"So what if we’re threatening you?" Wang Qing sneered. "They’re both in our hands now. Surrender obediently, or you’re dead!"

"Elder Yi, don’t listen to them! If you surrender, it’s all over!" Yi Yuxuan and Yi Yuwei cried out.

"Is that so? If he doesn’t surrender, then *you’re* finished!" Wang Qing snapped, turning to Yi Tianyun. "My dear Elder Yi, are you still not going to surrender? To have become an elder, your cultivation must be quite high, no? The Core Formation Stage? Reaching that level at such a young age is not bad at all."

Their own cultivation levels were also at the Core Formation Stage, though Wang Shui, who stood to the side, was at the Spirit Pill Stage. That was why he had said Lin Li was being overly cautious.

"I’ll surrender. Just don’t hurt them," Yi Tianyun said, his voice cold enough to freeze hell over. If his fury could take physical form, this place would have already become an inferno.

His gaze swept over the three men before him. Lin Li’s cultivation was unchanged, still at the second layer of the Core Formation Stage. Wang Shui and Wang Qing were brothers, a deacon and an elder of the Wang Family, and their cultivation levels were more impressive.

"Oh, really? I don’t believe that for a second. I’d advise you not to make any sudden moves, or you can’t blame us for being merciless!" Wang Shui kept his dagger pressed to the women’s throats, gesturing for Wang Qing to go and check on Yi Tianyun.

Lin Li raised a hand, signaling them to wait. He had already used his Spiritual Power to probe the area outside. He scanned every inch, inside and out, but found no sign of anyone hiding.

’There’s no one outside, though I can’t be sure about further away.’ Lin Li was quite confident. His Spiritual Power was strong; unless someone’s cultivation was exceptionally high, he would have easily detected them.

He figured Yi Tianyun’s greatest backer was the Zhu Family. And in the Zhu Family, aside from the Patriarch, the other elders’ cultivation levels were on par with Wang Shui’s group. So even if the Zhu Family did attack, they could all escape unscathed. There was no need to worry.

"Well, well, look at you. You’ve got some guts, coming all alone." Wang Qing nodded and started walking toward him, sneering. "I’d advise you not to run. If you do, we can’t guarantee whether they live or die..." He spoke as he approached, ready to burst into action at a moment’s notice. ’He can’t possibly believe he can escape from me.’

"I won’t run. Just let them go, and I’ll be at your mercy," Yi Tianyun said, his eyes fixed on the approaching Wang Qing.

"Elder Yi, don’t believe them! They’ll kill you! Run!" Yi Yuwei shouted, completely disregarding her own safety.

SLAP!

Lin Li swung a hand to slap her, but Yi Yuxuan moved to block it, taking the blow on her own shoulder. The force was so great that she broke out in a cold sweat from the pain.

"Don’t hit my sister!" Yi Yuxuan’s gaze was glacial. Even now, she was still able to protect her younger sister.

"Such a touching display of sisterly love. But aren’t you just a slut anyway? I heard you were abandoned before you were even married. Seems like the Zhu Family got no value out of raising you; the groom didn’t even want you." Lin Li sneered, then turned his mocking gaze to Yi Tianyun. "Go on, run if you’ve got the guts. I can’t guarantee what I’ll do to her if you do!"

"Don’t you dare touch them! I said I won’t run!" Yi Tianyun’s voice was frigid. ’Killing intent flooded his heart.’

Just then, Wang Qing rushed forward and grabbed Yi Tianyun, pinning his arms and rendering him immobile.

"Young Master Lin, I’ve got him! He’s not going anywhere!" Wang Qing laughed. It had been ridiculously easy.

"Excellent. Bring him to me," Lin Li sneered, his eyes filled with murderous intent.

As he was dragged forward, Yi Tianyun’s eyes showed no trace of despair. They were still brimming with that same killing intent.

"You’ve caught me. Now let them go," Yi Tianyun said calmly.

Lin Li and his men exchanged glances, then burst into roaring laughter. Their laughter was dripping with ridicule, as if they were watching an ignorant clown perform.

"Young Master Lin, did the kid actually believe us?" Wang Shui guffawed, lowering the dagger he had pointed at Yi Yuwei and her sister. There was no need for it anymore.

In that instant, a sharp light glinted in Yi Tianyun’s eyes.

"Don’t say that, little brother. It just proves he’s a simple-minded boy who doesn’t understand how wicked the world is, hehe..." Wang Qing, who was holding Yi Tianyun, joined in the mockery, laughing so hard he nearly cried.

Only a sheltered brat who had never seen the world would say something like that. In their eyes, that’s exactly what Yi Tianyun was.

"Playing your little tricks in front of me... So what if your talent with Divine Runes is good? You’ve still fallen into my hands, to be dealt with as I please," Lin Li sneered at Yi Tianyun. "There’s always a price to pay for your actions!"

Then he raised his hand and swung it hard toward Yi Tianyun’s face. He wasn’t in a hurry to kill Yi Tianyun; he wanted to humiliate him first.

"Madness Mode, activate!"

BOOM!

Eight times his normal power exploded in an instant, his Combat Power rocketing to over three million. With a violent shudder of his body, Wang Qing, who was holding him, was sent flying into a nearby wall!

He immediately spun and kicked, moving faster than the eye could see, and slammed his foot into Lin Li.

BAM!

Lin Li was sent flying into the stone wall. He coughed up a mouthful of blood before sliding down to the floor, nearly unconscious. The kick had been vicious, but Yi Tianyun had held back slightly. He didn’t want to kill Lin Li with a single blow.

"You little bastard, die!" Shaken, the freed Wang Qing quickly drew a short sword and lunged, aiming to stab Yi Tianyun in the back.

A blurry afterimage flashed. Yi Tianyun spun and kicked at Wang Qing without the slightest pause, landing another heavy blow. Wang Qing hurriedly tried to block with his arms, but how could he possibly defend against an attack at the Spirit Pill Stage level?

THUD!

Wang Qing was sent flying. The kick was not light; it snapped his arm clean in two. He let out a pained shriek as he flew backward. Yi Tianyun immediately lunged toward Wang Shui. Reacting instantly, Wang Shui spun toward Yi Yuxuan and her sister, intending to use them as shields.

But a searing flame had already struck him squarely in the back. Somehow, Yi Tianyun had appeared behind him and slammed a palm into his back. Along with the explosive force, he poured the Immortal Fire into Wang Shui’s body.

The terrifying flames ignited within him instantly. With a blood-curdling scream, Wang Shui felt the fire rapidly devouring his meridians. In the blink of an eye, a huge portion of them was scorched, and flames even began to erupt from the surface of his skin.

"You... this fire..." Wang Shui was horrified. He felt his internal organs being incinerated. He frantically circulated his energy to suppress the blaze, but it was useless. The terrifying Immortal Fire was devouring him too quickly.

"Get lost!"

Yi Tianyun rushed forward and delivered a final, brutal kick.

THUMP!

Wang Shui was kicked away, a large section of his chest caved in. Already being burned from the inside out, he now had to endure another devastating blow. It would be a miracle if he survived.

"Ding! Successfully killed Wang Shui. Obtained 150,000 EXP, 2,400 Madness Value. Obtained Martial Arts: Heaven-Flipping Step. Obtained Item: Celestial Deformed Sword."

The system notification confirmed that he was dead for good.

Yi Tianyun quickly untied the ropes binding them. It was a high-grade Spiritual Artifact; ordinary ropes would never have been able to restrain them.

"Elder Yi, we’re so sorry... We caused you so much trouble," Yi Yuwei said, full of remorse.

"I’m the one who brought this trouble on you." Yi Tianyun shook his head, his gaze shifting to the still-living Lin Li and Wang Qing. ’It’s time to settle this score once and for all.’