What the Hell Are You Smack

Horrifying!

A spine-chilling sense of dread spread through everyone present.

Chu Yu, who had been teetering on the brink of despair, suddenly found her body fully restored. She stared in disbelief at the mysterious figure who had appeared out of nowhere.

Who... is this person?

Xuan Xingzi stood mid-air, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. His gentle smile carried an undeniable pressure, especially when his eyes landed on Su Muwan.

"Young one, mercy should be shown where mercy is due," he spoke slowly, his voice resonating like an ancient bell, shaking the underwater currents.

As his words fell, an invisible force abruptly pressed down!

CRACK—!

The seabed's rocky layers shattered. Xiao Fei, Lu Chen, and the others felt their knees buckle—THUD! THUD!—as they were forced to their knees.

Lin Xiyan's wooden sword clattered to the ground, Su Jiu'er's crimson-edged folding fan shattered into dust, and even Ye Wudao, who had concealed himself in shadows, was forcibly revealed.

Everyone was pinned down as if crushed by a mountain, unable to lift even a finger.

"Cough!!"

They all felt an unprecedented pressure, as though an invisible weight bore down on their shoulders, making even breathing difficult.

"What… what kind of power is this?" Lu Chen gritted his teeth, trying to raise his greatsword, but his arm felt shackled by an immense weight.

"I can't move… completely immobilized…" Lin Xiyan's face paled, her lips trembling.

"Who the hell… is this guy?" Xiao Fei muttered under his breath, sweat beading on his forehead as his body remained firmly pressed to the ground.

Every chosen one here was a peerless genius in the outside world.

Kneeling before someone? Unthinkable! Even suffering the slightest humiliation was impossible!

And yet…

The only word that came to mind when facing this man was—

[Danger]!!

An evaluation far more terrifying than mere strength.

This old man radiated an overwhelming sense of peril!

Meanwhile…

The global live broadcast exploded with comments the moment Xuan Xingzi appeared.

[Holy crap! Who is this old man? He shattered Su Shen's ice spear like it was nothing?!]

[Help! I can’t even breathe just watching this guy’s aura through the screen!]

[What’s happening? Is this guy friend or foe?]

[Obviously an enemy! Didn’t you see him save the villain Chu Yu?]

Beyond the reactions in the small world…

Hidden in the shadows, Yan Lie and Ming Ku exchanged glances.

"Has Xuan Xingzi lost his mind?!" Yan Lie's flames flared uncontrollably. "Descending with a split soul is already taboo—yet he dares reveal his true form publicly!"

Ming Ku sneered coldly. "Why worry? If anything goes wrong, he’ll be the first to fall."

"Let’s observe quietly. It’s the perfect chance to see what this old fox is planning."

"At worst, we just eliminate everyone here except the Chosen Ones. That’ll keep our descent a secret."

"Then we can just blame it all on the Abyssal Beasts."

"After all, only we few are present!"

Hearing this, the others nodded.

"Agreed."

Their figures remained concealed in the void.

On Su Muwan’s side, she and Qin Luo were the only two not crushed by the pressure.

This power…

It shouldn’t have appeared at this stage.

Her eyes locked onto Xuan Xingzi as memories from her past life surged like a tide.

But nothing.

Neither in this life nor the last had she ever seen this face.

Yet his aura made one thing clear—

He was stronger than her right now!

Damn it, what now?

This man seemed to be on Chu Yu’s side, protecting her…

Someone this powerful couldn’t possibly be part of Qin Luo’s plans, right?

As Su Muwan and Qin Luo stood out under Xuan Xingzi’s scrutiny, the old man finally glanced their way.

"You two youngsters have some skill," he said, his tone laced with condescending praise, as if commending ants for surviving under his boot.

"But alas…" He shook his head. "With luck this poor, you’re destined to remain stepping stones for the true protagonists."

"Your cultivation ends here."

!!!

Su Muwan’s eyes sharpened, her teeth clenched as she fought back words.

But…

No.

His cultivation far surpassed hers—this was a suppression of another dimension.

She could throw caution to the wind and fight, but what about Qin Luo?

What about her family?

In her past life, everyone she cared about had been slaughtered by her enemies before her own demise.

She didn’t believe in naive notions like "leave the innocent unharmed."

At this level of power, morality was irrelevant.

There was only one rule—

The strong make the rules.

Kill you, then kill everyone you love.

Damn it…

So what now? Let him take Chu Yu and leave?

No… leave?

Would this old monster even let them go?

And Qin Luo—what was his plan?

Su Muwan realized that even as a reincarnator, without Qin Luo’s help, she likely wouldn’t have made it this far.

Because…

She wasn’t the smartest.

So in this situation, her instincts drove her to seek Qin Luo’s guidance.

But…

Qin Luo still hadn’t signaled their next move.

What to do? Was he leaving the decision to her?

Or… had he already given a signal she missed?

Her mind raced, but she couldn’t find an answer.

Meanwhile, Xuan Xingzi looked down upon them all, sneering inwardly.

Outwardly benevolent, inwardly disdainful—he didn’t see these people as human.

Fools of the lower realm, truly pathetic.

That black-clad boy pretended to be calm, but did he think an old fox like me wouldn’t see through it?

The white-clad girl’s icy aura? A flickering candle next to his brilliance.

With luck this pitiful, they weren’t even worth his attention.

As for the other so-called "chosen ones"?

Hah. Not even worth a glance.

At this stage, with such weak cultivation? Trash.

Only the true Chosen Ones were worthy of being their pawns.

His fingers twirled slightly as he deduced the reason behind Chu Yu’s fall.

[Su Bailian… Chu Yu’s madness… self-destruction…]

Such fragile resolve—no wonder the Abyssal Beasts took advantage.

Xuan Xingzi shook his head indifferently.

No matter. He’d simply erase these memories later.

With that, his smile faded as he studied the crowd, taking in their expressions one by one.

"Though she has fallen, she remains a disciple of our path," he declared.

With a flick of his finger, the lightning around Chu Yu dissipated, her crimson eyes regaining a sliver of clarity.

"This girl—I’m taking her."

Xuan Xingzi clasped his hands behind his back, his gaze arrogant as it settled on Su Muwan.

She clenched her fists but said nothing.

Angry? Furious?

What did it matter?

Against absolute power, rage was meaningless.

Xuan Xingzi knew Su Muwan was the strongest here, a woman of pride.

But even as a mere split soul, his power was beyond their comprehension.

However, as someone from the upper realm, it was only proper to show these insignificant ants a shred of courtesy.

Thus.

He turned his gaze to Su Muwan and spoke slowly, his tone dripping with arrogance: "Young one."

"If you show me some face today and refrain from acting, I shall grant you a sliver of fortune from the heavens should you ever ascend to the upper world."

Su Muwan clenched her fists tightly, waiting for Qin Luo's signal.

But... there was none...

If Qin Luo wanted her to strike, he would have given a sign!

Yet since he hadn't, did that mean he didn’t want her to act?

Su Muwan loosened her grip at the thought.

"But if you insist on being stubborn and still wish to fight..."

Indeed...

Su Muwan pressed her lips together.

Against an opponent of this caliber, even Qin Luo couldn’t recklessly engage—

"Then don’t blame me for—"

SMACK!!!!

"Ghk—!!"

Before he could finish—

A sharp, crisp slap echoed across the scene.

Followed immediately by—

Qin Luo’s furious roar: "Old bastard, what the hell are you yapping about?!!"

"Who the hell do you think you are to demand my lady’s respect?!"

"This slap—is for your meddling where you don’t belong!"