Their eyes met, and Hu Liena flashed Tang San a radiant smile. The hardness in Tang San's gaze softened considerably. Regardless of everything else, Hu Liena had passed his test.
In that crucial moment, once the threat had been eliminated, Hu Liena could have easily abandoned him and claimed the victory for herself. But she clearly hadn't done so.
Moreover, the instant Tang San completed his attack, she had pulled him back without the slightest hesitation—no inner struggle at all.
Judging from that alone, at least for a period of time, she was absolutely safe to be around.
With the Dark Gold Three-Headed Bat King dead, the remaining Blood Bats instantly lost their leader. They surged toward Tang San and Hu Liena in a frenzy that bordered on vengeful retaliation.
But an army without its commander lost not only its morale but also the brain directing it. Although the remaining Blood Bats were still considerable in number, they could no longer pose any real threat to Tang San and Hu Liena.
Tang San's fingers danced continuously. Every silver thread launched from his hand claimed a Blood Bat's life. Hu Liena was far more direct—her massive five-meter fox tail behind her swung like a paddle, swatting away any Blood Bat that drew near.
The strength of that fox tail was extraordinary. Every swing, every strike against a Blood Bat, sent those savage creatures dissolving into a rain of blood.
Strangely, there seemed to be a layer of special energy coating Hu Liena's fox tail. Not a single drop of bloodstain clung to its fur.
Every strand of that enormous fluffy tail stood erect like a steel needle. This colossal weapon, resembling a giant morning star, inflicted just as much damage on the Blood Bat swarm as Tang San did with his blue Domain active and steel needles flying.
At last, the final Blood Bat took one of Tang San's needles, then was sent flying far away by Hu Liena's fox tail. Silence returned to their surroundings.
Hu Liena wiped the fragrant sheen of sweat from her forehead and looked at Tang San, a faint smile gracing her lovely face. Defeating this swarm of bats had clearly been neither person's individual accomplishment—it was the result of their combined effort.
Without Hu Liena's fox tail securing the narrow path, Tang San would have found it extremely difficult to deal with the entire swarm on his own. Likewise, without Tang San slaying the Dark Gold Three-Headed Bat King, they would have had to endure the creature's most terrifying assault.
Through this brief period of cooperation, each had gained a completely new understanding of the other. Hu Liena's trust in the man before her had grown deeper.
Tang San's wariness toward her had diminished as well.
He coiled the rope and held one end out to Hu Liena. "Want to take a rest?"
Hu Liena reached out, took the rope, and quickly fastened it around her waist. She let out a long breath. "That was truly dangerous." As she spoke, one hand patted her own ample chest, sending a wave of motion rippling through. Her outfit at the moment was exceedingly revealing, and Tang San hastily averted his gaze, not daring to look directly.
Hu Liena giggled. "I thought you were made of wood. Turns out you can be flustered too?"
Tang San's brow creased slightly. "Enough. If you don't need to rest, let's keep moving." With that, he sprang to his feet and landed once more in front of Hu Liena.
Her massive guardian dissipated into an orange glow that silently merged back into Hu Liena's body. A hint of fatigue crept across her face, barely concealing itself. "Let's rest a while. Both of us have burned through quite a bit. There's no telling what lies ahead. As far as I know, this Hell Road has three trials in total, each more dangerous than the last. I'd say we just cleared the first one."
Tang San's heart tightened. He understood that Hu Liena wasn't speaking without purpose.
Before, although he had taken the offensive, the Soul Power he'd consumed was actually far less than hers. He didn't press her about the fox tail, just as she hadn't asked him about the origin of his blue Domain.
But judging from what he'd witnessed, Hu Liena's enormous fox tail was far more than just her Martial Soul. It was very likely, much like his Eight Spider Spears, the product of a rare and exceptional external soul bone.
No wonder the Pontiff had taken her as a disciple. That external soul bone alone put her far ahead of her peers. Four years ago, during the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament, Hu Liena clearly hadn't possessed this weapon yet—otherwise, his side could never have won. Spirit Hall's golden generation truly lived up to its reputation.
The two of them managed to sit down on the narrow path. They were both genuine elites and immediately entered a cultivation state, quietly recovering their strength. Of course, neither fully immersed their minds—they each kept a portion of their awareness alert to anything that might happen around them.
An hour later, the two opened their eyes almost simultaneously. Each retrieved food and water stored in their magic devices and ate a simple meal before rising and pressing onward.
With the renewed advance, Tang San's pace noticeably quickened. Having let go of some of his suspicion toward Hu Liena, he could devote more energy to observing what lay ahead. With a teammate like Hu Liena watching his back, he could rest easy about what was behind him.