Chapter 1203: The Madman

Chapter 1203: Fengzi

Buzz!

Amidst cheers from all directions, the Hundun Shen Ding stood tall in the nine heavens, its immense pressure enveloping the world.

Immediately, the Huang family members who had just crawled out of the ruins were pinned down, unable to move, including that quasi-saint in black robes, who was in his primordial spirit state and nailed in place by the Lu Tian Da Ji, rendering him powerless to resist.

Zhou Ao emerged from the cauldron, still gripping a killing sword, his eyes blood-red.

Three years ago, the Chi Yun family had suffered the same fate, mercilessly trampled underfoot. One by one, his relatives and vibrant lives had turned into vengeful spirits under the Huang family's blades, leaving mountains of corpses and rivers of blood.

"Spare us; it was all ordered by the old ancestor."

The Huang family members were filled with terror, desperate to flee but completely immobilized.

"When you destroyed the Chi Yun family, did you ever think of this day?"

Zhou Ao had gone mad, his face streaked with bloody tears as he swung his sword relentlessly. Each swing felled groups of Huang family members.

"Our old ancestors! It's you who have doomed the Huang family to eternal ruin."

In the gruesome scene, the Huang family members roared in resentment toward their two old ancestors. If not for their reckless decision three years ago to wipe out the entire Chi Yun family, how could the Huang family be facing such devastation tonight?

"You..."

The two Huang family old ancestors' primordial spirits trembled violently, finally understanding the meaning of regret.

"Three years ago, if you wanted that treasure, you could have just asked. The Chi Yun family would have given it. Why did you have to exterminate us all? Since you did, then blood debts must be repaid in blood. I'll make you watch as the Huang family is wiped out, leaving no descendants."

Zhou Ao roared in fury, the hatred suppressed for three years erupting completely.

"Kill."

Zhou Ao rampaged like a madman, gripping his killing sword with both hands as Huang family members fell in droves into pools of blood.

"Ah!"

Watching their kin being slaughtered one by one, the two Huang family old ancestors also howled, their minds suffering devastating blows. Their primordial spirits shook violently, on the verge of collapse. It was their arrogance that had led the Huang family to utter destruction. Now, on their way to the underworld, how could they face their ancestors?

"You must watch this. Every cause has its effect; the slaughter you created must be repaid in blood."

Ye Chen's eyes were ice-cold as he raised his hand to send out immortal light, preventing the two Huang family old ancestors' primordial spirits from collapsing.

"Kill me, just kill me."

The two Huang family old ancestors shrieked, preferring death over watching their family being wiped out.

Ye Chen had no intention of granting their wish; his anger burned as fiercely as Zhou Ao's. In this world where the strong ruled, there was no need for mercy. Cruel rules demanded cruel methods.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

Zhou Ao continued his slaughter, showing no sign of fatigue, even as his divine sword's edge began to chip.

Beneath the heavens, cries of agony echoed everywhere—the Huang family's wails, like those of vengeful ghosts.

Yet, amidst these mournful cries, a wild, unrestrained laughter rang out.

It was Huang Liang, who seemed to have anticipated his death, laughing with a grotesque and terrifying expression, like a demon.

"Kill!"

Zhou Ao charged forward and seized Huang Liang.

Huang Liang laughed, baring two rows of stark white teeth.

"Chi Yun Nan, three years ago, I was the one who led the attack on the Chi Yun family. Your grandfather, your father, your brothers, all your relatives—I killed them. Oh, and your sister, she died under my... It was truly delightful to recall. How does it feel? Heartbroken? Ha ha ha..."

"Kill!"

Zhou Ao bellowed and swung his killing sword, but before it could fall, Ye Chen stopped him.

"Since he's so thrilled, let him enjoy it to the fullest."

Ye Chen cracked his neck with a vicious twist, his eyes filled with brutality and bloodlust.

"Kill me if you want, but what does it matter? Even if you wipe out the entire Huang family, the Chi Yun family will never return."

Huang Liang hit the ground but laughed on, utterly defiant.

"Quite the bloody type, aren't you?"

Ye Chen smirked wickedly.

"Then kill me already."

Huang Liang bared his teeth again, his laughter still twisted.

"Oh, we'll kill you, but first, let's make sure you have your fun."

Ye Chen crouched down, pulled out a small dagger, and sliced off a piece of flesh from Huang Liang's body.

"I wonder if you've heard of a torture method from the mortal world called lingchi. They say it's quite exquisite. I think you'd like it."

"Of course I would."

Huang Liang laughed again, as if feeling no pain, like a madman.

"Perfect."

Ye Chen grabbed Huang Liang and tossed him into the air, confining him in a sealed space.

"I want him to live for a thousand years, lingchi once every day."

Ye Chen's ethereal voice echoed through the void, followed by three avatars flying out, each holding a dagger.

"Hiss!"

The surrounding cultivators drew in sharp breaths. A thousand years without death, lingchi every day—what unimaginable torment! How deep must the hatred be?

"He's the real madman."

The onlookers gazed at Ye Chen in fear, thinking that one should never provoke someone like him. This wasn't just killing; it was making life worse than death.

"Is this to your satisfaction?"

Ye Chen turned to Zhou Ao.

"Satisfied."

Zhou Ao swung his sword again, rampaging like a madman, venting all his hatred.

This time, the Huang family members fell silent, no longer begging for mercy or daring to speak, afraid that the madman Ye Chen might subject them to the same fate for a thousand years.

The surrounding cultivators watched, mostly sighing inwardly, but none dared to intervene.

Thud! Thud!

With the final two strikes, the two Huang family old ancestors met their end.

Thus, the Huang family was utterly destroyed, with only Huang Liang left to endure the lingchi, much like a complete extermination.

However, everyone knew that those who had been killed were the fortunate ones compared to Huang Liang, who faced a thousand years of torment. Just thinking about it made chills run down their spines.

Boom!

As all eyes turned to Huang Liang, Zhou Ao had already erected a hundred-zhang-tall stone stele on the ruins of the Huang family estate, inscribed with five large characters in the fresh blood of the Huang family: "Chi Yun Family Tomb."

Zhou Ao knelt before the tomb, his body trembling, his face covered in bloody tears, unable to speak through his sobs.

Though he had awakened his past-life memories, how could he ignore the bonds of this life? Those were his family, and he had watched them die horribly—a memory that would never fade.

A gentle breeze blew, turning strands of Zhou Ao's black hair white, as the relentless passage of time carved wounds into him like a cold blade.

Ye Chen watched in silence, his heart aching faintly.

Zhou Ao was a tragic figure—misfortune in his past life, with his loved one humiliated to death, and now in this life, facing total family annihilation. Heaven should not be so cruel, burdening him with endless pain across two lifetimes.

Ah!

With a soft sigh, Ye Chen found a piece of rubble to sit on, pulled out a wine flask, and waited quietly for Zhou Ao. Today was a day worth commemorating; he would give Zhou Ao time to mourn his lost family.

Ah!

The surrounding onlookers also sighed. In just three years, the two major families of Chi Yan Star had been wiped out—one left with a single survivor, the other enduring lingchi, and one kneeling before a cold tomb.

These bloody scenes showed no true winners.

As Huang Liang had said, even with the Huang family destroyed, the Chi Yun family could never return. If there was a winner, it was the merciless heavens, once again toying perfectly with the mortal world.

After some time, Zhou Ao finally rose, his steps unsteady, his figure desolate.

Ye Chen stood as well, waving his hand to collect all the storage bags and treasures from the Huang family members—everything that could be taken would be, as cultivation materials for Zhou Ao.

The people around made way for them, their eyes filled with even more awe and fear.

"Let's go!"

Zhou Ao glanced at Huang Liang, still undergoing lingchi in the void, then stepped into the emptiness. His eyes were dim and lifeless, exhaustion overwhelming him, causing him to plummet from the sky.

Ye Chen took a step forward and caught him on his back for the second time.

"Brother, thank you!"

Zhou Ao's voice was hoarse and weary as he drifted into exhausted sleep.

Ye Chen smiled but said nothing, stepping into the sky like a divine ray, leaving the pain-filled Chi Yan Star behind.

Ah...!

In the quiet night, Chi Yan Star echoed with piercing screams.

It was Huang Liang, now a bloody mess of bones, no longer resembling a human, his howls like those of a vengeful ghost, sending shivers down the spine.

He regretted it—regretted provoking Zhou Ao and bringing down this madman, Ye Chen.

A thousand years was an eternity, with lingchi every day—what kind of torture was that? Compared to the dead Huang family members, his punishment was the stuff of nightmares.

Ye Chen's three avatars moved like puppets, mechanically wielding their daggers, strike after strike.

The surrounding onlookers hadn't left, and watching Huang Liang's misery made their hearts race.

"Kill me! Kill me!"

Huang Liang begged the onlookers desperately.

Surprisingly, someone took pity and stepped forward, drawing a killing sword to end his suffering.

But before the sword could fall, the person's head separated from his body, his primordial spirit destroyed.

"This..."

The surrounding cultivators were startled and retreated a step.

"Anyone else who steps forward will meet the same fate."

A majestic and icy voice echoed from the nine heavens—it was Ye Chen's, even though he had left Chi Yan Star, he could still see the scene.

At these words, the cultivators retreated another step.

"Madman, he's truly a madman!"

As they backed away, some turned and fled, unwilling to get involved. The cultivator who had acted out of kindness was a grim reminder.

"Kill me! Kill me!"

Watching the onlookers leave, Huang Liang shrieked in desperation, tears of fear streaming down his face. He could imagine the thousand years ahead—a fate worse than death.

"In the human world, I've created your hell!"

"Living is your punishment!"

More ethereal words returned from the nine heavens, still Ye Chen's voice, majestic and cold. He had gone far, using a great divine ability to send his message back. He couldn't believe his own anger had driven him to such extremes.

Ah...!

Huang Liang's spirit shattered, and he fainted on the spot.

Yet, the thousand years of lingchi would not stop because of his unconsciousness.