C22 The Word Benevolence

"Puff!"

A Water Arrow shot out from the pond with such velocity that it pierced the waterfall and materialized before everyone in an instant. The chilling aura it emitted was suffocating, effectively silencing Zhou Qian.

Being ranked in the top ten of the Combat Power Board, Zhou Qian certainly had keen senses. The fact that he didn't immediately grasp why everyone had retreated in the face of such a menacing Water Arrow would have been a disgrace.

However, understanding the situation and responding to it were two different challenges. The attack had been so sudden and the Water Arrow so swift that he was still preoccupied with thoughts of pursuit.

The reactions of the others were quite different. Chu Feng and Yun Bing hesitated only for a moment before shoving Zhou Qian aside and dashing into the cave without a second thought. Qin Xiao took even more drastic action, propelling Zhou Qian out of the cave entrance with a burst of speed.

These events unfolded in a flash. By the time Zhou Qian came to his senses, the icicles were nearly upon him.

"Golden Gongs Beast Shield!"

"Intertwined Great Gate!"

"Golden Light Protection Technique!"

Without hesitation, three massive shields of light enveloped him.

"Puff! Puff! Puff! Boom!"

In less than a tenth of a second, Zhou Qian's shields were breached, and his body erupted into a cloud of blood mist with a dull explosion.

"Whoosh!"

A thumb-sized droplet of water shot out from the mist and into the cave.

"Help me, or we're all dead!"

"Thunder Slash!"

"Secret Cloud Sword!"

"Ji Feng Blade!"

Qin Xiao's voice boomed as he was the last to enter the cave. Yun Bing and Chu Feng didn't wait for his signal; they launched their most powerful attacks the moment the droplet entered, knowing well that the best offense was a good defense. None of them wanted to share Zhou Qian's fate.

"Boom!"

A tremendous roar echoed as the cave behind the waterfall and the entire mountainside collapsed under the collision of the Water Arrow and the tri-colored waves of Origin Power.

Yun Bing, Chu Feng, Qin Xiao, as well as Lee Jin and Zhao Jia, who had just dashed into the cave, were all buried in the collapse.

A trench, a Water Arrow, and the earth shattering? That seemed a bit too extreme and terrifying!

In the jungle, Zhang Lieh, clad in black, couldn't help but voice his disbelief before turning to flee.

It appeared that in the Void Realm, aside from the intruding Heavenly Calamity Level Gene Creature, the Moonlight Flood Dragon was the most powerful and enigmatic entity.

Zhang Lieh surmised that this fearsome White Flood Dragon had transcended the limits of a super creature and ascended to the echelon of ultimate beings.

An ultimate being not repelled by the will of the Void? Now that was intriguing!

It looked like he would have to add this fascinating creature to his Void Realm hunting list.

He made his calculations as he sped back.

After its dramatic exit from the Moonlight Pool, the Moonlight Flood Dragon paid little heed to the insignificant beings below.

It swam agitatedly around the Moonlight Pool and, with an irritated sneeze, submerged into the depths amidst a flurry of bubbles.

As the White Flood Dragon vanished, cries for help echoed over the ruins.

"Bang!"

"Boom!"

As the elite family members called out, two loud explosions erupted from a section of the debris.

Five disheveled figures leaped from the wreckage – who else could they be but Yun Bing, Chu Feng, Qin Xiao, Lee Jin, and Zhao Jia?

"Young Master!"

"Young Miss!"

"Family Head!"

Their appearance prompted the various family elites to quickly gather around.

Only upon closer inspection did they grasp the extent of the five's disarray.

Qin Xiao was particularly bad off, covered in blood with his left arm nearly pulverized.

Barely able to stand and looking like he could topple over at any moment, he shocked all those who rushed to his aid.

Yun Bing and Chu Feng were also in rough shape, bleeding from their mouths, clearly having sustained serious injuries.

Though the circumstances were unclear, the families instinctively rallied around their leaders, forming a protective circle.

Meanwhile, the Zhou family members, having lost their objective, converged around Lee Jin and Zhao Jia, urgently whispering inquiries about Zhou Qian's whereabouts.

However, Lee Jin and Zhao Jia were unaware that they had just entered the cave and inadvertently triggered the explosion, leading to their own entrapment and burial under the rubble. Naturally, they were clueless about the events that had transpired.

"Brother Qin, what in the world just happened? Where's Zhou Qian?"

Given their previous alliance, Lee Jin naturally turned to Qin Xiao for answers.

Qin Xiao shuddered at the question, and after a brief silence, he pointed shakily at Chu Feng and Yun Bing.

"He's dead. The head of the Zhou family is dead! It was them... It was them..."

"Qin Xiao, you better shut your mouth!" Chu Feng was quick to defend himself against Qin Xiao's thinly veiled accusations.

"Chu Feng, you be quiet. You and Yun Bing pushed Zhou Qian out, and he was killed by the Water Arrow from the Moonlight Flood Dragon. And now you have the audacity to deny it!"

Qin Xiao was visibly furious, pointing an accusing finger at Chu Feng with a righteous fervor.

When it came to shamelessness, Chu Feng and Yun Bing were no match for Qin Xiao.

It was bad enough that the villain was playing the victim, but to do so with such an air of righteousness was something else entirely.

Yun Bing was taken aback, and Chu Feng, fueled by his Origin Power, retorted, "You... You're twisting the truth. Believe me, I won't hesitate to end you right here and now!"

"Hahaha, Chu Feng, your true colors are showing. You want to kill me to keep me quiet?"

"Lee family head, Zhao family head, we've just been attacked by a terrifying Gene Creature. These two sacrificed Zhou Qian as a human shield to save their own skins and make their escape!"

"I, Qin Xiao, may not be the most capable, but I stand by my principles. I'd sacrifice my own arm before I'd retreat!"

"Poor Zhou Qian, his remains are lost, his end was truly tragic! It's a shame I'm now crippled, or else I'd fight you to the bitter end!"

Qin Xiao spoke with a sense of moral superiority, as if he were a hero unable to fulfill his righteous intent.

"You talk of honor? It was clearly..."

"Pfft!"

Chu Feng launched into a tirade of curses, but before he could get a word out, Qin Xiao spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed, unconscious.

"Damn it, Qin Xiao, stop playing possum!" Chu Feng's mouth twitched as he swore again.

Chu Feng was known for his grace and eloquence, always preferring to reason things out calmly and rarely resorting to anger or foul language.

Yet now, he was not only cursing but spewing profanities, a clear indication of just how despicable Qin Xiao had become.

Yun Bing, however, aside from her initial shock, quickly regained her composure.

Qin Xiao's outburst had inadvertently drawn the attention of Lee Jin, Zhao Jia, and the remaining members of the Zhou family to the pair.

Lee Jin, with a furrowed brow, inquired, "Miss Yun, Young Master Chu, could you please clarify what occurred today?"

Chu Feng was about to lash out with more curses, but before he could, the previously silent Yun Bing spoke up.

"Master Lee, Master Zhao, you both have the discernment necessary for your positions, so I need not elaborate on Qin Xiao's character."

"As for an explanation, I will provide one."

"Firstly, I, Yun Bing, assure you on my honor that Zhou Qian's death has no connection to us whatsoever."

"Regarding the actual cause of death, Qin Xiao has already set the narrative. I will refrain from further comment to prevent any misinterpretation of my words as deceitful."

"Furthermore, let me make it clear: if you insist on blaming the Yun family for Zhou Qian's death, then let the Zhou family, Lee family, Zhao family, and even the Qin family come forward. We are ready to face you."

"The Yun family will stand our ground to the end!"

"However, I urge you both to consider your positions carefully. Don't end up as someone else's unwitting pawn."

"Indeed, what Yun Bing has expressed mirrors my own stance. The Chu family also stands ready to see this through to the end!"

No sooner had Yun Bing finished speaking than a now composed Chu Feng immediately seconded her statement.

Upon hearing their united front, Lee Jin and Zhao Jia exchanged a glance. Lee Jin then responded, "Very well, Miss Yun and Young Master Chu, your words befit the top contenders of the Void Combat Power Board. We, the three major consortia, will take note of this."

"I've made it abundantly clear—if this issue involves Miss Yun or Young Master Chu, then our three major financial groups will fight tooth and nail to secure justice for the Zhou family, even if it means battling to the last soldier!"

Upon hearing this, Yun Bing let out a light chuckle. "That's reassuring. I trust that both family heads will discern the truth. While the Yun family doesn't shy away from a challenge, we have no intention of taking the fall for someone else."

"That Moonlight Flood Dragon is terrifyingly powerful, likely beyond the scope of a super being. Please exercise extreme caution when you depart!"

This revelation sent shockwaves through the crowd. An entity beyond super? Could it be that the Moonlight Flood Dragon was the epitome of an Ultimate Gene creature?

But that didn't make sense. Hadn't the federation officially stated that the highest life form the Void Realm could nurture was a Super Gene Life?

What were they facing now—an Ultimate Gene Life?

Danger! Opportunity!

No wonder even the likes of Yun Bing, Chu Feng, and Qin Xiao were left in disarray, with the Zhou family's patriarch paying the ultimate price.

"Thank you, Miss Yun Bing!" Lee Jin's eyes gleamed with intrigue at the mention of the White Flood Dragon.

"Master Lee, heed my additional advice—do not engage with that white dragon. No elite force is sufficient; the chasm between it and us isn't something numbers can bridge."

With that said, I trust you grasp the gravity of the situation, Master Lee. I must take my leave now."

Observing Lee Jin's interest in the White Flood Dragon, Yun Bing, having experienced the Moonlight Flood Dragon's formidable strength firsthand, offered her earnest warning.

Without waiting for Lee Jin's response, Yun Bing promptly led her group away.

"Hold on, I have a question for Young Master Chu."

Just as the two families had started to leave, Zhao Jia, standing beside Lee Jin, seemed to recall something and called out with urgency.

Chu Feng, without looking back, replied with a tinge of resignation, "I apologize, Master Zhao, but I'm afraid I can't provide an answer to your question."

"That rascal is too slippery; I didn't catch even a glimpse of him!"

His admission left everyone present in a state of disbelief.

The Six Great Families had convened for a grand hunt, yet the ultimate quarry was snatched away right from under their noses. Worse still, they had no clue who the thief was; not a trace was left behind.

Such a tale might be too outlandish to be taken seriously by anyone.

But truth be told, whether or not people believed it, that's exactly what happened.

Zhao Jia also had faith that Chu Feng wouldn't fabricate such a story, primarily because he couldn't stand the embarrassment.

The Six Great Families, the esteemed powerhouses of the Black Iron Base, had indeed taken a significant fall. Their finest warriors had emerged empty-handed, sustaining injuries to add insult to injury. It was a loss on all fronts, and to add salt to the wound, they had inadvertently enriched their adversary.

This day would go down in history as the most dismal the Six Great Families had faced since their foray into the Void Realm.

In the privacy of their minds, the leaders of the Six Great Families were furiously cursing the one who had stolen their final prize.

They might wish to remain hidden forever, but should they ever be discovered, the Six Great Families would ensure they paid a steep and painful price.