Baiyazi, Kongqingzi, and the others were utterly shocked, unable to believe their eyes.
They saw Chen Fan holding Elder Qu by the neck, as if he were holding a small chicken.
A powerful Golden Core realm expert, someone considered an immortal on earth in the outside world, had been so easily defeated by Chen Fan. It was an unheard-of spectacle.
At this moment, all their arrogance and superiority towards the outside world vanished completely.
"You are seeking your own destruction!"
Elder Luan said coldly, "Release Elder Qu Tong, and you can at least have a complete corpse!"
Chen Fan slammed a tortoise shell against the Qu Tong he was holding.
With a dull thud, Qu Tong was startled awake, spitting out another mouthful of blood, his face ashen.
He was barely recognizable as human. Upon waking and realizing he was still in Chen Fan's grasp, he was overcome with grief and shame.
Chen Fan spoke coldly, "Then let it be self-destruction. It's worth it to take down a Golden Core realm expert, plus these many Kunlun disciples as a bonus!"
"You..."
Elder Luan was furious and wanted to attack, but considering Elder Qu's life, she didn't want to bear the reputation of forcing him to his death.
"Elder Luan, please remain calm!"
Mo Yunfeng's gaze shifted as he spoke, "I'll talk to him!"
Elder Luan snorted and fell silent.
"Chen Fan, isn't it? Using Elder Qu's life as a threat has limited effect," Mo Yunfeng said. "The Dao Academy has twelve elders in total. Elder Qu is just one of them. If he dies by your hand, Kunlun will undoubtedly seek your death with all their might."
"Even if you flee to the ends of the earth, so many Golden Core realm experts will relentlessly pursue you. Kunlun will relentlessly hunt you down, and anyone associated with you will be annihilated!"
"Are you threatening me in return?" Chen Fan's tone was icy.
"You can understand it that way. Even Su Yingxue will not be an exception. No matter how important she is or how highly regarded she is in the Dao Academy, what you've done will only implicate her, making her journey in Kunlun arduous!" Mo Yunfeng said.
"Why all the rambling?"
Chen Fan said coldly, "All I want now is to see Su Yingxue. Is that so difficult? If you elders of the Dao Academy cannot even make this decision, then find someone who can!"
Mo Yunfeng shook his head and said, "I can make the decision. I will arrange for the Dao Academy to bring Su Yingxue out."
"Release Elder Qu first!"
Chen Fan looked at Mo Yunfeng and suddenly threw Elder Qu towards him.
Mo Yunfeng was somewhat surprised, but his reaction was swift. He quickly caught Qu Tong and took out a pill, feeding it to him.
Chen Fan's straightforward release of his hostage surprised and impressed Mo Yunfeng.
What kind of resolve and courage did it take to hand over all his bargaining chips without a second thought?
"Kill... him!"
Qu Tong, now free, rasped and urged.
Mo Yunfeng's thoughts raced as he beckoned a disciple to take Qu Tong away.
Elder Luan looked at Mo Yunfeng and said, "Mo Yunfeng, let us both attack and kill this scoundrel!"
Mo Yunfeng shook his head. "We must uphold some credibility. Elder Luan, there's no need to rush."
He raised his hand, and a talisman flew out, trailing a spiritual light. It hovered above an incense burner, then vanished, entering the Kunlun Secret Realm.
"This talisman is flying to the Dao Academy. Someone will arrange to bring Su Yingxue out to meet you."
Mo Yunfeng said, "You must have directly swallowed a demon core. The rampant demonic energy is filling your body. It's truly astonishing that you can remain lucid enough to negotiate with me."
Chen Fan said indifferently, "Your willingness to have someone bring Su Yingxue out to meet me is also surprising. I owe you a favor. I won't harm you."
"Arrogant!"
Elder Luan sneered, "The power of a demon core is something no human can withstand. Your body is about to collapse, yet you speak such big words!"
Chen Fan said, "At least I'm still alive. And you Golden Core experts are not as strong as I originally expected. Your strength pales in comparison to Huangfu Xi."
"Senior Brother Huangfu?" Mo Yunfeng chuckled. "Senior Brother Huangfu is a once-in-a-century genius in the Kunlun Realm. We can't compare to him."
"However, whether you see Su Yingxue or not, it's impossible for you to leave these Two Worlds Peaks now."
He showed no intention of attacking. "Is Su Yingxue really that important to you?"
"No regrets, life or death!"
Chen Fan stated.
"Well said, 'No regrets, life or death'!"
Mo Yunfeng replied, "It is truly moving and admirable, but your method is highly inadvisable!"
Elder Luan's face, however, contorted with disgust.
Chen Fan couldn't be bothered to respond to Mo Yunfeng.
Mo Yunfeng then said, "Chen Fan, I actually admire you. It's a pity, though, that no one can save you now."
"Kunlun has existed for over two thousand years, and there has never been an incident like yours. You have committed a grave offense."
"I must admit, I underestimated your strength earlier. I didn't expect you to defeat Elder Qu."
"But you can't hold on for much longer, can you?"
Chen Fan said indifferently, "You agree to my terms, knowing I can't hold on for long, just to stall for time?"
"Yes."
Mo Yunfeng said, "I am stalling for time, but it is true that Su Yingxue will come. It depends on whether you can wait."
"Of course, if you still want to fight, that's fine too. I, Mo, will accompany you. But even if you defeat me, the elder who brings Su Yingxue here will be a Golden Core realm expert. Your situation will only become more difficult."
Chen Fan said calmly, "It's fine!"
"Then let's wait."
Mo Yunfeng nodded and said, "It should take about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."
Chen Fan remained noncommittal.
Elder Luan also remained silent.
Among the three of them, Qu Tong was not the weakest; she was. Her cultivated techniques were not as powerful as Elder Qu's fire-elemental arts.
Since Mo Yunfeng didn't want to apprehend Chen Fan on the spot, she also didn't want to risk it. If she suffered the same fate as Qu Tong, it would be utterly humiliating.
Of course, the most resentful and hateful person was Qu Tong.
Supported by a disciple, he sat at the edge of the jade platform. He opened his mouth, wanting to scold Mo Yunfeng and urge him to capture Chen Fan and get revenge, but he stopped himself before the words came out.
While he had a fiery temper, he wasn't stupid. He and Mo Yunfeng weren't particularly close friends, and if Mo Yunfeng didn't give him face, he would be even more humiliated.
All his burning hatred was directed at Chen Fan.
The atmosphere fell silent for a moment.
After a while, Mo Yunfeng suddenly spoke again, "Waiting idly is boring. Chen Fan, I am very curious, where does your fighting spirit originate from? Why is it so strong and overbearing?"
"Battlefield!"
Chen Fan glanced at Mo Yunfeng and said indifferently.
"I see. It seems your status in the mortal world was not low."
Mo Yunfeng nodded. "To risk everything for a woman's love, it is indeed worthy of sighing. However, are you sure Su Yingxue still remembers you and cares about you?"
Chen Fan's gaze turned cold. "Is there any point in you saying this?"
"Haha, I'm not trying to sow discord. It's just that I don't know Su Yingxue well."
"The Dao Academy selects a few disciples every ten years. Although Su Yingxue has exceptional talent, she was not taught by me."
"Elder Luan, you taught Su Yingxue, didn't you?"
Mo Yunfeng suddenly turned his head to look at Elder Luan.