Chapter Ten: Breaking Out of the Cage

"Little brother, help me carry my wife!" Lei Dong roared, his entire body crackling with lightning. With a single strike, he shattered the prison cell.

Feng Shang followed, carrying the lifeless body of Lei Min on his back.

"Heavenly Thunder Seal!" Lei Dong shouted. A surge of lightning erupted, blowing open several nearby cells. "Everyone, you are free now!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the prisoners surged out from their cages.

"What are you doing?" Feng Shang asked, bewildered.

"It is only in the chaos that we have a chance to escape!" Lei Dong explained.

No sooner had he finished speaking than a chorus of wails echoed from behind. Feng Shang looked back to see a malevolent figure stalking toward them. Every time the figure reached an escaping prisoner, he would give a light twist, and the victim's head would fall to the ground.

Feng Shang shuddered. Escaping was his greatest specialty. "Run!" he cried.

In a gust of wind, Feng Shang reached the prison exit, only to find seven fierce women standing there, eyeing him like hungry predators.

These were the notorious Seven Earth-Shaking Flowers of the Kingdom of Women: the Earth-Shaking Tiger, the Earth-Shaking Leopard, the Earth-Shaking Wolf, the Earth-Shaking Elephant, the Earth-Shaking Mouse, the Earth-Shaking Snake, and the Earth-Shaking Peacock.

Seeing them, Feng Shang turned to flee back into the prison.

"Clang!" A massive iron hammer crashed down before him. Feng Shang wore a mournful expression. "Dear elder sisters, I’m just passing through!"

The Earth-Shaking Tiger, wielding her twin hammers, paid no heed to his excuses. As the second hammer fell, Feng Shang had only one thought: *Run!* He unleashed a "Vortex Storm" against the prison wall, propelling himself away with the impact.

"Trying to run!" The Earth-Shaking Leopard pursued him at blinding speed.

Feng Shang, who had considered his Vortex Storm the fastest technique, was stunned. The Leopard had already intercepted him with impossible speed. With a sharp "smack," she slammed him to the ground with her palm.

"Wife!" Lei Dong cried out as he saw Feng Shang and the corpse of his wife, Lei Min, land on the ground. A spark of lightning flared in Lei Dong’s eyes, and with a flash of green light, he unleashed a "Heavenly Thunder Strike" directly at the Earth-Shaking Leopard, forcing her to dodge.

"Peacock Fans the Screen!" At the same time, the Earth-Shaking Peacock spread her tail, blotting out the entire sky.

"Run! Don’t let the Peacock’s tail hide your heaven!" Lei Dong flashed over, hoisted Feng Shang up, slung Lei Min’s body onto his back, and soared into the sky at top speed.

Because of Lei Dong’s strike, the Earth-Shaking Leopard had sustained minor injuries. Meanwhile, as the prisoners continued to pour out, the Seven Earth-Shaking Flowers did not pursue; they stood guard at the prison gate.

The prisoners, seeing the seven women, turned pale and tried to retreat, but the malevolent figure had already reached them. With a few swift motions, he snapped the necks of every prisoner in his reach.

As the prisoners met their tragic ends, the Seven Earth-Shaking Flowers watched the figure with expressions of shock.

The figure crept up to the seven women, lightly touched his own face, and sneered, "You are all so useless!"

Mother Divine appeared in a flash of spiritual light before the malevolent figure. Leaning on her cane, she trembled as she said, "Malevolent Star, you must bring them back, no matter what!"

The Malevolent Star curled his lip. "Mother Divine, it is not hard for me to catch them, but I will need the Seven Earth-Shaking Flowers and the Four Guardians."

"The Seven Earth-Shaking Flowers and the Four Guardians? If you take them all, won't the entire Kingdom of Women be defenseless?" the surrounding citizens whispered in shock, as these were the very warriors who protected the realm.

Mother Divine hesitated for a moment, but despite her concerns, she nodded. "Also, you must bring back the White-Clothed One. You must bring her back!"

The crowd erupted at these words. "Yes! Bring the White-Clothed One back and burn her to death in the flames!"

The Malevolent Star’s lips twitched, and a chilling, baleful aura instantly filled the air.