Chapter 16 Despair

"So it's a summoning token from the Cold Flame Sect. Speaking of which, I've long admired the reputation of the Seventh Miss as the foremost beauty of Bright Moon City. Seeing you today, you are indeed as beautiful as jade." The sinister young man's gaze fell on the purple-gold token, he grinned, then looked at the Seventh Miss again, a hint of admiration flickering across his face.

"I don't care who you are. Leave the Yu residence immediately, or you will be openly opposing the Cold Flame Sect." The Seventh Miss felt a bit more emboldened when she saw that he recognized the token in her hand.

"Seventh Miss, so you've been chosen by the Cold Flame Sect!" The black-clad young woman and the other two Yu family retainers, who had originally planned to stay out of it, perked up at this sight.

The Yu family members also felt a glimmer of hope.

"Haha! The Cold Flame Sect, is it that great?" The sinister young man suddenly burst into wild laughter.

"How dare you despise the Cold Flame Sect!" The Seventh Miss's face darkened as she shouted sternly.

"Despise? You're not even an official disciple of the Cold Flame Sect yet, just holding a summoning token. Even if you were, so what?" The sinister young man sneered, flipped his hand, and produced a black token, similar in size to Yu Qi's purple-gold one, engraved with a silver skull pattern.

"This... is an inner disciple token of the Heavenly Ghost Sect! You are from the Heavenly Ghost Sect!" Yu Qi's expression changed.

"The Heavenly Ghost Sect, equal in fame to the Cold Flame Sect!"

The black-clad young woman and the other two gasped, exchanged glances, and fell silent without a word.

"Even if you are a disciple of the Heavenly Ghost Sect, Feng State is territory under the Cold Flame Sect. By invading rashly, are you trying to provoke a war between the two sects?" The Seventh Miss seemed to think of something, and some color returned to her face.

"Heh, the Seventh Miss is indeed eloquent. But unfortunately, you got one thing wrong." The sinister young man said contemptuously.

The Seventh Miss was momentarily stunned.

"To tell you the truth, the Cold Flame Sect lost to our sect in the last competition and has already handed over control of Feng State. Now the entire Feng State is under the Heavenly Ghost Sect's power." The sinister young man said with a cruel smile.

Yu Qi was thunderstruck, completely frozen.

The black-clad woman and the other two Yu family retainers also showed shock, unconsciously stepping back, deliberately distancing themselves from the Yu family.

The Yu family members' expressions were even more grim, their hearts sinking.

Even if they knew little about the cultivation world, they could glean the gist from the conversation between the Seventh Miss and the sinister young man.

"Oh, and I forgot one more thing. I think the Seventh Miss will be very interested." A strange glint appeared in the sinister young man's eyes, and a malicious smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

"What?" Yu Qi's heart sank. She vaguely guessed that what the sinister young man was about to say was not good, but she couldn't help asking.

"Some members of the Feng State royal family and ministers dared to disobey our Heavenly Ghost Sect's orders. They were arrested, convicted of treason, and beheaded in Fengjing yesterday. Among them were Prime Minister Yu and his two sons, who were civil officials." The sinister young man stared into the Seventh Miss's eyes, enunciating each word.

"Father! Eldest Brother, Third Brother!" The Seventh Miss's vision went black, her body swayed, and she fell to the ground. The token in her hand clattered to the floor.

The other Yu family members also showed despair upon hearing this. The dignified women could no longer hold back their sobs, collapsing to the ground.

Moments ago, they were esteemed members of the Prime Minister's residence, revered by the world. In an instant, disaster struck: the Prime Minister was killed, their family was ruined, and they were reduced to fish on the chopping block.

"Haha... haha!"

Seeing the Seventh Miss's expression, the sinister young man's cheeks flushed, his eyes showed morbid excitement, and he laughed maniacally, as if insane.

Driving people into the abyss of despair and then savoring their shattered, helpless expressions was his favorite pastime.

After laughing wildly for a while, the flush on the sinister young man's face gradually faded. He waved his hand and coldly ordered:

"Kill all these people. Leave this Seventh Miss alive."

The surrounding black-clad men answered in unison and walked toward the Yu family with sinister grins.

The black-clad woman and the other two retainers had already lowered their heads and stepped aside, seemingly planning to find a chance to slip away. The sinister young man smirked triumphantly but did not stop them.

"Hehe, Young Master Qi has good taste. This woman hasn't cultivated yet, but since the Cold Flame Sect directly issued her a summoning token and planned to take her in, her aptitude must be good. She's perfect as your cauldron." A black-clad man sidled up to the sinister young man, flattering him.

The sinister young man burst into another fit of wild laughter.

The Seventh Miss shuddered, her eyes clearing. A resolute look flashed across her face. Her left hand brushed her waist, producing a gleaming dagger, and she stabbed it fiercely toward her heart.

The sinister young man's smile froze. He hadn't expected her to be so fierce; it was too late for him to stop her.

Whoosh!

A sound of breaking air, a sharp wind shot over, striking the dagger in the Seventh Miss's hand.

With a clang, the dagger was knocked away and fell to the ground.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh! Several more sharp winds sounded, striking at the black-clad men about to massacre the Yu family.

A series of screams rang out. The sharp winds were incredibly powerful; several black-clad men were hit and flew back, spitting blood.

The others stopped in their tracks, startled.

"Who is it!"

The sinister young man shouted sharply, turning abruptly to look at a nearby intersection.

The others also looked over.

Footsteps sounded, and several figures emerged from there, walking slowly. They were Han Li, White Stone Elder, and the others.

The sinister young man narrowed his eyes, looking them over. His gaze lingered briefly on Han Li before quickly shifting to White Stone Elder.

"White Stone Elder!"

"Elder, save us!"

The Yu family members, who had been resigned to death, now saw the appearance of White Stone Elder, a Core Formation cultivator, as a lifeline, and hope surged within them again.

"Miss!"

Xiao Wu, ignoring the black-clad men, rushed to Yu Qi's side and helped her up.

"Xiao Wu."

The Seventh Miss looked at the old Daoist in the distance with a complex expression.

Although White Stone Elder was a Core Formation expert, the Red Robe Superior earlier was also at Core Formation, yet he was easily killed by the sinister young man in one move. White Stone Elder might not be a match for the enemy before them.

Her eyes suddenly flickered, landing on Han Li.

Han Li's appearance hadn't changed at all, but his eyes no longer held any confusion; instead, his whole being exuded a calm composure.

"So you're White Stone Elder? Hmph! I advise you, if you value your life, don't meddle!" The sinister young man stared at White Stone Elder, black light suddenly flaring around him, and a vast pressure burst forth.

The sharp winds just now were extremely powerful, yet they were formless and intangible, as if appearing out of nowhere.

Although the sinister young man was well-traveled, he couldn't guess how those sharp winds were produced. He felt a hint of wariness toward White Stone Elder and released his spiritual pressure, hoping to make him back off.

White Stone Elder trembled, a flicker of fear in his eyes.

The pressure emitted by the sinister young man had reached the mid Core Formation stage. He himself was only at early Core Formation, far from a match for this person. He couldn't help glancing sideways at Han Li.

He had seen clearly that those sharp winds were just a few casual finger strikes from this 'Senior Han.'

Han Li wore an ambiguous smile and said nothing.

A chill ran down the old Daoist's spine, and he quickly made a decision. He spoke out with righteous indignation: "Hmph! Since I am a retainer of the Yu residence, how can I stand idly by! You people are audacious, committing such slaughter—it's utterly against the laws of heaven!"

The sinister young man's face contorted with rage. "Fine, since you're tired of living, die together!"

As he spoke, he raised his hand, and the white bone blade shot out, slashing toward White Stone Elder.

At the same time, his hand seals changed, and the bone blade suddenly erupted in a blaze of white light, within which appeared the phantom images of countless white skulls. The sound of wailing ghosts and howling wolves was incessant, and the momentum was immense.