96: Chapter 96 "If you don't cut the weeds at the root, they'll grow back in the spring breeze—isn't that what you said?"

"Or else what?" Wang Ming asked indifferently.

"Otherwise, don't blame this Young Master for not letting you leave Huadu!" The young man snorted coldly, leading his servants to make a path, but his eyes remained glued to the sword at Wang Ming's waist.

Wang Ming said no more and walked straight past the young man.

The young man didn't make a move, but merely gave a look to the servants behind him.

Several servants immediately followed silently.

Wang Ming was well aware, but he didn't care at all.

He knew that while these playboys were stupid, their families were not.

To dare to flaunt a heavy treasure so openly in public, one must have something to rely on.

Although this purple-clad young man was greedy, he also knew how to test the waters. He didn't dare to act rashly and chose to follow instead, waiting for reinforcements.

Wang Ming was in no hurry to leave the city. He strolled through the streets of Huadu, as if admiring the city's prosperity.

It wasn't until sunset that he slowly walked out of the city gates.

Less than ten miles outside the city gates, in a desolate forest.

"Stop!"

A loud shout came.

The purple-clad young man had returned, and behind him followed a grand procession of people.

At the head was a man with white hair and beard, wearing a dark red robe, his body's spiritual power fluctuations steady and powerful.

Wang Ming stopped and turned to look.

"Middle Stage Core Formation."

He saw through the old man's cultivation at a glance.

"It's him, he's the one who took your sword!" The purple-clad young man hid behind the old man and pointed at Wang Ming, shouting.

The old man ignored his grandson and stared intently at the black sword at Wang Ming's waist. A hint of greed flashed in his eyes, but it was mostly solemnity.

"Your Excellency." The old man cupped his hands, his tone neither humble nor arrogant. "I am Zhao Wuji, the head of the Zhao Family in Huadu. My son was rude and offended Your Excellency, but this sword is of vital importance to my Zhao Family. I hope Your Excellency can part with it."

"And if I say no?" Wang Ming crossed his arms, looking at them with leisure.

A cold light flashed in Zhao Wuji's eyes, and his Aura suddenly erupted, pressing down on Wang Ming.

"Since Your Excellency is unwilling to part with it, then I have no choice but to offend you."

"Hand over the king artifact, and I can leave your corpse intact."

Wang Ming smiled and pointed at the wait a minute at his waist. "Are you sure this is a king artifact?"

"Your Excellency doesn't need to play dumb." Zhao Wuji said coldly, "This sword's Aura is restrained, yet there are faint Law fluctuations. It is definitely no ordinary item. A treasure like this is not something a Loose Cultivator like you can possess."

"If I hand it over, you'll still kill me?" Wang Ming asked.

Zhao Wuji sneered: "To cut the grass without removing the roots is to let it grow back with the spring breeze. I still understand this bit of Jianghu common sense."

"Hand over the treasure and die, and perhaps you can still leave an intact corpse. If you don't, your Divine Soul will be utterly destroyed!"

"Interesting."

Wang Ming nodded, his gaze sweeping over Zhao Wuji and then over the Zhao Family Disciples behind him.

"Aren't you afraid of kicking a steel plate and implicating your entire Family?"

Hearing this, the sneer on Zhao Wuji's face grew even wider.

"A steel plate?"

He said proudly: "Setting aside whether you are a steel plate or not, even if you are, I accept it!"

"The Family provides so many conveniences and resources for its members daily; naturally, we should share in both honor and disgrace! For the future of the Family, even if I have to risk this old life of mine, I will not hesitate!"

These words were spoken with great force.

In his view, the Family's interests were above all else.

To obtain this king artifact and take the Zhao Family a step further, even death would be worth it.

Hearing this, Wang Ming smiled.

"What a 'sharing in honor and disgrace,' what a 'Family interests.'"

"Since you love your Family so much, then I will grant your wish."

"I'll let your Zhao Family truly share in honor and disgrace for once."

Before he finished speaking, the wealthy merchant disguise on Wang Ming's body instantly dissipated.

"Kneel."

Wang Ming spoke two words softly, the sound not loud, but like thunder from the Nine Heavens, it exploded in the minds of Zhao Wuji and the others.

In an instant, an invisible force of Divine Sense spread out like a tide, carrying an unrivaled pressure, ruthlessly suppressing them!

"Thump! Thump!"

The Zhao Family members, who had been aggressive just a moment ago, didn't even have time to let out a scream before they fell to their knees in unison, like wheat being mown down.

Dirt flew, and the sound of kneecaps shattering was clearly audible.

"This... how is this possible?!"

Zhao Wuji's whole body trembled, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back.

He stared fixedly at the young man before him, his eyes filled with disbelief.

He couldn't see through Wang Ming's cultivation, but this force of Divine Sense... was actually more terrifying than the Nascent Soul Stage old monsters he had seen!

How could a young man who looked to be only in his twenties have such strength?!

"Senior... Senior, have mercy!"

Zhao Wuji was the head of the Family, after all, and his reaction was extremely fast.

In the face of absolute fear, his so-called dignity and pride instantly collapsed.

He kowtowed desperately, his forehead hitting the ground, blood flowing freely.

"It was my greed! I failed to recognize Mount Tai! As long as Senior is willing to spare my Zhao Family, I am willing to serve as a beast of burden and offer all the Zhao Family's assets, just to ask Senior to stay your hand!"

Wang Ming looked down at him from above, his face expressionless, only shaking his head slightly.

Zhao Wuji's heart sank.

He knew that begging for mercy was useless.

"Senior..."

Zhao Wuji's voice trembled with a hint of pleading, "If... if blood must be shed, then kill me alone! I will bear all the guilt myself! I beg Senior to spare the rest of the Zhao Family. They are still young, they know nothing..."

This was his final bottom line, using his own life to trade for a glimmer of hope for the Family.

Wang Ming looked at him, a mocking arc curling at the corner of his mouth.

"Bear it alone?"

He slowly crouched down, reached out, and lightly patted Zhao Wuji's old face, which was covered in cold sweat and dirt.

"Patriarch Zhao, those words just now, you said them yourself, didn't you?"

"To cut the grass without removing the roots is to let it grow back with the spring breeze."

Wang Ming's voice was gentle, "This bit of Jianghu common sense, why don't you understand it now?"

Boom!

Zhao Wuji's pupils shrank violently, and his face instantly turned as pale as paper, without a hint of color.

He opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but found his throat seemed to be blocked by something, unable to make any sound.

He finally understood that the person in front of him was not here to reason.

He was here to take lives!

"Since you understand the rules so well, then I'll send you on your way."

Wang Ming stood up, red light flashing in his eyes, his hands forming seals.

"God Devouring Art!"

With his low shout, a black vortex instantly formed in his palm, then transformed into countless black tentacles that ruthlessly pierced into the brows of everyone present!

"Ah—!!"

Shrill screams rose one after another but were quickly cut off.

The Zhao Family Disciples who were pierced by the black tentacles twitched violently for a few moments, then the brilliance in their eyes quickly dissipated, becoming hollow and lifeless.

Their Souls, their consciousness, were being frantically devoured by Wang Ming!