Ye Fan faced the Mysterious Woman. Her expression was somewhat uneasy; she didn’t want to disclose her daughter’s situation to Ye Fan, even wished to conceal it. Despite knowing she was Ye Fan’s slave, she wouldn’t jeopardize her daughter’s interests.

Ye Fan’s expression was solemn as he scrutinized the Mysterious Woman. "Do you think I’ll allow you and your daughter to continue doing things I forbid?" he finally said.

"What do you allow, and what do you forbid?" The Mysterious Woman seemed somewhat angry and said, "I’ve already become your slave, almost losing my dignity before you, yet you won’t let me go. What I have my daughter do is merely my innate responsibility—not something you’re willing to tolerate. What more do you want? Do you need to kill me or force me to death to be satisfied?"

The Mysterious Woman’s anger was rooted in Ye Fan’s stripping away her freedoms, as if Ye Fan had completely taken over her—not just her body, but every aspect of her, even her ability to think independently.

Xi He and Dao Zhen stood aside, unwilling to interfere in matters between Ye Fan and the Mysterious Woman. To them, the Mysterious Woman was merely Ye Fan’s slave, now Ye Fan was merely exercising the rights a master has over a slave. Ye Fan had the right to ask the Mysterious Woman to do anything, and she indeed had little autonomy before him.

"You still refuse to tell me the whereabouts of Lan Jing?" Ye Fan squinted his eyes, showing hints of a fierce glare, even considering taking action against the Mysterious Woman.

"You’ve already destroyed me. If you’re capable, kill me—kill my daughter as well, if you can find her first. I don’t believe you can; she will be protected by me and fulfill my legacy. Ye Fan, you deserve a bad end!"

The Mysterious Woman’s tone was extremely firm, even threatening Ye Fan.

The more she threatened, the more fragile she felt inside. Ye Fan didn’t even need to think about how to confront the Mysterious Woman’s issues; he could kill her if he wished or deal with her however he pleased.

Ye Fan raised his hand, gathering a powerful elemental force in his palm, as if he could kill the Mysterious Woman at any time. The Mysterious Woman glared back, undeterred. Despite knowing her cultivation level was far behind Ye Fan’s, she showed no signs of submission, as if ready to fight him at any moment, even willing to die.

Ye Fan was uncertain how to address the issue. After a while, Xi He suggested, "Master might as well spare her life. Let her repent or imprison her; killing her would greatly impact the ancient cultivators’ order!"

"I’ve killed even the Yellow Emperor; should I be concerned about killing another Mysterious Woman? Though your cultivation as the Nine Heavens Mysterious Woman is high, you were once merely an ordinary female cultivator. Even if you possess spatial power, you can’t dominate the entire cultivation world. I won’t justify myself because you chose to oppose me on certain issues, I won’t be lenient..."

Having said that, Ye Fan’s spiritual energy struck out directly, entering the Mysterious Woman’s meridians.

The Mysterious Woman felt like thousands of ants had entered her meridians—a sensation of itching and pain. She screamed instantly as if in torture, it was Ye Fan’s punishment for her disrespect.

Though Xi He felt some pity, she closed her eyes, unwilling to intervene. Dao Zhen was curious yet trembling inside, knowing the punishment Ye Fan imposed on the Mysterious Woman could also befall her. She doubted she could stand such torture, fretting that once she angered Ye Fan, she might face torment herself.

"Kill me, I won’t tell you anything..." Even while tortured, the Mysterious Woman remained defiant, unwilling to disclose the true situation to Ye Fan.

Ye Fan wasn’t necessarily seeking information about Lan Jing from the Mysterious Woman; his intent was to punish her two-faced betrayal. She initially willingly joined him, signed the Blood Oath, and became his slave to leverage him against Xi He, Nuwa, and the Yellow Emperor. Now with Xi He’s submission, Nuwa proven a mere incarnation, and the Yellow Emperor slain, the Mysterious Woman felt she no longer needed Ye Fan’s support, daring to challenge him, which enraged Ye Fan.

What Ye Fan inflicted on the Mysterious Woman was akin to torture, no longer hoping to glean any hints about Lan Jing from her. He merely wanted her to understand the consequences of offending him.

Finally, Dao Zhen said, "Isn’t this too cruel?"

"You think my actions are cruel?" Ye Fan continued attacking the Mysterious Woman with elemental energy, casting a sidelong glance at Dao Zhen.

Dao Zhen, threatened by Ye Fan, realized she could once withstand such threats, but she could no longer resist. After a glance at Ye Fan, her pride vanished and she sighed, "Do whatever you want; anyway, we immortals aren’t your slaves, you have no right over us!"

Xi He smirked coldly, "Your immortal realm’s situation might be worse than hers!"

"You!" Dao Zhen appeared indignant, not considering herself as lowly as the Mysterious Woman. But upon contemplation, since the immortals sought to kill or imprison Ye Fan indefinitely, they incurred his wrath; the fact Ye Fan hadn’t destroyed the immortal realm wholly was a divine mercy. Expecting Ye Fan to treat them kindly was unrealistic.

Realizing her plight might be even worse than the Mysterious Woman’s, Dao Zhen felt greatly troubled and eventually chose silence, watching Ye Fan continue to torment the Mysterious Woman.

The torment didn’t last long; Ye Fan soon withdrew his cultivation. The Mysterious Woman, seeming utterly exhausted, crumpled to the ground, lacking even the strength to stand.

"Demon!" she cursed lastly.

Xi He shook her head helplessly, "Mysterious Woman, didn’t expect you to be so stubborn, saying that—aren’t you merely inciting the master’s rage? Do you think it benefits you at all?"

"Whether it benefits or not, it’s my truest thought. Working for this demon, you’re no better than him, Xi He. Didn’t expect someone as ancient as you to bow down so readily to a man; I thought you had the most spirit among ancient cultivators!" the Mysterious Woman gritted her teeth.

Xi He only chuckled, closing her eyes, unwilling to engage with the Mysterious Woman.

Ye Fan said, "No need to ask her anymore. I know where Lan Jing is now; she thinks she can hide, but she completely exposed Lan Jing’s location earlier. Mysterious Woman, I shall now go and see what you and your daughter plan to do!"