"I'll send people to assist you. Feel free to make any other requests. I'm counting on you all to ensure my daughter's safety. Please come back safely." The head of the Xiling family said uneasily.
Ji Yunxi felt a bit impatient listening to his rambling. She wondered why she hadn't noticed before that the head of the Xiling family was so talkative.
A group of people came outside the city gate. Jiang Yaoji was standing there. She was surprised to see Ji Yunxi.
"I thought you'd hide in your palace for the rest of your life. This is really a surprise!" Jiang Yaoji had guessed that Ji Yunxi would come, but she was really surprised not to see Feng Xingzhi.
"Sorry to disappoint you." Ji Yunxi dismounted, her sleeves fluttering.
"Humph!" Jiang Yaoji snorted.
"Jiang Yaoji, I don't want to waste my breath on you today. Hand over Qi Jingyue."
"Oh, Ji Yunxi. You're not only weak in cultivation but also incredibly stupid. Qi Jingyue is your love rival, yet you come here to throw your life away for her. How ridiculous!"
"You're wrong. I've never regarded her as a rival because I'm certain of Feng Xingzhi's feelings!" Ji Yunxi said firmly, enunciating each word.
"Feelings? Hahaha. How can you be sure he won't abandon you for the sake of profit? Your Xuanyuan clan is indeed powerful, but there can only be one emperor on the throne."
Jiang Yaoji's words did shake Ji Yunxi's heart. She had considered this issue before, but hearing it so bluntly from Jiang Yaoji made her expression crack slightly. "You're talking nonsense! Don't try to shake my resolve."
"I'm not trying to shake you. Isn't it you who's already suspicious? It's no use talking more. I won't release the hostage unless I see Feng Xingzhi today."
"Your Highness, don't be impulsive!" Ru Shou sensed the fluctuation of Ji Yunxi's divine power, which was a sign that she was about to get angry.
"I'm not suspicious, and you're not worthy of seeing Feng Xingzhi." After saying the last word, Ji Yunxi flew towards Jiang Yaoji and engaged in a fight with her.
Their figures were so blurry that it was hard to keep track. Since Ji Yunxi hadn't fully recovered her divine power, her movements gradually slowed down.
"Is this all you've got?" Jiang Yaoji looked at her disdainfully, as if she were an ant.
Ji Yunxi launched a powerful attack. Jiang Yaoji countered with a palm strike. The clash of their divine powers created a shockwave that exploded in the air. To avoid it, Jiang Yaoji bent down and then flipped in the air, kicking Ji Yunxi hard.
Ji Yunxi spat out a mouthful of blood. She didn't have time to dodge and thought she was bound to be hit.
Ru Shou immediately stepped forward to save her. Suddenly, a white light like a blade came down from the sky with a loud "boom" and exploded in the air.
"Cough, cough." Jiang Yaoji's chest was numbed by the shock. Blood oozed from the corner of her mouth. She staggered to her feet while covering her chest, but then she laughed. "Feng Xingzhi, you finally showed up. I thought you'd hide like a coward forever."
Feng Xingzhi put his arm around Ji Yunxi and helped her stand up.
"It's just a minor injury. I'm fine!" Ji Yunxi said pretending to be okay.
"You're still putting on a brave face like this." Feng Xingzhi was angry at her carelessness. His voice was low, and his eyes were full of displeasure. He looked at Jiang Yaoji coldly.
Jiang Yaoji narrowed her eyes slightly. She pointed her sword at Feng Xingzhi and stabbed forward. Feng Xingzhi pushed Ji Yunxi away and stepped forward. He subdued Jiang Yaoji in just a few moves. "You've lost!"
Jiang Yaoji was lying on the ground, her hair in a mess and her clothes covered in dust. She looked at Feng Xingzhi defiantly, with the cold blade of the sword shining on her neck.
A sword flew towards Feng Xingzhi. The sound of the sword cutting through the air was clearly audible. Feng Xingzhi nimbly flipped and dodged. Jiang Yanjü appeared behind Feng Xingzhi. Feng Xingzhi looked up and knew something was wrong. He quickly turned around.
Jiang Yanjü was even faster. The sword circled back to his hand, and he pointed it at Feng Xingzhi's throat.
Feng Xingzhi glanced down at the sword and stared at Jiang Yanjü expressionlessly. "Do you think this sword can hold me back?"
"Stop, or I'll kill her." Ru Shou also pointed his sword at Jiang Yaoji. The situation was at a standstill.
Hearing that the battle was intense, the head of the Xiling family also came outside the city. He was stunned when he saw the scene.
Jiang Yaoji propped herself up with her sword. Her first words were directed at Ji Yunxi. "Ji Yunxi, why haven't you fully recovered your power? I saw with my own eyes that Li Jiuge put the remaining fragments of divine power into her own space."
Ji Yunxi was stunned. Her hand holding the sword trembled slightly. She still clearly remembered every word she had said to Jiuge that day. Li Jiuge's expression didn't seem like she was lying. Why did Jiang Yaoji say this? But Jiang Yaoji had no reason to lie about this. For a moment, a great sense of emptiness engulfed her.
"So it was all fake. The Jiuli tribe never regarded your Xuanyuan clan as their own. You went to so much trouble to create a so - called world of divine creation for them to live in, but they repaid your kindness with ingratitude." Jiang Yaoji had a mocking and wild smile on her face.
Ji Yunxi cast aside her distracting thoughts and exchanged a look with Feng Xingzhi. Without saying a word, they just thought about how to kill Jiang Yaoji and the others as soon as possible.
Jiang Yanjü naturally saw their expressions and sneered. "Qi Jingyue's life can be exchanged for the city of Jin. I'll give you an incense stick's time to think about it."
Hearing this, the head of the Xiling family looked anxious. He looked at Feng Xingzhi for help. It wasn't that she was reluctant to give up the position of city lord, but she was really worried about her daughter. At the same time, she had to consider the many people in the city. What should she do?
Feng Xingzhi nodded, and everyone had to withdraw from the city of Jin.
Jiang Yaoji's group was very powerful. Even if they could gain the upper hand today, there was still a hostage in their hands. It was only a matter of time before the city of Jin was captured. It was good to avoid a war and buy some time.
Ji Yunxi immediately sent this news to Ji Zhuanxu after she got back. Ji Zhuanxu's expression was calm after hearing it. "It doesn't matter. If we lose the city, we can just take it back. As long as you're all safe, that's fine."
Everyone went to rest. Ji Yunxi and Feng Xingzhi walked while talking. "I want to see Li Jiuge to confirm the whereabouts of the divine power."
The sunlight cast a mottled pattern on the ground. Feng Xingzhi looked at Ji Yunxi and encouraged her. "Go ahead."
"Yeah. If I can fully recover my divine power, I'll have a better chance against Jiang Yaoji and the others."
"Then send Qing Xuan to deliver a message and have a good talk with Li Jiuge."
"Okay. I believe Jiuge. She won't lie to me." Ji Yunxi seemed to be hypnotizing herself, but the uneasiness in her heart was growing.
Not long after, Qing Xuan came back and shook his head. "I was rejected. Li Jiuge said she's very busy recently."
Lu Shu ran over angrily and took a big gulp of water. "It seems that what Jiang Yaoji said is probably true."
Hearing this, Ji Yunxi didn't say a word. Her expression was full of disappointment.