Chapter 872: Scared Silly

"Oh my god, Master, you've just offended a supreme expert! If that sword strike had landed on us, there wouldn't even be ashes left of either of us. This person is absolutely not someone we can afford to cross! And I clearly realize that the strike just now wasn't even his strongest or only ultimate attack."

The wild boar was already trying to back out. He knew his master, the Winter Goddess, would never relent once she set her sights on a target, fighting until death. But this time, he sensed that even the Winter Goddess seemed to have abandoned the idea of attacking Xu Yang. His only concern now was how to survive.

"Hahaha, there's no need for you two to be so surprised. That sword strike was just a routine move for me. Now, I'm offering you a chance to choose your fate: either join my ranks, become part of the Holy Flame Sect, and fight alongside me. As a side note, the Kobold from the desert battlefield has already pledged allegiance to me. Soon, once I conquer the Western Emperor, you can officially join my team. That way, it won't be seen as betraying your master or abandoning your sect."

The Winter Goddess did indeed hesitate, and the incredibly fierce wild boar beneath her seemed even more eager than she was. Little did she know, the boar's reasoning was simple: he genuinely feared that Xu Yang might suddenly lose his temper and cleave him in half with a single sword, an outcome too tragic to contemplate.

"I suppose I don't have any other choice, do I? Given our past, if I refuse your terms, you would undoubtedly eliminate me without hesitation."

Xu Yang did not deceive him this time; he nodded very seriously.

"I've noticed a unique and distinct role in the Winter Berserkers, unlike any other combat unit. Furthermore, I cannot guarantee that if I let you go, you wouldn't use other special sigils to recall those Winter Berserkers to your command. If that were to happen, I would gain absolutely nothing from this encounter. Therefore, for all these reasons, if you refuse to pledge allegiance to the Holy Flame Sect, there can only be one outcome: your demise."

The Winter Goddess finally sighed in resignation. "I can pledge allegiance to you, but I have one condition: those Winter Berserker soldiers must remain under my command, and I must continue to lead them! Furthermore, my mount, Apan, must never leave my side. If anyone in your faction dares to scheme against my brother warriors or Apan, I will not hesitate to turn my weapons against them! In this world, they are my closest companions, and I will not allow anyone to plot against them; otherwise, they will become my enemies. Even if I join your forces, only you alone can truly earn my conviction. I may not be convinced by others, and if anyone dares to order me around, it will lead to a brutal fight."

Xu Yang couldn't help but smile and shake his head. "Don't worry, there's never any internal conflict among my subordinates! If anyone dares to disrespect you, I will personally step in to support you. Do you know? What I value most about you isn't your supposed power or your Berserker army, but your loyalty and integrity! Although you have a fiery temper, you never harm your own people. What you lack is simply a strong and excellent guide. If you join my ranks, I can fulfill all your needs and help you gain what you've been missing. In my team, no one will ever feel alone."

The Winter Goddess affectionately stroked Apan's enormous head beneath her, finally and reluctantly agreeing to Xu Yang's terms. Although this surrender felt somewhat humiliating, given that there hadn't even been a proper engagement—she had simply yielded without a fight—what choice did she have? Xu Yang's power far exceeded anything they could have imagined! This confrontation was far from meaningless; if the Winter Goddess had chosen to resist further, Xu Yang would have decisively defeated her.

"I accept! From now on, I am a member of your Holy Flame Sect. However, as I said, I can only leave with you once you've resolved the situation here. If you unfortunately perish beneath the Western Emperor's tomb, then, I'm afraid, I will mercilessly exact revenge upon your corpse."

The Winter Goddess's words genuinely amused Xu Yang. This woman had a unique trait: all her emotions, including her deepest feelings, were clearly visible on her face; she never concealed them. Her greatest characteristic was her sincerity; she never liked anything disingenuous. Perhaps this very straightforwardness was the only thing that truly captivated Xu Yang.

"Alright, I'm leaving now. You can take your time cleaning up this mess here. Don't forget our agreement."

Xu Yang lightly snapped his fingers, and the last golden key, which had been around the Winter Goddess's neck, obediently dropped into his palm. The Winter Goddess, meanwhile, remained utterly unaware that her golden key was gone. This oblivious woman was truly exasperating.

However, just as Xu Yang was gradually moving away in a specific direction, the Winter Goddess suddenly remembered something and quickly spoke up, halting his steps. The very next instant her voice echoed, a splitting sound abruptly erupted beneath Xu Yang's feet. With a sharp creak, Xu Yang was unexpectedly swallowed into the boundless abyss below.

"Damn it, that's the strongest arcane, the Eternal Seal of the Frost lineage, that I set up in advance! I had originally prepared this pit for that boy, Yun Yixuan. I can't believe it ended up being used on this guy!"

The wild boar, Apan, shivered. "Master, isn't this exactly what you wanted? If we can truly suppress him forever, then we wouldn't need to join his team and become his subordinates, would we?"

The Winter Goddess, however, shook her head without hesitation, cutting off Apan's suggestion.

"What kind of person do you take your master for? Am I someone who breaks promises, someone who goes back on their word? Since I've given my word, even if it costs me my life, I absolutely cannot renege! Unless he himself states that he no longer wishes to cooperate with us, from now on, you and I are members of Xu Yang's Holy Flame Sect! Always remember this principle! As humans, we are often subject to circumstances, but no matter what, we must always be true to ourselves. Some things are far more important than life itself! Because once you kneel, you'll never be able to stand up again."