The elders, now spared from the immediate threat of death, found themselves facing an uncertain future.

Kura approached Feng Zhiming, offering to heal his wounds. He quickly slapped her hand away, his eyes burning with disdain.

"Don't touch me," he growled. "You think you and your lord are any better than those things I loathe?"

He leapt up from the crater, his expression cold and resolute.

In truth Feng Zhiming had already decided what to do, but he had to commit to a slight act to get his message across.

Kura materialized beside Feng Zhiming once more, her gaze now fixed on the three elders.

"Should I eliminate these eyesores for you?" she asked, her voice firm and exuding power.

The elders expressions contorted at the sudden threat. However, they were powerless against her, only able to grimace in response.

Anissa swiftly ran to Feng Zhiming's side, supporting his one intact arm, her concern evident as she wondered if he could remain standing for much longer. His injuries from the battle had not yet fully healed.

"I suppose it would be as easy as swatting a fly to eliminate you all," he mused.

Elder Pyari stepped forward, her voice sultry as she cupped her hands and deeply bowed, revealing her generously endowed assets. "Respected warrior," she said, "Our Heavenly Divine Demon Sect is eternally grateful for your timely arrival, and will receive you at any time, making certain to give you special… attention."

Feng Zhiming laughed internally yet he was not beyond peeking out of the corner of his eye, something like this was to be expected from a dual cultivation sect.

Grand Elder Claris quickly realized what he had to do. “Respected warrior, our Celestial Haven Sect would repay you a thousand times over for your benevolence.” he added and one upped Elder Pyari.

Feng Zhiming lightly nodded at the middle aged man “A self proclaimed righteous sect thanking a demonic cultivator, how humorous.” He thought as his gaze turned to Madam Hua.

Madam Hua remained contemplative, searching for the right words to say. She finally spoke, her voice calm but firm.

"Feng Zhiming," she began, "we had an agreement."

Feng Zhiming nodded, his tone resolute. "Indeed, I am nothing if not a man of my word."

Without warning, a compass appeared in his hand, its needle violently pointing directly at Kura standing beside him.

“I have located the creature.”

Consternation flickered briefly across Madam Hua's features at this unexpected turn of events.

He raised his hand and slightly tapped Kura.

“As you can see, I have failed to subjugate the creature.” the compass disappeared from his hand and entered his storage ring. “Now’s your chance, feel free to subjugate it if you must.”

Madam Hua sighed deeply. "Subjugate a Dao Lord, what a joke." she thought. “You have made your point, the agreement has been upheld in accordance with the rules of the Elysium guild.” she replied.

“Incorrect, if anything it is you who failed to uphold your end of the agreement, you were tasked with protecting me from Heavenly Eye cultivators. And you failed, quite spectacularly.” Feng Zhiming wasn't going to leave without squeezing out everything he could from the situation.

Madam Hua exhaled deeply before speaking.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

“We will compensate you accordingly.” She replied, trying to maintain an amicable tone.

“I would hope so.”

Lyra still shot a piercing glare at him but he ignored it. She had hated him from the start, nothing special about that.

“Ellia seemed to retain his calm, as expected.” He thought before his gaze shifted to Krimin and Daiyu, these two were a little different from the rest.

“I had almost forgotten about you two minor characters.” he spoke in a sarcastic tone.

Krimin stood unresponsive, his features set in a slight frown, but Daiyu's glare was filled with murderous intent, her animosity palpable.

As he focused his eyes on her he saw something truly interesting. Something that led him to commit to an extra act.

He sent a telepathic message to Kura and Anissa before continuing.

“I see now.” he spoke to himself before addressing her. “Ah yes, you’re the one who wished death upon me.” He lifted his arm from Anissa and stood still.

"Come then," he taunted, leaving himself wide open. "It's your chance to make good on your wish."

Krimin instinctively reached out to grab Daiyu's wrist, hoping to prevent her from doing something she'd regret. But he found himself frozen, caught in a moment of temporal paralysis.

Time itself seemed to stand still around him, affecting not just him, but everyone else in the vicinity, including the elders, Anissa, and seemingly even Kura.

Daiyu dashed forward with determination, pulling a dagger from underneath her sleeve.

Without hesitation, she plunged the blade deep into Feng Zhiming's neck, twisting it violently. A look of pure joy adorned her face as she stumbled backwards, reviling in her apparent victory.

Time resumed its normal course, leaving everyone present dumbfounded by this unexpected turn of events.

Anissa's sword materialized, its cold edge pressed against Daiyu's throat. A single twitch would spell her doom.

Feng Zhiming clutched his neck, yelling in exaggerated agony.

"I'm dying!" he cried, dramatically collapsing to his knees.

Kura, unconvinced by his acting, rolled her eyes, clearly not buying into his act.

The supposed screams slowly shifted into a mocking laugh as he rose to his feet, once again surprising everyone.

"Haha, you actually thought you had me," he chuckled. "That instant of elation must have been worth it."

Daiyu's expression immediately transformed as she realized she had been duped. Her triumph had turned into disappointment in the blink of an eye.

"You... but... you should be dead!" she exclaimed loudly, her voice dripping with disbelief.

Feng Zhiming nonchalantly rubbed his neck with his now completely healed arm.

"Come on, fellow cultivator," he chided. "You were so lost in your fantasy of killing me that you failed to notice I've already regained my Ethereal Core cultivation. If you had focused your attack on my core, you might have actually slain me."

Daiyu cursed silently, her terror escalating as she gazed at him, realizing the dire situation she found herself in.

"I won't kill you since the attack didn't harm me." Feng Zhiming clarified, an unusual gesture of mercy.

Daiyu quickly seized the opportunity to retreat to Grand Elder Claris's side, worried that he might change his mind at any moment.

Krimin's voice echoed in her mind, speaking to her telepathically.

"You actually thought he would let you kill him? Be smarter."

Daiyu sighed, acknowledging the truth in Krimin's words.

“You want to try as well?” Feng Zhiming asked Krimin.

“I’m no fool, trying to fight someone surrounded by such fierce women.” Krimin responded in a jovial tone.

Feng Zhiming glanced around, realizing he was encircled by two women. He signaled for Kura to move, and she obliged, stepping to the side.

He mused aloud, "I guess I look like a gigolo being defended by two ladies."

A brief silence fell over the group, the elders looked a little restless.

He broke the silence, his gaze sweeping over them.

"You all believed that was the end of it? I let you go, and you expose everything that took place here to your leaders?”

The three elders, ashamed, cast their eyes downward. That was exactly what they had in mind.

"Do you genuinely think I was born yesterday?"

The elders shame deepened.

Feng Zhiming displayed a jade slip in his hand.

"Do you recognize this?" he inquired.

They all nodded in affirmation.

"What you're unaware of is what it holds, a record of three elders attempting to murder an envoy of the Maiden, three elders subservient to factions under the purview of the Maiden's faith. Clear acts of treason, as I see it."

The elders lifted their heads in shock, realization dawning on their faces.

In his hand he held the fates of their respective organizations. If he made that jade slip public then true chaos would consume the continent.