...

Up in the ruined great hall, one Eastern Spirit Domain genius after another all showed not the slightest intention of backing down.

Though Shi Haoxuan was worried that the group of genius Martial Artists from the Eastern Spirit Domain might all fall here today, he also understood that running away could never solve the problem.

Those people from the Dragon Sword Mansion obviously had no intention of letting them go.

Thinking of Ling Feng entering Secluded cultivation a few days ago, perhaps when he comes out, there will still be a turning point!

Right now, everyone’s final hope in their hearts was pinned on Ling Feng alone.

Just then, a rush of footsteps sounded from outside.

"Heh heh, Eastern Spirit Domain, such enormous guts!!"

A cold, harsh voice rang out, making all the Eastern Spirit Domain geniuses in the hall change expressions in unison as they turned to look.

They saw seven or eight figures walk in from outside; among them were two people who were precisely Long Tengyuan and Long Shan, who had left earlier.

Besides those two, there were another four or five Swordmen wearing Dragon Sword Mansion disciple robes, striding forward under the lead of a man who looked incomparably cold and cruel.

This cold-faced man radiated a suffocating chill from head to toe; his eyes were like the pupils of a Fierce Beast—anyone he fixed his gaze on would feel cold surge from the depths of their heart, their body trembling uncontrollably.

The cold-faced man’s expression did not change; hands clasped behind his back, he followed behind Long Tengyuan, not placing the people of the Eastern Spirit Domain in his eyes at all.

"Heh heh, you so‑called Dragon Sword Mansion people, when you can’t win, you only know how to go drag in reinforcements? Still dare call yourselves geniuses of the West Sword Domain? What a joke!"

Ao Jue could bear it no longer; he glared at Long Tengyuan and began cursing loudly.

All the Eastern Spirit Domain geniuses were seething with righteous indignation. They had already prepared to die here today; since that was so, why should they still grovel and swallow their anger?

"Insolent!"

The cold-faced man’s eyes narrowed as he stared at Ao Jue. In that instant, a terrifying aura crashed down. Ao Jue’s body shuddered and he staggered back three steps with heavy thumps, his face deathly pale, as if he had suffered a heavy blow.

With just a single glance he forced back Ao Jue, such a top genius powerhouse of the Eastern Spirit Domain; this cold-faced man’s strength was nothing short of terrifying.

Everyone in the hall changed expression.

Perhaps this cold-faced man alone was enough to slaughter every genius of the Eastern Spirit Domain present.

"Heh heh, an ant, and you think you’re fit to howl?"

Long Tengyuan strode out, his gaze locking onto Shi Haoxuan as he burst into loud laughter. "Shi Haoxuan, right? Weren’t you arrogant just now? What, now that you see Senior Brother Li make a move, you don’t even dare let out a fart?"

Shi Haoxuan clenched his fist so tightly his knuckles whitened. Right now his strength was at most only thirty to forty percent of normal; he no longer had the power to deal with these powerful opponents.

"What exactly do you want?"

Shi Haoxuan forcibly suppressed the anger in his heart. If it were only him, it would be fine—he could simply fight to the death. But now, his decision concerned the lives of all the Eastern Spirit Domain Martial Artists present; he had no choice but to be cautious.

"The Eastern Spirit Domain is nothing but a mob. In my eyes, you’re no different from ants. To stoop to bickering with ants like you really does lower my status."

Long Tengyuan gave Shi Haoxuan a casual glance, then suddenly shifted his tone, a sinister smile crawling onto his face. "Want to settle this peacefully, do you? Not impossible."

They saw the corner of Long Tengyuan’s mouth hook into a cruel arc as he sneered coldly. "The terms are unchanged. Everyone, hand over all the Spirit Storage Rings on you. I can treat you like farts and let you go, and not pursue this further! However..."

Long Tengyuan’s gaze fixed on Shi Haoxuan as he gave a ferocious grin. "You actually dared injure my people; you must pay the price. If you end your own life here, I won’t make things difficult for the others. Otherwise, everyone—All Must Die!"

At these words, the Martial Artists from the Eastern Spirit Domain all clenched their fists tight. Not only did he want all their savings, he was forcing Shi Haoxuan to his death!

Long Tengyuan’s ugly face was simply nauseating.

"You want me to kill myself here?"

Shi Haoxuan stared at Long Tengyuan, his expression turning incomparably dark.

"Heh heh, what, Junior Brother Long is only asking an ant like you to commit suicide and will spare the others—already extremely benevolent and kind. If I were to act, I’d definitely leave none alive!"

The cold-faced man suddenly stepped forward, his gaze sweeping over everyone present, letting out a series of ear‑piercing sharp sounds as an enormous aura burst forth from him, incomparably fierce, crashing onto the Eastern Spirit Domain geniuses.

This aura was far too powerful, directly making the Eastern Spirit Domain Martial Artists unable to withstand it. One after another, their bodies swayed, their faces flushing red; some even collapsed straight to the ground, spitting out blood.

Shi Haoxuan was already heavily wounded; struck by this fierce aura, he immediately spat another mouthful of blood. His body tottered as he stared in shock at the cold-faced man, his throat incomparably dry and rough. "Hea... Heavenly Destiny Fifth Realm!"

"Not bad Eye Power. If you know what’s good for you, obediently do as Junior Brother Long says. To deal with you lot, I can’t even be bothered to make a move. But if I do make a move, nothing will be left alive."

The cold-faced man’s icy voice stated a cruel fact, as if he were pronouncing the death sentence of the Eastern Spirit Domain Martial Artists.

At this moment, all the Eastern Spirit Domain geniuses were ashen-faced. Faced with such an enemy, even if Ling Feng came out of Secluded cultivation, he probably couldn’t change anything.

There was no hope left. All that awaited them was a single road to death.

"Oh right, there’s one more piece of good news!"

Long Tengyuan pointed at Shi Haoxuan, laughing savagely. "If any of you people can slash him once with a blade or stab him once with a sword, if this young master happens to be in a good mood, I might consider not taking his Spirit Storage Ring, heh heh heh, think it over carefully."

"Pah! You shameless, disgusting dog thief, you think everyone is as filthy as you? You still want us to slaughter our own? Don’t even dream of it!"

Ao Jue stepped forward, blocking in front of Shi Haoxuan.

With Shi Haoxuan gravely injured and Ling Feng in Secluded cultivation, he had instead become the strongest among the Eastern Spirit Domain here.

"Despicable cur, if a blade must fall, let it fall on you!"

Yuee HuaQin also drew her Weapons, anger burning in her Fong Mu as she glared fixedly at those Dragon Sword Mansion disciples. Even if they died today, the geniuses of the Eastern Spirit Domain would keep their integrity.

"Hmph, not knowing what’s good for you."

Long Tengyuan lightly waved his hand and glanced back at the cold-faced man. "In that case, I must trouble Senior Brother to kill them all." he said blandly.

His voice was flat, as if he were talking about killing a few chickens or ducks, not placing the lives of the Eastern Spirit Domain Martial Artists in his eyes at all.

"Very well, a few stray chickens and mongrel dogs aren’t worth wasting time on."

The cold-faced man gave a ferocious grin. He didn’t draw his sword; he merely extended his left hand, bringing his index and middle fingers together as a strand of Elemental Power condensed, incomparably sharp.

"Then let’s start with you."

The cold-faced man fixed his gaze on Shi Haoxuan and jabbed out with a finger. Elemental Power tore through the air, shooting straight toward Shi Haoxuan.

This cold-faced man’s Sword Dao Accomplishment had already reached an Extraordinary and Saintly level. With a casual finger, he unleashed an almost irresistible, razor-sharp Sword Intent that crushed down.

Facing this strand of Finger Strength, even someone as strong as Shi Haoxuan felt that no matter heaven or earth, there was nowhere to dodge. It was as if in the next breath, his skull would be pierced through and he would die.