Chapter 702: Then What?

A cold sneer still played on Yun Che's face. As the four Phoenix Elders charged forward, he moved as well, profound energy blazing with crimson flames. He surged towards the Phoenix Elders—not targeting one specifically, but aiming for each of them simultaneously!

Each of the four Phoenix Elders saw a Yun Che charging directly at them, exuding an astonishingly violent aura!

This sight elicited gasps from the surrounding Phoenix disciples, yet the Phoenix Elders remained composed, some even scoffing disdainfully, "Hmph, resorting to afterimages..."

While afterimage clones can momentarily disorient an opponent in close combat, forcing them into a defensive position or enabling a surprise attack, higher profound strength realms and greater combat experience lead to sharper spiritual perception. This allows practitioners to instantly discern the true body from its aura. Consequently, at the Tyrant Emperor level, such techniques are largely ineffective—unless they involve exceptionally specialized afterimage profound skills or are executed with unparalleled mastery. Otherwise, they might even prove counterproductive.

However, their expressions abruptly changed, almost in unison...

For the four Yun Ches their spiritual perception detected all possessed identical and incredibly potent auras...

They were all true bodies!!

Boom!!

The roar of four converging Phoenix Flame explosions thundered forth, and the sky briefly flared crimson with their intensity. Weaker Phoenix disciples scrambled backward. Within the formidable Phoenix flames, all four Yun Ches rapidly dematerialized... The four "Yun Ches" that the elders had attacked were, astonishingly, mere illusions!

At the precise moment the four Phoenix Elders unleashed their power, another fiery streak shot forth from an unexpected and undefended position, moving with the swiftness of a star in the darkest night. By the time Feng Hengkong and the other Phoenix Elders registered the presence of this fifth "afterimage," he had already soared over their heads... too quickly for them to even react.

A sharp scream immediately followed the Phoenix Flame eruption. Yun Che's right hand was already clamped firmly around someone's throat, and as he lifted his arm, he effortlessly hoisted the person off the ground.

"The... Fourteenth Prince!!"

The individual whose throat Yun Che had seized was none other than Feng Xiluo, the Fourteenth Prince of the Divine Phoenix Sect!

From the moment the four Phoenix Elders made their move to the instant Feng Xiluo was in Yun Che's grasp, it happened in the blink of an eye. As Yun Che lifted Feng Xiluo, the Phoenix Flames unleashed by the four elders had erupted for less than a tenth of a breath.

Feng Hengkong and the other Phoenix Elders spun around like lightning, their faces contorted with profound shock and disbelief as they watched Yun Che hoist the Fourteenth Prince Feng Xiluo by the throat. The four elders who had just "annihilated" Yun Che in mid-air stared, their pupils wide, utterly unable to trust their own eyes.

This was the very heart of the Divine Phoenix Sect's territory, with Sect Master Feng Hengkong himself present, fifty Phoenix Elders in attendance, and countless Phoenix disciples of all ranks. Yet, standing against them was a lone young man in his early twenties. Four elder-level figures had attacked him simultaneously, unable to harm a single hair on his head. Instead, he had successfully taken one of their own hostage.

What's more, that hostage was a Prince of the Divine Phoenix Sect!

And this Fourteenth Prince had been positioned behind the elders, effectively in the safest location within the entire Divine Phoenix Sect... perhaps even the safest place in all Seven Nations of Profound Sky!

This wasn't merely a loss of face; it was an utter humiliation, as if a basin of filth had been flung directly onto the faces of every Divine Phoenix Sect member present.

It was a thousand times more humiliating than three years ago, when Yun Che single-handedly swept aside the sect's top ten young genius disciples. If news of this spread, it would forever brand the Divine Phoenix Sect as a laughingstock.

"Father Emperor... save... me... ngh..."

A hoarse, agonizing groan escaped Feng Xiluo's throat, but Yun Che's grip instantly tightened, stifling any further sound. Feng Xiluo's once handsome face was now pale and twisted in extreme agony.

Three years prior, he could still force Yun Che into a grueling battle. Now, despite still possessing a higher profound strength level, he was utterly insignificant in Yun Che's eyes. Trapped in Yun Che's grasp, he was not simply unwilling to struggle; he was completely unable to. Yun Che's overpowering strength prevented him from even twitching a finger, let alone mobilizing any profound energy.

"Fourteenth Prince!!"

"Release the Fourteenth Prince at once!!"

"Dare to harm a single hair on the Fourteenth Prince, and my Divine Phoenix Sect will ensure you die without a burial place!" Crown Prince Feng Ximing roared.

"Release him!" Feng Hengkong instantly appeared at the forefront, though he dared not advance further. His face was etched with extreme grimness, his heart still reeling from Yun Che's incredible speed. "Yun Che, you understand his identity! If you dare harm him, I will not only ensure you die without a proper burial... but I will also exterminate your entire clan!"

"Oh? Is that so?" Yun Che sneered. His grip on Feng Xiluo's throat didn't loosen in the slightest; instead, it tightened abruptly.

*Crack!* The distinct sound of throat cartilage being crushed echoed clearly.

"Fourteenth Prince!!"

"Stop it!!"

"You!" Feng Hengkong's eyes instantly bulged with rage, and he lurched half a step forward, his previous composure completely shattered. Everyone in the Divine Phoenix Sect knew that among Feng Hengkong's fourteen sons, Feng Xiluo was the most cherished, partly due to his unparalleled talent among the princes, and also because he was born to Feng Hengkong's most beloved concubine. Yet now, before Feng Hengkong's very eyes, his favored son was held like a lifeless dog.

As the Emperor of Divine Phoenix, this was an unthinkable humiliation Feng Hengkong had never even conceived of in his wildest dreams.

"Heheheh..." Yun Che met Feng Hengkong's now tenfold sinister gaze without an ounce of fear, his face bearing only cold mockery. "Feng Hengkong, your own son is in my hands. If I so choose, he will be dead in the next breath... and yet you still have the audacity to threaten me? Should I commend your idiocy, or merely pity this so-called Prince, who, in your eyes, is nothing but expendable trash?"

Feng Hengkong's chest heaved violently, his ribcage feeling as though it might explode. He spoke with chilling grimness, "Yun Che! If you dare..."

*Crack!*

Another sound of a snapped throat bone echoed, abruptly cutting off Feng Hengkong's words. His bones audibly popped from sheer fury, and all the elders, princes, and disciples were consumed by a mixture of shock and outrage.

"What will you do if I dare?" Yun Che's eyes narrowed into slender slits. In his grasp, Feng Xiluo's face, ravaged by extreme pain and terror, was already a pale, twisted mask, like that of a demon.

Grand Elder Feng Feilie hastily transmitted a message to Feng Hengkong: "Sect Master, Yun Che has come alone, clearly with no intention of leaving alive. A desperate madman is capable of anything... With the Fourteenth Prince in his grasp, you absolutely must not provoke him! He has only taken the Fourteenth Prince hostage, not killed him, which strongly suggests he has an agenda... Stabilize the situation first, then we can rescue the Fourteenth Prince."

Feng Hengkong took a deep breath, striving for calm. "Very well! Release him, and I promise to let you leave; no one will obstruct you."

"Oh?" Yun Che said with a smile. "The Phoenix Sect Master, whose single command caused rivers of blood in my Azure Wind Nation, now suddenly seems so benevolent, even directly forgiving my 'great crime' of destroying your Phoenix God Statue?"

"Hmph!" Feng Hengkong's voice deepened. "My son's life is far more precious than yours! Release him now, and get out, before I change my mind!"

Yun Che maintained his cold sneer, showing no intention of releasing Feng Xiluo. He slowly stated, "Feng Hengkong, it seems your character is far more repugnant than I imagined, and your mind is utterly foolish. That someone like you could become the Phoenix Sect Master... it truly seems the world gravely overestimates this Divine Phoenix Sect. Use your pig-headed brain to consider: would I travel thousands of miles to come here, only to leave empty-handed?!"

Yun Che's words undoubtedly enraged every Phoenix disciple, almost causing their lungs to burst. Their glares were fierce enough to tear him into fragments. Feng Hengkong's imperial composure and cultivation were utterly shredded by Yun Che's mocking and insulting remarks, delivered openly before all the Phoenix disciples. Feng Feilie, quickly winking at the Sect Master who was on the verge of exploding, personally stepped forward and spoke in a deep voice, "Very well then... Yun Che, you have managed to take the Fourteenth Prince hostage in front of us all, and my Divine Phoenix Sect concedes this point! State your conditions, whatever they may be!"

"Excellent," Yun Che said with a satisfied nod. He continued unhurriedly, "Considering the vile deeds committed by your Divine Phoenix Sect, I originally wished to slaughter every single person in your sect, save for Xue'er. However, I also bear the title of the Azure Wind Imperial Consort, and there are matters I must consider for my Empress wife. Furthermore, Xue'er once saved my life. Therefore, today I choose not to kill, but instead to grant your Divine Phoenix Sect a chance."

A lone individual stood on Divine Phoenix Sect territory, declaring he would annihilate their entire sect, yet also offering them "a chance." The Divine Phoenix members were torn between fury and laughter. But with the Fourteenth Prince's life clutched in his hand, none dared to utter a sound...

Was there anything more agonizingly humiliating than this in the world?

Soon, they would discover... there *was* indeed something far worse!

"If you wish for me to spare your Divine Phoenix Sect, you may, provided you agree to three conditions." Yun Che's profound energy amplified his voice, his calm, non-resonant tone carrying clearly to every corner of Divine Phoenix City. "First: Within thirty days, every Divine Phoenix soldier must withdraw from the Azure Wind Nation's borders. Not a single person, not a single hair shall remain! Furthermore, for a hundred years, you are forbidden from encroaching a single step into our territory!"

"Second," Yun Che continued without waiting for any response from the Divine Phoenix Sect, "you, Feng Hengkong, shall personally draft an imperial edict, issuing a formal apology to my Azure Wind Nation, and proclaim it to the entire world!"

"Third: Compensate my Azure Wind Nation with ten billion Purple Profound Coins!"

The demand for the Divine Phoenix army to withdraw was not unexpected; almost everyone had vaguely surmised this was Yun Che's objective. What they hadn't anticipated was that this was merely the first condition. By the time Yun Che stated the second, many Phoenix Elders were so enraged they felt as though their souls would ascend... His Divine Phoenix Nation apologizing to the paltry Azure Wind Nation? This was an absolute farce.

When Yun Che finished stating the third condition, nearly every Phoenix disciple present was on the verge of fainting from shock.

Compensation... ten billion Purple Profound Coins.

In Yellow Profound Coins... that amounted to a staggering one hundred trillion!

The first condition safeguarded Azure Wind, the second demanded the Divine Phoenix Nation sacrifice its dignity, and the third required a massive financial bleed. From the Divine Phoenix Sect's perspective, these demands were utterly preposterous! While Feng Xiluo was indeed a noble Divine Phoenix Prince, even if Yun Che had abducted Crown Prince Feng Ximing, the Divine Phoenix Sect would never condescend to apologize to the insignificant Azure Wind, much less fulfill the third condition.

Did Yun Che truly believe he had kidnapped the Divine Phoenix Sect's very Phoenix God?!

Feng Hengkong's fury twisted into a mocking laugh. "Yun Che, you've merely kidnapped my son, and you truly believe I wouldn't dare do anything to you?! I just offered you a chance, a path to survival, yet you insist on seeking your own demise..."

"No, no, no!" Yun Che interrupted with a cold laugh. "It was I who offered *you* a chance! But it seems you're not particularly eager to accept this opportunity, which I extended with the greatest benevolence of my life. Tsk... for Xue'er's sake, I'll offer one final, kind piece of advice: seize this chance. Because if you fail to appreciate it and persist in your obstinacy, there won't be such 'generous' terms later on."

As Yun Che uttered his final words, a terrifying, viper-like, and sinister smile, akin to that of a demon, spread across his face.

"Hahahahaha!" Feng Hengkong let out a booming, yet grim and enraged laugh. He flicked his arm, his eyes sharp as a hawk's, and began striding purposefully towards Yun Che, step by step. "My Divine Phoenix Sect has stood proudly in Profound Sky for five millennia, never fearing anyone, and never once being threatened! Dare to offend my Divine Phoenix, and that person, their clan, their nation, can all be utterly annihilated with a mere flick of a finger! I'd like to see if you truly have the nerve to kill my son!"

Boom!!

The instant Feng Hengkong's defiant words ceased, a searing burst of fire erupted from Yun Che's body.

Feng Hengkong froze, his pupils contracting. His entire body stiffened, then began to tremble violently... A shriek, loud enough to tear through the heavens, pierced his ears.

Within the fiery explosion, Feng Xiluo's body disintegrated into countless fragments, scattering into the air. He perished without uttering a sound, and even his shattered remains quickly turned to ash in the intense flames. Yun Che withdrew his arm, vigorously shaking his right hand in front of him with a look of utter revulsion. He then smiled faintly at Feng Hengkong and calmly asked, "And now?"