Chapter 25 The Maiden's Intention

Douglas's expression did not change much in the face of Yi Lanshan's words.
"You are underestimating me a bit too much, kid."
He said so.
"I have already given you more than enough respect, otherwise I wouldn't have bided my time until now, choosing the absolute best opportunity," Yi Lanshan said calmly. "Since I chose to make my move at this time, naturally..."
Before Yi Lanshan could finish his sentence, Douglas struck out with a single palm right before him.
His palm strike seemed light and effortless, completely devoid of force, but starting from right behind Su Ziye, unimaginable changes began to take place.
The sturdy floor began to crack and shatter, the walls began to vibrate and crumble, and the ceiling likewise began to peel away and disintegrate.
With just a single push of his palm, Douglas turned almost everything in front of him into fine dust.
Stella and Noct tacitly chose to step back and stand behind Yi Lanshan, while the master of the mountain raised his hand, deciding to meet the opponent's palm strike head-on.
And then he was sent flying.
Literally sent flying. Douglas's palm strike pulverized nearly everything in its path, surging forward with an irresistible momentum, shattering everything caught in the gale-force pressure, and carrying it all along with it.
Even though Yi Lanshan raised his hands, he was continually pushed backward by the force of the palm wind—backward, and backward still, until he slowly vanished into the horizon.
Not even Su Ziye could clearly see just how far Yi Lanshan had been blasted away by that single strike.
With the push of his palm complete, Douglas clutched his chest and began to cough violently. Fresh blood welled up from his mouth, staining the floor in front of him red.
"I really am getting old, it seems," Douglas muttered to himself.
"You are like a lion on the verge of death. Though powerful, rising up to fight once more will only hasten your demise," Su Ziye looked at him and said quietly.
"Such a body is truly unpleasant," Douglas chuckled, even as blood continued to spill from his lips.
He stood up. "All the chains of karma must still be brought to a resolution today, but before that, I hope Your Highness the Prince can take Chris and leave this place."
Su Ziye glanced back at Christina. She was standing quietly in place, not saying a single word.
"Are you willing to come with me?" Su Ziye asked.
Christina looked at Su Ziye and smiled slightly. "If it is Grandfather's wish."
"I am very familiar with this place. Please allow me to take you away."
Su Ziye nodded. Although this exceeded his expectations, he did not mind doing so—especially knowing that Christina was capable of cracking the academy's Happy Water. Such a young woman would undoubtedly be an indispensable piece in his future plans.

Su Ziye looked back at Douglas. "I won't bother telling you to take care of yourself. An old monster like you who refuses to die was born to be the exact kind of person I want to kill the most."
"Then I am truly honored," Douglas smiled softly, walking steadily forward.
He walked down that palace corridor which he had almost completely destroyed.
With just a single palm strike, he had nearly demolished a third of the Black and White Palace.
Yet he knew clearly—Yi Lanshan was not dead.
He was not even injured.
Therefore, no matter what, he would see this final battle of his life through to the end.
Su Ziye sighed. He looked toward Christina and extended his hand to her.
He hoped Christina would take him away, just as Christina had brought him in.
The battle here was of far too high a caliber; even if Xing Xi were to arrive, she could barely manage to hold her own.
As for Su Ziye, he didn't even want to touch it.
Douglas was a dying Supreme-realm powerhouse at the twilight of his life, while Yi Lanshan was a top-tier Purple Star-realm expert. The shockwaves of their battle could easily tear the entire palace apart, and just as easily slaughter countless innocent mortals.
Yet Christina looked at him and gently shook her head.
The girl, who had remained silent all along, smiled faintly and looked at Su Ziye. "What he said just now was merely Grandfather's wish, not mine."
"I do not wish to leave this place."
"It is extremely dangerous here. No matter how extraordinary you might be, your cultivation realm is still right there," Su Ziye tried to persuade her.
Christina smiled faintly. "Your Highness, how about you and I make a deal?"
"What kind of deal?" Su Ziye asked.
He suddenly found himself growing a bit curious.
"The three things the Dark Star asked you to do when you came to Kunka are respectively: what is Alaya-vijnana, who is Alaya-vijnana, and do not become an enemy of Alaya-vijnana," she looked at him calmly and said.
"I already told your grandfather about this just a moment ago."
"And the reason you came here is because the Dark Star promised that if you accomplish these three things, command authority over the weapon will be transferred to you. Is that correct?" Christina continued.
Su Ziye could not help taking a step back as he stared at her. "How do you know that?"

"I knew it the very first moment I saw you," Christina said calmly. "Since my grandfather helped answer your first question, I can now answer your second and third questions. So, are you willing to make this trade?"
Su Ziye could not help but look at her more solemnly, re-evaluating her from head to toe.
Yet no matter how he looked at it, the young woman before him possessed a thoroughly ordinary cultivation realm.
"There's no need to keep looking. By normal standards of cultivation, I am merely a level-nine mage," Christina said calmly.
"Then what do you want me to do?" Su Ziye asked.
"Help me guard the perimeter for a short while. About an hour will be enough," Christina said.
"Why me?" Su Ziye could not help asking.
This was his first time meeting Christina; he had only ever heard her name before. And whatever Christina was about to do was evidently extremely dangerous and crucial. Why would she ask him to stand guard?
"Because you are one of the most suitable people in this world. Although there is someone even more suitable than you, he is not here right now, and I cannot find him," Christina said calmly. "Will you agree?"
Su Ziye was silent for a moment, then finally nodded.
He did not want to take this risk, but it truly concerned the completion of his mission and his command authority over Xing Xi.
Christina smiled brightly, then reached out and took hold of Su Ziye's fingers.
The young man felt a blur before his eyes, and the next instant, he appeared inside an entirely new room.
It was a very plain and simple room, containing only a bed, a desk, and a chair.
"This is my room," Christina said simply.
She walked over to the desk and reached out to ring a small bell resting upon it.
The door was pushed open, and an elderly butler with white hair and black clothes appeared there.
Su Ziye's pupils constricted slightly.
For the person before him was terrifyingly powerful—so unfathomably powerful that merely looking at him caused a stinging sensation in Su Ziye's eyes.
"Uncle Xirang, please guard the door for me. I need one hour," Christina said quietly.
The old butler closed the door.