Chapter 131: Finally Survived

"Cut the crap. That old man just now gave me a scare, so let's start with the compensation. Hand over everything valuable you've got."

The atmosphere shifted abruptly. The group of Great Martial Masters stood there, completely dumbfounded. They weren't sure if they had heard correctly, and they couldn't help but glance up at the Profound Ice White Tiger.

"Hurry up!" Xiao Yang barked coldly, seeing the group dazed and motionless.

Only then did they begin to move, though they were filled with deep resentment. A Great Martial Master leading a Demon King to go robbery? How desperate for money could you be? Was there really no other way to make a living? Why choose such a criminal path? Of course, they only dared to grumble in their hearts; if they said it aloud, the Profound Ice White Tiger would send them flying with a single swipe of its paw.

Soon, the group laid everything they had, save for their clothes, before him. Xiao Yang glanced over and his eyes lit up. He couldn't help but take a second look. These people were quite wealthy; on average, each one carried over a hundred thousand in equipment. If sold on the market, it would fetch at least two hundred thousand taels. As for their leader, the drillmaster Zhao Zhongtian, he held nearly four million in net worth—and that was at a half-price liquidation value. In the outside world, it would be worth at least eight million to start.

In a word, these people were filthily rich. Such a massive haul changed the look in Xiao Yang's eyes, making his gaze toward them suddenly seem intimate. However, that look made the group shudder. They recoiled two steps, looking at Xiao Yang with fear, all harboring the urge to curse. A man so fair and handsome, yet he had a penchant for men? That look was exactly like the one they had after spending months on a mission and finally seeing a woman. Zhao Zhongtian felt a chill run from his toes to his scalp, and he couldn't help but shiver.

"Young Master, we have given you everything of value. We shall take our leave now." He had forgotten all about the palace. To hell with the palace; if they stayed any longer, their dignity would be the least of their worries. He just wanted to leave as quickly as possible and never return.

"Fine, you may go." The haul was worth at least five or six million—a total windfall. Since Zhao Zhongtian had delivered such a generous gift, Xiao Yang felt it would be rude to make things difficult for them.

Hearing this, the group's faces brightened. Zhao Zhongtian turned to leave immediately, not wanting to stay even for another second.

However, the Profound Ice White Tiger frowned slightly. It knew of the Heavenly Star Kingdom, and it even knew of the Heavenly Star Palace. If that fellow hadn't called it a "cat" and offended it, it might have actually let them go. But because of its irritation and the pent-up frustration of recent days needing an outlet, it had played dumb and killed the old man. If it let these people go, there was a high probability they would be wanted by the Heavenly Star Kingdom. Thinking of this, the Tiger felt it had to bring this to Xiao Yang's attention.

"Young Master! Young Master!"

"What is it?" Xiao Yang was busy collecting the treasures from Zhao Zhongtian and the others, enjoying himself immensely. He replied with some annoyance at being interrupted.

"We cannot let these people go."

Hearing this, Xiao Yang stopped and turned to look at the Tiger in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"These people have significant backgrounds. If we let them go, they will surely seek revenge later."

Xiao Yang fell silent. He realized something: these people were inextricably linked to that Heavenly Star Palace. And since his junior sister had a grudge against the Heavenly Star Palace, that meant he did, too. In that case... they couldn't be let go. They were his enemies, after all. He wasn't some kind-hearted saint; he should kill them all. A flash of murderous intent flickered in his eyes.

"Go! Kill them all, leave no one behind." He gave the Profound Ice White Tiger a look. The Tiger understood instantly and gave chase.

Not long after, a scream tore through the air. "Ah!"

The Profound Ice White Tiger swiped, shattering a man's arm, and before the Great Martial Master could finish his wail, he was frozen into ice shards by a blast of cold air.

"What are you doing? Your master already promised to let us go!" Zhao Zhongtian exclaimed in shock, trying to use Xiao Yang's authority to hold the Tiger back. He didn't know that killing them was actually Xiao Yang's decision.

"Heh! You know too much. Only dead men can keep secrets." The Tiger launched its attack, breathing out a wave of frost that turned the dozen Great Martial Masters into ice statues, leaving only Zhao Zhongtian standing.

The terrifying scene made sweat bead on Zhao Zhongtian's forehead. He felt incredibly lucky; if his father hadn't given him a life-saving spiritual talisman, he would have died in that blast of cold air.

"Wait! Don't kill me!" The Profound Ice White Tiger looked on in confusion. That breath was something even a Martial Marquis would struggle to block, yet Zhao Zhongtian stood there unharmed—he clearly possessed a treasure. The Tiger's interest grew, and it opened its maw, ready for another strike.

"Wait!" Zhao Zhongtian shouted as he saw the paw descending.

"Who do you think you are, telling me to stop?" The Tiger didn't buy it, determined to swat Zhao Zhongtian to death.

Zhao Zhongtian broke into a cold sweat, his brain racing to find a way out. He suddenly realized that since Xiao Yang was here, he must also want to enter the palace.

"My Lord! I can help you enter the palace!" he roared.

The Profound Ice White Tiger's pupils contracted. *Enter the palace? You must die. I cannot let you live.* It raised its paw, intent on nipping the threat in the bud.

"Enter the palace?" Xiao Yang's eyes lit up. How could he pass up such an opportunity?

"Little thief, die!" The Profound Ice White Tiger bared its white fangs, striking down with all its might.

But Xiao Yang was faster. "Stop!"

With that single word, the Tiger's paw froze in mid-air, its body immobile, only its eyes able to roll. It wailed internally: *Damn it! I was too slow, and now this wretch is still alive.* The thought of Xiao Yang taking it into the palace gave it a headache.

Zhao Zhongtian nearly fainted from fright. He had been a hair's breadth away from death—the first heir to the Zhao family of the Heavenly Star Kingdom had almost died right here. He was drenched in cold sweat, soaked as if he had been pulled from a river. If he weren't a Great Martial Master, a normal person would have already collapsed from dehydration.

"I finally survived." In an instant, it felt as if his bones had been removed, and he collapsed onto the ground. It was too intense. In his twenty years of life, he had never experienced such a rush: first, the palace he had dreamt of, then the strongest of his group being killed in seconds, and finally, nearly being killed himself.