At this moment, Ying Mingchao, Chu Feng, and the others were heading toward Hero City.
Since Ying Mingchao's injuries had yet to heal, Chu Feng and Zi Xunyi continued to treat him as they traveled.
Under these circumstances, the responsibility of guiding the entire group fell upon the True Immortal experts from Hero City.
Even though this was still the allied army, both its morale and numbers were drastically diminished compared to when they had set out.
Perhaps because the campaign against the Soul Infant Sect had ended in failure, everyone's spirits were low.
Along with that low morale came anger, and curses directed at those who had betrayed them echoed ceaselessly through the crowd.
"Who goes there?!"
Just then, Ying Mingchao, who had been focused on healing, suddenly opened his eyes and looked ahead.
"Heh heh heh… As expected of Ying Mingchao—your perception is still razor sharp."
"Though I suppose your quick recovery is largely thanks to Chu Feng?"
As that sinister voice rang out, a figure materialized and planted itself directly in front of the allied army.
A single person, standing alone, yet forming a standoff against the entire allied force.
What was more, every member of the allied army wore a look of panic at the sight of this individual.
Because this person… was none other than the Sect Master of the Soul Infant Sect—the very man who had just defeated Ying Mingchao.
"What do you want?!" At that moment, someone within the allied army asked in a trembling voice.
"What do I want? Isn't it perfectly obvious? How could I possibly let the likes of you go free?"
"I came here to find you, of course, to uproot the evil so that no future trouble may arise," the Soul Infant Sect Master said with a cold sneer.
"So it really was a conspiracy?" Chu Feng asked.
"Since you've already seen through it, why bother asking? But Chu Feng, I am a man who values talent. Hand over that stone stained with the blood of the Divine Dragon, and not only will I spare your life—I'll even welcome you into the Soul Infant Sect, where we can share in wealth and glory together."
The Soul Infant Sect Master addressed Chu Feng directly.
"A stone stained with the blood of the Divine Dragon—the Divine Dragon Blood Ruler?" Hearing those words, Chu Feng's heart tightened.
The Divine Dragon Blood Ruler was a treasure he had obtained back at Grandmaster Kaihong's ruins—a stone stained with the blood of a Divine Dragon.
Grandmaster Kaihong had originally intended to forge it into an Ancestral Weapon but had ultimately failed.
Chu Feng had never expected that the Soul Infant Sect would know about the Divine Dragon Blood Ruler.
"Chu Feng, are you willing?"
The Soul Infant Sect Master, unaware of Chu Feng's thoughts, saw his hesitation and assumed there was a chance, so he pressed again.
"I'm truly sorry. There's plenty of things I, Chu Feng, am willing to do—but sinking to the level of a beast like you isn't one of them. I'm afraid I'd invite divine retribution," Chu Feng said with biting sarcasm.
"In that case, go die with the rest of them." The Soul Infant Sect Master spoke as he produced his Ancestral Weapon.
At the same time, the aura of a second-grade True Immortal erupted from him without reservation, sweeping toward the allied army like an invisible hurricane.
"Come then! You think I'm afraid of you?!" Zi Xunyi bellowed, unleashing her own oppressive aura.
Though she barely managed to block the Soul Infant Sect Master's pressure, she was still forced back two steps.
Those two steps did not go unnoticed by anyone, and that observation only deepened the allied army's unease.
It proved that, while both were second-grade True Immortals, Zi Xunyi was no match for the Soul Infant Sect Master.
"Xunyi, don't dirty your hands with this. Leave this shameless animal to me."
At that moment, Ying Mingchao rose to his feet and pushed Zi Xunyi behind him.
"Mingchao, you can't—your injuries—" Zi Xunyi tried to dissuade him.
Though Ying Mingchao's condition had improved considerably, he was far from fully healed, and she could hardly feel at ease.
"Rest assured. Without those Soul Infant Sect lackeys to back him up, he's no match for me."