Chapter 269: Chapter 269: Feng Jinchuan’s Threat

As if afraid Feng Jinchuan wasn’t angry enough, Song Wanning continued, "My, my. To think something like this would happen in the famously united Feng Family. It’s truly been an eye-opening experience."

"It seems your words as Clan Leader don’t carry much weight."

She shot Feng Jinchuan a sidelong glance, her face a mask of schadenfreude. "Tell me, when they’re truly desperate, do you think they’ll drag you, their Clan Leader, out to use as a shield?"

"And after you worked so hard, planning everything for them. Tsk, tsk, tsk..."

Song Wanning’s words were sharper than any blade, piercing Feng Jinchuan’s heart with stifled fury.

Human nature was a complex thing. Even he couldn’t guarantee it wouldn’t happen.

His expression darkened, but he remained silent. His mind raced, imagining a thousand ways to slice Song Wanning to ribbons as he turned his grim attention back to the red mist.

During their brief exchange, another elder fell victim to the mist.

What was more terrifying was that the more people it devoured, the stronger the red mist seemed to become.

The sight of that gaping, bloody maw was enough to make one’s scalp tingle with fear.

The elders finally reached their breaking point. The thought of their many years of hard work being destroyed in an instant sent them into a panic.

Desperate to survive, their minds began to race with new ideas.

With Wu Fang having set a precedent, their own actions wouldn’t seem so out of place...

And so, in the moments that followed, Song Wanning witnessed an incredibly ironic scene.

To save herself, one elder shoved Wu Fang into the red mist.

Wu Fang never imagined he would meet such an end. His eyes widened in shock and regret before he was ultimately devoured.

The elder who pushed him waved a hand dismissively. "I was just avenging the Third Elder! It serves him right for being a traitor!"

Her self-righteous declaration silenced many of the others.

But not everyone was so heartless. Soon, the elders were arguing amongst themselves even as they dodged the attacks.

"It seems some of them still have a conscience," Bai Yang couldn’t help but comment from the side.

In his view, companions were meant to support and help one another, not be used as sacrificial pawns.

The actions of those few deserved to be condemned.

Upon hearing this, Song Wanning suddenly looked at him, her gaze filled with a profound, hidden meaning.

"That’s right. Unlike *some* people, whose consciences have been eaten by dogs!"

Her words were indirect, but her cold tone made Bai Yang’s heart race with panic.

’I feel like Master is implying something.’

He opened his mouth, but no words of rebuttal came out.

’But I feel so wronged for some reason. Is Master accusing me of stealing those Elixir Pills before?’

’But I already apologized, so why won’t she let it go?’

Bai Yang was consumed by gloom, but Song Wanning paid him no mind.

’He knows that people who turn on each other have no conscience. But in his past life, when he personally ground my bones to dust, did *he* have a conscience then?’

’Hah.’

’He’s certainly got a lot to say when it comes to judging others.’

...

「An hour later」

Time flew. In the blink of an eye, an hour had passed. Only five people remained in the array, including Feng Jinchuan.

White skeletons lay scattered across the ground in a grim and terrifying tableau.

The survivors were in terrible shape, most of them missing limbs. Even Feng Jinchuan had lost a leg, leaving him in a wretched state.

They had all but exhausted their supply of Elixir Pills. Their only option for replenishing their Spiritual Power was to use Spirit Stones, but it was a drop in the bucket and couldn’t possibly keep up with their consumption rate.

"PFFT—"

Someone spat a mouthful of blood toward the sky and fell with a THUD.

Her face was deathly pale and her breathing grew labored. Her Spiritual Energy and spiritual power were completely depleted.

"Yu’er!"

Feng Jinchuan dove down, swiftly taking out his last Elixir Pill and forcing it into her mouth.

Yu’er was his sister. He couldn’t let anything happen to her. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"Brother—"

Yu’er’s face grew even paler. She had already lost all hope.

The array was endless. She had tried so hard, yet she still couldn’t escape.

’Maybe this is the day I’ll die, trapped in this place.’

Feng Jinchuan held her as he flew back into the air, his eyes fixed on Song Wanning like a vengeful demon.

"You just want the method to awaken the Dragon Vein, don’t you? Let us go, and I’ll tell you!"

’Song Wanning must have guessed that I have the method to awaken the Dragon Vein. Otherwise, she would have just killed these elders from the start instead of using them to lure me here.’

’Her real target, from the very beginning, was always me!’

"Heh, the Clan Leader is clever indeed. I did come for the method to awaken the Dragon Vein."

Song Wanning made no effort to hide it, freely admitting her goal.

"Brother, don’t tell her! She’s harmed so many of our people, you can’t give it to her!"

"Even if I die, I will never let her get what she wants!"

Yu’er leaned defiantly in Feng Jinchuan’s arms, her eyes filled with a staggering hatred.

She wanted nothing more than to tear Song Wanning to pieces, bit by bit, and devour her.

The few remaining survivors were also full of fight, chiming in harshly, "That’s right, don’t give it to her! That demoness used an evil array to harm so many of us! She’ll face retribution for this!"

"Clan Leader, we’re not afraid of her!!!!"

Pushed to the brink, death no longer seemed so terrifying.

Now they had a single, shared goal: to grind Song Wanning’s bones into dust!

Their words made Feng Jinchuan frown. ’Idiots,’ he cursed inwardly.

’We should pretend to negotiate first. Once we’re out, won’t we be the ones calling the shots?’

So, ignoring their reactions, he continued to address Song Wanning. "I’m a man of my word. As long as you let us out, I will tell you the method to awaken the Dragon Vein."

"But if you insist on harming us, I’ll take the method with me to the Underworld before I ever reveal a single word of it to you."

He was out of options. All he could do was gamble and see if Song Wanning would take the bait.

"Really?"

Song Wanning raised an eyebrow, eyeing him with suspicion.

Feng Jinchuan pressed his lips together and nodded again. "If I’m lying, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!"

He wasn’t afraid, even if it meant making a Heart Demon Oath.

’After all, I only said I would give it to her. Whether she can take it out of here after I do... well, that’s another matter entirely.’

His mind was full of schemes as he plotted his escape.

"Brother, you can’t give it to her!"

Yu’er shouted anxiously, her voice filled with discontent.

Feng Jinchuan looked down and gave her a deep, meaningful look. A flicker of fear went through Yu’er, and she finally closed her mouth.

Song Wanning watched the siblings’ interaction and suddenly broke into a smile.

’Does Feng Jinchuan really think the method for awakening the Dragon Vein is enough to get a hold on me?’

’Then again, the temptation of the Dragon Vein is immense.’

’How many people could see the Dragon Vein and remain unmoved?’

’Of course, I want it too.’

’But there’s one thing I hate more than anything: being threatened.’

"Awakening the Dragon Vein is to protect the Song Family. But if the Feng Family falls, then the problem solves itself, doesn’t it?"

"As for the Dragon Vein... why don’t you keep it and go have babies with it in the afterlife!!"

Song Wanning’s expression sank. Over a hundred top-grade spiritual stones shot from her sleeves, flying toward different points of the array.

The array, which had begun to show signs of fatigue, was instantly revitalized and surged toward the few remaining people.