Chapter 498 - Kneel Down and Beg for Mercy

An icy cold shout rang from the void. Immediately, the entire central battlefield surged like a gathering storm.

“Insolence!”

Chen Fan breaking free of his confines was also out of Feng Baiyu’s expectations. This was simply unthinkable. After all, he was a Divine Nascent realm powerhouse.

Cracking noises rang out as the space froze. A terrifying aura erupted from the void in the air, freezing the space.

It was the Heavenly Cold Winter God Force, the most prominent but forbidden secret of the Spring Autumn Sect, an unparalleled cultivation technique only the sect leader was allowed to learn.

A chilling intent erupted, sweeping across the skies and covering heaven and earth.

Immediately, Chen Fan felt as if he was stuck in ice. Moving even an inch seemed impossible.

“Feng Baiyu, you’ve crossed the line!” Another authoritative voice resounded. The frozen space began melting like the spring breeze and rain. Cracking noises rang out again.

The pressure acting on Chen Fan declined greatly. He quickly swooped down with a vicious gaze, wanting to kill Duan Jingtian.

However, during this split second, a gigantic hand grabbed Duan Jingtian and rose to the skies, about to vanish into the void.

“High Elder!” Seeing as his efforts were in vain, Chen Fan roared.

“

Hmph

, Feng Baiyu, your hands are reaching where they shouldn't.” The High Elder’s icy voice rang out, carrying a trace of anger. The winds and clouds immediately changed colors as if the lord of heaven was roaring furiously. A divine light appeared out of thin air, striking the gigantic hand.

Boom!

The immense force pierced through space-time, sealing a large area of the sky. With a rumble, the gigantic hand crumbled, and Duan Jingtian flew out like a broken burlap sack.

Before Chen Fan could seize the opportunity, Feng Baiyu revealed himself from the depths of space, grabbed at the air, and caught Duan Jingtian once more before setting him down. He confined Duan Jingtian to his side, looking at Chen Fan with an icy gaze.

“Chen Fan, you’ve seized total victory today. One should let people off wherever possible. Spare Duan Jingtian’s life on my account.”

Duan Jingtian remained silent, sitting cross-legged as he channeled his qi to recover, now that he knew he was safe.

“What do you mean by that, Sect Leader? This is a life-and-death battle. Countless people bore witness to this. If I were no match for him, then I would have accepted death without complaints. Why are you stepping in to save Duan Jingtian!” Chen Fan looked at Feng Baiyu coldly, filled with killing intent.

“Feng Baiyu, Chen Fan is right. They entered a life-and-death battle voluntarily. Their life and death are up to fate. I wouldn’t have intervened if Chen Fan lost. You, as the sect leader, blatantly broke the rules and intervened at will. What is the meaning of this?”

The high elder, Yun Tu, also revealed himself, his icy gaze falling onto Feng Baiyu.

“Chen Fan...” Feng Baiyu sighed and said, “Hatred has clouded your mind. You even showed killing intent toward me. Let alone the fact that you can’t act on it, what grudges do we have between us?”

“

Hmph

, stopping me from killing Duan Jingtian has created an irreconcilable grudge!” Chen Fan held his iron spear vertically, his tone calm yet filled with undisguised killing intent toward Feng Baiyu. The atmosphere was charged with tension, shaking everyone.

“Insolence! How audacious! You treacherous demon, how dare you show killing intent toward the sect leader! You’ve already fallen into demonic ways and are a danger to the world. Sect Leader, we mustn’t leave this little demon alive. He needs to be killed immediately!” shouted the merit elder.

Chen Fan couldn’t be bothered with a clown like the merit elder, so he kept his gaze trained on Feng Baiyu.

“What if I pass on the position of Sect Leader to you right now?” Feng Baiyu said, his gaze flickering.

“Haha, Sect Leader, who else does it belong to? Duan Jingtian? He’s nothing but trash! I don’t need you to pass on the position to me. When I advance to the Divine Nascent realm, the position will naturally become mine,” Chen Fan said with a cold smile, causing Feng Baiyu’s irises to contract.

The Spring Autumn Sect disciples collectively gasped.

“Move aside, Feng Baiyu. Your intervention is against the rules. If you insist on shielding Duan Jingtian, then I have no choice but to step in as well,” said the high elder coldly.

Duan Jingtian was a significant threat that needed to be removed immediately.

“Senior Brother, let’s end this matter here. What good does it do to the Spring Autumn Sect if Duan Jingtian dies? Not only is there nothing to be gained, but it will be a huge loss for us to lose an exceptional genius.

“The Grand Sect Conference is nearly upon us. Moreover, the power structure of the Hong Domain is starting to shift with the demonic beings becoming restless. Our Spring Autumn Sect needs Duan Jingtian alive. He can’t die.

𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

“Chen Fan, although the feud between you and Duan Jingtian is a result of his mistake, if it wasn’t for me back then, you would have died long ago. Do you acknowledge this?

Chen Fan looked at Feng Baiyu. After a moment of silence, he said, “Indeed. I would have died if you hadn’t stopped him.”

“Alright, then I’ll protect Duan Jingtian this once today. I can promise that Duan Jingtian will never find trouble with you in the future,” Feng Baiyu said.

Everyone was stunned. No one had expected the sect leader to plead for mercy from a disciple.

Chen Fan fell into silence once more.

If he insisted on killing Duan Jingtian, Feng Baiyu would shield him to the bitter end.

Even with the High Elder stepping in, success wasn't guaranteed, and it would result in a complete fallout with Feng Baiyu.

“Fine, I can do you this favor, Sect Leader. However, if Duan Jingtian wants to live, he has to kneel and beg for mercy!”

Chen Fan ultimately took a step back, as he couldn’t kill him with Feng Baiyu around. However, he couldn’t let Duan Jingtian go so easily. He needed to humiliate him ruthlessly and plant a demon in his heart.

Duan Jingtian immediately stopped his recovery and looked at Chen Fan with an icy gaze. The demand to kneel and beg for mercy was harder to accept than death.

His expression twisted drastically, looking at Feng Baiyu.

“Sect Leader...”

He didn’t want to die, but he didn’t want to beg Chen Fan for mercy even more.

Feng Baiyu met Chen Fan’s gaze. After a moment of silence, he said, “Fine.”

“Master!” Duan Jingtian’s expression darkened further.

“Go!” Feng Baiyu said sternly, “If you want to choose death, then do as you please!”

Duan Jingtian trembled all over, his complexion pale. He knew that Feng Baiyu had given in.

Although Feng Baiyu was the sect leader and a Divine Nascent realm powerhouse, ensuring Chen Fan couldn’t do a thing to him, the high elder was here as well. If Feng Baiyu didn’t agree to it, Chen Fan would not let things go just like that.

Duan Jingtian gritted his teeth hard, producing a crunching noise from crushing his tooth. He wished to smash his head and kill himself in front of the crowd.

However, living disgracefully was better than a good death.

If he was alive, he could still take revenge.

If he died, then everything would be over. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust.