As the man left the hall, a delicate, pale hand with pink nails emerged from the curtains of the wooden bed. The hand gently pulled the curtain aside, revealing a beautiful woman who peeked out and burst into laughter at the sight of Han Ming''s flustered expression.


    Han Ming, embarrassed and angry, snapped, "What are you laughing at?"


    The woman ignored him, her seductive eyes scanning him from head to toe several times before she nodded in satisfaction. "Bai Kai wasn''t lying. You really are a fine specimen."


    At the mention of Bai Kai, Han Ming''s eyes burned with rage.


    "Oh, why so fierce? Who are you trying to scare with that look?" the woman teased, stepping gracefully out of the bed and walking toward him.


    Fortunately, she was now dressed in a thin white robe, no longer naked, which made Han Ming feel slightly more at ease.


    "Enough nonsense. What do you want with me?" Han Ming demanded bluntly. Since he was already captured, there was no point in beating around the bush.


    The woman circled him slowly, her eyes appraising him, before suddenly reaching out and poking his chest.


    Han Ming''s heart sank. He tried to dodge, but his weakened body couldn''t react in time. The woman''s touch sent a wave of weakness through him, and he collapsed.


    She caught him with her right arm, supporting his back, and dragged him toward the bed.


    A terrible thought crossed Han Ming''s mind—was she going to drain his life force?


    The woman pulled back the curtain and, despite her delicate appearance, displayed surprising strength as she tossed Han Ming onto the bed. She climbed onto the bed herself, kneeling over him, her silver hair cascading onto his face, making him uncomfortable.


    It was then that Han Ming noticed another person on the bed. Upon closer inspection, he saw a man with sunken eyes and skin stretched tightly over his bones, looking like a desiccated corpse. If not for the faint rise and fall of his chest, Han Ming would have thought he was dead.


    The woman stared intently at Han Ming, reaching out to undo his clothes.


    What should I do? What should I do?


    Han Ming''s mind raced, searching for a way to escape. But with his hands tied behind his back and his body still weak from the woman''s earlier touch, he was powerless.


    Just as Han Ming was at his wit''s end, the woman suddenly let out a blood-curdling scream. Her eyes widened in terror, and she scrambled backward, falling off the bed.


    She pointed at Han Ming''s waist, shrieking, "What is that!? What is that!? Who are you? Get it away from me! Get it away!"


    Han Ming was baffled by the sudden turn of events. Following her gaze, he realized she was pointing at the small cloth pouch tied to his waist—the one containing the seven eggs of the Destruction Butterfly.


    Could it be? Is she afraid of the eggs?


    To Han Ming''s astonishment, the woman began to age rapidly before his eyes. Her once-youthful face withered, her skin wrinkling and sagging like old tree bark. In moments, she transformed from a beautiful young woman into a haggard old crone.


    The guards outside, hearing her screams, rushed in.


    At the same time, Han Ming felt his strength returning. He realized that the pouch containing the eggs was overflowing with life force, more than the eggs could absorb. The excess energy was seeping into his body, restoring his vitality.


    "Grab him! Grab him! There''s something on him! Grab him!" the woman screeched, her once-melodious voice now shrill and grating.


    The masked guards hesitated, clearly shocked by the woman''s sudden transformation. Even without seeing their faces, Han Ming could imagine their stunned expressions.


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    "What are you waiting for!? Grab him!" the rapidly aging woman screamed.


    The guards snapped out of their daze and lunged at Han Ming.


    By now, Han Ming had regained his strength. He easily broke free of his bonds and delivered a devastating punch to the first guard''s face, reducing it to a bloody pulp.


    His right leg whipped out like a whip, sending another guard flying. The man''s bones cracked audibly as he vomited blood, chunks of internal organs mixed in.


    The remaining guards, terrified by Han Ming''s ferocity, hesitated. They drew black whips from their belts and lashed out at him.


    But Han Ming was unfazed. He darted behind one guard, his hand piercing through the man''s chest. In a flash, he appeared before another, snapping his neck with ease.


    In moments, the hall was empty except for Han Ming and the aged woman.


    Fearing she might cause trouble later, Han Ming decided to finish her off. He leaped toward her, but the woman, terrified of the pouch at his waist, dodged frantically.


    Han Ming chased her, growing increasingly frustrated. Despite her apparent lack of speed, he couldn''t catch her.


    The two danced around the hall, the woman always staying just out of reach.


    Eventually, the woman seemed to regain her composure. She realized that it wasn''t Han Ming who drained life force but the pouch at his waist. As long as she avoided the pouch, Han Ming couldn''t harm her.


    With this realization, she stopped fleeing and turned to face him.


    Though she lacked strength and speed, she effortlessly outmaneuvered Han Ming. No matter how he attacked, she always found a way to evade and counter.


    Han Ming swung a powerful kick, but the woman anticipated it, sidestepping and delivering a palm strike to his chest that sent him stumbling back.


    Seizing the opportunity, she grabbed a barely conscious guard, ripped off his mask, and kissed him. The guard''s body deflated like a balloon as the woman''s youth was partially restored.


    Han Ming, realizing the danger, rushed to stop her. But she countered his moves with ease, grabbing another guard and draining him.


    The woman grew stronger with each life she absorbed, while Han Ming grew increasingly desperate. If this continued, she would soon overpower him.


    "Thirty-six strategies, running away is the best!" Han Ming thought, gritting his teeth. He turned and fled.


    The woman, unwilling to let him escape, gave chase.


    As they ran, the woman grabbed anyone in her path, draining them dry. Her youth returned with each victim, and soon she looked like a woman in her thirties.


    Han Ming, realizing he couldn''t outrun her, desperately searched for an exit. The underground city was like a maze, and he had no idea where to go.


    Finally, he recognized a familiar path—the one leading to the stone cell where he had been held. He dashed toward it, hoping to find the tunnel he had seen earlier.


    The woman, seeing his destination, cackled madly and slowed her pursuit, confident she could catch him.


    Han Ming burst into the cell and kicked over the stone slab, only to find nothing beneath it. The tunnel was gone.


    Panicking, Han Ming stomped on the ground, and the floor crumbled, revealing a narrow passage. Without hesitation, he jumped in.


    The woman, arriving moments later, hesitated briefly before following.


    The tunnel was dark, damp, and filled with crawling insects. Han Ming fought back his disgust and crawled forward as fast as he could.


    After what felt like an eternity, he saw a glimmer of light ahead. He punched through the wall, creating an exit, and climbed out.


    He found himself in a vast, open space—the interior of the mountain Li Xiaotian had described.


    But where to go? Han Ming had no idea. The woman was close behind, her sharp nails glinting as she reached for him.


    Han Ming fought desperately, but no matter how he attacked, she always countered with ease. His body was soon covered in wounds, blood streaming down his skin.


    "Give up! Even if you''re faster and stronger, you''re no match for me. I don''t even need to use combat energy to defeat you," the woman cackled, toying with him like a cat with a mouse.


    Han Ming grew more frustrated with each failed attack. No matter how hard he tried, she always found a way to counter.


    Just as Han Ming was about to despair, a booming voice echoed through the cavern.


    "You dare show your face again? Heaven has delivered you to me!"


    A figure descended from above, landing between Han Ming and the woman.


    The woman''s face twisted in terror. "Impossible! Impossible! You can''t be alive!"


    She turned to flee, but the figure—a gaunt old man with long, disheveled silver hair and skin like dried bark—intercepted her.


    "My dear disciple, do you still recognize your master?" the old man asked, his voice filled with hatred.


    Even Han Ming, slow as he was, realized who the old man was—Li Xiaotian, the betrayed master. And the woman was none other than his treacherous disciple, Yao Ji.


    "You... you can''t be alive! You''re dead! You''re dead! Why are you still alive!?" Yao Ji screamed, her voice hysterical.


    "I''m alive because I couldn''t die without killing you, my traitorous disciple!" Li Xiaotian roared.


    Yao Ji shrieked, unleashing a surge of wood-attribute combat energy. A massive ape, formed from her energy, charged at Li Xiaotian.


    The old man sidestepped, deflecting the ape''s attack with his arms. His hand shot out like a striking snake, grabbing the ape''s chest.


    The ape thrashed wildly, but Li Xiaotian clung to it like a sheet of paper, unmoved. When they landed, the ape disintegrated.


    Han Ming watched in awe. The old man had destroyed the ape with a single move.


    Though Li Xiaotian''s body was frail and his strength negligible, his skill was unparalleled. Han Ming felt a familiar sensation—this was the power of martial arts.


    The old man turned to Han Ming, breathing heavily. "Boy, how did you lure her here?"


    Han Ming quickly replied, "I found the animal skin you left in the ape''s skull and followed the instructions."


    Li Xiaotian laughed heartily. "Good! Good! Good! Since fate has brought us together, let me deal with this traitor first, and then we''ll talk."