1011: Chapter 1010 The Situation Reverses, Extortion

"Guard your minds!"

Elder Li roared as he and Elder Ying simultaneously forced their Secret Techniques to circulate. Their majestic Divine Soul power condensed like solid ice, instantly shattering the interference of the purple light and restoring clarity to their eyes.

However, just as they regained their senses, their killing intent surging as they prepared to crush Wu Zhankong—this fellow who actually hid such a bizarre trump card—with thunderous force, the hands they had just raised froze mid-air as if bound by invisible shackles!

In that instant, the expressions of both men became incredibly unsightly, even carrying a hint of shock, fury, and disbelief!

Because they saw that the Black-Haired Youth, Mo Yuan, who was supposed to be watching the battle from a safe zone at the edge of the battlefield, was currently in extreme agony. His face had turned a purplish-red, and his hands were clawing fruitlessly at his own neck.

At his carotid artery, at some unknown point, a bizarrely shaped, blood-colored dagger emitting a dense aura of blood-slaughter had been pressed tightly against him!

The blade of the dagger had already sliced through the skin of his neck, and a streak of eye-catching crimson was slowly seeping out along the edge!

The aura emanating from that blood-colored dagger shared the same origin as the Blood-Slaughter Battle Blade in Wu Zhankong's hand, yet it was even more insidious and treacherous!

With just a slight movement from the wielder, this noble Black-Haired Youth would immediately be decapitated, his Divine Soul utterly destroyed!

And the one holding the dagger, appearing behind Mo Yuan like a ghost, was none other than Wu Zhankong!

No, to be precise, it was another "Wu Zhankong"!

This "Wu Zhankong" had a slightly illusory figure, surrounded by faint purple light and blood-slaughter aura. His eyes were cold and heartless, forming a bizarre resonance with the panting original body holding the Blood-Slaughter Battle Blade nearby.

"A Clone?! Or a phantom? When did..."

Elder Ying blurted out in shock; he hadn't noticed at all when the opponent had sneaked up to the Young Master's side.

Wu Zhankong's original body was currently weak and covered in wounds, but as he looked at the two Black-Robed Figures who were now hesitant to act, a cold and mocking curve curled on his blood-stained lips.

"Keep fighting. Why did you stop?"

"Weren't you two acting quite mighty just now?"

His voice was hoarse, yet it carried a heart-palpitating chill.

"Release the Young Master!"

Elder Li's voice was like ten-thousand-year-old ice, containing a sky-toppling rage and an undetectable hint of panic.

If the Young Master died here, neither of them would have any way to survive!

"Do you know the Young Master's identity? If you harm him, you will be hunted down by the full power of my Black Cloud Empire. Even your relatives and friends will not escape!"

"You guys are truly hilarious. Do you think I still care about those things at this point?!"

Wu Zhankong's original body sneered, using the Blood-Colored Battle Blade to support himself as he slowly stood straight.

"Want him to live? Fine. First, drop that turtle shell of yours for me. Then, I'm going to need quite a lot of resources to recover from these injuries. What do you think should be done?!"

The situation had reversed in a flash!

Offense and defense had swapped places!

In an instant, the air seemed to freeze, with only the cracking sounds of the overburdened planet beneath their feet and the howling of energy storms as background noise.

The terrifying energy surging around Elder Li and Elder Ying stalled in mid-air. They could neither advance nor retreat, their faces so dark they looked like they might drip water.

Wu Zhankong's original body leaned on the Blood-Colored Battle Blade, panting heavily. Every breath pulled at the wounds across his body, bringing heart-wrenching pain.

But his eyes, burning with purple light and Battle Intent, remained locked onto Elder Li and Elder Ying without the slightest flinch.

The flesh-and-blood Clone holding the Black-Haired Youth hostage had an arm as steady as forged Star Gold. The blood-colored dagger was pressed tight against Black Abyss's neck; the cold blade and that streak of piercing blood spoke of the threat wordlessly.

"You... you dare harm me... my father is..."

Black Abyss felt the stinging pain at his neck and the destructive aura lingering on the dagger that made his Divine Soul tremble. He tried to threaten with bluster, but his voice shook and distorted with fear.

"Shut up!"

Wu Zhankong's original body impatiently interrupted him, his gaze still fixed on Elder Li and Elder Ying. "I don't give a damn who your father is!"

"Right now, your life is in my hands! You two, listen up!"

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his churning Qi and blood, his voice carrying an unquestionable ruthlessness.

"First, immediately, right now, drop this damn barrier for me!"

"Second, hand over all the Cultivation resources on your persons and in those broken ships—Star Yuan Stones, Spiritual Plants, energy crystals, and Secret Techniques! For every piece missing, I'll chop off one of his fingers!"

"Third, prepare the fastest single-person Assault Ship, fully fueled!"

"Once all this is done and I have safely left this Star Domain, I will naturally toss this trash back to you!"

"Arrogance!"

"Wishful thinking!"

Elder Li and Elder Ying shouted in anger almost simultaneously. As Peak Fourth-Stage experts, when had they ever been subjected to such extortion, especially by a heavily injured Early Fourth-Stage brat!

"You can try me."

Wu Zhankong's original body grinned, revealing blood-stained teeth, his smile cold and cruel. "See if your movements are faster, or if my Clone's dagger is faster."

"Or, you can gamble on whether my Clone has the ability to finish him off before you can make a move."

As if to prove his words, the purple-light Clone's eyes flared with purple light, and a bizarre mental wave stabbed directly into Black Abyss's Sea of Consciousness.

Black Abyss immediately let out a shrill scream as blood seeped from his seven orifices. His entire body went limp as if his bones had been removed, and he only remained upright because of the Clone's grip. His eyes were filled with endless terror.

"Young Master!"

Elder Li and Elder Ying's hearts tightened. They were hesitant to act; they didn't dare to gamble!

Black Abyss's identity was too important. If he died here, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Even though the two of them were Peak Fourth-Stage, they would surely die. It would be a luxury if their past merits were enough to keep their families from being implicated.

Elder Li stared fixedly at Wu Zhankong and said hoarsely, "The resources can be given to you, and the barrier can be removed, but you must guarantee the Young Master's safety!"

"If the Young Master suffers even the slightest harm, my Black Cloud Empire will exhaust the nation's entire strength to hunt you to the edge of the Universe, where you will never find peace!"

"Cut the crap! I have no interest in hearing your threats!"

Wu Zhankong was utterly blunt. "Now, choose! Are the resources more important, or is the life of this trash master of yours?"

A brief, suffocating silence followed.

The disintegration of the planet beneath them intensified. Giant cracks had already spread to where they stood, and scorching magma erupted into the sky.

Elder Ying glanced at the agonizing, pleading eyes of Mo Yuan, then looked at Elder Li, and finally nodded with difficulty.

Elder Li closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them again, only cold killing intent and helplessness remained.

He raised his hand, and an invisible wave was transmitted to the fleet in the starry sky.