"Forget it, even if we continue to fight, Elder Ling Tianzun will not be your match. Accepting defeat in a wager is only fair; indeed, we have lost."

At this moment, the long-silent Ling Yi suddenly spoke, surprising everyone by acknowledging Ling Tianzun’s defeat when he looked at Ling Chen.

"Elder Ling Yi!"

Ling Tianzun was shocked; he hadn’t given up yet. So why did Elder Ling Yi proactively admit his defeat?

Could it be that they’re truly planning to honor the wager?

"Our Ling Family is a millennium-old aristocratic family. Integrity is the foundation of our family’s standing. Since we agreed to the bet, we must fulfill it."

Ling Yi stopped the puzzled Ling Tianzun, "Your sword spirit has been shattered and cannot fight again. Even if you fight again, you will not be his match."

Hearing these words, Ling Tianzun had no choice but to retreat. With his sword spirit wounded, it was indeed a fatal blow for a Sword Saint. He must quickly repair the sword spirit; otherwise, the cracks would widen, causing even more dire consequences.

To battle Ling Chen again would be seeking his own demise; it might even destroy his centuries of cultivation.

"Oh? Elder Ling Yi is willing to withdraw the troops and leave?"

Ling Chen’s eyes lit up slightly. He didn’t expect Ling Yi to voluntarily retreat.

The Human Emperor’s power was almost exhausted by now. If the other party decided to break the agreement and force a fight, the outcome would still be uncertain.

"According to the agreement, the Ling Family withdraws, and you hand over the Saint’s Soul Niche. Then today’s matters will come to an end."

Ling Yi waved to the members of the Ling Family, then looked at Ling Chen and said calmly.

"If the Ling Family truly withdraws the troops, the Saint’s Soul Niche shall naturally be returned."

Ling Chen was surprised at how straightforward Ling Yi was. If the Ling Family could leave, it would be the best result.

After speaking, he flipped his hand to produce the Saint’s Soul Niche. After it was used last time, it fell into his hands, but he had always intended to find an opportunity to return it to the Ling Family. Now that the Ling Family was willing to withdraw, returning the Saint’s Soul Niche was naturally not a problem.

"Ling Ba, take back the Saint’s Soul Niche and prepare to retreat."

Ling Yi looked at Ling Ba, who was not far away, and said calmly.

"Yes."

Ling Ba nodded, his eyes filled with a chilling intent. He moved, arriving in front of Ling Chen, and coldly said, "Give it to me."

Without hesitation, Ling Chen moved his hand, sending the Saint’s Soul Niche flying into Ling Ba’s hand.

Receiving the Saint’s Soul Niche, Ling Ba inspected it carefully, seemingly wanting to turn it over to find any damaged spots.

"Return intact to Zhao."

Seeing this scene, Ling Chen slowly and leisurely commented.

"Hmph."

Unable to find any problems with the Saint’s Soul Niche, Ling Ba reluctantly looked at Ling Yi, nodded to indicate the Saint’s Soul Niche was fine. He was very dissatisfied in his heart; he couldn’t understand why Ling Yi wanted to withdraw the troops. Was the family’s reputation so valuable that they’d let go of Ling Chen, this traitor and severe threat?

"Fall back!"

Ling Yi’s powerful voice echoed in the air. With his declaration, the myriad of strong men in the Ling Family, the warships, all began to turn and change direction. Although everyone in the Ling Family was somewhat unwilling, after so many sacrifices, they had to withdraw so anticlimactically. This battle was, ultimately, in vain.

But it was a command from Ling Yi, the Ling Family’s Great Elder; naturally, no one dared to defy it. The words of the Great Elder were supreme within the Ling Family, incomparable and unchallengeable.

"Did they really withdraw the troops?"

The Left Guardian looked dazedly at the retreating Ling Family army. Even the three giant flying battleships in the sky turned and began their return journey.

Moreover, with this order from Ling Yi affecting tens of thousand of troops, it was nearly impossible to change it. Even if he changed his mind temporarily, the army’s morale would take a massive hit, and Ling Yi’s authority would suffer greatly.

Ling Family truly intended to retreat.

"Either way, it seems we’ve been granted a reprieve."

The Right Protector, Thousand Ghosts Saint, and Bone You Insane Saint all let out heavy sighs, revealing expressions of relief.

If the Ling Family army hadn’t retreated and kept attacking, without Xia Yunxin showing up, they would be undoubtedly doomed.

"I knew Ling Chen wouldn’t disappoint us."

A smile appeared on the Left Guardian’s face.

"That boy saved our lives."

Thousand Ghosts Saint looked at Ling Chen with complex emotions, having never thought this boy would become their savior, relying on his own strength to force back the advancing Ling Family army.

At this moment, on Spirit Snake Island, all powerful members of the Witch Fiend Sect finally breathed a sigh of relief as the oppressive, almost despair-inducing atmosphere began to ease.

But unexpectedly, the person who saved their lives in the end was not the Witch Goddess, nor the Left and Right Guardians, nor the Ten Elders - but Ling Chen, this young boy.

The crisis had finally subsided.

Sigh...

Ling Chen exhaled a long breath of impure air, relaxing the nerves that had been stretched to their limit. However, just as he turned to head back to the island, letting down his guard for a moment, he suddenly sensed a dangerously menacing aura rushing towards his back at a speed too swift to react!

"What?"

Ling Chen had no idea someone would ambush him, and the attack happened with such swiftness that he couldn’t react. Just as he turned, his eyes were filled with a black sword light.

Poof!

In the midst of stunned gazes, a black sword qi beam shot across the sky like a meteor, piercing through Ling Chen’s body in a flash, right at his chest.

Blood splattered out, forming a blood flower in midair.

Pierced through a vital point, Ling Chen’s vision blurred. In his sight, the attacker was none other than the Ling Family’s Great Elder, Ling Yi, who had just commanded the retreat!

"Damn! Why?"

Blood gushing from his mouth, Ling Chen shouted with all his might.

Ling Yi’s face remained calm, as if the ambush had nothing to do with him, "I honored the bet and ordered the retreat, but I never said I would spare you, the traitor."

"So young and already so extraordinary. If you are allowed to grow within the Witch Fiend Sect, one day you will become a great scourge to the world. Today, the Witch Fiend Sect may remain, but you must die!"

With the final words, Ling Yi suddenly darted out, disappearing from the spot. The Stone Sword in his hand locked onto Ling Chen’s throat, poised for another strike to completely slay Ling Chen.