Lord Holy Sword is unreliable again.

As Wang Hong was lost in thought, he suddenly heard the warning from the Holy Sword.

[Sensing the approach of someone in the Foundation Establishment stage]

Wang Hong was startled. Had someone discovered them?

There happened to be a recessed wall nearby, so he concealed himself within it, activating the Holy Sword to its fullest extent to completely erase his aura.

"Your Highness Mo, I heard that Lord Lu Feng has captured another rare breed!" The newcomer's voice carried a hint of lewdness. "Guess what it is?"

"Hmph! Lu Shu! Watch your words!" The man addressed as His Highness let out a cold snort. "We have a heavy responsibility to bear! Moreover, the ancestral hall has just suffered a major upheaval; it absolutely cannot be lost!"

"Yes, Your Highness, you are right!"

"We've gone to great lengths to find such a wonderful place. After the marriage between the Lu and Ji families, this place will be even more impregnable!"

Suddenly, the man seemed to notice something and roared, "Qiongqi? How come there's a Qiongqi here? Which blind fool captured it! Don't they know that the Qiongqi Ji family is someone we're trying to win over?!"

"Your Highness, that Qiongqi was captured by Lord Huang Ji. He said he wanted to present it to you specifically."

Wang Hong dared not make a sound, much less look up at them, for fear of attracting their attention.

The man roared in fury, "That son of a bitch Huang Ji, trying to drag me down with him! Kill him immediately, send him to the Ji family, and have a fake assassination attempt made on Huang Ji! You go and do it yourself!"

"Yes, Your Highness. Lord Lu's gift to you is in the Xiaoyao Palace. I'll take my leave now..."

As Wang Hong heard the footsteps of a person gradually fading away, he knew that the "Your Highness" was still here. Strange, why is this guy so quiet? What is he up to?

How confident are you that the Holy Sword can kill him?

[Biometric Scan: Name: Your Highness Mo; Age: 167]

[Race: ***; Cultivation Level: Peak Foundation Establishment; Preliminary Combat Strength Rating: Half-Step Golden Core]

[Sword wielder's combat strength being assessed]

[Holy Sword Status: Initial Fusion; Holy Sword Grade: Saint-grade]

[Holy Sword Combat Power Assessment: Basic Weapon System Unlocked; Wielder is a mortal with cultivation level; Can inflict damage equivalent to early Qi Refining stage]

[Reserve Energy: 14 units of nano-spiritual source, total energy value equivalent to 14000 spiritual energy points. The total spiritual energy value of an ordinary peak Foundation Establishment individual is 20000, and the physical strength of an ordinary peak Foundation Establishment individual is 5000 spiritual energy points.]

[Given the current strength of the Holy Sword's materials, a single attack can release a maximum of 10000 spiritual energy.]

[Overall Combat Strength Rating: Unable to Assess]

[Strongest Combat Power Rating: Peak Foundation Establishment]

[His Highness Mo is not wearing any defensive magical artifacts; a preliminary assessment of his physical strength indicates he can kill the enemy in one strike!]

Upon hearing this, Wang Hong had a better understanding of the situation and secretly peeked out. The man was handsome, dressed in a black robe that made him appear very mysterious. At this moment, his brows were furrowed, and it was unclear what he was thinking.

"Hmm...should I go play with the little fox first, or take good care of that adorable phoenix, or go see the surprise gift Lu Feng prepared?"

"Fuck your mother!" Upon hearing this muttered phrase, Wang Hong almost blurted out a national treasure. "What a hypocritical and sanctimonious man! I thought you were a virtuous person!"

Wang Hong was contemplating whether to use the Holy Sword to ambush and kill him when he heard the Holy Sword issue a warning.

[The opponent's true combat strength far exceeds that of a typical peak Foundation Establishment stage cultivator. An extremely strong divine beast bloodline aura is sensed. Combat strength rating increases; early Golden Core stage.]

Damn it, what's going on?! I'm just a mortal!

But then he saw the man walking towards him, muttering to himself, "Which son of a bitch messed with my little fox!"

As the footsteps drew closer, Wang Hong saw Mo Jie's target: the Heavenly Sun Divine Phoenix, which was not far in front of him.

The phoenix was ten feet long, its entire body radiating dazzling light, and golden light seemed to flow as its wings spread. She sensed someone approaching and trembled all over. Although she had not had her spiritual power drained, everything that beast Lu Feng had done to the little fox yesterday was deeply etched into her mind.

Hearing the man's voice, she knew she was doomed. All she wanted now was to die and end this hellish life.

"I, Mo Jie, have waited for this moment for a long time. The divine blood of the phoenix is ​​so intoxicating!"

Mo Jie waved his hand, the restriction was deactivated, and then he went inside.

He was already beside the phoenix, greedily inhaling its scent.

He has already obtained the supernatural powers of five divine beasts. The legendary phoenix is ​​a being that can be reborn from the ashes. If he absorbs and refines it, then within his clan and even throughout the entire Four Continents Realm, no one of the same realm will be able to defeat him!

Mo Litian stretched out his trembling left hand, and a vortex appeared in his palm, swallowing everything around him like a black hole, even distorting the light.

The Soul Devouring Technique is not only a technique for devouring cultivation and bloodline, but also a powerful killing technique. If an enemy of the same realm is struck by it, the vortex will devour flesh and blood and extinguish life!

The phoenix trembled all over. Although she did not come into contact with the vortex, she felt the spiritual energy in her body flowing out of her meridians uncontrollably. A stream of spiritual energy appeared beside her and rushed towards the vortex.

She didn't make a sound. She knew that her pleas for mercy and painful cries would only embolden that beast, Mo Jie!

Even without using the Holy Sword, Wang Hong could clearly sense her life force fading and her aura gradually weakening.

A grotesque smile appeared on Mo Jie's face as he profoundly stated, "The seven emotions and six desires exist because of the five senses and six consciousnesses."

"The sensation of itching is when the pain is least intense."

Mo Jie closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The spiritual energy stripped from the phoenix seeped into his nostrils, carrying a hot and sweet scent.

Huang Qianyu trembled all over as her spiritual energy was drawn away from her body bit by bit. It didn't hurt, but it itched terribly.

"Everyone believes that pleasure begins with intensity." Mo Jie slowly paced around her, slowing the rotation of the vortex in his hand to make the stripping of spiritual energy more delicate. "Little do they know that the lightest pain is the longest torment. Extreme pain leads to numbness, and numbness leads to a lack of sensation. But itching is different."

He moved closer, admiring her wings that trembled slightly as she tried to hold back her emotions.

"Itching is a wake-up call, a restlessness, a constant reminder of your own existence, yet you have no way to escape it."

Huang Qianyu wanted to struggle, to scream, to burn her life force and perish together with this beast, but she couldn't. She could only close her eyes, afraid to look, yet unable to resist looking.

That hand, that vortex, slowly moved around her, like a snake measuring its prey.

"Once you get used to the itch, I'll let you taste the pain of being pricked by needles. Little by little, spot by spot." Mo Jie reached out and gestured lightly across her wing, his tone as gentle as if he were whispering sweet nothings, "Once you get used to the pain, I'll let you feel the tearing apart of flesh and bone. Once you get used to the tearing—"

He paused, pleased to see her breathing falter for a moment.

"I'll show you what true nothingness really is."

Mo Jie was well aware of the immense harm of the Soul Devouring Technique, which would have severe long-term effects on one's intelligence.

Therefore, he, a genius of exceptional talent, created this method, a method that earned endless praise from the clan elders and made his father look at him with new eyes.

The method of free and easy control of gods.

The Free and Unfettered Pavilion, divine beasts, the Free and Unfettered Divine Control Technique, and restrictions—these four elements are indispensable!

Mo Jie's every word pierced Huang Qianyu's mind like a needle.

She knew he was doing it on purpose, deliberately saying it to her, deliberately letting her know what was going to happen next.

After itching comes pain, after pain comes tearing, and after tearing comes nothingness.

But the most terrifying thing is not the suffering that is about to come.

The scariest thing was that she found herself starting to look forward to itching turning into pain, and to the pain coming sooner.

Because at least, pain is more real, more direct, and more like an end than itching.

The moment this thought crossed Huang Qianyu's mind, she felt even colder all over.

Mo Jie smiled, as if he had sensed something, and the vortex in his hand accelerated even more.

"Progressing step by step is the highest form of enjoyment." His gaze fell on her dantian, where the spiritual energy was most concentrated and most stubbornly resisting his absorption. "Perception should be improved little by little, like savoring fine wine. First, taste its aroma, then its flavor, and finally..."

Huang Qianyu desperately tried to recall those distant events: Had the phoenix tree flowers in Phoenix Nest bloomed? Had the young chicks in the clan learned to breathe fire?

But those images faded and receded into the distance, as if separated by a celestial river.

Only that vortex, constantly swirling around her, gently and patiently gnawed at her existence, bit by bit.

Seeing that the phoenix did not react, Mo Jie revealed a cruel smile. A dagger appeared in his right hand, and he directly cut a deep gash in the phoenix's wing, deep enough to expose the bone.

Golden blood gradually seeped out, flowing like a river, turning the magnificent, fiery red wings into a bloody and ferocious sight.

The scent, mixed with the noble bloodline of divine beasts, made Mo Jie's expression even more frenzied.

At this moment, Huang Qianyu could no longer help but cry out in pain.

"Hmph! You beasts of this barbaric land! Heaven has bestowed upon you the good fortune to encounter a young emperor like me, but alas, you are short-sighted and unaware of our power." Mo Jie's tone revealed a sense of superiority. "Those who know what's good for them have already submitted to my clan. When we ascend the throne in the future, you will have rendered meritorious service, not only escaping this torment but also being granted titles and honors!"

"Ha, I, Huang Qianyu, am nothing but death!" Huang Qianyu's voice trembled slightly.

Although she had only been captured a short time ago, she had already seen through Mo Jie's true nature. Everything he said was just to satisfy his twisted soul!

Wang Hong felt both pain and admiration. If he were the one being slaughtered like a fish on a chopping block, he wouldn't be able to remain so calm. Perhaps he would have cursed Mo Jie's mother like those strong adult demons!

"Good backbone! If your ancestors had half your fortitude, I wouldn't have this opportunity to confide in you here," Mo Jie mocked, the vortex in his left hand suddenly spinning faster. "Unfortunately, backbone alone is useless! Sometimes, appropriate patience and compromise are what pave the way for a future!"

Huang Qianyu kept his eyes tightly shut, ignoring everything, but inwardly he sighed repeatedly. He couldn't live, he couldn't die. What sins had he committed to deserve this beastly torment...?

Why don't my father and elder brother come to find me?

Mo Jie seemed to see through her thoughts, his hand gripping her slender neck, and the black hole, like a phantom, pierced through her body, frantically sucking the divine blood of the Heavenly Sun Phoenix within her.

"You're wondering why Huang Jiuxiao and Huang Yuanfeng haven't come looking for you?" Mo Jie's cold voice was devoid of any emotion. "Heh, they're busy attacking the Southern Firebird. After all, you died at the hands of their clan's prodigy, Zhu Hongyuan!"

"Hehehe..."

The excruciating pain, like being peeled away from one's body, almost caused Huang Qianyu to faint.

Although she had anticipated today's outcome since she entered.

But when she thought of the royal family going to war and fighting among themselves because of her, she felt utterly hopeless. The supreme bloodline of the Heavenly Sun Divine Phoenix had awakened in her, but it was also tarnished because of her. She was an unforgivable sinner of the Phoenix Clan!

Ten years of hardship and toil have condensed into a few drops of divine blood; a thousand days and nights have been spent to gather a wisp of spiritual essence.

My ambition is to tread through the snow and reach the summit, and to ride the long wind and break through the layers of clouds.

Unfortunately, one day he fell into misfortune and was devoured by wolves and tigers; all his savings of the past years ended up in the bellies of gluttons.

Mo Jie's face was filled with a satisfied and cruel excitement. The bloodline of this phoenix was so noble and pure that it was worlds apart from the bloodlines of the divine beasts he had absorbed before!

What a perfect bloodline! What a wonderful paradise! Hehe, I, Mo Jie, must be the happiest man in the Qing clan!

Thinking of this, he became smug again. Even his father praised the Xiaoyao Pavilion highly, saying that it could not only evolve one's supernatural bloodline, but also improve one's cultivation, and could also use secret techniques to suppress the backlash of the Devouring Spirit Technique!

The other fools in the tribe would never come up with such a perfect idea in their entire lives!

Wang Hong watched as golden light flowed from Huang Qianyu's golden-red feathers, and drops of golden blood were extracted from the depths of Huang Qianyu's meridians, gathered at the black hole, and passed to Mo Jie's palm.

The information transmitted to his mind by the holy sword was clearer than ever before:

[The Celestial Phoenix: A legendary auspicious divine beast, a steadfast ally of the Human Emperor. Born from the land of rising sun, imbued with the purest Yang energy of heaven and earth. Protecting the nation, witnessing the rise and fall of three dynasties, and undergoing seven rebirths. Whenever great calamity befalls the world, it appears to pacify all directions; whenever the people are in dire straits, it shines its light to illuminate the netherworld.]

In the year 18635 of the Jade True Calendar, a great calamity struck the land, wiping out one in ten households. Then, a divine phoenix appeared, bringing peace to the people.

The black hole was clearly spinning inside Huang Qianyu's body, but Wang Hong felt as if it had entered his own body.

He felt as if he were being scraped to the bone and his heart was being ripped out; the black hole seemed to be raging inside him, shattering his consciousness.

The power of these complex emotions transformed into anger, like a raging torrent crashing into the narrow chambers of the heart.

Just as Mo Jie couldn't help but burst into laughter—

"Mo Jie, you son of a bitch!" A dazzling silver light seemed to split the heavens and earth, slashing down vertically towards Mo Jie's head.

Under the influence of immense emotion, the holy sword actually burst forth from the body.

Feeling a chilling coldness behind him, Mo Jie turned around abruptly, his heart filled with horror. The sword light was too enormous; he couldn't dodge it at all!

The sword energy, gathered from the Holy Sword's full-force attack, directly consumed more than half of Wang Hong's nano-spiritual energy reserves. This was already the limit that the Holy Sword could exert! If it weren't for the Holy Sword's limitations, Wang Hong would have used up all his spiritual energy, making a desperate gamble.

Because Wang Hong, a mere mortal, only had one chance to launch a sneak attack against Mo Jie; if he failed, he would die!