Yao Ling'er took it all in, and at this moment, she seemed to have lost her soul.
Her eyes reddened.
Her feet felt so heavy she could barely lift them, accompanied by an overwhelming terror.
She was now absolutely certain that her two senior brothers were dead, and that not even their bodies could be recovered.
This Martial Arts Hall before her looked utterly ordinary, yet it concealed deadly danger. It was a place that devoured people without even spitting out their bones.
"Pfft!"
At last, overwhelmed by anxiety and rage, she spat out a mouthful of blood. Her slender jade hand braced itself against the nearby wall, while her bewitching face turned deathly pale.
"Hmm?"
Yi Feng, who had been directing Zhong Qing to clean up, happened to see this. After hesitating for a moment, he walked toward Yao Ling'er.
"Miss, are you all right?"
Yi Feng wore a gentle smile as he asked softly. He guessed she was some neighborhood girl who had fallen ill. Since they were neighbors, he would help if he could.
Yao Ling'er wiped the blood from the corner of her lips and suddenly looked up, immediately seeing Yi Feng's face.
Her lovely countenance instantly changed color. Her face turned incomparably pale, and she stumbled back two steps in panic.
Though that face appeared utterly ordinary and even wore a gentle smile, to her, another terrifying face lurked behind that smile.
She had not forgotten that this very person had ordered that boy to use the Swift Cloak to wipe away dust. This very person had treated the remains of Senior Brother Jing Wufeng as food for his pet. And the Sky Shaking Stone used to fill the steps at the entrance was probably this man's arm as well.
Devil!
That was how she defined Yi Feng in her heart.
"Are you really all right? Why not come inside and sit for a while?" Yi Feng asked with concern.
"No, no, there's no need." The moment Yi Feng invited her inside, Yao Ling'er's pretty face changed drastically, filled with panic. Ignoring the severe injuries caused by her turmoil, she dragged her heavy steps away in frantic retreat.
Right now, she only wanted to flee this place, flee this human's sight, and return to the Black Tortoise Sect as quickly as possible to report everything here to Ning Xuanwu.
"Do I really look that scary?"
Watching Yao Ling'er's panicked retreat, Yi Feng touched his face, completely bewildered.
After leaving Yi Feng, Yao Ling'er hurried back to the Black Tortoise Sect without stopping for even a moment. By the time she returned, even with her cultivation, she was nearly exhausted.
When the disciples of the Black Tortoise Sect saw Yao Ling'er's anxious and bedraggled appearance, they were utterly shocked.
To them, Yao Ling'er had always been Ning Xuanwu's Personal Disciple, lofty and untouchable, blessed with both beauty and wisdom. When had they ever seen her so flustered and distraught?
News of Yao Ling'er's return quickly reached the upper ranks. Thus, by the time she rushed into the main hall, all the elders, including Ning Xuanwu, were already seated and waiting.
"What happened?"
Ning Xuanwu's brows were tightly furrowed, his gaze fixed sharply on Yao Ling'er. Seeing her in such a state, an ominous feeling rose within him as well.
"Master."
"Senior Brother Jing Wuchen and Senior Brother Jing Wufeng, they..."
Yao Ling'er's eyes reddened. Her seductive body trembled, and the terror in her gaze had yet to fade.
"What happened to them?!"
Ning Xuanwu's pupils contracted as he asked in a low voice.
"The two senior brothers have already been harmed by that man from the Martial Arts Hall." Yao Ling'er's voice trembled with boundless grief and indignation.
"What?"
Upon hearing this, everyone in the Black Tortoise Sect, Ning Xuanwu included, underwent a drastic change in expression.
"Then how, exactly, did they die?" Ning Xuanwu forcefully suppressed his rage. His voice was hoarse as he enunciated each word: "I want you to tell me every detail you know!"
"I don't know." Yao Ling'er shook her head in sorrow. "But I only know that Senior Brother Jing Wuchen's remains are completely gone. Only Senior Brother Jing Wufeng, because he cultivated the sect's divine technique, had one bone left behind."
The moment Yao Ling'er's words fell—
The entire hall sank into deathly silence. Apart from Yao Ling'er, Jing Wuchen and Jing Wufeng had been the Black Tortoise Sect's hope for the future.
But now, between the two of them, only a single bone remained.
This news was simply too devastating a blow to the Black Tortoise Sect.
"What is even more hateful is that Senior Brother Jing Wufeng was humiliated even after death. The only bone he left behind was used by that man as food for his pet." Yao Ling'er bit down on her crimson lips, her voice filled with hatred. Whenever she recalled that dog carrying the bone in its mouth, she felt unable to breathe.
That had been the senior brother who had grown up by her side since childhood!
Bang!
Once this news came out, Ning Xuanwu could no longer remain calm either. He slammed his palm down, and the stone table beside him instantly shattered into powder.
Towering fury spread from his body.
This was simply going too far!
His two Personal Disciples had died such miserable deaths, and even after death, they had been treated as food for a pet. To Ning Xuanwu, this was an unbearable humiliation.
That single palm strike left everyone too afraid to even breathe loudly.
"Then... where are my two treasures?"
At last, Ning Xuanwu asked again in a deep voice. At this moment, his voice was the only sound left in the entire hall.
Before you continue