“Who are you?” Shang Shaowu’s face changed drastically, though he remained far from panicked. He gestured toward the five Ice Slaves.

The five Ice Slaves, blood streaming from their mouths and faces deathly pale, immediately rose and blocked Shang Shaowu as one upon seeing his signal, their expressions vigilant. The three enchanting maidens, freed from the ice, held fierce indignation in their eyes.

“Oh!” one maiden exclaimed softly, quickly followed by delighted surprise: “Sister, I’m alright now?” The icy chill that had been cast upon her was inexplicably gone.

Ye Meizi turned around and inclined her body slightly toward Ji Changkong. “Thank you for your rescue.”

As she spoke, Ye Meizi cautiously observed Ji Changkong, clearly wary. After her thanks, she subtly tugged her two younger sisters close, arranging them in a triangular formation around her.

These three sisters of the Night Charm Clan all possessed cultivation at the Nirvana Realm, meaning they were not weaklings. Had it not been for the five Nirvana Realm Ice Slaves accompanying Shang Shaowu, he likely wouldn't have stood a chance against the trio. Now freed, the three sisters positioned themselves between Shang Shaowu and Ji Changkong, making no move to align with either side. “Who are you?” Shang Shaowu demanded again.

“Who I am is not important; what matters is that I am someone who cherishes the fairer sex. How about it, can you grant me face and let these three sisters go?” Ji Changkong smiled, slowly walking forward.

Shang Shaowu frowned, realizing he couldn't discern Ji Changkong's true cultivation level. Unwilling to risk an open conflict, he hesitated before chuckling, “If Brother is merely interested in beauties, I can offer you ten maidens from various clans—I guarantee they are all virgins, and each one’s allure will not pale in comparison to these three sisters. I only ask that you hand these three sisters over to me. What do you say?” “I have seen many beautiful maidens from all clans, but these three sisters of the Night Charm Clan are treasures. Moreover, they are the daughters of the Night Charm Clan’s Patriarch—three sisters at once! That is truly rare.” Ji Changkong let out a booming, strange laugh. “Lecher!” Ye Meixiang spat out a curse, glaring fiercely at Ji Changkong.

“Friend, are you truly intent on meddling?” Shang Shaowu’s face darkened. “You should have listened for a while. You should know my identity. This is the Southern Sky Star. To be my enemy is to be the Shang Family’s enemy. Have you considered this carefully?” “Brother, surely you have heard the saying: ‘A bold spirit fears no courtesan’?” Ji Changkong roared with laughter, his figure suddenly appearing in the very center of the three Night Charm sisters.

Before Shang Shaowu could react, Ji Changkong’s large arm swept around, pulling Ye Meizi into his embrace. He looked down at her and smiled lightly, “I’ve offended the young master of the Shang Family for you sisters; how will you repay me?”

As the beauty settled into his arms, a refreshing, delicate fragrance wafted up. Ye Meizi’s waist was supple, without a trace of excess flesh, wonderfully pleasant to the touch, causing a ripple in Ji Changkong’s heart—he almost felt like making the charade real. “Whatever you wish, just release my two younger sisters!” Ye Meizi’s delicate body trembled, and a flash of helpless sadness crossed her bright, perceptive eyes as she bit her lip to negotiate. “Sister!” Ye Meixiang and Ye Meyue cried out together.

“What I want is all three of you sisters,” Ji Changkong laughed loudly, acting as if Shang Shaowu standing nearby was nonexistent. He spoke with soaring arrogance: “Young Master Shang, perhaps you should step aside for a moment!” “Fine! Fine! Fine!” Shang Shaowu laughed in extreme anger, nodding repeatedly before clapping his hands sharply.

The five Ice Slaves charged forward instantly. Five chains of chilling ice shot out within the vast, white, cold mist, like five venomous pythons emerging from their lairs, attempting to tightly ensnare Ji Changkong.

“Truly disheartening,” Ji Changkong said with visible reluctance. He opened his great hands, embracing the two sisters Ye Meixiang and Ye Meyue as well, ignoring their desperate struggles, and transformed into a streak of rainbow light, sweeping off toward the distance. “Halt!” Killing intent blazed in Shang Shaowu’s eyes. “If those three sisters return to the Night Charm Clan, the Shang Family will face grave trouble!”

The five Ice Slaves shot out together, chasing frantically in the direction Ji Changkong vanished. Shang Shaowu did not pursue; instead, he remained rooted to the spot, seemingly waiting for something.

A stark white skeleton suddenly emerged from behind a nearby ice boulder, lunging toward Shang Shaowu with a series of clicking, grinding sounds. Shang Shaowu’s expression turned icy cold. He roared: “Seeking death!”

A piece of crystalline jade token was flung out by Shang Shaowu. Markings on the token magnified, and wisps of icy silk threads flew out, densely coiling around the bone skeleton. In an instant, the threads emerging from the jade token bound the skeleton in tens of thousands of strands.

Shang Shaowu grunted, only then confidently approaching the skeletal remains. Staring at the faint ghostly fire burning in the skull’s eye sockets, he demanded, “Who released you?”

The ghostly fire in the skeleton’s hollow eye sockets suddenly flickered violently. A strange soul-shockwave instantly shot out, piercing directly into Shang Shaowu’s mind. Shang Shaowu froze, confusion clouding his formerly cold, sharp eyes. “Sizzle!”

All the threads binding the bone skeleton snapped. Before Shang Shaowu could recover from his daze, the skeleton’s bony hand plunged into his chest. Not far away, five piercing screams suddenly erupted. The five Ice Slaves who had been pursuing Ji Changkong clutched their heads, howling mournfully, abandoning their chase and immediately turning back. Their forms abruptly solidified in mid-air. Releasing the three Night Charm sisters who were still cursing and biting at him, Ji Changkong casually flicked his hand. The Heaven-Veiling Blood Fiend Net, seized from the Ninth-Layer Pagoda, flew out and instantly enveloped the five Ice Slaves.

Once spread, the Heaven-Veiling Blood Fiend Net instantly trapped the five Ice Slaves. As the net tightened, every struggle by the slaves caused the net to constrict further, its lines digging into their flesh and bone, gradually draining the life force from within them.

All five Ice Slaves possessed cultivation at the Nirvana Realm. If the profound ice hidden in their minds were to detonate, it would generate astonishing destructive power. If he hadn't lured the Ice Slaves away, once Shang Shaowu sensed danger, he could have easily used the slaves as decoys to shield himself.

However, within the Heaven-Veiling Blood Fiend Net, all struggles by the five Ice Slaves were futile; the more they fought, the faster they died. Before long, it seemed as if all the blood in their bodies had been drained by the net, their life force extinguished.

A ball of flame flew out, circling the five Ice Slaves. They were instantly incinerated by the flame until not even dross remained.

The flame flew back to his palm. Ji Changkong looked at the dancing flame in his hand, a hint of pleased satisfaction curling his lips. The flame resulting from the fusion of the “Blazing Thunder Sacred Fire” and the “Nether Cold Flame” possessed attributes of extreme cold and extreme heat, and could also release lightning power—truly limitless in its utility.

He could now command this flame, which he had named “Blazing Cold Flame,” at will. The powers of flame, lightning, and cold could be switched seamlessly. A mere wisp of the “Blazing Cold Flame” had been enough to completely burn away the five Nirvana Realm Ice Slaves; he was highly satisfied with such might.

After the five Ice Slaves were reduced to ash, he turned back and offered a casual smile to the three Night Charm sisters. “What happened just now was unavoidable; I hope the three beauties can forgive me. Farewell.” He didn't elaborate further, but he trusted the Night Charm Clan would not let this go. If they sought out the Shang Family, then his objective would have been achieved.

With a brief explanation, his figure distorted and vanished before the three sisters’ eyes.

“Who was that guy? Didn’t he… didn't he say he was going to…?” Ye Meyue grumbled.

“He saved us; he wasn’t greedy for our beauty at all. He only wanted to deal with Shang Shaowu!” Ye Meizi considered for a moment. “This person is ruthlessly decisive, killing Shang Shaowu’s five Ice Slaves. Shang Shaowu will know this via the Profound Spirit Seal, meaning Shang Shaowu cannot be far from death either.” “Sister, should we go take a look?” Ye Meixiang asked curiously.

Ye Meizi hesitated briefly, then nodded lightly. “Yes, we’ll go take a look. If we’re discovered, we’ll just say we came to express our thanks.” “Among your Shang Family’s Ice Slaves, is there one named Shang Bingjie?” Ji Changkong asked calmly, standing over Shang Shaowu without haste. Shang Shaowu had a gaping hole in his chest, blood flowing out uncontrollably. His face was deathly pale, but his eyes remained cold and sharp—he was indeed a tough one.

“Who are you?” Shang Shaowu gritted his teeth and chuckled coldly. “Your real objective was actually just one Ice Slave! If you had said so earlier, I could have given you that slave on the spot, but now, don't even dream about it!” “Is that so?” Ji Changkong smiled, flicking Shang Shaowu’s forehead. “All your memories are in here. It seems I will need to expend a little more effort.”

“You dare!” A cold, stunning young woman suddenly appeared from the distance. She glanced at Ji Changkong. “If you dare touch him, you absolutely will not leave the Southern Sky Star!”

This young woman was not tall, appearing to be only in her early thirties, with a face as cold as frost. Yet, her figure was curvaceous, her hips full and proud. Upon closer inspection, her features bore a surprising resemblance to Xiao Han. “Aunt Zhi!” Shang Shaowu cried out softly.

“I happened to be nearby and rushed over when I received your signal. Who is this person?” the cold young woman asked. “I don’t know him,” Shang Shaowu shook his head, then called out, “Aunt Zhi, I’m injured! I probably won't last long!” “Release him,” the cold young woman said chillingly to Ji Changkong. “If you wish to leave the Southern Sky Star alive, release him immediately!”

Ji Changkong, who had originally planned to search Shang Shaowu’s mind directly for information on Shang Bingjie, felt a new idea sprout upon seeing the cold young woman appear and show such concern for Shang Shaowu.

“Hand over an Ice Slave named Shang Bingjie, who came from the Hai Lan Continent, and release the restraint of the profound ice in her mind—then I will spare Shang Shaowu’s life.” Ji Changkong spoke with fierce intensity. “The Southern Sky Star isn't that large; I will give you three days. I will return here then. If I don't see the person, you can prepare a coffin for Shang Shaowu!” With that, he seized Shang Shaowu and transformed into a streak of lightning, speeding away.

“Oh!” Just after flying out, he spotted the three Night Charm sisters sneaking cautiously away. At their speed, they would soon enter the range of the cold young woman’s divine sense.

With a wave of his hand, a cloud of gray halo enveloped the three sisters, sending them flying backward with it, disappearing from sight behind him in the blink of an eye.