Yunxihua hurried toward the city gate and ordered the city guards to close all access gates. The Soul Refining Sect entourage, who were heading toward the city gate, were stopped by the guards. However, they resisted and injured the guards.
Hanfeng, sensing something was wrong, became suspicious and secretly prepared something while signaling the elders beside him.
The 4th Elder appeared with spatial cracks following behind him and stopped the Soul Refining Sect, followed by Yunxihua and the others.
"Senior, what is the meaning of this?! This junior has not committed any wrongdoing. Why are we being stopped like this?" Hanfeng said.
"Hanfeng, I do not wish to offend you, but you have deceived my people. For your crimes, you must be punished," Yunxihua replied.
The guards moved in, surrounding and blocking Hanfeng and the members of the Soul Refining Sect.
"Holy Maiden, what is this nonsense? I have not committed any crime. Why are you stopping me?" Hanfeng replied.
"Xufangyu, read out the decree of crimes committed by the Soul Refining Sect in this city," Yunxihua ordered.
"Yes, Holy Maiden. First decree: Hanfeng committed illegal trade within the city by selling Soul-Exploding Pills, which temporarily increase strength but only for a short time and can cause loss of life. Second: Hanfeng collaborated with the Zhang Clan to set up a formation that stole the spiritual power of the city's residents. Third: Violation of Law Regulation Article 36—smuggling illegal goods. All of these are crimes of the Soul Refining Sect," Xufangyu reported.
"Y-you…!" (panicking) Hanfeng replied.
"Fourth Elder, execute the people of the Soul Refining Sect. I do not wish to dirty my hands," Yunxihua said.
"Yes, Holy Maiden," replied the 4th Elder.
Knowing he was about to die, Hanfeng immediately threatened the 4th Elder to stop him from killing him.
"You damn old man!! If you kill me, my father and everyone from the Soul Refining Sect will kill you and destroy this city along with everyone living here!" Hanfeng shouted.
"Impudent!!" (choking) replied the 4th Elder.
Hanfeng was choked by the 4th Elder using spiritual power, while his aura suppressed the members of the Soul Refining Sect.
Cornered, Hanfeng immediately crushed a summoning token and summoned three elders known as the "Hell Old Devils."
Suddenly, terrifying spatial rifts appeared, releasing horrifying auras. Countless hands of tormented souls emerged, filling the cracks with a dreadful dark purple aura. Three elders appeared, dressed in black with a purplish hue, possessing handsome and youthful faces.
The appearance of the three elders known as the Hell Old Devils created immense pressure in the surroundings, yet the 4th Elder remained unaffected.
"Old Yan, it's been a long time. You look quite old now," said Hundi, one of the Hell Old Devils.
Yunxihua and the others witnessed the presence of three experts in the Soul Formation Realm, rendering them powerless before them.
"Hundi, Hanji, Lotu—after not seeing you for a long time, you've already reached the Soul Formation Realm. And now you dare to act arrogantly before this old man? Did your master Zhuwudao never teach you proper etiquette?" said the 4th Elder (Xu Longyan).
"Y-you!! Damn old man! How dare you speak our master's name!" (furious) Lotu replied.
The three Hell Old Devils launched their attacks toward the 4th Elder, but their power was neutralized by a single flick of his finger.
Spitting blood, the three Hell Old Devils were injured by the backlash of their own attacks.
"Back then, your master was my rival. He even lost to me three times in a game of xiangqi (Chinese chess). Zhuwudao, you've lost four times now! Hahahaha…" said the 4th Elder.
Meanwhile, Yunxihua and the others were fighting against Hanfeng.
"Holy Maiden, you have offended the Soul Refining Sect. Do not expect Xuliang City to remain safe," Hanfeng said.
Yunxihua did not say a single word and continued launching attacks at Hanfeng.
"Holy Maiden, even if you are already in the Nascent Soul Realm, it will still be difficult for you to defeat me," Hanfeng replied.
"I will no longer hold back," Yunxihua said.
Yunxihua released an extremely terrifying power; even her soul force was comparable to a mid-stage Soul Formation Realm expert.
Hanfeng, shocked, swallowed a Soul-Exploding Pill without hesitation, forcibly raising his cultivation to the late-stage Soul Formation Realm.
The Primordial Dragon, who had been sleeping within Yunxihua's sea of consciousness, immediately awakened in shock upon seeing what was happening.
"Crazy brat!! Eating a Soul-Exploding Pill to forcibly advance for a short time—has he grown tired of living?!" said the Primordial Dragon.
Yunxihua was shocked to see Hanfeng reach the late-stage Soul Formation Realm.
"Holy Maiden, I will kill you!!" … launching an attack
Hanfeng unleashed the Abyssal Demon Finger, opening the gates of hell!!
Yunxihua calmly faced the attack, directly using the Emotionless Void Severing Slash technique.
"Tch, disgusting," Yunxihua said.
The violent clash of power caused an extremely terrifying aura explosion, sending Xufangyu, Xu Bailong, and the surrounding onlookers flying away.
Using his last bit of strength, Hanfeng burned his soul to attack Yunxihua.
Severely injured, "Damn it… How can you withstand my attack? Are you even worthy of enduring my second strike—Devouring Soul Technique!" Hanfeng shouted.
Seeing her surroundings and fearing her people might be injured, Yunxihua used the Unrestrained Void Space Technique.
"Hanfeng, you are utterly disgusting," Yunxihua said as she drew her sword.
Yunxihua unleashed the third-level Emotionless Sword Severing Slash, which flashed forward and sliced through Hanfeng's neck. Hanfeng's soul, unable to fully execute the Devouring Soul Technique, immediately fled using Hell Demon Space.