Chapter 160: To Leave or Not to Leave

It was clearly just a very ordinary small courtyard, yet it evoked an intensely terrifying sensation.

It felt as though... as though it were a colossal palace.

Ancient and profound, making one dare not meet its gaze even for a single moment.

This was a forbidden realm!

Merely approaching it had already caused Qiya to experience an immensely terrifying aura. She did not even dare to draw near, deeply dreading that this presence might cause her very soul to scatter into oblivion!

With just a single glance, Qiya lost all capacity to ponder the characters inscribed upon the table.

"This place is actually a forbidden zone..."

Qiya could not help murmuring under her breath.

She turned her gaze to Zhu Xiaoyuan standing beside her.

Zhu Xiaoyuan still wore a remarkably serene smile, looking as if nothing at all was amiss!

In an instant, understanding dawned upon Qiya. "So this person is the master of the forbidden zone..."

That small mountain village, which appeared so utterly ordinary to outsiders, was likely a forbidden realm!

And she had actually encountered the exceptionally terrifying master of this forbidden territory right here!

She had even walked right into the small village—no, into the forbidden zone itself.

Qiya, whose nature was normally exceptionally aloof, now found herself unable to suppress her astonishment.

She felt as though her entire body had turned ice-cold, the blood within her veins had ceased to flow, and even breathing became somewhat arduous.

"Hurry on in. What are you just standing at the doorway for?"

Zhu Xiaoyuan warmly beckoned for them to enter.

Why on earth was this little maid standing motionlessly at the entrance?

Could she possibly be contemplating how to take Xinjing back home?

Seeing Qiya standing frozen and looking somewhat terrified, Xinjing could not help but speak up, "Come on in. Since my brother told you to enter, it's fine!"

Although Xinjing had no idea what Zhu Xiaoyuan intended to do.

Since he had spoken, he certainly had his reasons.

Hearing Xinjing say this, Qiya took a deep breath and slowly stepped into the small courtyard.

The very moment she lifted her foot and took a step inside, Qiya instantly felt all the strength drain from her entire body, as if she could no longer support her own weight.

Unable to sustain herself any longer, Qiya collapsed directly to the ground.

This terrifying aura even forced a low moan from her lips.

Zhu Xiaoyuan was drawn by the sound.

He turned his head just in time to see Xinjing's little maid lying on the ground.

Her chest rose and fell, vaguely visible, with proud curves that looked as though they were about to burst forth.

Zhu Xiaoyuan was momentarily stunned.

What on earth was wrong with this little maid?

How long had she even been walking?

She had actually collapsed right at the threshold!

Yet Zhu Xiaoyuan could hardly just leave the little maid lying on the ground, so he stepped forward and helped her up.

"Are you exhausted? Are you tired?"

Qiya rose, supported by Zhu Xiaoyuan's arm, and only then did she feel the terrifying pressure around her diminish slightly.

Zhu Xiaoyuan, however, was somewhat taken aback.

For Qiya's proud, plump breasts were pressing squarely against his arm.

He did not dare to move a muscle, his arm stiffening completely.

Once she had steadied herself, Qiya hurriedly stepped away, her face filled with absolute terror. "Forgive me, Senior, I didn't mean to..."

Such a terrifying mighty figure—was he someone she could touch at will?

Her lowly physique had no business making contact with him whatsoever!

Fortunately, thanks to Zhu Xiaoyuan's supporting hand, Qiya felt the oppressive aura surrounding her vanish entirely.

"It's nothing... no need to apologize. Let's... come over and sit down first."

Zhu Xiaoyuan turned away with a hint of awkwardness.

He took a seat at the table first.

Qiya was extremely nervous at that moment; even with Zhu Xiaoyuan's reassuring words, she remained profoundly afraid, not daring to even raise her head for a long while.

"I reckon you must be overly exhausted. Why don't you eat a peach first to ease it? It should help restore your strength!"

With those words, Zhu Xiaoyuan handed over the peach he was holding.

By this point, Qiya was utterly dumbfounded. This was a flat peach of immortality!

The Senior was simply handing it over to her so casually?

Good heavens, the Senior cared so little for such treasures!

Even though Qiya was a Demonic Commander who had fought across countless battlefields and seen it all?

She was completely floored right now, frozen in place and unable to move!

She did not even dare to reach out and take the peach from Zhu Xiaoyuan's hand.

"Sister Qiya, since my brother gave you the peach, just take it. Don't worry, nothing will happen."

Watching Qiya like this, Xinjing could not help but giggle.

She understood all too well what Qiya was feeling at the moment.

After all, when she had first stepped into this courtyard, she had been on the verge of tears from fright.

Hearing Xinjing's words, Qiya took a deep breath.

She slowly reached out, took the peach from Zhu Xiaoyuan's hand, brought it to her lips, and took a small bite.

Immortal Qi instantly blossomed within her mouth.

Daoist rhyming circulated, and spiritual energy radiated outward.

The flesh was juicy, sweet, and exquisitely refreshing!

Such a marvelous flavor burst across Qiya's taste buds.

She could feel every single part of her body being cleansed and washed by the immortal Qi of the peach.

The sensation was intensely blissful.

It even made her desire another bite...

Unable to hold back any longer, Qiya raised her hand and took another bite of the peach.

It was truly so sweet...

She reveled in this sensation so deeply that, without even realizing it, Qiya finished the entire immortal peach.

In an instant.

Qiya felt a surge of lightness throughout her entire being, and the aura surrounding her shifted dramatically.

She had actually managed to break through at this very moment!

"Good heavens, I've advanced!"

"Just from a single bite of the peach, I've directly skipped three realms!"

Qiya could no longer contain her shock.

She had never experienced anything remotely like this.

If cultivation could progress at such a speed, why would she bother wasting all that time?

She should just hold a peach and keep munching on it forever.

Of course, that assumed there were enough peaches to eat!

Qiya had originally been at the third layer of the Demonic Commander realm, but she was now at the seventh layer.

By the standards of the Immortal Realm, she had already reached the Golden Immortal stage, and every subsequent realm was notoriously difficult to attain.

Yet a few bites of the peach had successfully propelled her forward by several tiers!

All of this was thanks to Zhu Xiaoyuan, the master of this forbidden realm!

Had she not crossed paths with him, such a miraculous fortune would never have been possible!

Because of this, Qiya felt an even greater surge of reverence toward Zhu Xiaoyuan!

Zhu Xiaoyuan smiled and said,

"No need to thank me."

"Let's get down to business now. Did you come here this time to take Xinjing back?"

Hearing this, both Xinjing and Qiya froze.

What did this Senior mean?

Why would he say something like that?

Could it be that he wanted her to take Her Highness the Demonic Monarch away?

Or did it mean he didn't want her to take Her Highness the Demonic Monarch away at all?

At that moment, Qiya had no way of guessing what the Senior was truly thinking...