Upon hearing Xiao Feng's words, Taotie suddenly looked up at Xiao Feng in shock.

"What are you talking about? How could I possibly smell like that stinky snake?" Taotie stammered, trying to explain.

"Do you think I'd smell something wrong? I just let you out, and you're already eager to go find that stinky snake, to tip it off?"

Xiao Feng approached Taotie step by step, forcing Taotie to retreat.

Taotie spoke up in defense: "I really didn't. Are you just looking at me and doing this on purpose? I knew you weren't so kind as to let me out."

Xiao Feng looked at the Taotie in front of him, who had done something wrong and was now trying to shift the blame, and a cold smile appeared on his lips.

"Taowu, I planted a listening device on you before. I know everything you've done. I also know how you told the Devouring Python. You want to kill me?"

"Don't forget, if it weren't for me, you'd still be living happily ever after with that ancient secret realm! Oh wait, that ancient secret realm has been destroyed, and you would have died there. I saved you!"

Xiao Feng knew that the ancient secret realm had not been destroyed, but had been absorbed into a divine artifact.

But Taotie was unaware of this, so it didn't stop Xiao Feng from using this incident to criticize Taotie.

"But if it weren't for you, how could I have ended up like this? You poisoned me and forced me to follow your orders. Shouldn't I hate you?"

It was probably because Xiao Feng brought up the old matter again that Taotie's pent-up frustration suddenly erupted, and he directly questioned Xiao Feng.

Xiao Feng's smile suddenly warmed, and then he said with a hint of triumph, "You finally told the truth. You hate me, which is why you couldn't wait to go and inform the Devouring Python after overhearing that we were going to deal with it."

Taotie then realized what it had just said. It looked up at Xiao Feng and saw calmness in his eyes.

Taotie realized that perhaps Xiao Feng had released him from the space just now as a test.

It was obvious that it failed Xiao Feng's test and instead revealed its true feelings to him.

So you're going to kill me?

Suddenly, Taotie's intelligence came online.

“Rather than letting you continue to stab me in the back, I’d rather be ruthless and just get rid of you. What do you think?” Xiao Feng tilted his head slightly, looking at Taotie with innocent eyes.

Taotie's anger flared up instantly.

"You don't need so many excuses to kill me! Even if I die, I won't let you succeed!"

Taotie knew he was doomed tonight.

Since Xiao Feng already knows everything, he will definitely not let me go.

Rather than letting Xiao Feng take care of it, it's better for it to end its own life. Perhaps it can even use this opportunity to take Xiao Feng away in one fell swoop.

"I know you have a particularly strange cultivation technique that can absorb other people's cultivation, but I won't give you that chance!"

The Taotie's face was ferocious, and its body suddenly began to tremble in an unusual way.

"I will perish with you!" Taotie was about to use his last bit of cultivation to kill Xiao Feng.

It charged towards Xiao Feng with all its might.

However, before it could detonate itself, Xiao Feng had somehow teleported behind it and placed his hand on the back of its neck.

Xiao Feng absorbed all the cultivation power into his body, so even if Taotie wanted to self-destruct, it couldn't.

"Trying to self-destruct in front of me? Ridiculous!" Xiao Feng looked at Taotie, who could no longer struggle, and thought Taotie was extremely stupid.

Even at its peak, Taotie was no match for Xiao Feng, let alone the fact that Xiao Feng had already absorbed its cultivation twice.

"Xiao Feng! I curse you! I will definitely curse you!" Taotie shouted in despair.

No matter how much it struggled, it couldn't escape from Xiao Feng's grasp.

It could only feel the demonic power within its body being gradually drained away by Xiao Feng, and feel its body becoming increasingly empty.

It finally understood why those whose cultivation had been absorbed by Xiao Feng were so desperate.

Feeling the power within your body gradually disappear, yet still unable to escape the clutches of this demon, would drive anyone to utter despair.

Taotie began to beg Xiao Feng, hoping that Xiao Feng would spare it this time, and that it would never betray Xiao Feng again.

Xiao Feng completely ignored Taotie's pleas and instead increased the speed at which he absorbed Taotie's cultivation.

After realizing Xiao Feng's heartlessness, Taotie started cursing again.

Regardless of Taotie's reaction, Xiao Feng simply absorbed Taotie's cultivation in silence.

After Xiao Feng absorbed the last bit of demonic power, Taotie felt its body slowly disappearing.

At this moment, love and hate, resentment and hatred, all seem to be unimportant.

In its final moments, Taotie felt only regret.

It regrets that it didn't listen to Xiao Feng, regrets that it didn't become loyal to Xiao Feng sooner, and regrets that it had to meet Xiao Feng in the secret realm!

Taotie has no soul; once it dies, it is truly dead.

Xiao Feng released his hand from Taotie's shoulder, watching Taotie's body gradually turn into invisible powder, finally dissipating into the air.

After Taotie died, Xiao Feng stood there looking at the crystal that Taotie had fallen to the ground for a long time.

This is something that fell off the Taotie.

Xiao Feng didn't know what it was either; perhaps it was another rare treasure.

Xiao Feng picked it up and put it into his system space. He then grinned at Zhao Yuwei, who was looking at him with some concern.

"Why are you looking at me like that? From now on, we won't have to worry about this traitor who might turn on us at any time and secretly sabotage us."

Zhao Yuwei's voice, tinged with worry, rang out: "Are you alright? I was worried you might be sad because you killed it, after all, it had been by your side for so long."

To be honest, Xiao Feng was indeed a little sad.

Xiao Feng originally did not want to kill Taotie.

He has the ability to absorb all the demonic power from Taotie after capturing it.

But Xiao Feng couldn't explain why; he just didn't want to kill Taotie.

Even though Taotie repeatedly provoked Xiao Feng.

Xiao Feng also wanted to keep it by his side.

But now the Lion King's words have awakened him from his dream. Since Xiao Feng can never gain Taotie's loyalty, and since Taotie will never completely submit to Xiao Feng.

Then why should he continue to waste his energy on Taotie?

Let's just resolve this once and for all.

"You might feel a little uncomfortable at first, but you'll get used to it quickly. He's just a troublemaker, nothing to be sad about!"

Hearing Xiao Feng say this, Zhao Yuwei didn't say anything more, but quietly stayed by Xiao Feng's side, helping him process his emotions.

Tomorrow, Xiao Feng will set off with the Nine-Headed Lion to deal with the Devouring Python.