The goldmark toad had not been killed by the gold-scaled dragon turtle. He had merely retreated for not being the turtle's match. He had come after sensing something off about the cave. Xiang Shaoyun thought that the toad and the turtle would be engaged in another intense battle, but he was mistaken. Instead of fighting, the two started chatting like a pair of old friends.

"Old turtle, what's going on here? Where's the flux goldthorn energy?" asked the goldmark toad.

"How am I supposed to know?" grumbled the turtle.

"Is it that human thief? His smell is here. Why isn't he here?"

"I was here before you, but I can't find him at all. He has probably fled long ago."

"Impossible. With our strength, nothing in this lake can escape our senses. If neither of us noticed him leaving, he is definitely still somewhere in the lake," said the goldmark toad confidently.

"You're right. Humans have a lot of tricks up their sleeves. That kid might be capable of invisibility. If we can't find him, it is what it is," said the gold-scaled dragon turtle helplessly.

"Hmph. He wants to leave after stealing our flux goldthorn energy? No way. We need to find him even if we have to turn the entire lake upside down," said the goldmark toad coldly.

The gold-scaled dragon turtle was in no mood to stay around, so he left the cave and started searching the lake for Xiang Shaoyun. The flux goldthorn energy was extremely important to them because they were relying on it to enter the Demon Saint realm. They wouldn't let Xiang Shaoyun take it away so easily.

Xiang Shaoyun heard their entire conversation, and he broke out in cold sweat. Inwardly, he thought, Holy shit, these two fellows are getting angry for real. Things are troublesome now.

He was becoming worried that even after escaping the lake, the two would still hunt him down.

This won't do. I need to enter the eighth stage as soon as possible and increase my combat strength, thought Xiang Shaoyun.

He silently left the cave and started heading for the lake's surface. His trait of invisibility was amazing. Without unique pupils, one would probably not be able to see him no matter how strong one was.

The moment he left the lake, he fled in a certain direction. About four hours later, he arrived at a secluded location with numerous boulders. With the boulders as shelter, it was an excellent hiding place.

Many disciples had searched through this place early on and had found nothing. Thus, people had stopped coming. Xiang Shaoyun was planning to hide here and recover from his injuries before breaking through into the eighth stage.

But when he arrived, he found that someone was actually hiding amid the boulders. That person had hidden herself well, but she couldn't escape the Nether Soul Domain's senses.

Just who is hiding amid the boulders? thought Xiang Shaoyun. He pushed his senses to the maximum, and the scene amid the boulders was presented before him.

When he saw what was going on down there, his expression shifted massively, as though he had seen something he couldn't handle. What did he see? Amid the boulders, a woman with half her face masked was undressing. She was the True Martial Academy's Devil Concubine.

She was the most popular woman in her academy. She was practically dripping with charm. Not only did she look good, but her body was also flawless. She was undressing herself, a sight that would drive any man crazy.

Half her face was masked, revealing the other half of her face that was as beautiful as an angel. Her enchanting eyes gave one an urge to protect and cherish her. She took off her thin robe, revealing her innerwear and exposing her tender neck, delicate collarbones, plump bosom, and slim waist. This was a sight that would fill any man with lust. On her chest was a terrifying wound, a blemish on this otherwise perfect human.

Pale, she was rubbing some spring water on her wound. Evidently, she was hiding among the boulders to heal after someone had seriously injured her. As a cultivator who spent a lot of time in numerous combat situations, one would inevitably suffer some injuries. Thus, it was normal for a cultivator to have scars, and female cultivators weren't an exception.

She was a top disciple in the True Martial Academy and was a peak Dragon Ascension Realm cultivator. The moment she formed her soul foundation, she would be able to enter the Sovereign Realm.

She was strong enough to fight even a Sovereign. So who was it that had injured her to this extent? Watching her as she healed herself, Xiang Shaoyun saw the entirety of her body. He swore that he wasn't intentionally peeping on her and all this was a coincidence.

If the True Martial Academy disciples found out what Xiang Shaoyun saw today, the entirety of the academy would probably start hunting for him. After all, their beloved goddess just had her entire body seen.

"Um, ah," Devil Concubine started groaning when the medicinal power started working on her body. It was a sound that made one's imagination run wild.

"Gulp," Xiang Shaoyun couldn't help but swallow.

The moment he gulped, Devil Concubine sensed him. She draped a black robe around herself and shouted, "Who is it?"

After wrapping the robe around herself, Devil Concubine charged out. Like a bird startled by the twang of a bow, Xiang Shaoyun started fleeing. But it was at this moment that his invisibility reached the end of its active duration.

He felt like crying. There goes my spotless reputation, he grieved inwardly. What was he to do if he was known as a pervert from now on?

"Bastard! Stand right there!" Devil Concubine roared and flung several throwing knives at him.

Xiang Shaoyun sensed the danger, and his body instantly shifted about and dodged the knives, giving Devil Concubine the opportunity to arrive right behind him and send out a palm attack.

The palm attack did not look strong, but it carried an indescribable power. Xiang Shaoyun's escape path was completely sealed, and a powerful pressure was wrapped around him, making escape impossible.