Instant Face Change

"By the way, there's also him."

Yi Feng pointed at Feng Lingbei and said, "This kid is also talented. He should be given important responsibilities."

Xu Zhu frowned and glanced at Feng Lingbei with disdain.

He hadn’t expected Feng Lingbei to earn Yi Feng’s approval.

However, he didn’t show his true feelings and instead calmly agreed, "Rest assured, Lingbei has always been my outstanding disciple. Even without your recommendation, I would have entrusted him with important duties."

Hearing this, Feng Lingbei shed tears of hardship—because of Yi Feng’s words, even Xu Zhu acknowledged him now.

"Thank you, Senior," Feng Lingbei knelt and expressed his gratitude.

"Rise," Yi Feng helped Feng Lingbei up and then straightened his robe.

As for Wind Moon Island, this place of sorrow, he didn’t want to stay a moment longer.

"Handle the rest yourselves. I won’t linger," Yi Feng said indifferently.

Xu Zhu’s eyes flickered briefly before he quickly composed himself and said, "Senior, why leave in such a hurry? I haven’t even shown you around Wind Moon Island yet."

"I’ve lost the mood," Yi Feng waved his hand, bid a brief farewell to the Feng siblings, and left the island without delay.

Xu Zhu led the island’s high-ranking elders to the shore, watching Yi Feng depart until he disappeared from sight.

Once Yi Feng was gone, Feng Qianyue looked up at Xu Zhu and bowed. "Master."

Yet, to everyone’s shock, Xu Zhu’s expression instantly darkened.

"Guards, seize Feng Qianyue!"

At his command, two elders behind him lunged at Feng Qianyue.

She was no match for them—her cultivation was sealed almost instantly, leaving her immobilized.

"Master, what is the meaning of this?" Feng Qianyue paled, raising her head to demand an answer.

"You dare call me Master?" Xu Zhu’s voice was icy. "You overstepped your bounds, conspired to usurp authority, and schemed against your fellow disciples. You are no longer worthy of being my disciple."

"You… How could you…?"

Feng Qianyue stared at him in disbelief. For the first time, this elder before her felt utterly unfamiliar—cold and merciless.

She had known Xu Zhu favored Bai Ji.

But she never imagined his bias ran so deep that the moment Yi Feng left, he would immediately turn on her without hesitation.

How laughable that she had once regarded Xu Zhu as a father figure.

Overwhelmed by fury, she spat out a mouthful of blood.

"You old bastard! How dare you treat my sister like this?"

Feng Lingbei, witnessing this, no longer cared about respect or hierarchy. He roared in rage, drawing his sword to rescue Feng Qianyue.

"Hmph, worthless trash."

Xu Zhu didn’t even spare him a glance. With a flick of his hand, devastating force engulfed Feng Lingbei.

"Gah—!"

Feng Lingbei coughed up blood mid-air before being sent flying into the dark, churning sea.

"Lingbei!"

Feng Qianyue’s face turned deathly pale, her eyes bloodshot. She broke free from the elders and frantically rushed toward the shore.

"You still dare run?"

BAM!

Xu Zhu’s heavy kick sent her crashing to the ground.

Feng Qianyue vomited blood, collapsing in pain.

But the image of Feng Lingbei falling into the sea burned in her mind. Ignoring her injuries, she trembled as she struggled to rise, desperate to save him.

Xu Zhu’s strike had been fatal—without immediate aid, Feng Lingbei would surely die.

And the black waters teemed with monstrous sea creatures.

Yet, as she tried to stand, Xu Zhu’s black boot pressed down on her back, pinning her mercilessly.

"Ah—!"

"Ahhh…!"

Her hair disheveled, Feng Qianyue strained with all her might, but the weight was unbearable. She could only scream in anguish toward the sea where her brother had vanished.

No matter what others thought of him, Feng Lingbei had always stood by her unconditionally—protecting her, loving her.

She knew the truth.

His talent was no less than hers. But since childhood, he had secretly given her his cultivation resources.

He was her younger brother in name, yet he had always acted like an elder brother.

And now, after their father’s death, he was the only family she had left in this world.

"Master, I was wrong! I admit to everything! I don’t care about the island’s leadership—just please, save my brother! I beg you, save him!"

Pinned to the ground, Feng Qianyue clawed her fingers into the dirt, her crimson eyes streaming bloody tears as she pleaded in utter desperation.

"Hmph! You treacherous, venomous woman—do you think sweet words will deceive anyone now? This time, you won’t escape."

Xu Zhu remained unmoved. With a cold expression, he lifted Feng Lingbei telekinetically.

"Out of past sentiment, I’ll spare your life."

"But while death may be avoided, punishment is inevitable."

He stepped closer, his palm pulsing with destructive energy.

Then—

He struck Feng Qianyue’s lower abdomen.

"Ah!"

Feng Qianyue let out a piercing scream. That single strike not only shattered her dantian but also ruptured her internal organs, blood mixed with fragments of flesh spewing from her mouth.

She could no longer hold on. Her blurred gaze, fixed on the direction where Feng Lingbei had plunged into the sea, finally darkened as she collapsed to the ground, losing consciousness.

"Drag her away and imprison her in the Withered Cliff Cave. Secure her with the Soul-Suppressing Nail," Xu Zhu commanded coldly, waving his hand dismissively.

Two men immediately hauled Feng Qianyue’s broken body away, leaving a long trail of blood smeared across the ground.

"Tsk tsk, what a miserable sight. This woman dared to compete with your own son for the position of Island Master—she brought this upon herself!"

Bai Ji, his face still bruised and swollen, stepped forward with a venomous chuckle.

"How are your injuries?" Xu Zhu asked.

"Still hurts a bit," Bai Ji replied, gingerly touching his swollen cheek before sneering. "What a shame. While this woman suffers, the real culprit who beat me got away."

"Don’t even think about revenge. Instead, think about how to explain this mess if he ever returns," Xu Zhu snorted.

"With your wisdom, Father, I’m sure you’ve already prepared for that," Bai Ji said with a cold smirk.

"Mn." Xu Zhu nodded. "His relationship with Feng Qianyue was never that deep, and he had no real attachment to Windmoon Island. Most likely, he won’t return. But even if he does, we can easily dismiss it—just say Feng Qianyue died on her own."

"Father is absolutely right," Bai Ji agreed with a sinister grin. "But if Yi Feng never comes back, won’t Windmoon Island lose its backing?"

"Hmph, it makes no difference whether he returns or not. We only need his name as leverage," Xu Zhu said dismissively.

"True enough."

Bai Ji nodded, then suddenly asked, "What about those stubborn neutral factions?"

"Eliminate them all," Xu Zhu replied icily. "I never wanted to resort to this, originally intending for you to ascend legitimately. But Yi Feng’s interference forced my hand. Now, we have no choice but to use ruthless measures."

"You should’ve done this from the start, Father. Pretending to let me compete fairly with Feng Qianyue was just a waste of time," Bai Ji scoffed.

"Shut your mouth. If it were truly about ability, Feng Qianyue far surpassed you," Xu Zhu snapped.

Bai Ji curled his lip dismissively, stretching lazily. "Well, lucky for me, I’m your real son. Anyway, since I can’t vent my anger on Yi Feng, I’ll make Feng Qianyue pay instead. Time to have some fun tormenting her..."

With that, he strode off toward the Withered Cliff Cave.