"Yulai..."
High in the sky, Leng Yaozhu staggered, momentarily dazed.
"How could it be Yulai... How could Yulai have become an Evil Soul Master... and even one of the Dark Heavenly Kings..."
Leng Yaozhu's mind went blank.
At that moment,
in a residential complex on the ground, surrounded by their layers of encirclement, Leng Yulai stood in black robes. Knowing there was no escape, she had removed her black hood, revealing her dark red hair and face.
Leng Yaozhu recognized her at a glance. Although her face had changed greatly since all those years ago, she was undoubtedly her younger sister, Leng Yulai!
"It's actually her..."
Beside her, Yun Ming also recognized Leng Yulai and instinctively glanced sideways at Leng Yaozhu.
"Deputy Pagoda Master Leng, leave the main work here to Hall Master Chen and me. Just hold the perimeter so these two don't escape."
"Don't worry. I want her alive. I won't kill her now."
Yun Ming gave her these instructions.
Because of Cai Yue'er, Yun Ming was now fully alert and exceedingly cautious.
Although he had recognized Leng Yulai, Yun Ming would never let her go.
He could not let anyone else come to harm because of these two Dark Heavenly Kings.
Otherwise, the reckoning Shrek faced afterward would be even harsher.
"All right..."
Her face pale, Leng Yaozhu forced herself to calm down and retreated a little.
Leng Yaozhu knew that Yun Ming's actions already carried a hint of guarding against her.
Besides, with the two Quasi-Gods, Yun Ming and Chen Xinjie, joining forces now, Leng Yaozhu knew that even if she intended to let Yulai escape, she lacked the ability.
The sight of their brief conversation,
however, took on an entirely different meaning in Leng Yulai's eyes down on the ground.
"Heh... Even now, Yun Ming still wants to protect you? Sister, what a fine way to kill someone and destroy her heart..."
Leng Yulai's gaze turned cold and sinister, fully kindling her resolve to resist to the death.
Yun Ming did not know that his precautionary actions had only provoked Leng Yulai further.
Leng Yulai and Na Nali each held a child in their hands. At the same time, dark red threads extended from their bodies, winding around every resident in the complex.
This was also why Yun Ming had not acted immediately. These two Dark Heavenly Kings had taken the entire residential complex hostage.
Compared with Leng Yulai's composure,
Na Nali beside her was already trembling all over in terror.
"You two, I'll give you one last warning. Stop this pointless resistance!"
In midair,
Chen Xinjie roared angrily.
"You've already caused over a hundred casualties and nearly killed one of my War God Temple's War Gods. If you take any more lives, I'll make sure you die horribly!"
Dark Bell Na Nali's voice trembled. "All of this started because of Cai Yue'er! We're not to blame!"
"Our terms are simple. Let us go! We guarantee these people will be fine!"
Chen Xinjie's gaze darkened.
What a joke.
This was Mingdu!
With Chen Xinjie and Yun Ming working together here, if they let these women escape, the Federation's citizens would smash the War God Temple and Shrek to pieces the next day!
Chen Xinjie steeled himself and turned to exchange a glance with Yun Ming.
There was absolutely no way they could let these two Dark Heavenly Kings go now.
In truth, Chen Xinjie was also deeply frustrated.
He knew Long Yeyue could be somewhat willful, but he had never imagined that Cai Yue'er would actually collude with the Holy Spirit Cult!
He, Chen Xinjie, had just ordered the pursuit of Long Xiaoyao and Ye Zhaolu. In a sense, he had practically been Cai Yue'er's accomplice!
If he let these two Dark Heavenly Kings escape today, how could he continue serving as hall master?
Yun Ming and Chen Xinjie briefly exchanged glances, finishing their silent discussion of a plan.
Yun Ming nodded. "All right! I agree, but release everyone else first.
"Just take one hostage with you. I'll order Mingdu's soul-guidance array to open a gap. Leave that hostage behind when you depart."
With that,
Yun Ming waved his hand,
and the encirclement suddenly parted to reveal an escape route.
Na Nali smiled and looked at Leng Yulai. "Wonderful! Dark Phoenix, we can get out!"
Leng Yulai merely sneered. "Even now, you still think Yun Ming will let us go? Idiot!"
Dark Bell Na Nali panicked. Just as she was about to question her, space suddenly seemed to freeze.
"Atlas Domain!"
Yun Ming's terrifying Soul Power instantly unfurled!
Buzz!
Dark Bell Na Nali immediately felt her body freeze. The surrounding space seemed locked solid, and even the Soul Power inside her had frozen!
Yun Ming's domain could control space, and one of its properties was sealing off flight. Now, he deliberately controlled the space surrounding the two Dark Heavenly Kings.
He had even deployed his four-word Battle Armor, [Holy Spirit Atlas], to strengthen this control and ensure nothing could go wrong.
Not only Dark Bell-even Leng Yulai, who possessed the Divine Shuttle of Space and Time, could not escape!
"Sourceless Pure Water Barrier!"
The instant Yun Ming acted, Chen Xinjie also struck with all his strength. In a flash, every hostage present was enclosed in a sphere of water, ensuring they would not be injured.
"This is bad!"
Na Nali's pupils contracted slightly.
She had never expected Yun Ming to trick her, exploiting the momentary lapse in her attention after agreeing to her demands to switch straight into combat mode!
"Atlas, shoot down the sun!"
Yun Ming hurled his spear with one hand and all his might!
The terrifying Atlas Spear shot out, instantly piercing Na Nali's body and pinning her to the ground!
Meanwhile,
Chen Xinjie struck at the same time, his terrifying ocean Soul Power slamming viciously into Leng Yulai, who had no way to escape!
Boom!
The battle ended in an instant.
Na Nali lowered her head in disbelief. Her chest, abdomen, and Soul Core had all been pierced, and her presence instantly weakened.
In her agony, she tried to kill the child in her hand, but Yun Ming had already closed in and snatched the child away.
At the same time, he landed a solid punch on her chest, knocking Dark Bell unconscious outright.
On the other side,
under Chen Xinjie's full-powered attack, Leng Yulai was likewise severely wounded and blasted to the ground, blood trickling from the corner of her mouth.
Chen Xinjie stepped forward, instantly took the Super Divine Artifact from her hand, and seized her with one hand.
Against Quasi-Gods, the two Dark Heavenly Kings had no power to resist and were captured outright.
Holding the women, Yun Ming and Chen Xinjie stayed where they were as reporters at the scene immediately snapped pictures like mad, recording the moment.
They had no choice.
Yun Ming and Chen Xinjie exchanged a glance, bitterness filling their hearts.
Cai Yue'er had played them both. Now they had to manufacture some publicity to restore their respective organizations' reputations.
"All the recent trouble arose from my errors in judgment. On behalf of Shrek, I, Yun Ming, apologize to the public."
After speaking, Yun Ming bent at the waist and bowed toward the cameras.
Chen Xinjie did the same.
Watching this from the sky, Leng Yaozhu turned her head away.
She now understood. These two could clearly have defeated the Dark Heavenly Kings instantly, yet they had deliberately prolonged the standoff without capturing them, all to wait for the reporters to arrive!
Yun Ming... How did you become like this...
Disappointment swept through Leng Yaozhu's heart.
The Yun Ming she remembered had been a young hero who dared to openly oppose the Federation.
Yet now, for the sake of publicity and reputation, he had turned so many people's lives into his stage!
Just then,
Qiangu Dongfeng called.
"Yaozhu, I just received word. How is one of these Dark Heavenly Kings your sister Yulai?!"
"Hurry and make things clear to the cameras. State that Leng Yulai severed all ties with our Spirit Pagoda long ago. Ideally, give Yulai a vicious beating on camera. You absolutely must distance us from her!"
"Don't just stay silent! Hurry up and go! This is for your Leng Clan's sake too!"
Qiangu Dongfeng's tone was urgent.
Qiangu Dongfeng was practically exploding with rage.
He had sent Leng Yaozhu to assist with the case precisely to boost the Spirit Pagoda's favor with the public.
Instead, he had fucking lifted a rock only to smash his own foot.
Who could have imagined that one of these Dark Heavenly Kings was actually Leng Yaozhu's own younger sister!
Listening to the voice over the phone, Leng Yaozhu fell silent.
Crack.
Leng Yaozhu crushed the phone in anger and was about to leave.
But after taking a deep breath, she still steeled herself and flew down.
She too stood before the cameras, helplessly bowing in apology.
Li Chen and Gu Yue watched the live television broadcast together, both somewhat surprised.
"Fellow disciples disown fellow disciples, siblings cut down siblings. Heh... To reach the upper ranks of humanity, you really do have to be shameless."
Gu Yue was inwardly impressed as well.
Humans truly had not climbed to the top of the food chain by eating for free.