Chapter 118: Burning Star Demon Lotus
"Dead... the leader is dead... the leader is dead!"
After the three deputy leaders had successively met their doom, the strongest member and highest authority of the Black Demon Mercenary Group first fled in cowardice, only to be easily killed by Yun Che while fleeing. Having lost their backbone, all the Black Demon mercenaries were terrified and unnerved. Watching the youth standing beside Hei Mo's corpse, his expression calm as still water, all their will to fight turned into endless panic and fear.
In the brief silence, the flames gradually extinguished. Yun Che's face was cold as he walked forward slowly. As he stepped, the Black Demon mercenary closest to Yun Che shrank back, then suddenly let out a strange cry and fled desperately backward. His action also jolted the other Black Demon mercenaries awake, and they all fled in terror, no longer caring about anything else.
"You want to leave?" Their escape did not make Yun Che sigh with relief; instead, a cold murderous intent flashed in his eyes. He channeled his profound energy beneath his feet, leaped into the air, and within a few breaths had caught up to the fleeing Black Demon mercenaries... If these Black Demon mercenaries had scattered in different directions, he would have had no way to deal with them. But after he had consecutively slain their four leaders, these Black Demon mercenaries had developed a great fear of him, and all instinctively fled in the direction opposite to where he had been standing. Moreover, that direction was the only exit from the back mountain.
At the rear of the fleeing group, Yun Che leaped high into the air. At the apex of his jump, he used another Star God Remnant Shadow to shift sideways, landing directly above the group. He pointed the Tiger Soul Sword downward, and blazing flames ignited on the sword's body. At his brow, the golden phoenix mark emitted a dazzling golden light.
"Burn... ing... Star... Demon... Lotus!!"
In a low chant, Yun Che's entire body caught fire as he plummeted downward.
Boom!!!!
A tremendous explosion of flames erupted from where Yun Che landed. The wildly released profound energy turned into phoenix flames that spread layer by layer, instantly enveloping a distance of over twenty zhang around him, mercilessly sweeping up all the Black Demon mercenaries. Seen from above, it was as if a bewitching flower of flame had bloomed furiously from the central point where Yun Che stood, but each petal burned with lethal phoenix fire.
Countless screams rang out within the enormous fire lotus, as pitiful as cries from the nine hells. But the Burning Star Demon Lotus showed no mercy; it continued to bloom relentlessly, layer upon layer of fiery tongues gradually expanding into an ever-larger, blazing fire lotus.
Lan Xueruo, standing not far away, was completely stunned. Although she was young, she had already seen many experts, including high-level Earth Xuan Realm masters and even Heavenly Xuan Realm super experts. Yet she had never seen anyone release fire-based profound arts so splendidly, not even the Flaming Heaven Gate, which possessed the strongest fire-based profound arts in the Cang Feng Empire.
Even more unbelievable was that such a strike came from Yun Che... a mere sixteen-year-old youth!
"A Xuan Entry Realm Level 1 defeating a Xuan Entry Realm Level 10... crossing an entire major realm in one month... a Xuan Entry Realm Level 10 consecutively killing four True Xuan Realm profound practitioners... my senses did not deceive me; he must be the one I have been searching for." Lan Xueruo stared blankly ahead, muttering softly.
The fire lotus had already bloomed to its fullest extent. The screams within grew softer. Through the layers of flames, Lan Xueruo could vaguely see figures rolling desperately in the fire. She turned her head away, a deep reluctance rising in her heart. At that moment, she saw Yun Che dragging the Tiger Soul Sword, his expression weary, his steps heavy, walking out of the flames. His clothes were tattered, the bloodstains on them scorched black by the fire lotus.
"Junior Brother Yun!" Lan Xueruo exclaimed, quickly rushing over, but she stopped just before reaching Yun Che, momentarily hesitant to approach. Because at this moment, Yun Che gave her an undeniable feeling of unfamiliarity... the surge in his strength was secondary; the way he had killed the three deputy leaders and then butchered these Black Demon mercenaries—every move was lethal, without a hint of softness. A single fire lotus had sent over seventy Black Demon mercenaries to their graves... slaughtering over a hundred people in the blink of an eye without changing his expression. Clearly just a sixteen-year-old youth, yet he possessed such a nearly demonic temperament.
"Senior Sister, I'm a bit tired... help me." Yun Che's steps were unsteady, his body swaying. As he spoke, his body went limp, nearly falling. "Burning Star Demon Lotus" was a phoenix flame technique from the sixth level of the *Phoenix Ode Scripture*. Its point-kill power was inferior to Phoenix Wing Firmament Dance, but it had an extremely terrifying wide-range incineration ability. Phoenix Wing Firmament Dance had to be launched from the air, while Burning Star Demon Lotus could bloom in any state and any position, but it also came with tremendous consumption. Two uses of Phoenix Wing Firmament Dance, one Burning Star Demon Lotus, plus the continuous state of Evil Soul, had nearly depleted his profound energy in this short time.
Lan Xueruo quickly stepped forward to support Yun Che. After hesitating, she asked, "Junior Brother Yun, have you... killed many people before?"
Yun Che was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded. "I have killed... many, many more than you can imagine." He glanced at the gradually shrinking fire lotus behind him and said, "Senior Sister, do you think I am too cruel? That I shouldn't have killed those who were no longer attacking us but simply trying to flee?"
Lan Xueruo did not speak, silently acquiescing.
Yun Che looked at Lan Xueruo and said, "Senior Sister, I once said that your temperament is too soft and kind. But that statement was not a compliment from me to you, but rather a sigh... Senior Sister should be able to sense that these villains all carried varying degrees of malevolent aura. They were all people who had killed before, and most of their victims were likely good people they robbed and attacked. These evildoers were long deserving of death, and dying for their sins is more than justified. Earlier, they trapped us in the trial grounds for over a month. If I hadn't passed that phoenix trial, Senior Sister and I would never have escaped, and the entire Phoenix remnant clan might have faced annihilation. My killing them is not excessive at all."
Lan Xueruo bit her lip slightly, looking at the dying fire lotus, her voice ethereal. "Since I was young, my master taught me to be merciful, gentle to others, and to love all beings... They were indeed guilty, but in the end, they were living lives. They had already dropped their weapons and chosen to flee, posing no threat to us—why couldn't we... let them go?"
"They are a group of heinous villains. If we let them go today, tomorrow they might kill others, and possibly many others." Yun Che said seriously. "But killing them can save many innocent people. Good people, innocent people, of course, should not be killed. But killing these evil ones is not a sin at all; it is saving lives! Letting them go would be the true sin!"
Lan Xueruo: "..."
"Young Brother Yun, you really did it... wonderful, truly wonderful!"
At that moment, Feng Baichuan, still carrying the unconscious Feng Zu'er, walked over with the members of the Phoenix remnant clan. Everyone wore excited expressions, tears in their eyes, and their gazes at Yun Che were as fervent as if they were looking at a deity.
When Yun Che had killed Hei Mo, Feng Baichuan had opened the sealing formation at the cave entrance. The scene they witnessed left them utterly shaken and overjoyed. Many of the elders even muttered, "This must be an envoy sent by the Phoenix God to save us; the Phoenix God has never forgotten us..."
Yun Che glanced at Feng Zu'er's pale face in Feng Baichuan's arms and quickly said, "Clan Chief Feng, the villains have all been dealt with. Take Zu'er and the others back home quickly and give them clean water to drink, but don't let them eat immediately... hurry! The children's condition is very dangerous now. We can talk about other things later."
"Alright!" Feng Baichuan nodded, then hurried toward the valley entrance with the others and the unconscious children. As they passed the spot where the fire lotus had been, they suddenly all stopped, staring warily ahead.
With the fire lotus extinguished, two Black Demon mercenaries came into view, slumped on the ground with pale faces. Their clothes were mostly scorched, and they had burns on their bodies, but most were minor injuries. They had been at the very edge of the Burning Star Demon Lotus, not directly hit by the fire lotus but merely caught by the residual waves. The reason they were now slumped on the ground was not due to serious injury, but because the enormous fire lotus had frightened them so much that their legs were too weak to stand for a long time. Seeing Feng Baichuan and the others approaching, their eyes widened, and they scrambled backward in panic like frightened birds.
"There are still survivors!" Yun Che's expression showed surprise. He quickly placed the Tiger Soul Sword in Lan Xueruo's hands and said rapidly, "Senior Sister, my profound energy is depleted, and I can't fight. Go kill those two immediately—we cannot let them escape!"
Lan Xueruo took the Tiger Soul Sword instinctively but stood there without moving. After a moment of wavering, she shook her head and said, "I have never killed anyone, and I don't want to. Their survival might be fate. The entire group is wiped out; they have no home left. After the scare they just had, they have already been punished... Let them go. The Black Demon Mercenary Group no longer exists. They probably won't commit evil again."
"No!" Yun Che shook his head with extreme firmness. "Being soft-hearted and not eradicating the root is always the greatest taboo when facing enemies! If you don't kill them, who knows what unpredictable and severe consequences might arise! Act quickly!"
Yun Che's words were urgent and harsh, completely different from his usual gentle demeanor with Lan Xueruo. Lan Xueruo's lips moved, and she stepped forward two paces but stopped again, unable to lift the Tiger Soul Sword no matter what. Finally, she sighed silently and said to the two surviving Black Demon mercenaries, "Leave. Don't be evil anymore. Otherwise, if I encounter you again, I will not go easy on you!"
Lan Xueruo's words jolted the two Black Demon mercenaries on the ground awake. They scrambled to their feet... but instead of fleeing as Lan Xueruo expected, they suddenly darkened their expressions and lunged at Feng Baichuan.
"Clan Chief Feng, be careful!" Yun Che's pupils contracted as he shouted loudly.
But Yun Che's shout was far too late. The Black Demon mercenary had already reached the unprepared Feng Baichuan. With his Xuan Entry Realm Level 6 profound strength, how could Feng Baichuan resist? He was sent flying far away, and the mercenary snatched Feng Zu'er from his arms. His right hand formed a claw and clamped onto Feng Zu'er's neck, a hideous grin spreading across his face. "Don't anyone come near! Back off! Back off! Otherwise... I'll snap his neck immediately!"
"Zu'er... Zu'er!" Feng Baichuan, knocked to the ground, cried out in despair.
Lan Xueruo's face changed drastically, and she shouted urgently, "You... you vile thief! I kindly let you leave, yet you stoop to such a despicable act! Release Zu'er immediately!"
"Heh!" The Black Demon mercenary sneered. "Our Black Demon Mercenary Group paid a huge price to enter this Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range for a treasure, and now our entire group is wiped out. How can I leave willingly! Hand over your treasure immediately! Otherwise, I'll strangle this brat! I know very well—this is your clan chief's son! Let's see what's more important: your treasure or this little bastard's life! If you don't hand it over... whatever, I don't want to live anymore. It's not a loss to take someone down with me and watch you wail before I die, hahaha!"
Lan Xueruo clenched her fists, her pretty face pale with anger. Beside her, she heard Yun Che's calm and icy voice: "Senior Sister, this is the result of your hesitation, softness, and mercy. You mercifully let two villains go, yet placed Zu'er's life in their hands. Is this the outcome you wanted to see?"
"I... I..."
"And even if they didn't do this, after they escape from here, what do you think they are most likely to do? They will widely spread the news that a mysterious village and so-called 'treasure' are hidden here. Then, who knows how many powerful forces and sects will be alerted to come 'treasure hunting'? At that time, the Phoenix remnant clan will face a crisis many times greater than this one. Perhaps everyone here will be slaughtered because of it."
Yun Che looked directly at Lan Xueruo, his words like needles piercing her heart. "I killed over a hundred villains, yet I avenged countless victims they had harmed and saved countless future victims they might have harmed. You did not kill, and mercifully let two villains go, yet the two hundred-plus innocent people here—from the elderly to the children—will all die tragically because of this... Is this the mercy and universal love you understand?"