Chapter 105: Ruthless Resolve

“Ha ha ha ha!” Upon hearing Jiang Feng’s words, Cang Bai burst into a series of laughter, but it was the laughter of fury turned upside down.

“Cang Bai, why are you laughing?” Jiang Feng was momentarily taken aback, somewhat puzzled.

“I’m laughing because you’re outrageously arrogant!” A sinister smile replaced his laughter. Now, Cang Bai resembled a cunning raccoon, and greed once again flickered in his eyes.

His attention never strayed from the White Emperor Glazed Cauldron. This exquisite white Netherworld artifact was truly enviable. Even those who had reached the True Netherworld Realm could hardly possess such a treasure.

Moreover, he had already discerned that this White Emperor Glazed Cauldron was a supreme treasure among white Netherworld artifacts. If he obtained it, even without handing it over to the Langya Guild for contribution, he could refine pills to rapidly advance his cultivation and reach the True Netherworld Realm within his short lifespan.

Otherwise, with his current cultivation, by the time he reached the True Netherworld Realm, he would be nearing death. Although entering the True Netherworld Realm would greatly extend his life, by then his body would have aged considerably.

Now that this White Emperor Glazed Cauldron was in Jiang Feng’s hands, how could he allow him to monopolize it? No matter what, he had to claim a share—even if it meant stirring trouble within the Langya Guild. Capturing Jiang Feng alive would be a great merit, which he could leverage to escalate the conflict. Obtaining this unparalleled treasure was a matter of life and status; how could he let it slip away?

Cang Bai was utterly fearless, as he was a deep-level member of the Langya Guild, while Jiang Feng was a criminal in Jiuyan Town, an enemy of the guild.

However, as Cang Bai spoke, Jiang Feng’s gaze abruptly turned cold. He said icily, “I never imagined that no matter where one goes, there are those who twist facts and cause trouble like you. When I first met Fang Lingtai of the Fang family, I scolded him harshly, but today I have encountered someone even more shameless and vile. You people think that because you have some cultivation and status, you can act with impunity! This is contempt for other living beings, lawlessness, and demonic nature! I tell you, this White Emperor Glazed Cauldron is war spoils I seized from the Master of the Island of No Fate. There’s no way I will hand it over to you!”

Cang Bai’s shamelessness and distortion of right and wrong were truly outrageous!

As he spoke, the Netherworld energy within Jiang Feng surged and condensed into a sharp needle—the Wood Emperor Divine Needle. Its aura was fierce and piercing, capable of assassinating a ninth-stage Virtuorealm expert. It shot out swiftly and vanished instantly, as if traversing through space and time, suddenly appearing before Cang Bai.

Although Cang Bai had reached the eighth stage of the Virtuorealm, his strength lay in Netherworld arts rather than the sheer depth of his Netherworld energy. His energy capacity was roughly that of an average eighth-stage Virtuorealm practitioner, falling short of Jiang Feng’s by at least tenfold. Now, Jiang Feng was unleashing his full power to pierce him, making his fate worse than death.

“Stop!”

At that moment, the first to act was not Cang Bai but their leader, Zhang Tianhao. Zhang Tianhao had vast connections within the Langya Guild in Lingbo Town and was highly cultivated. Seeing Jiang Feng scold Cang Bai, he seized this perfect opportunity to defend him. Although Cang Bai was nominally his subordinate, he was proud and disobedient. If they defeated Jiang Feng but Cang Bai insisted on keeping the White Emperor Glazed Cauldron for himself, Zhang Tianhao would suffer a great loss.

His plan was twofold: to give Jiang Feng a severe warning and to indebting Cang Bai to him, so that he could later demand the White Emperor Glazed Cauldron.

He acted immediately, channeling Netherworld energy into his bright mirror, from which a white light shot forth, fiercely intercepting the Wood Emperor Divine Needle before Jiang Feng could strike.

Immediately after, his juniors also unleashed their own Netherworld artifacts, channeling power in unison.

Suddenly, the No Fate Hall was illuminated by dazzling multicolored lights, reminiscent of fireworks during festive celebrations—brilliant and splendid.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!

Five simultaneous sounds resounded with perfect harmony, attesting to the superb coordination among the brothers.

These so-called deep-level members of the Langya Guild, apart from Zhang Tianhao and Cang Bai, had mediocre cultivation and Netherworld energy reserves—somewhat inferior even to Xue Qiming, whom Jiang Feng had encountered at the Jiuyan Grand Tournament. Although each was at the eighth stage of Virtuorealm, their Netherworld energy was only comparable to the fourth stage, indicating they relied heavily on pills to forcefully boost their cultivation—a mere paper tiger. Together, their combined power was still no match for Jiang Feng.

Yet their Netherworld arts were exquisite and profound, battle-hardened, skillfully leveraging force against force. Wave after wave, they managed to withstand the Wood Emperor Divine Needle.

“You thieves, you’re nothing but Zhang Tianhao’s lackeys, yet you dare to flaunt your brilliance before me. It seems you truly desire death!” Jiang Feng’s murderous intent flared. Without unleashing his thunderous techniques, he could not assert his dominance.

—

A flash of killing intent, Jiang Feng retracted his Netherworld energy briefly and then unleashed it again. Initially wary of Cang Bai, he suddenly noticed that Cang Bai was entangled by Duan Xingyun. Having already experienced the deadly power of Duan Xingyun’s Star Sand attack, Jiang Feng no longer worried about Cang Bai and focused his full attention on the others.

He divided his Netherworld energy into eight streams, each forming a Wood Emperor Divine Needle aimed at eliminating these lackeys.

“Divide and conquer? Though my juniors may appear weak in Netherworld energy, they have trained together long enough to develop a symbiotic mental connection. Such tacit understanding makes it impossible for you to pick us off one by one!” Zhang Tianhao laughed heartily, channeling energy into his hovering circular mirror. It writhed like a dragon and serpent, intercepting Jiang Feng’s needles.

“Besides, with me and Senior Brother Cang Bai here, even though Duan Xingyun has joined your side, I believe you are still doomed today!”

Zhang Tianhao’s sneer betrayed their nine-to-one assault, allowing him to focus on psychological warfare against Jiang Feng.

“Die!” Jiang Feng’s resolve was as solid as a rock. He refused to let Zhang Tianhao’s words affect him even slightly. In a flash, the five Wood Emperor Divine Needles withdrew and merged into one, which abruptly changed direction midair and shot toward Zhang Tianhao’s circular mirror, piercing it through on the first strike.

“No!”

Zhang Tianhao, leader of the Langya Guild squad, screamed in despair as the mirror exploded, releasing a blinding radiance that shattered it into countless shards.

With the mirror destroyed, Zhang Tianhao’s white-scaled light formations instantly lost their power and could no longer be unleashed.

However, Jiang Feng knew Zhang Tianhao’s arsenal was not limited to the mirror; he must seize this brief window to drag Zhang Tianhao and his troublesome juniors into the abyss of darkness.

With the mirror broken, Zhang Tianhao’s juniors scattered in panic, retreating without daring to counterattack. Jiang Feng snorted in disdain. To him, those who wouldn’t fight desperately had no chance of victory.

“Jiang Feng, you demon, how dare you destroy my Vermilion Sun Mystic Mirror? I will avenge this grievance on you!” Zhang Tianhao gritted his teeth. The Vermilion Sun Mystic Mirror was a top-tier dark Netherworld artifact—the most dazzling treasure he possessed—yet Jiang Feng shattered it in a mere encounter, leaving no chance to reclaim it.

“Hmph, demon? Is it righteous to forcibly seize my White Emperor Glazed Cauldron? Whether I’m a demon or not, is it up to you to decide? I initially intended only to destroy your artifact to show you how painful losing one is. But since you say so, I will also take your Netherworld energy, dragging you completely back to an ordinary man!”

Although Jiang Feng’s spirits lifted somewhat after shattering the Vermilion Sun Mystic Mirror, Zhang Tianhao’s provocation ignited his fierce and ruthless nature. Despite lingering caution, he was determined not to give Zhang Tianhao another chance.

The Wood Emperor Divine Needle, not yet fully dissipated, was replenished by Jiang Feng’s Netherworld energy. It gleamed with biting coldness, first sealing off Zhang Tianhao’s escape route. Then Jiang Feng unleashed all his energy, imbuing the fragments of the Vermilion Sun Mystic Mirror with power as he shouted, “All-Encompassing Phenomena!”

In the blink of an eye, the scene before them transformed drastically. Various brutal and poisonous scenarios unfolded, plunging everyone into a world of bloody slaughter.

Jiang Feng had now fully mastered the All-Encompassing Phenomena technique. No longer a mere recitation of Fang Yichen’s art, it had become his own profound Netherworld skill.

“Ah!”

A continuous chorus of agonized screams echoed eerily in the dim, dilapidated No Fate Hall.

The fierce clash between Cang Bai and Duan Xingyun was interrupted by the cries. Both instinctively ceased fighting. Cang Bai looked up, startled. Zhang Tianhao and his juniors writhed nervously in midair, their faces twisted with various expressions, none normal—clearly deeply frightened.

Their spirits had suffered an indelible blow.

—

“Jiang Feng, how dare you use such ruthless tactics!” Cang Bai was furious. He had completely forgotten about the White Emperor Glazed Cauldron. Having come with Zhang Tianhao and the others, Zhang Tianhao’s misfortune would surely bring wrath from their master. No treasure contribution or rewards would be expected—only harsh rebuke. How could he not be angry?

Jiang Feng chuckled softly upon hearing the word “ruthless.” Looking at the All-Encompassing Phenomena he had unleashed—howls of despair and bloodshed everywhere—he said, “Do you know from whom I learned this Netherworld art? From a monk. Haha, I suppose if he used such a technique, you would praise its magnificence. But since I use it, it becomes a ruthless and vicious demonic spell!”

His words left Cang Bai embarrassed and speechless.

“Hmph, Jiang Feng is right. You people judge others by appearances, unable to tolerate any opposition. People like you disgrace the very name of the Langya Guild!” Duan Xingyun’s eyes were bloodshot, his aura that of a ferocious beast.

Startled by Duan Xingyun’s imposing presence, Cang Bai faltered.

Seeing this, a cold smile flickered on Duan Xingyun’s lips. The Star Sand Azure Dragon Ring on his finger glowed intensely as he shot out a Star Sand sword. The sharp killing aura aimed directly at Cang Bai’s head, intending to pierce a hole through his skull!

The sword’s momentum was overwhelming!

In one strike, Cang Bai’s protective Netherworld energy was shattered. His once impregnable defense was useless against Duan Xingyun’s sword aura, which completely enveloped his mind, rendering him helpless—like a fish on a chopping block, at the mercy of his executioner.

Such a sword strike was earth-shattering!

Cang Bai realized this was a life-or-death moment. Although Duan Xingyun’s cultivation was inferior, his spirit soared above Cang Bai’s, fearless and relentless. His Netherworld arts matched Cang Bai’s in profundity. One lapse could mean death by Duan Xingyun’s Star Sand flying sword.

“Hmph, taste the Netherworld arts of the Langya Guild of Lingbo Town!” Cang Bai shouted.

As he spoke, ten white-furred monsters appeared out of thin air before him. Beneath their white fur, a gleaming shell hinted at their formidable toughness.

“White Shark Shura!” Suddenly, Jue, who had been silent, uttered these words.

Jiang Feng quickly asked, “What is White Shark Shura?”

“The so-called White Shark Shura is a Netherworld beast summoned for single-target attacks. Though not of high rank, its power is immense and not to be underestimated.”