"She's from the Totem Dragon Clan?" The Azure Moon Hall Master looked toward Zhou Dong.
"I… I don't know." Zhou Dong shook his head. He truly didn't know the white-haired woman was from the Totem Dragon Clan.
The Azure Moon Hall Master furrowed his brow, visibly hesitating, but still withdrew the dark blue-black flame that had been sealing the barrier gate.
"Please convey my regards to the Totem Dragon Clan Patriarch — my Azure Moon Hall came here only for the Ancient Realm and bears no ill will toward the Totem Dragon Clan."
After those words, the Azure Moon Hall Master received no response.
Meanwhile, the teleportation force swirling around the white-haired woman activated once more.
"Auntie — save Chu Feng!!!" the white-haired woman screamed at the top of her lungs.
But her cries likewise went unanswered. Once the teleportation force completely enveloped her, she vanished in an instant.
The white-haired woman's silhouette disappeared along with it.
"Father, I did have a grudge against that woman, but I truly had no idea she was from the Totem Dragon Clan," Zhou Dong hastily explained.
He understood the weight the Totem Dragon Clan carried. He feared offending them, and even more so feared his father blaming him.
"There's no need to worry. I've already shown face to the Totem Dragon Clan. Besides, once we finish our business here we'll leave. Even if they come looking for trouble, it'll be too late," the Azure Moon Hall Master said.
"Father, that one beside Chu Feng — his name is Bai Yunqing. He claims to be a disciple of the Grand Elder Honorary of the Totem Dragon Clan."
"But that kid is Chu Feng's lackey. I don't want to let him go for nothing," Zhou Dong said.
"A Grand Elder Honorary isn't even a true member of the Totem Dragon Clan. Nothing to fear."
"However…" At this point, the Azure Moon Hall Master turned his gaze to Bai Yunqing.
"Boy, you offended my son, didn't you?
"Kowtow and beg for forgiveness. If your sincerity is genuine, I might consider sparing your life — out of respect for your master."
"I can kneel and beg, but you have to let my big brother go," Bai Yunqing said.
"Your big brother?" The Azure Moon Hall Master blinked, mildly startled.
"Father, that's Chu Feng. This fool has recognized Chu Feng as his big brother," Zhou Dong hastily clarified.
"That Chu Feng harmed my son. He must die," the Azure Moon Hall Master declared.
"Then your son doesn't deserve my kneeling. Kill me or do whatever you want," Bai Yunqing said stubbornly.
"You've got some backbone." The Azure Moon Hall Master let out a cold laugh, then looked to Zhou Dong. "This kid is yours to deal with."
"Thank you, Father." Hearing this, Zhou Dong's face lit up with delight.
He knew Chu Feng was done for, and the white-haired woman had already been rescued. If he wanted to vent his fury, Bai Yunqing was his only outlet.
But he wasn't in any rush. He'd wait for his body to recover, then personally torture Bai Yunqing — slowly, methodically.
"Zhou Dong, you promised you'd let us go."
At that moment, Qin Shu and Jia Chengying spoke up simultaneously. They stood on the ground, unable to hide the fear on their faces.
"What, scared now?" Zhou Dong said with a grin.
Hearing those words, the expressions of Qin Shu and Jia Chengying grew even more wretched.
How could they not be afraid? The full army of the Azure Moon Hall had arrived, and even the Hall Master himself had come.
Forget Jia Chengying — even Qin Shu was terrified.
"Zhou Dong, I didn't know before that you were the Azure Moon Hall Master's son. If I said anything offensive earlier, please forgive me," Qin Shu hastily tried to smooth things over.
"Z-Z-Zhou Dong — no, no, Young Hall Master — we were teammates, after all. Please, just be merciful and let me go," Jia Dongqi said, his tone even more servile.
Seeing this, Zhou Dong's face swelled with a look of satisfaction. He loved this feeling.
But he knew whether these two could be spared depended on his father, so he turned to the Azure Moon Hall Master. "Father?"
The Azure Moon Hall Master waved his hand. "You two young friends, you may leave. Your families are waiting for you outside."
"Thank you, Senior."
Upon hearing this, Qin Shu and Jia Chengying didn't dare hesitate. They immediately soared into the air and flew out through the barrier gate.
Watching the young masters from prestigious families flee in such a pathetic state, some members of the Azure Moon Hall burst into mocking laughter.
So much for honorable sects — nothing more than cowards terrified of death.
…
Outside, Mo Wuxiang had been waiting. Once he saw Jia Chengying emerge safely, he secretly transmitted his voice to ask about the situation.
After learning what had transpired inside the Ancient Realm, he too felt this was no place to linger. He immediately led the army of the Alchemy Immortal Sect away from the area.
At the same time, Gongsun Wentian was questioning Qin Shu.
"As expected — they're after the Ancient Realm, those animals," Xia Xingchen said, her face filled with frustration.
"What should we do, Lord Gongsun?" Qin Shu looked to Gongsun Wentian.
"I think we should stay out of this."
"Let's go. Back to the sect."
Once Gongsun Wentian finished speaking, he led the Firmament Immortal Sect army straight into the sky. With a single palm strike, he shattered the barrier that sealed this world, and led his entire army out through the breach.
Seeing the sealing barrier broken, many teleportation arrays sprang to life. Everyone who had witnessed the Azure Moon Hall's power seized the opportunity to flee this world as quickly as they could.
Meanwhile, inside the Ancient Realm, a smile spread across Yuan Jiang's face.
"Almost done. Time to extract it."
As he spoke, both his eyes and the stone in his hands erupted with tremendous power.
Then, with a forceful pull, Chu Feng — who had been unconscious the entire time — began convulsing all over.
What Yuan Jiang was extracting seemed to be more than just the mark. It felt as though he was pulling out Chu Feng's very life force.
Under these conditions, Chu Feng displayed an unprecedented state of weakness.
"Incredible. As expected of someone chosen by the Ancestral Statue — truly difficult to extract," Yuan Jiang muttered, sensing the difficulty. He immediately intensified his power.