Upon hearing this, a trace of violence welled up in the eyes of the old woman and the hulking man. Suddenly, they turned and lunged towards the snake-skinned old man. Once the three joined forces, they immediately counterattacked.

BOOM!!!

Three streaks of Battle Intent surged forth, transforming into three monstrous beasts dozens of feet tall. They rushed roaring towards the giant finger with ferocious might.

However, the power of that giant finger was astonishingly potent. It easily crushed the three monstrous beasts to smithereens. Next, it continued its assault towards the three leaders.

SPLAT!

The three leaders simultaneously spat out blood.

"So powerful!"

"Her Destroying Void Finger is actually a Middle Grade Combat Art!"

After just one exchange, the trio was utterly terrified and lost all courage to continue the fight. This was because the Combat Arts they had mastered were all Lower Class Combat Arts. The middle-aged woman's cultivation was superior to theirs, and her Combat Art was also a tier above theirs. There was no chance of victory.

However, it was impossible to escape either. So there was only one path left—surrender!

"Family Head Meng, we were wrong. Please, based on our past relationship, let us off the hook."

"Yes, yes, we were instigated by that bastard Qin Feiyang."

"We are willing to compensate your Meng Family for your losses."

The trio fervently pleaded for mercy.

Family Head Meng barked, "Can you compensate for my father's death?"

At that moment, the middle-aged woman waved her hand, and the giant finger disintegrated with a loud boom.

Family Head Meng frowned, "Madam, why did you do that?"

The middle-aged woman replied, "Even if we killed them, the Old Family Head wouldn't come back to life. It would be better to spare their lives and have them serve us."

"This…"

After a moment of hesitation, Family Head Meng nodded, "Alright. We'll do as you suggested."

"Thank you, Madam, for sparing our lives."

The three leaders were overjoyed and bowed in gratitude.

"From today onwards, your three tribes will be part of the Meng Family," said the middle-aged woman.

"What?"

"Impossible!"

"Our three tribes are the strongest in this area. Joining your Meng Family would make us a laughingstock!"

"Madam, perhaps you should consider another condition!" the three leaders protested.

The middle-aged woman coldly said, "Death? Or join the Meng Family? You have three breaths to choose."

"One."

"Two."

"Three."

Three breaths passed quickly. However, for the three leaders, these three breaths seemed like an eternity of torment.

"It seems you've chosen death." The middle-aged woman's expression turned icy.

"Wait!"

"We agree to join the Meng Family!" the trio quickly responded.

The middle-aged woman said, "Good that you know what's best for you. Come before me."

The three leaders exchanged glances, full of helplessness and anger, then flew to stand before the middle-aged woman. Bowing, they asked, "Madam, what are your orders?"

The middle-aged woman remained silent, her hands folded before her chest, fingers forming seals.

HUM!!!

Suddenly, three pentagrams, each the size of a baby's palm, flew out from between her hands, radiating a brilliant light and emitting an obscure aura.

WHOOSH!

Immediately after, the three pentagrams merged into the top of the heads of the three leaders.

Their faces turned pale as they asked in shock and anger, "What did you do to us?"

"This is an Enslavement Mark."

"The Enslavement Mark will merge with your bloodline."

"From now on, you will be my slaves."

"You must obey my every command unconditionally."

"Otherwise, I won't even need to act. A mere thought from me, and you will explode and die," the middle-aged woman stated.

"What?"

"It's actually an Enslavement Mark!"

The three leaders trembled in body and spirit, their eyes filled with despair.

「Inside the fortress!」

Fatty asked with a puzzled expression, "Boss, what is an Enslavement Mark?"

"I'm not sure either," Qin Feiyang shook his head. However, it sounds like this Enslavement Mark must be a type of Combat Art used to control people.

"What now?" asked the Rogue Wolf.

"Discretion is the better part of valor; let's retreat for now!" said the Earth Piercing Beast.

Qin Feiyang's brow furrowed. He had planned to use the three leaders to eliminate the Meng Family. However, he hadn't expected a hidden Four-star War Emperor. Now, even the three leaders were under the Meng Family's control. With their current strength, they didn't stand a chance.

So be it, he thought. Let's follow the Earth Piercing Beast's suggestion. The treasures from the storehouse are already in hand; there's no need to risk our lives anymore. We should just look for an opportunity to leave.

He took out a teleportation gate. With a flash in his eyes, he appeared outside in an instant. Then, he waved his hand, quickly activating the teleportation gate.

BOOM!

However, before he could step into it, a streak of Battle Intent shot through the air and shattered the teleportation gate.

SWISH!

Soon after, the middle-aged woman landed in front of Qin Feiyang.

Frowning, Qin Feiyang said, "What do you really want? Must you fight to the bitter end?"

"Hand over the treasures from the storehouse and become my slave. Then I will spare your life," the middle-aged woman replied.

"Spare me?" Stunned, Qin Feiyang asked, "Why?"

"Because you are an Alchemist, and White Fox City needs Alchemists," the middle-aged woman said.

Qin Feiyang questioned, "You're so certain that I am an Alchemist?"

"It's not hard to guess," the middle-aged woman said. "Meng Yiping told me that when you were on the second floor of the Trading Pavilion, you only looted the medicinal materials and completely ignored the elixirs. Doesn't this prove that you are an Alchemist? Furthermore, I speculate that your spiritual power is not low; otherwise, you wouldn't have disdained those elixirs."

Family Head Meng's name was Meng Yiping.

"Impressive!" Qin Feiyang gave a thumbs-up, glanced at Meng Yiping, and said, "A smart woman like you, why would you marry this idiot? He's not worthy of you at all!"

Meng Yiping shouted, "Insolent! Do not disrespect my wife!"

"Huh?" Qin Feiyang was taken aback. What's going on? Why is there a hint of reverence in Meng Yiping's eyes when he looks at her? Even if this woman is stronger than Meng Yiping, as a couple who shares the same bed, this kind of expression shouldn't appear! Moreover, this woman also calls Meng Yiping by his full name. Their relationship is truly intriguing!

The middle-aged woman said, "I'll also give you three breaths to consider."

"Three breaths?" Qin Feiyang shook his head and chuckled. "You are quite direct, unlike some people who appear to be gentlemen on the surface but are despicable villains in secret."

Meng Yiping shouted, "Say that again if you dare!"

"It'll be the same no matter how many times I say it." Qin Feiyang gave him a disdainful look, then turned to the middle-aged woman and said, "I'm sorry. Though I may be weak, I have a strong backbone. I cannot be anyone's slave."

"Then I have no choice but to kill you." As soon as the middle-aged woman finished speaking, a wave of pressure enveloped Qin Feiyang.

"It's useless." Qin Feiyang grinned. "Although you're slightly stronger than the Old Family Head, your pressure alone cannot immobilize me." He then instantly vanished without a trace.

The middle-aged woman raised an eyebrow, looked up at the three leaders, and said, "You three, come down."

SWISH!!

The three of them respectfully landed in front of her.

The middle-aged woman said, "You three stay here and guard. If he escapes, I will kill you."

"Yes!" The three of them bowed and responded.

The middle-aged woman then looked at Meng Yiping and said, "You, clean up this mess quickly."

"Alright." Meng Yiping nodded.

SWISH!

After giving her orders, the middle-aged woman soared into the air and disappeared into a grand hall not far away.

「Inside the fortress!」

Fatty frowned, "This couple's way of interacting is really strange."

Qin Feiyang nodded, also finding it somewhat puzzling.

Lu Hong suddenly opened her eyes and said, "Have you ever thought that perhaps we're misunderstanding them? Maybe they're not actually a couple."

"Impossible, right?" Fatty said. "If they're not a couple, why would Meng Yiping call her Madam? And if they really weren't a couple, when Boss said Meng Yiping wasn't worthy of her, she should have denied it. But she didn't deny it!"

Lu Hong said, "Then is it possible that she's using Meng Yiping to conceal her identity?"

"Conceal her identity?" Qin Feiyang and Fatty looked at each other, their brows slightly furrowed.

"Also, the term 'Madam' isn't exclusively used between spouses; it can also be an honorific," Lu Hong continued. "Like Chief Li Zhi from Yan City, when he addresses Lo Qianxue, doesn't he also call her 'Madam'?"

"Right, how could I not think of that?" The words were like a sudden revelation, clearing the fog of confusion for Qin Feiyang and Fatty. They instantly felt enlightened.

"When Meng Tong was taken hostage by us, that woman didn't show up, acting indifferent."

"The way Meng Yiping looks at her, there's reverence in his eyes."

"We caused a ruckus in the City Lord's mansion for two months, and she never appeared once."

"Most importantly, she hid her strength."

"Based on all these clues, Master Fatty can basically conclude that they are not a couple."

"But what exactly is this woman trying to conceal?" Fatty frowned, thoroughly perplexed.

"Whatever she's concealing, it has nothing to do with us. Let's focus on cultivating and wait for an opportunity," Qin Feiyang said. "If worst comes to worst, we'll enter close-door cultivation here and break through to the War Emperor realm before going out."

"Are you kidding? You think you can break through to the War Emperor realm in five years?" the Earth Piercing Beast interjected. "I'm afraid you'll die from the poison long before you break through to the War Emperor realm."

"Idiot." Both Fatty and the Rogue Wolf shot it a disdainful look.

The Earth Piercing Beast said, "Did I say something wrong?"

"I can't be bothered to waste words on you." The Rogue Wolf glanced at it scornfully, then lay down to the side, swallowed two Battle Intent Pills, and began to doze off.

Fatty also sat cross-legged on the ground and entered a meditative state.

Qin Feiyang walked over to the iron box and continued to practice the fifth stroke. He was very close to mastering the fifth stroke; he estimated it would take no more than ten days.

The Earth Piercing Beast glanced at the Rogue Wolf and Fatty, then at Qin Feiyang, and said angrily, "Can you guys stop being so secretive?"

"We've all opened the Third Layer of the Door of Potential, and we have Top Grade Battle Intent Pills. At most, within two years, we'll all be able to step into the War Emperor realm," Lu Hong said with a smile, then closed her eyes and began to cultivate.

"Door of Potential!" The Earth Piercing Beast was dumbfounded. Last time in Butterfly Valley, when the ugly old woman asked Qin Feiyang to undress, the Earth Piercing Beast had been unconscious. So, it was only now that it realized Qin Feiyang and the others had actually opened the legendary Door of Potential.

Its eyes instantly gleamed. Opening this Door of Potential was no easy feat. Yet, Qin Feiyang, Fatty, the Rogue Wolf, and Lu Hong had all broken through its shackles, even opening the Third Layer. This was definitely not a coincidence. Could it be that Qin Feiyang has some treasure that can open the Door of Potential?

The thought made it extremely excited. It scampered eagerly over to Qin Feiyang's side, smiled fawningly, and said, "Brother Qin, do you have a moment? Could we discuss something?"

"Brother Qin?" Qin Feiyang's face twitched, goosebumps rising all over. He said angrily, "No time, don't bother me!"

The Earth Piercing Beast dejectedly retreated to the side. But it couldn't give up! It ran to find the Rogue Wolf, but the Rogue Wolf ignored it. It then went to find Fatty, and seeing Fatty also ignored it, it went to find Lu Hong.

Lu Hong was kind-hearted enough to tell it that once it broke through to the Nine-Star War King realm, she would ask Qin Feiyang for a few Potential Elixirs.

It was immediately overjoyed and promptly began its close-door cultivation, proclaiming that it would not come out until it broke through to the Nine-Star War King realm!

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