On the back of an enormous snow-white eagle, Luke's group was merrily chatting away. Like last time, Luke sat in the center while Lingxi and Qingyue leaned on his shoulder.

Although this time, Cang Yue sat closer to Lingxi on their front side and leaned a bit on to Luke's legs.

And Andrea still remained the same, sitting directly behind them.

After smoothly flying out the mountain range, the group took the time to discuss why the Xiao Sect is after Cang Yue and why she was in Azure Dragon City.

Truthfully, Cang Yue told them that she was there to recruit hidden talents for the Empire. It was a part of her imperial lineage that she could sense unique talents out.

However, through this whole time, she never used her skills on Luke's group. Yet a faint calling from her bloodline gave premonitions to their amazing potentials.

When discussing the Xiao Sect, they all concluded that sect wanted to provoke the Empire and gain something specifically.

Though they have no clue what it could be, they were planning to find out. Repeated offenses like theirs aren't something anyone could just leave alone.

Currently, as the group flew over a rural plains looking area, they moved on to more light and fun conversations. The girls beside Andrea seemed particularly into sharing stories Luke told in the past.

"My, I didn't realize Luke was also a good storyteller from all these mystical tales. Fufu~, no wonder there's never a dull moment between you all."

Cang Yue enjoyed all the strange and fascinating tales Luke could remember from his world. It differs, but also some stories could be compared to fable stories in this universe.

"Mnh, that's not all. When you have the time, you should also participate in one of his strange but intriguing games." Qingyue slyly suggested to her.

"Oh, yea! I'm sure you'll absolutely enjoy whatever Luke has in store for you! I know me and Qingyue did." Lingxi also backed Qingyue on this point with a broad smile.

"Fufufu~, since it's you two stamp of approval. I suppose one game or two wouldn't hurt." Spending quality one-on-one time with Luke was such an excellent idea that Cang Yue even felt her cheeks warm a bit from it.

At this point, Luke was beginning to suspect if his cute little girlfriends were trying to push forward his relationship with Cang Yue.

Though Luke did understand, if this was a girl without a soul mark connection, things would've been a bit rockier for the girls to get along, he truly didn't need the help here.

To the way her tone changes when she talks to him or her affection filled eyes she gives him, Luke would have to be brain dead to not pick up on her feelings.

Furthermore, even through their soul link, he could tell. But at the same time, he certainly didn't mind them getting along this way too.

'Luke! Get ready, a fool with some sort of disguise is rapidly approaching you. This guy only needed a couple of seconds to cross miles to get to you, his speed isn't something you can escape from. You might need to go all out soon…'

Spooky suddenly called for Luke's attention with an urgent tone of voice. The faint feeling she felt from earlier slowly crept up to full blast as of now.

And in sync with Andrea, both cousins turned their heads to the west. Their senses had picked up on a powerful person flying a direct course to them. Whoever this person was made, the cousins immediately wary.

"Is someone coming for us?" Qingyue felt the sudden tonal shift of Luke quickly. While she and the other girls couldn't sense the danger, they could just tell from the look on Luke's face.

Glancing over to the girls who had more severe expressions, Luke nodded, saying, "It seems someone has some unexpected business with us."

"Oh? I didn't think your Spirit Sense could reach so far away. Then again, this will make introductions much simpler." The voice of a gentle sounding man ranged out to the group.

Looking over to their west, the one who appeared was a good looking man dawning gentle color clothes.

He had slender fit build, medium-length black hair, and wore a light blue robe. At first glance, this was a man who looked very inviting to talk too.

Furthermore, the girl sensed, the man was only at the seventh level of the Spiritual Xiantian realm, two levels lower than Qingyue.

However, what Luke and Andrea sensed was dramatically different. In their minds, they were slightly sweating as,

'This guy is actually a ninth level Sky Lord! Whatever magical item he has on him is perfect for fooling people into a false sense of security. This...could be far more troubling than I thought.'

Luke thought to himself as he knew a battle was inevitable, sensing this guy's intentions.

"Is there something you need from us?" Cang Yue asked him, though still on guard around him. Her trust was placed in Luke, so she didn't buy into this man's stature at all.

Smiling, the man said calmly, "Ah, I don't mean to take up too much of your time. But I'm a little lost around here. Could one of you point me in the right direction?"

If this was any other ordinary group, they would've wearily believed this man since his acting skills are superb.

But this group of youths was anything but ordinary.

Although Luke had remarked, this man was undoubtedly odd. He looked to be barely affected by either of the cousins' curses. Nor did he care about their unique presence.

Luke already sensed this man's intention to attack them and decided not to drag this out any longer.

He held his arm out towards and open his palm in a friendly gesture asking,

"Sure, which way are you going?"

The good looking man nodded and began to explain, "You see I'm trying to make it to th-"

'Hua!'

Fast like lightning, Luke blasted out a soul purple Spirit Chain! In only a split second, he gathered enough power for a swift sneak attack.

The purple chain split through the air like a bullet. From only a few meters, the purple chain had swiftly arrived next to the man.

However, the man had no look of surprise or panic on his face.

'Bang!'

A fierce collision swept through the air! The wind swirled in chaos, forcing Luke's eagle to back away a few steps.

Looking over to the man, Luke's group got even more serious by what they saw.

With an instant reaction time, the man had gathered up enough Essence energy to block the chain!

The chain forced him a few steps back as well, but he was completely unharmed. This only further proved Luke's point in this man will be a troubling opponent.

"Not bad. The ones that I have to take in should be at least this good." The man lightly said with a smirk.

"Who are you?" On the bird, Andrea had stood up and asked. Along with her, Luke stood up as well in preparation to fight.

The man had simply pointed to Luke and Andrea, saying, "All you need to know, dead or alive, you two will be excellent to use."

Was all he said to them before he blitz towards the group at blasting speeds! The surrounding space became chaotic from all around the man as he fully unleashed his ninth level, Sky Lord prowess!

'Chi!'

A dazzling purple flash ignited around Luke's group. Andrea set up a barrier while Luke blasted out multiple spirit chains to the charging man.

"Like that'll work a second time!"

Snapping his hands, the man willed multiple small green knives into the air. Flicking his hands, the knives sailed precisely towards the spirit chains at the same speed.

Going by the last collision, Luke knew they were evenly matched. But he also knew he wasn't alone with this kind of prowess.

A second bright purple flash ignited next to him, and numerous more spirit chains blitz out to the man, tearing the air apart!

Multitasking, Andrea created the barrier with one hand and shot spirit chains with her other!

Watching the chains suddenly multiply forced the man to halt his rush. Pushing out his hand, sickly green energy began to form over him.

'Clang!'

Like metal striking with metal, both sides of attacks equaled each other out. Sky Lord energy recklessly spur out in the air, but the girls weren't harmed because of Andrea's Spirit barrier.

The man knives halted Luke's spirit chains, and Andrea Spirit Chains forced the man into one place.

With this golden opportunity, Luke wanted to strike hard and fast. He made up his mind to call on Lingxi for the soul link attack this time, but abruptly his eyes spiked with danger!

'Tch! How annoying…"

'Whir!'

Instantaneously, the man Essence energy formed for a martial skill! His sickly green energy blasted above them. Immediately his power formed into green clouds.

"Acidic Rain!!"

All of this happened in one second. And before Luke's group knew it, green droplets of steaming rain poured down to them!

'Sssh!'

Their spirit chains had melted from the droplets, and the barrier around them was steaming. This skill far surpassed anything they had seen before!

To so quickly melt away, their spirit chains only double the danger of this man. However, the cousins didn't take this standing.

Luke and Andrea shared a look, understanding what they need to do. Andrea shot both her hands up, unleashing a purple spirit beam to reinforce the barrier.

"Lingxi, don't resist!"

Luke shot one hand up to help with Andrea while he also grabbed Lingxi's hand.

The girls were deadly serious throughout this whole time since this opponent was an even more significant threat than the black demon group boss.

This is why Lingxi swiftly stood up with Luke as he grabbed her hand. Instantly both of their souls cooed from his touch, and Lingxi felt tremendous power wash over her!

She already majorly trusted Luke, and their soul link had no problem with forming.

Only in the middle of their process, they all heard the man sneering voice,

"Running out of tricks already?"

'Swish!'

The man shot towards them in a burst of speed!

His acidic rain held no effect on him, being almost like a shower for him. At speeds he was traveling, Luke knew they wouldn't be able to form his combined attack in time.

With only one option left, Luke still held on to Lingxi's hand, causing sparks of black purplish lightning to develop there.

And in his eyes, a fierce glint flashed there as he coated his other hand all in soul Spirit Power!

Compared to infusing his body with Spirit Power, encasing any part of his body with Spirit Power was far more effective. Though it did cause a considerable sum of energy to use.

"Fall by my knife!"

The man was right outside the barrier, ready to crack it open from a small green knife extending from his palm.

However, before the man could break through them, Luke suddenly flashed towards the eagle head, Lingxi in hand, and struck out to the man's palm!

His fist smoothly passed through the spirit barrier without breaking it, causing mild shock in the man.

Luke's purple fist wasn't affected at all by his acidic rain, and he exuded a frightening prowess that evenly matched his mighty power!

Dazzling purple light lit up the rural plains under them and collided with a sickly green light.

The man didn't hesitate in front of Luke fist and push forward with his knife causing,

'BANG!'

A tremendous collision of power to break out in the air! Neither side moved an inch from the impact as both sides tried to overpower each other.

In the barrier, the girls were relatively fined beside their ears ringing from the loud impact.

Luke was feeling his hand burning, but his face etched on a small smile. Lingxi felt her head ringed, but she gritted her teeth and held on.

"Do you really th-"

When the man attempted to talk his other shined a disgustingly green color, but his actions were cut short when,

'Zzzt!!'

Black purplish lightning flared in his eyes! Compared to all other attacks before, this one gave the man an immense feeling of danger!

Hurriedly he tried to back away, only to find Luke had suddenly changed his fist to a palm and had grabbed on to his hand. Luke's palm was as mighty as a mountain, and the man couldn't move a single inch.

"Spirit Lightning!!"

Both Luke and Lingxi roared to the man as their lightning crackled about like an intense thunderstorm.

The whole rural plains was drowned out in their attacks, causing streaks of their color lightning to dash into the air.

Hastily the man held out his other hand and attempted to spew out a green gas to halt this attack. His Essence energy was in sporadic disorder, and the quaking in his soul majorly increased.

Which lead to, Luke and Lingxi combined attack tearing through his green gas and,

'Ka-Cha!'

'Bang!'

By the sounds of breaking through something, Luke and Lingxi heavily struck the man right on to his chest!

"Ahh!! Damn it!!"

The man shot back like a bullet for meters. His body felt fried and pain coarse through every inch of his entire being.

"Shit! That burned my hand too much!" Luke clenched his other bloody hand, feeling enormous pain run through him.

This pain was much worse than dipping your hand in a scorching fire, plus the whole front side of his hand had gotten burnt off.

"Luke?!? We need to fall back!!" Lingxi worriedly tried to pull Luke back, but he just gave her a gentle squeeze with his other hand.

Even now, after that attack, the rain was still pouring on them, and Andrea had beads of sweat falling down her face as her arm was slightly shaking.

"Relax, we ca-"

"Fall back?!? Fall to where?!?"

Suddenly, everyone heard the man's furious shout, and they felt the dramatic rising power of him.

Looking forwards, they all witness the man turned into something far uglier than before. His face became a green shade, his eyes became pure white, and his teeth turned sharp like a monster.

Most stunning was his nails that turned freakishly long, donning a sickly blood-red color.

The man puked out blood as their one strike heavily ruptured his organs and broke several bones.

Yet his killing intent was as high as it ever was!

Luke's group all felt beads of sweat roll down their face as the transformed man roared to them,

"I'll make sure you all would want to beg to die!!"