At this moment, all three were going all out, yet Dugu Xingfeng was fighting one against two without falling behind. This level of strength proved that his reputation as a genius was no empty boast.
However, Chu Feng knew that Iron Evil's strength was absolutely not limited to this. The reason he had been able to defeat Aunt Lian that day was not merely because of his God-given Divine Might — he also possessed a true Half-Emperor Weapon.
"Senior Sect Master, please be careful. That Iron Evil has a genuine Half-Emperor Weapon with tremendous power." Realizing this, Chu Feng immediately sent a secret voice transmission to Dugu Xingfeng.
"Relax. I have every confidence in winning," Dugu Xingfeng replied with a smile.
Swoosh—
Sure enough, just as Chu Feng had predicted, a blinding radiance erupted from within Iron Evil's body. His combat power surged instantaneously — it was unclear what kind of weapon he had unleashed, but it was unmistakably a Half-Emperor Weapon. Otherwise, there was no way it could produce such overwhelming pressure.
The moment this terrifying pressure manifested, Dugu Xingfeng's sky-piercing spear was immediately suppressed. In the blink of an eye, the balance shifted — he had gone from an even fight to a disadvantage.
"This should end." After unleashing his Half-Emperor Weapon, Iron Evil let out a confident laugh.
At the same time, a smug smile crept across Beitang Zhiqiang's lips.
In their eyes, this battle had reached its conclusion.
"It should end, indeed." However, at that very moment, an aged voice rang out.
Then, a boundless wave of pressure descended from the heavens. Whether it was the members of Black Fiend, or Beitang Zhiqiang and Iron Evil, both Martial Emperors — every one of them froze mid-air as though turned to stone.
As for Dugu Xingfeng, Chu Feng, Poison All Things, Gou Dan'er, and the members of the Luo family, they felt not the slightest hint of oppression.
And just as this oppressive force that had immobilized Iron Evil and the others descended from above, three figures materialized in the sky.
They were three elderly men, each one a Martial Emperor. The first was a red-faced elder brimming with killing intent, possessing the cultivation of a First-rank Martial Emperor.
The second was a white-faced elder, righteous and imposing, standing with his hands clasped behind his back. He was a Second-rank Martial Emperor.
Most powerful of all was the elder standing in the center. He appeared frail and slender, yet carried an ethereal, immortal air — he was a Third-rank Martial Emperor.
All three wore identical garments bearing the same insignia. It was the emblem of the Green Wood Sacred Council. These three were clearly members of that organization.
What shocked Chu Feng the most, however, was the elder in the center — because Chu Feng had seen him before. This was the very man who had been fishing above the Immortal Lake in the Five Poison Mountains.
So this elder was a member of the Green Wood Sacred Council?!
"Mercy! Have mercy, my lords! I never wanted to lay a hand on young Chu Feng — Beitang Zhiqiang forced me into it. If you want to settle accounts, go after him. Please, let me go!"
At this moment, Iron Evil had already reverted from his giant steel eagle form to his true appearance. Sweat drenched his body, his face had turned a sickly green, and panic gripped him entirely. The man who had been so supremely confident moments ago was now thoroughly and utterly terrified.
All along, the one he had feared most was the powerful expert standing behind Chu Feng. After Beitang Zhiqiang's persuasion, he had convinced himself that expert might not be present — but now things had taken the worst possible turn. The Third-rank Martial Emperor he dreaded most was not only here but had already made his move.
And just moments ago, he had harbored killing intent, wanting to murder Dugu Xingfeng. That was practically digging his own grave. Right now, he regretted it so deeply his intestines had turned green.
"Iron Evil, have some dignity. You are one of the Five Great Evil Ones, after all." Beitang Zhiqiang shot Iron Evil a cold glare, then put on a brave face as he addressed the three elders:
"The Green Wood Sacred Council, is it? To protect one Chu Feng, you've deployed your entire force — sent this many combatants. You really went through all that trouble."