Li Cangnan, sect master of the Divine Sea Sect, seethed with anger in his heart.
Their Divine Sea Sect was not a subordinate force of Hell's Gate,
yet these people dared to come to their sect and act so brazenly.
"If only we were stronger, we wouldn't have to endure this humiliation!"
Li Cangnan sighed inwardly.
Had he known earlier, he would have pledged allegiance to the Chu family sooner—
at least as their vassal, these Martial Emperors from Hell's Gate wouldn't dare to shout and order them around so freely.
But facing a Martial Emperor,
he didn't dare show the slightest disrespect.
He immediately put on a smile and stepped forward,greeting respectfully, "Rest assured, Martial Emperor, my Divine Sea Sect has no ties to the Chu family!"
Cao Man, the Martial Emperor, didn't even glance at Li Cangnan before nodding.
"Good, as long as there's no connection. Many of Hell's Gate's powerhouses have already descended from the Sacred Realm. The Chu family's downfall is only a matter of time!"
But inwardly, he sneered.
Once the Demon Race descends,
all of you will die!
Once you're tainted by demonic energy and turned into demons,
it's practically the same as death!
"Ah, Sect Master Li, I heard your Divine Sea Sect has a peerless beauty named 'Shi Yao.' Could this Emperor meet her?"
Cao Man stared at Li Cangnan with a grin.
The muscles on Li Cangnan's face twitched slightly.
Damn it, how did he know about her?
"Reporting to the Martial Emperor, there is indeed such a person, but she married years ago!"
"Oh? Married? I know she's married!"
Cao Man's eyes gleamed with excitement. "But... this Emperor has a taste for this!"
"So you understand—go, bring her to me immediately. This Emperor will be stationed in your Divine Sea Sect for now, and from now on, she will serve me!"
"T-This..."
Li Cangnan clenched his fists.
As a man,
he knew exactly what Cao Man meant.
But the problem was—that woman was his wife!
Was he supposed to just hand his wife over to another man?
If anyone else had dared say such a thing,
he would have already smashed their skull!
"What? Still not moving?"
"Sect Master Li, surely you don’t want your Divine Sea Sect’s tens of thousands of years of legacy to be destroyed in an instant, do you?"
"Trading a woman for your sect’s safety is more than fair. And let’s be honest—I’m saving her!"
Cao Man's tone carried an unmistakable threat.
Once the Demon Race descends,
all races will be turned into demons.
Wasn’t he, in fact, saving her?
Li Cangnan trembled violently,
his teeth grinding audibly as he forced out in a low voice,
"Senior is a supreme Martial Emperor. Is this conduct befitting of your status?"
Yet before he could finish,
Cao Man grabbed him by the throat and lifted him effortlessly,
as if holding a helpless chick.
In the hands of a Martial Emperor,
a Martial Saint was powerless!
"What? Are you lecturing this Emperor?"
Cao Man barked coldly.
"Senior, please hold back! This junior spoke out of turn—spare him!"
At that moment,
a Divine Sea Sect elder appeared,
and beside him stood an exquisitely beautiful woman—
Li Cangnan’s wife, Shi Yao!
Tear tracks stained her face.
The moment Cao Man saw her,
his eyes widened in shock.
"Truly a peerless beauty!"
Even though he had seen countless women,
such a rare gem was hard to come by.
He couldn’t help but swallow hard.
Tossing Li Cangnan aside like trash,
Cao Man instantly appeared before Shi Yao.
With a loud *smack*,
he backhanded the elder,
knocking out several of his yellowed teeth.
"How dare you make such a beauty cry? Do you want your Divine Sea Sect to vanish?"
Just then,
another Martial Emperor appeared beside Shi Yao,
nodding in approval.
"Indeed, a rare treasure among mortals."
"Oh? Even you hold such high praise for her?"
"Then how about... we share her later?"
Cao Man’s eyes gleamed with excitement.
He had never tried this kind of play before—
just the thought of it sent a thrill through him!
"AAARGH!"
Li Cangnan roared in fury,
spitting out a mouthful of blood.
"What are you screaming for? Want to watch the three of us in action?"
"Shall I grant your wish?"
Cao Man laughed wildly.
Ignoring Li Cangnan’s resistance,
he hoisted Shi Yao over his shoulder and headed for a private chamber.
The more she struggled,
the more excited he became!
"Tsk tsk tsk... What am I witnessing? Such depravity!"
Suddenly,
a mocking laugh rang out.
"Who goes there?!"
Cao Man spun around—
only to see a figure standing in midair above the Divine Sea Sect.
"Who are you?"
The other Martial Emperor demanded coldly.
"I am of the Chu family!"
"But today, my purpose isn’t you two—it’s the sect master of the Divine Sea Sect!"
The newcomer was none other than Chu Yunling.
Dressed in a flowing cyan robe that fluttered in the wind,
she gazed down at the weakened Li Cangnan.
"I’m here to ask your sect’s stance."
Wiping the blood from his lips, Li Cangnan mustered all his strength to reply,
"My Divine Sea Sect is not a vassal of Hell's Gate. But if Senior can slay these two, my sect is willing to pledge allegiance to the Chu family!"
Previously, they had discussed submitting to the Chu family,
but some elders had opposed it,
stalling the decision.
Now, witnessing the depravity of Hell's Gate’s Martial Emperors,
Li Cangnan had made up his mind.
"Li Cangnan, SHUT YOUR MOUTH!"
"Do you want to destroy our Divine Sea Sect’s hundred-thousand-year legacy?!"
The elder who had brought out Shi Yao bellowed,
blood still dripping from his mouth.
How could the Chu family’s Martial Emperor compare to Hell's Gate’s?
Especially when these two were Martial Emperor Perfects!
"You shut up! Who’s the sect master here—you or me?!"
Li Cangnan roared like an enraged lion.
"You—fine! As an elder, I hereby strip you of your position as sect master! From now on, you have no ties to the Divine Sea Sect!"
"And who the hell are you to strip me of anything?"
"Old fool, don’t think that just because I call you 'elder,' you actually matter. You’re a Martial Saint, and so am I. What makes you think you’re stronger?"
Li Cangnan unleashed a verbal onslaught.
This was the same elder who had obstructed discussions about pledging to the Chu family—
if they had submitted earlier,
would Hell's Gate’s Martial Emperors dare to show up now?
And now, this bastard had handed his wife over to those two perverts!
"You—!"
The elder trembled with rage,
his blood-streaked face twisting into something monstrous.
"Two Martial Emperors, I beg you—rid my Divine Sea Sect of this traitor, Li Cangnan!"
He dropped to his knees before the two Hell's Gate Martial Emperors.
How dare Li Cangnan disrespect him like this!
"Hahaha! I’ve seen many beauties, but never a Martial Emperor-level one!"
"Cao Man, this Martial Emperor beauty is mine!"
The other Martial Emperor declared.
"Agreed!"