Only in this way can this emperor protect you.

"Hehehe..."

The terrifying, sinister laughter echoed throughout the area, chilling everyone to the bone and making their hair stand on end.

Gu Qingfeng looked at the crowd with a ferocious grin. "You all indeed have good eyes. Knowing that the people of the Immortal King Palace are brutal by nature, you didn't go begging them. Instead, seeing that this Emperor is obviously a kind-hearted person, you specifically came to beg me. This Emperor is deeply comforted! Hehehe..."

Although the white-haired old man was terrified, a hint of joy surged in his heart upon hearing Gu Qingfeng's words. "Lord City Lord, does this mean you have agreed?"

"This Emperor loves his people like his own children. How could I just watch my subjects die at the hands of the thieves from the Immortal King Palace?"

Hearing Gu Qingfeng's words, the crowd's faces lit up with joy.

Gu Qingfeng then continued, "However, this Emperor is worried that even if I leave Xuanming Immortal City, the thieves of the Immortal King Palace still won't let you off. What should be done then? Therefore, this Emperor has thought of a brilliant solution."

"May I ask Lord City Lord, what is this solution?" the white-haired old man asked tremblingly.

Gu Qingfeng stared fixedly at the crowd, demonic light burning fiercely in his eyes, a sinister grin appearing on his lips. "As long as you all die by this Emperor's hands beforehand, you will never have to worry about being harmed by the thieves of the Immortal King Palace again. Tell me, isn't this a brilliant solution?"

"What!?" The white-haired old man froze on the spot. It wasn't just him; everyone present was dumbfounded upon hearing Gu Qingfeng's words.

What kind of absurd logic was this? To protect us from being killed by the thieves of the Immortal King Palace, you're going to kill us all first??

The enemies hiding in the dark and peeping at the scene were also stunned. What the hell kind of plot twist was this? Has Gu Qingfeng always been this brutal?

He was simply worse than the Immortal King Palace!

"L-Lord City Lord, please don't joke around," the white-haired old man said, his face deathly pale as he forced a smile.

Gu Qingfeng replied with a savage grin, "Hehehe... Joking? It was clearly you all who were joking first. To actually think the Immortal King Palace is more brutal, and therefore come to beg this Emperor? Open your dog eyes wide and look carefully. Does this Emperor have the words 'Good Person' written on his face?"

As Gu Qingfeng spoke, he took a step forward, closing the distance to the crowd.

Looking at that pale, ferocious face right in front of him, the white-haired old man felt so terrified that his very soul was about to leave his body.

The rest of the crowd was also intimidated by the monstrous demonic flames radiating from his body, and they collectively took a step back.

"L-Lord, we no longer ask you to leave. We only hope..." the white-haired old man stammered in horror.

"Hehehe..." The demonic light in Gu Qingfeng's eyes was soul-stealing, and the demonic flames on his body instantly surged high. He looked like an ancient, ferocious fiend that had crawled out from the Nine Netherworlds.

"Don't be afraid, my subjects! This Emperor will protect you forever and ever!

Become one with this Emperor! Only by doing so can this Emperor better protect you from being murdered by the thieves of the Immortal King Palace!"

"Grasp of the Netherworld!!"

Boom!

A terrifying and appalling aura erupted from Gu Qingfeng. The void behind him distorted, and a Gate of the Netherworld, towering tens of thousands of feet high, slowly materialized.

Bang!

The Gate of the Netherworld burst open!

Countless pale, ghostly hands reached out from within like a plague of frenzied pythons, grabbing at the crowd before him.

The crowd was completely terrified out of their wits. Feeling the horrifying aura radiating from Gu Qingfeng, each and every one of them felt immense regret. Why did they listen to the instigation of the Immortal King Palace and come to beg Gu Qingfeng?

If they had known Gu Qingfeng was this brutal, they might as well have gone to beg the Immortal King Palace.

"No!!!"

"Help me!"

"Spare my life, Lord City Lord! I'm not afraid of being killed by the thieves of the Immortal King Palace! You don't need to go to such lengths for me. Please, go find those who actually need it!"

Countless people screamed, wailed, and repented.

Their greatest mistake was attempting to morally blackmail a man who had no morals to begin with.

Faced with the Immortal King Palace that wanted to kill them, not only did they not resist, but they instead chose to coerce their own City Lord, turning the butcher's knife inward and pinning their hopes of survival on the mercy of the Immortal King Palace. How ridiculous.

As the slaughter was underway, the enemies hiding in the shadows were dumbfounded.

Through a screen of light, they watched the scene unfold before them, each of them frozen on the spot.

They had originally planned everything perfectly. Whether Gu Qingfeng yielded to the will of the people and left Xuanming Immortal City, or refused and drove the crowd away, either outcome would be advantageous to them.

If he yielded to the will of the people and left Xuanming Immortal City, he would walk right into the traps they had already set up in the outside world. It would also prove that Gu Qingfeng was a kind-hearted person who could be threatened using the masses.

If he didn't yield, he would inevitably offend the masses. Then, with just a few minor tricks, they could turn the entire city into Gu Qingfeng's enemies.

But they never in their wildest dreams expected that in such a dilemma, Gu Qingfeng would be even more brutal than they were. His own subjects, he devoured them just like that, without a moment's hesitation.

"This..." Someone opened their mouth, but didn't know what to say.

"A demon! This Gu Qingfeng is an absolute, uncompromising demon!" someone denounced bitterly.

Just then, one person's expression changed drastically, and he exclaimed, "Oh no! Hurry and save them!"

The others were momentarily taken aback.

"What are you talking about? Save them? Why should we save them? Don't tell me you're feeling a sense of compassion?"

The man said anxiously, "We can't let this demon continue devouring them! With every person he devours, his power grows stronger. Once he devours everyone in the city, it will be even harder for us to kill him!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the crowd instantly realized the severity of the problem and exchanged glances.

"Right, hurry up and save them!!"

And so, a comical scene unfolded. The Immortal King Palace, originally notorious for its fierce reputation, actually began to protect the people of Xuanming Immortal City.

Boom!

The void not far from Xuanming Immortal City instantly collapsed.

A shadow dashed out like a bolt of lightning. With a wave of its hand, it unleashed tens of thousands of talismans shimmering with resplendent immortal light. They formed a terrifying immortal array in the void, linking earth, water, fire, and wind, and ruthlessly pressed down to suppress Gu Qingfeng.

At the same time, another patch of the void shattered. A blade storm composed entirely of sword qi soared into the sky, expanding to ten thousand feet high. The sword qi rampaged, crushing the firmament as it swept over for the kill.

Behind Gu Qingfeng, a flying knife suddenly materialized. Terrifying blood-red flames burned upon it, and faintly visible within the flames was a scene resembling the infernal depths of hell.

In an instant, terrifying killing strikes descended upon Gu Qingfeng from all directions. The sheer might was astonishing, carrying earth-shattering killing intent.

Not only that, but several people were actually joining forces to execute a spatial secret art, continuously teleporting away the surrounding people of Xuanming Immortal City so they wouldn't be buried within the Gate of the Netherworld.

Facing this heaven-shaking killing tribulation, the sinister grin on Gu Qingfeng's lips grew even wider. "People from the Immortal King Palace? Excellent! To actually dare slaughter this Emperor's subjects right in front of my face... today, all of you will pay with your lives!"