The fatal error that Jiang Ciren made from start to finish was simple: they completely overlooked Robin! They all treated Robin as a fragile child, never imagining that she was a monster capable of erupting at any moment!

Because of this oversight, their doom was sealed! "Don't move, or don't blame us for being impolite!" A guard glared coldly at Videl and Phoebe.

These people all knew Videl was a disgrace to the family, a good-for-nothing. To outsiders, he might be the young master of the "Hui Can Family," but to them, he was worse than dogs and pigs!

Of course, their audacity stemmed mainly from Leopold's influence! Videl saw the guards gripping their longswords, their faces tight with menace, knowing they wouldn't hold back and would execute his father's orders to the letter.

He couldn't help but instinctively move, stepping aside to shield his mother tightly behind him. Although Videl could now practice Dou Qi, without Zhong Shenxiu's guidance, no amount of talent would make him a match for these guards.

Especially since his current strength wasn't even at the level of an "Apprentice Swordsman"! A cold laugh escaped Leopold's lips, his expression clearly saying: Let's see where you can run now.

Today, I will clean house! However, the smile on his face quickly stiffened, because something utterly bizarre suddenly happened before his eyes!

Just as the guards pressed closer and closer to Videl, their bodies seemed to be jolted by something invisible, nearly causing them to fall. Looking down, these men were instantly dumbfounded!

There were a pair of black hands emerging from the ground, gripping their ankles! At first, they didn't feel much, but gradually, they sensed the force transmitted by these black hands growing stronger and stronger, dragging their bodies down into the earth!

For those with sharp memories, this scene would immediately recall the technique Zhong Shenxiu used against the "Double Axe Mercenary Group." Who would have thought Robin had actually learned this move too! "Ah!

What, what is this thing?" "Someone help me!" "Save me!" Shouts erupted everywhere. The guards frantically swung the swords in their hands, hacking at the black hands that filled them with terror, but soon they desperately realized that these massive black hands were utterly impervious to their blows, feeling like air—they couldn't connect, yet they still held their ankles firmly!

"Th-this is Dark Magic?" Stanley muttered to himself. "Mm!" Faraday nodded distractedly.

It was the first time he had seen Robin make a real move, and it was far more formidable than he had ever imagined! Just how powerful was Robin now?

And what exactly was this Dark Magic? Why did he have no recollection of it?

Question after question constantly plagued Faraday, leaving him standing there like a wooden post! However, no matter how shocked he was, it paled in comparison to Leopold's current astonishment!

At this moment, Leopold was nearly stupefied. This sudden change was too swift and incredibly eerie; those black hands seemed as if they had stretched out from the very depths of the underworld.

What was going on? Who was responsible?

Leopold never suspected the cute little girl beside him. Instead, he roared at Videl, who was equally stunned: "What did you do?" These were his personal bodyguards—not only powerful but fiercely loyal to him.

It was impossible for him not to panic; he would rather trade a hundred Videl’s for these guards! The guards exerted their full strength, desperately resisting the pull of the black hands.

But the more force they applied, the stronger the counter-force from the hands became. They could see the bluestone beneath their feet sinking deeper and deeper until, with a sharp crack, it shattered.

The guards, as if suddenly losing all support, were yanked down into the earth with a whoosh, and silence followed. In the blink of an eye, these lively, breathing human beings had vanished, drilling straight into the ground!

Videl and his mother had never witnessed such a terrifying spectacle; their bodies went weak with fright, nearly causing them to collapse. Phoebe, in particular, nearly fainted!

"Let's go!" Robin's voice suddenly cut through the air. Videl shivered violently.

He knew Robin was responsible for what just happened, but he never imagined Robin would kill those guards right in front of everyone, at the gate of the "Hui Can Family"! He had expected Robin to just beat them up, not be this ruthless!

Not daring to provoke Robin further, Videl quickly helped his mother toward Zhong Shenxiu. "Stop right there!

You won't leave until you explain this clearly!" Leopold suddenly shouted. The Dou Qi surged from him instantly, and he lunged toward Videl.

Consumed by rage, he had lost all reason. Watching his personal guards essentially meet their end, he completely forgot how dangerous it was to charge forward like this!

Leopold’s strength was not low, and his speed of approach was fast, but someone was faster than him! Robin had already stepped forward to block the way, extending a delicate, fair little hand.

Then, Leopold was sent flying backward even faster than he had charged, crashing away! Boom!

A massive sound echoed as Leopold smashed a hole right through the wall! Robin didn't spare Leopold a single glance.

She walked directly to Videl’s side and asked calmly, "Can we go now?" "Uh!" Videl nodded foolishly. He realized he needed to completely re-evaluate Robin.

She was infinitely stronger than he had ever imagined! Leopold hadn't been killed by that blow.

The impact finally restored his senses. Looking at the retreating backs of Robin and Videl, he didn't dare to obstruct them further!

Though he still couldn't fathom how he was thrown backward, one thing was perfectly clear: he had narrowly escaped death. If he had pressed on, he would surely be joining those guards!

Terrifying—this overwhelming gap in power was truly frightening! Leopold now understood that this display had absolutely nothing to do with his useless son; otherwise, it wouldn't have taken this long to erupt.

So, who could it be? His gaze inadvertently fell upon Robin’s small back.

Leopold’s body convulsed. Could it be her?

Meanwhile, Videl felt as if his soul had been separated from his body; he didn't even realize how he managed to reach Zhong Shenxiu’s side. "Are there any inns nearby?" Zhong Shenxiu suddenly asked Videl.

Since the auction would last several days, traveling back and forth was too troublesome; it would be better to find lodgings nearby. "There's one over there!" Videl pointed, his face still etched with shock.

Without further words, they headed in that direction. They were fortunate; the inn still had a few vacant rooms.

Had they arrived later, they couldn't have been certain. During auction times, rooms in every inn filled up completely, forcing some people to seek lodging far afield.

Once inside their respective rooms, Phoebe immediately grabbed Videl, asking with palpable tension, "Videl, tell your mother exactly what happened." The events that just transpired still made Phoebe’s heart race wildly! Videl didn't want to worry his mother, so he recounted the entire sequence of events in detail.

"Videl, you said you can practice Dou Qi now?" Phoebe’s eyes lit up, and she asked with great excitement. In the past, every time someone called her son a failure, the pain in her heart felt like being sliced by a knife!

Now, hearing that her son’s strange illness was cured and he could cultivate Dou Qi, she was overjoyed; even the earlier fright had faded significantly! In Phoebe’s heart, her own well-being mattered little; what mattered was saving her son from further suffering.

She had always yearned for her son to be happy and successful; that would be her greatest contentment! "Mother, from now on, I will follow Teacher Zhong.

I will earn money to support you, work hard to learn skills and become strong, and I will never let anyone look down on us again!" Videl declared with firm resolve. He was now filled with hope for the future, feeling as if he had been granted a new life!

He knew all this was given to him by Zhong Shenxiu. To repay him, he had to strive relentlessly!

"Ah," Phoebe nodded, tears of emotion streaming down her face. In another room, Stanley and Faraday sat opposite each other!

After a long silence, Stanley finally couldn't contain himself. "Faraday, what do you make of that move Elder Robin used?" The black hands Robin summoned seemed to have snared his very soul; he couldn't let the image go, and the more he pondered it, the more incredible it seemed!

Convention dictated that Dark Magic should be ineffective under direct sunlight—this was precisely why Light Magic held an advantage over Dark Magic. Yet, the technique Robin deployed showed absolutely no fear of the sun; how could this not astonish him!

"To be honest, my shock is no less than yours. It's the first time I've witnessed Elder Robin utilize Dark Magic," Faraday finally spoke up.

"If you ask my impression, I’d call that move 'Summoning of the Death God.' If one is hit by it, it essentially means one foot is already across the Styx!" A technique that feared neither sunlight nor the cutting of swords—he truly couldn't imagine how one could possibly break such a hold. If there were a way, perhaps it would be by severing one's own feet!

But the question remained: would severing one’s feet truly allow escape? Clearly unrealistic!

"Hey, do you think the move Elder Robin used is the Dark Magic we understand?" Stanley posed a new question. Since coming into contact with Zhong Shenxiu and Robin, his questions had multiplied, with new, non-repeating ones arising every day!

"That... I cannot say for sure," Faraday replied after a long period of contemplation.

"Do you think the Elders might teach us that move in the future? I bet the Elders have countless powerful techniques like that.

The cultivation method they wrote out for us has already benefited us greatly—will they teach us anything even stronger later?" Stanley was quite concerned about this prospect. "They certainly will, as long as you and I work diligently and remain loyal.

The Elders won't treat us unfairly. Did you forget they each gave us a 'Skeleton Rooster'?

That thing is monstrous!" Faraday spoke with deep feeling. Hearing Faraday mention it, a smile finally appeared on Stanley’s face.

Thinking of his own "Skeleton Rooster," he felt immense pride. With that creature, unless he encountered someone as monstrous as Zhong Shenxiu or Robin, he wouldn't need to fear even an army of thousands!

They chatted a while longer, eventually steering the conversation toward work matters. Meanwhile, in Zhong Shenxiu's room, Canny was busy laying down sheets, replacing the bedding with her own, fearing the existing ones might not be hygienic.

After Canny finished her work, the three of them, having nothing else to do, decided to go out. As they stepped into the hallway, they suddenly ran into a little boy about Zhong Shenxiu's age, holding a model of a magical beast and playing with complete absorption!

It was the second time Zhong Shenxiu had seen a child so childishly playing with a toy, so he stopped and watched for a moment longer! The little boy seemed to sense their presence and turned around.

Upon seeing Zhong Shenxiu and Robin, he immediately clutched the toy to his chest, his expression guarded. "That's mine, you can't play with it!" the little boy suddenly said something that left Zhong Shenxiu speechless.

Zhong Shenxiu was used to being treated like a child by adults, but being addressed this way by a child his own size was a first! For a moment, Zhong Shenxiu felt a mixture of amusement and frustration.

Robin, standing beside him, looked quite graceful. She rolled her eyes at the little boy, her expression seemingly conveying: Tch, so childish.

Who cares about your toy? I have real ones that are much more fun!

It was worth remembering that Robin possessed an eighth-level magical beast, the "Black Butcher's Tooth," which was far superior to the model toy the little boy held! Just as Zhong Shenxiu’s trio prepared to leave, a sweet voice rang out: "Yuri, who are you talking to?" Then, a beautiful young girl emerged from an adjacent room.

Upon seeing Zhong Shenxiu and Robin nearby, the girl exclaimed, "Oh my, what adorable children!" "Hello!" Canny greeted her, still chuckling at Zhong Shenxiu’s earlier expression. "Sister, your child is so cute!" the young girl complimented.

Canny felt conflicted, wondering why she was constantly being mistaken for a mother. Did she really look like one?

"Your child is cute too!" Canny replied with a smile. "He's my younger brother!" The girl’s pretty face flushed.

She was still an unmarried maiden; how could she have a child! Canny smiled and clarified, "These two aren't my children either; they are my little masters!" "What?" The young girl blinked, thinking she had misheard.

Canny didn't elaborate, merely smiling. At that moment, Zhong Shenxiu, who had remained silent, suddenly addressed the girl: "Girl, let me see what you have in your hand!" [Ti: Dear reader, the current chapter has reached the last page of this book]

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