The Master and His Wealthy Fiancée

Jiang Hongqin held the Earth Flower, her brow furrowed in silence. She had obstructed Murong Qing and Chen Dong not just to pair Murong Qing with Xu Fu, but for the sake of the team—and for herself. Without Murong Qing's Desolate Wave Water Technique, they never would have made it this far.

Xu Fu was key to gathering the Earth Flower; Murong Qing and Xu Fu were both indispensable. After weighing her options, she had chosen to push Chen Dong away.

Who could have guessed that Chen Dong was a Spirit Binder, able to have a great demon retrieve the Earth Flower directly? And who would have thought Murong Qing would leave with him without the slightest resistance or hesitation?

She realized she had placed her bets on the wrong horse. 'Just who is this mysterious Chen Dong?!'

Xu Fu glanced at the Earth Flower with disdain. "We made it all the way here," he said scornfully. "We could have picked the Earth Flower ourselves with ease. We didn't need his help at all. And he has the nerve to say he's repaying Murong's kindness? How shameless!"

Zhang Tashan let out a heavy breath and tried to placate him. "Brother Xu Fu, don't be angry. It's good that we have the Earth Flower. This saves us from having to risk our lives for it. I have a pill here for injuries to one's Divine Sense; you should take it. What we need to think about now is how to get back to the Guardian Array."

Jiang Hongqin made an immediate decision. "Let's go. We leave this place at once. The argument just now might have attracted the attention of demon beasts. We'll head back the way we came. Even without Murong, the return trip should be easier than the journey here. Besides, I have Murong's Communication Talisman. I'll try to persuade her again in a bit."

Everyone knew that without Murong Qing's Desolate Wave Water Technique, they never would have made it this far. So even with the Earth Flower in hand, their moods were anything but celebratory.

After half a day of rushing back, several Nascent Soul-level Divine Senses swept over them again. They immediately dropped into hiding, pulling the cloaks that blocked Divine Sense tightly around themselves.

Xu Fu sent a transmission, fuming, "Why are there so many Nascent Soul Great Demons? Don't they have to cultivate? It's like every single one of them is searching for something."

Zhang Tashan was just as frustrated. "Who knows? It seems like something major is happening in the Demon Realm, making it impossible for us to move a single step."

He then asked, "Any word from Murong? It would be much easier for us with her here!"

Jiang Hongqin replied, "I've sent several messages with no response. But I believe Murong isn't a heartless or disloyal person. She would never abandon us. She's probably just discussing it with that husband of hers!"

Xu Fu was instantly displeased. "What damn husband? He's a despicable coward who goes back on his word and ambushes people! He's not worthy of Murong at all! He's just relying on some Nascent Soul Stage demon. If we were inside the Guardian Array, I'd definitely make him pay for this!"

"Brother Xu Fu is right!" Zhang Tashan chimed in. Even though they knew Xu Fu had intended to double-cross Chen Dong from the beginning, they wouldn't expose him. In fact, they would side with him—not only because they had known Xu Fu for a long time, but also because he was from the Xuan Cang Sect.

The Cyan Sky Sect's influence had been retracting as it concentrated its power to fight the Demon Race. Consequently, its vassal sects had seen an unprecedented expansion of their own power. The Xuan Cang Sect was one of them, and Xu Fu was one of its True Disciples.

Things were just as Jiang Hongqin had guessed. Murong Qing was discussing with Chen Dong how to help Jiang Hongqin's team get back to the Guardian Array.

But with Ao Jun tied up by his side, Chen Dong was a guaranteed target for the Demon Race. Following Jiang Hongqin's team would only make it harder for them to reach the Guardian Array. The Communication Token on him had been silent for twenty days. He couldn't kill Ao Jun, but he couldn't keep him either, which left Chen Dong in a dilemma.

Just as Chen Dong and the others stood on the cliff's edge, gazing in the direction of Jiang Hongqin's team and pondering whether to follow.

A life-saving debt had to be repaid. Although Chen Dong thoroughly disliked Jiang Hongqin, a gentleman repays kindness with kindness, and a Saint repays evil with kindness. Chen Dong didn't consider himself a gentleman, let alone a Saint, but he couldn't bring himself to simply ignore the kindness he had been shown.

Just as Chen Dong wrestled with his dilemma, a burst of wild laughter echoed from the horizon.

"HAHAHAHAHA! Let's see you run this time!"

Before Murong Qing could even react, the expressions on Chen Dong and the others changed drastically. 'That voice... It's Ao Tian!'

In an instant, several Divine Senses locked onto Chen Dong. A jolt far greater than the last seized his heart. Ao Tian had not come alone.

One, two, three... A full twelve Divine Senses. Following them, twelve renowned Demon Kings appeared from all directions. The mere pressure of their revealed auras darkened the sky. Every single one of these Demon Kings was a Late-stage Nascent Soul expert of outstanding, divine-like power.

There were males and females among them, each with a different posture and a hundred different expressions—some sneering, some mocking, some suddenly relaxed, some studying him with narrowed eyes...

Chen Dong swallowed hard. If it were only Ao Tian, he might have been able to put up a fight. But with so many Demon Kings gathered, there was truly no escape. He suddenly regretted bringing Murong Qing with him. If she had stayed with Jiang Hongqin's group, she might have had a chance to live.

As if sensing Chen Dong's thoughts, Murong Qing took his hand. "As long as I'm with you, I don't fear life or death!"

Ao Tian looked down on them with contempt and laughed wildly. "Haha! And here's one more. Chen Dong, did you know? To divine your location, hundreds of demons joined forces. We haven't seen a formation like this since the last great war between our races. You can consider it an honor to die here."

The portly Pengshan, who had the nose of a pig, shouted, "Ao Tian, why are you wasting your breath? Just kill them and get it over with before something else goes wrong!"