Conflict

Whether it was Xiao Zhan, the Three Elders, or Xiao Yu, all of them stared at Xiao Yan in utter shock.

Crimson fierce light flashed in his eyes, and his expression was exceptionally sinister and cold. He no longer resembled his usual gentle and amiable self.

Inside the ring, Yao Chen sensed that something was wrong with Xiao Yan and slightly furrowed her delicate eyebrow.

As a top-tier alchemist, her soul perception was far beyond that of anyone present.

Thus, she could clearly see the black qi lingering around Xiao Yan.

It was a soul already tainted by negative emotions such as resentment, anger, and hatred!

Having realized this, Yao Chen's eyes revealed immense shock and confusion.

How could a person's negative emotions surge to such an extent in an instant that even their soul became tainted?!

Xiao Yu also stared blankly at Xiao Yan. Though she could not see the black qi as Yao Chen could, she could clearly sense how unfamiliar Xiao Yan was at that moment. It was the first time she had seen him like this.

No. Something was wrong.

Xiao Yu suddenly remembered something.

It was not the first time. He had been like this that time too.

Xiao Yu remembered. She had seen Xiao Yan like this once before!

Only that one time!

Recalling that memory she had nearly forgotten, Xiao Yu's face suddenly turned deathly pale. She hurriedly reached out and tightly gripped Xiao Yan's shoulders, her voice filled with panic.

"Xiao Yan! Calm down! Aren't I standing here perfectly fine right now?!"

Xiao Yan quietly looked at Xiao Yu without saying a word. After a moment, he reached out and gently removed her hands from his shoulders, speaking blandly.

"It was just luck, that's all."

After saying that, Xiao Yan turned and left the Council Hall, leaving Xiao Yu standing there in a daze. Only after a moment did she come back to her senses and hurriedly chase after him, but Xiao Yan was already nowhere to be seen.

This was bad!!!

Xiao Yu's heart sank to the bottom as she immediately looked towards Xiao Zhan.

"Clan Leader! Take people to the Gale Family at once! I'll find a way to stop Xiao Yan!"

Before Xiao Zhan could ask anything, Xiao Yu instantly dashed out of the Xiao Family, her long legs carrying her in a mad sprint toward the Gale Family.

Along the way, Xiao Yu kept searching through the crowds, hoping to find Xiao Yan before reaching the Gale Family.

However, things ultimately did not go as she wished.

By the time Xiao Yu reached the Gale Family and saw the many Gale Family guards lying sprawled across the ground, her expression turned utterly grim.

She was too late.

"Ahhhhhhh!!!!!"

Suddenly, an exceptionally miserable scream came from within the Gale Family. Xiao Yu was startled and immediately rushed inside, where she saw Gale Ao wailing continuously amid the Gale Family guards strewn across the ground.

Gale Ao no longer possessed the bearing of the Gale Family Clan Leader's son. His arms and legs were twisted at utterly unnatural angles. Though there was no blood to be seen, the sight gave off an exceptionally creepy feeling.

Anyone could tell that Gale Ao's arms and legs had all been crippled.

Such cruel methods were not something Xiao Yan would normally be capable of.

But Xiao Yu knew full well that Xiao Yan had done this!

Swish. Swish.

At that moment, Xiao Yu heard the sound of something being dragged. Following the sound, she saw Xiao Yan slowly emerge from the inner room while dragging a person behind him.

It was the alchemist named Liu Xi whom Xiao Yu had encountered when she returned earlier!

Liu Xi was in an extremely miserable state. If Gale Ao's crippled limbs could be called tragic, then Liu Xi's appearance was downright horrifying!

His eyes had rolled up, blood flowed from all seven orifices, only a few teeth remained in his blood-filled mouth, and his crotch was covered in bloodstains!

Compared to Liu Xi, Gale Ao, who could still scream, was extremely lucky!

Seeing Liu Xi's pitiful state as he struggled for breath, Xiao Yu knew that this guy would not live much longer.

Just as Xiao Yan had said, there was no next time for Liu Xi!

"Xiao Yan."

Xiao Yu looked at the cold-faced Xiao Yan with a complicated expression. She opened her mouth, yet did not know what to say.

Trespassing into the Gale Family, breaking Gale Ao's arms and legs, and tormenting Liu Xi, the alchemist hired by the Gale Family, to such a state—every single one of those actions had gone too far.

Yet Xiao Yu deeply understood why Xiao Yan had done this. Precisely because of that, she alone could not rebuke him.

"Xiao Yan! You little bastard!!!"

An earth-shattering roar came from the Gale Family entrance. Xiao Yu looked over in shock and saw that members of the Gale Family had already gathered at the gate.

The man at their head was Gale Ao's father, the Gale Family Clan Leader, Gale Bi!

When Gale Bi saw his son lying on the ground in such a miserable state, he instantly lost all reason. The Dou Qi of a high-level Great Dou Shi surged forth, and in the blink of an eye, he flashed before Xiao Yan. His right hand formed a claw as he stabbed at Xiao Yan with sharp wind Dou Qi!

"Die for me!!!"

"Xiao Yan! Get out of the way!!!"

Xiao Yu shouted in panic. Gale Bi's attack had come too suddenly, leaving her with no time to react!

Gale Bi's rage-filled attack had not held back in the slightest. He clearly intended to take Xiao Yan's life!

Yet when faced with an attack two ranks above his own, Xiao Yan's expression remained resolute, without the slightest intention of dodging.

He clenched his fist, gathered Dou Qi, and fiercely punched toward Gale Bi's sharp claws.

Bang!!!

The powerful force collided, rolling up a howling gale throughout the courtyard!

Yet the next scene filled the faces of the Gale Family members who had come with Gale Bi with horror.

Gale Bi, a Great Dou Shi, had actually... been repelled?!

What a joke!!! How was that possible?!

Fortunately for them, although Gale Bi had been forced back several steps, Xiao Yan had undoubtedly fared worse! His entire body was blasted away and embedded deep into the wall, blood already covering him from head to toe.

However, while the other Gale Family members rejoiced, Gale Bi stared at the arm that had just exchanged blows with Xiao Yan with a terrified expression.

This arm was broken.

What kind of thing is this little bastard?!

The moment he entered the courtyard, he had sensed that Xiao Yan's strength had already reached one-star Dou Zhe.

Three months ago, he had merely been trash with Three-stage Dou Zhi Li! How terrifying was this improvement speed?!

That alone would have been one thing. Even if his improvement speed was fast, he was still just a mere Dou Zhe. Gale Bi was a high-level Great Dou Shi! Dealing with him should have been easy as pie!

But Gale Bi had never expected that, as a Great Dou Shi, one of his arms would be smashed off by Xiao Yan in a direct confrontation!

What a joke! This was a Dou Zhe?!!

Gale Bi gazed at Xiao Yan, who was buried motionlessly beneath the bricks and rubble, and the sinister killing intent in his eyes deepened further.

This child must not be allowed to live!

Gale Bi attacked Xiao Yan again, only to be forced back by a whip shadow that suddenly appeared from the side. Its powerful force even made Gale Bi feel as though he were contending with a low-level Great Dou Shi!

The next moment, Xiao Yu, holding a long whip, stood in front of Xiao Yan. She glowered at the distorted-faced Gale Bi and shouted sternly.

"You dare not touch him again!"