Chapter 296 - Trap

The rose was completely red to the stem and its petals. Flickers of fire lights occasionally spewed from the rose petals, causing the air to heat up in its immediate surrounding. 

For Divine Origin experts, the heat would only tickle their Divine bodies. 

But for even a Sacred Sage expert, the heat could directly penetrate through their natural defenses. 

This was the Divine Fiery Rose. 

A unique self-growing resource that can reproduce seeds of the same kind. 

The Divine Fiery Rose was made up of tremendous masses of Divine Qi and incredibly compressed Fire Dao Marks.

The perfect fusion of Divine Qi and Fire Law Marks allowed the Divine Fiery Rose to release an attractive aura to all Fire Path cultivators. 

It was practically a natural calling for them.

And for Qiao Tu, someone who has an abundance of Fire Dao Marks fused within her very bloodstream since birth, she felt incredibly moved. 

Her expressions remained coldly proud on the outside. But inwardly, the attraction to obtain this Divine Fiery Rose was immensely high. 

Still, to show such weakness wouldn't be appropriate, especially in front of the Ancient Dragon Empress.

Qiao Tu is more than aware she must keep her mental state calm and collected. 

She internally sighed, quelling her nerves, and then said, "It truly is a wonder you managed to get your hands on a peak Grade Heavenly rank resource. However, do you honestly believe this alone is enough to make up for three great geniuses' deaths? I'm sure you're also aware of this, no?"

"Ah, indeed, that would be a bit inappropriate." Shi Wei still kept her light smile even as she put away the Divine Fiery Rose. 

Without giving Qiao Tu a chance to react, she pressed on to say, "If I was in your shoes, I too would have a high extortion price. But…are you sure you really want to go for a mile instead of an inch? After all, I have complete evidence that your Supreme Ancestor is no longer in this world."

"What?!" 

Qiao Tu could no longer keep her calm; her eyes broadened, her body visibly shook. Her fiery gaze became intent as her Divine aura subconsciously released.

Flickers of orange light protruded from her body, the temperature instantly rose to boiling degrees! 

If any Divine Star expert were to experience such pressure, they would collapse to their knees. All of their defenses would crumble to pieces. 

Even an ordinary Early Divine Ruler would find trouble resisting Qiao Tu's current Divine aura. 

But for Shi Wei? 

She didn't even blink her eyes.

Her gaze never moved from Qiao Tu, seemingly piercing right through her soul. The smile never left her face, and her eyes stayed crystal clear, showcasing zero hints of emotions.

It was a stare that held an invisible pressure of its own. 

Even though Qiao Tu gave a kneejerk reaction, she couldn't help but slightly shudder. She met the Ancient Dragon Empress several times in her long life and believed she fully experienced her presence.

But why…why in this moment, she seemed far more terrifying than ever! 

The chills she exuded were greater than even what her previous Supreme Ancestor could possibly create.

In that moment, whether Qiao Tu realized it or not, but her Martial Heart was truly shaken. Her will, her determination to fight, was tossed in the air for a very brief moment. 

And a moment was all that was needed. 

Before Qiao Tu could blink or even think, her vision was engulfed by a black substance! 

'Hm?!' Qiao Tu immediately sensed an impending crisis. It was the greatest threat she ever felt in her long life. 

However, just for a split moment, she delayed in her reaction. 

Her Martial Heart was already massively shaken up by both Shi Wei's news and Shi Wei's soul-piercing gaze.

And it didn't matter that she was a high and mighty Divine Ruler. 

A Martial Heart is directly linked to the deepest part of one's Soul's Core. It represents their will, determination, and mental state.

Once this was significantly affected, anyone would have various delays in reaction. 

Truthfully, with Qiao Tu's mental fortitude, she would only need a split second longer to recover her indomitable Martial Heart.

But how could Shi Wei or Cain allowed for such a thing to happen? 

At that moment, both Qiao Tu and Shi Wei felt their whole entire being get suppressed. Their Inner World was sealed along with their Divine bloodline.

Qiao Tu's eyes nearly popped out of her socket. 

As her vision went completely dark, she realized it was too late to break out of this suppression!

"Ngh! Just what the hell is this Dragon?!" In her desperation, Qiao Tu couldn't help but shout. 

And Shi Wei didn't respond at all, only feeling inwardly happy. 'Even though it will expend Heavenly energy a bit, this was worth it.'

Indeed, what was covering both Qiao Tu and Shi Wei was Heavenly energy! 

Then, without any hesitation, the Heavenly energy engulfing the women soared into a black portal, teleporting both of them into the Nightmare Realm.

…

Within the white space of the Nightmare Realm, black space distortion tore the air. 

Black space essence gathered into a single point, forming a black portal. 

A moment later, two women shot out of the portal.

One of them was Shi Wei, who gracefully landed on the ground, retaining her majestic presence. 

While the other was Qiao Tu, who stood with shaky legs. The moment she appeared here, she desperately tried to revolve her Inner World energies, only to sense that nothing had changed.

'Damnit!' She gritted her teeth, realizing that only her Soul's Core was available to use. 

But that, of course, was practically useless for her. She and many other Martial Cultivators had zero attainments in the Soul Path after all.

Qiao Tu could only snap her gaze onto Shi Wei, showing no fear or anxiety but a ferocious determination.

She crossed her arms, demanding, "Empress Shi Wei. What is the meaning of this? In this environment, neither can even kill the other. And it's evident you can't control anything around here, so I'm really curious on what exactly are you going to pull out."

As expected of a Holy Land leading master, Qiao Tu was able to judge the situations within just a few moments. 

Her nerves were still tense, the ominous feeling significantly increased, but she still retained a clear mind.

Shi Wei had even nodded at her, saying, "Indeed, just me alone, I can't do anything. However, my little grandson can." 

At her mention, another black portal appeared right beside Shi Wei, and Cain calmly walked out of it.

Cain and Shi Wei stood side by side, staring down the grand Sect Master of the Ancient Phoenix Sect. 

A multitude of emotions ran through Qiao Tu. Her first thought wasn't disdain or disbelief but rather an immense sense of crisis!

Obviously, the Ancient Dragon Empress wouldn't bring out someone useless in this situation. 

Whoever came would be a tremendous threat; her intelligence was precisely on that level.

As Qiao Tu stared at Cain's handsome face, a critical memory suddenly streaked through her mind. Her face exploded with immense shock. 

"You! You're that mysterious genius!"

"Indeed I am." Cain calmly nodded. 

Then, he suddenly snapped his hands, causing his Dao Crystal Staff to appear within his palm. 

Dao Crystal Staff in hand, Cain's tone suddenly turned ice-cold. "And I control the Heavenly energy here. With a thought, I can instantly kill you." 

Before giving Qiao Tu a chance to react, Cain sent a mental command to the Dao Crystal Staff.

A small portion of Heavenly energy suddenly appeared around Qiao Tu's legs, swirling like a black vortex. 

Qiao Tu felt all of her fiery blood run completely cold. Her pupils shrunk to pin needle sizes. She wanted to move, but her body was trapped. 

And in the next moment, a sickening crunch loudly reverberated.

'Chi!' 

"Ngn!!" 

Qiao Tu's expression twisted into something horrifying. Immense pain assaulted her mental state all at once. 

Heavenly energy drilled into Qiao Tu's legs, breaking most of her bones to pieces! 

The bottom half of her Phoenix robes explored as blood crazily spurted. Large, terrifying gashes appeared on both her legs. Her white bones could be seen, and some of it was chillingly cracked to pieces. 

Despite having a natural Divine bloodline, inborn Dao Marks, and bodily defenses, how could this ever compare to the Dao Diagram of a once-legendary Heavenly Venerate?

Even if Qiao Tu could use her Inner World, the same result would still have happened! 

Qiao Tu violently coughed out volumes of blood, pools of it dripping down her chin and staining her luxurious Phoenix robes. 

Her body was wracked with agony. It was impossible for her to stand anymore. 

She could only crash to her knees. 

At this very moment, the grand Qiao Tuo, who can dictate millions of lives, was forced to kneel in front of her greatest rivaling force. 

It would be a mind-breaking sight to anyone in the Thunderous Collision World. 

Qiao Tu was especially tremendously shaken up. Her Martial Heart was cracking all over.

Fear, fury, confusion, trepidation, and all other negative emotions explored within her soul. 

Qiao Tu's expression was ferocious, but her pupils were quivering as she struggled to utter out, "You-Do you-Argh!!"

She couldn't finish her words as a great sense of pain washed over, causing her to cough even more fresh blood. 

Both Shi Wei and Cain indifferently watched on. 

Shi Wei spoke after only a moment, "You have two options now, willingly submit to us or we will force enslavement upon you and potentially turn you into an idiot forever." 

"You-you want me to submit?" Qiao Tu spoke through gritted bloody teeth.

All of her emotions were in utter disorder; it was impossible for her to think clearly. 

Shi Wei pressed on this, speaking with a sudden domineering tone. "You will submit or be granted a worse fate than this. Plus, I believe you will have a good reason to do so."

When she finished speaking, Shi Wei suddenly opened her palm. 

Heavenly energy swirled around on it, quickly formulating into an object. Moments later, a curved sword appeared on Shi Wei's palm.

Qiao Tu abruptly froze, her eyes opened as wide as possible. "That-that's First Ancestor True Sword!!"