Recruit demons to become heroes, hunt demons to become gods

Chapter 267 An unexpected event might bring surprises, but the worst-case scenario is...
After thinking it over, Shi Hao sent a telepathic message asking Dou Eqing for a guarantee before joining the attack on the Minotaur.

Because he doesn't want to leave the Demon Hunter Sect and become a rogue cultivator yet.

On the one hand, if the betrayal is exposed, it will jeopardize the Shi family's position in the Demon Hunter Sect, and his reputation in the demonic path will also be affected.

In addition, the Demon Hunter Sect has a strict internal protection mechanism that can effectively prevent malicious attacks and sabotage from the outside world.

Secondly, the Demon Hunter Sect can provide cultivation resources that are unmatched by independent cultivators, including precious cultivation manuals, rare spiritual herbs, and powerful magical artifacts, which are crucial for improving cultivation.

Once he becomes a rogue cultivator, he will face great difficulties and find it hard to obtain such abundant resources. However, by staying in the Demon Hunter Sect, he can still maintain his esteemed ancestor status and enjoy the highest respect and privileges within the sect. This will not only help his personal development but also bring more glory and benefits to the family.

Therefore, he quickly transmitted his voice to Dou Eqing and said:

“Nephew Dou, let’s not beat around the bush. It’s not impossible for me to help you deal with the Bull Demon King, but we both know that your true intention is to deal with me…”

Shi Hao paused intentionally at this point, letting Dou Eqing speak for himself. It wasn't hard to guess what he was going to say next.

"What kind of guarantee do you want? If you're going to go too far, please don't even bother asking. Besides, to be fair, we do want to collect some interest from you, but considering we're fellow disciples and the fact that our sect needs your fighting strength, we don't intend to kill you. So, you might as well spare your dog's life!"

Dou Eqing responded very bluntly.

He was deliberately trying to trick Shi Hao to determine the connection between Yu Yaoqin's death and Shi Hao.

As expected, Shi Hao confessed without being asked.

"As the saying goes, it's better to resolve conflicts than to let them fester. In the past, I didn't understand my junior disciple's abilities, which led to a mistake and an irreparable situation. However, we cultivators aim to pursue the Great Dao, and the principle that women are like clothes is self-evident."

"If I were to leave the sect, I could compensate you with two stunningly beautiful goddess-level cultivation vessels as an apology, and I promise not to repeat the same mistake, as a sign of my sincerity. Furthermore, I will impart some precious cultivation secrets to you, helping you break through your bottlenecks and reach a higher realm as soon as possible. Do you think this would resolve this grudge?"

While speaking telepathically to Dou Eqing, Shi Hao glanced at the seven Void Refinement Realm experts who were besieging the Minotaur.

The number of these Void Refinement Realm experts is already equivalent to half of the Void Refinement Realm cultivators of the Demon Hunter Sect.

If Dou Eqing were to incorporate this force into the Demon Hunter Sect, his influence within the sect would be considerable.

The reason Shi Hao confessed to harming Yu Yaoqin without being asked was that he wanted to resolve the feud with Dou Eqing, because he realized that Dou Eqing was not someone the Shi family could easily offend.

If it weren't for the support of the Demon Hunter Sect, the consequences would have been unimaginable if Dou Eqing had used his power to target the Shi family.

Shi Hao's ability to change his attitude so quickly shows that he is a person who can bend and stretch.

Dou Eqing understood the meaning of the music as soon as he heard it. He had always intended to plant a demon slave mark in Shi Hao's body so that he could completely control this unruly person.

But then I thought, how could someone as proud and arrogant as Shi Hao be willing to hand over his life to someone else?

He narrowed his long, narrow eyes, a sinister glint flashing in them.

Even with everyone working together, capturing Shi Hao unscathed would be no easy task. If he were forced into a corner, he might fight to the death, which would defeat the purpose of the ambush.

Thinking of this, Dou Eqing couldn't help but sneer, a sinister smile curving his lips. It seemed unlikely that he would succeed in planting the Demon Slave Seal on Shi Hao.

However, he slowly closed his five fingers, and his knuckles made a crisp "crackling" sound.

You have to try it to know for sure.

Now that Shi Hao intends to resolve his enmity with him, Dou Eqing sees a roundabout strategy, namely, a deceptive means to plant the Demon Slave Mark on Shi Hao.

Now that Shi Hao is willing to resolve his enmity with him, Dou Eqing has come up with a roundabout strategy: to plant the Demon Slave Mark on Shi Hao through deception.

He knew that Shi Hao was not weak, and that a direct and forceful suppression might lead to Shi Hao's demise. Therefore, he decided to use a more covert approach.

Dou Eqing meticulously planned a staged reconciliation, taking advantage of Shi Hao's desire to resolve their grievances, and then cleverly implanting the Demon Slave Seal into Shi Hao's body.

Once the Demon Slave Seal takes effect, Shi Hao will be deeply influenced by Dou Eqing and become a puppet in Dou Eqing's hands, thereby achieving the goal of controlling Shi Hao.

However, Dou Eqing was well aware of Shi Hao's wisdom and vigilance, and it remained to be seen whether his conspiracy would succeed.

"Do you think we are poor scholars who lack beautiful concubines? It is wrong of you to regard me as a cold-hearted person! If I were not loyal and righteous, how could I have developed the He Clan to its current prosperity in just over two hundred years?"

Dou Eqing asked a series of questions before stating his demands:
"Submit to me for a hundred years, and all past grievances will be wiped clean!"

His words were ambiguous, clearly leaving room for negotiation, so as not to be rejected outright by Shi Hao.

He knew Shi Hao was straightforward and that once he refused, there would be no room for negotiation.

Therefore, he chose to use vague language to express his intentions, trying to test Shi Hao's attitude without revealing all his cards.

This strategy not only leaves oneself a way out, but also creates more possibilities for subsequent negotiations or cooperation.

"I may serve you for a hundred years, but I will not be your servant!"

Shi Hao felt that a century had passed in a flash, and Dou Eqing's condition was acceptable.

"Words are meaningless. If I need your help and you make excuses, you might ruin my plans!"

"How would you like?"

"Let me place a restriction on your soul. I can swear an oath not to use this restriction to harm your life."

Dou Eqing deliberately mentioned the restrictions to cover up the Demon Slave Seal.

Upon hearing this, Shi Hao's mind raced. He vaguely sensed that Dou Eqing's words had another purpose, but he couldn't find a single clue.

Dou Eqing's words seemed to conceal some deeper meaning. Shi Hao tried to find clues in every word, but he could not capture any specific information.

Shi Hao had no choice but to try to delay the inevitable:
"Shall we discuss this in detail after the war?"

"can!"

Dou Eqing readily agreed.

Seeing Dou Eqing's straightforwardness, Shi Hao began to wonder if he was overthinking things, and another idea popped into his head.

Shi Hao pondered to himself whether Dou Eqing's straightforwardness had ulterior motives, perhaps to cover up some secret. Shi Hao decided to continue observing and not jump to conclusions.

Just now, because he was thinking about Yu Yaoqin's matter, Shi Hao forgot about Fu Renying's matter.

Although Fu Renying is currently unharmed, what he did to Fu Renying not only concerns Shi Hao but also the future of the family, and must be handled properly.

"If I can defeat the Minotaur and achieve great merit, can the matter of Fu Renying be wiped clean as well?"

Shi Hao compensated him via telepathy.

Dou Eqing gave Shi Hao a meaningful look, then looked around at the fierce battlefield.

The two communicated very quickly with their minds; only half a minute had passed since they spoke so much.

Although less than a minute had passed, the situation on the battlefield had changed dramatically, demonstrating the vast disparity in strength between the two sides and the power of the Minotaur.

He withdrew his gaze and turned to Shi Hao, his eyes revealing a firm determination and trust.

"If you can claim three-eighths of the credit, I will make peace with Uncle Fu and consider this mission as having been carried out normally."

After all, Uncle Fu holds a high position within the sect, so if you do something wrong, you will naturally have to pay a certain price.

Besides, I presume you've already gotten what you wanted. It seems perfectly reasonable to me that she takes the lion's share of all the mission rewards. Of course, if you give her some compensation privately, that's your own business.

Only after Dou Eqing's reminder did he remember that he had a vow with the Minotaur, and fortunately he had left room for maneuver when he made the vow.

Since Dou Eqing had already put it this way, Shi Hao had no further hesitation.

"Of course."

He agreed and immediately used the Qiankun Ring to attack the Minotaur, while simultaneously shouting that he wanted to save the Minotaur:
"Bull King, I've come to save you! I'll give you the Qiankun Ring."

The Qiankun Ring descended rapidly, but landed on the head of the Minotaur without any apparent threat.

The Qiankun Ring shimmered with a mysterious light in the air, yet it showed no signs of aggression.

A hint of doubt flashed in the Minotaur's eyes, but he quickly understood.

When he realized that the Qiankun Ring was indeed not offensive, he thought about the Dao oath he had with Shi Hao, and that Shi Hao had betrayed Fu Renying first.

Given the current situation, it seems like a good option for Shi Hao to join forces with the Bull Demon King.

These thoughts suddenly became clear to the Minotaur Demon, who subconsciously reached for the Qiankun Ring on his head.

Although the Qiankun Ring appears to outsiders as only a sixth-order magic weapon, its hardness is unmatched by any other sixth-order magic weapon.

The Qiankun Ring is not only made of special materials, containing ancient divine iron and star sand, but it is also crafted using advanced ancient weapon-making techniques, making it far superior to similar magical treasures in terms of hardness and toughness.

In addition, the Qiankun Ring has the ability to self-repair, quickly recovering from damage in battle, making it an immortal legend on the battlefield.

For the Minotaur, with its powerful physique and immense strength, it was an ideal weapon.

The Minotaur's power is enough to shake mountains, and the toughness of the Qiankun Ring is just right to withstand such a huge impact, so it will not be easily damaged or deformed.

More importantly, the Qiankun Ring can occasionally resonate with the Minotaur's magic, enhancing his attack and defense capabilities, making him even more formidable in battle.

The Minotaur agreed to the exchange with Shi Hao because he believed that once Shi Hao made this deal, he would have leverage over him, and Shi Hao would eventually be used by him. At that time, the Qiankun Ring would naturally return to the Minotaur's hands.

More importantly, he intuitively felt that Shi Hao knew some secrets about the Qiankun Ring, and that his deal with Shi Hao was entirely a long-term strategy to catch a big fish.

Multiple factors interfered with the Minotaur's thinking, causing him to gradually lose his vigilance towards the Qiankun Ring.

In an instant, a sharp light flashed in Shi Hao's eyes! His divine soul power surged wildly, and a divine talisman with the character "禁" (forbidden) suddenly appeared on his Qiankun Ring. It crashed down like thunder from the heavens, landing squarely on the head of the Minotaur!

"Roar—" The demon roared to the sky, but his demonic energy froze instantly as if his spine had been pulled out. His three-zhang-tall demonic body was frozen in place like a clay sculpture!

"A great opportunity!"

Seeing this, how could the cultivators hesitate? In an instant, sword light flashed like rainbows and magical treasures pierced the air. All their killing moves turned into a sky full of meteors and crashed down on the immobile bull-headed demon.

Regardless of what mysterious methods Shi Hao used, at this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, even a three-year-old child would know to fight to the death!
The minotaur, though known for his copper skin and iron bones, had become a sitting duck.

The group specifically targeted vital points like the eye sockets, throat, and chest, each strike carrying the ferocity of a deep-seated blood feud—"You think you're so arrogant? Now let's see how you dodge!"
In just a moment, when the Minotaur forcibly broke through the soul imprisonment, he was already seriously injured and his combat power had dropped significantly.

His eyes were bloodshot, his body was covered in blood, and cold sweat was seeping from his forehead, clearly indicating that he had exhausted a great deal of energy and spirit in the process of breaking through the confinement.

Its once fierce aura had become weak and feeble, its limbs seemed powerless, as if it might collapse at any moment.

The air around the Minotaur seemed to grow heavy due to his weakening, and his demonic energy gradually dissipated, making it impossible for him to maintain his previous invincible power.

What others didn't notice was the invisible attack that Dou Eqing had launched with a hand seal: the Slave Control Technique.

This method uses the "Slave Control Technique" to plant the Demon Slave Seal. The key is that the person whose Demon Slave Seal is planted wants their soul to be imprisoned.

This confinement not only restricts the freedom of the soul but also renders its consciousness devoid of self. A confined soul cannot think independently, much like being without self-awareness.

Dou Eqing had only intended to give it a try and hadn't expected to be so lucky, but he actually succeeded.

A look of disbelief flashed in his eyes, as if he couldn't believe he had actually done it.

He did not feel joy, but looked at Shi Hao with a puzzled expression.

Dou Eqing knew that his success was due to Shi Hao's imprisonment of the Minotaur's soul.

Soul Imprisonment is far more complex than a simple soul restriction; its difficulty far exceeds that of many other soul attacks.

It requires extremely high mental strength and precise control skills; the slightest carelessness will backfire.

However, once successful, the imprisoned soul will become the caster's most loyal tool, unconditionally executing any command.

In a state of soul imprisonment, the opponent does not even possess consciousness.

Therefore, Dou Eqing can plant the Demon Slave Seal in the soul of a person in this state without the other party's consent.

Although Dou Eqing could see that Shi Hao had done this with the help of the Qiankun Ring, he still believed that Shi Hao was extraordinary.

This made him realize why Shi Hao had such a strange and dangerous reaction to the Qiankun Ring.

Shi Hao suffered excruciating pain in his soul due to the backlash from the Minotaur's oath. He rolled on the ground twice, whether it was because the backlash was truly too painful or because he was deliberately putting on a show for Dou Eqing, no one knew.

His face was pale, cold sweat beaded on his forehead, his hands were clenched into fists, his nails dug deep into his palms, and blood dripped from between his fingers.

The surrounding air seemed to freeze in his pain, and even the trees nearby seemed to sense his agony, their leaves trembling slightly.

Dou Eqing stood at a distance, a cold smile playing on his lips, his eyes gleaming with smugness. No one knew what he was thinking.

In fact, if Shi Hao hadn't said "I'm returning the Qiankun Ring to you" and sincerely returned the Qiankun Ring to the Minotaur, the backlash from the oath he took would have been even greater.

If he hadn't said the word "use," the Heavenly Dao wouldn't have judged Shi Hao for violating his oath, which would have been equivalent to truly terminating his oath contract with the Minotaur.

However, if he doesn't say the word "use," the Minotaur might become suspicious. The Soul Imprisonment only works when it's above the Minotaur's head, so he won't be able to succeed.

After all, Shi Hao had only recently acquired the Qiankun Ring, and the Soul Imprisonment technique was not so easy to execute successfully.

Dou Eqing accidentally planted a demon slave mark on the minotaur. A glint flashed in his eyes, and a sinister smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

If this minotaur were to be exchanged for merit points, it would be a one-off deal. But if we keep him—although he was seriously injured, he still has the foundation of a late-stage Void Refinement cultivator, and right now he's at least at the mid-stage Void Refinement level.

Even more remarkably, after the sect united, they gained an extra pair of eyes in the demon realm.
Thinking of this, Dou Eqing considered how to keep his informant within the Demon Clan a secret from outsiders. Although many present could be considered his own people, leaks of internal information from many factions were often the work of their own people.

Given that the Minotaur was such an important strategic figure, Dou Eqing had to strengthen his defenses.

So he devised a plan to have the Minotaur kidnap one of his hostages, using the opportunity to escape.

The Minotaur roared and struggled in the center of the Four Symbols Formation, the invisible spiritual power formed by the formation binding its black fur-covered arms and leaving deep marks.

As his foul breath hit Rosie's face, Rosie received a telepathic message from Dou Eqing:

"Rosie, do you believe me?"

"For Dou Lang, I am not even afraid of death."

Rosie responded firmly to Dou Eqing via telepathy.

"Okay, now, trip."

So Rosie deliberately stepped on the loose ties of her fairy dress.

The blood on the stone slabs was still wet, and in the instant her boots slipped, she precisely released the weapon from her hand.

Behind her, Shi Liyuqiu's scream was like a choked crow—the Minotaur's blood-soaked giant hand had already gripped her waist, and the bone-breaking pain made her vision go black.

"idiot!"

Ye Xieshun roared and was about to rush forward, but was stopped by Dou Eqing.

Amidst the excruciating pain, Rosie smelled the stench emanating from the demon's fangs, and the putrid saliva dripped onto her shoulder, scorching and emitting blue smoke.

She bit her tongue to swallow her scream, her nails digging deep into the demon's hardened flesh.

This act had to be played out to the very end, even if the minotaur's bloodshot eyes were so close that they reflected her trembling pupils.

"Release her, and we'll spare your life!"

Dou Eqing shouted to the Minotaur.

Because of the Demon Slave Mark, he said it subconsciously, but it sounded strange to others.

Once the Demon Slave Mark is applied, it establishes an invisible chain of control between the caster and the recipient.

This control extends beyond the body, penetrating deep into the consciousness, causing the subject to involuntarily obey the caster's commands.

Dou Eqing was giving the order based on this line of thinking, but since he had just planted the Demon Slave Seal on the Minotaur, it wouldn't take effect so quickly.

He only remembered this when he secretly sent a telepathic message to the Minotaur.

He secretly informed the Minotaur that he had planted a demon slave mark on him, and that from now on he would be his demon slave.

In the telepathic communication, Dou Eqing instructed the Minotaur Demon Slave on how to use Rosie to leave and how to maintain contact afterward.

Under Dou Eqing's orders, the Four Symbols Formation and the Saint Transformation Battle Formation deliberately created a gap.

Although the Minotaur was still confused by Dou Eqing's words, he couldn't worry about that now; he had to leave first.

The Qiankun Ring controlled by Shi Hao filled him with fear, not to mention that he was now seriously injured, covered in blood, and his breathing was disordered.

Dou Eqing's side had a large and powerful force. Although their cultivation levels were not as high as the Minotaur, they were all elites. Many ants can kill an elephant.

The Minotaur knew that if he were surrounded again, the consequences would be unimaginable. Therefore, he could only seize this opportunity and rush towards the gap with all his might, hoping to reunite with his lieutenant.

Shi Hao's Qiankun Ring was not only incredibly powerful, but also unpredictable, putting the Minotaur under unprecedented pressure.

His injuries worsened, each breath felt like a knife cutting into him, and his physical and mental strength were rapidly depleting.

Although Dou Eqing's team was not as skilled as the Minotaur, they were well-coordinated and tactically flexible, like a group of well-trained hunters, relentlessly pursuing their prey.

The Minotaur knew in his heart that if he could not escape as soon as possible, endless torment and eventual death awaited him.

The Minotaur knew that if he were surrounded again, the consequences would be unimaginable. Therefore, he could only seize this opportunity to rush towards the gap, hoping that his lieutenant would come to his aid.

He quickly led Rosie away from the encirclement of the battle formation. The air was filled with the bloody smell of battle, and broken weapons and shattered shields were scattered on the ground.

"Don't you dare chase after me, or I'll tear her to shreds!"

Not long after he left, he turned back and let out a threatening shout, the sound echoing across the empty battlefield, as if it could shatter people's hearts.

His voice was deep and threatening, and his eyes flashed with a fierce light.

Only after the Minotaur had fled a thousand meters away did the group slowly begin to give chase. Their steps were heavy, clearly indicating that the battle had exhausted them.

"You can let her go now."

Dou Eqing transmitted his command to the Minotaur.

"Who do you think you are, kid? You think you can order me around like that?!"

Instead of speaking through telepathy, the Minotaur turned and glanced at Dou Eqing disdainfully.

Dou Eqing suddenly realized that he had overlooked a crucial point: after all, there was a huge gap between him and the Minotaur in terms of cultivation and strength, and he had only recently been given the Demon Slave Seal.

Even with the Demon Slave Seal, it cannot immediately pose a fatal threat to the Minotaur. At most, it can attack the Minotaur's consciousness and soul through the Demon Slave Seal, not to mention influencing the soul that obeys its commands.

This is the drawback of the Demon Slave Seal.

"Damn it!"

Dou Eqing's heart tightened suddenly, and an ominous premonition shot up his spine like a venomous snake!
"kill--!"

He roared like thunder, his voice shaking the surrounding area for thousands of meters. Upon hearing the command, he moved, and the flashing swords and spells surged towards the three-zhang-tall bull-headed demon.

Everyone knew that Rosie had to be taken back from this devil as soon as possible!

"die!"

The minotaur responded with a sinister grin, his voice booming like muffled thunder.

But then the demonic claws, covered in scales, suddenly tightened—*splat!* Rosie's head exploded like a watermelon! Even her fleeing spirit was sucked into the demon's bloody maw, turning into nourishment for its demonic energy.

Bloodlust surged in the demon's eyes, and it was about to completely crush Rosie's soul.

At the critical moment, Dou Eqing quickly formed the Slave Control Technique, which transformed into an invisible blade that pierced straight into the demon's sea of ​​consciousness!

"ah--!"

The moment the demon clutched his head and roared, Rosie's remnant soul fled like a candle flame in the wind.

But the Minotaur, enduring excruciating pain, was determined to obliterate Rosie's soul. At the critical moment, the Soul Refining Evil Armor on Rosie's body suddenly emitted a bright, eerie light, actually drawing her remnant soul into the armor!

Otherwise, Rosie's soul would still be unable to escape death.

Before preparing to ambush Shi Hao, all the women had refined the Soul Refining Evil Armor, which unexpectedly saved her soul at this moment.

When Dou Eqing manipulated the Slave Control Technique, causing the Minotaur to suffer a splitting headache, the Minotaur finally realized something was wrong with his soul.

Although Shi Hao's manipulation of the Qiankun Ring to activate the Soul Imprisonment immediately rendered the Minotaur Demon helpless, it was not fatal, and the effect was only temporary.

However, the fear that Dou Eqing, the slave, instilled in the Minotaur was a deep-seated terror stemming from the threat of having his life and death controlled by another.

Dou Eqing's attack on the Minotaur not only put extreme pressure on the Minotaur's soul, but also triggered his deep-seated desire for freedom and his awe of the unknown power.

Nevertheless, the Minotaur clearly sensed that the current situation was not enough to destroy his soul, making him wonder if it was just his imagination.

In reality, although Dou Eqing's attack was strong, it did not touch the core of the Minotaur's soul, which allowed the Minotaur to maintain a sliver of consciousness and try to find an opportunity to counterattack.

This is because the Demon Slave Seal has not yet fully taken effect.

Originally, the Minotaur Demon intended to counterattack Dou Eqing and his men when he saw his deputy arrive to provide support, but he immediately changed his mind and desperately fled despite his severe headache.

When the group reached Rosie's body, they also noticed the arrival of the Minotaur lieutenant and instinctively stopped beside Rosie.

The Minotaur Vice General also possesses the peak cultivation of the early stage of the Void Refinement realm. Moreover, this place is not far from the territory of another Demon King of the Demon Clan. If the Minotaur Demon were to be held here, he might be in danger.

The reason why the Minotaur Demon's territory can be defended by only two Void Refinement Realm demons is that the Minotaur Demons themselves have powerful strength in the late Void Refinement Realm, and their deputy generals are also very brave in battle.

The human cultivator who fought against the Minotaur Vice General knew that although he was only at the peak of the early stage of the Void Refinement realm, ordinary mid-stage Void Refinement cultivators might not be his match.

Therefore, neither Zhou Zhixiu, who had been in the Ten Thousand Demon Cave for hundreds of years, nor Hong Duxiu, who had just arrived, wanted to fight them at this time.

They had no idea that the Minotaur was now a paper tiger, and was terrified of Dou Eqing.

The Minotaur's greatest wish now is to avoid Dou Eqing and find a place as soon as possible to remove the demon slave mark that Dou Eqing planted.

Therefore, even if the Minotaur is trapped by them, he may not necessarily stay to fight.

Although Dou Eqing was furious about Rosie's death, it was irreversible that she was already dead.

Based on the most rational considerations and the choice of maximizing benefits, Dou Eqing did not intend to let the Minotaur pay for Rosie's life, but rather to make the greatest use of her in the future.

In order to avoid revealing that he could control the Minotaur, he took advantage of the crowd's fear of battle and ordered them to return to Stone Pass.

Unfortunately, misfortune never comes singly. Just as they were about to return to Stone Gate City, Rosie's birth mother, Luo Daling, came looking for them.

She unleashed her full power as a mid-stage Void Refinement cultivator, and the group spotted her from afar, understanding why Luo Daling was so enraged.

Although Luo Daling didn't pay much attention to her daughter, the mother-daughter bond remained in her heart.

Rosie was branded with a demonic slave mark by Dou Eqing and had her virginity taken away. She had just returned to the Blazing Cave camp when Luo Daling came knocking on her door.

Clearly, Luo Daling had been secretly keeping an eye on her daughter all along.

Otherwise, Rosie's pure Yin body of the Void Refinement stage would have been stolen long ago.

Luo Xi's diligent cultivation and the talent she displayed made Luo Daling very gratified, and Luo Daling hoped that her daughter would go further on the path of cultivation.

In fact, within the Blazing Flame Sect, many families and groups wanted to form a marriage alliance with Rosie, but both Luo Dayou and Luo Daling rejected their proposals.

However, Rosie didn't know about these trivial matters; Rosie didn't want them to affect her daughter.

When Luo Daling discovered that her daughter had lost her virginity, she couldn't help but ask questions.

That's how she learned about Dou Eqing.

Rosie stated that she was acting voluntarily and blamed Luo Daling for never caring about her and for having no right to interfere with her choice of a Daoist partner. This angered Luo Daling, who then genuinely did not inquire further.

He only realized his mistake when he sensed that Rosie's soul jade tablet had shattered.

Thus, the scene of the city gate where Dou Eqing and his group were about to meet unfolded.

At first, Luo Daling thought that Luo Qian and her daughter had harmed Luo Xi and was about to make trouble when Zhou Zhixiu pointed at Dou Eqing, her eyes revealing a complicated expression.

After all, nominally, Rosie is also Zhou Zhixiu's daughter.

She watched helplessly as Rosie died in front of her, unable to do anything about it.

Luo Daling was taken aback for a moment, then realized she might have been misled. She turned to look at Dou Eqing, only to see that Dou Eqing's face was extremely ugly, as if he had long anticipated this moment.

Luo Daling moved like a ghost, and in an instant, she was in front of Dou Eqing.

Zhou Yutong and Shi Liyuqiu wanted to stop her, but she simply flicked her sleeve, and their moves were neutralized as if they had been thrown into the sea.

Originally, Zhou Yutong and Shi Liyuqiu were not this weak, but because of the huge difference in their auras, it created the illusion that their strengths were vastly different.

On one hand, Luo Daling's fighting power increased greatly due to her rage over her daughter's death; on the other hand, Zhou Yutong and Luo Daling had already experienced a major battle, and since their opponents were not enemies, they did not go all out.

Before everyone could react, the slender hand had already gripped Dou Eqing's throat. With a slight exertion of force, Dou Eqing's face turned ashen, and a faint cracking sound came from his neck bones. He was truly on the verge of death.

The surrounding cultivators erupted in uproar upon seeing this, drawing their weapons and pointing them at Luo Daling. The atmosphere in the arena suddenly froze, as if even the air itself had turned to ice.

The old monsters at the Refinement Void Realm all kept their eyes down, while only Guo Jia at the Nascent Soul Realm stepped forward and shouted in a booming voice:
"Hold your hand!"

Luo Daling looked at him, and he immediately reminded her:
"Senior Luo, this is a misunderstanding. Please don't act impulsively. Sect Master Dou is not only the sect master of our combined sect, but also the disciple of the Demon Hunter Sect's sect master. Your grandmaster and Uncle Yu are both Void Refinement Ancestors within the sect. Please think twice before you act!"

"If someone harms my daughter, even if they are the son of the Demon Hunter Sect Master, I will kill them without hesitation!"

Luo Daling said dismissively.

Although she spoke harshly, she did not take further action against Dou Eqing. Instead, she kidnapped Dou Eqing and took him back to Shiguan City, intending to personally interrogate him about how he had killed her daughter.

Guo Jia's words still caught Luo Daling's attention.

With so many Void Refinement Realm experts present, if the Demon Hunter Sect were to send a few more even stronger Void Refinement Realm masters, the initiative might not be in their hands anymore.

She took Dou Eqing directly back to the Blazing Cave camp and back to her own residence, the Elegant Garden.

Just as Luo Daling was about to question Dou Eqing, he spoke first.

(End of this chapter)