"Elder Xing, are we just going to let Jiang Ling off so easily?"
That's two hundred thousand Spirit Stone.
Zhu Wuwang managing to stay upright, secretly transmitted his voice to Xing Tian, his voice filled with barely suppressed resentment and unwillingness.
Xing Tian's face was gloomy, and he replied telepathically, his tone chilling:
"If the Heavenly Dao is now locked away, the world will descend into chaos."
The Grand Elder was focused on refining the Soul-Snatching Lock left behind by the Founding Patriarch and had no time to spare for anything else.
Your two hundred thousand in compensation is just a delaying tactic. Once my Master successfully subdues the Divine Artifact, not only Helian Jue, but even the Sect Master will have to back down.
Murderous intent glint flashed in his eyes:
"By then, Zhang Lingyun, and her bastard disciple... will all be dead!"
Xing Tian's resentful gaze was fixed on Zhang Yu, then he glanced coldly at the still-present phantom of Helian Jue.
Helian Jue naturally sensed the undisguised malice, but he merely frowned slightly and remained silent.
Xing Tian's Master was a reclusive Grand Elder of the Soul Refining Sect Seclusion, Cultivation had reached the peak of True Immortal, just one step away from entering the Heavenly Immortal realm. He was not someone Xing Tian could easily offend.
"Sect Master, you must put in more effort and refine the Soul-Snatching Lock first..."
Helian Jue sighed inwardly.
Although he was the Vice Sect Master, he was ultimately no match for that Grand Elder.
This is the best we can do.
Although Zhang Yu didn't know the content of their telepathic communication, he could clearly feel the palpable Killing Intent emanating from Xing Tian and Zhu Wuwang, and his heart skipped a beat.
"If these two are not killed, the consequences will be endless."
One must quickly improve Cultivation and completely master the Soul Refining Sect's Grand Formation in order to have the power to protect oneself.
Zhang Lingyun noticed the worry in his eyes and secretly transmitted her voice:
"Let's find an opportunity to leave the Soul Refining Sect."
Today, Helian Jue acted out of consideration for my Master's past relationship, but next time...
"Damn it, still too weak!"
Zhang Yu clenched his fists, feeling a strong sense of powerlessness welling up inside him.
Just then, Hong Yue's soft, laughing voice suddenly echoed in my mind:
"Hey Brother ~ want me to stand up for you?"
"You?"
Zhang Yu was taken aback.
Hong Yue is now just a spirit, barely able to maintain its physical form. What help can it possibly offer?
"Stop bragging. You're just a Remnant Soul now, what can you do?"
The system seized the opportunity to immediately ridicule them.
"Hmph, what does the old man know?"
Hong Yue chuckled, a hint of slyness in her voice:
"Even though I'm Combat Power, that doesn't stop me from... giving those two jerks some fun!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Yu saw a thin, hair-like Red Thread, almost imperceptible to the naked eye, silently spreading out from his heart.
"Hey Brother, you owe me a favor this time!"
Hong Yue chuckled softly, and the Red Thread, like a serpent, darted towards Xing Tian and Zhu Wuwang, who were about to depart.
Zhang Yu was surprised to find that—besides him—no one else present could see the Red Thread!
He watched helplessly as the Red Thread silently wrapped around Xing Tian's left wrist, and the other end... tied to Zhu Wuwang's right wrist.
"Um?"
Just as Xing Tian was about to leave, his wrist suddenly tightened, as if pulled by something invisible.
He frowned and looked down, but saw nothing.
On the other side, the seriously injured Zhu Wuwang staggered, his legs went weak, and he fell straight forward.
"Waste!"
Xing Tian cursed inwardly, intending to ignore it, but the moment the Red Thread was tied, he felt a sudden tremor in his heart, and an indescribable impulse surged up.
He inexplicably reached out and grabbed Zhu Wuwang's wrist!
Elder Xing?
Zhu Wuwang was taken aback, looked up at Xing Tian, his eyes glistening with tears, revealing a hint of shyness that he himself was unaware of.
Xing Tian looked down at Zhu Wuwang, and his heart skipped a beat.
He saw that the other person's mouth was stained with blood, their hair was disheveled, and their face was pale. Their pitiful and vulnerable appearance involuntarily stirred up a feeling of pity and unbearable sorrow in his heart.
"Such a delicate and pitiful little thing... she's really suffered today."
The thought startled him, but his hands didn't stop moving at all. Instead, he gently pulled Zhu Wuwang up from the ground.
He then wrapped his arm around her, and just like the domineering male protagonists in those female-oriented novels who would embrace an injured female protagonist, he lightly spun her around a few times on the spot.
Zhu Wuwang was pulled into his arms and froze for a moment.
He then inexplicably relaxed, even gently resting his head on Xing Tian's shoulder, his voice so soft it could melt water:
"Brother Xing... you... you're so kind..."
"Don't be afraid, I'm here."
Xing Tian lowered his head, his gaze so tender it could drown a person, his fingers gently brushing the stray hairs on Zhu Wuwang's forehead, his tone more affectionate than ever before.
I'm so sorry you had to suffer today, it's all my fault.
"It's not Brother Xing's fault, it's just that Wangwang is useless..."
"Nonsense, my Wangwang is the best in the whole world."
The two stood there, embracing each other, amidst the ruins of Crimson Flame Peak, whispering sweet nothings to each other, oblivious to everyone else.
"From now on, I promise I will never let you suffer even the slightest injustice again."
"Hmm... Wangwang listens to everything Brother Xing says."
"Sweetie, close your eyes, I'll take you home."
"Going home... with Brother Xing?"
"Of course, I'll spend the rest of my life with you."
"..."
Quiet.
A deathly silence.
A group of people were stunned to see two white-bearded old men whispering sweet nothings to each other.
Helian Jue gentle eyes widened unusually, as if he had witnessed some extraordinary spectacle, and the corners of his mouth twitched incessantly.
"No wonder Xing Tian is so protective of Zhu Wuwang; it turns out their relationship is so deep. You two should at least keep a distance from people."
The surrounding Peak Master and disciples were all petrified, their expressions contorted, as if struck by Heavenly Thunder and their souls left their bodies.
Oh my god!
My eyes are seeing something dirty; I'm going blind.
Someone had their mouth agape, their jaw almost dislocated.
Some people rubbed their eyes, wondering if they were under a spell.
Someone pinched their thigh, wincing in pain, only to realize it wasn't a dream.
The Pink Skull's charming smile froze completely on her face, and the fan in her hand fell to the ground with a "clatter," but she didn't even notice.
Although they were shocked and nauseous, they watched intently, not wanting to miss a single shot.
They could only watch helplessly as Xing Tian embraced Zhu Wuwang and they drifted away, all lovey-dovey.
Even Zhang Yu, the instigator, was twitching at the corner of his mouth and his eyelids were twitching.
Looking at the two men "embracing each other affectionately," he felt a chill run from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
What the hell is this evil magic?
Is the Red Thread of the Hong Yue truly this terrifying?
It doesn't harm the Physical Body or damage Cultivation, but it can directly attack the Divine Soul, distort cognition, and alter emotions, causing Xing Tian and Zhu Wuwang to stage an "epic love story" in front of everyone?!
This is even more devastating than killing them!
Even more terrifying!
"Red... Hong Yue..." Zhang Yu stammered in his mind, "Aren't you... going a little too far?"
Is it big?
Hong Yue chuckled, her voice filled with the joy of a successful prank:
"This is nothing! The Red Thread Binding Fate, Deeply Rooted Love; the effects won't fade in less than three days and three nights!"
"..."
Zhang Yu silently looked up at the sky.
He could almost see it all: three days from now, when Xing Tian and Zhu Wuwang regained their senses and recalled everything that had happened, how utterly devastated, how ashamed and indignant they would be, how... insane they would be to kill each other to cover their tracks.
And those witnesses around...
He slowly swept his gaze over the Peak Master and disciples, whose expressions were blank and whose eyes were empty.
From this day forward, the story of Elder Xing and Peak Master, which they could not tell, will likely be passed down through the ages within the Soul Refining Sect.
Helian Jue finally came to his senses. He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, as if trying to erase the absurd scene from his mind.
In mid-air, the faint whispers of Xing Tian and Zhu Wuwang could still be heard:
"Brother Xing, am I heavy?"
"So light, so fragile, like a feather."
"Then you'd better hold me tight, don't fall."
"I'd rather break myself than break my own delusions."
Everyone: "..."