"The Great Witch Altar!"

Faced with a pincer attack from two Top Sky Apex Strongs, Liu Xiling's expression became extremely grim. She sliced open her palm, and the blood that flowed out rapidly solidified on her fair skin, forming a blood seal.

The crimson True Qi coalesced into an ancient altar, appearing as if out of thin air.

BANG!

Three terrifying attacks shot in from three directions, then violently collided.

Under the combined assault of Xu Feihong and Shentu Yan, the ancient altar began to waver precariously, a large hole was blasted into it, and then it exploded.

Taking advantage of the clash, Ling Chen quickly collected the rare items enveloped in orbs of light and stored them in his Heavenly Mansion Ring.

Although these items might be considered the least valuable within the Human Emperor's Palace, that was only by comparison. If taken outside, they would undoubtedly incite a bloodbath.

These were all treasures of a rare quality.

SWOOSH!

From the aftermath of the explosion, a figure shot out, darting towards the main hall's entrance.

"Trying to escape?"

Xu Feihong saw Liu Xiling attempting to flee the main hall and was about to give chase. However, Shentu Yan, with a flash, appeared behind Ling Chen.

"Witch, if you dare to run again, I'll kill your son."

Shentu Yan's palm, like a knife, pressed against Ling Chen's neck.

Stopping at the hall's entrance, Liu Xiling sneered, "Shentu Yan, it seems old habits die hard indeed."

"Master Shentu, what are you doing?"

Seeing Shentu Yan ignore Liu Xiling and instead take Ling Chen captive, Xu Feihong's face darkened, and he shouted sternly.

"Brother Xu, why such a fuss? Exchanging a mere disciple for the life of the Saintess of the Saint Witch Religion—isn't that a worthy trade?"

A smirk played on the corners of Shentu Yan's mouth.

"Stop!"

Xu Feihong's eyes narrowed. "Master Shentu, I cannot agree with your words. If we do this, what difference is there between us and the Demon Way?"

"Well, since Brother Xu has said so, let's drop it."

The murderous intent in Shentu Yan's eyes receded. He loosened the palm-knife from Ling Chen's neck and then walked towards Xu Ruoyan. "Actually, I was just saying that to trick the witch. Ling Chen is a rare disciple of my Divine Intent Sect, one seen only once in hundreds of years. How could I possibly kill him?"

What a hypocritical man.

Ling Chen's brows furrowed. This Shentu Yan was truly terrifying. Anyone deceived by his righteous facade would undoubtedly meet a miserable end.

"Brother Xu, the treasures in the Human Emperor's Palace have mostly been divided. It seems we two have benefited the most. You give me half of the Breaking Sky Spirit Liquid, and I will share the Supreme martial arts within this Void Emperor's royal decree with you. How about it?" Shentu Yan asked with a grin.

"This..."

Xu Feihong hesitated.

"What, don't tell me Brother Xu isn't interested in cultivating the martial arts from this Void Emperor's royal decree?" Shentu Yan handed the Void Emperor's royal decree to Xu Feihong, the smile on his face deepening. "After all, the Breaking Sky Spirit Liquid can only strengthen our Sect's power. However, the martial arts in this Void Emperor's royal decree might allow us to touch upon the Saint Realm... If Brother Xu agrees, I can even let you be the first to comprehend the martial arts within..."

Xu Feihong hesitated for a moment but couldn't resist the temptation and reached out to take the Void Emperor's royal decree from Shentu Yan's hand.

At that very instant, a strange smile surfaced on the corners of Shentu Yan's mouth.

Oh no, it's a trap!

Ling Chen's expression changed.

The moment he grasped the Void Emperor's royal decree, Xu Feihong abruptly withdrew his hand. He looked down at his palm and saw a tiny black needle prick on his middle finger.

In the blink of an eye, his entire palm had turned a ghastly blue-black.

"Poison?"

Xu Feihong's expression changed dramatically. He instantly understood that he had been ambushed by Shentu Yan.

"Heh heh, Brother Xu, you've realized a bit too late. This is Heavenly Shadow Poison. Once afflicted, there is no cure."

Shentu Yan grinned. Before Xu Feihong could react, he fiercely struck Xu Feihong's chest, sending him flying backward, vomiting blood.

"Senior Xu!"

Ling Chen was burning with anxiety. He watched Xu Feihong get ambushed by Shentu Yan, yet he was powerless to help.

He was currently incapable of intervening in a battle between Top Sky Apex Strongs.

At this moment, an alluring figure appeared beside him and grabbed his wrist; it was Liu Xiling.

"Let's go!"

Without another word, Liu Xiling pulled Ling Chen, intending to leave the Human Emperor's Palace.

"Mother, we can't leave yet! Please, save Senior Xu! He is Yan'er's father."

Ling Chen pulled Liu Xiling's hand back, speaking urgently.

"It's useless. He's been afflicted with Heavenly Shadow Poison; saving him would be futile."

Liu Xiling shook her head.

"But I was also afflicted by Heavenly Shadow Poison before, so why am I fine? There must be a way."

Ling Chen gritted his teeth; he couldn't bring himself to stand by and watch someone die without helping.

"The Heavenly Shadow Poison is extremely potent. Even Top Sky Apex Strongs cannot withstand it. The life force in their bodies will gradually dissipate, leading them step by step towards death."

Liu Xiling reached out and pinched the Blood Jade on Ling Chen's neck. "You survived because of this Divine Dragon Jade on you. Otherwise, even ten lives wouldn't have been enough to save you."

"Then I'll lend him the power of this Divine Dragon Jade to help him expel the poison."

Ling Chen was still unwilling to give up. Xu Feihong was Xu Ruoyan's father; he had to save his life, no matter what, even if there was only a sliver of hope.

"That's impossible. Even I can't control the power of the Divine Dragon Jade, so how could you?" Liu Xiling sighed. She knew her son was kind-hearted, but not all things could be changed by one's ability alone. Since it had already happened, the only option was to devise the most sensible countermeasure, not act on emotion.

While Ling Chen stubbornly refused to leave, Xu Feihong was already steadily losing ground. He had been ambushed with Heavenly Shadow Poison and then struck by Shentu Yan's full-powered palm, which had cost him more than half of his strength.

SPLAT!

Shentu Yan grinned maliciously. A venomous short blade suddenly appeared from his sleeve, and he viciously plunged it into Xu Feihong's heart.

"Brother Xu, my apologies. I didn't initially want to kill you, but... you were too much in the way."

SPLAT!

Pulling out the poisoned blade, Shentu Yan snatched Xu Feihong's Storage Ring, then grabbed him by the collar and forcefully threw his body towards Ling Chen.

Xu Feihong's body crashed down in front of Ling Chen.

The dignified Palace Master of Sky Void Palace, a titan of the Martial World, had thus fallen.

What Xu Feihong could never have imagined was that he wouldn't die at the hands of fiends from the Demon Way, but at the hands of Shentu Yan—someone he considered 'one of his own'.

"Senior Xu!"

Ling Chen knelt and supported Xu Feihong. However, at this point, the latter only had his last breath remaining.

"Ling... Ling Chen, lad..."

Xu Feihong, using all his strength, gripped Ling Chen's sleeve and quavered, "Yan'er... I entrust her to you... You must... help me take good... care of her..."

"I will."

Ling Chen nodded, forcibly holding back his grief. Although Xu Feihong was not his kin, he was a senior in the Jianghu whom Ling Chen had always respected, a true pillar of the Martial World.

Besides, if Xu Ruoyan learned of this, he couldn't imagine how heartbroken she would be.