193: Severe

"Shen Lian, listen up. Your Revered Master, Shen Chuyun, is currently a guest on my Southern Sea Immortal Island. If you don't want any accident to befall her,

you'd best abandon your plan to retaliate against our Island Master. This is both a notification and a warning. I advise you not to be ignorant of what's good for you."

Huo Jie's attitude was extremely arrogant; his words showed he didn't put Shen Lian in his eyes at all.

After all, Penglai Immortal Island was an existence akin to a Deity. The island housed five Sages, each with extraordinary cultivation, and even the Old Island Master, who had stepped into the Limit-Breaking Realm. Who in the world dared to disrespect them?

Huo Jie had the capital to be arrogant.

"A joke."

As a result, Huo Jie's words only provoked a cold snort from Shen Lang.

"You think a single Shen Chuyun is enough to make me abandon my hatred for that bitch? You are truly naive. Go back and tell Xu Feifei,

that I will soon go to Penglai Island to find her, personally twist her neck, and draw her soul into the human emperor cauldron for refinement!"

Huo Jie was furious: "What audacity! Let me see what capability you have to utter such words!"

"Stop!"

Ji Yun suddenly spoke up, stopping the impending storm.

He said to Shen Lian, "The message the Island Master wanted us to deliver has been delivered. You should weigh the rest yourself."

As he passed Shen Lian, he whispered in his ear, "Our Island Master said that as long as you cripple your own cultivation or swear a Heavenly Dao Oath,

Shen Chuyun can remain safe and sound. Otherwise, she does not wish to see the scene where both fish and net are destroyed. Think carefully."

After speaking, Ji Yun gave Shen Lian a meaningful look, then left with Huo Jie.

"Hmph, you think such a despicable tactic is enough to make Shen Lian submit and spare you? Xu Feifei, do you still think I am the simp my former self was—one who didn't know shame?"

Leaving that remark behind, Shen Lian strolled down Heavenly Sword Peak... Huo Jie and Ji Yun descended Heavenly Sword Peak, traveling as streaks of light until they reached the seaside, quietly waiting for the Immortal Island ferry to arrive.

Huo Jie frowned: "Fifth Brother, I just don't understand why Feifei wouldn't let us suppress and kill Shen Lian directly, but instead chose to use Shen Chuyun to threaten him?"

Ji Yun pondered for a moment before replying, "Feifei must have her own reasons for doing this. Being such a kind person, she probably doesn't want to see fellow Sect members turn on each other."

Huo Jie: "But this Shen Lian has already betrayed his Revered Master and annihilated his ancestors, killing six Junior Sisters! Yet Feifei still only thinks of making peace. This is truly illogical!"

Ji Yun: "Enough, Sixth Brother. Trust Feifei. After all, Heavenly Feather Sect was her initial Sect, so she likely wants to give that Devil Head a chance to reform."

Huo Jie: "But judging by Shen Lian's attitude, is threatening him with Shen Chuyun really effective? I can't sense that Shen Lian cares much about his Revered Master."

Ji Yun shook his head: "I truly cannot see through this Shen Lian. However, since Feifei requested it, we don't need to overthink things. We just need to follow her instructions."

"Sigh, we should have just killed him with a single palm strike earlier. Then we wouldn't have so many worries."

"Stop talking nonsense. The ship is here."

Just then, ten thousand rays of rosy light suddenly appeared on the sea surface.

Splitting the waves, a ship made entirely of white jade slowly sailed toward the shore, docking on the beach in less than ten breaths of time.

"Let's go."

Ji Yun and Huo Jie were just about to step onto the deck.

Suddenly, a gust of cold, sinister wind swept past them from behind.

"Hmm?"

Ji Yun slowly retracted the foot he had just lifted.

"Killing intent!"

Sensing the killing intent brewing in the cold wind behind him, Huo Jie secretly activated the True Essence within his body.

The next moment, faint, unhurried footsteps slowly approached the backs of the two men.

Ji Yun and Huo Jie turned around simultaneously, their brows furrowing in unison.

They saw Shen Lian holding an Iron Fan, his cloak fluttering continuously in the sea breeze.

Thirty steps away, Shen Lian stopped advancing, his eyes shooting out sharp glints.

Ji Yun's brow furrowed, and he stepped forward: "Shen Lian, did you figure things out so quickly?"

Shen Lian closed his Folding Fan and replied coldly, "I thought carefully just now and arrived at an answer that even I found unbelievable."

Ji Yun frowned: "What answer?"

Shen Lian raised his hand and pointed at the two: "Since when did I allow myself to be threatened and provoked, yet forget to retaliate? This feeling makes me extremely displeased!"

As his voice fell, the beach immediately burst with surging air currents, causing roaring sounds.

Huo Jie was enraged upon hearing this: "You dare attack people from the Immortal Island?"

Shen Lian lowered his gaze: "Why not? If I don't give a clear response to the provocation of trash, then Shen Lian wouldn't be Shen Lian anymore. Both of you, stay here!"

"Arrogant!"

Hearing this, Huo Jie waved his hands, and two Emperor-Grade Spirit Swords immediately appeared in his grasp.

"I just wonder if your strength matches your current arrogant attitude!"

Shen Lian curled his lip and pointed a finger: "Are ants barking wildly trying to elicit pity from an Expert?"

"Impudence!"

Huo Jie was completely enraged. With a roar, he directly raised his swords and attacked Shen Lian.

"Sixth Brother, don't let him provoke you!"

Ji Yun tried to stop him but was a step too late, so he could only attack Shen Lian from the side.

"Immortal Cloud Thirteen Dance!"

The moment they closed the distance, Huo Jie immediately executed his unique skill.

The Immortal Cloud Thirteen Dance unleashed Sword Qi that crisscrossed everywhere. Enhanced by Emperor-Grade Divine Weapons, it was as elegant as a Deity, its Aura magnificent, adding thirty percent more killing intent.

"Hm?"

Shen Lian let out a soft sound, stepping with the Four Symbols Steps, his figure elusive like a phantom.

In the blink of an eye, he had avoided all thirteen Sword Qi attacks from his opponent.

Seeing his killing move miss, the twin swords in Huo Jie's hands suddenly shifted.

"Immortal Cloud Transformation into Ethereal."

A more potent Sword Qi converged into a sword net, tightly locking down Shen Lian's movement technique and steps.

*Tear~*

With a tearing sound, Shen Lian retreated half a step.

Looking at the corner of his sleeve ripped by the Sword Qi on his shoulder, the expression in his eyes abruptly sharpened.

"Void Concealment: One Qi Splits Yin and Yang!"

Void Concealment emerged, the sword net completely vanished, followed immediately by a more furious counterattack.

"Heavenly Sea Raging Tide!"

*Boom~~*

The sea roared furiously, stirring up monstrous waves on the surface.

The Heavenly Sea Raging Tide gathered environmental factors, incorporating the Spiritual Power enhanced by the sea tide, unleashing a power far more ferocious than usual, surging straight toward Huo Jie.

"This is bad!"

Huo Jie was greatly alarmed. Facing the overwhelming tide, he decisively circled his twin swords, firmly defending his position.

"Immortal Cloud Transformation into Mountain Momentum."

In an instant, a colossal mountain formed by Spiritual Qi and Dao Rhyme rose before Huo Jie, attempting to block this catastrophe of giant waves.

*Boom~*

The moment the tide collided with the Emperor-Grade Spiritual Artifact, the mountain momentum immediately collapsed.

As the spiritual light dispersed, a shocking streak of crimson appeared at the corner of Huo Jie's mouth.

"Ugh~"

Propping himself up with his twin swords, Huo Jie felt his entire body trembling uncontrollably.

"Is that all you have? Then stay here for me!"

With a roar, Huo Jie suddenly looked up, only to see Shen Lian's palm strike already right in front of him.

"This is bad, Sixth Brother, watch out!"

Seeing Huo Jie fall into a disadvantage, Ji Yun, who was assisting from the side, immediately condensed his finger power and activated a move.

"Immortal Cloud Evil-Shattering Finger!"

The force of the finger strike penetrated the Nine Heavens, and the killing Dao Rhyme rushed straight toward Shen Lian's face.

"You!"

Shen Lian's pupils contracted. After spitting out a single word, he flipped his body in the Void Realm.

Stepping on the finger force, he silently circulated Void Concealment, completely dissolving the powerful finger strike.

"You're worth three points of my seriousness!"

The instant his foot landed, the surrounding mountainous terrain violently exploded and roared, shaking the entire area for dozens of miles!