Hidden genius: Black belly snake

"Hmmm…" Miller stood there perplexed. Even he was unsure of what to do now.

The heavenly flame was actually not yet fully absorbed so it might in fact be possible to use some techniques and extract it out, but doing so would surely affect the elemental being.

And since it was Tang Yue's contract elemental, he didn't want to do anything detrimental like that.

At the same time, he had his own Master to answer to. 

Even for a Deity like the old dwarf, this heavenly flame was still a treasure!

He couldn't care less about the heavenly flame but he doubted that the old man would share his same opinions.

After all, this matter concerned the growth and development of the entire Dwarven Empire.

Most probably, he would ask Tang Yue to leave behind Little Plum or transfer the ownership as compensation.

But this was risky and could result in some residual injuries to her soul.

Miller didn't want to see this happen also. He genuinely cared about Tang Yue and only wanted the best for her.

While these two were standing around in a dilemma, trying to figure out some sort of solution, the stone door of the cultivation chamber once again rumbled and it opened.

Huh? Both Tang Yue and Miller immediately looked at the intruder in alarm.

Not because someone was about to walk in and catch them red-handed but because the dwarf in front of them was emitting subtle but definite killing intent.

Both the dwarf and Tang Yue quickly unleashed their weapons, wielding them in a defensive position.

"Heh. Why are you guys already fired up? Not even a hey or hello first?" Jorden chuckled.

He would have preferred to deal with Tang Yue alone, but the dwarf next to her was not really that troublesome. So he didn't care either way.

Jorden took a step forward, flicking his wrist at the same time.

Instantly, the ground the three were standing on quaked and trembled.

Black fumes arose from the cave floor, forming a dozen swaying wraiths, black formless ghost-like creatures.

These creatures looked extremely troublesome and emitted strong dark energy waves.

"This… What is the meaning of this, Prince Jorden?" Miller shouted.

Tang Yue as well was stunned. This guy?!! 

Wasn't he just a few days ago faking being a good samaritan?? What changed suddenly?

"Tch. Tch. Please don't refer to me like that. Calling me by that weakling's name is very hurtful to my ears."

Miller gripped his sword tighter as the meaning of his sentence slowly dawned on him.

He stared at the dwarf in front of him, his soul sense probing the man, but somehow his attempts were completely blocked.

"Heh. Don't bother working so hard. Since you two are about to die anyways… I will do this small kindness of revealing to you exactly whose hands you are dying in." Jorden chuckled.

The dwarf's hands unsheathed a sword, while at the same time, his appearance from top to bottom completely changed.

Miller didn't even have to wait around for the complete reveal when his hands moved and a loud boom echoed.

A huge gaping hole opened up on the wall behind them, leading to the lower mines in the mountains.

Dust and rock particles flew everywhere and the wraiths which were dormant until now started attacking.

Tang Yue was about to slash at one of them when she heard Miller's loud thundering voice.

"YUE. NOW. RUN."

Tang Yue gasped and looked up, only to find a familiar human being standing in front of her.

This man was Jorden? She had seen him before? This man was the same human being from the labyrinth!!!

Everything clicked in Tang Yue's brain. The human being had in fact been doing the same thing as her.

She had disguised herself as Yana while he had disguised himself as one of the dwarven royal princes!

This in itself showed the clear difference between both their capabilities.

She was definitely not a match for this man.

Tang Yue had no doubts that she would only be a burden if she stayed behind, hampering her Master's battle prowess, perhaps even resulting in his defeat.

So even though she didn't want to leave him behind, alone to defend himself, Tang Yue's body reacted in that split second and obeyed the dwarf's command.

She ran away without the slightest hesitation through the huge gaping hole.

She hadn't had the chance yet to check on Little Plum's development, but from the looks of it, this fellow had gained a lot this time by swallowing the heavenly flame.

Little Plum danced around Tang Yue as she made her escape, burning any and all of the wraiths that stood in her way.

"Not so fast, you snake." A voice sounded behind Tang Yue, so close to her ears.

Stunned, she turned around to see William standing right behind her. 

Does he know my identity? So his real target is me? Is that why he is attacking us? She was utterly shocked.

Confirming her doubts, William as well chuckled and repeated all the thoughts in her brain.

"I know exactly who you are. You can't run and hide from me."

"You and I are going to have a really long talk." 

The man sneered as he casually lifted his knee to strike her stomach and that single touch sent her flying dozens of feet backward tumbling onto a wall.

He waved his hand, unleashing a powerful sword slash towards the wounded woman, which if met its target, would probably completely paralyze her.

But Miller appeared in between them and blocked the attack head-on, his rugged and muscular tempered body not even scratched by the powerful sword aura.

"Your opponent is me, human." His voice boomed as the dwarf stomped on the ground, making the entire place tremble and shiver.

"Heh. Not bad. You dwarves are indeed a sturdy bunch."

William quickly moved several paces back and performed some hand incantations, conjuring a dozen other wraiths, but this time they were bigger and looked more powerful.

His eyes then flickered to the spot where Tang Yue had fallen, wounded and injured, but surprisingly she was nowhere to be seen.

The woman was missing from the vicinity and clearly, she had already run away.

"Heh. Good. Good. Take a head start. I love the hunt after all. Ha Ha." William threw his head back and chuckled.