Boom!
The Qiankun Cauldron enveloped them and the entire formation. Almost instantly, a faint aura surrounded them. This aura was somewhat hot, but it wasn't just hot; there was an indescribable feeling.
Refining!
The refining had begun. Over time, they would be slowly refined until they disappeared. There wouldn't be any surprises, because in just a short while, this feeling intensified several times over, and it was still growing stronger.
The remaining dozen or so guards also looked sorrowful, but this was their fate. They didn't feel much anger, because they had considered this situation before. However, when this day came, they still felt somewhat unaccustomed to it.
They were of noble status, even responsible only to the head of the family. They could disregard everyone else, in principle, but now they were just bait, sacrifices, worthless.
Qin Chuan was now thinking about how to get out.
Xiao Qifeng was very calm at this moment, but looking at his daughter and Qin Chuan, he felt a little pained and sighed, "I've ruined you!"
"Father, even if I die, I will be happy. It's just... it's just Qin Chuan..." The Imperial Tutor looked at Qin Chuan, his face trembling with tears.
This woman was strong, very strong, but now her eyes were red, not because she was going to die, but because Qin Chuan was going to die. He was sad, and this was all because of her.
If only she hadn't come here in the first place. Why did she have to tell him all that? She deserved to die.
Qin Chuan smiled and took her hand: "Even if I die, I'll be happy. There's still time. Let's think of a way, maybe we can get out."
Xiao Qifeng shook his head: "I'd heard before that the Hou family head had this treasure, but I never believed it. After all, such a treasure is too domineering, too powerful, hard to believe. But now it seems I was wrong. The Hou family's strength is largely due to this treasure."
But now it's pointless to talk about it. Unless they understand the treasure and find a way to deal with it, but they don't need to ask, they don't know either. So Qin Chuan knew he could only rely on himself.
The guards were in a panic, because this feeling was getting worse and worse. If this continued, they would definitely die. The Hou family head just watched the movements inside. Although it would take a day, he didn't want anything to go wrong.
So he just kept watching.
Qin Chuan looked at the Hou family head and said calmly, "Aren't they your most capable subordinates? Is this how you treat them? Doesn't this chill the hearts of your other subordinates?"
"You little beast, you don't need to sow discord now. If you could succeed this way, I wouldn't need you to try."
The Hou family head finished speaking and turned to the other seven or eight guards, saying, "You sacrificed yourselves for the family this time. Your families will receive the best care. As long as I live, your families, generation after generation, will be wealthy and peaceful."
The guards sighed, bowed in thanks, and then picked up their weapons to commit suicide.
Because these words were a death sentence. Their survival would only put him, the family head, in an unjust position. Only death would make them loyal and righteous, and he, the family head, a benevolent one.
Qin Chuan didn't stop them. Firstly, they deserved to die; death was their best end. Even if he stopped them and the Hou family head gained some kind of infamy, what difference would it make? It wouldn't even touch a hair on his head.
Instead of fighting, he should find a way to escape.
Those people were dead, and it was quiet outside. These were the eighteen closest confidants of the Hou family head, who had rendered great service to him. Seeing them meet such a fate would chill anyone to the bone.
Now that they were dead, sacrificed for the family, others felt uncomfortable, many experiencing a sense of shared sorrow, but this was actually normal—the strong are respected.
If any of these people were stronger than the Hou family, would they willingly remain subordinate? At this moment, things
were becoming increasingly uncomfortable within the Qiankun Cauldron. Qin Chuan was somewhat better off, thanks to his strong physique and protective treasures, but this was only temporary. Xiao Qifeng, however, was already struggling, and the Imperial Tutor was anxious.
Qin Chuan was also racking his brains. Now he could only try to find a solution using the treasures he possessed: the Five Elements Immortal Banner, the Divine Buddha, the Yin-Yang Diagram…
the Chaos Furnace?
Suddenly, Qin Chuan's eyes lit up, and he directly summoned the Chaos Furnace. This thing was very mysterious, so mysterious that even Qin Chuan couldn't see through it. It had been refined several times through cultivation, even by divine beasts. It was a Heaven and Earth Cauldron, a divine treasure among supreme treasures.
This was one piece of information Qin Chuan knew. As for its uses, he used it for refining medicine and demons; it was very useful. He knew he might be wasting its potential, but he couldn't worry about that now. Anyway, it was very useful for the time being.
Now, without hesitation, he summoned the Chaos Furnace and enlarged it, completely enveloping the three of them.
Hmm?
Qin Chuan's eyes lit up. Good stuff! That feeling was gone, isolated. As for the Qiankun Cauldron refining the Chaos Furnace, that was a joke. Even if the Qiankun Cauldron were ten times stronger, Qin Chuan was confident it wouldn't be able to refine the Chaos Furnace even a little bit.
Safe!
Qin Chuan breathed a sigh of relief. This Chaos Furnace was truly a good thing. Qin Chuan now knew another use for it, an absolute life-saving use. In extremely dangerous places, he could enter the Chaos Furnace.
This absolute safety made Qin Chuan very happy. Although he hadn't obtained any treasures in this perilous situation, discovering this wonderful use of the Chaos Furnace was more valuable than obtaining a treasure.
Many people guard treasures their whole lives, unaware of their wonders, or only able to use less than one percent of their benefits—that's a true waste.
The Imperial Tutor looked at Qin Chuan with joy. She hadn't really thought she'd survived, only feeling a little guilty towards Qin Chuan.
Now that she wouldn't die, she was naturally happy, so she hugged Qin Chuan, overjoyed.
Xiao Qifeng was also happy, not because he himself wouldn't die, but because his daughter wouldn't die. That was his greatest joy. With his daughter and Qin Chuan's abilities, as long as they could get out of here, those people would definitely be no match for them.
The Hou family head looked at the formation, suddenly feeling chaotic. At this moment, he felt things were getting worse. If they couldn't kill the enemy, then once the enemy came out, they would definitely fight him to the death.
He lacked confidence in fighting the enemy; the previous battle made him feel his chances of winning were slim.
"Please summon the family's guardian deity!" The Hou family head suddenly bowed towards the Hou family's direction, kneeling directly on the ground, his upper body prostrate. The people around him quickly knelt down as well, creating a solemn and dignified atmosphere.
Meanwhile, on Qin Chuan's side, the Chaos Furnace was slowly expanding. A smile appeared on Qin Chuan's face. How could the Chaos Furnace willingly be suppressed? It was going to fight back.