"Alright, your turn. Are you going to end your own life, or should I do it for you?"

After killing the Seventh Prince, Nie Yun turned to Mu Xia, who was standing nearby, trembling. His expression was like ice.

"I..."

Mu Xia bit her lip, her eyes pleading as she looked to her sister for help.

’She was filled with regret. If only I had known he was hiding his true strength! Why did I have to be the bad guy? I should have just sided with my sister!’ But now, Qii Yang and Muu Shengxue were severely injured, and the Seventh Prince and his followers were all dead. With all her support gone, her only hope was for her sister to put in a good word for her.

Seeing her sister’s pleading gaze, Mu Qing hurriedly stepped forward. "Lord... Lord Nie Yun, my sister was foolish and didn’t know what was good for her. Please, forgive her! I will apologize on her behalf!"

"Forgive her? Heh!" Nie Yun smiled faintly and looked at Mu Xia. "A moment ago, if I had lacked the strength to resist, and Qii Yang had told you to kill me, would you have done it?"

"I..." Mu Xia’s face went from white to red and back again.

"Tell me the truth. I don’t want to hear lies!" he roared. Nie Yun’s gaze was so cold that a single glance could make a person shiver uncontrollably.

"I... would have done it!" Mu Xia said after a moment’s hesitation, her face pale.

"Good. I show no mercy to those who want me dead. Now I’ll give you two options. First, you can swear an oath to become my slave and willingly perform a Soul Sacrifice to me. If you do, I will let you live. Second, you can die."

Nie Yun wasted no more words, his tone utterly cold.

The most important thing for a person was their choices. Once a wrong choice was made, one had to bear the consequences. To think one could waver, shifting allegiances at will and trying to correct course only when things looked grim... that was nothing but a dream.

Sometimes, an opportunity only comes once. Miss it, and you don’t get a second chance.

"Lord Nie Yun, please forgive my sister just this once! She’s young and doesn’t know any better..." Hearing the choices Nie Yun had given, Mu Qing’s face went white with fear.

’Judging by the young man’s ruthless actions, he meant what he said. No matter how opportunistic Mu Xia could be, she was still her own sister. Mu Qing couldn’t bear to see her either enslaved or killed.’

"Sister, it’s alright. He’s right. When you choose the wrong path, you must accept the punishment. I am willing to become his slave, to offer my soul and follow him for all my life!"

Taking a deep breath, Mu Xia spoke slowly, her gaze filled with resolve.

"Not bad." Nie Yun had originally intended to kill her, but seeing how quickly she seized the opportunity, an expression of approval appeared on his face. He pointed a finger, sending a Technique into Mu Xia’s mind. "This is the method for a Soul Sacrifice. Once you understand it, offer your soul to me and become my slave."

In his past life, having reached the Peak of the Heaven-Seizing Creation Secret Realm, Nie Yun knew countless Cultivation Techniques and Secret Techniques. This method of performing a Soul Sacrifice to willingly become a slave was one of them. It originated from the Demon Race. Once the sacrifice was complete, the person’s soul would be under their master’s control, their life and death decided by a single thought. The slightest hint of rebellion would trigger an unbearable headache, a fate worse than death.

"Yes!" Sensing the profundity of the Secret Technique in her mind, Mu Xia’s expression grew even more respectful. She closed her eyes and began to learn it.

A moment later, Mu Xia opened her eyes. With a soft cry, a hazy white mass flew out from her mind. Nie Yun reached out, caught it, and swallowed it whole.

Mu Xia instantly felt her soul slip from her control. The young man before her seemed like a towering mountain, majestic and utterly insurmountable.

"Since you are my slave now, I won’t treat you poorly. This is a Nine-Heart Demon Fruit. Eat it." He casually took out a Nine-Heart Demon Fruit and handed it over.

Nie Yun was never stingy with his loyal subordinates. Since Mu Xia had performed the Soul Sacrifice and could no longer defy him, he naturally wanted her to be stronger.

"Thank you, Master!"

As she accepted the still-beating Nine-Heart Demon Fruit, Mu Xia’s eyes lit up. Suddenly, performing the Soul Sacrifice and submitting to this master didn’t seem like such a bad thing.

"Do you know why I didn’t kill you? Now, tell me the location of the Demon Saint Ancient Corpse."

After dealing with the Seventh Prince and Mu Xia, Nie Yun walked over to Qii Yang, who lay on the ground like a dead dog.

Nie Yun had shattered Qii Yang’s Dantian with his Longsword when the man tried to flee. If not for Nie Yun’s ability as a Soaring Water Master to control the surrounding seawater and keep it from crushing him, Qii Yang would have already been turned into pulp.

"You want me to tell you where the Ancient Corpse is? In your dreams! If you have the guts, then just kill me!" Qii Yang roared, his eyes filled with venom.

’With both hands severed, he couldn’t contact his clan. His Qi Sea was shattered, meaning all his power was gone. Even if he lived, he’d be nothing but a cripple. It would be better to die.’

"Heh. You refuse to talk? Did you really think I don’t already know?" Nie Yun said with a faint smile, seeming completely unconcerned. "I was just giving you a chance to live. Since you won’t take it, you can die just like the Seventh Prince."

"You know? How could you possibly know? I destroyed the map to the Demon Saint Ancient Corpse as soon as I obtained it! I’m the only one who knows where it is..." Qii Yang sneered, refusing to believe him.

"It’s simple, and I’ll tell you right now. For the Demon Saint Ancient Corpse to have remained undisturbed for countless years, there’s only one possibility: it lies directly beneath the Nine-Heart Demon Fruit Tree! It’s precisely by drawing on the Ancient Corpse’s energy that this Demon Fruit Tree has survived for thousands of years without moving from that spot!"

Nie Yun explained his deduction.

"You..."

Hearing Nie Yun’s words, Qii Yang froze. A flicker of disbelief flashed in his eyes.

"Heh. Now you can die." Seeing Qii Yang’s expression, Nie Yun knew he had his answer. With a flick of his Longsword—CRUNCH!—he smashed the man into a bloody pulp.

SPLASH!

The moment he died, the contents of his Storage Dantian spilled out. Without a second glance, Nie Yun swept everything up and stored it in his own Dantian.

Nie Yun had already suspected that the Demon Saint Ancient Corpse was under the Nine-Heart Demon Fruit Tree, but he hadn’t been certain. He had questioned Qii Yang on purpose, and the man’s shocked reaction confirmed his guess. Only then did he deliver the killing blow.

The Seventh Prince and his men didn’t have Storage Dantians. After searching their bodies and finding nothing of value, Nie Yun didn’t bother looking further.

’These bodies must be dealt with cleanly. Since Ouyang Cheng escaped, I’ll just make him the scapegoat.’

With a faint smile, Nie Yun released his Soaring Water Qi. With a flick of his arms, a powerful current engulfed the corpses of the Seventh Prince and his men. In the blink of an eye, the immense force tore them to shreds.

This ability to use seawater to destroy all traces of a crime was something only a Soaring Water Master could achieve. Even if the factions backing the Seventh Prince and Qii Yang investigated, the trail would only lead them to a Soaring Water Master, and not directly to him.

As for the fugitive Ouyang Cheng, Nie Yun had already planted a wisp of Tracking Qi on him. No matter how far he fled, Nie Yun could hunt him down. Once Ouyang Cheng was dead, there would be no one left to testify, and no one would ever find out what happened.

This had all been part of Nie Yun’s calculations after his attempt to sow discord had failed. Otherwise, he never would have killed the Seventh Prince and his men so openly. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian.com to vote with recommendation and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)