Chương 63: Live Like a Worm

Xu Chen's face twisted in agony as another one of his fingers was sliced off. Blood dripped from his hand and splattered on the ground. He was growing more and more agitated as Siyi continued her assault. He had never faced an opponent like her before. Her movements were too quick, too precise, and too effortless. Every strike felt like it came out of nowhere, and he was barely able to defend himself.

"I, the great General Xu Chen will not fall from the likes of you, child," Xu Chen yelled, his voice full of frustration and anger. He had faced countless enemies on the battlefield, but this young girl was proving to be his greatest challenge yet.

Siyi merely smiled in response. "Your worthless struggle amuses me. Entertain my father more," she taunted, her voice cold and confident.

Xu Chen gritted his teeth and unleashed another barrage of attacks, his threads transforming into chains with spikes that assaulted Siyi from all directions. But she effortlessly parried all his strikes with ease, her movements fluid and graceful.

Suddenly, with a swift movement that seemed like she was just passing Xu Chen, she removed another one of his fingers. Xu Chen screamed, the pain shooting through his hand. He couldn't believe what was happening.

He was so sure that his defense was impenetrable, but Siyi was cutting through it like it was paper. He could not understand the logic on her strength. Xu Chen screamed with all his might, his anger evident as the veins on her forehead bulged out.

As the duel progressed, Xu Chen's movements became more frantic, his breathing ragged as he struggled to keep up with Siyi's lightning-quick strikes. She moved with a grace and speed that seemed otherworldly, each cut precise and deadly. With each passing moment, Xu Chen number of thread that he could control diminishes as Siyi continued to cut his fingers.

"Monster!" Pen Tingfeng exclaimed, his eyes wide with horror as he watched the duel unfold. Siyi's eyes flickered to him briefly, a small smirk playing at the corner of her lips before she refocused on her opponent.

Xu Chen gritted his teeth as he tried to defend himself, but it was no use. Siyi moved like a wind once again, cutting another of his fingers. Only three of his fingers remained, and the number of threads weapon he could hold was diminishing with every passing moment.

"It seems like I have caused the birth of a demon," Xu Chen thought to himself, a sign of regret creeping into his mind. But it was already too late, the demoness had been born.

"Three more fingers, and I wonder how you would defend yourself," Siyi taunted, her voice cold and mocking. Xu Chen could feel a sense of dread settling in the pit of his stomach as he realized the inevitable outcome of the duel.

Xu Chen opened his mouth to speak, his voice trembling, "I surr--" but before he could finish his sentence, Siyi was already on him. With lightning speed, she attacked him with the hilt of her blade, hitting him in the throat and damaging his vocal cords. Xu Chen gasped for air, unable to make a sound. Siyi's plan to damage his vocal cord had come earlier than she planned, but she no longer cared.

He tried to utter something, anything, but no sound escaped his lips. Siyi's attack was so swift, so brutal that he couldn't even react in time. He could feel warm blood trickling down his neck, staining his clothes. His eyes widened in terror as he realized that there was no going back.

"What is that? You what? I didn't quite get it?" Siyi's voice was filled with contempt, her eyes glinting with sadistic pleasure. Xu Chen could see the triumph in her face, the satisfaction of a predator that had cornered its prey. She had no intention of letting him off the hook, no matter how hard he begged for mercy.

"He's surrendering," Cui Guozhi shouted, his voice filled with desperation. He knew that Xu Chen's fate was already sealed, but he couldn't bear to see his comrade being humiliated and tortured like this.

"He's not saying anything," Siyi retorted, her tone cold and dismissive. "Oh! I remember you from that night." She gave Cui Guozhi a sharp look, reminding him of his own guilt. The memory of that night came back to him, the screams of the Hao clan members, the smell of blood and death. He shuddered at the thought of facing Siyi's wrath.

Almost an hour has passed, and the battle still continues, Xu Chen was panting heavily as he continued to run, his left arm was gone, and he could feel the blood gushing from the wound. The fear in his eyes was evident as he desperately tried to escape Siyi's grasp. But it was futile, she was toying with him, not even bothering to make an effort to catch up to him.

The other generals of the 8th squad could only watch in shame as Xu Chen's cowardice was on full display. They knew that his actions were diminishing the glory of their squad, but there was nothing they could do. The power of their opponents was overwhelming.

Siyi's taunts only fueled Xu Chen's desperation, "Run faster General, if you don't, I'm going to take away your right arm," she called out, her words echoing in the duel field. Xu Chen pushed himself harder, but he could feel his energy dwindling. He was no match for Siyi's strength and agility.

The battle raged on, the other generals of the 8th squad began to realize the true power of their opponents. They lowered their heads ashamed of seeing that one who belongs in a similar rank as them is being toyed by a kid.

Now that the cultivation level of each member of the Forbidden Valley or what they call now as Valley of Hope is in full display, they realize that coming here was a huge mistake. Take note that each one of them had consumed a Sky Cleansing Pill, and their energy is almost suffocating. Infiltrating the Valley of Hope was a suicide, they thought to themselves. This place had at least five Master Swordsman ranks, including Siyi, and even two Emperors, it was clear that they were outmatched.

General He Long glanced at He Xia with a heavy heart. He knew that they should have listened to her astute deduction earlier. Now, they were at the mercy of these people, and it seemed unlikely that they would let them go unscathed. He Xia's face contorted with a mixture of fear and regret. She had warned them about the threat, but they didn't listen.

She was distressed, the Grand Echo Continent had been too focused on the Karma Order, not knowing that there is an even bigger threat to their plan nearby.

As they stood there, General He Long couldn't help but think that they were in deep trouble. The commander of the group, Li Jian, had been overbearing and aggressive from the start. He had shown no mercy or leeway to these people. It was likely that they would receive the same treatment.

He Xia's mind raced as she tried to think of a way out of this situation. She knew that they had to find a way to escape and report this threat to the empire. But as she looked at Ding Gen, who was just as crafty as her, she realized that it would be difficult to slip away unnoticed. He has already orchestrated the people to surround all the exits of the Valley. Plus, with the Erawan creature at their back, there was really no escape.

They were trapped. He Xia felt a surge of frustration and anger rise up in her chest.

Meanwhile, Xu Chen lay there, writhing in pain, his screams echoing throughout the duel field. Suddenly, he lost his consciousness. Siyi watched coldly as his limbs were strewn about, a gruesome sight that would haunt anyone who witnessed it. She retrieved a vial from her pouch, the highest-grade potion available, and poured it over Xu Chen's body. To everyone's amazement, the wound began to close and heal almost instantly.

As Siyi tended to Xu Chen's injuries, she ordered Chang Bao to fetch water. With incredible speed and agility, Chang Bao leapt into the air and soared away, returning moments later with a bucket of water.

Siyi poured the water over Xu Chen's face, drenching him completely in an effort to rouse him from his unconscious state.

"How dare you sleep in my presence," Siyi growled, her eyes flashing with anger. Despite the severity of his injuries, Xu Chen's failure to remain conscious in her presence was an insult she could not tolerate. "You have to remain awake every second,"

Xu Chen's body convulsed as he tried to speak, but only random noises escaped his damaged vocal cords. Siyi's eyes blazed with fury at the sight of the man lying helplessly on the ground. She knelt down beside him, her blade glinting in the sunlight.

Without warning, Siyi thrust her blade towards Xu Chen's face, impaling his eye with a sickening crunch. He howled in agony, the sound resembling that of a wounded animal. But Siyi didn't stop there. She yanked the blade out of his eye socket and proceeded to gouge out his other eye, blood and tears streaming down Xu Chen's face as he writhed in pain.

The other generals of the 8th squad could only look on in horror at the brutal display before them. They had never seen such savagery before, even in the heat of battle. Siyi was relentless in her attack as she exacted her revenge on the man who had killed her father. She remembered how she doesn't even have a body to bury or a tomb to visit.

Xu Chen's screams gradually subsided into pitiful whimpers as Siyi stood up, wiping her blade clean of his blood. She surveyed the carnage before her, a satisfied smirk playing on her lips. For Siyi, this was just the beginning of her journey towards ultimate power, and she would stop at nothing to achieve it.

Siyi's eyes gleamed with a malevolent glint as she approached Xu Chen, her hand crackling with an intense energy. With a swift and calculated move, she jabbed her finger into Xu Chen's ear, rupturing his eardrum and sending him reeling in agony. Xu Chen tried to scream, but his cries were reduced to pitiful whimpers as Siyi clamped her hand over his mouth, her grip unyielding.

Xu Chen struggled against her, but Siyi's strength was insurmountable. She forced his jaw open, the muscles in his face contorting with pain, and reached for his tongue. Xu Chen's eyes widened with terror as he realized what she was about to do. But it was too late, Siyi had already severed his tongue with a swift, precise motion.

Blood spurted from Xu Chen's mouth, but Siyi was quick to administer her potion, the bleeding soon subsiding. As she stood over Xu Chen's quivering form, a sense of satisfaction washed over her. She had shown him the full extent of her power, and now he would never forget the consequences of crossing her.

Xu Chen lay on the ground, completely helpless and at the mercy of Siyi. He had provoked the wrong person and now regretted his actions, wishing for the release of death. But time dragged on and nothing happened, leaving him in a state of uncertainty and fear. His senses had been stripped away - he was deaf, blind, and unable to speak. Even his formidable skills were useless now, reduced to nothing in the face of Siyi's power.

Unbeknownst to him, Siyi had issued a chilling warning to the members of the 8th squad. Any attempt to assist Xu Chen or end his suffering would result in double the hardship he had already endured. Siyi was a woman of her word, and no one wanted to test her resolve.

"Anyone who dares to help him or grant him death, shall suffer twice the hardship that he experienced today. By now, you may know that I am the type of person who keeps her promise,"

The she moved. imbuing qi on her finger and embedding it into his dantina. As she reached for Xu Chen's dantian, Xu Chen could feel his energy being drained from him. He was powerless to stop her, and he knew that he was doomed. Siyi's blade glowed with an ominous light as she fed on his energy, and the ancient spirit within it rejoiced. Siyi was a force to be reckoned with, and Xu Chen had underestimated her. He could only hope that he would be granted the gift of death soon.

Xu Chen was writhing in agony like a worm, his body trembling uncontrollably as Siyi drained his energy. He could feel the force leaving him, the very essence of his being being siphoned away. He couldn't even muster a sound to express his pain, he was reduced to a mere shell of his former self.

Meanwhile, the members of the 8th squad were watching in fear as Siyi carried out her gruesome act. They knew better than to intervene, not only because of Siyi's threat but also because they were powerless against her. They could only watch as she stripped Xu Chen of his power and left him a hollow husk.

Siyi stood up, her eyes glowing with a fierce intensity. She raised her blade, which now pulsed with a dark energy, and pointed it at the stunned members of the 8th squad. "Remember this day," she said, her voice laced with a deadly calm. "Remember what happens to those who cross me. And if any of you dare to follow in Xu Chen's footsteps, you will meet the same fate. Do not mess with the Hao Clan. This is my friendly warning."

Siyi's tone was firm and unwavering as she addressed the Commander in front of her. She held her blade with a steady hand, ready to strike if he made any sudden moves.

"Now, should we talk?" she repeated. "You promised that you would listen to our terms, right?"

The man hesitated, glancing around at the people of the Valley who stood nearby, all of them radiating a fierce energy that made him uneasy.

"Destroy all your cultivation and leave one of your limbs, then you can go," Siyi demanded, her voice leaving no room for negotiation.