Yuan Xin was about to say something when Zhao Shuning reached out her hand to stop him.
"Don't be in a hurry. I'll give you an hour to discuss it. Then come and talk to me."
"Lord Yuan, you've always been dedicated to the country and the people. You've sacrificed your personal interests for the greater good and are an exemplary figure for countless people in the Eastern Swamp Wilderness. By sacrificing yourself, you can ensure the safety of everyone in Shengjing City. It's a very worthwhile deal. You don't need to answer me in a hurry. I'm not that impatient. I can wait."
Zhao Shuning gave a faint smile, which was filled with contempt.
Everyone took a step back. Yuan Xin looked at them.
"Lord Yuan, you..." Everyone hesitated, but from their eyes, Yuan Xin could tell that they hoped he would step forward and shield them from this disaster.
"Where's Elder Xia?"
"He's gone. He disappeared before this girl showed up."
"Lord Yuan, we don't know who this girl is either, but she's so aggressive. Even the divine beast Phoenix is willing to obey her commands. In our opinion, she must be extraordinary."
"That's right. If this girl gets angry, Shengjing City might be completely destroyed."
"Could it be that this girl is playing the fool to catch the wise?" Someone said this cautiously. But as soon as he finished speaking, he was scolded by many people.
"How is that possible? Look at the small dagger in her hand. It can so easily cut through the ten - thousand - zhang light prison. Can an ordinary person do this?"
"That's right. Those who can control the Phoenix are either the Phoenix's contract master, or the Emperor, or the ancestor of the beast world."
"Right. We all know that the Phoenix's master was the female emperor Ye Ling. Ye Ling died back then. Everyone saw it with their own eyes, so the first possibility can be ruled out."
"Secondly, the Emperor is male, so that can also be ruled out. That leaves only the third possibility."
"But would the big shot of the beast world be a young girl?"
"Hard to say. Regardless of whether she is the supreme being of the beast world or not, there's one thing we're sure of. That is, all the people in Shengjing City combined are no match for her. She's very agile, and her identity must be extremely mysterious."
If she were just an ordinary girl, how could she control the Phoenix, the king of all birds?
If she were just an ordinary girl, how could she dare to speak so boldly?
If she were just an ordinary girl, how could she have such an imposing manner?
All the signs indicated that the girl in front of them was definitely not an ordinary person.
Yuan Xin's face turned increasingly livid. This was the first time he had been forced into such a situation by everyone. Even his beloved disciple, Miaoxi, was looking at him pitifully at this moment.
"Lord, my aunt only has me as her niece. You know she loves me the most. If something happens to me, I'm afraid she'll never forgive you for the rest of her life."
Susu? Yuan Xin felt a bit soft - hearted. It was because of Susu that Yuan Xin had endured again and again. When he had just learned that Miaoxi had used the Divine Rhythm Incense, he hadn't killed her immediately.
"Lord, if you protect me, my aunt will surely be grateful to you. You'll just lose your spiritual roots and spiritual power, but you'll still be alive. My aunt will surely arrange a good life for you in your remaining years."
"Lord Yuan, your family is the most powerful in Shengjing City. All the people in Shengjing City have been offering tributes to you every year. At this critical moment, you should do your best to protect the people of Shengjing City. If we can escape this disaster, future generations will surely remember your great name."
Yuan Xin remained silent. He had his own calculations in mind.
If he were to act recklessly, without Elder Xia's support now, he couldn't even deal with the Phoenix, let alone the mysterious girl.
If he were to be unyielding until death, it would do no good to the Yuan family. Maybe the entire Yuan family would be wiped out, and he would be imprisoned, neither able to live nor die.
But if he were to destroy his own spiritual roots, how could he command the Yuan family in the future without spiritual power?
If it weren't for Miaoxi's words, Yuan Xin might not have wavered.
Susu. Yes, Susu. Such a wonderful woman. If Miaoxi died, how sad she would be.
"Well? Have you made up your mind? The time is up." The girl was sitting cross - legged on the ground, casually grooming the Phoenix's feathers while asking nonchalantly. It was as if the words she said were just about discussing the weather today.
Yuan Xin stepped forward. He said, "Miss, I have no grudges against you. Why won't you spare me?"
Zhao Shuning snorted coldly. In her heart, she thought, back then, not only did I have no grudges against you, but I even had a kindness to you. Why didn't you spare me?
Zhao Shuning didn't answer. Yuan Xin sighed.
"Miss, even if you want to take my spiritual roots, could you at least let me know who you are?"
"You don't need to know."
Yuan Xin was in a daze.
"Miss, has the Yuan family ever offended you before?"
"No."
"Then why, miss?"
"I just feel like it. I don't want to leave your Yuan family alive. Is this reason good enough?" Zhao Shuning's tone was calm, but the words she said made everyone on the scene tremble involuntarily.
How many people must she have killed to be able to say these words so calmly? They didn't dare to think about it.
"Senior, are you determined to wipe out my Yuan family?"
"I've given you a choice."
"You're pushing me to be the target of public criticism."
"Yes." Zhao Shuning didn't deny it. She had never had good intentions towards the Yuan family. Concepts like being a kind - hearted saint, putting the world first, and being compassionate were no longer what she believed in since she became Zhao Shuning.
"Senior, can I ask why?"
"No."
Yuan Xin put down his sword and looked at the people behind him.
"Shall I do it, or will you do it yourself?" Yuan Xin said dejectedly, "I'll do it myself."
He filled his hands with spiritual power. After acupuncturing himself, his expression became one of restraint. It was not hard to tell that he was destroying his own spiritual roots.
Zhao Shuning laughed. Yuan Xin, you're the youngest leader among the four great families, but your cunning is no less than others'.
Zhao Shuning got close to the Phoenix and whispered, "Fengming, disrupt his mind. I'll go in and check myself."
The sound of Fengming rang out. Yuan Xin's body couldn't help but tremble. Then his eyes suddenly opened wide. What was reflected in his pupils was Zhao Shuning's strange smile.
Could it be that she had discovered the tricks he had played?
The next moment, Yuan Xin's vision went blank. His pupils were fixed without any focus. A figure appeared in his mind. This figure was not the girl in plain cyan from outside before, but a female emperor in red, with a fierce look in her eyes and an air of looking down on the world - Ye Ling.