No matter how Feng Qingcheng called out, the forest remained unchanged.
Mei Ziling lightly lifted her eyelids, surveyed their surroundings, and slowly opened her lips, "It seems there's truly no one."
If there were, why would they allow Feng Qingcheng to shout so loudly?
Baili Yang's facial features were tightly furrowed, his eyes emitting a faint glow. "The First Sect is here, but how to enter is the problem."
Feng Qingcheng's gaze darted around anxiously, her brow deeply furrowed.
As if she had discovered something, her eyes suddenly lit up. With a leap, she shot towards a direction in the forest with lightning speed!
In the forest.
A child was crouched low, hiding in the grass, a skewer of candied hawthorns clutched in his small hand.
He tried his best to conceal himself within the undergrowth, doing his utmost not to be discovered.
The next moment, his shoulder was gently tapped.
The child yelped in fright and stumbled, his entire body falling to the ground.
Feng Qingcheng's eyes were icy, her sharp gaze slowly falling upon him. "Child, how does one enter the First Sect?"
The child trembled in fear and frantically shook his head. "You… what are you talking about? I don't know!"
The child scrambled to his feet and bolted.
Watching the fleeing child, Feng Qingcheng lightly raised her eyelids, her eyes filled with disdain.
She subtly moved her fingers, and the child's body suddenly levitated, flying rapidly towards her.
Feng Qingcheng's slender hand instantly gripped the child's neck. The hands beneath her robes were delicate and smooth, her skin soft and tender.
"Are you sure you won't tell the truth?"
A chilling female voice slowly emanated from her lips.
With the slightest exertion from Feng Qingcheng, this child would instantly perish.
The child struggled desperately, the candied hawthorns in his hand rolling onto the ground, picking up dust.
"Wuwu… Bad people, bad people!"
The child wept, his small cheeks streaked with tears, his eyes filled with terror.
Di Yang's brow furrowed, and he reprimanded in a low voice, "Qingcheng, what are you doing? This child is an ordinary person, incapable of cultivation."
Only then did Feng Qingcheng release her grip.
Bang!
As she let go, the child instantly fell back onto the ground, his backside landing heavily.
The child cried even harder, his wails echoing repeatedly through the forest.
Feng Qingcheng turned her gaze to Di Yang, her expression returning to its usual delicate facade, her voice soft. "Sect Master, it's unusual for this child to be in this forest. Moreover, he was lurking suspiciously in the shadows. I'd say he has some connection to the First Sect."
Di Yang bent down and looked at the child. "Little one, do you know if the First Sect is here?"
The child shook his head vigorously, his face etched with panic. "What First Sect? I don't know anything!"
Feng Qingcheng snorted dismissively and coldly turned her gaze back to the child. When her eyes met Di Yang's, her face displayed a hint of deference. "Sect Master, why don't you let me handle this person? Perhaps it will draw out someone from the First Sect."
Baili Yang also stepped forward at this moment, eagerly adding, "Senior Di, the First Sect is right here. This child being here alone is definitely suspicious. He might even be a disciple of the First Sect."
Di Yang let out a soft sigh, a hint of reluctance in his heart. "But he is, after all, just a child without cultivation."
Feng Qingcheng replied without hesitation, "Sect Master, rest assured, I will not harm his life."
Di Yang finally swallowed his unspoken words and said no more.
He could not stop everyone from going to this place.
In the eyes of the world, Feng Ninghe was unforgivable.
If he were to speak out, it would surely arouse suspicion.
Di Yang could only watch helplessly as everyone proceeded towards the First Sect.
Seeing that Di Yang remained silent, Feng Qingcheng's red lips curved slightly beneath her veil. She strode forward and directly grabbed the child.
She deliberately walked to the forefront, intentionally raising her voice. "If the people of the First Sect do not appear soon and hand over Feng Ninghe, I will dig out this child's heart here and display it to the public."
The gazes of the surrounding cultivators were fixed upon her.
Mei Ziling's delicate brows furrowed, a hint of displeasure in her heart. She forcefully swallowed her annoyance.
Although she did not approve of such methods, she understood it was the only viable strategy.
The vast forest remained silent.
It seemed as though only their group of cultivators were present.
In Feng Qingcheng's slender hand, a dagger had appeared. The sharp blade was gently pressed against the child's chest.
The sharp dagger terrified the child, who began to wail uncontrollably, his mournful cries piercing the sky.
"It seems the First Sect does not care for this child's life. In that case, I shall proceed."
Feng Qingcheng sneered, her chilling gaze fixed on the child before her.
She applied a slight pressure, and the sharp dagger sliced through the child's clothes.
The dagger pierced the fabric and grazed the child's skin.
A trickle of bright red blood seeped through the child's attire.
Despite the child's tearful cries, her expression remained unchanged.
Feng Qingcheng found the noise irritating. With a displeased flick of her eyebrows and a fierce glint in her eyes, she thrust the dagger fiercely towards the child's chest.
In her eyes, the life or death of the child before her meant nothing to her.
Since no one cared about the child's fate, he had lost his reason to live.
What difference did it make if he died?
"Feng Qingcheng!" httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Seeing her intent to deliver a fatal blow, Mei Ziling cried out in alarm, attempting to stop her.
Although Mei Ziling wished to avenge Di Wenbin, she did not want to add to the casualties or involve innocent people.
Feng Qingcheng remained unmoved; in fact, her movements quickened.
The child was like an insignificant ant in her eyes, easily crushed at any moment.
Clang!
The dagger fell, but it seemed a powerful hand had struck her wrist.
Feng Qingcheng winced in pain and quickly withdrew her hand.
She angrily dropped the child and turned her gaze around. "Who dares to lay hands on me!"
The cultivators all shook their heads.
Mei Ziling also stopped in her tracks, looking around in surprise.
No one had physically attacked Feng Qingcheng.
However, a powerful spiritual energy had indeed struck Feng Qingcheng just now.
Feng Qingcheng's eyes were filled with fury as she scanned her surroundings. "Cowardly wretches! You have the guts to attack me, but not the courage to admit it! Could it be someone from the First Sect?"
However, no matter how loudly she called out, no one responded.
Mei Honghou respectfully gazed at the imposing mountain before him, his deep voice resonating, "Senior, we have come to the First Sect to find someone and have no other intentions. We hope for your understanding."
Mei Honghou's gaze was fixed on the mountain.
He could sense the spiritual energy fluctuations within the mountain; there was definitely a powerful being here.
The First Sect had once led an entire Jinling. Even though they had now retreated, their strength was not to be underestimated.
The mountain emitted a faint tremor.
Grandpa Mountain gently shook its body, and the entire forest began to sway violently!
"What's happening!"
"Is this forest about to collapse? Why is the commotion so loud!"
The cultivators were startled and quickly steadied themselves, preparing to evacuate at any moment.