79: I'd rather die than be dishonored.

Almost at the same time, the Chiyan Sect Disciple also noticed the anomaly, and his expression instantly changed.

Lin Feng inwardly cursed, knowing this was bad. He retreated rapidly, intending to escape through the other end of the Lava Cave.

However, just as he retreated to the cave entrance, a pressure instantly enveloped the surroundings, causing his Following Wind Steps to stall as if he were trapped in a swamp.

"Oh? A little guy in the Qi Refinement Stage, seriously injured, with unstable Spiritual Qi... yet he managed to find this place, and his reaction speed isn't slow."

The Hehuan Sect Saintess, whose face was covered by a light veil, had silently appeared at the exit of the Lava Cave at some unknown point, blocking his path.

The Spiritual Qi around her subtly fluctuated, and her pair of captivating eyes observed Lin Feng with interest.

Although the Late Foundation Establishment Stage Spiritual Pressure was not fully exerted, it already made Lin Feng feel suffocated and unable to break free.

'So fast.' Lin Feng was greatly alarmed. He fully activated the Nine Profound Sword Heart Art, barely managing to steady his mind and resist the pervasive Alluring Spiritual Pressure. His eyes slowly calmed, and his mind raced as he pondered an escape strategy.

Several Chiyan Sect Disciples also surrounded him, sealing off the other routes, and looked nervously and respectfully toward the Saintess.

The Saintess lightly moved her lotus steps, approaching a few steps: "A mere Qi Refinement Stage cultivator managed to sneak in here, and you even bear Fire Evil Scars... It seems the commotion outside is related to you?"

She paused, then continued, "For the Chiyan Sect to chase a Qi Refinement Stage cultivator like this... little guy, you've caused quite a bit of trouble. Tell me, what did you take? Or what did you see?"

Lin Feng tightly pursed his lips, shook his head silently, and his body trembled slightly.

Seeing his reaction, the Saintess's lips curved, seemingly finding it more amusing. She turned to the nervous Chiyan Sect Disciple: "I'll take this person back to question him. Perhaps he holds clues to the matter you are investigating."

The Chiyan Sect Disciple immediately looked troubled: "Saintess, this matter is significant, Elder Chiliao strictly ordered..."

"Hm?" The Saintess's voice rose at the end, and the surrounding Spiritual Pressure slightly intensified. The Chiyan Sect Disciple immediately turned pale, sweat dripping down, and swallowed the rest of his words, bowing and saying, "...We defer entirely to Your Highness's judgment."

The Saintess nodded in satisfaction, pointing a slender finger. A pink Spiritual Rope wrapped around Lin Feng like a venomous snake. "Little guy, be a good boy and come with Big Sister. Big Sister will 'cherish' you properly..."

'I absolutely cannot be captured by her.' Lin Feng was about to fight desperately, but suddenly his mind changed.

'If I fight head-on now, I will certainly die. Since she hasn't seen through my disguise and thinks I am only in the Qi Refinement Stage, her vigilance must be low.

If I go with her, perhaps I can find an opportunity to escape along the way? It's better than being annihilated here.'

With his decision made, a trace of despair and fear appeared on his face. He struggled symbolically, then was firmly bound by the Spiritual Rope.

"How sensible." The Saintess chuckled softly, then turned and instructed a female Disciple who was at Foundation Establishment Mid-stage beside her: "Keep an eye on him, take him back to the 'Warm Fragrance Pavilion' within the Sect, and wait for me to return and question him personally."

The arrogant-looking female Disciple grabbed Lin Feng, then summoned a lotus-shaped flying Magical Artifact. The Magical Artifact grew instantly upon exposure to the wind, transforming into a size of three zhang, glowing with pink light.

Lin Feng was pushed onto the Lotus Platform, and two other Hehuan Sect female Disciples also jumped up, laughing playfully. The Lotus Platform slowly ascended, flying toward the Hehuan Sect.

On the Lotus Platform, Lin Feng appeared listless and curled up, but secretly he was circulating the Nine Profound Sword Heart Art, trying to break free from the Restriction. At the same time, he silently memorized the route, his Divine Sense discreetly surveying the terrain below.

Along the way, the three female Disciples scrutinized Lin Feng without reservation.

"Senior Sister, why do you think the Saintess insisted on bringing this Qi Refinement Stage boy back?" The youngest one tilted her head. "Looking at his wretched state, he doesn't seem special at all."

The leading female Disciple chuckled: "What do you know? I checked his Aptitude just now. Although he's only in the Qi Refinement Stage, his Spiritual Qi is extremely pure. Not to mention..."

She suddenly reached out and lifted Lin Feng's chin, "Look closely, his features are quite handsome."

Lin Feng suppressed his instinct to pull away, allowing them to examine him.

Another female Disciple leaned in for a closer look and suddenly burst into a giggle: "It's true. I didn't notice earlier when he was covered in dirt... Senior Sister, could the Saintess be interested again?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?" The leading female Disciple scolded her playfully with a tap, yet didn't deny it. Instead, she turned to Lin Feng, "Little Gentleman, do you know what place our Hehuan Sect's 'Warm Fragrance Pavilion' is?"

Her fingertip lightly traced Lin Feng's collar, "That place is specifically for 'entertaining' honored guests."

The three women laughed together, their gazes becoming increasingly suggestive. Cold sweat broke out on Lin Feng's back, but he had to maintain a look of panic and helplessness on his face.

"How about... we try him out first?" The youngest one suddenly suggested. "The Saintess won't be back for a long time anyway..."

"Impudence." The leading female Disciple feigned anger, but a flicker of excitement crossed her eyes. "However... testing his Aptitude wouldn't hurt."

Just as a slender hand was about to reach into his collar, the Lotus Platform happened to fly over a rugged mountain range full of ravines and peaks.

A sharp glint flashed in Lin Feng's eyes. He secretly activated the Restriction he had already broken through, leaned back, and slammed into the edge of the Lotus Platform.

"Ah!" Amidst the female Disciples' cries of surprise, he took the opportunity to fall off the Lotus Platform.

He tried to use Sword Flight, but found that the remaining Spiritual Qi in his body was completely insufficient to sustain Aerial Flight.

'Not good.' He barely managed to twist his body, smashing heavily into dense branches and leaves, which slowed his descent, but his momentum remained strong, and he immediately crashed into a steep mountain wall.

"Rumble!"

With a muffled crash, he actually collapsed a section of the rock wall that appeared solid but had long been loosened by wind and rain. He, along with the debris, tumbled into a pitch-black cave entrance hidden behind the cliff face.

His figure was instantly swallowed by the darkness.

On the Lotus Platform above, the female Disciples were still shaken.

"He... he fell down. And he collapsed the mountain wall." The young female Disciple exclaimed.

The leading female Disciple controlled the Lotus Platform to hover above the cave entrance where Lin Feng had fallen, looking down with a mixture of shock and uncertainty.

Below, they saw a massive Cavern entrance, bottomless and emanating cold, damp Qi. The edges of the entrance were covered in moss and sharp stalactites, and the faint sound of flowing water drifted up from the depths.

"What should we do? Should we go down and look for him?" another female Disciple asked.

The leading female Disciple's expression was volatile. She looked at the bottomless hole and finally gritted her teeth: "How can we search? The terrain in this Cavern is complex, and Divine Sense will be greatly affected inside."

She paused, thinking of the Saintess's command, and hesitated: "But if we lose the person, and the Saintess blames us..."

"Senior Sister," the young female Disciple whispered, "We can report that... this boy was fiercely determined and suddenly struggled and resisted along the way, even going so far as to self-destruct a Magical Artifact, ultimately... leaving no remains and falling into a Deadly Abyss.

Such determination might mean he truly possessed some great secret he feared being interrogated about? Reporting it this way, although the Saintess will be displeased, perhaps... we can still account for it?"

The leading female Disciple pondered for a moment, finally making up her mind: "...It can only be this way. Let's go." After speaking, she controlled the Lotus Platform and quickly departed.

Deep within the Cavern.

Lin Feng slowly regained consciousness, finding himself lying beside a cold, damp puddle. His whole body ached as if his bones were scattered, but fortunately, the dense tree canopy and soft earth cushioned most of the impact during the fall, preventing him from being smashed to pieces.

'I must heal my injuries quickly...' He struggled to sit up, but this triggered his internal injuries, causing him to cough up a mouthful of clotted blood.

Just then, he felt a cold, slippery sensation transmit from his arm.