Chen Jie picked up the knife and took a deep breath.
Then he thrust it forcefully into himself.
*Poof...*
Blood flowed ceaselessly.
Wang Xiaoyan cried out in pain, "Chen Jie, why are you doing this! I told you not to!"
Chen Jie smiled and said to Wang Xiaoyan, "Don't worry, I'm fine."
The killing intent in his heart grew stronger, but his expression remained impassive.
He then looked at Deng Zhou and asked, "Now, can you let her go?"
"Yes, President Fang, let her go," Deng Zhou said.
"No!" Fang Tai retorted.
"Hmm?" Deng Zhou's gaze sharpened.
"Heh heh, he has met your condition, but that was only *your* condition. I never said that if he cuts himself, I'll let Wang Xiaoyan go." Fang Tai looked at Chen Jie sinisterly, "Chen Jie, you killed my son. How can I just let you off? How about this, if you cut yourself one more time, I'll let her go, what do you say?"
"Chen Jie, don't be foolish, he won't let us go! Forget about me!" Wang Xiaoyan cried out tragically again.
"Do you keep your word?" Chen Jie asked Fang Tai.
"Of course I do. As long as you cut yourself one more time, I will definitely let her go!" Fang Tai sneered.
If Chen Jie could have directly rescued Wang Xiaoyan, he would have acted long ago.
To ensure Wang Xiaoyan's safety, Chen Jie could only agree, "Alright, I promise!"
*Slash!*
Another stab.
Chen Jie staggered and clutched the viewing stone beside him, unable to stand steady.
"Let her go!" Chen Jie demanded.
"Wait!"
The loudspeaker in the villa crackled, and Yin Qiuran's voice sounded again, "What about me! Chen Jie, you killed my son. I want you to cut yourself once, that's not too much to ask, is it!"
Fang Tai laughed, "You can't blame me. After all, both of our sons died at your hands, Chen Jie. As long as you cut yourself one more time, we will absolutely let Wang Xiaoyan go!"
"Fine!"
Chen Jie's face was resolute. He raised the knife and plunged it into his own body again.
"Hahaha... Young friend Chen, you are indeed a man of character. To be willing to take three wounds for a mere woman! I am impressed, truly impressed. I don't even want to kill you anymore!" Deng Zhou burst into laughter.
Chen Jie said expressionlessly, "Now, can you let her go?"
"Young friend Chen, don't be in such a hurry. You killed their son, and they want you to cut yourself once, that's not unreasonable. But today, many people from our Sorcery Association died at your disciple's hands."
"That's right! There are many of us here. We are not asking for much. As many people as there are, you cut yourself that many times, and it will be over!" The members of the Sorcery Association all burst into laughter.
Wang Xiaoyan roared with grief and indignation, "You despicable scoundrels!"
"Chen Jie..." Hechuan looked at Chen Jie with guilt. Chen Jie's actions had deeply shaken him. A man doing this much for a woman was profoundly moving. He had nothing more to say, but he had underestimated the shamelessness of these people.
Chen Jie's face was cold, and he made no move. Even as a cultivator, he couldn't withstand having a dozen knives plunged into himself. Only upon reaching the Foundation Establishment stage could he create an illusion for them. But if he reached Foundation Establishment, he wouldn't need to play these games with them anymore. Today was destined to end badly. It was all a matter of when these people would finally stop. When they believed Chen Jie was too weak to pose any threat, they would no longer trouble Wang Xiaoyan. Chen Jie would never allow himself to become so weak as to be defenseless. Otherwise, both he and Wang Xiaoyan would die here.
"Hahaha... One cut each is too much to ask. Everyone knows Chen Jie isn't that foolish," Deng Zhou said. Then, his expression turned grave. "Chen Jie, I have one last request for you. If you agree, we will swear a solemn oath to let your woman go!"
"Chen Jie, please don't agree to them, I beg you! I was wrong, I shouldn't have been jealous, it's all my fault. Please run quickly, don't worry about me anymore!" Wang Xiaoyan screamed frantically.
But Chen Jie ignored her and asked, "What do you want me to do?"
Deng Zhou suddenly took a scroll from his embrace and threw it to Chen Jie.
"This portrait is of our ancestor, the founder of sorcery. I want you to unfurl it, use your vital blood as an offering, drip it onto the portrait, and swear that you will not use any sorcery abilities tonight, or else you will be struck by lightning and die on the spot!" Deng Zhou said sternly, "Chen Jie, do you dare? If you don't, I'll kill your woman right now!"
Chen Jie spread out the portrait. When he saw the person depicted, he immediately realized that this person, like himself, was a cultivator, not just a sorcery master. He suspected that the origin of sorcery was from cultivators. Chen Jie already had evidence for this. However, now was not the time to dwell on it. He noticed that this scroll was not an ordinary portrait; it contained a faint trace of spiritual energy, as if connected to an unknown place. If he made a vow with his vital blood, he would have to abide by it, or his oath would come true. It seemed these people had prepared thoroughly to ensure his death. They knew Chen Jie was also a sorcery master. Now, with three wounds on his body, his martial body was crippled, and finally, his sorcery abilities would be unusable. For an ordinary person, this would be a dead end.
"Chen Jie, forget it. Don't sacrifice yourself! Miss, there's probably no hope," Hechuan gritted his teeth and said with difficulty. Chen Jie's actions had moved him. But now he had come to his senses. Given these people's shamelessness, after killing Chen Jie, they would likely silence Wang Xiaoyan as well. There was no need for further losses. Saving one person was better than none. If Chen Jie took the oath, he wouldn't even have the ability to escape and would certainly die!
Chen Jie ignored him and looked at Deng Zhou, "I want you to swear first!"
"Good, very good! Everyone, take your oaths!" Deng Zhou said with excitement. At his command, everyone present bit their fingers and pointed to the sky, "We swear that if Chen Jie fulfills our request, we will let Wang Xiaoyan go. Otherwise, may we all die a terrible death!"
*Boom!*
In the sky, faint lightning flashed, seemingly confirming something.
"Chen Jie, it's your turn!" Deng Zhou shouted at Chen Jie.
Chen Jie's face was firm. He raised the portrait and said, "I swear that I will not use any sorcery abilities tonight! If I break this oath, may I die a terrible death!"
A suction force emanated from the portrait, drawing the vital blood from his hand. Immediately, Chen Jie felt a subtle restraint within his body. It seemed that as soon as he used his cultivation abilities, terrible consequences would follow. He hadn't expected sorcery and immortal arts to truly share a common origin, Chen Jie thought to himself.
"Let Wang Xiaoyan go!" Chen Jie said with a grave expression.
"Hahaha... Chen Jie, you're a toothless tiger now. How dare you make demands of us?" Fang Tai laughed maniacally.