Chapter 348: The Western Heavenly Battle Hall Backs Down Again; A Reunion with Ye Qingqing
"Alright, the battle isn't over yet. Let's continue!"
In the ancient secret realm, Xiao Tiance's words brought a smile to Gu Xun'er's face as she asked sweetly, "Uncle Tiance, when we find Brother Xiao Yan, will you forgive him?"
"There's nothing to forgive," Xiao Tiance replied with a faint smile. "From his perspective, he's done nothing wrong. I don't harbor any resentment toward the boy."
"Really?" Gu Xun'er's smile widened. "That's wonderful. I'm sure Brother Xiao Yan will be so happy to hear that."
With that, Gu Xun'er unleashed her Emperor Flame once again, preparing to re enter the fray.
However, Black Dragon and Black Phoenix, already battered and bruised, had lost the will to fight. The overwhelming display of Gu Xun'er's earlier attack left them shaken to the core.
"Wait!"
Suddenly, Ling Zhanzi raised a hand, signaling for the Western Heavenly Battle Hall's forces to cease fighting. Turning to address his comrades, he shouted, "Everyone from the Western Heavenly Battle Hall, stop at once!"
Seeing this, Xiao Xuan, Lin Dong, Gu Xun'er, Luo Tianshen, and Dean Tianqiong all turned to Xiao Tiance, awaiting his instructions. Xiao Tiance calmly gestured for them to hold their positions. The battlefield grew silent as all eyes turned to Ling Zhanzi.
Ling Zhanzi floated into the air, approaching Xiao Tiance. Bowing respectfully, he said, "Lord Tiance, we admit defeat. We are no match for you. Would you be willing to let this matter end here?"
"Oh?" Xiao Tiance smirked. "Ling Zhanzi, are you sure you're in a position to say that?"
"I'm perfectly clear headed," Ling Zhanzi replied, keeping his composure. "I hope you'll spare us out of respect for my teacher, the Western Heavenly Battle Emperor. As a gesture of goodwill, I will personally ensure that Tian Luo is delivered to you after we leave this realm. Additionally, I request the release of Ling Longzi, whom you've captured. What do you think, Lord Tiance?"
Xiao Tiance chuckled lightly, but his smile quickly faded into a frosty expression. "You want to end this on your terms? You're merely a Saint Son of the Western Heavenly Battle Hall. What gives you the right to negotiate with me?
Let me remind you when we first entered this secret realm, your Battle Hall laid a trap to ambush me, intending to kill me. If it weren't for my strength, I'd already be a corpse by now. And yet, so soon after, you're asking to call a truce?"
Ling Zhanzi's face twitched slightly, but he managed to suppress his anger. Bowing his head lower, he said, "Lord Tiance, circumstances have changed. You've already vented your anger by taking down several of our Sovereigns.
You are destined to become a renowned figure in the Great Thousand World, while the Western Heavenly Battle Hall is a superpower with its own reputation. If we escalate this conflict, both sides will only suffer. Isn't it better to resolve misunderstandings now rather than hold grudges?"
"Misunderstandings?" Xiao Tiance scoffed. "That's quite a convenient way to put it. But as I said earlier, you're not qualified to discuss this with me."
Turning his gaze to the battered Winter Elder, who was being chased by Lin Dong, Xiao Tiance sneered. "Winter Elder, do you agree with what your Saint Son has said?"
"Don't push your luck, Xiao Tiance!" Winter Elder growled, his voice laced with bitterness. "You may have the upper hand now, but don't forget that the Western Heavenly Battle Emperor has yet to act.
And let's not overlook the two prodigies of the Black Sky Ancient Clan. Behind them stands one of the five Ancient Clans. Your strength may be formidable, but against the Battle Emperor or the Heavenly Sovereigns of the Black Sky Clan, you stand no chance.
If you insist on pushing us too far, you'll only invite disaster upon yourself. Isn't it wiser to resolve this here and now?"
Xiao Tiance laughed heartily at Winter Elder's words before his face turned icy cold. "You're right I can't afford to provoke either of you at the moment.
But here's the thing: being unable to provoke someone and being afraid of them are two entirely different matters.
You say I should back down, but your tone displeases me. So why don't we continue this fight? I'll kill you first, and afterward, I'll personally visit the Western Heavenly Battle Hall to greet your Battle Emperor."
"Arrogant fool!"
Winter Elder's words barely registered before Black Dragon and Black Phoenix erupted in rage. Both were prodigies of the Black Sky Ancient Clan, accustomed to being revered wherever they went. Xiao Tiance's blatant disregard for their clan was beyond insulting.
"Enough!" Black Dragon roared. But before he could make his move, the world around him darkened.
In an instant, Xiao Tiance appeared before Black Dragon, gripping his neck tightly. No matter how much Black Dragon struggled, he couldn't break free.
"Release my brother!" Black Phoenix shouted, his voice trembling with both rage and fear.
For the first time, a sense of dread crept into Black Phoenix's heart. If Gu Xun'er's earlier attack had been formidable, then Xiao Tiance's speed and strength were downright terrifying.
Black Dragon was no weakling even injured, his strength should have been unshakable. Yet Xiao Tiance had subdued him effortlessly, as though he were nothing more than a child.
Watching from afar, Lin Dong couldn't help but be awestruck.
"So this is Xiao Tiance's true strength? Incredible."
He had sensed Xiao Tiance's overwhelming power earlier but hadn't expected it to manifest so decisively.
Even Gu Xun'er, though confident in her abilities, felt a renewed respect for Xiao Tiance as she watched him dominate the battlefield with ease.
It was clear this was no ordinary man. He was a force to be reckoned with, destined to leave an indelible mark on the Great Thousand World.
"Wait, Lord Tiance! You absolutely cannot kill Black Dragon!"
From not far away, Ling Zhanzi noticed that Xiao Tiance's grip on Black Dragon's neck had tightened to the point where Black Dragon could barely breathe. Panicked, he blurted out, trying to stop him.
"Absolutely cannot kill him? Ha! What a joke."
Xiao Tiance sneered, his tone dripping with disdain. "No one is above death. If you're about to tell me I can't provoke the Black Sky Ancient Clan, I admit you're right I can't. But let's get one thing clear: if someone recklessly tries to take the Sky Demon Puppet Refining Method from me, they won't escape unscathed.
What's the logic here? You beat me if you can, but if you can't, you suddenly pull rank and expect me to back off? If that's the rule of this so called Great Thousand World, let me tell you it doesn't apply to me."
His cold laughter echoed. Black Sky Ancient Clan? Western Heavenly Battle Hall? Did they really think they ruled over everyone? Not him, not now.
"Lord Tiance, name your terms! We are willing to apologize for our previous actions," Black Phoenix interjected hastily, fear flashing in his eyes.
Xiao Tiance chuckled but didn't reply immediately. Instead, he turned to Black Dragon, whose face was red from lack of air. Smiling, he mocked, "Where's that arrogance from earlier? Where's that haughty attitude you had when you tried to take my treasure?"
Black Dragon choked and struggled, clawing desperately at Xiao Tiance's hand. But no matter how much force he used, Xiao Tiance's grip remained unyielding, as if cast from divine steel.
With time running out, Black Dragon felt his strength ebbing away. For the first time, the specter of death loomed so close, suffocating him.
"Sp spare me... I'll... apologize..." Black Dragon managed to croak out, his voice barely audible.
"Apologize? Already? I haven't even handed over the Sky Demon Puppet Refining Method yet. Why are you in such a rush to admit defeat?
Come on, let me see that proud, lofty expression of yours again. I rather enjoyed the way you looked down on me earlier," Xiao Tiance said, his smile icy.
"Xiao Tiance, don't push it too far! If Black Dragon dies, not only will the Heavenly Dragon Clan come after you, but so will the Black Sky Ancient Clan and True Phoenix Clan.
Think carefully is it worth killing him for a fleeting moment of satisfaction?" Black Phoenix's voice was filled with anger and panic as he issued his warning.
Xiao Tiance turned his head slightly, casting a calm glance at Black Phoenix before scanning the Western Heavenly Battle Hall members, who were too frightened to make a move. Then, his gaze shifted to Xiao Xuan and Gu Xun'er.
Seeing their relaxed smiles, completely free of worry or fear, he felt a surge of confidence. Finally, he turned to Lin Dong and Luo Tianshen.
"Lin Dong, Senior Luo Tianshen what do you think?" Xiao Tiance asked casually.
Lin Dong gave a slight bow and chuckled. "Senior, this is your decision to make. Though we're allies, I prefer not to interfere with an ally's choices."
"Lord Tiance, the decision is yours. If you want to kill, we'll keep fighting. As for the consequences, we'll deal with them when we leave this secret realm," Luo Tianshen added with a laugh.
Dean Tianqiong laughed heartily, "Lord Tiance, though you didn't ask me, my opinion is the same as theirs. This is your call. Whatever you decide, we'll back you, and we'll deal with the aftermath later."
"Excellent," Xiao Tiance said with a broad smile, preparing to speak further.
Before he could continue, two figures appeared on the horizon, moving at lightning speed.
Lin Dong and the others tensed, ready to intercept, but Xiao Tiance raised a hand, signaling them to hold back. He smiled faintly and said, "Long time no see, Miss Ye. How have you been?"
"Lord Tiance," Ye Qingqing replied, arriving with a young man at her side. She gave a polite bow, smiling as she spoke, "It's a pleasure to see you again."
"You're too kind, Miss Ye," Xiao Tiance said with a polite smile.
From a distance, Black Phoenix muttered under his breath, "What are the Tai Ling Ancient Clan doing here?"
His unease grew. If Xiao Tiance's group alone was already daunting, the addition of the Tai Ling Ancient Clan made things far worse.
While the Black Sky and Tai Ling Clans rarely interacted, as two of the five great Ancient Clans, they knew each other's strength well. If Xiao Tiance truly had the Tai Ling Clan's backing, even slaughtering Black Dragon and their entire group here wouldn't result in much retribution.
"Lord Tiance," Ye Qingqing began, her tone calm yet sincere, "may I ask for a favor? Could you spare Black Dragon's life? The Heavenly Dragon Clan has long standing ties with the Tai Ling Clan, and if something were to happen to Black Dragon here, it would be difficult for me to explain when I return."
Her words were polite, but Xiao Tiance's brows furrowed slightly before returning to their usual calm.
He looked at the smiling Ye Qingqing, then at the young man standing silently behind her. For a brief moment, Xiao Tiance felt an unusual pressure emanating from the youth something reminiscent of a Heavenly Sovereign's aura.
"Miss Ye," Xiao Tiance said evenly, "this is only the second time we've met, yet you ask me to release Black Dragon. You must understand how difficult that is for me.
Earlier, your so called Black Dragon 'senior' acted with utter arrogance. He tried to seize the Sky Demon Puppet Refining Method and looked at me as if I were prey. That expression is still fresh in my memory."
Ye Qingqing frowned not at Xiao Tiance's response, but at Black Dragon's reckless arrogance.
Xiao Tiance's strength was undeniable. It was no secret that he had no equal in this secret realm, a fact even Ye Qingqing's guardian, Lin Shu, had acknowledged. He'd warned her that Xiao Tiance likely hadn't even revealed his full strength, and if forced to act, not even he would find it easy to contend with Xiao Tiance.
Still, the relationship between the Tai Ling and Heavenly Dragon Clans left her no choice but to intervene.
"Lord Tiance," Ye Qingqing said with a sigh, "on behalf of Black Dragon, I offer my sincerest apologies. To show my goodwill, I present you with a top tier divine technique I acquired by chance. I hope this will demonstrate my sincerity and convince you to forgive Black Dragon this once."
(Chapter End)
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