?
Xiao Yifeng raised his hand slightly. An irresistible suction force yanked Crown Prince Dai Yun off the bed and into his grasp.
Gripping Dai Yun by the throat, Xiao Yifeng stared into his terrified eyes. "Very unfortunate. What I have seen and heard along this journey has made me very angry. I want your life."
Xiao Yifeng wasn't a saint or a wanton killer. But the Yuanhai Kingdom had been turned into a hellscape by this man and his consort. The people suffered while he indulged in depravity. The crimes of Crown Prince Dai Yun were too numerous to record; there was simply no reason to let him live.
Dai Yun struggled violently, kicking his legs in the air. Consort Lin made a move to intervene, but a single, icy glance from Xiao Yifeng froze her in place.
Bang!
Suddenly, the palace doors burst open. Three women rushed in, each stunningly beautiful. They were three of the "Four Attendants" of the Chanmian Pavilion: Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum.
"Why is this Fellow Daoist holding the Crown Prince hostage?" Orchid Attendant demanded, her voice sharp. "Do you intend to make an enemy of the Chanmian Pavilion? Release him now, or don't blame us for being impolite!"
Xiao Yifeng glanced at them and smiled. "Actually, making an enemy of you is exactly what I intended."
He pulled Dai Yun closer, whispering into his ear, "Based on Consort Wang's performance, I thought you might have grown. Turns out, you're still a little earthworm."
Dai Yun’s eyes bulged. He opened his mouth to scream, but Xiao Yifeng’s fingers tightened.
Crack.
The Crown Prince’s neck snapped. He died instantly, eyes wide with shock and unwillingness.
Xiao Yifeng tossed the corpse onto the floor like a dead chicken. Consort Wang screamed, scrambling backward on the bed.
"You! You dare!" Orchid Attendant shrieked, disbelief written all over her face. "Since you want to die, stay here forever!"
The three attendants instantly moved into a battle formation, trapping Xiao Yifeng in a triangle of spiritual pressure.
Black mist swirled around Xiao Yifeng’s hand as the Zhan Xian sword materialized. A wicked, charming smile curved his lips.
"Who stays and who leaves... that is still unknown."
He decided this was the perfect moment to test the new power he had gained from the Book of Destiny. He possessed half the book, granting him three distinct "Arts of Destiny."
Destiny is With Me.
He chanted the phrase in his heart.
It was a technique that manipulated probability and luck.
Terrifying black smoke erupted from Zhan Xian, instantly engulfing the entire hall in darkness.
Half a cup of tea later, the smoke cleared.
Three shriveled, desiccated corpses lay on the floor. The once-beautiful attendants had been drained of all essence in an instant.
Xiao Yifeng stood amidst them, flicking a speck of dust from his robe. He snapped his fingers, sending streaks of crimson fire to incinerate the bodies.
These were three Golden Core experts. Yet, with his Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer cultivation and the boost from the Art of Destiny, killing them was as easy as slaughtering dogs.
The technique was terrifying. Once activated, his "providence" skyrocketed. Every strike triggered a critical hit—a "Quartet" effect—amplifying his damage exponentially. It wasn't skill; it was pure, weaponized providence.
He deactivated the art and sheathed Zhan Xian. Slowly, he walked toward the bed.
Consort Wang was curled in the corner, trembling violently. "Don't kill me! Please don't kill me!"
Consort Lin was pale as a sheet. She had just watched three Golden Core experts get wiped out in seconds.
"Senior, spare my life!" Ignoring her nakedness, she scrambled off the bed and knelt before him, kowtowing repeatedly. The sight of her snowy back trembling in fear was undeniably alluring.
Xiao Yifeng stopped in front of her. He bent down, reaching out to gently lift her chin, forcing her to look at him.
"Consort Lin," he smiled. "Guess why I haven't killed you yet? If you guess correctly, I'll spare your life."
Consort Lin froze. Her mind raced.
Suddenly, she thought she understood. A look of realization crossed her face. She grabbed Xiao Yifeng’s hand and pressed it against her chest, offering herself completely.
"As long as Senior spares me, Lin Yao is willing to do anything. I will serve Senior for eternity, in every way." She forced a seductive smile, desperate to please.
Her skin was warm and smooth. Xiao Yifeng let his hand rest there for a moment before gently pulling her up from the floor.
"You are quite perceptive, Consort."
Consort Lin stood, relief washing over her. She thought she had won.
Xiao Yifeng leaned in, his lips brushing her ear.
"Unfortunately," he whispered softly, "you guessed wrong. I just wanted to tell you... it's been years, but you are still so petite and delicate."
Consort Lin went rigid. Her eyes widened in horror as she stared at him.
That voice... that tone...
"You... you're a disciple of the orthodox Wentian Sect! Why do you have demonic Qi?!"
She realized instantly that he was going to kill her. He wouldn't have revealed his identity otherwise.
Trembling, she threw her arms around him, pressing her body against his in a frantic attempt to seduce him.
"Please!" she sobbed. "Don't kill me! I'll do anything! I won't tell anyone! Please!"
Xiao Yifeng gently stroked her hair, his touch tender.
"Consort, this is unbecoming," he said softly. "Don't be afraid. Karma is a cycle. In your next life... try not to do bad things."
Whoosh.
A faint, ghostly flame ignited on her body.
Consort Lin went limp in his arms. She closed her eyes, accepting the end as the fire consumed her, burning her to ash without pain, but with absolute finality.
Xiao Yifeng watched the woman who had charmed countless men disappear into nothingness.
He glanced at the sobbing Consort Wang, who had wet herself in terror. Ignoring her, he dissolved into black smoke and shot out of the hall to hunt down the remaining cultivators in the palace.
Within the hour, he had purged every trace of the Chanmian Pavilion's influence. Zhang Tianzhi and Yuge were smart; they would know how to handle the vacuum of power.
Job done, Xiao Yifeng flew out of the palace. In a secluded alley, he changed back into his normal robes and headed for the inn, planning to sleep for a week.
Passing through the night market, he stopped.
His gaze fixed on a small stall selling cloth dolls. Specifically, a fist-sized, fluffy white piglet that looked like it was sleeping soundly.
"Young Master, buying a gift for your sweetheart?" the middle-aged female stall owner asked with a smile. "I can embroider a name on it for you."
Xiao Yifeng nodded, seemingly possessed by a ghost. "Yes."
He bought the doll and had the character "Yan" (Smoke) embroidered on its forehead.
Seeing Yuge earlier had reminded him of Liu Hanyan. Despite her icy exterior, his wife actually had a soft spot for cute, fluffy things. This sleeping piglet... it somehow suited her perfectly.
He stored it in his storage ring, a small smile on his face. Maybe I'll give it to her one day. Who knows if she'll even take it.
He returned to the inn and opened his door.
Sitting inside his room, staring straight at him with burning eyes, was Su Miaoqing.