Now, as he looked at the villagers glaring at him with fury, Yu Xiaogang, Tang San, and the others wore grim expressions.
Clearly, what was happening right before their eyes was completely beyond anything they had anticipated.
But they weren't willing to let Liu Yuan go.
Things had already reached this point. They had completely fallen out with Liu Yuan.
So they had to get rid of him.
Otherwise, if they left him alive and let him grow on his own,
with talent as terrifying as his, it wouldn't take many years for him to become one of the greatest experts on the Douluo Continent.
If Liu Yuan came after them for revenge then, how could they possibly stand against him?
At the thought, the killing intent in Yu Xiaogang and Tang San's hearts grew even stronger.
Though the villagers had exposed their true colors and left them somewhat embarrassed, there was no need to keep up the pretense now.
Yu Xiaogang and Tang San stepped forward with cold expressions. When they looked at the villagers again, their gazes had turned fierce. "If you don't want to die, hand him over. Otherwise, don't blame us for showing no mercy."
Yu Xiaogang and Tang San's words stirred the villagers' anger. They had already been furious when they learned that Yu Xiaogang and the others had ruined the village children's futures. And now they wanted to go after Liu Yuan too? This time, the villagers weren't going to put up with it. They glared at Yu Xiaogang and the others, ready to fight to the death.
Seeing this, Yu Xiaogang's lips curled in disdain. He snorted and said coolly, "So you're that eager to die? Fine. I'll grant your wish!"
With that, he gave Tang San a signal.
"Xiao San, teach them a good lesson!"
Tang San nodded to Yu Xiaogang.
Then, without another word, he summoned his Martial Soul, Blue Silver Grass, and sent it surging toward the villagers.
The villagers were swiftly overwhelmed.
Although they had the advantage in numbers, every one of them was an ordinary person without any Soul Power.
They were ordinary people with no combat training. What else could happen when they faced Soul Masters but an instant defeat?
Tang San's attack quickly subdued them all. The villagers were beaten until their skin split and they were badly wounded, but they remained unshakable and never gave up on Liu Yuan.
"Hmph! Regretting it now?"
"This is what happens when you oppose me, Yu Xiaogang!"
Yu Xiaogang looked thoroughly pleased with himself.
These commoners deserved to be dealt with this way.
He would make them understand that Soul Masters and ordinary people were like nobles and dogs. And dogs had to obey. Otherwise, whenever he wanted to kill them, he could do so!
"Stop! I'll go with you."
Liu Yuan couldn't bear to watch any longer.
He had considered rushing forward and fighting them himself.
But he understood the difference in strength between them all too well.
His talent of Innate Soul Power at level thirty was unprecedented, and his massive Scythe Martial Soul was incredibly powerful.
But those abilities had yet to be developed.
He had level thirty Innate Soul Power, but no Soul Ring. He couldn't defeat a single person on the other side.
So a reckless attack would accomplish nothing.
He could also protect himself by turning and running.
But if he did, he'd be betraying the villagers who had risked their lives to protect him.
So Liu Yuan made his choice.
He would sacrifice himself to save the villagers.
Wasn't Yu Xiaogang after his life?
Then come and take it!
He stepped forward and spoke coldly to Yu Xiaogang and the others.
"You should've done that from the start."
Yu Xiaogang smiled smugly.
He wished he could hear what Liu Yuan was thinking.
He had given Liu Yuan a chance earlier, but Liu Yuan hadn't appreciated it. Now look at him. He must regret it, didn't he?
But regret wouldn't help him now!
This was what happened when he opposed Yu Xiaogang!
Yu Xiaogang waved at Tang San.
At his command, Tang San quickly stopped.
Liu Yuan walked over to the village chief and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Chief. I got you all dragged into this. Take good care of yourselves from now on."
The village chief and the other villagers were all in tears.
"You can't go with them!"
Liu Yuan gave a bitter smile but said nothing more.
Right now, he was at their mercy.
As long as Yu Xiaogang and the others wanted, they could kill him and the villagers at any moment.
If he didn't go with them, what else could he do?
Wouldn't that only drag the villagers into suffering alongside him?
Liu Yuan sighed, then left with Yu Xiaogang and the others.
Yu Xiaogang and the others took him to a secluded place in the wilderness. There, they had Tang San, Dai Mubai, and several others take shovels and dig a large pit.
Yu Xiaogang looked at Liu Yuan with smug satisfaction and sneered, "I'll give you one last chance. Become my servant."
"But after what happened earlier, I don't trust you. I need you to take poison and obey my orders from now on. What do you say?"
Fury filled Liu Yuan's eyes. "Go to hell!"
Yu Xiaogang's expression darkened. He kicked Liu Yuan, who was bound hand and foot, and sent him tumbling into the pit. Then he sneered, "You don't know what's good for you. You're asking for death!"
"Bury him!"
"If he's so eager to die, then let him die!"
Tang San, Dai Mubai, and the others grabbed their shovels and piled dirt onto Liu Yuan, bit by bit.
Yu Xiaogang grinned triumphantly.
Liu Yuan's face was soon covered in sand. It filled not only his eyes and nose but his mouth as well.
He quickly struggled to breathe. The unbearable discomfort made him feel as though he would die at any moment.
But his heart was filled with hatred.
He hated Yu Xiaogang, Tang San, the Shrek Seven Devils, and Flender.
He hated everyone who had abused him today to the very core.
He hadn't done anything wrong, yet misfortune had still befallen him at every turn. In the end, he had been reduced to this wretched fate.
At last, he understood what it meant for the strong to prey on the weak, and what a true villain was.
If he had the strength, he would slaughter every last one of those damned wretches like Yu Xiaogang and Tang San!
But it was all just wishful thinking.
Liu Yuan was dying.
All he could do was let out a sorrowful sigh in his heart.
"I hate this!"
Then his consciousness began to fade.
Liu Yuan had already thought there was no hope for him.
He had resigned himself to a life of regret.
But to his surprise, at that moment, a deep voice suddenly sounded in his ear. Liu Yuan, already half-dead, seized on it like a lifeline and grew frantic.
"Boy, do you long for revenge? Do you long for power? If you do, I can help you. But you must take my place and become the next Death God."
Before you continue