Chapter 719: Instant Kill: Void Refinement

The two of them unsheathed their swords and slashed into the void.

One after another, sword intentions coalesced.

But they did not fall.

Hovering, uncommitted—waiting only for He Pingsheng's command.

He Pingsheng said nothing, merely gazing silently at the Heavenly Emperor of Flame.

After two breaths, the Heavenly Emperor of Flame finally drew a deep breath and asked: "What do you intend to do?"

He Pingsheng said: "Grudges have a source, debts have an owner. You know full well what you've done to me—why ask me what to do?"

"Come out!"

"Die!"

"Hahahaha…" A coarse laugh erupted from within the array: "He Pingsheng… I admit I cannot kill you, but you, a mere ant, dreaming of slaying me? Impossible!"

"Since you cannot kill me, why not just leave?"

He Pingsheng would never leave. He glanced at the surrounding Void Refinement cultivators and said: "Very well… Tian Jinpeng, have your disciples step forward. Let them face me, Void Refinement against Void Refinement. If any of them can defeat me, I will depart."

"What do you say?"

"Dream on!" said the Heavenly Emperor of Flame. "Your space technique renders you invincible—even I cannot touch you. How could my disciples possibly beat you?"

"No, no, no, no…" He Pingsheng waved his hand. "I mean—I won't use that space technique. I'll rely solely on my own abilities."

At this, Tian Jinpeng hesitated.

After all, He Pingsheng was only Void Refinement Layer One.

His disciples reached as high as Void Refinement Layer Twelve.

The higher the realm, the greater the gap—twelve layers versus one layer—how could he possibly lose?

"Arrogant words!" Before Tian Jinpeng could speak, his Void Refinement Layer Twelve disciple, Chang Wentian, stepped forward: "Master… let me go out and teach this insolent fool a lesson!"

Tian Jinpeng asked He Pingsheng: "You're certain you won't use that space technique?"

"And your nearby Body Integration cultivators won't interfere?"

"Relax," said He Pingsheng. "These Body Integration cultivators beside me? I prepared them for you—not your disciples."

"I, He Pingsheng, would never bully the weak!"

Hearing He Pingsheng speak with such certainty, the Heavenly Emperor of Flame finally nodded. "Fine… it's settled. I hope you keep your word."

Tian Jinpeng knew agreeing to He Pingsheng's terms was unwise—but he had no choice.

After all, being trapped within this golden light was no solution!

"You four!" As he negotiated with He Pingsheng, Tian Jinpeng whispered to his disciples: "When Chang Wentian fights He Pingsheng, slip away in all directions. I'll hold off the Body Integration cultivators."

"Tian Yao, enter my magic treasure's space!"

"Yes!"

The moment Tian Jinpeng sealed his daughter inside his magic treasure, he waved his hand—and the massive golden barrier vanished instantly.

His plan was simple:

After removing the array, he would personally attack the Body Integration Layer Ten woman.

Meanwhile, his other disciples would flee as streaks of light—any who escaped, escaped.

As for the duel he'd promised He Pingsheng?

To hell with it!

But the Heavenly Emperor of Flame hadn't anticipated that his own deception was mirrored.

The instant the array shattered, a sharp sword intention slammed toward him.

Zhu Que moved.

She moved faster than Tian Jinpeng.

On the other side, He Pingsheng and Zhou Qingmei also struck.

Whoosh…

He Pingsheng activated 【Void Rapid Movement】, instantly descending from the sky. Crack, crack, crack, crack—he triggered six talismans and slapped them onto six of Tian Jinpeng's Void Refinement disciples.

Sixth-grade talisman: Chain Soul Curse Talisman!

Meanwhile, Zhou Qingmei didn't hesitate. Though she lacked 【Void Rapid Movement】 and was slightly slower, she still arrived first, slapping four more talismans onto four other disciples.

Ten disciples now bore the Chain Soul Curse Talismans.

At that exact moment, Zhou Qingmei, He Pingsheng, and Lady Zhu Que struck simultaneously—faster than lightning, faster than sound—cutting down the disciples.

He Pingsheng had the lowest cultivation; in that instant, he slew only one Void Refinement Layer Six cultivator.

Zhou Qingmei, Body Integration Layer One, wielding the Supreme Heaven Ice Sword, instantly slew three Void Refinement cultivators.

The strongest was Lady Zhu Que.

Lady Zhu Que possessed a technique identical to the Great Lun Mingwang's: Mingwang Sacrifice.

When the Great Lun Mingwang fought Duan Feihong, he had summoned only a single feather.

Now, Lady Zhu Que unleashed a full peacock's display—dozens of purple feathers exploded open, filling half the void.

Each feather bore a golden circular spot.

Six of those spots erupted with golden light, striking the six disciples marked by He Pingsheng's Chain Soul Curse Talismans.

Mingwang Sacrifice could be unleashed singly or in multiples.

But a single strike carried far greater power than multiple ones.

Otherwise, when facing Duan Feihong, the Great Lun Mingwang wouldn't have used only one feather.

After all, Duan Feihong ranked eleventh among Mahayana Emperor-level combatants—his strength was not to be underestimated. The Great Lun Mingwang's first strike had always been his ultimate power.

But the situation now differed.

Lady Zhu Que was overwhelming these disciples—Body Integration Layer Ten against Void Refinement.

She didn't need full power. Six strikes were enough.

Even split into six, the golden light obliterated the six marked disciples the moment it struck.

Ten men—instantly erased.

Of Tian Jinpeng's fourteen disciples, only four golden lights escaped. The rest were dead.

Not just dead—the Chain Soul Curse Talismans bound their bodies and their clones, causing simultaneous annihilation.

The entire palace became ruins.

Within ten li around the palace, countless buildings collapsed.

Amid the wreckage, only Tian Jinpeng stood alone.

His face held no hatred toward He Pingsheng, no grief for his fallen disciples—only endless desolation and regret.

He Pingsheng and the other two made no further move against Tian Jinpeng.

"Huh…" Tian Jinpeng exhaled deeply. "He Pingsheng… today's outcome—can this matter be settled?"

"No," said He Pingsheng, shaking his head. "The original instigator still walks untouched under your protection."

"Then… hand Tian Yao over to me."

"I'll never trouble you again. Moreover… I'll give you this."

As he spoke, He Pingsheng pulled out a green pearl: the Small Thousand World.

A new choice now lay before Tian Jinpeng.

Protect his bloodline?

Or protect his daughter, Tian Yao?

Choose one.