The Fish Has Been Caught, Now It's Time to Butcher It

The Silver Mountain Four Freaks bowed respectfully upon seeing Ding Chongshan.

Ding Chongshan, however, paid them no mind. He stared at Xiang Tian in disbelief. With his cultivation at the half-step True Immortal realm, he couldn't see through any disguise. Could it be... he was the real deal?

He still found it hard to believe. Black Abyss had sent word that Xiang Tian's actual combat strength was immense, and that Gu You had died by his hand. And Gu You's Divine Armor was said to rival that of the Ascension Realm!

Xiang Tian, on the other hand, was only at the Nascent Soul stage, with a whole Void Shattering Realm separating them!

Ding Chongshan was puzzled. He sized up the Silver Mountain Four Freaks, wondering how those four incompetents managed to capture Xiang Tian.

"Heh heh, Patriarch Ding, this guy is incredibly cunning. It took all four of us brothers a tremendous amount of effort, emptying our entire savings, just to subdue him," the eldest of the Silver Mountain Four Freaks chuckled and whispered.

"You subdued him?"

Ding Chongshan clearly didn't believe it. The person who could crush Ding Yang's Life Immortal Sword with his bare hands could be captured by two Nascent Soul cultivators and two Core Formation cultivators?

"Yes, yes! This guy was so foolish, he cuffed himself!"

The fourth brother, Han Tou, fearing Ding Chongshan wouldn't believe him, blurted it out.

As soon as he said that, the atmosphere instantly became awkward. The eldest, second, and third brothers tensed up, not daring to breathe.

Ding Chongshan was dumbfounded. Xiang Tian had cuffed himself?

Xiang Tian was speechless. These guys, with their fourth brother whose intelligence was clearly lagging, dared to take on a bounty order?

He decided to speak directly to Ding Chongshan, "What, did you get your son back? Don't tell me he's still an idiot?"

Hearing his words, Ding Chongshan exploded. He jumped up in anger, pointing at Xiang Tian and saying fiercely, "No matter what tricks you're playing today, I will skin you alive, rip out your tendons, and stuff your soul into a furnace to be refined day and night, making you wish you were dead but unable to die!"

Xiang Tian remained unfazed by his words.

"Brat, did you hear that? He's going to skin you alive and rip out your tendons. You better behave yourself. And, uh... Patriarch Ding, our bounty..."

Han Tou, the fourth brother, rubbed his hands together, completely oblivious to the strange looks from his other three brothers. He was solely focused on getting the Sky Crystal and going out to have a good time.

Damn it, just shut up already, you imbecile! his three brothers were about to collapse.

Ding Chongshan shot Han Tou a fierce look and unleashed a palm strike. Han Tou instantly turned into a bloody pulp.

Blood and gore splattered onto his three brothers. They all shivered, their faces pale with fear, their bodies trembling.

The three of them quickly knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly. The eldest hurriedly spoke, "Patriarch Ding, we can swear on our Dao Hearts, even though this kid surrendered willingly, what we used were genuine Spirit Restraining Shackles. He's now no different from an ordinary person."

"Oh? Is that so?"

Xiang Tian asked with a hint of confusion. Then, under everyone's gaze, he spread his arms apart, and the shackles shattered. Without any hesitation, he pulled over a chair, sat down, crossed his legs, and prepared to watch the show.

The remaining three brothers were stunned speechless, stammering incoherently. This... this was truly bizarre.

"Damn it!"

Ding Chongshan was furious. He sent all three of them to join their fourth brother, then turned his attention back to Xiang Tian.

The entire hall was filled with the smell of blood.

Xiang Tian remained unmoved. Facing Ding Chongshan's ravenous gaze, he said calmly, "I didn't expect your Ding Family to be so quick. You managed to catch me first. So, how does it feel to see me again, Patriarch Ding?"

Ding Chongshan laughed in rage, "Heh heh heh, how does it feel? Every time I see my child, I wish I could crush every bone in your body, chew your flesh, and feast on your heart and liver."

"Then you have your chance now. I'm looking forward to your performance."

After hearing Xiang Tian's nonchalant words, Ding Chongshan could no longer hold back. He let out a long roar, not bothering to consider any of Xiang Tian's schemes or tricks, and attacked directly, forming his fingers into a claw and lunging for Xiang Tian's head.

But just as he was about to make contact, he was repelled by a barrier, his head spinning. When he focused his vision, there was nothing in front of Xiang Tian.

Xiang Tian sat there quietly, smiling as he watched Ding Chongshan's display. Behind him, as if rippling like water, two figures appeared. They were clad in black and white robes, covering them from head to toe, and they hovered in mid-air.

Ding Chongshan's heart pounded in fear, "Who are you two!"

He couldn't sense any aura from them, but his eyesight was sharp. He felt that these two were far from ordinary.

He asked several times, but the two remained silent. Ding Chongshan began to feel uneasy and called out to his father mentally.

Ding Heshan, who was in seclusion, felt the summons and opened his eyes. A faint golden light emanated from them. Strangely, ever since his grandson had been crippled, he had sensed a trace of opportunity on the Great Dao. He now felt a degree of confidence regarding the Golden Immortal realm, which lay beyond the True Immortal realm.

He found it peculiar that his son had sent a message. What was it that his son couldn't handle?

He hurried to the main hall and, at first glance, saw Xiang Tian.

"Little thief, we've finally caught you!"

He shouted, not yet noticing the strange atmosphere.

"Father, look at the two behind him."

Hearing Ding Chongshan's reminder, he finally noticed the two figures standing behind Xiang Tian like pillars.

"Putting on a show!"

Ding Heshan sneered. He formed a hand seal, and a golden light shot towards the two figures. But strangely, an invisible barrier seemed to appear before them, and the golden light stopped in mid-air. This startled Ding Heshan, as his strike contained seventy percent of his power.

"Who are you two? My Ding Family has an irreconcilable hatred with this Xiang Tian. We ask that you do not interfere."

Ding Heshan was also unsure of the two figures, so he tried to persuade them.

Xiang Tian yawned, "Tell Patriarch Ding, after all, it's impolite to visit someone's home without introducing yourself."

Then, a hollow voice echoed through the hall, and upon hearing it clearly, everyone present felt their hair stand on end, a chill running down their spines.

"The Yellow Springs Black and White Division."

The Yellow Springs, a legendary place said to control the life and death of all beings. No one could quite clarify if they belonged to any particular faction. Since ancient times, it was rumored that this place had existed since the dawn of humanity.

The Great Dao of Life and Death, the Six Paths of Reincarnation, all were within their control. Even immortals were no exception. It was more like a law, a natural order, a Heavenly Dao.

Of course, this was just a legend, and its truth remained to be verified. However, for countless years, no one had managed to verify it!

Upon first hearing it, one would naturally be shocked. But upon closer thought, it was utter nonsense. The Yellow Springs Black and White Division? You're using a legendary identity as a shield, you're truly audacious.

Ding Heshan, who had been feeling uncertain, was amused. If you had mentioned some untouchable great power, it might have intimidated me. But this... just forget it, I don't buy it.

Seeing Ding Heshan's originally stern expression begin to relax, Xiang Tian immediately understood his thoughts.

"It seems Patriarch Ding doesn't believe me. But that's alright. Bring Young Master Ding Yang here."

Xiang Tian said with a smile. Instantly, the dazed Ding Yang was brought to Xiang Tian's side by a divine ability of the Black Division.

"Waaah... waah."

Holding his beloved toy, drool trickling from the corner of his mouth, he looked around blankly.

Ding Heshan and his son were both shocked and enraged, shouting sternly, "What are you doing!"

Xiang Tian stood up. "What am I doing? Didn't I tell you? You are the fish, and now that the fish has been caught, it's time to gut it."