In an instant, Ying Hong was dumbfounded and abruptly turned to look at Xu Batian.
He had thought Xu Batian came to save him.
Never in his wildest dreams had he imagined that the sentence would go from ten thousand cuts to one hundred thousand cuts.
This was not execution. This was to slice him into shredded flesh.
“Xu…”
But before Ying Hong could finish speaking—
“By command!”
With Chu Feng’s order given, the Heavenly Summit Guard hesitated no longer.
Holding small blades, they strode forward, forcefully suppressing Ying Hong and dragging him out of the hall.
“Holy Son Xu! Crown Prince! You were the ones who sent me here! Save me!” Ying Hong’s shrill cries echoed from outside the hall, but soon his figure disappeared from Heavenly Summit Palace.
The entire hall suffocated.
Everyone watched as Ying Hong was dragged away by the Heavenly Summit Guard. Their scalps tingled and a chill seeped into their bones.
One hundred thousand cuts. What kind of torment was that?
An ordinary person would die after a few hundred cuts, either from pain or blood loss.
But Ying Hong was a mighty cultivator at the 1st stage Spirit Transformation Realm. His primordial spirit was powerful, his vitality tenacious. Enduring one hundred thousand cuts was entirely possible.
Ruthless.
Too ruthless.
They had thought that as long as they did not offend Holy Son Chu Feng, he would be reasonable.
Now they realized that offending him was worse than killing oneself outright.
Everything happened too quickly. So quickly that by the time Xu Batian reacted, his face had already darkened.
Was Chu Feng toying with him?
“Hahaha, my Dao heart feels much smoother now. I must thank Senior Brother Xu for the guidance. We cultivators should repay grudges swiftly,” Chu Feng laughed heartily.
Xu Batian’s expression turned so gloomy it seemed ready to drip water.
By Chu Feng’s words, it sounded as if he had incited the one hundred thousand cuts. If this spread, how would the Crown Prince view him?
How would Su Fan?
How would Primordial Void Peak?
“Junior Brother Chu Feng, you’ve gone too far!” Xu Batian said at once. “We cultivators should indeed settle grudges cleanly, but the Heavenly Phoenix Empire has always been loyal to our Immortal Sect. Ying Hong is both a prince and an Immortal Sect disciple. To torture him so wantonly will chill the hearts of countless powerful figures within the Empire.”
He drew in a breath and no longer held back. “Junior Brother, consider it giving Senior Brother some face. I owe you a favor. Quickly order his release.”
Xu Batian looked at Chu Feng solemnly. He was not joking.
Inside, he wanted to slice Chu Feng a hundred times over.
Xu Batian no longer wished to pretend. He openly revealed his intention.
Chu Feng should grant him face. After all, their relationship appeared good on the surface, and Ying Hong was merely a minor figure from a subordinate empire.
At this moment, Liu Mei stepped forward, her face full of disgust as she rebuked, “Xu Batian, give you face? What face do you have? Do you think I don’t know about the dirty things you’ve done in secret? What face do you have? Shameless hypocrite. Why should Senior Brother give you face?”
She could not hold back.
Not everyone was as upright and honorable as Senior Brother.
Even if Xu Batian was a Candidate Holy Son.
In an instant, Xu Batian’s face changed drastically. Furious, he snapped, “Liu Mei, are you provoking me? Do not forget, even if you are the disciple of Grand Elder Liu Wudao, you are merely a personal disciple. I am the disciple of Primordial Void Peak and a Candidate Holy Son. When I speak with Junior Brother Chu Feng, it is not your place to interrupt.”
Because he intended to deal with Chu Feng, he had studied Chu Feng’s temperament closely and believed he disliked Liu Mei. Thus, he did not hesitate to scold her.
He needed to show restraint toward Chu Feng. But Liu Mei, what was she?
“Impudent!” A thunderous shout erupted. “Xu Batian, have I given you too much face? My Junior Sister rebukes you, and you dare talk back?”
Chu Feng’s eyes were icy, fury blazing within them as he struck out with a palm.
His terrifying physical body shimmered with starlight.
Boom!
Space seemed to collapse. The enormous palm filled the hall and covered the sky, enveloping Xu Batian beneath it.
“Junior Brother Chu Feng!”
In that instant, Xu Batian’s face changed dramatically. He had never imagined Chu Feng would turn hostile for Liu Mei’s sake.
Boom!
Xu Batian raised his hand and clashed head-on. The table before him exploded into dust as he was forced back three steps. His face paled slightly as he looked at Chu Feng, shock flashing in his eyes.
Chu Feng’s strength far exceeded his expectations.
He stood at the peak of the Nascent Soul Transformation Realm, only half a step from the Spirit Transformation Realm.
Moreover, he possessed the Tyrant Body. Against ordinary Spirit Transformation Realm cultivators, he could kill them across realms with ease.
Yet now, Chu Feng could fight him across realms.
He was a prodigy!
He was more than ten years older than Chu Feng. By all logic, his realm and combat power should surpass Chu Feng’s.
Chu Feng’s cultivation speed was monstrous. His combat power terrifying.
If this continued, his chances of competing for Holy Son, or even Sect Master, would grow ever slimmer.
“I must kill him!”
Xu Batian roared inwardly, but forced a faint smile on his face. “Junior Brother Chu, what is the meaning of this?”
He did not understand why Chu Feng would suddenly act for Liu Mei’s sake.
He had misjudged.
But now was not the time to openly break with Chu Feng. Ying Hong was not worth it.
“Xu Batian, this is merely a warning.”
Chu Feng’s face was cold as he rebuked, “My Junior Sister is not someone you may scold. Do not forget your status. Refuse face again, and next time I will cut you down.”
“And you do not have the face for me to give you any. If you want me to release Ying Hong, have your master, True Immortal Wuji, come personally. Remember. You are not worthy.”
His icy voice echoed throughout the palace.
The gathered experts and nobles stood frozen, their souls trembling as they stared at Chu Feng’s cold expression.
Unbounded arrogance.
Domineering.
That was the only impression they had of Chu Feng at this moment.
Just moments ago, he had addressed Xu Batian as Senior Brother.
Yet because Xu Batian scolded Liu Mei, he turned hostile instantly, showing no regard for face.
How domineering.
Ying Xue stood stunned at the side. Only one thought remained in his mind.
Ying Hong deserved his fate.
Compared to Xu Batian’s status, Ying Hong’s princely title meant nothing.
Even Xu Batian had been left speechless by Chu Feng’s rebuke.
Chu Feng told him to remember his status?
He, disciple of Primordial Void Peak and Candidate Holy Son.
Though Primordial Void Peak was inferior to Heavenly Summit Peak, he still stood above countless billions.
He was not worthy?
If he was not worthy, then among the hundreds of billions within the Azure Cloud Immortal Sect, almost no one was worthy of Chu Feng granting face.
“Chu Feng, you arrogant, conceited, brainless madman!” Xu Batian cursed inwardly, nearly losing control.
He did not understand why Chu Feng had suddenly begun treating Liu Mei so well.
In the past, Chu Feng had never regarded Liu Mei as a true Junior Sister.
But it also fit Chu Feng’s personality to disregard everyone.
He had miscalculated.
After raging inwardly for a long while, Xu Batian finally took a deep breath and said, “Senior Brother was presumptuous.”