Ding~
Just as Chen Jiaojiao's flying sword pierced her chest, a burst of force suddenly struck her wrist.
Her wrist went numb, and the sword clattered to the ground.
Liang Chen's cold voice followed.
"Want to die?"
"Without my permission, you can't even die."
Chen Jiaojiao's expression changed, and her spiritual sense instantly broke out of her body.
The sword on the ground seemed to be seized by an invisible hand, shooting straight back at her chest.
"Get lost!"
Liang Chen frowned, bellowing.
With his roar, a tyrannical power burst forth, knocking the sword away before it could pierce Chen Jiaojiao's body.
Just as she was about to try again, Liang Chen appeared beside her like a ghost.
In the next instant, her neck tightened—he had lifted her up with a single hand around her throat.
Her pale neck quickly turned red, then purple.
A crushing force invaded her body, suppressing her spiritual power completely.
Once her strength was sealed, she was no different from an ordinary mortal.
No matter how she struggled, she could not break free in the slightest.
Liang Chen's gaze swept over her body, the lecherous look on his face growing stronger, until finally his eyes fixed on her beautiful face.
"I told you, without my permission, you can't even die."
As he spoke, he glanced at Qian Yu, who had just walked up beside him. "Brother Qian Yu, care to join me?"
"Excellent!"
Qian Yu laughed heartily.
"I think the two of you had better consider your situation first."
Before they could act further, a voice suddenly came from behind them without warning.
The sudden sound startled both men.
As if scalded, they instantly released Chen Jiaojiao and leapt forward several dozen zhang.
Only after confirming that the speaker wasn't chasing did they finally exhale and turn back with dark expressions.
"Wang Jianqiang, it's you!"
When they saw the figure behind them, both froze, disbelief flashing in their eyes.
Wang Jianqiang had actually come straight to them on his own!
Had he gone mad?
Did he want to die?
Then realization struck.
"Wang Jianqiang, you fool! I was just worrying about how to find you, and now you walk right into our hands!"
"Hahaha, you've saved us quite a bit of trouble."
Liang Chen stared at Wang Jianqiang with malicious glee.
Though Qian Yu didn't speak, the greed and killing intent in his eyes said everything.
"Pathetic."
Seeing them act as though he were already dead, Wang Jianqiang only sneered, not wasting words.
He raised a finger, and a streak of emerald-green sword qi vanished into the void.
Silently, an array descended, trapping the two men inside.
"A formation? No…this is a spell!"
Liang Chen and Qian Yu froze, stunned.
This useless old man actually had such profound means?
After the Wood Sword Array took shape, Wang Jianqiang didn't stop.
His finger flicked again.
A spark of fire sank into the formation.
In the next moment, the great array of wood was engulfed in sea of flames.
Scorching fire instantly consumed the two within.
Only now did they fully realize the danger.
Agonizing pain twisted their faces, their screams ringing out miserably.
"Impossible! How can you be this strong?!"
"Aren't you only at the third level of Qi Refining???"
"You hid your strength!"
"No~ we were wrong, spare us…"
"Grandfather~!"
…
Inside the formation, the screams grew weaker and weaker.
Wang Jianqiang stood cold-faced, watching until the two were completely consumed by the flames.
Even when his power had been suppressed, he had fended off Wu Feng and Wu Yan with ease.
Though Liang Chen and Qian Yu were stronger, he no longer had the jade stone holding him back.
With his full strength unleashed, just two overlapping arrays were enough to kill them outright.
Crack!
At that moment, a sound came from behind.
Wang Jianqiang turned.
Niu Shouren was fleeing in panic.
That noise had come from him accidentally stepping on and crushing a stalk of ice grass.
"My dear nephew-in-law, where are you rushing off to in such a hurry?"
"Running away without even saying goodbye to your uncle?"
Wang Jianqiang pointed a finger, sending the Perfect Yunshui Cold Light Sword streaking through the air.
In just a few breaths, it caught up to Niu Shouren, blocking his path.
Though its power was restrained, the sword's natural chill seeped out, making his body stiffen.
Even frost spread across his skin.
Niu Shouren's face turned ashen.
He collapsed to his knees in terror, kowtowing frantically.
"Uncle Wang, spare me~"
"Uncle Wang, please have mercy!"
"Think of me as your nephew-in-law—I'm nothing but a fart to you, let me go~"
"I'll never dare again!"
Wang Jianqiang sighed softly. "Shouren, to know one's faults and correct them is the greatest virtue. I'm gratified that you realized your mistake so quickly."
Sensing the softened tone, Niu Shouren's eyes lit up with hope.
"But there's one principle I need you to understand."
Wang Jianqiang's voice continued.
"Uncle Wang, please say it. Shouren will surely abide." Niu Shouren answered eagerly.
Wang Jianqiang nodded. "The principle is simple: no matter who it is, if they make a mistake, they must bear the consequences. Do you understand?"
"I understand, Uncle Wang, I understand." Niu Shouren nodded desperately. "I'll remember it always."
"No, you don't understand."
Wang Jianqiang shook his head, pointing his finger.
A flash of swordlight.
Niu Shouren's chest was pierced through, icy power erupting.
Before blood could even flow, his entire body froze into an ice sculpture.
Inside the ice, his face still carried a vivid look of despair.
"You've already committed a mistake worthy of death—what future is there to discuss with me?"
"Shouren, you were foolish."
Wang Jianqiang coldly glanced at the frozen figure, then kicked it over.
The statue shattered into dozens of pieces.
After killing Niu Shouren, Wang Jianqiang turned toward Chen Jiaojiao.
From beginning to end, she had only stood frozen.
Only when she felt his gaze did she snap back from her daze.
"Why didn't you run?" Wang Jianqiang asked coldly.
Chen Jiaojiao gave a bitter smile. "If you don't wish me to live, then even if I ran, I couldn't escape."
Wang Jianqiang looked at her for a moment, then waved his hand.
Bang~
An invisible force struck her.
She spat blood, flying back several dozen zhang before crashing heavily to the ground.
Her face turned deathly pale, her aura collapsing to the brink.
But Wang Jianqiang didn't strike again.
"Conduct yourself well."
He glanced at her lightly, then turned away.
Chen Jiaojiao was greedy, but she had no killing intent.
Her crime was not worthy of death, though punishment was inevitable.
If she survived this blow, their enmity would be ended. If not, then it would end in her death.
Behind him.
Chen Jiaojiao stared at his departing back.
There was no anger on her face, no hatred toward Wang Jianqiang.
Only endless regret.
But as Wang Jianqiang had said—
Everyone must bear the cost of their mistakes.
Now that she had taken that step, there was no going back between her and Wang Jianqiang.
…
Above the endless snowy plains.
A lone figure fled in desperation.
Behind her, six figures pursued with murderous intent.
"Wang Yuyao, hand over the artifact! Such a treasure is not yours to keep!"
Wang Yuyao ignored the threats behind her, teeth clenched as she flew.
Yet among the pursuers, one man's strength far surpassed hers, and he was closing in quickly.
Half an incense stick later—
He was less than thirty zhang away.
She thrust out her finger.
A bird's cry split the air.
An icebird, lifelike and gleaming, instantly took form.
In the blink of an eye, it crossed the gap, appearing behind Wang Yuyao.