After parting ways with the liberated prisoners, Ye Yunfei took out his flying vessel and boarded it, preparing to return to the capital of the Ten Thousand Beasts Empire.
Both the Second Prince and the Third Princess had been rescued.
Ye Yunfei intended to return and collect the three-hundred-year crocodile demon essence blood and the low-level beast emperor corpse from the empire's emperor.
Ye Yunfei believed that with his identity as a Hudao Academy student alone, that emperor wouldn't dare to default on his promise.
However.
As the flying vessel soared into the air.
Ye Yunfei's gaze suddenly caught a group of people standing on the walls of Tiansha City in the distance.
Among them, a burly young man stood prominently in the center.
It was Prince Zhenshou!
A blue-robed elder stood beside Prince Zhenshou—it was Advisor Jiang.
Gazing at Prince Zhenshou from afar, Ye Yunfei couldn't help but reveal a cold smile.
"Advisor Jiang, do you think those Sand Bandits from the Black Wind Stronghold managed to kill Ye Yunfei?" Prince Zhenshou asked aloud from the city wall, his eyes fixed on the Blackwind Desert.
"Heh heh, rest assured, Prince.
The Black Wind Stronghold has four chiefs in total, each possessing strength at the Yuan Foundation Realm.
Among them, rumor has it the Big Chief is a mid-stage Yuan Foundation Realm expert.
Besides the four chiefs, there are thousands of vicious, powerful Sand Bandits.
Moreover, the Blackwind Desert is their territory.
I believe they will surely kill Ye Yunfei," Advisor Jiang replied with a cold laugh.
"Four Yuan Foundation Realm experts and thousands of Sand Bandits!
The strength of Black Wind Stronghold is truly formidable.
Hmm, while that brat Ye Yunfei is a bit strange, he should still be no match for those Sand Bandits.
We'll just quietly wait for good news." Upon hearing Advisor Jiang's words, Prince Zhenshou also relaxed.
Just then.
"You won't be getting any good news.
But there is some bad news for you."
A voice sounded.
Then, not far away, a young man suddenly appeared, standing with his hands clasped behind his back, looking at Prince Zhenshou and Advisor Jiang with a cold smile.
"Ye Yunfei! It's you!
How are you not dead?!" Both Prince Zhenshou and Advisor Jiang were dumbstruck, exclaiming in unison.
They had just been talking about Ye Yunfei, and now, he appeared right before their eyes!
"Ye Yunfei, why didn't the Sand Bandits of the Black Wind Stronghold kill you?" Prince Zhenshou asked, unwilling to accept this outcome.
"Simple. I killed all those Sand Bandits.
So, they couldn't kill me," Ye Yunfei replied with a faint smile.
"Haha! Kid, you wiped out the Black Wind Stronghold Sand Bandits?
Don't tell me you expect me to believe you single-handedly took down the entire stronghold!
You're such a braggart!" Prince Zhenshou couldn't help but laugh loudly, his tone filled with sarcasm.
"Humph!
So full of yourself. Turns out, you're just a blowhard," Advisor Jiang also didn't believe it, adding with a cold sneer.
"Tell me.
Who instructed you to come and kill me?" Ye Yunfei asked, sweeping a glance at Prince Zhenshou.
Ye Yunfei knew someone must be backing this Prince Zhenshou, compelling him to kill Ye Yunfei.
Otherwise, being complete strangers before this, why would the prince harbor such killing intent for no reason?
"You insolent brat!
What status does Prince Zhenshou possess, that you dare question him!" Advisor Jiang snapped out a rebuke.
"What status does he have.
I am a student of Hudao Academy; my status is far superior to his.
He colluded with the Sand Bandits of Black Wind Stronghold, trying to have me killed.
This is a capital crime.
I can execute him any time I wish.
Now, give me an honest answer to my question." Ye Yunfei said placidly.
Upon hearing Ye Yunfei's words, Advisor Jiang's face froze, left speechless with nothing to refute.
Indeed, Hudao Academy was a top-tier power on the Tianxuan Continent. When its students traveled the continent, other forces had to show respect. Prince Zhenshou was merely the prince of some second-rate empire; in terms of status, he truly couldn't compare to Ye Yunfei.
"Ye Yunfei, you..." Prince Zhenshou was also furious.
Swish!
Before he could finish, Ye Yunfei had already appeared like a ghost before him, reaching out to grab his throat.
Terrifying physical strength surged from Ye Yunfei's palm, completely suppressing Prince Zhenshou the next instant, making it hard for him to breathe and move.
"Brat, you seek death!" Advisor Jiang paled in fright. A short black halberd appeared in his hand, erupting with sharp black radiance like a black thunderbolt as it shot towards Ye Yunfei.
Immediately, billowing black energy rushed at Ye Yunfei.
This Advisor Jiang possessed strength at the early-stage Yuan Foundation Realm; his combat power was not weak.
Boom!
Ye Yunfei threw a punch, its terrifying force directly jolting Advisor Jiang back.
With his other hand, he had already grabbed Prince Zhenshou's throat and lifted him up.
"Let go, you brat!
Dare harm Prince Zhenshou, and you'll never escape the Ten Thousand Beasts Empire!" Advisor Jiang roared furiously.
"Ye Yunfei! Did you not hear?! Let go of me at once!" Prince Zhenshou was also both humiliated and enraged, shrieking with a hoarse voice.
"Heh heh, with death at your door, you still dare threaten me. Such a fool." Ye Yunfei gave a cold laugh and squeezed lightly.
Gulp... gulp...
Prince Zhenshou struggled desperately, unable to breathe, his face turning red from suffocation.
"Now, you can tell me.
Who ordered you to kill me?" Ye Yunfei asked, his gaze icy as he looked at Prince Zhenshou.
"I... will... speak..." Feeling the threat of death, Prince Zhenshou finally grew scared, nodding frantically.
Ye Yunfei loosened his grip.
"It's Feng Yun'ao!
It's Feng Yun'ao from your Hudao Academy. He contacted me, telling me to find an opportunity to kill you.
He's one of the prodigies of our Central Continent's younger generation. If I had defied him, he would surely take revenge on me in the future, so I had no choice but to do as he said." Prince Zhenshou gasped repeatedly, then spoke out.
"So, it was Feng Yun'ao." Ye Yunfei's smile turned cold.
"Good. Now, you can die." Ye Yunfei said calmly.
"Don't kill me!
I'll give you anything you want!
I can become your slave!
I don't want to die!" Sensing Ye Yunfei's bone-chilling killing intent, Prince Zhenshou was terrified to his very core and couldn't help but beg and plead.
"You're willing to be my slave?" Ye Yunfei's mind stirred.
This Prince Zhenshou possessed True Manifestation Realm late-stage strength. If he was truly willing, he could definitely become Ye Yunfei's slave.
Then, as long as he completely opened his Soul Sea without reservation, Ye Yunfei could plant a Soul Restriction within it, thereby truly subduing him.
Previously, Master Ren Xuantang of the Luohai Merchant Association's main branch, also a True Manifestation Realm late-stage expert, had likewise been successfully implanted with a Soul Restriction and subdued.
The hardest part about planting a Soul Restriction was that it required full cooperation from the target.
Otherwise, the slightest mishap could put both the caster and the target in danger from backlash.
"Fine.
If you're willing to submit, I can spare your life." After some thought, Ye Yunfei nodded.