Nine Flames Sovereign/C65 The Witch Displayed Her Might
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Nine Flames Sovereign/C65 The Witch Displayed Her Might
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C65 The Witch Displayed Her Might

"This is..."

Han Feng glanced around in confusion before his face contorted into an expression of dismay.

Such a valley could only be at the heart of the Jade Peak Mountain Range, claimed by formidable Level-5 and Level-6 Devil Beasts.

Given his current condition, if he stumbled upon such a Devil Beast, how would he manage to escape?

His energy was severely depleted. Even in a confrontation with an Early Period Level-5 Devil Beast, victory was uncertain, let alone facing a stronger Level-5 or even a Level-6 Devil Beast.

These creatures were on par with a mid-stage Human Rank Martial Cultivator.

"Damn, in my rush to escape, I've veered off course."

"It's true what they say, one can never let their guard down in the mountains. I thought I knew the Jade Peak Mountain Range quite well, yet here I am, lost."

Han Feng's face went through a series of changes before he furrowed his brow. "Though the Devil Beasts here are formidable, this is still the remote depths of the mountain range, dominated by Level-5 and Level-6 Devil Beasts. It's unlikely there are any below Level-5. With caution, I might avoid encountering any at all."

"But with Hei One and his group on my tail, it's only a matter of time before they catch up here."

"Rather than hiding, it might be smarter to draw Hei One and his followers to the Level-5 and Level-6 Devil Beasts. That way, I might actually have a chance to get away."

Resolved, Han Feng moved cautiously deeper into the valley. As he rounded a bend, his face registered sheer alarm.

Before him lay a colossal lion Devil Beast, its presence staining the earth crimson, the air thick with the stench of blood.

"What is this..."

Han Feng stared at the massive creature, a mix of horror and disbelief in his eyes.

Could this Devil Beast be dead?

He edged closer, the silence around the massive beast was eerie.

Upon closer inspection, Han Feng noticed a vast gash across the beast's belly.

A surge of fear gripped him. "This Devil Beast must have been at the pinnacle of Level-5 or even Level-6 in its prime. Who could have possibly slain it?"

"How powerful is this individual?"

"Could they be at the peak of the Mid Human Rank, or perhaps a Late Human Rank master?"

Han Feng began to consider withdrawing. It didn't matter whether the Devil Beast had been slain by a human or another Devil Beast; the perpetrator's strength was clearly not ordinary.

Han Feng could only hope for his companions to stand a chance against a Devil Beast at the peak of level five or somewhere in the early to mid-sixth level.

Against a more formidable Devil Beast, Han Feng feared he wouldn't last long enough to see the confrontation—he'd likely be the first to fall.

"Who's there?"

Just then, a cold voice echoed from deeper within.

Han Feng instantly turned on his heels and fled.

"Where do you think you're going?" Along with the icy voice, a force pulled at Han Feng, drawing him in.

Around the corner from the fallen Devil Beast, a shadowy figure caught Han Feng's eye.

Powerless to resist, Han Feng was pulled toward the figure. As panic set in and he braced for the end, a voice filled with surprise rang out, "Late Mortal Rank?"

Han Feng hit the ground hard.

"To have made it this far with your abilities, you must have stumbled in by accident. You're not one of them, it seems. Lucky you."

The voice was clearer now, and unmistakably female. Han Feng listened intently, his heart still pounding from the close call.

He cautiously lifted his head to see a woman with a pale complexion sitting cross-legged before him. She wore a black robe stained with dark red blood.

The woman looked to be in her twenties, bewitchingly beautiful despite the vicious scar marring her neck.

"You are..."

Han Feng whispered.

The woman's eyebrows arched. "Having come to the Jade Peak Mountain Range, you must be from Renzhong City. How could you not recognize me?"

"I've made quite a name for myself in Renzhong City recently," she said with a hint of self-deprecation.

Han Feng was initially puzzled, but then realization dawned, and he exclaimed, "You're the Witch!"

At the mention of 'Witch,' the woman's expression turned grim. With a flick of her wrist, Han Feng was sent hurtling through the air, crashing against a stone wall and coughing up blood.

The woman's expression was icy. "Indeed, I am the Witch. Are you planning to turn me in to Renzhong City?"

Han Feng hastily wiped the blood from his lip and vigorously shook his head. If he had dared to confirm it, he likely wouldn't have lived to regret it, courtesy of the Witch before him.

Bitterness lingered in Han Feng's mouth as he rued his luck. Had he known, he would have heeded Han Lin's advice and stayed indoors. Not only had he encountered his pursuers, but he had also crossed paths with the Witch.

Han Feng had always believed the Witch to be a distant threat, irrelevant to whether she was benevolent or malevolent. Yet here he was, face-to-face with her, and she was clearly not fond of being called a "Witch."

She detested the title so much that a mere mention had earned him a swift blow that sent him flying.

Han Feng quickly clarified, "The Chang family is after you, not me. I bear a grudge against them. Why would I willingly walk into their snare?"

The Lin family of Xuanxing City may have issued a warrant for her, but its power was limited to the city's borders. Its validity elsewhere hinged on the willingness of other families to respect the Lin family's wishes.

The City Lord's Mansion of Renzhong City had followed suit with a warrant of its own, though it lacked earnest effort.

The City Lord, with a background as deep, if not deeper than the Lin family's, was hardly going to heed their commands. Issuing a warrant was a mere formality, a nod to the Lin family's status.

The Han family shared this sentiment. Rumors of past squabbles with the Lin family's side branches had soured their view, disputes the Lin family's main line wouldn't bother defending. The Lin family painted the Witch as a savage killer, but the truth remained elusive.

Besides, the Witch had already evaded the Lin family's attempts to capture her, a testament to her formidable strength. The Han family had no reason to antagonize such a formidable adversary, especially when there was nothing to gain.

Consequently, the Han family issued a statement, indicating that their dispatched individuals were merely going through the motions.

It was only the Hong and Chang families who were zealously pursuing the Witch in an effort to ingratiate themselves with the Lin family.

Yet, the Hong family was well aware of the Witch's formidable powers and chose not to confront her directly, especially given the rumors of her injury.

They limited their actions to informing the Lin family Elder, who was residing with the Chang family, of any sightings.

Initially, the Chang family's approach mirrored that of the Hong family. However, their stance intensified after a Human Rank martial cultivator from their ranks was drained to death by the Witch, inciting their rage and escalating their manhunt.

"Do you have a vendetta against the Chang family?" the Witch inquired, her brow furrowed as she regarded Han Feng.

Without hesitation, Han Feng affirmed, "Indeed, I do."

The Witch's features softened momentarily before she grew skeptical once more. "How can I be sure of your claim?"

"Until I'm healed, you'll stay put. Don't try anything, or I won't hesitate to end you," she warned.

Han Feng's eyes sparkled with anticipation. "I'm currently a target of the Chang family. They'll be here any moment now, and then you'll see I'm not deceiving you. My grudge against the Chang family is real."

A chilling glint flashed in the Witch's eyes. "The Chang family!"

"If they're anything like the Lin family, not a single one of them is trustworthy. Very well, I'll wait here briefly. But if you've lied..."

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