"Not only that, but from what I can see, Chu Feng has already saved that girl. Otherwise, that old man from the Ice and Snow Phoenix wouldn't have immediately annihilated our Dark Hall members the moment he returned," Xueji said.
"Chu Feng—always Chu Feng! If I had known it would come to this, I should have crippled him back in the Blood-Drinking Killing Array!"
The Hall Master of the Dark Hall was so furious that his face had turned ashen blue, veins bulging across his temples. His rage churned and roiled inside him, nearly reaching the point of explosion.
In the beginning, he had not placed Chu Feng in his eyes at all. In his view, the only obstacle in this Land of Martialism that could thwart his grand ambition was the Primordial Elves—and his true rival was none other than them.
As for Chu Feng, who like himself had come from beyond this world, the Hall Master had no concerns. He regarded Chu Feng as nothing more than a plaything.
But now, plan after plan had been dismantled by Chu Feng. Had Chu Feng not existed, he might have already destroyed the Primordial Elves and made the Dark Hall the supreme overlord of the Land of Martialism.
"It wasn't just you who underestimated Chu Feng, so there's no need to blame yourself."
"The problem now is that once the Ice and Snow Phoenix learns the truth, they will definitely move against us."
"Before long, their newly formed allied army will arrive here, and with our current strength, I'm afraid we won't be able to hold them off."
"So… should we evacuate now? If we leave immediately—just the two of us—there's still time," Xueji asked the Dark Hall Master.
"Evacuate? How can we evacuate? If we leave now, everything we've worked for will have been for nothing!" The Hall Master gazed downward, his eyes filled with reluctance.
"Xueji, what would happen if I forcibly refined these things right now?" the Hall Master asked.
"I'm not certain, but at the very least it wouldn't kill you. However, it would be… imperfect," Xueji replied.
Hearing this, the Hall Master narrowed his eyes, lost in thought. After a long moment, he finally spoke: "Release Mieshi and Wuliang. Have all Dark Hall members assemble and receive my command."
"Full combat readiness!!!"
When the Hall Master made this decision, Xueji offered a faint smile. Without a shred of hesitation, she said, "As you command."
…………
Before long, the allied army arrived at the location of the Dark Hall, only to discover that it was a vast snow valley.
Above the valley, the sky was already swarming with ancient Fierce Beasts and Dark Hall members, packed so densely they blotted out the light.
Some of the Dark Hall members were not wearing masks, and nearly every unmasked face was a familiar one.
There was Immortal Mieshi, Immortal Wuliang, the Lord of the Heavenly Dao Palace, the Lord of the Human King Palace, as well as several presiding elders from both palaces.
But what was particularly noteworthy was that the figure at the forefront was also unmasked. He made no effort to conceal his cultivation—he stood at the head as a Martial Emperor—and was plainly none other than the Dark Hall Master himself.
"What a spectacle this is. These were once my allies, yet now they stand together with my enemies."
"Chu Feng, I hear you're the one responsible for all this?" The Dark Hall Master regarded Chu Feng with a smile, yet beneath that seemingly pleasant gaze lurked a murderous chill that ran bone-deep.
The hatred he bore for Chu Feng had sunk into his very marrow.
"What I've done is naturally a good deed. What you've done, on the other hand, is nothing but evil," Chu Feng said.
"Evil deeds, indeed! Since in your eyes I've done nothing but commit evil, then perhaps today I'll do one more."
The Hall Master let out an eerie laugh. As he spoke, his great sleeve swept outward, and a barrier flickered beside him. Once the barrier faded, a figure materialized before the assembled crowd.