"If you want to kill that demon beast, that's your business, but why drag others into it?"
"Especially that little child — barely three years old — could you really bring yourself to strike her?"
"What you're doing makes you no different from that demon beast. As someone from the Immortal Execution Archipelago, aren't you ashamed?"
Just as Ya Fei thought her attack had succeeded, a voice suddenly rang out across the heavens — not particularly loud, yet penetrating enough to reach the depths of the soul and shake the spirit.
Hearing that voice, Chu Feng and the others couldn't help but change their expressions, immediately scanning their surroundings, for they could tell from the voice that whoever had arrived was far from ordinary.
"Who are you? Skulking in the shadows — don't tell me you're in league with these demon beasts?" Ya Fei searched in every direction as well, but failed to detect any trace of the speaker.
"Who I am is none of your concern. Simply release those three and be on your way." The voice rang out once more, brimming with authority and utterly dismissive of Ya Fei.
"Hmph, so you really are one of them. Enough with the theatrics and hiding your face. If you want to save them, show some real power. Empty bluffs like that won't scare this young lady."
Though Ya Fei spoke boldly, it was clear she was shaken. With a single step, afterimages trailed behind her as she unleashed a powerful movement technique, streaking through the sky like light toward the distant horizon.
*Boom!* "Ugh—!"
But Ya Fei had flown only a few li before her slender body slammed into an invisible wall. The tremendous force sent her flying backward, and a mouthful of blood sprayed from her lips.
At the same time, right where Ya Fei had struck, a flash of golden light flickered — brief, unmistakably golden. What had blocked her was the power of a golden barrier.
"How dare you — who are you? Do you dare show your face so I can see who exactly is shielding these wicked demon beasts?" Ya Fei was beginning to panic. A golden-robed Spirit World Master was no ordinary person — at minimum, one had to be a ninth-rank Martial Lord to reach that level.
The one who had stopped her was apparently such a golden-robed Spirit World Master. She realized things had gone badly wrong — with her strength alone, she clearly wouldn't be able to take Chu Feng, Little Fish, and the beast away today.
But she couldn't accept that, so she desperately wanted to know who this person was. That way she could settle the score later.
"What a sharp tongue you have, girl. Since you're so eager to know who I am, I'll oblige you." Finally, the voice spoke again — but this time, it came from right beside Chu Feng.
*Hummm—* The moment the voice sounded, the barrier cage enveloping the three of them collapsed on its own. Simultaneously, two figures appeared beside Chu Feng.
Turning to look, Chu Feng was greatly surprised. Two women now stood beside him. The first was young and beautiful, quite attractive — he recognized her as Jiang Wanshi of the Mandarin Duck Platform.
Standing next to Jiang Wanshi was another woman. She wore a long white dress, dignified in appearance, and it was easy to see her figure was extraordinary — no less stunning than Yan Ruyu or Ya Fei.
However, her face was veiled by a thin gauze. Though the veil was sheer, it still concealed the woman's features; only her eyes were visible — beautiful, almond-shaped, roughly the size of walnuts.
Even with her face covered, the outline of her features made it clear she was a beauty. Standing beside this woman, the already striking Jiang Wanshi seemed to pale considerably by comparison.
This wasn't simply because of the woman's looks — after all, her face was hidden, and while one could guess she was beautiful, there was no certainty her features truly surpassed Jiang Wanshi's.
What elevated her beyond Jiang Wanshi was entirely her bearing — an ethereal, otherworldly aura. This presence was so captivating that even Ya Fei's nation-toppling beauty could only match it, not surpass it.
Such extraordinary appearance, such extraordinary bearing, such formidable power, and appearing alongside Jiang Wanshi, who treated her with obvious reverence — Chu Feng didn't even need to think to guess the woman's identity. She had to be the Holy Maiden of the Heavenly Burning Holy Church, the first beauty who had once dazzled the Eastern Sea: Autumn Waters Sweeping Mist.
"Who are you? Do you dare remove that veil and show your true face?" Chu Feng already knew the woman was Autumn Waters Sweeping Mist, but Ya Fei clearly did not. Arrogant as always, she lacked any sense of propriety, pointing and demanding in a loud voice.
"Silence! How dare you shout at my Master like that?" Jiang Wanshi could no longer tolerate Ya Fei's rudeness and rebuked her sharply.
"Hmph — a mere Heaven Martial cultivator dares speak to me like that?" Ya Fei was furious. Without another word, she moved to attack Jiang Wanshi.
"Ugh—!" But before Ya Fei could strike, Autumn Waters Sweeping Mist's slender brow twitched slightly, and an invisible force erupted forth, sending Ya Fei stumbling backward several steps through the air. Even her beautiful cheeks took on a hint of pallor.
"How dare you attack me — do you know who I am?" Ya Fei seethed, glaring with venom.
"Heh." In response to Ya Fei's outburst, Autumn Waters Sweeping Mist simply smiled faintly. "Ya Fei. Young mistress of the Immortal Execution Archipelago, engaged to Murong Xun. Both of your parents hold respectable positions in the Archipelago, and your grandfather is no ordinary figure — he is Ya Zongyun, the first of the Immortal Execution Archipelago's Nine Immortals. Am I correct?"
"Hmph — so you know who I am, yet you still dare treat me with such disrespect? Aren't you afraid of my grandfather? Aren't you afraid of my Immortal Execution Archipelago?" Ya Fei demanded.
"Afraid?" Autumn Waters Sweeping Mist's delicate brows furrowed slightly, and a flash of cold light appeared in her eyes. "Do you really think your Immortal Execution Archipelago is invincible?"
*Step.* When that glint of cold light flashed, even Ya Fei's expression changed drastically, and she involuntarily retreated a step. In that killing intent, she had sensed genuine lethal resolve.
"Remember this — I am the Autumn Waters Daoistess of the Mandarin Duck Platform. These three are leaving with me today. If you have any objections, you're welcome to report back."
"Whether it's your grandfather or your Immortal Execution Archipelago, if you want revenge, come find me at the Mandarin Duck Platform."
"Now, you'd best scram before I change my mind!!" Autumn Waters Sweeping Mist commanded in an icy tone.
"You—" Being threatened so brazenly left Ya Fei fuming. But recalling the killing intent in those eyes just moments ago, and the woman's complete disregard for the Immortal Execution Archipelago, she could only grit her teeth, stomp her feet several times in place, then whirl around and flee toward the Boundless Blood Sea.