94: You committed such a serious crime, why didn't you say so sooner?

No one dared to linger, flying through the air on their Flying Swords.

They constantly stuffed Medicinal Pills from their spatial rings into their mouths, burning their lifeblood essence.

While fleeing, Tang Heng and Fan Qingjian exchanged a look.

Without needing words, they both immediately thought of a way: to flee toward the medicinal garden guarded by a Spirit Manifestation Realm Middle Stage Nether General.

They immediately rushed toward that place.

"Where do you think you're going!"

At this moment, a pursuer at the Spirit Manifestation Realm Early Stage had arrived behind them.

Holding a chain in his hand, he threw it abruptly; the chain flew out and coiled around a female Cultivator in Fan Qingjian's team.

"Brother Fan! Save me!"

The female Cultivator struggled for a moment before being dragged away.

However, Fan Qingjian and the others had no intention of turning back; instead, their Flying Swords moved even faster.

In a life-or-death situation, they were lucky not to kick you toward the enemy themselves; did you really expect them to save you?

What a pipe dream!

"Fellow Daoist Tang, I'll have to trouble you and Fellow Daoist Yao to hold off one Spirit Manifestation Cultivator later."

"The others will hold off another one."

"I will deal with the remaining enemies and lure the Nether General to fight them."

"Alright!"

Tang Heng nodded heavily; under these circumstances, even if it was difficult, they had to overcome it. Otherwise, if they couldn't escape, they would have to enter the Coral Fortress again.

The two groups returned one after another to the medicinal garden where the precious tree was located.

"Damn it, they run so fast!"

"Hmph, they burned their lifeblood essence, how could they not be fast?"

"Captain, something seems wrong ahead."

To this, the Arch-Enemy Apprehension Squad smiled disdainfully, merely treating these people as if they were making a final struggle.

Sensing the presence of living beings again, the Nether General, who had been underground, crawled out once more.

At this moment, its body was wrapped in a denser black mist, appearing hideous and terrifying, making one's heart tremble.

On the ground, there were seven corpses of Cultivators that had been eaten until only half remained.

Seeing living creatures intruding into its territory again, the Nether General let out bursts of angry roars.

A pitch-black giant hand reached behind its back and pulled out the qilin blade.

The Nether General stepped out, swinging its arms, and the qilin blade slashed down fiercely toward Fan Qingjian and Tang Heng, who were at the very front.

"Watch out!"

Fan Qingjian and Tang Heng hastily struck out with their palms against each other, using the counterforce to dodge, narrowly avoiding the strike.

"Fellow Daoists, execute the plan!"

"Alright!"

Fan Qingjian pressed his fingers together and threw several long-range spells at the Nether General, attempting to draw its aggro toward the capture team pursuing them.

However, the Nether General remained unmoved; these spells hitting its body had no effect at all.

"Damn it..."

He cursed under his breath and put on that ring again.

Bang! Fan Qingjian transformed into a monster Incarnation once more, and the Nether General opposite him also charged instantly, throwing a punch.

"Ah!"

Spitting out a mouthful of blood, Fan Qingjian in his monster state was hit squarely by the punch.

Fortunately, at the moment he was about to be sent flying.

He suddenly grabbed the Nether General's arm and threw it toward the Arch-Enemy Apprehension Squad pursuing from behind.

The Cultivators of the Arch-Enemy Apprehension Squad saw the Nether General suddenly thrown at them and were immediately on high alert.

Because this Nether General was not to be trifled with; its cultivation had reached the Spirit Manifestation Realm Middle Stage, it felt no pain, and its fighting style was brutal, almost always trading injuries for injuries.

If one were careless and allowed Nether Qi to enter the body, it would be even more troublesome.

Xu Tai, the captain of the Arch-Enemy Apprehension Squad, watched the charging Nether General with a grim face, driving his True Qi as the longsword in his hand swung out fiercely.

"Get away from me!"

He roared and slashed his sword at the Nether General.

Meanwhile, the qilin blade in the Nether General's hand also swung out, bringing with it a sky full of black flames and metallic light.

The two forces collided in mid-air.

A massive explosion of power erupted, causing the surrounding Cultivators to retreat one after another.

Bang!

The two collided, producing a clanging sound of metal on metal.

The Nether General was knocked back ten steps, but Xu Tai's palm was split open, with blood flowing freely.

"There's hope!"

Fan Qingjian, Tang Heng, and the others were immediately excited to see the Nether General and the capture team Cultivators fighting.

"Fellow Daoists, go!"

The battle situation was just as Fan Qingjian had arranged: Tang Heng and Yao Yian were entangled with one Spirit Manifestation Cultivator, others blocked another Spirit Manifestation Cultivator, and he blocked the remaining people.

It was true that the Nether General was powerful, but these capture team members were also Cultivators who had struggled in the Epoch Battlefield for a long time.

Especially this Xu Tai, whose strength was unfathomable.

Sure enough, as Xu Tai stabilized his footing, he fought with increasing bravery.

"Oath Spirit Star Nether Slash!"

Xu Tai shouted, and a huge phantom abruptly appeared behind him; it was a massive evil spirit holding an exaggeratedly long blade.

"Oh no!?"

Fan Qingjian and the others' expressions changed drastically.

"The Nether General is going to lose!..." Yao Yian's heart shook violently.

He also felt the terror of this strike; sure enough, in the next moment.

Xu Tai slashed down with his blade, and the long blade in the hands of the evil spirit phantom behind him also fell, slashing fiercely at the Nether General.

The Nether General could not dodge and could only endure this strike head-on.

Boom—

The entire medicinal garden trembled; after performing this move, a trace of blood also seeped from the corner of Xu Tai's mouth.

The Nether General was heavily injured, most of the evil Qi on its body dissipating, yet it still continued to move forward, waving the qilin blade.

Unfortunately, this spent attack was easily blocked by the opponent.

Immediately after, Xu Tai fiercely drew his sword and slashed.

Crack!

The longsword cut directly into the Nether General's neck and sliced through, separating its eerie head from its body.

Foul, decayed liquid splashed everywhere.

Splash!

The Nether General was defeated!

Yao Yian was dumbfounded; this wasn't right.

How could the script be so wrong? Shouldn't they have used the Nether General's power to escape their predicament and counter-kill those of a higher level?

Why were the people in this alternate world so difficult to deal with?

Was this a Hell-level cultivation world?

"Finally resolved. Now it's your turn."

Although Tang Heng, Fan Qingjian, and the others had resisted desperately, they were ultimately forced to wear those silver collars again, and their cultivation was once again restricted.

The Nether General's qilin blade and the broken sword in its chest were taken away, and the precious tree along with the Spirit Manifestation items on it were naturally taken by them as well.

"Let's go collect the bounty."

The Cultivators of the Arch-Enemy Apprehension Squad were overjoyed and escorted the group away.

On the way, the controlled crowd had nothing to do but start chatting.

"Fellow Daoist Tang, since we've already been captured, I won't hide anything. I'll just say what's on my mind."

"I am actually the New Steward of a small Coral Fortress. I was captured because I stole the Fortress Master's trump card Magical Artifact and fled."

"What about you?"

Tang Heng paused and said, "I'm about the same as you, pretty much the same."

"Hahahaha, what a load of bullsh*t!"

A Cultivator from the Arch-Enemy Apprehension Squad walked over laughing and came to Tang Heng's side.

"This fellow is quite something."

"How so?"

Fan Qingjian was curious; although the other party had some strength, his performance had been mediocre.

What was so special about him?

"You know the famous Aether Coral Fortress in the Chaotic Land, right?"

Fan Qingjian nodded, a trace of fear showing in his eyes.

"He took down that person's favorite female Cultivator from the Northern Border at the Aether Coral Fortress."

"That person was furious and offered a very high bounty. Now, all the capture teams in the entire Chaotic Land are looking for him!"

*Hiss.*

Upon hearing this, Fan Qingjian's face changed instantly.

"Fellow Daoist Tang, you committed such a huge crime, why didn't you say so earlier!"

"You've really screwed us over."

"Then how do you plan to deal with us?"

"Naturally, we'll sell you to the Aether Coral Fortress, saying you're all in this together. The reward given then will only be higher."

"Hahahaha."

After saying that, the Cultivator from the Arch-Enemy Apprehension Squad walked away again.

Fan Qingjian and the others were all panicking; they could imagine what their end would be.

There were at least several hundred types of torture waiting for them. If he had known that this Tang Heng had committed such a huge crime, he would have committed suicide just now.

Now that they were controlled, it was difficult even to commit suicide.

"What should we do?"

Tang Heng panicked; he also knew what fate he was about to face.

But just as Tang Heng was still thinking of a countermeasure, another team walked toward them from ahead.

That team also wore uniform clothing, with the emblem of another capture team on them.

"Halt! We are from the Arch-Enemy Apprehension Squad, do not take another step closer!"

"That big fish is in your hands, excellent."

"Hand over that guy named Tang Heng!"

Upon hearing this, the faces of the Arch-Enemy Apprehension Squad Cultivators immediately changed.

"In your dreams!"

"Kill!"

Both sides immediately started fighting. Only after the battle broke out did the Arch-Enemy Apprehension Squad Cultivators realize that the guys in front of them were much more powerful than themselves.

They were no match at all and were beaten into a steady retreat.

Not only that, but Xu Tai and the other Spirit Manifestation Realm Cultivators were also in a bitter struggle, because the number of Spirit Manifestation Realm Cultivators on the other side was three more than theirs.

Before long, the Arch-Enemy Apprehension Squad suffered heavy casualties.

Seeing this situation, Tang Heng immediately understood that the other party wanted to control them.

Before long, the Arch-Enemy Apprehension Squad was crippled by the other side.

Xu Tai fled, and the other Spirit Manifestation Realm Cultivators were also killed by the opponents.

"Hahaha, we are the Cultivators of the Heavenly Star Capture Team! Now you are our spoils of war!"

"Indeed, it's this fellow."

A Cultivator from the Heavenly Star Capture Team walked over after finishing cleaning up the battlefield.

He took out a portrait and a jade pendant.

The person in the portrait was Tang Heng's original appearance, although Tang Heng had changed his look by now.

But it didn't hinder recognizing him, because there was a wisp of his aura inside the jade pendant.

As the jade pendant approached Tang Heng, it immediately emitted light.

"Quickly escort him to the Aether Coral Fortress to avoid any further complications."

"My goodness, Fellow Daoist Tang, we might really be finished this time."

"You committed such a huge crime, why didn't you say so earlier!"

"You've really screwed us all over."

"This is great, seven Spirit Manifestation Realm guards; the number is even more than the Spirit Manifestation Realm Cultivators in my Coral Fortress."

Fan Qingjian's voice was filled with shock, and his words carried a trace of trembling, as if he had sunk into a deep abyss of despair.

"I... you... he..."

Tang Heng's speech was a bit stuttered, but he didn't despair; instead, he was seeking a way to escape.

The team moved forward, but on the way, they were also attacked by several capture teams, though they were all repelled by the Heavenly Star Capture Team Cultivators.

As they got closer and closer to the Aether Coral Fortress, it seemed as if there was no longer any chance for a turnaround.

Suddenly, another team appeared on the distant horizon, with banners fluttering in the wind.

However, the words "Aether" written prominently on the flags made Tang Heng's heart tighten.

This team came precisely from the Aether Coral Fortress, and the figure of the leader was particularly eye-catching.

A faint smile hung on his face, yet it exuded a sinister aura.

Tang Heng had seen the lead Cultivator before; he was the man in white they had seen when they first arrived at the Aether Coral Fortress.

"You are Tang Heng?"

"Quite famous indeed!"

The New Steward walked toward Tang Heng with light steps and a smile on his face.

In the next moment, a gleam of triumph flashed in his eyes, and he immediately swung a punch without hesitation, hitting Tang Heng heavily in the abdomen.

In that instant, it felt as if even the air had been shattered, and Tang Heng felt a surge of indescribable agony.

Blood flowed from his seven orifices, staining his vision red.

"Take him away." The New Steward's voice was cold and heartless as he gave the direct order.

"Fellow Daoist from the Aether Coral Fortress, the things for our Heavenly Star Capture Team..."

"Naturally, you won't be shortchanged."

The New Steward beckoned, and another Aether Coral Fortress Cultivator walked over; each of them took out a token.

Afterward, the tokens were merged into one.

"This item is yours."

The Heavenly Star Capture Team Cultivators were overjoyed, quickly took the token, and handed Tang Heng and the others over.

"Jie jie jie jie."

With a flick of his wrist, the New Steward took out a short blade from his sleeve, and then the sharp blade swiped across, cutting off several more of Tang Heng's fingers.

"The Fortress Master said that when caught, cut off a few fingers, and then do this and that."

"You've been running for so long, you must be hungry."

Then, the New Steward grinned hideously, and several fingers were crushed into minced meat, bone and all, by him. Immediately, two people went up and pulled open the corners of Tang Heng's mouth... Yao Yian saw this scene and momentarily stopped breathing.

"Don't cripple his cultivation yet; there will be even more exciting performances later. Don't let him die easily."

"Of course, the others captured are no exception. Drag them off for a severe beating first."

"Those are all accomplices! Keep them somewhat intact, and don't let any parts go missing, otherwise the Fortress Master will be unhappy!"

"After the beating, remember to feed them healing Medicinal Pills!"

Upon hearing this, Fan Qingjian and the others turned as pale as death, their hearts feeling as if struck by lightning, their eyes filled with shock and despair.

"No way, what kind of disaster is this!"

"Fellow Daoist Tang, you committed such a huge crime, why didn't you say so earlier!"

Just as Yao Yian thought they were doomed this time, he unexpectedly encountered...