Hong Lian the Demoness.
No one remembered her real name anymore. Ever since Hong Lian the Demoness appeared, she had been associated with the red lotus. Coupled with her alluring figure and seductive words, people gradually began to call her the Demoness.
However, as one of the Eight Divine Kings of the Dark Hall, her combat power was undeniable. Even Ye Longlin might not have been able to defeat them.
Hong Lian the Demoness pondered for a moment, then giggled, "Since young brother Long wishes to hear, I shall tell you."
"The Zhou family traces its lineage back to the Ji surname, with their ancestors being the Zhou Emperors. Your bloodline is, in fact, royal blood!"
"In the early Dark Ages, the Zhou family fled from Xisheng Province. During their escape, the Dark Hall intervened and killed all the high-ranking members of the Zhou family.
Ultimately, only his father and the lineage of Zhou Haifeng remained.
Afterward, seeing that the time was ripe, we set fire to the Zhou family's genealogy.
But we never expected that Zhou Haifeng's father would rush in.
Although the Zhou family's genealogy was saved, the front part was completely incinerated. We didn't bother with it further.
Thirty years have passed, and we never imagined that the Zhou family, under Zhou Haifeng's leadership, would reach its current standing.
This is why we must eliminate them now. If they are allowed to advance further, we will be discovered by the Zhenwu Division when we make our move.
Once discovered, it will be troublesome. Not only will the plan fail, but it will also consume valuable time."
After hearing this, Zhou Haifeng was completely bewildered. His eyes were filled with disbelief, and he stood stunned.
"You mean there was never any curse, and everything was orchestrated by you behind the scenes?"
Zhou Haifeng's eyes widened, and a surge of inexpressible rage emanated from his heart. His aura became extremely violent, and a murderous intent gradually rose in his eyes.
"Dark Hall... Although I don't know who you are, you will have to be buried with my deceased Zhou family today!!"
Since the banquet began, he hadn't seen the so-called Master Ku'e. If all of this was arranged by the Dark Hall, then it meant that Master Ku'e was also one of them?
The thought of the Zhou family members who had died over the years caused Zhou Haifeng to lose control of his anger. The aura of his Martial Aspect was fully unleashed, and his entire strength poured into his right arm, gathering at his fist as he lunged directly at Hong Lian the Demoness.
This was his Martial Aspect's full-power strike, infused with all his martial energy. It was not something that could be resisted head-on.
However, Hong Lian the Demoness lightly shook her head with disdain, "Your strength is too weak."
She extended her delicate hand and grabbed Zhou Haifeng's fist. Immediately, with a cracking sound, his martial energy found an outlet and rapidly dissipated into the heavens and earth.
Ye Longlin merely watched this scene silently, showing no intention of intervening.
Ever since the Zhou family kidnapped Lin Tian'ai, their demise was sealed. Even if Hong Lian the Demoness hadn't acted, Ye Longlin would have.
Meanwhile, in the shadows.
Chi Long stretched his neck, looking at the person before him, and grinned menacingly, "S-class war criminal, Zeng Guoyi."
Zeng Guoyi stared at Chi Long with a dark expression, "Scram. I am a member of the Glorious Hall now. How dare you touch someone from the Glorious Hall? You're asking for death!"
Not only Chi Long, but all the Divine Dragon Guards hidden in the shadows were facing the ten S-class war criminals who were supposed to be at the Dragon Slaying Villa. These ten had long since defected to the Dark Hall.
They had originally intended to condense a drop of Martial Aspect Fluid using Xu Jiajun and all the fallen warriors, but they didn't expect the Zhenwu Division to clean up the battlefield, thus foiling their plan.
The so-called Martial Aspect Fluid was a drop of pure blood refined by the Blood Refining Formation, which could directly transform an ordinary person into a Martial Aspect expert.
Of course, this was not invincible. It had a time limit, and the Blood Refining Formation was not that easy to set up.
On the other side.
Yuan Gang had dealt with all the assassins from the Dark Hall. Upon finding Lin Tian'ai, he didn't hesitate, knocked her unconscious, and handed her over to a woman from the Dragon Pavilion to be taken away.
"Dark Hall, hehe, you might never have imagined that the Zhou family members... were already transferred?"
"These... are all death row inmates..."
Ever since Ye Longlin learned about the Blood Refining Formation, he couldn't possibly stand idly by.
Moreover, he had long suspected that since the Dark Hall had the entire Zhou family refine a drop of Martial Aspect Fluid for them, it meant there was something wrong with the Zhou family's bloodline. Therefore, he naturally had people switch them.
The current Zhou family members... are in prison. This is the safest way to protect them, as they wouldn't dare provoke the current Great Xia, let alone its prisons.
Yuan Gang looked into a room ahead. Blood-red lines condensed on Master Ku'e's body, as if carrying a mysterious aura. These blood-red lines coiled around a ball in the center, and this ball was the Martial Aspect Fluid that needed to be refined.
The Martial Aspect Fluid was only the size of a fingernail cap. Now it was as large as a fist, so impurities needed to be removed.
After a long while, with a bang, the entire room exploded. Master Ku'e was covered in blood, his gaze suddenly lifted, and he cried out in terror, "This is not the Zhou family bloodline!!"
"Yes, this is not the Zhou family bloodline!" Kuai Shu Ge
Yuan Gang's voice echoed in his ears. Master Ku'e turned his head sharply, only to see Yuan Gang leaning against the wall, arms crossed, smiling at him.
Master Ku'e didn't hesitate and turned to run. But the next moment, he was grabbed by Yuan Gang.
He had no means of attack. Once caught, he could only wait for death or for the Dark Hall to rescue him.
However, he didn't believe the Dark Hall would rescue him. It would be a good thing if the Dark Hall didn't kill him.
And in the arena, with Hong Lian the Demoness's attack, Zhou Haifeng, a dignified Martial Aspect expert, was completely crippled by her hand, losing all ability to resist.
One of Zhou Haifeng's arms revealed bare white bone, but strangely, his wound did not bleed a single drop of blood.
"Bang!"
However, at this moment, Master Ku'e's body suddenly crashed into the arena, and Yuan Gang walked out slowly from behind.
Hong Lian the Demoness looked down at Master Ku'e and said from above, "Failed?"
Master Ku'e looked up, covered in blood, and said bitterly, "My lord, we failed. They switched the Zhou family members. Not a single one of them is from the Zhou family."
When Ye Longlin had reminded him to look behind earlier, it was to inform Zhou Haifeng of this, but since he didn't go, there was nothing he could do.
Zhou Haifeng did not deserve death, and was also an unfortunate soul.
Hong Lian the Demoness's expression changed at this moment. She looked at Ye Longlin calmly and said softly, "King Ye has impressive methods."