Chapter 119: Burning Star Demon Lotus

"He's dead... The leader's dead... The leader's dead!"

After the three vice-leaders were killed one after another, the strongest and highest-ranking member of the Blackfiend mercenary group, their leader, cowardly fled. However, Yun Che easily killed him during his escape. Without their backbone, all the Blackfiend mercenaries were terrified and disoriented. Looking at the young man standing calmly beside the leader's corpse, all their fighting spirit turned into endless panic and fear.

In the brief silence, the flames gradually died down. Yun Che, his face cold, slowly walked forward. As he stepped, the Blackfiend mercenary closest to him flinched, then suddenly let out a strange cry and fled desperately backward. His action instantly startled all the other Blackfiend mercenaries, who scattered in fear, no longer caring about anything else.

"Trying to run?" Their escape did not bring Yun Che relief; instead, a cold murderous glint flashed in his eyes. With profound energy surging through his feet, he leapt into the air and, within a few breaths, had caught up to the fleeing Blackfiend mercenaries. If they had scattered, he would have been helpless. However, having slain their four leaders, Yun Che had instilled immense fear in them, and they instinctively fled in the opposite direction from where he had been standing. That direction also happened to be the only exit from the back mountain.

From behind the fleeing group, Yun Che leaped high into the air. At the peak of his jump, he executed another Star God Broken Shadow, positioning himself directly above the formation. He pointed the Tiger Soul sword downwards, its blade ablaze with roaring flames, and the golden Phoenix mark on his forehead radiated a dazzling golden light.

"Burning... Star... Demonic... Lotus!!"

With a low chant, Yun Che, engulfed in flames, plummeted downwards.

*Boom!!!!*

A torrent of flames erupted from where Yun Che landed, his furiously unleashed profound energy transforming into layers of Phoenix fire that instantly engulfed an area of over twenty yards, mercilessly sweeping up all the Blackfiend mercenaries. From above, it looked like a monstrously beautiful lotus of fire angrily blossoming from Yun Che's center point, each petal burning with deadly Phoenix flames.

Countless screams echoed from within the gigantic fire lotus, as agonizing as cries from the deepest hell. But the Burning Star Demonic Lotus showed no mercy, continuing its ruthless bloom as its layers of fiery tongues unfolded into an ever-expanding, scorching fire lotus.

Standing not far away, Lan Xueruo was utterly stunned. Though young, she had witnessed countless masters, including high-level practitioners of the Earth Profound Realm, and even super-experts of the Sky Profound Realm. Yet, she had never seen anyone unleash fire-attributed profound arts with such brilliance, not even the Burning Heaven Clan, which possessed the strongest fire-attributed profound arts in the Azure Wind Empire. And she simply couldn't believe that such an attack had come from Yun Che... a mere sixteen-year-old boy!

"Level one of the Elementary Profound Realm defeating level ten... bridging an entire major realm in one month... level ten of the Elementary Profound Realm slaying four True Profound Realm practitioners one after another... My instincts didn't deceive me; he must be the one I've been searching for." Lan Xueruo stared blankly ahead, murmuring softly.

The fire lotus had expanded to its maximum, and the screams from within had diminished. Through the layers of flames, Lan Xueruo could vaguely see figures desperately writhing. She turned her head away, a deep sense of unbearable pity rising within her. At that moment, she saw Yun Che emerge from the flames, dragging the Tiger Soul sword, looking exhausted, his steps heavy. His clothes were tattered, and the bloodstains on them had been charred black by the fire lotus.

"Junior Brother Yun!" Lan Xueruo gasped, rushing to meet him, but stopped just as she was about to reach Yun Che, somewhat hesitant to go closer. The Yun Che before her now made her feel a sense of unfamiliarity... his suddenly amplified strength was secondary. When he had killed the three vice-leaders and massacred these Blackfiend mercenaries, every move was lethal, without a hint of hesitation. One fire lotus attack had annihilated over seventy Blackfiend mercenaries... killing over a hundred people in the blink of an eye without batting an eyelid. He was clearly just a sixteen-year-old boy, yet he possessed a disposition almost like a demon.

"Senior Sister, I'm a bit tired... help me." Yun Che's steps were unsteady, his body swaying, and as he spoke, he slumped, nearly falling. The "Burning Star Demonic Lotus" is a Phoenix flame technique from the sixth stage of the World Ode of the Phoenix. Its single-target destructive power isn't as great as Phoenix Wing Heaven Dance, but it possesses incredibly terrifying large-scale annihilation capabilities. Phoenix Wing Heaven Dance must be activated mid-air, whereas Burning Star Demonic Lotus can be unleashed in any state or direction, but it also comes with enormous energy consumption. Two Phoenix Wing Heaven Dances, one Burning Star Demonic Lotus, combined with the sustained effect of his Evil Soul state, had almost completely depleted his profound energy in this short time.

Lan Xueruo quickly stepped forward to support Yun Che. After a moment of hesitation, she asked, "Junior Brother Yun, have you... killed many people before?"

Yun Che was silent for a moment, then slowly nodded: "Yes... many, far more than you can imagine." He glanced at the fire lotus gradually shrinking behind him and said, "Senior Sister, do you think I'm cruel, that I shouldn't have killed those who were no longer attacking us, but simply trying to escape?"

Lan Xueruo said nothing, silently assenting.

Yun Che looked at Lan Xueruo and said, "Senior Sister, I once told you that your nature is too soft and kind, but that wasn't a compliment; it was a sigh of concern... You should be able to feel that these wicked people carry more or less malicious intent. They are all killers, and most of those they killed were likely innocent people they robbed and attacked. These villains deserved to die a long time ago; their deaths are well-deserved. Furthermore, they trapped us in the trial grounds for over a month. If I hadn't passed that Phoenix trial, you and I would never have escaped, and the entire Phoenix remnant clan might have been annihilated. My killing them is not at all excessive."

Lan Xueruo's lips trembled slightly. Looking at the now-extinguishing fire lotus, she said in a wavering voice, "Since childhood, my master taught me to be merciful, gentle to others, and to show universal love... While it's true they committed evil deeds, they are still living beings. They had already discarded their weapons and chosen to flee, posing no threat to us. Why... couldn't we have spared them?"

"They are a group of utterly evil people. If we let them go today, tomorrow they might kill others, possibly many, many people," Yun Che stated solemnly. "However, killing them will save many innocent lives. Good people, innocent people, of course, cannot be killed. But killing these wicked people is not a sin; on the contrary, it saves lives! Letting them go is the true sin!"

Lan Xueruo said nothing.

"Little Brother Yun, you truly did it... This is wonderful, absolutely wonderful!!"

At that moment, Feng Baichuan, carrying the still unconscious Feng Zu'er, approached with the rest of the Phoenix remnant clan. Everyone looked excited, their eyes welling with tears, and their gazes towards Yun Che were as fervent as if they were beholding a deity. While Yun Che was slaying the Blackfiend leader, Feng Baichuan had opened the sealed formation at the cave entrance. The scene they witnessed filled them with overwhelming excitement and shock. Many of the elders among them kept murmuring, "This must be an envoy sent by the Phoenix God to save us; the Phoenix God has never forgotten us..."

Yun Che glanced at the pale-faced Feng Zu'er in Feng Baichuan's arms and quickly said, "Clan Leader Feng, all the villains have been dealt with. Quickly take Zu'er and the others home to get some clean water to drink, but don't eat immediately... Go quickly, these children are in a very dangerous state right now. Other matters can be discussed later."

"Alright!" Feng Baichuan nodded, then he and the others quickly headed towards the valley entrance with the unconscious children. As they passed the spot where the fire lotus had burned, they all suddenly stopped, looking ahead with wary expressions.

As the fire lotus extinguished, two Blackfiend mercenaries appeared in sight, slumped on the ground, their faces pale. Their clothes were largely scorched, and they had multiple burns, but these were mostly minor. They had been at the very edge of the Burning Star Demonic Lotus's range and hadn't been directly engulfed by the flames, only grazed by the residual force. The reason they were now slumped on the ground wasn't due to severe injuries, but because the sight of the massive fire lotus had terrified them so much their legs were weak and they couldn't stand for a long time. Seeing Feng Baichuan and the others approach, their eyes widened, and they scrambled backward like startled birds.

"There are still some stragglers!" Yun Che's face showed surprise. He quickly placed the Tiger Soul sword into Lan Xueruo's hand and urged, "Senior Sister, my profound energy is depleted right now; I can't act. Go quickly and kill those two; absolutely do not let them escape!"

Instinctively taking the Tiger Soul sword, Lan Xueruo stood still. After her gaze wavered, she shook her head and said, "I've never killed anyone, and I don't want to. Their survival can be considered their fate. With their entire group annihilated, they have no home, and they've just experienced such terror; they've already been punished... Let's just spare them. The Blackfiend mercenary group no longer exists, so they shouldn't commit evil again in the future."

"No!!" Yun Che shook his head with utmost determination. "Soft-heartedness and failing to root out evil are always the greatest taboos when facing enemies! If you don't kill them, there might be unforeseen and serious consequences. Act quickly!"

Yun Che's words were urgent and stern, completely different from his usual gentle demeanor when addressing Lan Xueruo. Lan Xueruo's lips moved. She took two steps forward, then stopped, unable to lift the Tiger Soul sword no matter what. Finally, she sighed silently and said to the two surviving Blackfiend mercenaries, "You may go. Do not commit evil again. Otherwise, if I encounter you next time, I will show no mercy!"

Lan Xueruo's words startled the two Blackfiend mercenaries slumped on the ground as if waking from a dream. They quickly scrambled to their feet... but instead of turning and fleeing as Lan Xueruo expected, their eyes suddenly turned sinister, and they lunged towards Feng Baichuan.

"Clan Leader Feng, look out!" Yun Che's pupils contracted, and he roared loudly.

But Yun Che's shout was too late. The Blackfiend mercenary had already rushed in front of the unprepared Feng Baichuan. With his profound energy at level six of the Elementary Profound Realm, how could Feng Baichuan resist? He was instantly knocked far away. At the same time, the mercenary snatched Feng Zu'er from his arms, his right hand forming a claw and gripping Feng Zu'er's neck. A sinister grin spread across his face: "Don't come any closer, retreat! Retreat! Otherwise... I'll strangle him right now!"

"Zu'er... Zu'er!" Feng Baichuan, who had been knocked down, cried out in alarm.

Lan Xueruo's face changed drastically, and she urgently exclaimed, "You... you villain! I kindly let you go, yet you commit such a despicable and shameless act! Release Zu'er immediately!"

"Heh!" The Blackfiend mercenary sneered, "Our Blackfiend mercenary group spent a huge price to enter the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range, and our entire group was wiped out for a treasure. How could I just leave willingly? Hand over your treasure right now! Otherwise, I'll strangle this brat! I know very well he's your clan leader's son! I want to see which is more important: your treasure or this little brat's life! If you don't hand it over... I don't want to live anyway, so if I can take someone down with me and watch you cry in despair before I die, it won't be a loss, hahahaha!"

Lan Xueruo clenched her fists, her delicate face turning pale with fury. From beside her, Yun Che's calm yet icy voice spoke, "Senior Sister, this is the consequence of your hesitation, your soft-heartedness, and your mercy. You mercifully let two villains go, but you handed Zu'er's life into their hands. Is this the outcome you wished to see?"

"I... I..."

"Furthermore, even if they didn't do this, what do you think they would most likely do once they escaped from here? They would widely publicize the existence of a mysterious village and a 'treasure' hidden here. By then, who knows how many powerful forces and sects would be alerted to come 'treasure hunting.' At that point, this Phoenix remnant clan would face a crisis many times greater than this one, and perhaps everyone would be massacred because of it." Yun Che looked directly at Lan Xueruo, his words piercing her heart like needles: "I killed people—over a hundred villains—but I avenged countless victims and saved countless others who might have been harmed by them in the future. You didn't kill anyone; in fact, you mercifully let two villains escape. Yet, because of that, over two hundred innocent people here, from elders to children, might all suffer a tragic death... Is this what you understand as benevolence and universal love?"