Warning! A hidden dragon has emerged!

Neither the anticipated backlash of demonic energy nor the strangulation force at the cave entrance materialized.

The cave entrance was quiet and peaceful, showing no sign of intimidation.

"The Demonic Gate has failed!"

"It really failed, the Heavenly Demon is truly gone!"

After a brief silence, deafening cheers erupted, sweeping across the entire underground mine.

A way out lies ahead.

The will to survive surged within everyone instantly. They had no more scruples and rushed toward the exit like a swarm of bees leaving their hive.

Meanwhile, Zhang Qingshun had finished his interrogation.

He dragged the restrained Ge Hong slowly over, cupped his hands and smiled at Qin Quan.

"Mr. Qin, the interrogation has been completed. He is a member of the Ge family of Lanchuan, selected by the Hidden Immortal Sect, and has since sided with the Heavenly Demon, becoming a mine supervisor and acting as an accomplice to evil for many years."

"The Ge family of Lanchuan?"

Qin Quan's eyes brightened slightly, and he understood.

"So it was Ge Hong, the one the Ge family mentioned who was taken away by a mysterious master. It's like finding a needle in a haystack, only to have it come to us effortlessly."

He glanced at the dim and oppressive mine tunnel and said calmly:

"Take him with you and get out of here first."

"Yes, ma'am."

Half an hour later.

Everyone came to the ground.

Many people have been trapped underground for decades, never seeing the light of day or breathing fresh air.

At this moment, the sea breeze caressed their faces, and the sunset painted the sky. Gazing at the boundless blue sea and sky, their eyes reddened, as if they had just woken from a dream, and their tense nerves completely relaxed.

"We...we're really out! We've really broken free from the control of the Heavenly Demon..."

Some people murmured to themselves, tears welling up in their eyes.

"They're out! They're really out!"

Just as everyone was immersed in the joy of being reborn, Ge Hong, who had been suppressed, suddenly raised his eyes, his face full of sinister intent.

He laughed wildly:

"Hahaha! Don't be too happy yet! The Demon King is only seriously injured and has fled; he's not dead! It won't be long before he returns and tears you all to pieces!"

Upon hearing this!

Qin Quan lowered his eyes to look at the crazed Ge Hong, a hint of mockery flashing in his eyes.

"I don't know if the demons have returned, but you will surely die today."

He turned to look at the crowd of people around him who had regained their freedom and spoke loudly.

"Over the years, Ge Hong has committed all sorts of evil deeds and bullied you here. Today, all grudges are settled. Those who have wronged you, settle your scores!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Shan stepped forward first and asked cautiously:

"Ninth Elder, can we really make a move?"

In the past, anyone who resisted would trigger the Heavenly Demon Mark, suffer a backlash of demonic energy, and endure unbearable pain.

If there were no backlash from demonic energy, Ge Hong would be nothing.

The crowd echoed their agreement, but a deep sense of apprehension remained in their eyes.

The reason why everyone had endured for so many years was not because they were weaker than Ge Hong, but because they feared the backlash of the invisible demonic energy. This is why they allowed Ge Hong, a mere ninth-rank grandmaster, to bully them at will.

"I guarantee in the name of Hidden Dragon that the backlash has completely dissipated today. You can proceed with your actions without worry."

Qin Quan spoke with conviction, each word ringing out firmly.

"In that case, this old man will first settle old scores!"

An aged yet sharp voice suddenly rang out.

The master, whose body was covered in hideous whip marks and who had been abused by Ge Hong for many years, stepped forward and respectfully bowed to Zhang Qingshun.

"Fellow Daoist, may I borrow your leather whip?"

"Please go ahead."

Without hesitation, Zhang Qingshun handed over the whip, stepped aside, and watched the settlement of this feud with Qin Quan.

The old man gripped the rough leather whip tightly, turned around and walked step by step toward Ge Hong. The humiliation and anger that had been building up in his eyes for many years finally erupted, and his voice was cold and piercing.

"Traitor! You have defied your superiors and mistreated me. Today, I will avenge these years of blood debt!"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly exerted force in his arm, and the long whip shot out through the air!

Snapped!

A crisp, sharp sound of wind breaking through the air rang out, and the whip, imbued with a surge of anger, lashed fiercely at Ge Hong.

A sharp pain instantly swept through his entire body, causing Ge Hong to convulse and let out a piercing scream.

Heartbreaking, excruciating pain.

The pupils of everyone present suddenly lit up, and the gloom that had accumulated on their faces for many years vanished, replaced by expressions of wild joy.

"No backlash! Nothing happened at all!"

The old man himself was also taken aback, but then he appeared extremely pleased.

He was prepared to suffer the backlash from the demonic energy, but he never expected that the shackles that had bound him for so many years would be completely shattered.

"Ge Hong, you've finally met your match!"

The old man raised his hand and swung his long whip again, each lash more vicious than the last, venting all the torment and humiliation he had endured underground over the years onto Ge Hong.

"Uncle, wait a minute!"

Just as the old man was fighting with great gusto, Jiang Shan stepped forward and shouted to stop him in a deep voice.

"This villain bullied my father and humiliated my wife. I must personally lash him a few times, otherwise I will not be able to quell my anger."

Upon hearing this, the old man laughed heartily and, without any hesitation, handed over the blood-stained leather whip in his hand.

"That's only right, Fellow Daoist Jiang, you come here!"

Jiang Shan took the whip, his five fingers gripping the rough handle tightly, his knuckles turning white from the force.

His entire body erupted with murderous aura, his eyes were bloodshot, and his gaze was red and ferocious as he fixed his gaze on Ge Hong, who was lying paralyzed on the ground.

He stepped out slowly, his heavy footsteps pounding on the ground like a death knell, each step pounding on Ge Hong's heartbeat.

Ge Hong trembled violently, completely panicked.

At this moment, he finally understood that the defeat of the Heavenly Demon was real, and the breaking of the underground restrictions was also real.

The demonic backlash that used to bind everyone has completely disappeared. Nothing can protect him anymore, nor can anything restrain everyone.

Over the years, he has relied on the power of the Heavenly Demon to oppress everyone in the mine.

Of the nearly one thousand people present, who hadn't suffered his humiliation?

If they take turns attacking, even if each of them only uses a whip, they can kill him without a burial place!

Extreme fear instantly overwhelmed his mind. Ge Hong looked up and met Jiang Shan's murderous eyes. He felt his soul shatter and begged for mercy while crawling on the ground.

"Brother Shan! I was wrong! I was really wrong! I was bewitched, I shouldn't have coveted your wife."

"Brother Shan, you saw it yourself, we didn't do anything, it's all a misunderstanding, please spare my life!"

"You've misunderstood my ancestors!"

Jiang Shan roared in fury, completely erupting.

His wrist twitched violently, and the whip, cracking with boundless rage, tore through the air.

Snapped!

The crisp, domineering sound of the whip echoed all around, and sharp whip marks slammed into Ge Hong's back.

It was as if all the grievances and injustices were vented on this whip.

The whip fell, clashing with the old man's old wound and tearing out a gruesome cross-shaped gash.

His skin and flesh were turned inside out, and scalding hot blood gushed out, soaking Ge Hong's clothes.

Ge Hong screamed in agony, curling up on the ground, his body convulsing in pain, even his cries becoming broken and hoarse.

"Fellow Daoist Jiang, you can't kill him! So many of us are still waiting!"

"Yes, I have a grudge to settle too. That bastard almost killed my dad!"

"Everyone line up, one by one, one whip per person, settle scores and avenge wrongs!"

Years of suppressed resentment finally erupted, and the crowd stepped forward one after another, taking turns to whip Ge Hong.