"Elder, how much longer until we reach the Li Family?"
"What if the Li Family still refuses? What should we do then?"
"Elder..."
This time, the one leading the delegation to the Li Family was the Grand Elder of the Blazing Heaven Immortal Sect, whose strength had recently broken through to the Heavenly Immortal realm.
Currently, the Blazing Heaven Immortal Sect boasted three Heavenly Immortal-level powerhouses, giving them the capability to contend with the Qian Yuan Immortal Sect for the title of the strongest sect.
For this trip, the Grand Elder brought along ten disciples from the Blazing Heaven Immortal Sect, each of whom was no weakling—all had reached the True Immortal realm.
"Enough of this noisy chatter. It’s unbecoming."
"This visit to the Li Family—if they agree, it will be a joyous outcome for all."
"But if the Li Family remains stubborn, your task is to seize control of all their female members."
"As for the others... leave them to me."
"Remember, not a single woman is to be spared. This is the Ancestor’s command," the Grand Elder said sternly.
"Yes, Grand Elder."
When the members of the Li Family saw the arrival of the Blazing Heaven Immortal Sect, though they had mentally prepared themselves, unease still crept into their hearts.
"The time has come. Has the Li Family made its decision?" the Grand Elder asked coldly.
"We have," Li Yuntian replied calmly.
"Oh?"
"Have you decided to submit to our Blazing Heaven Immortal Sect?" the Grand Elder sneered.
"The Li Family refuses to join."
Refuse?
The Grand Elder narrowed his eyes, displeased as he stared at Li Yuntian. Did the Li Family truly have the audacity to defy them?
"Do you understand the consequences of this decision?" the Grand Elder asked, his gaze icy.
"Better broken jade than intact tile."
"The Li Family will never survive by selling out the lives of our women."
Hearing this, the Grand Elder let out a disdainful laugh.
"How laughable."
"They’re just women. Your Li Family is truly foolish."
"Since you refuse to recognize what’s good for you, don’t blame the Blazing Heaven Immortal Sect for what comes next."
"This one is mine. The rest—you handle them."
The moment Chen Chang'an’s voice rang out, a smile appeared on Li Yuntian’s face.
Seeing Li Yuntian’s expression, the Grand Elder’s face darkened. Had the Li Family dared to defy the Blazing Heaven Immortal Sect because they had found a backer?
Before the Grand Elder could react, he found his body lifted uncontrollably into the air.
At the same time, Li Yuntian immediately struck at the ten disciples of the Blazing Heaven Immortal Sect.
"Who are you?"
"Do you know who I am?"
The Grand Elder glared at Chen Chang'an, fury burning in his eyes. He never expected that, in a single moment of distraction, Li Yuntian would slaughter all the disciples he had brought.
After all, Li Yuntian was at the peak of the Golden Immortal realm, while the disciples he had brought were only at the True Immortal realm—no match for him.
"Who am I?"
"Ever heard of the Huan Hua Immortal Sect’s Supreme Elder?" Chen Chang'an asked with a smile.
The Huan Hua Immortal Sect’s Supreme Elder?
What nonsense? Since when did the Huan Hua Immortal Sect have—
Then, realization struck him. He recalled the incident at the Crimson Moon Valley.
"So it’s you."
"Good, very good. Capturing you is far more valuable than wiping out the Li Family," the Grand Elder sneered.
"Capture me?"
Chen Chang'an let out a cold laugh. In the next instant, he appeared right in front of the Grand Elder, his right hand clamping around the man’s throat.
At the same time, a surge of death energy flowed from Chen Chang'an’s hand into the Grand Elder’s body.
"This…"
In mere moments, the Grand Elder rapidly aged, his vitality draining away at an alarming rate.
"You—cough—what… what are you?"
The Grand Elder now resembled a frail old man on the verge of death, his voice so weak it seemed he might keel over at any second.
"Just using you for an experiment."
"Still not strong enough. There’s a limit."
Chen Chang'an frowned slightly. Though his strength had continuously improved, and his mastery of the laws had grown alongside it, he still hadn’t fully unleashed the true power of the Law of Death.
If his mastery of the law reached perfection, Chen Chang'an’s use of the Law of Death could potentially leave no living being standing in the entire Profound Heaven Domain.
But as things stood, even killing someone who had just entered the Heavenly Immortal realm with this law was proving difficult.
"Tell me how it felt."
"Were you close to death?" Chen Chang'an asked the Grand Elder.
Huh?
What are you saying?
Do you even hear yourself?
The Grand Elder couldn’t believe his ears. You’re killing me, and now you’re asking for feedback? Have you no decency?
"Can’t speak?"
"No problem. Let me help you."
With that, Chen Chang'an placed his left hand on the Grand Elder and channeled the Law of Life into his body.
Feeling his vitality returning, the Grand Elder stared at Chen Chang'an with even greater terror.
Just what was he? He could grant life and take it away at will?
How horrifying was that?
"Alright, now you should be able to talk. So, how did it feel?" Chen Chang'an asked.
"You… you’re really—"
"Can you not say the same damn thing? Everyone keeps asking that."
"I told you who I am—does knowing make you eat an extra pound of rice or something?"
"Just answer. What did it feel like?"
"How close to death were you?"
"On the brink, or just barely hanging on?" Chen Chang'an said impatiently.
"I won’t tell you anything. Kill me if you—"
"I don’t like that answer."
Without another word, Chen Chang'an channeled death energy into the Grand Elder once more.
Watching the man wither back into old age, Chen Chang'an asked, "Care to say something more pleasant this time?"
"Hmm… still can’t speak?"
"Then blink."
"One blink for yes, two for no."
"Good, one blink."
The Grand Elder stared at Chen Chang'an in utter confusion. He had meant to blink twice, but Chen Chang'an had already made up his mind after the first blink.
How ridiculously arbitrary!
Life energy flowed again, and the Grand Elder’s face relaxed in relief.
Being alive felt good.
"Speak."
"What I meant earlier was—"
"Tch. Don’t like that either."
"Again."
"Still not talking?"
"Fine, let’s go another round."
"Do you just enjoy this or something?"
"P-please… stop toying with me! I’ll talk, alright?"
Being tossed between life and death repeatedly was unbearable. The Grand Elder felt like he had crossed the boundary between the two countless times—it was pure torment.
"Actually, never mind. I don’t want to hear it anymore."
"After this many tries, I’ve got my answer."
"You can… just die now."
Huh?
Seriously?
Are you kidding me?