Chapter 149: Reducing You to Mortals

"Let's see who dares."

Chu Feng released his aura, a powerful force descending instantly like a massive mountain, pressing down upon the room. Everyone present, including Ji Dongchang, was unable to withstand the pressure; they were forced to their knees, crashing onto the ground. Ji Guang, Ji Ming, and Ji Yuanyuan fared the worst, pinned flat against the floor, unable to even twitch.

"How dare you bully my woman? You're courting death."

Only then did Ji Dongchang realize the true extent of Chu Feng's power. From the very beginning, he had never once looked upon Chu Feng with any regard. Even when Chu Feng stepped forward several times, he had simply ignored him.

"You—what are you doing? I am a member of the Ji clan! You are being insolent!"

Chu Feng replied with disdain, "It seems you still don't realize who you are speaking to. Even if your Ji clan's Holy Master were here, I could slaughter all of you, and I assure you, he wouldn't even dare to let out a whimper."

"What kind of person are you? Ji Dongchang, is it? I heard that Ling'er is your own flesh and blood, while this Ji Yuanyuan is merely your adopted daughter. You show no trust in your own child, treating her with malice, yet you blindly believe and favor your adopted daughter. You truly are a pathetic specimen."

"You couldn't see through such a simple frame-up? I don't think you couldn't see it; I think you chose not to. Deep down, you never valued your own daughter. A man like you is unworthy of being a father. As for severing ties, it’s a miracle Ling'er hasn't done so with you already."

"You!" Ji Dongchang glared at Chu Feng in a fury.

Chu Feng kicked out, sending Ji Dongchang flying across the room. "What 'you'? Do you really think I wouldn't dare kill you? Ending your life would be as easy as crushing an ant."

"I have already killed four or five Tribulation-stage Heavenly Monarchs; you are merely at the late stage of Integration."

"And you, Ji Ming, is it? Colluding with outsiders to frame your own sister—that is the kind of person I despise most. Therefore, I have decided to punish you."

"How shall I punish you? I have it. I will strip your cultivation, destroy your potential, and reduce you to a common mortal. You shall spend your remaining hundred years turning into a handful of dust."

As he spoke, Chu Feng flicked his wrist. A surge of vital energy was ripped from Ji Ming’s body. Three crisp sounds echoed through the room. Ji Ming’s cultivation was gone, his potential was destroyed, and his life force was extinguished.

He had been at the early stage of the Golden Core, having lived for over a hundred and sixty years. Now, in an instant, his twenty-something appearance withered into that of an elderly man with white, thinning hair, deep wrinkles, and clouded eyes, struggling even to stand. He had only three days of life left. The teeth in his mouth had mostly fallen out, and his speech became slurred and incoherent.

"Ah!"

"Ming'er!"

The scene horrified everyone present.

"No, please, spare me!"

"How could you dare? This is the Taixu Holy City, under the control of the Ji clan!"

Ji Ming stammered, "Ling'er, Second Brother knows he was wrong. Please, spare me."

Ji Ling'er sneered, "You know you were wrong now? Don't you think it's a bit late? Besides, based on what I know of my husband, pleading on your behalf would be useless."

"Who told you to disregard our kin and blindly listen to the words of a manipulative woman?"

Having been with Chu Feng for so long, Ji Ling'er was no longer the person she once was. She had been reborn, transformed into a completely different woman.

Chu Feng was satisfied with Ji Ling'er’s realization. He turned his gaze to Ji Yuanyuan and said, "Will you confess yourself, or shall I help you? Tell me, what is the truth about the Creation God Pill?"

"Think carefully before you speak. Consider Ji Ming's fate. This is a warning—you only have this one chance."

Ji Yuanyuan was already terrified out of her wits. Daring not to quibble any longer, she slapped her own cheeks hard and begged for mercy. "It was all my fault! I was jealous of Sister Ling'er, so I intentionally framed her. I was wrong. Please, don't kill me! I don't want to die!"

Ji Dongchang’s face turned ashen. "Yuanyuan, was it really you who framed Ling'er?"

"Waaaah!" Ji Yuanyuan wept, nodding. "Father, I'm sorry. I was jealous of Sister. I was jealous that she is the biological daughter of you and Mother, and I am not. I was afraid—afraid that you and Mother would transfer all your love to her. That is why I framed her, hoping you would hate her. But I swear, I never intended to truly harm her!"

Ji Dongchang said with remorse, "You... how could you do such a thing?" He turned to Ji Ling'er. "Ling'er, look, Yuanyuan is your sister, after all. She has realized her mistake. Please, spare her."

"Don't," Ji Ling'er shook her head. "She was only adopted; she is not my biological sister. And whether she is spared or not is not my decision to make—it is my husband's."

Ji Dongchang turned to Chu Feng. "Sir, I don't know how to address you, but surely you can see that Yuanyuan is, after all, Ling'er’s sister..."

"Stop."

Chu Feng cut him off mid-sentence. "Your own lives hang by a thread, yet you are still pleading for others? Have you never heard the saying: 'Without ruthlessness, one cannot stand tall'?"

"I will not kill her, but while the death penalty may be waived, the sin itself cannot go unpunished. She shall share Ji Ming's fate."

With a wave of his hand, Ji Yuanyuan was lifted into the air. Her vitality was instantly drained, her potential destroyed, her cultivation scrapped, and her lifespan extracted. However, she fared slightly better than Ji Ming; as she was only in her twenties, her appearance did not age as drastically. Yet, from this day forward, she would be nothing more than a common mortal.

Chu Feng even extracted the Ji clan bloodline from her body. Now, even if she sought help from the Ji clan, she would receive no assistance, as she no longer possessed their blood. Chu Feng had effectively severed all her hopes. And most importantly, because she had been consumed by his Heaven-Devouring Immortal Art, there was no possibility of recovery.

"No! I don't want to be a mortal! I don't want this!"

Ji Yuanyuan was on the verge of madness. She collapsed onto the ground like a pile of mud, sobbing inconsolably. It was over. Completely over.

Amidst her weeping, Ji Yuanyuan suddenly looked up, staring at Ji Ling'er with burning hatred. She flew into a frenzy and charged at her. But how could a mere mortal hope to harm Ji Ling'er?

Ji Ling'er scoffed, not even bothering to dodge. Before Ji Yuanyuan could even reach her, a massive force sent her flying, and she crashed to the ground, spitting blood.

The scene left Ji Dongchang and Liu Piaopiao stunned and at a loss for what to do. Their hearts were filled with terror. They realized that their lives now rested entirely in the hands of their daughter's husband.

Chu Feng did not kill the couple—after all, they were Ji Ling'er’s parents. Instead, he asked her, "Ling'er, tell me, how should I deal with them? Should I kill them, or let them go?"