"Sect Master, something terrible has happened."
The voice from outside the great hall made Jin Qianbao frown.
Could it be that they’d run into something they couldn’t handle?
Then why hadn't the second brother sent a danger signal?
Just as Jin Qianbao stood up, the Immortal King who had gone to report rushed in, his face etched with fear, and shouted, "Sect Master, a... a terrible thing has happened."
"Speak quickly, what is it? Don't tell me the sky has fallen!" Jin Qianbao urged the Immortal King, who was dithering.
Can't you just say what happened instead of babbling nonsense?
The Immortal King nodded rapidly and said, "It's... it's like this, the sky has indeed fallen."
"What exactly happened? Is my grandson, Fei Peng, alright?" Jin Qianbao, doting as he was, still cared about his grandson Jin Fei Peng.
"Young Master is fine, but... but Xia Feng, the foremost Emperor of the Immortal Realm, wants to see you." This Immortal King finally revealed what had happened.
"Xia Feng, the foremost Emperor of the Immortal Realm?"
Jin Qianbao repeated the name, almost thinking he’d misheard.
Xia Feng was currently rumored to be the strongest Immortal Emperor, and the four Immortal Emperors of the Myriad Demon Continent had all become his servants.
This was a man infinitely close to godhood, a man so formidable he radiated lightning.
Why did he want to see him?
Had his grandson offended him?
"Did... did Jin Fei Peng offend him?" Jin Qianbao's heart began to race as he asked.
If he had truly offended an Immortal Emperor, there would be no escape, no matter how far he ran.
At the same time, he silently prayed that this wasn't the case.
"Sect Master, yes... yes, Young Master offended him." The Immortal King truthfully replied.
*Buzz...*
Jin Qianbao's head spun. He slumped onto his chair, almost fainting.
An Immortal Emperor.
This was an Immortal Emperor! This damnable Jin Fei Peng was going to doom his entire family and make everyone in the sect pay for his mistakes.
As for Jin Fei Peng's fate, Jin Qianbao no longer cared. He was terrified of utter annihilation.
Tie Longbiao, standing nearby, was stunned by what he heard. He had initially wondered what could have caused such a crisis.
But upon hearing that it was an Immortal Emperor who had summoned them, even with ten times the courage, he would have been terrified to death.
"Let's go, let's go! The Immortal Emperor has summoned us, we cannot delay for a moment."
Jin Qianbao, still able to maintain some semblance of consciousness, hurried out of the great hall.
Jin Qianbao moved with the speed of someone fighting for their life and soon arrived before Xia Feng.
As Jin Qianbao and Tie Longbiao arrived, Tao Taolei quickly stepped forward and quietly introduced Xia Feng to Jin Qianbao.
Even without an introduction, Jin Qianbao could tell that Xia Feng's aura as an Immortal Emperor could no longer be concealed.
"Jin Qianbao pays his respects to the Immortal Emperor."
"Tie Longbiao pays his respects to the Immortal Emperor."
The moment they arrived, the two of them knelt on the ground to greet Xia Feng.
Jin Qianbao?
Xia Feng paused when he heard the name.
Recently, Xia Lin had been mentioning Jin Qianbao's avatar frequently, saying many people had changed their profile pictures to it.
Later, Xia Feng learned the story behind it – it turned out to be the leopard spirit from Journey to the West.
Now, hearing someone called Jin Qianbao, Xia Feng suddenly felt a sense of familiarity. He changed his mind about dealing with them sternly.
Instead of a stern punishment, it would be better to help Chi Manman recruit a few followers, which would truly ensure Chi Manman's safety in this region.
It would also be a way to repay her, as she had been his guide when he first arrived in the Heavenly Realm.
This parting would be a farewell for life.
After all, they were not from the same world.
Jin Qianbao knelt on the ground, trembling. He felt a gaze fixed upon him, making him feel as if he had plunged into an ice cellar.
Life and death were in Xia Feng's single thought – this was the power of an Immortal Emperor.
"My grandson, Jin Fei Peng, offended the Immortal Emperor. He deserves to die. No matter how the Immortal Emperor punishes me, Jin Qianbao will accept all penalties. I implore the Immortal Emperor to spare the other innocent people in my sect."
Jin Qianbao lowered his head, not daring to look at Xia Feng, his entire body shaking uncontrollably.
Xia Feng ignored Jin Qianbao and turned to Chi Manman, asking, "Young Lady, how should they be punished? The decision is yours."
Xia Feng wanted to gauge Chi Manman's attitude. If Chi Manman wanted Jin Fei Peng executed, then she could execute him, and Xia Feng would not help her recruit followers.
This way, the Heavenly Void Palace would, because of his actions, not dare to retaliate against Chi Manman in the short term.
But over time, that would be difficult to say.
After all, a person's authority would gradually weaken with the passage of time.
If Chi Manman spared Jin Fei Peng's life, then Xia Feng would help her recruit these followers.
After all, sometimes, the living were more important than the dead.
Chi Manman needed this kind of follower. Then Jin Fei Peng would live forever under Chi Manman's shadow, never daring to resist, which would be a lifetime of sorrow.
"A punishment would suffice, wouldn't it? After all, they have already paid the price of two Immortal King powerhouses."
Chi Manman was not foolish. She knew that because of Xia Feng's presence, she could do whatever she wanted now.
But what if Xia Feng left?
What about her future life?
Who could guarantee that the Heavenly Void Palace would not retaliate later?
She couldn't possibly exterminate the entire Heavenly Void Palace because of Jin Fei Peng's actions.
If she did, wouldn't she, Chi Manman, be no different from Jin Fei Peng, or even worse?
Upon hearing this, Jin Fei Peng immediately knelt on the ground and cried out, "Miss Chi, I, Jin Fei Peng, was blind and offended you."
"The death penalty can be waived, but escape from punishment is impossible. You will have two fingers severed as a warning," Xia Feng declared, his eyes flashing. Jin Fei Peng immediately severed two of his fingers.
Jin Fei Peng clutched his hand, not uttering a sound. He knelt on the ground and kowtowed, exclaiming, "Thank you, Immortal Emperor, for sparing my life."
"Chi Manman is my friend. Her matters have concluded. Now it is my turn. You have shown disrespect to me. I could have taken all your lives, but since Chi Manman is not pursuing the matter, I will not pursue it either. You four will now pledge your loyalty to Chi Manman. Do you have any objections?" Xia Feng asked, pointing at Jin Fei Peng, Jin Qianbao, Tao Taolei, and Tie Longbiao.
The four of them dared not have any objections. To have escaped with their lives today was already fortunate beyond measure.
"We have no objections." The four spoke in unison.
Chi Manman's eyes reddened. She understood the meaning behind Xia Feng's arrangement.
Then, Xia Feng personally intervened, merging the soul marks of the four with Chi Manman, forever making them her servants.
Xia Feng did not go back on his word. He stayed to have a meal with Chi Manman before leaving.
"Young Lady, we shall meet again if fate allows." Xia Feng waved goodbye to Chi Manman and slowly disappeared into the crowd.
"We shall meet again if fate allows," Chi Manman whispered the four words. Tears could no longer be held back, and she told herself in her heart: never again, and no chance to meet again.
Because she knew that this parting was eternal.