In the Ji family headquarters, deep within a dungeon.
Ling Hu and Zi Ling were both restrained with chains made of special material, locked separately in two adjacent iron pillar cells.
Zi Ling’s head was also encased in a special helmet to prevent any outburst of her spirit power.
At the entrance to their cells stood a ninth-layer Martial Emperor elder.
Another half-step Martial Saint sat guard at the dungeon’s outer door, with a group of experts stationed throughout the dungeon. Above them, on the surface, even more powerful figures resided.
Escape for the two was virtually impossible.
“Hahaha, Lin Xiao is still alive and has killed two Martial Saints. Well killed, well killed, hahaha…” Upon hearing the news that Lin Xiao had slain Martial Saints, Ling Hu laughed wildly.
“Silence!”
The ninth-layer Martial Emperor beside them struck out with a surge of power. With a bang, Ling Hu, chained as he was, flew backwards, only to be yanked back by the chains. A mouthful of blood sprayed from his lips.
“Lin Xiao possesses reverse-saint strength. Sooner or later he will storm the Ji family. Old man, your Ji family is doomed to extermination.”
Ling Hu grinned at the ninth-layer Martial Emperor.
Bang.
Another surge struck Ling Hu. The elder snorted coldly. “Hmph. We keep you alive precisely to lure him here to his death. I only fear he will not come.”
“As for extermination, that is nothing but a joke. When he arrives, you will both witness true despair.”
The elder’s voice was ice-cold.
Yet Ling Hu laughed even louder. “Hahaha. Was your Ji family branch in the Sacred Continent not effectively wiped out?
Before he reached reverse-saint level, he still destroyed your branch and left your Ji family in chaos. Now that he possesses reverse-saint power, will your headquarters not follow the same fate?
I advise you to flee the family early and preserve a thread of bloodline, lest the Ji family be utterly eradicated with no descendants left.”
“You!”
Infuriated, the elder struck Ling Hu again, dealing him severe injury.
“Ling Hu, say less. At a time like this, why provoke with words?”
Zi Ling spoke from the neighbouring cell.
Hearing her, the elder’s anger eased somewhat. At least this girl knew her place. To remain defiant as a prisoner was simply asking for suffering.
“Yes, yes, senior. Many offences. Please forgive me.”
Ling Hu suddenly addressed the elder with deference.
“…” The elder was stunned. The change was too abrupt. One moment iron-willed defiance, the next grovelling. Was he being toyed with?
At that moment, footsteps echoed from the passage. Soon, a refined young man in his late twenties appeared in their view.
“Young Master Wei.”
The ninth-layer Martial Emperor elder hurriedly bowed deeply to the newcomer.
The youth was Ji Wei, great-grandson of the grand elder Ji Zhen. He was one of the Ji family’s most closely guarded supreme geniuses, his talent and strength far surpassing Ji Yue and others.
His status was exceedingly high. Even a ninth-layer Martial Emperor elder had to bow in respect.
“You may leave.”
Ji Wei waved dismissively at the elder.
“Yes.”
The elder withdrew at once.
Once he was gone, Ji Wei swept his gaze over Ling Hu and Zi Ling, arrogance filling his face. “I heard we captured two extraordinary geniuses. It seems you are nothing special.”
His eyes then fixed on Zi Ling, lust creeping across his features. “But your beauty, they did not exaggerate. Truly a rare, peerless beauty.”
With that, he opened the cell and strode towards Zi Ling.
“What do you think you are doing?”
Ling Hu roared in fury. Yet Ji Wei ignored him completely, stepping close to Zi Ling and reaching for her face. She recoiled, but the special chains allowed little movement.
“You beast. If you dare, come at me.”
Ling Hu bellowed, aura surging.
But the chains held him fast. He could not break free.
“I am a spirit controller. Before coming here, I took poison. If you touch me, I will take my own life. Then your Ji family will be left with only a corpse.”
Zi Ling’s eyes were calm and icy as she stared at Ji Wei. “If I die, Lin Xiao will not see us alive. He will never appear. If he learns of it, he will lie low until he can destroy your entire Ji family. Then your clan will suffer a devastating blow.”
“Putting everything else aside, if I die, no matter your talent, your future in the Ji family will be ruined.”
Zi Ling ground her teeth, resolute in the face of death.
Her words struck deep. Ji Wei’s body shook. He paused, then grew furious. “Hmph. I despise threats most. Do you think I dare not touch you?”
“My only flaw is my boldness in lust. I act first and report later. Let me tell you plainly. Even if you die, I will not spare your corpse.”
Ji Wei’s voice was cold.
“Try it.”
Zi Ling bit out.
“Very well.”
Ji Wei stepped forward and seized her chin.
“Stop.”
Ling Hu roared. Rolling momentum burst from him. Thick killing intent filled the air. Blood flowed from his severed arm.
Yet he strained against the chains, the links cutting into his flesh.
Rip.
Ji Wei’s other hand tore a strip from Zi Ling’s dress. Her snow-white shoulder and arm were exposed.
Ling Hu, beside them, was consumed by rage. He let out rolling beast roars that shook the entire cell.
“Keep screaming. The louder you scream, the more thrilling it is.”
Madness gleamed on Ji Wei’s face. One hand clamped Zi Ling’s chin. The other reached again to tear her dress.
“Stop.”
At that instant, a stern shout rang out. Terrifying pressure blanketed the entire area.
Ji Wei’s heart jolted. He froze, fear flooding his face. He turned hurriedly, voice trembling with submission. “P… Patriarch…”
The newcomer was none other than the Ji family patriarch, the clan’s helmsman, a third-layer Martial Saint, Ji Tian.
“Hmph. You cannot even control such base desires. How will you ever inherit the Ji family?
Get out.”
The elder snorted coldly, his voice carrying boundless authority. He stepped forward, space seeming to shrink beneath his feet. In two or three strides, he reached the cell.
“Yes. Yes.”
Ji Wei nodded vigorously and fled.
“Utterly useless.”
Ji Tian sighed coldly, disappointed.
Hearing this, Ji Wei quickened his pace and rushed from the dungeon.
Once outside, he glanced back and muttered coldly to himself. “I did this because of you. You favour Ji Qi. If you saw me threaten him, you would strike me down sooner or later.”
“One day, I will stand above him. Above all of you.”
With that, Ji Wei flicked his sleeve and strode away.
Many books are now hard to find. Read them while you can and cherish them.
