The tense atmosphere, which had just been palpable and seemed ready to tear West Kunlun apart at any moment, vanished without a trace the instant Qin Feng withdrew his hand.
The suffocating gray area receded, Yaochi returned to its former glory as a celestial paradise filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers.
Only the Queen Mother of the West remained standing there, her chest heaving violently. Her exquisite face still bore the traces of paleness and fear, and cold sweat had already soaked through her phoenix robe.
Everyone held their breath, cautiously watching the young man in white sitting in the main seat.
According to the usual practice in the Primordial World, after establishing their authority, the strong often press their advantage, either eliminating any remaining threats or demanding huge compensation.
But Qin Feng did not.
He acted as if he weren't the one who had just crushed the Quasi-Saint like a god or demon. He slowly straightened his sleeves and put on that harmless smile again.
What are you all standing there for?
Qin Feng picked up his wine glass, stood up from his seat, and surveyed the entire room.
"I was just joking with Your Empress to lighten the mood."
"Come on, keep drinking."
Having said that, he turned to face the Queen Mother of the West, raised his cup in acknowledgment, and spoke in a gentle tone like that of a courteous scholar:
"Today's Flat Peach Banquet has been a joyous occasion for all. Qin Feng thanks Your Empress for your gracious hospitality."
"I also wish all fellow Daoists present here eternal prosperity on your path to enlightenment, and that you may soon attain the Primordial Chaos Realm!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp.
The entire audience. "..."
The immortals looked at Qin Feng, who was all smiles, and then at the Queen Mother of the West, who was still in a daze. Their minds were about to explode.
Liven up the atmosphere?
You call nearly crushing Dao Heart "creating a lively atmosphere"?
But that doesn't stop them from wildly imagining things.
"Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!"
Zhen Yuanzi sat below the stage, stroking his beard, his eyes gleaming frighteningly.
Looking at Qin Feng's composed and unrestrained demeanor, his admiration for this younger brother reached the heavens.
"This is the true art of rulership!"
"Thunder and rain, both are the emperor's grace. First, suppress him with thunderous means, then win his heart with gentle gestures."
"It preserved the last vestige of dignity of the Queen Mother of the West as the Head of Female Immortals, preventing her from being humiliated in public, while simultaneously planting the seed of invincibility in her heart."
"This tactic is infinitely more Gao Ming than mere killing!"
Even the Ancestor Minghe, who had been cowering in the corner in fear, was now full of admiration.
"I've seen plenty of Ruthless, but this is the first time I've ever seen someone so quick to turn their back on someone and manipulate people's hearts like this."
"It seems the Queen Mother of the West will not escape his grasp."
Amidst a strange yet enthusiastic chorus of cheers, the atmosphere of the banquet miraculously returned to normal.
Qin Feng sat back down, and Chang'e immediately handed him a peeled Spiritual Fruit.
The Queen Mother of the West took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the surging blood and qi within her body, and stiffly sat back down on the phoenix chair.
She looked at the man beside her who was chatting and laughing with Yun Xiao, and felt a mix of emotions.
Are you scared?
The fear is ingrained in my very bones.
Do you hate it?
I dare not hate.
Just as she was in a daze, a familiar voice once again entered her mind without warning.
"Does Her Empress still seem to be hesitating?"
The Queen Mother of the West trembled and instinctively tightened her grip on the wine cup in her hand.
Qin Feng didn't look at her, but instead lowered his head to play with the Jade Ruyi in his hand, yet his Spiritual Sense communication remained crystal clear:
"The array plate of the mountain-protecting formation, and the Immortal Gathering Banner."
"These two items represent your absolute control over West Kunlun. Asking you to hand them over is indeed asking the impossible."
The Queen Mother of the West bit her lip, about to reply, but was interrupted by Qin Feng.
"But I'm not discussing this with you."
Qin Feng's voice remained languid, yet it carried an undeniable air of dominance.
"My suggestion will always be valid. Of course, I also understand that the Queen Mother needs time to mentally prepare herself."
"After all, the difference between being a high and mighty queen and becoming an obedient little woman is quite significant."
"I'm a very democratic person."
A playful smile curved Qin Feng's lips.
"We, the members of the Immortal Alliance, will be staying in West Kunlun for three days."
"You can take your time to think it over and weigh the pros and cons over these three days."
"You're clinging to your so-called pride, embracing these peach trees all over the mountain, waiting to die..."
"Or hand over your power in exchange for my protection, Qin Feng, and gamble on a future where you can attain the Primordial Chaos Realm."
Qin Feng paused for a moment at this point.
He turned his head, his gaze passing over the crowd, meeting the struggling phoenix eyes of the Queen Mother of the West in mid-air.
"If you still cannot decide after three days, or if your answer does not satisfy me..."
"Then I took my men and left."
"As for whether West Kunlun will be reduced to ashes in the great calamity or divided up by the Chan Sect Interception Sect, that is none of my concern."
"You only get one chance."
" Your Empress is a wise woman; she should know how to choose."
After saying this, Qin Feng ignored her and turned to flirt with Princess Longji beside him, as if he wasn't the one who had just issued the ultimatum.
But these words weighed heavily on the heart of the Queen Mother of the West, like a mountain.
Three days.
Only three days.
This was the final deadline Qin Feng gave her.
It seemed to give her the right to choose, but in reality, it was a one-way street that drove her to a dead end.
reject?
If Qin Feng really leaves, taking Zhen Yuanzi and all these powerful figures with him...
Once the great calamity descends, with her current strength in West Kunlun, how can she possibly withstand those covetous Human Teachings?
Haotian has suffered such a humiliating disgrace today; he will surely seek revenge fiercely upon returning home.
When the Heavenly Court Army presses in, how long can West Kunlun hold out?
In the past, she might have had some confidence.
But after witnessing Qin Feng's unfathomable strength, she suddenly realized that her proud cultivation level was so fragile in the face of a true powerhouse.
"What a ruthless thought."
Looking at Qin Feng's profile, the Queen Mother of the West felt a deep sense of powerlessness.
He didn't even need to physically seize it.
He only needed to demonstrate his strength and then turn away, leaving behind fear and despair for the future, which would be enough to break her psychological defenses.
This is an open strategy.
A blatant and overt conspiracy.
"Come, Your Empress, have another cup."
Just then, Qin Feng suddenly raised his glass and looked at her with a smile.
"The wine from Yaochi is indeed excellent. It would be a real shame if we couldn't drink it again in the future."
This sentence became the last straw that broke the camel's back.
Looking at the cup of wine, the Queen Mother of the West seemed to see the tragic scene after the destruction of West Kunlun.
Her hand trembled as she raised the wine glass, managing to force a smile that looked more like a grimace.
" The Alliance Leader is joking..."
"As long as the Alliance Leader likes it, this wine... will be available every day from now on."
Qin Feng smiled.
She was smiling brightly.
He knew that the matter was 80% settled.
As for the remaining two points, it all depends on how the Queen Mother the West manages to overcome that hurdle in the next three days.
"Ding! Detected that the host is engaged in an extremely sophisticated psychological game!"
"System rating: Top-tier PUA... oh no, top-tier subservience management skills!"
"Reward: [ Charm Aura ] Advanced Version - [ The Scoundrel's Temptation ]!"
"Effect: Increases the speed at which members of the opposite sex can 'conquer' the host when faced with unreasonable demands by 300%!"
Qin Feng: "..."
Couldn't this lousy system have been given a more respectable name?