"Elder Vance, you..." Grand Duke Rexham's face was grim as he stared intently at the grey-robed elder, his eyes filled with deep gravity. Clearly, he had never expected Vance, that old fox, to personally take action and appear here. Although Rexham was reputed to be the third strongest in the Ashford Family—below only the legendary Prince and Elders Nemosin and Vance—he was well aware of the gap between himself and the other two.

So now, with Vance standing before him, blocking his way, he dared not make another move.

"Stay put, or don't blame me for taking action against you!" Elder Vance spoke, his tone calm yet chilling.

Grand Duke Rexham's expression turned cold. "Elder Vance, you had better remember that I, Rexham, am not your subordinate!" Even if he wasn't as strong as Vance, he still had his dignity. How could he not be enraged by such a warning?

Hearing this, Elder Vance simply retorted, his voice hoarse and cold, "Then try me."

He and Nemosin have been locked in a standoff for so many years, largely inactive. It seems the younger generations have gradually forgotten the terror that is Vance. This is not good...

In that instant, a chilling, bloody aura emanated from his body, making everyone present feel a tremor in their hearts.

Grand Duke Rexham was also shaken by the sight. Fury flashed in the depths of his eyes, but he ultimately suppressed it, saying coldly, "If that's the case, I'd like to see if you, Elder Vance, and the Brad Family can actually protect that kid!"

Even with Vance stopping him, and with Grand Duke Melissa of the Nuo Weiya Family battling Old Brad, they still had Bread, Vivian, Niemoller, and another powerhouse from their Ashford Family on his side. Two Blood Clan Dukes and two Blood Clan Duke Peaks—how could they possibly fail to kill that kid?

"That's none of your concern," Vance said coldly, a mocking smile tracing his aged face, hidden beneath his hood. Two Blood Clan Dukes and two Blood Clan Duke Peaks? Would Rexham still be so naive if he knew about Dumbledore, or even Ancestor Howard? It's almost laughable. Nemosin, if you dare to be rash this time, you'll be walking straight into a world of trouble. Hahaha, hahahaha...

"Boy, you really have some powerful backing," Bread said, his expression turning sinister and exceptionally ugly. He couldn't stop the situation from developing in this unexpected way, and a hint of panic was hidden beneath his dark scowl. He wasn't a fool; he finally understood that Chen Fei might not be as simple as he had thought. But now, there was no turning back.

"Do you remember snatching my item at the auction?" At that moment, Chen Fei, Young Master Chen, finally spoke, his gaze locking onto Bread with profound meaning.

"Your item? You mean the Jade Compass? Of course, I remember. Why, you want it? Beg me!" Bread said, pausing for a moment before a look of smug satisfaction crossed his face, as if recalling a glorious achievement. He looked at Chen Fei with a mixture of disdain and mockery.

So, the guy really did want the Jade Compass. A pity that I, Bread, snatched it away from him. Hahaha! He laughed triumphantly to himself.

"Yes, I do want it very much. How about we make a deal?" Chen Fei, Young Master Chen, didn't get angry. Instead, he continued to sneer.

"A deal? Do you think you're in any position to negotiate with me?" Bread sneered, his face grim. "If you understand the situation, hand over the Blood Ancestor Essence Stone right now and kneel before me and Miss Vivian to beg for mercy! Perhaps then we might spare you. Wouldn't you agree, my lovely Miss Vivian?"

Although a vague sense of unease was creeping into his heart, their side had family experts, two Blood Clan Dukes, one Blood Clan Duke Peak, and one S+ Level dark-ability powerhouse. With such a lineup, even a Blood Clan Grand Duke would be in danger, let alone this seemingly young man from the East. The thought made him impatient, perhaps as a way to cover his anxiety. His words dripped with murderous intent as he ordered coldly, "Uncle Dumal, please take him down personally."

"Niemoller, you go too," Vivian commanded, sending her own follower forward.

"As you wish, my dearest Miss Vivian." Niemoller, a Dark Element S+ Level Peak powerhouse, stepped forward with a sinister air. Dark magical elements surged rapidly within him. He raised his hand, palm up, and began chanting an incantation, then thrust his hand towards Chen Fei.

Instantly, a giant hand formed of pure dark magical elements materialized in mid-air. It swirled with terrifying, corrosive energy that seemed to sizzle as it moved through the air.

Seeing this, Dumal, who stood behind Bread, also sprang into action. With a sickening crunch, his hands transformed into ferocious claws. An icy, mocking grin spread across his face as he flashed forward, dark red, menacing wings flaring from his back. Flapping them furiously, he lunged towards Chen Fei, aiming a claw directly at his head.

"Mr. Chen, be careful!" Ovilia, who was closest to Chen Fei, paled and shouted a warning, about to intervene. But Chen Fei stopped her with a raised hand.

"Let me handle this."

While one hand held Ovilia back, Chen Fei's other hand moved in a blur, forming several mysterious Seal Gestures in full view of everyone. Then, he uttered a sharp command. "Freeze!"

In that instant, something terrifying happened. Niemoller and Dumal, who had been sneering viciously as they attacked, froze mid-motion as if struck by a paralyzing spell, held rigid in place.

"You! What have you done to us!? Quick, release me!" Niemoller and Dumal shouted in terror, finally snapping out of their daze, their panic real and overwhelming. But in the next second, their shouts died in their throats as their bodies began to tremble with uncontrollable, frenzied horror.

Above their heads, two flame lamps had appeared out of nowhere, spinning bizarrely.

HISS. HISS.

A series of sharp intakes of breath broke the eerie silence. Horrified gazes were locked on the utterly bizarre flame lamps hovering above the two men. Even Grand Duke Melissa and Grand Duke Rexham felt their expressions change drastically, their pupils constricting. From within those spinning lamps, they too could feel an intensely dangerous aura.

RUMBLE!

RUMBLE! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!

Two consecutive explosions, powerful enough to make everyone's skin crawl and their hearts clench, ripped through the air. They heard the clear, distinct thud of two bodies hitting the ground, and in that moment, everyone was stunned.

HISS!

"Dead? They're dead!? Niemoller... they..."

Numerous onlookers stared in utter horror at the two figures, now just charred husks that had collapsed to the ground. A cold chill ran through them from head to toe, their pupils dilated in horror, and an icy dread shot up their spines.

That was Niemoller, a Dark Element S+ Level Peak powerhouse! The other was a Blood Clan Duke Peak powerhouse from the Ashford Family! But now... now, before they had even touched a corner of their opponent's clothing, they had been killed in such an inexplicable way. Everyone instinctively took a step back in terror. When they looked again at the cold-faced young man, the horror in their eyes was impossible to conceal.

This... this... this was insane!

Witnessing this terrifying and astonishing scene, the once-confident Bread felt his expression change completely, twisting into one of horror and disbelief. His eyes, bloodshot, were fixed on Chen Fei. He glanced again at the 'charcoal' lying on the ground, and his forward momentum ceased. He even began to unconsciously retreat.

A single strike was enough to blast two S+ Level Peak powerhouses to death! Would an ordinary SS-Level Powerhouse have such strength? The answer was obviously no! So that's why... that's why the guy hadn't shown a shred of fear from the very beginning, even daring to say those words in public yesterday. Because he really could, and really dared, to kill. An icy chill spread through Bread's body, and his limbs went weak.

"You... you dare kill one of my people?" an angry female voice shrieked. Vivian pointed a finger at Chen Fei, her previously pretty face now twisted with rage, her large, watery eyes burning with exceptional fury.

Although she didn't particularly like Niemoller, having a Dark Element S+ Level Peak powerhouse by her side was a symbol of status, and he was useful for handling many problems. Now that Chen Fei had killed him, how could she not be furious? As for the question of whether she should be provoking someone like Chen Fei, Young Master Chen, the immensely proud Vivian, who had been born with a golden key in her mouth, seemed to have never considered such a 'redundant' issue. Her grandmother was one of the two titans of their Nuo Weiya Family, a legendary, great Blood Clan Prince. Who would dare to touch her?

"I've already killed him. So what?" Chen Fei turned his head to glance at her, the corner of his mouth curling into a mocking smirk.

"Then go die!" Vivian roared, enraged, and made her move. She threw a ring.

In mid-air, the ring instantly swelled and transformed into an enormous, bloated, and utterly hideous blood-worm monster. The creature's entire body was just a single massive mouth, lined with two rows of huge, interlocking teeth that were terrifying to behold, sending chills down the spines of all who saw it. It then lunged voraciously towards Chen Fei, provoking a series of gasps.

"It's the Nuo Weiya Family's Holy Artifact, the Worm's Secret Ring!" It was indeed another Holy Artifact.

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