"Misty Cloud Sect… that old bastard Yun Shan truly intends to annihilate us all!"
Upon hearing Xiao Li's words, Xiao Yan clenched his teeth. Bloodshot veins filled his pitch-black eyes, and his expression twisted into something so savage it was almost frightening. His body trembled violently as an overwhelming killing intent surged, flooding the room like a tide.
A moment later, he suddenly rose to his feet—only to be quickly restrained by Xiao Mei.
"Xiao Yan ge-ge! Where are you going?!" she cried, her voice laced with panic.
"I'm returning to the Jia Ma Empire!" Xiao Yan's voice was cold and heavy, soaked in murderous intent. "I'll make every last member of the Misty Cloud Sect pay with their lives. They will be buried alongside the ones they slaughtered!"
"You mustn't go back now, Xiao Yan ge-ge!" Xiao Mei cried out, her voice filled with urgency. "With the Xiao Clan in crisis and the Supreme Elder still absence, how can you allow yourself to be consumed by rage and lose all reason? If you charge in now, what awaits you besides death at their hands?!"
She could see it clearly—Xiao Yan was no longer in control. His fury had clouded his judgment, and this savage demeanor was unlike the brother she knew.
"Xiao Yan, stop right there!" Xiao Li's angry voice cut through the tension like a blade. "Do you think I risked my life, traveling all this way just so you could recklessly throw yours away? This blood debt must be repaid, and you do bear that responsibility. But tell me—can you kill Yun Shan with your current strength?!"
Xiao Yan's body froze. His disheveled hair fell loosely over his forehead, casting shadows across his eyes. The fury and killing intent that had been forcefully suppressed within him surged violently, threatening to drive him to madness.
Taking a deep breath, he forcibly quelled the storm within his chest. Turning to Xiao Li with a dark expression, he asked in a low, cold voice,
"Aside from the Misty Cloud Sect… was it those black shadow figures again who attacked the Xiao Clan?"
"Unfortunately, yes—it was those same bastards." A cold glint flashed in Xiao Li's eyes as the malice on his pale face deepened. "Grand Elder Xiao Yang and Elder Tao both confirmed it. Those figures lurked in the shadows, their presence cloaked in chilling darkness. You couldn't make out their faces—just black, formless silhouettes drifting like specters."
"What's more, they had a clear goal: every one of their attacks targeted members of the Xiao Clan. No one else. Every time their metallic clinks echoed through the night, another clan member was impaled and dragged away into the void. After seizing their targets, they would search the bodies. Judging by their movements, they weren't simple killers for hire… they were looking for something."
Xiao Yan's fists tightened, his knuckles turning bone white. Though he hadn't witnessed the attacks himself, as he had been away from the clan, he had encountered one of those figures before—back when he journeyed to Jia Nan Academy through the Black-Corner Region.
A chilling coldness slowly rose from deep within his bones.
Then, almost in unison, both Yao Lao's and Xiao Yan's voices rang out, low and solemn:
"Hall of Souls!"
"Why would those bastards keep targeting the Xiao Clan? We've never had any dealings with them…" Xiao Yan muttered inwardly, his body tense and rigid. His hair hung over his face, casting a shadow across his eyes as a sinister cold gleam flickered within.
Yao Lao fell silent. Even he could not fathom why a mysterious and terrifying faction like the Hall of Souls would entangle itself with a mere Xiao Clan. He was certain their appearance had nothing to do with him—after all, it was impossible for them to know that his soul was concealed at Xiao Yan's side.
Yet deep down, a subtle intuition stirred within him—an instinct that whispered Xiao Hua might know the truth.
Yao Lao's thoughts drifted back to what he had once heard—how Xiao Hua had fought against an overwhelmingly powerful opponent. He even recalled the massive, sunken crater left behind in the Tager Desert—a mark that still bore the scars of that earth-shattering clash.
And then, there were the Xiao Clan elders—especially the two Grand Elders. From the way they had reacted, there was a high chance they were hiding something as well.
"What about the casualties in the Xiao Clan? Are First Brother and the Grand Elders safe? And what of our Guardian Beast?"
"The losses… were heavy." Xiao Li shook his head and sighed deeply. Still, he felt a faint sense of relief seeing that Xiao Yan had regained some measure of composure, even if that calm was born from forcibly suppressing the fury within.
"A few elders have fallen… including the First and Second Elders. Many clan members also perished, yet the majority managed to survive—thanks to the desperate efforts of the two Grand Elders who shielded them. As for Big Brother, he sustained only minor injuries. However, Grand Elder Xiao Yang lost an arm, and Grand Elder Xiao Tao was gravely wounded—he remains unconscious even now."
"As for the Amethyst Winged Lion King… his cub had just entered a slumber to undergo evolution. Thus, the Grand Elders had instructed him to remain in the Magic Beast Mountain Range to protect it. None of us expected that the Misty Cloud Sect would strike during such a time…"
Xiao Yan exhaled, visibly relieved to hear that his First Brother was safe. But his heart grew heavy upon learning of the Grand Elders' condition.
Back when he had lost his talent and was scorned by all, it was Xiao Tao and Xiao Yang who had stepped forward to defend him. Though they had acted under Xiao Hua's orders, the warmth he felt when they silenced those who mocked him was something he had never forgotten.
"Older cousin Xiao Li… my… are my parents alright?"
Xiao Yu, who had remained silent at the side, finally spoke. Her voice trembled, and her reddened eyes betrayed the fear in her heart.
"Ke ke, Xiao Yu… you've truly grown more and more beautiful over the years," Xiao Li said softly as his gaze fell on her. After a brief moment of hesitation, he sighed and continued with a trace of guilt, "Aunt Xiao is safe… but Uncle… he lost an arm during the battle."
Xiao Yu's eyes grew even redder. She bit her lip, forcing back the tears that threatened to spill. Though Xiao Yan had already told her about the catastrophe that had befallen the Xiao Clan, she never imagined the enemy's cruelty would stretch so far—chasing them down with the intent to wipe out their bloodline.
Even so, the news that both her parents had survived—despite the cost—gave her enough strength to keep from breaking down. She inhaled deeply, suppressing the ache in her heart, and spoke in a dispirited tone,
"Why would that mysterious force ally with the Misty Cloud Sect? What could they possibly be seeking to drive them to such extremes… to the point of wanting to erase our clan from existence?"
"I don't know what they were after exactly." Xiao Li shook his head with a furrowed brow. His gaze shifted to Xiao Yan as he added,
"However, before the First Elder fell… he left a final message to Big Brother and me. He said that no matter what happens, the jade of the Xiao Clan must be protected—and must never fall into the hands of an outsider."
Xiao Yan furrowed his brows, a trace of confusion flashing across his face. Naturally, he understood that the jade mentioned by the First Elder referred to the emerald-colored jade piece he now carried. Yet, this only deepened the questions swirling in his heart.
According to the First Elder, the jade was a relic passed down from the ancestors of the Xiao Clan. Each generation's Clan Leader would leave behind a trace of their spiritual energy within it. When a Clan Leader perished, the corresponding wisp of light would vanish alongside their soul.
'Could that jade piece contain some hidden secret the First Elder chose not to reveal? Is that the reason behind the tragedy that befell the Xiao Clan?'
Countless thoughts spun within Xiao Yan's mind. To his eyes, the jade seemed nothing more than a token for tracking the fate of the Clan Leader. Aside from that, it held no other power—at least, none that he could discern.
Just as his mind wrestled with uncertainty, Xiao Li quietly took out two letters from his storage ring. Seeing Xiao Yan lost in thought, he said,
"These were entrusted to me—one from Grand Elder Xiao Yang, the other from Lady Ya Fei. The Grand Elder's letter should answer the questions troubling your heart… and as for Lady Ya Fei's, it contains information concerning Xiao Hua."
"Lady Ya Fei?" Xiao Yan was taken aback upon hearing that one of the letters came from her. He quickly reached out and took it with a hint of surprise in his eyes.
"Ke ke, it wasn't easy for us to escape that night," Xiao Li said with a light chuckle. "We were pursued relentlessly by numerous experts. Fortunately, thanks to the reinforcements brought by Lady Ya Fei and Lady Cai Lin, we managed to break through and flee."
He then added with a faint smile, "There was another familiar face among them—the old man who once protected you from Yun Shan and helped you escape his grasp."
"Hai Bodong? Old Hai?"
Xiao Yan was momentarily stunned. The image of an old man with a cold and indifferent expression slowly surfaced in his mind. He hadn't expected that Hai Bodong, who had always appeared detached, would actually come to their aid in such a crucial moment.
A moment later, Xiao Yan nodded slowly, his heart stirred with a quiet sense of understanding. He held back his emotions, but deep within, he etched the names of Hai Bodong, Ya Fei, and Cai Lin with gratitude. Their willingness to act and save the scattered remnants of the Xiao Clan was no small favor.
It was a debt he would one day repay—properly and in full.
"There was… another person," Xiao Li said, his expression turning slightly awkward. "It was Lady Yun Yun."
"Lady Yun Yun? The Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect?" Xiao Yan's brows furrowing in confusion.
"She is no longer the Sect Leader," Xiao Li replied with a bitter smile. "After Yun Shan took control of the sect, she was stripped of her position. Not long after helping us, the Misty Cloud Sect announced that Lady Yun Yun had stepped down and entered closed-door training…"
Xiao Yan was stunned upon hearing this. Naturally, he understood that this so-called "closed-door training" was nothing more than a convenient excuse—Yun Yun was likely placed under house arrest by Yun Shan for aiding them.
He recalled how she had once risked her position to save him, removing the energy imprint Yun Shan had placed on him during his escape from the sect's encirclement.
But even now, he couldn't fully understand her reasons. Why had she gone so far for him?
"Regardless, thanks to the reinforcements, Grand Elder Xiao Tao and Grand Elder Xiao Yang managed to cling to life. Even Big Brother and the other clan members were saved because of their efforts…"
Xiao Li's voice trailed off, intentionally shifting the topic away from Yun Yun's actions—questions that held no clear answers.
"The remaining members of the Xiao Clan who survived were secretly relocated under their protection, taken to a place beyond the reach of the Misty Cloud Sect. Even the flying magical beast I used to reach Jia Nan Academy was lent by the Primer Clan. If I had taken any ordinary route, I would've been intercepted before making it halfway here."
He chuckled dryly before continuing, "That said… the 'Black-Corner Region' really lives up to its reputation as the most chaotic place in the continent. Heh… I was backstabbed more than once along the way and nearly lost this little life of mine. These wounds? All courtesy of the Black-Corner Region. The people there are as vicious as starving wolves."
Xiao Yan clenched his fists tightly, his eyes darkening.
He had experienced firsthand the blood-soaked nature of the Black-Corner Region and understood all too well the dangers it held. Xiao Li had risked his life, journeying across mountains and rivers—through death's shadow—just to deliver the news about the Xiao Clan's calamity.
That weight of brotherhood and sacrifice pressed silently into Xiao Yan's heart.
Xiao Li let out a bitter smile and said, "The Desert Metal Mercenary Company is completely finished… as for the Xiao Clan, we're slightly better off, but only barely. The clan is in a miserable state—shattered and weakened. Our former strength is long gone. Now, we can only live in hiding, struggling to survive while standing at the edge of death."
Xiao Yan reached out and gripped Xiao Li's hand firmly. His voice was soft, yet carried a deep, repressed fury.
"Second Brother… I will definitely avenge this blood debt."
"Of course we must avenge it!"
Xiao Li's expression darkened, and a malicious gleam flashed in his eyes. "The Misty Cloud Sect forced our Xiao Clan into this state. If we don't kill that old dog Yun Shan, how could we ever face those Elders who gave their lives to protect the clan? As long as one of us still draw breath, we'll make them pay dearly!"
"Second Brother, rest and recover first," Xiao Yan said, his voice steadier now. "The blood feud of our clan will be repaid in full—but I won't act recklessly. What happened earlier… was just blood rushing to my head."
As he spoke, he took out a medicinal pill from his storage ring and handed it to Xiao Li.
The malice faded from Xiao Li's face. He accepted the pill without hesitation and swallowed it in one motion. His gaze locked onto Xiao Yan as he said in a deep tone,
"Remember this… The Xiao Clan's hope rests on you and the Supreme Elder. If we want to save our father, we'll need the strength of both of you. I believe that once the Supreme Elder returns, he won't let this matter rest quietly."
"Moreover, there is something you should know." Xiao Li took a deep breath, then leaned in suddenly. Lowering his voice to a whisper that Xiao Yu and Xiao Mei would not overhear, he said,
"I'm not certain what has happened to the Supreme Elder, but Lady Ya Fei's expression when she handed me the letter was unusually grave. I fear something dangerous may have befallen him."
"However," he continued, his tone steadying, "judging from her demeanor, it may not be life-threatening. At the very least, we can be somewhat reassured. Once you've read it, let me know—but don't speak of it to anyone else."
"I understand. I will read what Lady Ya Fei has written and inform you discreetly."
Xiao Yan's expression darkened, though he masked it well. He couldn't allow Xiao Yu—or any of the other clan members—to catch wind of this. It would only dampen their already fragile morale. For now, he could only examine the letter in secret.
Turning toward Xiao Mei, he offered a gentle smile. "Mei'er, please look after Second Brother along with Xiao Yu. I need to read this letter and grasp the situation more clearly."
With that, he rose to his feet and quietly withdrew from the room. After respectfully seeking permission, he stepped into another chamber that had been arranged by Instructor Ruo Ling.
…
"…Teacher, who exactly is this Tou She Ancient God…?"
Having finished reading the letter handed to him by Grand Elder Xiao Yang, Xiao Yan slowly lifted his gaze and directed the question toward Yao Lao.
After learning of the Xiao Clan's distant past and the elders' unwavering insistence on preventing outsiders from obtaining the jade, Xiao Yan was deeply shaken. He hadn't expected that the heirloom in his hands would bear such a name—Tou She Ancient God's Jade.
Yao Lao waved his hand lightly and shook his head. "Unfortunately, I know little about this matter," he said, his voice carrying a rare note of uncertainty. "I've only heard vague mentions of it in the past… but I have never seen it myself."
Xiao Yan felt a trace of disappointment rise within him. Still, he pressed on, "Then… does Teacher at least know what this jade truly is?"
"I can only tell you this—Tou She Ancient Emperor's Jade is likely connected to the Tou She Ancient Emperor from a thousand years ago..." Yao Lao remained silent for a long while before finally speaking in a slow, measured tone.
"Tou She Ancient Emperor?"
Xiao Yan was taken aback. He repeated the name under his breath, then asked with uncertainty, "He… was a person?"
"Calling him a God would not be an exaggeration." Yao Lao sighed, his voice tinged with an inexplicable reverence.
Xiao Yan's heart trembled. His throat tightened slightly. He knew well—this world held no true 'Emperors.' If one insisted on using such a title, it would only belong to a being who had cultivated Dou Qi to its ultimate limits—one who could challenge the very Heavens and Earth themselves.
"Don't tell me… he was a… Dou Di?"
His voice quivered slightly as he uttered those final words. Across the entire continent, no matter who it was, one could not help but speak with awe when mentioning that title—a symbol of the highest, most unfathomable realm.
"Indeed, he was—the last known Dou Di to appear in the past thousand years," Yao Lao said softly, his spiritual form faintly trembling as he spoke.
He then began to explain the identity of the Tou She Ancient Emperor, as well as the unimaginable difficulty of reaching the legendary Dou Di realm. Xiao Yan listened intently, his expression frozen in shock and disbelief.
"Tou She Ancient God..."
Xiao Yan exhaled slowly and let out a bitter laugh. A strange, unreal feeling began to rise within him. What he had once believed to be a simple clan heirloom… was actually tied to a legendary existence that stood above all. The abrupt shift in its significance left him feeling as though the ground beneath him had tilted.
"This… this revelation is far too much to take in all at once." He gave a bitter smile and chuckled dryly. "For now, I'll just tuck it away in the back of my mind and pretend none of this happened. Only a handful of people—the clan elders—are aware of this secret. As long as they remain silent, I don't believe it will leak to outsiders…"
"That is a wise decision," Yao Lao nodded, returning a dry smile. "For now, let it rest quietly in your storage ring… let it gather some dust."
Even he, once a name that resounded across the Central Plains, felt somewhat at a loss. Who would have thought that a seemingly small clan like the Xiao Clan would contained such past and secret?
"Anyway, I'll read Lady Ya Fei's letter first. After that, I'll enter seclusion to cultivate and refine my control over the Dou Techniques…"
Xiao Hua shifted his gaze toward the second letter in his hand. Compared to the contents of Xiao Yang's letter, he doubted this one would be more shocking. With that thought, he opened it casually. However, the moment his eyes scanned the words, his expression froze.
To his dismay, Ya Fei's letter was far more astonishing.
"Brother Xiao Hua actually managed to kill a Dou Sheng from the Hall of Souls…"
If Xiao Yang's letter had illuminated many of his questions and left him feeling overwhelmed, then Ya Fei's letter struck his mind like a thunderclap—deafening, chaotic, and utterly paralyzing. For a moment, he couldn't even process the weight of what he had just read.
Even Yao Lao stood silently at his side, his eyes locked onto the letter, disbelief written across his face. Not a word escaped his lips, as even he struggled to fully comprehend the words of what had been written.
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