The remaining threads continued unabated, once again sweeping toward the bound Immortal Venerable and piercing straight through his chest.
“Hiss—”
The man on the high throne let out a grunt of discomfort. He looked down at the glowing white threads that had pierced his chest, and his lips curved upward.
“It has been a long time since We visited the Tianshu Realm.”
His tone was slow and tinged with sarcasm. “Is this all you are capable of?”
“Clang—”
With a crisp sound, the countless threads binding him shattered inch by inch, dissolving into a sky of tiny, glittering specks of light.
Beneath his dark gold dragon robe, a pair of dark purple wings suddenly unfurled. Covered in fine scales, the wings shimmered with a cold, eerie light.
A boundless evil energy swept out from his wings, blotting out the sky as a dark purple shockwave erupted with him at the center.
The cultivators in the hall had no time to react at all.
Those with lower cultivation were blasted off their feet by the shockwave, slamming heavily against the walls and falling silent.
Those with higher cultivation did their best to sustain their spiritual energy shields, but they were still forced back repeatedly, blood seeping from the corners of their mouths.
Under the impact of the evil energy, the entire hall trembled and groaned, tiles and bricks cascading down.
The Immortal Venerable raised his hand, catching Song Yao as she was tossed about by the shockwave, and leaped back onto the gilded table to sit.
Slowly tightening his fingers around her slender neck, he looked down at the panting, disheveled crowd below. “Are you still unwilling to tell Us Song Yao's whereabouts?” he asked airily.
“If you do not speak soon, this little beauty will die.”
Clicking his tongue twice, he sighed with regret. “Even if she dies, We will not let you take her back. This skin of hers is truly beautiful. Once We find a favorite consort to inhabit her shell, she can accompany Us and play.”
The evil energy whipped through the hall, carrying broken bricks and tiles as it raged. The entire hall was filled with the metallic tang of blood and cold, eerie demonic energy.
Supporting themselves with their spiritual swords, the Twelfth Elder and the Ninth Elder forced themselves upright. Without a word, they were about to manipulate the array again when the resentful spirits lunging from both sides slammed hard against their protective spiritual shields.
The thick barriers of spiritual energy shattered instantly. Once again, the two were sent flying by the shockwave, crashing heavily onto the golden brick floor. Unable to suppress the sweet, metallic taste in their throats, they coughed up large mouthfuls of blood.
This demon-locking array of theirs was specially refined to strangle demons, capable of dealing with demons of the Great Resentment level and above. Before their departure, everyone had calculated their chances of victory.
But now that he had revealed his wings, they finally realized that the entity before them was no ordinary high-level demon venerable at all. He was clearly the twin brother of Venerable Qianhuang—Qiu Feng.
Yet, the ancient records stated that he was merely a pleasure-seeker, extremely debauched, and best at manipulating human hearts. His demonic power was not supposed to be this exaggerated. Now, however, he was strong to such an extent.
After these two exchanges, they could clearly sense the gap between them.
Even if the Supreme Elder were to arrive in person, the outcome of a battle would still be uncertain.
What was more, they were currently in no condition to fight.
Reclining against the long table, Qiu Feng swept his gaze over the collapsed crowd below and let out a slightly puzzled sigh. “Was Song Yao not expelled by your Nine Saints Hall with your own hands back then? Do you not hate her to the bone? We are merely resolving this source of anxiety for you. We truly do not understand what you are hesitating for.”
He brushed against Song Yao's pale cheek, acting high and mighty as if granting a charity. “How about this? We shall count to three. If you obediently reveal her whereabouts, We will spare your lives and let this little girl live as well. If you do not—”
The laughter in his voice grew cold, and the dark purple wings behind him slowly flapped. “All of you will die here together.”
“Three.”
“Two.”
“One...”
Her face deathly pale, the Twelfth Elder blurted out, “I will speak!”
She had barely spoken when a slender, white hand suddenly rose from Qiu Feng's arms, grabbing the edge of his collar. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up and muttered in a hoarse voice, “So noisy.”
Her awakening was clearly rather ill-timed.
The hearts of the few people in the hall who were still conscious all skipped a beat.
Even Qiu Feng, who was reclining against the gilded table, paused. He looked down at the person sitting up in his arms, examining her closely as a hint of playful amusement flickered in his eyes.
Just moments ago, she had clearly been so weak she was half-dead, yet she was actually able to wake up now.
Leaning down slightly, his warm breath brushed past her ear, mingled with the cloying aroma of wine. He smiled and said, “Awake?”
Song Yao's head felt as heavy as if it were shrouded in a thick fog. She was completely dazed, her reactions a beat slower than usual.
She turned her face sluggishly, her blurry gaze meeting his eyes. For some inexplicable reason, she reached up and pulled the mask off his face.
The mask landed on the table with a soft clatter, revealing the half of his face beneath that was covered in fine, dark purple feathers.
The tiny feathers snaked from his brow bone down to his jawline, shimmering with a cold, eerie, scaly light. They met the other half of his pale, handsome flesh, looking strikingly demonic.
The hearts of the Ninth Elder and the others leaped violently once more, feeling as though they were about to faint from fright.
Had this child gone mad?
She had actually gone and removed his mask right off the bat!
Did she think she wasn't dying fast enough?
Seeing his face clearly, Song Yao suddenly sobered up a bit.
Qiu Feng.
How had she ended up by Qiu Feng's side?
Wasn't she unconscious in the demon realm?
Qiu Feng let out a low chuckle and said unhurriedly, “Do you know what you are doing? Your mother was nearly scared out of her wits by you just now.”
Song Yao: “...”
She really must have lost her mind from the fever.
A mother had actually popped out of nowhere.
She had lived three lives, and in all three, she had been an orphan. Where on earth would she get a mother?
Before she could open her mouth, the Twelfth Elder's anxious voice drifted up from below: “Little Wood! You're finally awake! You scared your mother to death!”
Song Yao's head felt heavy, but hearing this, she felt a bit amused.
Well, then. This was role-play.
She struggled to stand up, but Qiu Feng blocked her path. “No need to rush. It will not be too late for you to go to her after your mother tells Us of Song Yao's whereabouts.”
Song Yao turned her head to look at him, blinking. “Song Yao? I...”
Before the Twelfth Elder could even catch her breath, her heart skipped another beat. She cut her off in a panic once more, shouting, “The direction she last appeared in was—was Black Cloud Mountain!”
Qiu Feng: “Black Cloud Mountain? What kind of place is that?”
The Twelfth Elder did not answer. “I have already told you the place. Can you return my daughter to me now?”
Seeing her tense expression, Qiu Feng curved his lips and changed his mind. “You human cultivators are the most cunning. Who knows if what you said is true or false? Furthermore...
“We have not returned to the Tianshu Realm in many years, so We are rather unfamiliar with these places.”
He pulled Song Yao back slightly. “Why not let this little beauty lead Us to find Song Yao? If We find Song Yao, We shall release her. If We cannot find her, however, We cannot guarantee what kind of suffering she will have to endure.”
The Twelfth Elder: “...”
How insidious.
She knew he would not release anyone so easily.
Qiu Feng added, “As for you all, how about you die here first? Following Us is truly a bit of a nuisance.”
The dark purple mist churned wildly once more, letting out giggling laughter. “His Majesty wants you to die~”
“Heehee, how do you want to die?”
“Shall we brew you into wine too?”
The high-pitched laughter made Song Yao's head throb with a dull pain.
Pressing her temples, a sword suddenly appeared in her hand.
Qiu Feng grasped her hand and said to the Twelfth Elder, “How about letting your daughter kill you with her own hands?”
Rate on N.U.
