightly, revealing a swarthy, aged Face.
This person was none other than Ling Ying, whom Xun'er had sent to "protect" Xiao Xue.
"How has this little girl's Soul Power improved so quickly?"
"Sigh, to think that I have to hide so far away just to avoid being discovered by a little girl at the Dou Ling level. It seems I really am getting old."
Ling Ying hid in the shadows, releasing his Soul Power, though he didn't even dare to get too close.
However, his cultivation at the Peak Dou Huang level allowed him to perceive things from a great distance.
Ling Ying kept hiding in the shadows. When he noticed Xiao Xue's aura was about to disappear, he would accelerate in that direction for a bit, then continue to hide.
After all, if he were to fly directly behind Xiao Xue, he would be exposed in the open sky.
Therefore, this task, where Xiao Xue flew in the sky while he chased on the ground without being discovered, was quite exhausting for Ling Ying.
Sensing that Xiao Xue's aura was about to vanish, Ling Ying sighed and prepared to give chase again, when suddenly, a voice came from above him:
"Senior is still hale and hearty; how could you be considered old?"
Upon hearing this, Ling Ying's scalp went numb, because he recognized whose voice it was!
This... how is this possible! I didn't even notice her! Ling Ying was losing his mind!
After Xiao Xue and Xun'er parted ways, Ling Ying had followed Xiao Xue according to Xun'er's orders.
He had been very cautious the entire way, never proactively releasing even a shred of his aura.
Yet, even from such a distance, not only had he been discovered by Xiao Xue, but she had also approached him silently.
— Xiao Xue was already right above his head, and he hadn't noticed!
Xiao Xue's voice, carrying a trace of Soul Power, drifted down softly: "Senior, would you mind coming out for a chat?"
Ling Ying suddenly felt a bit aggrieved. He had followed all the way from Gama Emperor City, and he couldn't even fly, having to find ways to keep up with Xiao Xue's speed.
Even though he was a Peak Dou Huang, not being allowed to use his Dou Qi Wings had exhausted him greatly along the way.
— Do you know how he managed to make it this far?! And yet, after monitoring Xiao Xue for less than two and a half hours, he had already been discovered! How aggrieved he felt!
He didn't even know how he would go back and explain this to Xun'er now.
Ling Ying bit the bullet and stepped out from the shadows, only to see Xiao Xue waiting with a beaming smile.
"Senior, you aren't from the Jia Ma Empire, are you?" Xiao Xue asked with a smile. "The Jia Ma Empire doesn't have a Dou Huang with a fire attribute."
Xiao Xue's demeanor was graceful and composed, completely unaffected by the fact that Ling Ying was a Dou Huang. "May I ask how to address you, Senior?"
"Ahem, my name is Ling Ying," Ling Ying replied, feeling somewhat awkward.
Xiao Xue nodded and asked bluntly, "Senior Ling, what is your relationship with Xun'er?"
Ling Ying was slightly stunned, then realized that Xiao Xue must have sensed his presence earlier.
"...I am Young Miss Xun'er's guardian." Ling Ying thought it over and decided to tell the truth.
After all, given the talent Xiao Xue had displayed, she would inevitably head to the Central Plains in the future.
Xiao Xue would know about these things sooner or later, so there was no point in hiding his identity now.
"Oh," Xiao Xue said with a smile, "Then why aren't you following Xun'er, Senior, but me instead?"
Looking at her beaming expression, Ling Ying felt a chill in his heart and hurriedly said, "This was my own idea; it has nothing to do with the Young Miss."
Xiao Xue let out a chuckle. "Old Ling, you're really bad at lying. I hadn't said anything yet; why did you expose yourself?"
It was obvious that someone like Ling Ying probably hadn't lied more than a few times in his life.
"Old Ling, don't be nervous. I didn't come here to hold you accountable."
"I am very happy that Xun'er is worried about my safety, but I don't like being monitored."
"However, if it is to put Xun'er at ease, Old Ling, would this suffice?"
As Xiao Xue spoke, a powerful aura suddenly erupted from her body. Given Ling Ying's experience, it was clearly a level a Dou Huang could not reach.
— Although it had not reached Dou Zong, it was definitely above the Peak Dou Huang level!
Ling Ying: "!!!"
"My teacher gave me a bit of Dou Qi for self-defense," Xiao Xue "explained" with a smile. "You can rest assured and let me go on my training journey."
"At least in the Northwest Continent, no one can threaten me for the time being."
Ling Ying: "..."
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