Yuanshi, How Do You Want to Die?

Outside Zixiao Palace, Chaos Sea.

The atmosphere in the void was so cold it nearly froze solid.

The eleven Ancestral Witches' eyes were bloodshot with fury, their killing intent nearly taking tangible form as they stared fixedly ahead.

Around them stood numerous mighty cultivators who had just emerged from Zixiao Palace and had yet to leave.

At this moment, they watched from afar with varying expressions—shock, wariness, gloating, or simple curiosity.

Yuanshi stood opposite the Ancestral Witches, his Daoist robe fluttering without wind as the aura of a Quasi-Sage spread without restraint.

He held Hou Tu in his grasp, his expression gloomy, though there was also a trace of surprise.

When he had just exited Zixiao Palace, he had caught Hou Tu off guard, erupted with his Quasi-Sage cultivation, and captured her in a single sneak attack.

Yet he had been completely unable to do anything to Hou Tu's Ancestral Witch body, which was comparable to an Innate Spiritual Treasure.

But the instant the other Ancestral Witches appeared, an incredibly tyrannical force seemed to have appeared in his hand, and Hou Tu suddenly began to tremble violently.

Yuanshi gave it no further thought. How could he possibly let such a good opportunity slip away?

Hou Tu's face was deathly pale now, completely devoid of color. She was clearly enduring immense pain, yet she clenched her teeth tightly and refused to make even the slightest sound.

Having been protected by her brothers ever since she was born, she had never imagined that one day she would become a bargaining chip used to threaten them.

"Yuanshi!"

"Release our little sister!" Dijiang roared.

The power of space surged around him as if it could tear everything apart, yet he did not dare make the slightest move for fear of harming Hou Tu.

Zhu Jiuyin, Qiangliang, Zhurong, Xuan Ming, and the other Ancestral Witches roared furiously, their monstrous baleful aura churning the Primordial Chaos.

Whispers rose among the mighty cultivators watching from afar.

"Yuanshi actually took Ancestral Witch Hou Tu hostage! He has utterly disgraced Pangu!"

"The descendants of Pangu's primordial spirit and Pangu's blood essence have completely torn off all pretenses now!"

At that moment, a black-robed man cast Yuanshi a fawning glance and loudly retorted,

"Hostage? Who saw that? Hou Tu clearly ran into Yuanshi's hands herself, didn't she?"

Three Daoists behind him also spoke up in agreement.

At the same time, quite a few righteous mighty cultivators revealed looks of pity, but intimidated by Yuanshi's Quasi-Sage strength, they could only shake their heads and sigh.

"Senior Brother, what a show! What a show!" Zhunti said with a smile.

In the void, Yuanshi grinned, his smile filled with twisted delight.

He looked at Zhurong and slowly said with a smile,

"Release her?"

"No problem!"

"Bring me the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi."

The onlookers were all stunned. This was blatant extortion!

Jieyin and Zhunti exchanged glances, deep in thought.

Looking at Hou Tu's pale face, Zhurong suppressed his rage. How could the mere Three Treasures Jade Ruyi compare to even a single hair on his little sister's head?

Without the slightest hesitation, he took out the Three Treasures Jade Ruyi and threw it to Yuanshi.

"Take it! Can you release my little sister now?!"

Yuanshi casually caught it, delight flashing through his eyes.

His supreme treasure had returned!

He weighed it in his hand, then shook his head and looked at Zhurong with a savage grin.

"I said bring it to me. What did you mean by throwing it over?"

"Cut off the hand you used to throw the Jade Ruyi!"

The entire scene was shocked by those words!

Then an uproar broke out.

"That is too shameless! He is going back on his word!"

"He has already gotten his treasure back. Why will he not stop?"

"How ruthless! He is trying to forge an irreconcilable blood feud with the Ancestral Witches!"

Hou Tu's body suddenly trembled, and tears instantly welled up in her eyes.

She struggled desperately, wanting to speak and stop Zhurong.

But Yuanshi's fingers around her neck suddenly tightened. She could only let out a few weak whimpers as tears streamed down uncontrollably, silently pleading with him.

Zhurong's heart jolted.

Cut off his hand?

Though an Ancestral Witch's severed limb could regrow, damage to his origin was unavoidable, and it would be an unbearable humiliation!

But when he saw the tears in Hou Tu's eyes, the hesitation in his heart vanished instantly.

He suddenly raised the arm that had thrown the Jade Ruyi. Gritting his teeth, he condensed the Law of Fire in his other hand, forming an invisible sharp blade that slashed down viciously!

"Zhurong!"

Everything happened too fast. The other Ancestral Witches cried out in alarm, but it was already too late to stop him.

Before the horrified eyes of the crowd,

Sshk!

Zhurong's powerful arm was severed at once. With a bang, it fell into the Primordial Chaos and was shredded into pieces by the chaotic currents in the blink of an eye!

Blood gushed out like a fountain, spraying across the chaotic void in a horrifying sight.

The watching crowd fell silent. Everyone had been stunned by Zhurong's resolve and Yuanshi's cruelty.

Several Ancestral Witches hurriedly teleported to Zhurong's side and used their magical power to stop the bleeding and treat his injuries.

Zhurong's face was pale as paper, his body trembling as beads of sweat the size of beans slid down his forehead.

Enduring the excruciating pain, he said hoarsely,

"Now what?"

"You can release my little sister now, right?"

Yuanshi looked at Zhurong's empty right shoulder, madness and excitement gleaming in his eyes.

He slowly shook his head and said word by word,

"Not enough!"

"Far from enough!"

"I want Qin Xuan dead!"

Zhurong suddenly raised his head, a trace of astonishment flashing through his eyes. Whether it was Qin Xuan or Hou Tu, he could not accept anything happening to either of them.

He snorted coldly, his voice carrying a hint of mockery.

"Wishful thinking!"

The smile on Yuanshi's face vanished instantly, replaced by extreme viciousness.

He stared at Zhurong, the corners of his mouth slowly curving upward again.

"Is that so?"

The hand gripping Hou Tu's neck slowly tightened.

"Ugh..." Hou Tu let out a pained groan, her face instantly turning purple-blue from suffocation!

At the sight, Zhurong's heart nearly shattered.

He could endure pain. He could endure humiliation. But he could not bear to see his little sister tortured like this!

He hesitated for only a moment before determination flashed through his eyes.

"I am willing to die. Release my little sister!"

Zhurong shouted hoarsely, his voice filled with resolve.

Yuanshi raised a brow, his eyes full of mockery.

"Oh?"

"You are willing to die in his place?"

"Fine!"

The tension in Zhurong's heart eased slightly as he immediately said,

"Swear an oath to the Heavenly Dao!"

"Swear that once I die, you will immediately release my little sister!"

Yuanshi considered it briefly.

Release Hou Tu?

How could that be possible!

"An oath? There is no need." Yuanshi said coldly. "Once you die, I will naturally release her!"

Zhurong's heart sank, and a trace of despair flashed through him.

He knew Yuanshi had no intention of letting Hou Tu go.

He was merely toying with them!

Seeing that Zhurong remained still, Yuanshi slightly curled his lips and raised his other palm as if to strike Hou Tu's head.

"Don't!"

Zhurong roared, his eyes splitting with rage.

Yuanshi's arm stopped in midair as he looked at him playfully.

Zhurong swept his gaze over his brothers, his eyes filled with attachment and reluctance.

"Brothers... I am sorry! Zhurong will go on ahead!" he said softly.

Then he raised his remaining left hand and fiercely struck toward the top of his own head!

If this strike landed, he would perish completely!

Hou Tu's pupils constricted as she let out a shrill scream.

"Zhurong!"

"Don't!"

She struggled with all her strength, blood vessels filling her eyes as tears poured down her face.

At that moment, Xuan Ming reacted swiftly and grabbed Zhurong's arm.

At the same time, she transmitted her voice to him.

"Do not act rashly!"

"Even if you die, Yuanshi will not spare our little sister!"

"But..." Zhurong's eyes were full of pain and struggle.

Xuan Ming urgently transmitted her voice.

"Brother Xuan will be here soon!"

A flash of realization struck Zhurong's mind, and his movements instantly froze.

He looked at Yuanshi, mockery flashing in his eyes as he shouted,

"Yuanshi!"

"Are you even a man?"

"You are actually using a woman as leverage!"

"If you have the guts, come at us brothers instead?!"

Yuanshi remained expressionless, but the savage grin on his face grew increasingly sinister.

The hand gripping Hou Tu suddenly exerted more force, and Hou Tu's body began to convulse violently.

At the same time, his other palm struck down toward Hou Tu's head without hesitation.

This time, it was no longer a feint.

The Ancestral Witches were frantic with worry, their eyes blood-red as they let out despairing roars.

Just then, a furious roar that tore through the Primordial Chaos rang out like thunder, instantly exploding beside everyone's ears!

"Yuanshi!"

"How dare you!"

Following that voice, a dazzling golden light tore through the Primordial Chaos and shot toward Yuanshi with incomparable might!

It was a golden ruler more than ten feet long, its entire body radiating Merit Golden Light.

Yuanshi narrowed his eyes and sneered.

Perfect timing!

He had been worrying that he would not be able to find him!

Without hesitation, he violently shoved the Hou Tu in his grasp forward, directly into the path of the rapidly approaching golden ruler!

"Little sister!"

"Hou Tu!"

The Ancestral Witches cried out in grief.

Just as Hou Tu was about to be struck by the golden ruler, a figure moved even faster than the ruler, appearing before her as though teleporting out of thin air!

Bang!

A dull, thunderous impact rang out.

The golden ruler did not slow in the slightest and struck Qin Xuan squarely across the back.

Pfft!

Qin Xuan spat out a mouthful of blood, but his hands did not pause in the slightest.

He swept Hou Tu into his arms, his body flying backward like a cannonball.

In an instant, he had returned to the other Ancestral Witches.

He carefully handed Hou Tu over to Xuan Ming, then slowly turned around and wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth.

There was no expression on his face. His eyes were as black as an abyss, utterly devoid of ripples.

But the aura spreading around him carried a terror capable of destroying everything.

Qin Xuan looked at Yuanshi, floating in the void, his voice as cold as if it had come from the depths of the netherworld:

"Yuanshi!"

"How do you want to die?"