Watching as Bing Yun and the others were about to leave, the Valley Master Chen of Cang Le Valley opened his mouth as if to speak, only to swallow the words back down. His expression was one of immense struggle — he seemed to want to submit, but when he recalled how he had aided and abetted the villains just moments ago, the words died on his lips.
He knew that at this point, nothing he said would make any difference.
In that moment, he was dying of regret. Had he known that Ice Heart Valley could summon such powerful allies, he never would have gotten involved with the Questioning Heart Sect. Now, not only did the Questioning Heart Sect face the threat of extermination — even his own Cang Le Valley was unlikely to survive.
His pride was too thin to let him speak, but someone else was not so restrained.
"Big Sister An, please wait! Please, for the sake of our old friendship, spare me this once. I was truly wrong this time — I beg you to let me go!"
It was none other than the jade-robed Elder Yu, dressed in her matronly attire, calling out in a panic.
Earlier, when the powerful experts of the Questioning Heart Sect had arrived in force, she and An Ruoyun had exchanged some harsh words. She had even accused An Ruoyun of being ungrateful and stubborn, declaring that if she refused to see reason, she would meet a terrible end today — acting every bit the eager servant of the Questioning Heart Sect.
Who could have guessed that in less time than it took an incense stick to burn, the tables would turn so completely?
It had to be said — Elder Yu had an impressive nerve. Her words drew looks of contempt from many onlookers. But on second thought, losing face was far better than losing one's life. If a few words could save her, what did it matter to swallow her pride?
Unfortunately for a fair-weather opportunist like her, An Ruoyun had no intention of paying her any mind. Elder Yu had visited Ice Heart Valley on multiple occasions in the past, and she and An Ruoyun had once been on fairly good terms. But today, she had marched alongside the Questioning Heart Sect right to their doorstep — that made them mortal enemies.
So despite hearing her plea, An Ruoyun did not so much as acknowledge her. She didn't waste a single word on her, and under Bing Yun's lead, quickly charged into the valley.
"Sister An…" Elder Yu's face went ashen as she let out a shrill cry, but it was utterly futile.
Seeing that begging An Ruoyun was useless, Elder Yu suddenly shifted her gaze to Yang Kai. She forced a smile onto her face and said, "Young brother, I am not a member of the Questioning Heart Sect. I was muddled this time and truly should never have opposed Ice Heart Valley. But I see the error of my ways now, and I am filled with remorse. I beg you, in your magnanimity, to spare me. I am willing to pay any price."
As she spoke, her beautiful eyes glistened with a watery sheen, her crimson lips pressed softly together — the very picture of pitiable vulnerability.
She had figured out that the three Demon Kings who had just arrived all seemed to follow Yang Kai's lead. So as long as she could persuade Yang Kai, she would surely be able to save her life.
Her true age was certainly no longer young, but she had mastered the art of preserving her appearance. To look at her, one would guess she was barely thirty, full of mature charm. Now, deliberately putting on this delicate, helpless act, she exuded a bewitching allure that could make any man's pulse quicken.
Yang Kai sneered, "An old cow trying to eat tender grass — how revolting. Kill her, before she dirties my eyes!"
The moment these words left his mouth, Elder Yu's lovely face drained of color. She had never expected Yang Kai to be so iron-blooded and ruthless. She let out a sharp shriek, pouring every ounce of her power into a sudden retreat, desperate to flee the scene.
But no matter how fast she was, Ying Fei was faster. A streak of green light flashed, and Ying Fei materialized in front of her in an instant. His fingers pressed together like a blade and plunged viciously toward her chest.
Her Emperor Realm first-level Emperor Essence shield shattered like soap bubbles under Ying Fei's strike. Those sharp fingers pierced into her chest like a sword, and with a savage yank, a still-beating crimson heart was ripped free.
Ying Fei followed up with a single palm strike, slamming the Elder Yu's body into the ground, where she died on impact.
"Kill!" There was no need for Yang Kai to give further orders. Xi Lei and Xie Wuwei, the two great Demon Kings, roared and charged into the ranks of the Questioning Heart Sect. Ying Fei wheeled back around as well, transforming into a streak of green light that darted to and fro in the blink of an eye.
Three Demon Kings at the peak of their power fell upon the Questioning Heart Sect like tigers among sheep. In mere moments, they had wrought utter devastation. Wherever they passed, not a single opponent could withstand even one exchange, and no one managed to escape. In front of Ying Fei, whose speed was legendary, fleeing was nothing but a fool's dream.
Incomplete corpses tumbled from the sky, blood blossoming like flowers — beautiful, yet laced with a chilling killing intent.
In barely ten breaths, all fourteen or five Emperor Realm cultivators had been slaughtered to the last.
Whether by design or coincidence, everyone else had been killed, yet Feng Xuan remained completely unharmed. The three Demon Kings seemed to have made no move against him at all. And throughout the massacre, Feng Xuan had shown no intention of interfering — he simply stood suspended in midair, watching with cold detachment.
Only when the last of the others had fallen did Feng Xuan let out a soft sigh. His features seemed to have aged a decade in an instant.
The Questioning Heart Sect had fallen!
Standing tall in the Northern Domain for tens of thousands of years, inheritor of the Questioning Heart Great Emperor's legacy — the Questioning Heart Sect had fallen. Not at the hands of Ice Heart Valley, but at the hands of a young man at the first level of the Emperor Realm.
Even now, Feng Xuan could not fathom who this young man truly was. It was as if he were the Questioning Heart Sect's nemesis incarnate.
Years ago, when he had first appeared at Ice Heart Valley, the Questioning Heart Sect's marriage alliance plans had collapsed. Later, his own son had been killed by this man. And now, the entire sect had capsized in this ditch because of him.
"One left. Who wants him?" Xi Lei fixed his gaze on Feng Xuan and asked in a flat tone.
As Demon Kings of the Ancient Desolate, Xi Lei and the others had their own share of pride. The three of them had joined forces earlier only because their enemies had been numerous. With just one remaining, there was no longer any need for a coordinated effort.
But which one of them should take this kill? That was the real question.
All three Demon Kings knew this was a chance to show off in front of Yang Kai. None of them were willing to let such an opportunity slip to the others.
"I'll do it!" Xie Wuwei answered immediately. As he surged his Demon Essence, a massive phantom scorpion materialized behind him. Its tail swayed back and forth, glowing with an eerie green light — unmistakably a vessel of deadly poison.