401: Chapter 401 Did I say I would let you go?

Ye Tian's voice carried a suffocating chill.

He withdrew his fist and stood straight. The lightning dancing on his fist slowly retracted into his body, but that thunderous aura weighed heavily on the hearts of the remaining four.

"Gulp." The saber-wielder subconsciously swallowed his saliva, his hand holding the blade trembling slightly as a chill shot straight from his tailbone to the top of his head.

He had seen it with his own eyes—the red-robed Elder, at the Fourth Stage of Sea Transformation, had used a killing Move that consumed his own blood essence, yet he was still killed by this youth's single punch!

This kid... is he really at the Sea Transformation Third Stage?

No! Definitely not! He must be hiding his cultivation!

The saber-wielder roared inwardly, fear rising uncontrollably in his heart.

Among the four of them, the strongest was only at the Sea-Transformation Realm Level 3 Peak. How could they fight this monster?

"Chen Laoda... he, he killed the red-robed Elder..." The hook-wielder's voice was dry as he looked toward the whip-wielder. The twin hooks in his hands were trembling; there wasn't a trace of his previous lewdness or arrogance left.

Chen Laoda's scalp was also tingling, and cold sweat poured down his face.

The wound on his wrist was still bleeding, and the pain made him realize the horror of the young man before him even more clearly.

The red-robed Elder was the only Fourth Stage of Sea Transformation among them and their absolute reliance for this ambush.

But now, he had been punched to death!

He hadn't even seen clearly how the youth threw the punch; he only saw the Scarlet Chain Poison Flame Seal get crushed like dry weeds before the red-robed Elder was sent flying.

"No... we are absolutely not this person's match!" A thought rose irrepressibly in his mind.

The reward the Nangong Family offered was generous, but one had to be alive to spend it!

This kid's strength was unfathomable, especially that strange lightning which was terrifying to the extreme. Staying behind was definitely a dead end!

"Kid... no, this young hero!"

Chen Laoda suppressed the fear in his heart, forcing a smile onto his face that looked worse than crying. He quietly moved his blood-stained hand behind his back, trying to stop the bleeding, and spoke hoarsely, "A misunderstanding, it's all a misunderstanding!

We brothers were just passing through and had no intention of offending you!

It was that old geezer from the Nangong Family who forced us to come! We'll leave right now, right now! We don't want the tokens anymore, we don't want anything!"

"Right, right, right! It was that old geezer who forced us!"

The sword-wielder also hurriedly chimed in, his face full of fawning smiles as he quietly lowered his longsword a few inches. "Young hero, your divine skills are peerless. We were blind and failed to recognize your greatness. We'll get lost right now, immediately!"

"Pah!" Before Ye Tian could speak, Pei Tieshan spoke up first. He rubbed his somewhat numb fist, staring with his wide eyes and roaring in a muffled voice, "Weren't you quite arrogant just now?

You wanted to kill us and snatch Senior Sister Shui? Now that you see Junior Brother Ye is powerful, you want to run? How can there be such a cheap deal in this world!"

Dongfang Xinghe also withdrew his sword and stood still, looking coldly at the four. Though he didn't speak, the coldness in his eyes made his stance clear.

Just now, these people had attacked ruthlessly with every Move intended to kill. Had it not been for Ye Tian's extraordinary strength, they would likely have met a grim fate.

Now they wanted to leave just by saying a few fawning words? Too late!

Shui Qingdie stood behind and to the side of Ye Tian, her beautiful eyes fixed on the hook-wielder and Chen Laoda.

She remembered the foul language and vicious Moves of these two very clearly.

Though she had a gentle personality, she would never be soft-hearted toward lecherous scum.

Ye Tian's gaze swept over the four as he sneered in his heart.

Forced?

It was nothing more than a life-preserving act after seeing the situation turn sour.

If his own strength hadn't been enough, the ones lying on the ground right now would have been him, Pei Tieshan, and the others.

To be merciful to the enemy is to be cruel to oneself.

Moreover, these people were sent by Nangong Zhaotian specifically for their lives and tokens. How could he let them go?

"Misunderstanding?" Ye Tian's eyes turned cold as he said, "Ambushing us here, intending not only to take the tokens but also our lives—and you call that a misunderstanding?"

Chen Laoda's heart sank, knowing that it would be difficult to settle this peacefully today.

His eyes darted around, and the smile on his face became even more forced. "Young hero, we were also forced by circumstances.

You know that the Nangong Family is powerful and that old geezer is ruthless; we didn't dare to disobey!

As long as you show mercy and give us a way out, we are willing to hand over all our wealth and swear a Heart Demon Oath never to reveal a word of today's events, nor ever to be your enemy again!"

"Yes! We are willing to hand over everything! Swear a Heart Demon Oath!" The saber-wielder hurriedly agreed and even began taking off the Storage Ring on his hand.

Ye Tian watched their performance quietly, his cold eyes showing no emotion.

Letting the tiger return to the mountain? He wasn't that naive.

These people were clearly desperate outlaws who lived by the blade. If he let them go today, they might bring more trouble later or trip him up from the shadows.

More importantly, they knew Nangong Zhaotian had set an ambush here and might know more about the Nangong Family's arrangements.

Furthermore, they might have information regarding the Five Elements Unification Hall or other matters.

"I can give you a chance," Ye Tian suddenly spoke.

Upon hearing this, hope instantly ignited in the eyes of Chen Laoda and the other three.

"Answer a few questions for me. If I am satisfied, I might consider sparing your lives," Ye Tian said indifferently.

"Please ask, young hero! We will surely tell you everything we know without reservation!" Chen Laoda said quickly, though he remained secretly wary. This kid looked young, but his mind was deep; he didn't know what he would ask.

"Where is Nangong Zhaotian now? How many people are with him? What is their strength? What is his plan?" Ye Tian asked the questions he cared about most.

Nangong Zhaotian was the mastermind. This man was sinister, ruthless, and vindictive; he had to find out his movements.

Chen Laoda hesitated for a moment, but feeling Ye Tian's icy killing intent, he didn't dare hide anything and said hurriedly, "Young Master Nangong..."

"No, Nangong Zhaotian... he took another Guest Elder of the Nangong Family who is at the Fourth Stage Peak of the Sea Transformation Realm, along with several Third Stage experts, and should have already headed near the 'Flame Cave' to set an ambush.

He guessed that after you gathered the tokens, you would definitely head to the Five Elements Unification Hall, and the Flame Cave is one of the necessary paths to reach that area.

I'm not sure exactly how many people are with him, but there are at least two at the Fourth Stage of Sea Transformation and several at the Third Stage.

He... he claimed that he would seize your tokens in front of the Five Elements Unification Hall and... and make you, Young Master Ye, wish you were dead..."

By the end, his voice grew smaller and smaller as he secretly observed Ye Tian's expression.

Upon hearing this, Ye Tian's expression didn't change, but he sneered in his heart. Flame Cave? Ambush? Planning to intercept and kill us midway? Very well, it saves me the trouble of looking for you.

"Very good. How much do you know about the Five Elements Unification Hall? Besides the tokens, what else is inside?" Ye Tian continued to ask.

The Five Elements Unification Hall was the core of the Secret Realm; it was always good to know more.

"This..." Chen Laoda looked troubled. "Young hero, the Five Elements Unification Hall is the core of the Secret Realm. Historically, only those who gather the tokens can enter, and every time it opens, it seems to be different.

We are just Loose Cultivators and our knowledge is limited. We've only heard that inside the Five Elements Unification Hall is the final trial. By passing the trial, it's possible to obtain an Opportunity.

But as for what the specific trial is, no one knows, because very few come out, and those who do are extremely secretive about it.

However, every time the Five Elements Unification Hall opens, it seems to cause changes in the core area of the Secret Realm. Sometimes Five Elements Spiritual Qi will gush out, sometimes rare treasures will appear, but it's also accompanied by greater danger.

It is said that in the area surrounding the Five Elements Unification Hall, there are some ancient ruins and Immortal Caves hidden. They only occasionally manifest when the trial inside the hall is activated..."

Ye Tian listened quietly. This information largely matched his previous guesses and the sensations from the Talisman Seal. The Five Elements Unification Hall was indeed the final destination.

"One last question! How did you know our whereabouts and set an ambush here?" Ye Tian asked his final question.

For the other party to set an ambush here so accurately, they must have had a means of tracking or monitoring.

Chen Laoda answered very quickly this time, "It's the 'Mother-Son Soul Chasing Incense' given by Nangong Zhaotian.

As long as we're within a certain range, we can sense each other's vague positions.

We followed you from a distance for a while, and after confirming your general direction, we set the ambush here in advance.

As for how Nangong Zhaotian knew you would take this path, I truly don't know...

He might have other tracking methods, or perhaps there are special ways in the Secret Realm to sense the fluctuations after the tokens are gathered? I'm just guessing..."

Mother-Son Soul Chasing Incense? Ye Tian understood. Such tracking methods weren't rare. As for sensing token fluctuations, that was also possible. It seemed he would have to be even more careful in his future actions.

"I've told you everything I know! Young hero, can we go now?" Chen Laoda looked at Ye Tian expectantly, and the other three also had looks of hope on their faces.

Ye Tian's gaze swept over the four, and he suddenly gave a slight smile, though there was no warmth in it. "Go? I said that if I were satisfied with the answers, I might consider sparing your lives. But I never said I'd let you go."