“This… you forced me to this.”

As Nian Xifeng finished speaking, his aura went through an earth‑shaking change.

His presence skyrocketed, surging like a broken dam, like a devil waking up inside his body.

The red‑robed man felt that force crash into him and his face instantly went deathly pale.

Not just him—everyone present felt a terrifying pressure sweep across the entire field in an instant.

It pressed down on their hearts, made it hard to breathe.

Even the blood in their veins seemed to freeze.

Everyone just stared blankly at that figure, like a sealed demon, slowly standing up.

Nian Xifeng’s long black hair whipped wildly.

His eyes were pitch black, like two bottomless black holes that could swallow everything around him.

With him as the center, the flowers and grass on the ground started to wither.

The dead circle spread outward, creeping farther with every second.

The red‑robed man and those behind him felt an overwhelming pressure.

They stared with difficulty at that towering figure—while he calmly stared back at them.

The red‑robed man’s heart pounded wildly.

A crushing sense of danger surged up inside him, making his very soul tremble, as if he’d be slaughtered by Nian Xifeng in the very next moment.

Thinking of this, he moved his mind and tried to use the chain from earlier to control Nian Xifeng again.

But he was horrified to discover that no matter how he controlled that chain, it barely hurt Nian Xifeng at all.

Nian Xifeng, meanwhile, stood there like nothing had happened, calmly watching him.

His eyes were utterly indifferent, like a devil out of hell.

“H‑How… how is this possible…”

The red‑robed man stared at Nian Xifeng, pupils constricting.

He was crushed by the pressure from outside, and by the psychological pressure Nian Xifeng brought from within.

Under that icy gaze, his hands and feet went cold.

At that moment, Nian Xifeng’s flat voice rang out.

“I didn’t want to use this move. But you forced me. Since you can’t keep your word, there’s only one ending for you—

I’ll slaughter you all. One‑sided.”

Nian Xifeng’s voice sounded like a reaper speaking from the deepest hell.

That indifferent tone treated all life with contempt.

There wasn’t a life he couldn’t reap—only lives he chose not to.

The red‑robed man forced his terror down and struggled to stand under the crushing pressure.

He locked his gaze on Nian Xifeng and refused to look away.

He wouldn’t just accept his fate.

As long as he still had any strength left, he would fight to the end.

He had never been someone who bowed to destiny; surrendering his life quietly was impossible.

He definitely wouldn’t just sit there and wait for death.

He had to resist.

Even if Nian Xifeng was now a being he couldn’t possibly match, even if he died in his hands—that was still better than waiting to be executed.

A terrifying aura burst from the red‑robed man as well.

But compared to Nian Xifeng’s, it was like a child playing house. Laughable.

Under Nian Xifeng’s oppressive aura, the red‑robed man’s power couldn’t even operate properly.

He was suppressed at every turn.

Even so, retreat never crossed his mind.

He knew he couldn’t just sit there waiting to die. He shouted to the people behind him,

“Everyone, attack with me! Kill the enemy!”

He knew that by himself he was no match for Nian Xifeng.

Even against Nian Xifeng’s earlier state, he hadn’t been confident in a one‑on‑one fight.

As for the Nian Xifeng now… he’d probably crush him with one hand.

The others all had grim faces.

Their pupils were filled with fear.

Compared to the red‑robed man, their weaker strength meant they were suppressed even more brutally by Nian Xifeng.

But they had no choice except to obey.

They forced their own auras up and charged after the red‑robed man toward Nian Xifeng, trying to unleash their strongest attacks.

Nian Xifeng didn’t care in the slightest.

In this state, his strength had taken a massive leap.

If he’d faced a siege like this earlier, he definitely would’ve been in grave danger.

But now, he was completely different.

In the face of absolute power, numbers didn’t mean much.

Ants were still ants.

No matter how many there were, in front of a true powerhouse they were still just ants that could be crushed at will.

Nian Xifeng didn’t waste words.

Since they were so eager to die, he didn’t mind sending them off.

He lifted one hand slightly.

A tide of Black Mist erupted from his body.

Compared to before, this mist was far thicker, black as ink, like a sprawling mass of black holes.

Wherever the Dark Mist flowed, the space itself seemed to twist.

The flowers and grass below withered in an instant, then turned to ash and vanished between heaven and earth.

Even the ground couldn’t withstand the pressure of the mist—its surface was gradually corroded and began to sink.

In almost the blink of an eye, the Dark Mist swallowed up all the figures charging toward Nian Xifeng.

The ones who survived were only those so weak they couldn’t move at all.

They stayed frozen where they were, and precisely because of that, the Black Mist didn’t spread toward them.

The instant those people were swallowed by the mist, terror flashed in their eyes.

The next second, shrill screams rang out nonstop.

Some of the frailer ones didn’t even manage a scream before they melted into blobs of black liquid, corroded beyond recognition.

But even those screams didn’t last long.

Very soon, everything inside fell silent.

No sound from within leaked out, so the people outside had no idea what was happening in the Dark Mist.

When the mist finally began to fade, everyone outside just stood there, stunned.

As the smoke dispersed, not a single figure remained in the field.

All that was left were pools of pitch‑black liquid.

The ground had collapsed several meters down, scarred and ruined.

A foul stench spread out, assaulting everyone’s senses, making them want to retch.

Nian Xifeng seemed to have expected this.

In this state, his power was basically invincible.

Even the top experts of this world might not be able to do anything to him.

This technique was his ultimate killing move, his final trump card.

He would never use it lightly.

The price for activating it was severe.

But this time, because Nian Yuchi had been brutally injured, his rage exploded in an instant.

In that moment he had only one thought—to slaughter everyone here.

At the same time, he knew that with his normal strength, he didn’t have the power to kill them all.

So he decisively entered this state.

Like this, even if hundreds more of them came, he could crush them easily.

The Yan family members who’d survived this round of killing by sheer luck stared at Nian Xifeng in horror, like they were looking at a demon.

Nian Xifeng completely ignored their terrified gazes.

Under their fearful eyes, he slowly raised his hand again.

The Dark Mist surged once more, rolling toward them.

He’d already said he would kill everyone here.

He wouldn’t show mercy.

And in this state, he absolutely couldn’t let anyone else know about it.

Anyone who had seen this side of him had to die.

The moment they saw his hand lift, their hearts went cold.

They didn’t even move.

They could only let the Dark Mist swallow them, dying with terror frozen in their eyes.

Even their family head and so many Elders hadn’t been this man’s match.

They’d been slaughtered easily, wiped out without even scraps left behind.

What chance did small fry like them have?

Their strength wasn’t even on the same level.

Their only role was to be slaughtered.

After Nian Xifeng killed every single person present, he finally turned his gaze toward Nian Yuchi, lying on the ground without a sound.

Two streams of inky‑black tears slid down his cheeks.

Nian Yuchi had been his only emotional support in this world.

And now she had died right in front of him.

How was he supposed to accept that?

“Ah—!”

Nian Xifeng roared in fury.

The wind howled around him.

His aura flared and the world turned to flying sand and stones.

A massive shockwave blasted out in all directions.

Anyone caught in it would definitely be ground into nothingness.

The shockwave was too terrifying.

The air itself shattered inch by inch, as if it couldn’t withstand the impact.

When his roar was finally spent, Nian Xifeng slowly lifted Nian Yuchi from the cold ground and pulled her hard into his arms.

Right now, he hated himself too.

Hated that he didn’t have the power to save her.

All his strength was for killing, not saving.

He had no idea what he could do for Nian Yuchi now.

Among everyone he knew, there was simply no one who could heal this kind of injury—

other than Nian Yuchi herself.

But now she lay cold and still in his arms, her life already gone.

Nian Xifeng just sat there quietly, holding her body.

His pitch‑black eyes calmly watched her face, as if time had frozen.

No one knew how long had passed before his eyes slowly regained some light.

He looked down at Nian Yuchi in his arms, his heart twisting in pain.

Tears welled up again, pouring out endlessly.

He didn’t sob, but the tears wouldn’t stop sliding down.

Holding her body, he slowly left that place that tore at his heart and carried her home.

He gently laid her on the bed, then sat beside her, quietly watching.

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t protect you.”

Nian Xifeng’s voice was hoarse.

Looking at Nian Yuchi’s pale face, a wave of guilt crashed over him.

He’d promised to protect her for a lifetime.

But his own carelessness had led to this.

Right now, he wished he could be the one in her place, suffering this pain for her.

Nian Yuchi had been innocent, pure, kind.

She’d never wronged anyone, yet she’d suffered this disaster.

Nian Xifeng burned with anger on her behalf.

But none of that could change anything.

There were no do‑overs in this world.

No medicine for regret.

Time couldn’t be turned back.

So he just stayed there, silently keeping watch at Nian Yuchi’s side.

The next day, Nian Xifeng took Nian Yuchi and left.

He didn’t want anyone else to know about this.

That would only add more grief.

Han Yuying came by their house almost every day.

So Nian Xifeng chose to leave with Nian Yuchi.

She also needed a quiet place to sleep forever.

Now that Nian Yuchi had left him, the pillar that supported his life in this world had collapsed.

He no longer saw any reason to stay.

Better to go keep her company.

Even if he survived, he had no idea what he was supposed to do next.

The person he cared about was gone.

Living on held no meaning for him.

He found a quiet place and prepared to bury Nian Yuchi.

Carrying her, he came to a small hill.

The view here was beautiful; you could see very far.

So Nian Xifeng started digging a pit there.

Using the nearby trees, he built a coffin for the two of them. Now that Nian Yuchi was gone, he didn’t want to stay in this world either, so he decided to leave together with her.

Once he finished digging the pit and preparing the coffin, Nian Xifeng gently laid Nian Yuchi inside. Then he lowered the coffin into the ground and lay down in it himself. He closed the lid, activated his ability, and slowly filled the outside with soil, even putting up a simple wooden marker.

Inside the coffin, Nian Xifeng turned his head and quietly looked at Nian Yuchi. His eyes were filled with nothing but tenderness.

“Yuchi, I’m here to keep you company,” he whispered. With that, Nian Xifeng slowly closed his eyes, and at that moment, his life force quietly slipped away.

He had no idea how much time passed before light returned to Nian Xifeng’s eyes. Looking at Nian Yuchi in his arms, his heart twisted in unbearable pain. Tears surged up again. He didn’t sob, but the tears still wouldn’t stop sliding down.

Holding Nian Yuchi’s body, he slowly left this place that hurt him so much and carried her back home.

Then he gently laid her on the bed. Nian Xifeng just sat beside her like that, quietly watching her.

“I’m sorry. I couldn’t protect you,” Nian Xifeng’s voice was a little choked. Staring at Nian Yuchi’s deathly pale cheeks, a wave of guilt crashed over him.

He’d said he would protect her for his entire life, yet because of his own carelessness, things had turned out like this.

Right now, Nian Xifeng wished he could be the one in Nian Yuchi’s place, taking on all that pain for her.

Nian Yuchi was a naive, adorable girl with a kind heart. She’d never done anything to wrong anyone, yet she had to suffer such a disaster.

That thought filled Nian Xifeng with anger on her behalf.

But none of it could be changed. There was no medicine for regret in this world, and time never went backward.

So Nian Xifeng just stayed by Nian Yuchi’s side, keeping silent watch.

The next day, Nian Xifeng left with Nian Yuchi, because he didn’t want anyone else to know about this. That would only add to their grief for nothing.

Besides, Han Yuying came over to their house almost every day to hang out, so Nian Xifeng chose to leave with Nian Yuchi.

Nian Yuchi also needed a quiet place where she could sleep forever.

Now that Nian Yuchi was gone, the pillar that supported his life in this world had completely collapsed. There was no reason for him to stay anymore. It was better to go and accompany her.

Even if Nian Xifeng stayed alive, he had no idea what he was supposed to do next. The person he cared about was gone; living on in this world meant nothing to him now.

He found a quiet place and decided to bury Nian Yuchi there.

Holding her, Nian Xifeng came to a small hill. The view here was beautiful, and you could see very far into the distance, so he dug a pit there.

Using the nearby trees, he built a coffin for the two of them. Now that Nian Yuchi was gone, he didn’t want to stay in this world either, so he decided to leave together with her.

Once he finished digging the pit and preparing the coffin, Nian Xifeng gently laid Nian Yuchi inside. Then he lowered the coffin into the ground and lay down in it himself. He closed the lid, activated his ability, and slowly filled the outside with soil, even putting up a simple wooden marker.

Inside the coffin, Nian Xifeng turned his head and quietly looked at Nian Yuchi. His eyes were filled with nothing but tenderness.

“Yuchi, I’m here to keep you company,” he murmured. With that, Nian Xifeng slowly closed his eyes, and his life force quietly slipped away.