"Damn it, why hasn't Zi Xuanyuan shown up yet? Is he really going to leave the disciples of the Supreme Villa to fend for themselves?"
Even though Chu Feng didn't feel sorry for Xia Le'er's death, he didn't want to see too many innocent people torn apart by demon beasts either. After all, if Zi Xuanyuan just appeared, he could stop all of this entirely—there would be no need for anyone else to die.
But Zi Xuanyuan still hadn't shown up, and that left Chu Feng completely baffled. He genuinely couldn't figure out what Zi Xuanyuan was thinking, or why he still hadn't come to save anyone.
"No, don't kill me, don't kill me!"
The Black Toad King struck again, grabbing another beauty from the crowd. The woman was terrified, tears streaming down her face as she begged incessantly.
"Don't be afraid—I'm not choosing you. I just heard a name. I think it was Zi Ling. Can you tell me which one is Zi Ling?" the Black Toad King asked.
"Oh no." At that moment, Chu Feng's nerves tightened and alarm bells went off in his mind. Even Zi Ling's expression shifted, her beautiful eyes flickering with unease.
"Really? As long as I tell you who Zi Ling is, you'll let me go?" The woman's eyes went wide, as though she had just glimpsed a glimmer of hope for survival.
"I'll let you live. No one will dare touch you," the Black Toad King assured her.
"Over there! Zi Ling is over there! The one in the purple dress—that's Zi Ling!" The woman's face lit up with joy, and without a moment's hesitation she pointed straight at Zi Ling in the crowd. To save herself, she chose to sell Zi Ling out without batting an eye.
"Oh ho, so this is Miss Zi Ling? What a rare little beauty. Hiding so deep in the crowd—no wonder I didn't spot you."
Spotting Zi Ling, the Black Toad King tossed the woman back into the crowd. With a mere thought, a tremendous suction force pulled Zi Ling up from the masses and deposited her right in front of him.
"Ha ha ha, truly gorgeous. I've never seen such a beauty in all my life. No wonder people would fight and scheme over you."
"Miss Zi Ling, a beauty like you—I really can't bear to kill you. Why not become my queen?" The Black Toad King stared at Zi Ling with a lecherous grin, clearly smitten.
"Don't! Don't you dare touch her!" Lord Liu shouted the moment he saw what was happening.
"Hmm? You don't want me to touch her? Fine—trade your life for hers. How about that?" the Black Toad King asked with a laugh.
"I…" Lord Liu's face changed drastically. He glanced at Zi Ling, hesitated for a moment, and ultimately lowered his head in silence.
"Alas, alas, Miss Zi Ling—did you see that? How useless these humans are. Staying with them is nothing but a waste of your beauty. Come now, keep this king company and have some fun!" The Black Toad King threw his head back in laughter, opening his arms wide to pull Zi Ling into an embrace.
Sensing danger closing in, the aura inside Zi Ling began to shift rapidly. A strange power surged within her. Her eyes, once as clear as water, began to transform as well—faint purple light emerged, containing a terrifying otherworldly force.
Facing mortal peril, Zi Ling was preparing to go all out, unleashing her God-Given Divine Body.
"Wait!" But just then, a resonant voice rang out suddenly from behind Zi Ling.
The abrupt interruption caught the Black Toad King off guard. Zi Ling's expression wavered too—she stopped channeling the power of her divine body and turned to look. In that instant, her beautiful eyes trembled violently.