"Hehe, mission accomplished at last! Let's see what excuses she has this time!"
Jiang Biyi grinned, her eyes curving into crescents as she turned to Ling Feng. "Hey, bad guy, since you helped me complete this mission, I'll make sure to reward you properly!"
Ling Feng chuckled dryly. "Let's just skip that. The best reward would be not running into you so often!"
"Dream on! With the Thread of Fate between us, you'll never shake me off!" She stuck out her tongue, bouncing excitedly in front of him. "Let's go!"
"Aren't you going to try wearing that ring?" Ling Feng raised an eyebrow.
"No way!" Jiang Biyi shook her head firmly. "She said I must never put it on until she allows it. Apparently, I need a few other things first to control its power."
Ling Feng nodded slightly. Despite her constant complaints about that woman, it was clear Jiang Biyi deeply respected her.
Without further delay, Ling Feng led Jiang Biyi back the way they came. With the spirit spring water completely drained, the bone-chilling cold in the cavern had begun to fade.
Meanwhile, outside the cavern.
Xue Ji and the others had long given up on meditating. The harsh environment—and the eerie gnawing sounds from the abyss—made it impossible to focus.
Wang Chuanjia and Bai Yuan, in particular, kept a wary eye on Xue Ji, fearing she might suddenly turn on them.
Though her strength was suppressed here, killing them would still be effortless for her.
Yet, oddly, Xue Ji hadn't even considered escaping.
Her fear of Ling Feng had seeped into her bones. She was convinced the slightest misstep would mean death.
Just as their attention was fixed below, movement came from above—something was descending the cliffs toward them!
Soon, a towering figure emerged from the darkness, landing on the platform outside the cavern.
Xue Ji's face lit up with relief. His arrival meant salvation!
Wang Chuanjia and Bai Yuan, however, tensed.
The Demonic Jiao Prince—the true leader of these demonic geniuses—was here!
More figures followed: Nightmare, Du Lang, and... their own General Cao Meng!
The rest of their group had likely served their purpose as cannon fodder, sacrificed along the way.
Wang Chuanjia and Bai Yuan cried out in unison—but Cao Meng no longer recognized them.
Du Lang, spotting Xue Ji alive, brightened instantly. "Xue Ji! You're okay!"
"Yes, and you ran away so bravely!"
Xue Ji's voice dripped with scorn. This was the same Du Lang who'd sworn undying devotion—only to flee at the first sign of danger.
"I—" Du Lang's face stiffened, fists clenching. But no excuses came.
"So you reached the spring first? No matter—the outcome remains unchanged."
The Demonic Jiao Prince swept his gaze across the group, eyes glinting coldly. "Which one of you is Ling Feng?"
His voice was sharper than the cavern's chill.
"Killing my kin, imprisoning Xue Ji, you humans have gall!"
With a snort, an overwhelming pressure crashed down.
Wang Chuanjia and Bai Yuan crumpled instantly, blood seeping from their noses and ears.
"Pathetic. Neither of you is Ling Feng."
The prince raised a hand, uttering a single word: "Die!"
The two mustered every ounce of strength to resist—but were still blasted into the cliff wall, coughing blood.
One word. Insta-kill!
This was the might of a Three-Headed Demonic Jiao, a true king beast bloodline genius.
The Demonic Jiao Prince was every bit the monster Yan Jinghong was—if not worse.
"Xue Ji." The prince's voice held no warmth. "I'll let you kill them yourself."
Only then did it become clear—he'd spared them momentarily just for Xue Ji's revenge.
"Thank you, Third Prince!"
Xue Ji's lips curled into a vicious smile as she advanced on Wang Chuanjia and Bai Yuan.
After enduring humiliation, she ached to make them pay—even if Ling Feng wasn't here to witness it.
"Xue Ji! You dare betray General Ling?!"
Wang Chuanjia's desperate shout struck like a blade.
At the mention of Ling Feng, Xue Ji froze.
Because suddenly, she knew—even with the prince here, even with a king-tier expert under their control...
They would still lose.
Ling Feng would slaughter them all.
"Third Prince..." She clenched her fists, voice wavering. "We... we should leave."
The prince's face twisted. A backhanded slap sent Xue Ji sprawling.
"You disgrace! A noble demon, cowering before humans?!"
Another slap cut her off, blood spraying from her lips.
"He's too strong!" she pleaded. "We shouldn't provoke—"
This time, the strike launched her into the wall.
The prince turned to Du Lang. "Kill them. All of them—including this failure."
Du Lang stiffened, eyes wide.
"Refuse, and you join them!" The prince's gaze was merciless. "A demon without pride doesn't deserve to live."
With a resigned sigh, Du Lang drew a curved blade, stepping toward Xue Ji and the humans.
"Xue Ji... you shouldn't have angered him." His voice softened. "But dying by my hand is better than being a human's slave."
The blade gleamed as he closed in.
Killing them would be as easy as breathing.