Humiliation

He raised his right hand, gathering icy might. In an instant, an ice dragon exuding soul-chilling frost took shape and crashed fiercely toward the two of them.

The Mystic Power pressure of the God Monarch Realm left Xiao Feng unable to move. He could only watch as the soul-stealing ice dragon charged at him...

At that moment, Qi Qingyun broke free from Xiao Feng's embrace and raised the sword in her hand. Overwhelming sword might spread before them. She used sixty percent of her Mystic Power to shield Xiao Feng from harm...

Boom!

The ice dragon struck the sword might and paused for a brief moment... before shattering it outright and slamming fiercely into the blade.

The two of them were sent flying by the aftershock... Protected by sixty percent of Qi Qingyun's Mystic Power, Xiao Feng recovered from the terrifying impact more quickly than she did. He caught Qi Qingyun from behind, shielding her from the force as he let his own back strike the ground...

Boom!

To those in the God King Realm, the might of a God Monarch was terrifying beyond measure. Qi Qingyun had used sixty percent of her Mystic Power to protect Xiao Feng and another twenty percent to block the damage, leaving only twenty percent to protect herself!

The tremendous force shattered the ground, and dust instantly filled the air...

His spine had struck the ground, making Xiao Feng's entire body tremble. Yet he completely ignored his own injuries and hurriedly asked, "Qing Yun! Are you alright?!"

Qi Qingyun struggled to her feet. "I'm fine..." But the moment the words left her lips, her brows furrowed tightly, and blood spilled from her mouth.

"Qing Yun! Leave first. I'll hold him off." Xiao Feng's face was filled with worry as he spoke instinctively.

"Ha ha ha..." Ximen Qing laughed disdainfully. "Xiao Feng... Xiao Feng... What am I supposed to say about you? Are you truly stupid, or do you think I'm stupid? Where did you get the confidence to believe you can escape?"

"But... how about this..." Ximen Qing lowered his voice, speaking like a demon whispering. "For the sake of your lucky victory over me before, I'll grant you a favor."

"Don't you have that Vermilion Bird Blaze of yours? And that Heavenly Wolf Slash? Use them all. I won't attack. As long as you can injure me, I'll let you go summon your so-called reinforcements. How about it?"

Xiao Feng narrowed his eyes and stood before Qi Qingyun. Vermilion Bird Blaze burned fiercely around his body. Just as he took a step forward, Qi Qingyun grabbed his hand. "Don't go... He's deliberately trying to humiliate you."

Xiao Feng pushed her hand away. After glancing at her pale face, he turned away without saying another word...

In their current situation, it did not matter whether Ximen Qing truly intended to humiliate him. What mattered was that he needed to stall for enough time.

He did not know why no one had come yet...

But such a huge disturbance could not possibly have gone unnoticed. Perhaps someone was already on their way...

Clang!

The Hurricane Sword appeared in Xiao Feng's hand. Vermilion Bird Blaze slowly spread over it, covering the entire blade...

Boom!

Surging flames erupted. In the blink of an eye, the Vermilion Bird Blaze enveloping his body transformed into sacred flame armor—Vermilion Bird Plume!

"Clap clap clap... Not bad, just like that... Come on, use every move you have. Don't disappoint me. Ha ha ha..." Ximen Qing clapped mockingly.

Xiao Feng's expression turned grave. Flames burned in his black eyes, making them gleam brilliantly...

Sacred Flame Slash!

The Vermilion Bird Blaze around him surged wildly, while the flames on the Hurricane Sword swelled explosively. Scorching waves of fire poured in every direction... Boom! His figure shot upward, arriving above Ximen Qing as he brought his sword might down fiercely toward his head.

Terrifying sword might pressed down upon Ximen Qing from above. His robes fluttered violently in the heatwave, yet he seemed utterly indifferent as he slowly raised his right thumb and index finger...

Pfft—

A nearly inaudible sound reached Xiao Feng's ears. The Sacred Flame Slash, carrying blazing flame might, had actually been caught between Ximen Qing's two fingers!

Xiao Feng stared at the sight before him in shock. He had known their current gap in strength was immense, but he had never imagined it would be this great.

"Ha ha ha... As expected of the opponent who once luckily defeated me. You actually made my fingers feel a trace of warmth. Not bad, worthy of praise!" Ximen Qing laughed loudly at Xiao Feng's stunned expression.

Xiao Feng frowned deeply and was just about to retreat and widen the distance when he felt an enormous force tightly restraining him from ahead. That force came from Ximen Qing's two fingers...

"Oh dear, sorry. I forgot... Right now, I only need to use a little force to kill you..." Ximen Qing said frivolously. As he spoke, he released the two fingers gripping the blade.

The force suddenly vanished, and Xiao Feng staggered back several steps before stabilizing himself...

He stared gravely at the unruffled Ximen Qing and slowly exhaled. He emptied his mind of distractions, closed his eyes to focus for a moment, then abruptly opened them. The flames in his eyes began to burn violently.

Boom! Vast sacred flames ignited, and the Vermilion Bird Blaze around Xiao Feng's body burned brightly. The vigorous flames spread outward, gradually forming the outline of a Vermilion Bird...

As the Vermilion Bird slowly took shape, the surrounding fire elements began to riot without end...

The single-target Mystic Skill attached to the ninth realm of Vermillion Bird Requiem, and also the most powerful Mystic Skill of the Vermilion Bird clan—Vermilion God!

Xiao Feng gripped the hilt of the Hurricane Sword with both hands, sacred flames surging in his eyes. "Vermilion..."

But before he could finish, a figure suddenly appeared before him. It was Ximen Qing!

His eyes turned vicious as icy light gathered around his fist, which he smashed fiercely toward Xiao Feng's Mystic Veins!

Bang!

Xiao Feng had been wholly focused on charging Vermilion God and had not put up even the slightest defense. The sudden impact sent him flying like a cannonball beneath the terrifying power of the God Monarch Realm!

Seeing Xiao Feng sent flying, Qi Qingyun panicked and hurriedly moved behind him to block the terrible impact. But she was already seriously injured, and having acted so suddenly, she could only barely gather about sixty percent of her Mystic Power. Though she managed to block part of the damage, she was still blasted several miles away alongside Xiao Feng...

They smashed through house after house before finally managing to steady themselves several miles away. But the instant they stopped, Xiao Feng felt his entire body convulsing, while his internal organs shook violently...

"Pwah..." A spray of blood burst from Xiao Feng's mouth. His face was utterly pale. He had already been injured by a God Master.

And just now, in order to injure Ximen Qing, he had not used even a shred of protective Mystic Power.

Now that Ximen Qing had struck his Mystic Veins, even if it had only been a light blow, it was still a strike from a God Monarch! To a tenth-level God Tribulation Realm cultivator, especially one already injured, it was no different from a crushing hammer of annihilation.

"Xiao Feng! How are you?!" Seeing Xiao Feng vomit blood, Qi Qingyun circulated her Mystic Power to treat his injuries. She glared furiously at Ximen Qing. "Ximen Qing... you..."

But before she could finish, Ximen Qing's voice followed. "I... changed my mind just now... Xiao Feng, I want you to understand that your ability to remain alive and breathe Abyssal Dust right now is a gift from me!

"Whatever I want you to do, you must do. Whether you can use Mystic Skills depends entirely on my mood. If I don't allow you to use a Mystic Skill, then you'd better hold it in!"

Xiao Feng's body went limp as he spoke with difficulty. "It seems... everything you say is bullshit..."

Ximen Qing put on an exaggerated expression of surprise. "No way... Xiao Feng... Xiao Feng... Why are you like a three-year-old child? You believe everything I tell you?"

Xiao Feng had yet to answer.

But then another vast amount of Divine Source Power surged into Ximen Qing's body. In an instant, his Divine Source Power skyrocketed. His Mystic Power was at the God Spirit Realm level, but the pressure he released had already reached the God Master Realm!

The expression on his face changed instantly, his "surprise" turning into viciousness. "I'm giving you another great gift!"

The moment his words fell, he formed a clawing gesture and grabbed fiercely at Xiao Feng's throat...

Qi Qingyun had just tried to act, but before she could even touch the hem of Ximen Qing's robe, he blasted her away with Mystic Power. As she tried to turn back, an immense pressure descended upon her, leaving her unable to move...

"God Master... How is this possible?!" Qi Qingyun murmured in disbelief.

Even if the Creation God Sect possessed a unique Mystic Art that allowed them to refine the Divine Source formed from the bodies of dead True Gods for their own use, they... absolutely, absolutely could not achieve something this outrageous!

For someone at the God Spirit Realm to directly break through into the God Monarch Realm was already enough to shock her beyond belief. She could still explain it as an "unexpected" circumstance.

But reaching the God Master Realm was even more impossible! Logically speaking, someone at the God Spirit Realm should have exploded and died after bearing so much negative Divine Source...

But why was Ximen Qing different? Aside from his crazed expression, as though he had gone berserk, he could actually still stand there unharmed!

It was as though he had completely overturned the laws of the Mystic Way...

And now that he had advanced to the God Master Realm, while the strongest person in Flowing Wind City was merely at the Peak God Lord... What could they do...

"Annoying woman... I gave you a chance before, but you didn't cherish it. Don't blame me, then. When the time comes, you too will become a sacrifice for my coronation. But for now... you should thank Xiao Feng for allowing you to stay alive!" Ximen Qing's eyes were bloodshot, and he muttered coldly. Not a trace of his former elegance and gentleness remained.

"Urgh..." Xiao Feng was lifted fiercely by the throat in Ximen Qing's grip. "Xiao Feng, you should really thank me. I've decided to let you die last!"

"Weren't you quite capable? I'll give you time. You can slowly show me what you've got..." His voice was like a demon's whisper.

"Urgh..." Xiao Feng's throat was tightly locked in Ximen Qing's grasp, leaving him unable to make a sound...

"You've probably noticed it too, haven't you? Why has such a huge commotion happened, yet not a single person has come...

"Let me tell you. This formation requires flesh and blood as a medium to activate. Before I came, I already killed all those low-cultivation people around you..." Ximen Qing's expression was crazed, and he was even beginning to speak incoherently...

Xiao Feng's pupils contracted sharply upon hearing that. "Urgh..." Sensing that Xiao Feng wanted to speak, Ximen Qing "kindly" loosened his right hand from Xiao Feng's throat. "You... madman!" Xiao Feng said with difficulty.

"Ha ha ha... Xiao Feng, I love seeing you want to kill me but being unable to do so!"

"Look at how pitiful you are now... Those people offered as sacrifices should feel honored. They will become the foundation of my coronation. If I become a True God someday, they will have died for a worthy cause and will share in supreme glory!"

"As for you... I will show you what despair truly is!"

A vicious light flashed in his eyes as he smashed another heavy blow into Xiao Feng's Mystic Veins!

Bang!

In an instant, blood sprayed from Xiao Feng's entire body. His gaze became unfocused... Blood dyed his white robes red. He looked as though he had been bathed in blood, utterly miserable.

Crack... The sound of space breaking rang out. Ximen Qing turned his head and saw sword intent filling the air around Qi Qingyun. Her lips were clenched tightly, blood flowing through her mouth, yet she seemed completely unaware of it.

Only her beautiful eyes held a hatred Ximen Qing had never seen before!

Ximen Qing was just about to speak when he seemed to sense something. He turned his head, a demonic smile curling across his lips. "They're finally coming. Xiao Feng, watch carefully. The real show is about to begin!

"Now... you two should enjoy your final moments! Ha ha ha..."

He hurled the blood-soaked Xiao Feng fiercely toward Qi Qingyun, left thirty percent of his Divine Sense on them, and ignored them no longer as he closed his eyes to focus...

Next, he would make Xiao Feng willingly kneel before him!