Disciple, Why Are You Holding Sister Susu?

Wen Fei's head drooped, bloodshot veins spreading across her eyes as she stared at the golden swordlight that had pierced her graceful body and still hadn't faded.

She had never expected Xiao Yao to deny her even the slightest chance to burn her life force and increase her strength.

"You have no honor..."

Xiao Yao smiled as he explained, "In a fight to the death, what does honor have to do with it? Besides, as your enemy, how could I possibly give you a chance to grow stronger? Do you think I'm an idiot?"

If Wen Fei hadn't been the victim, she would have wholeheartedly agreed with Xiao Yao.

Just as she was about to say more, Xiao Yao's finger twitched. The golden swordlight piercing her body surged with even more ferocious Sword Qi.

Boom!

After a thunderous crash, the graceful and lovely Wen Fei's body was destroyed.

Then her soul was also annihilated by the Saint might of the Saint Artifact, the Taiyan Sword.

Zhuo Dongxuan and Dai Tianwei, standing behind Xiao Yao, as well as Xiao Xueyu and the other members of the Xiao Clan before him, all stared in stunned disbelief.

Even someone as powerful as a Great Emperor's Direct Disciple couldn't survive at Xiao Yao's hands. His strength was truly terrifying!

[ Ding! Congratulations, Host, on completing the mission: Teach that Great Emperor's disciple a lesson. Reward: The Way of Prudence comprehension (Human Realm Max Level)! ]

"System, you really haven't given up, have you? You still want me to take that Qingshan Gou Di as my master." Xiao Yao grumbled inwardly.

[ Ding! Rewards are issued randomly. I can't control them! You've wronged me, Host. Sob, sob, sob... ]

Xiao Yao was speechless and decided to ignore the system.

Looking at the members of his clan ahead, whose hands and feet were bound with ropes, he swept his arm out. Silver Sword Qi burst forth in streaks, shooting toward the Xiao Clan members with a series of swift whistles.

Shhk! Shhk! Shhk! Shhk! Shhk!

Every rope binding the Xiao Clan members' hands was sliced apart.

Now able to move freely again, Xiao Xueyu immediately dropped to one knee and bowed respectfully. "Thank you!"

Seeing her, the other Xiao Clan members hurriedly followed suit, kneeling on one knee and bowing as they voiced their gratitude.

"Everyone, get up!" Xiao Yao said sternly.

After the Xiao Clan members had risen, he spoke again. "As Young Clan Leader, protecting my people is my duty. Likewise, doing your part for the Xiao Clan's prosperity is your duty. Understood?"

"Young Clan Leader, I understand!" Xiao Juan was the first to reply.

Xiao Xueyu and the other twelve Xiao Clan members then shouted in unison, "Young Clan Leader, we understand!"

Their voices rang out in unison, loud and powerful, full of vigor.

"Good!" Xiao Yao replied, then immediately explained what he planned to do next. "Xiao Xueyu, I have something to take care of, so I need to leave the Giant Spirit Secret Realm. I'll entrust the Xiao Clan members here to you for the rest of the journey!"

Leave the Giant Spirit Secret Realm?

Xiao Xueyu and the other Xiao Clan members, along with Zhuo Dongxuan and Dai Tianwei, all stared at him wide-eyed, looking completely taken aback.

But it was only natural. The Giant Spirit Secret Realm would remain open for a full month.

Only about a week had passed. Even if they just cultivated here, where the spiritual energy was dense, it would be better than going outside!

"What is it?" Dai Tianwei couldn't hold back her curiosity and demanded.

Xiao Yao's mouth twitched. He couldn't exactly say that he had snuck away from Qingshan Gou Di!

If he didn't leave the Giant Spirit Secret Realm soon and Qingshan Gou Di found him, he might not just die—he could end up wishing he were dead!

Su Tanmeng, currently transformed into a Nine-tailed Celestial Fox, felt Xiao Yao's broad frame tremble slightly.

This boy was so brave when he refused me earlier, yet now he's afraid of me. He's so hard to understand.

In truth, it wasn't hard to understand. Xiao Yao had been brave earlier because he wanted to honor his master.

Now he was afraid because he knew there was a path to escape, but that path could be cut off at any moment.

"This has nothing to do with you. It's my own business."

Xiao Yao didn't offer a real explanation—or rather, a detailed one.

Every second he wasted now could be the key to Qingshan Gou Di discovering that he had slipped away.

But Dai Tianwei seemed determined to make things difficult for him. "Brother Xiao Yao, if you don't explain, I won't let you leave. You'll have to step over my body first."

Zhuo Dongxuan's face twitched. She felt that Dai Tianwei was acting rather strangely.

But then she reconsidered. Could this little girl think that after they parted now, it would be difficult to see Xiao Yao again?

That couldn't be it, could it?

They were all in the Southern Wilderness Domain, after all, and they already knew Xiao Yao came from the Xiao Clan in Xuanzhou City. It would be easy enough to pay him a visit.

Xiao Yao still didn't want to explain, but he also didn't want to fall out with Dai Tianwei. So what should he do?

Suddenly, he came up with a good idea. "Dai Tianwei, didn't you think the Saint-tier treasure, the Tai Chi Bagua Mirror, wasn't given to me by Pavilion Master Li? Come with me out of the Giant Spirit Secret Realm, and let him—and your master—tell you themselves."

Dai Tianwei froze for a moment, then seemed to realize what he meant. She quickly replied, "All right! I'll go with you."

"Xiao Yao, I'm coming too!" Zhuo Dongxuan immediately called out.

She also wanted to know whether the Mysterious Moon Society's highest-grade token had really come from her master.

Besides, she didn't want Xiao Yao and Dai Tianwei to have the chance to spend a long time together.

Qingshan Gou Di, Su Tanmeng, smiled faintly. These two girls were indeed quite good. Both had an Emperor's Bearing.

They simply weren't worthy of the Xiao Yao holding her!

And from the looks of it, Xiao Yao was far more interested in her big fluffy tail than in beautiful women.

Perhaps he hadn't grown all his fur yet!

In a few years, when his blood was truly running hot, he would understand!

Xiao Yao wanted to refuse, but when he remembered that he couldn't waste any more time, he agreed. "All right! We'll set out at once!"

After saying goodbye to Xiao Xueyu and the other Xiao Clan members, the three of them sped toward the nearest exit from the Giant Spirit Secret Realm.

A quarter of an hour passed.

Xiao Yao gazed at the exit ahead, which shimmered with crystalline light. He was so excited that his arms tightened around the Nine-tailed Celestial Fox.

But the final moment was often the most dangerous.

So he suppressed his excitement and kept his expression calm as he said, "Let's go!"

Dai Tianwei and Zhuo Dongxuan didn't understand why Xiao Yao was in such a hurry.

Still, they followed close behind him and passed through the glowing exit.

They reappeared high above some part of the Purple Frost Mountain Range.

Xiao Yao let out a deep breath. If Dai Tianwei and Zhuo Dongxuan hadn't been right behind him, he would have shouted, "I'm finally out! I don't have to worry about Qingshan Gou Di finding me anymore!"

Then he thought about it again. He still wasn't necessarily safe.

Qingshan Gou Di was universally recognized as the strongest Great Emperor. If she discovered that he had slipped away, she might fly into a rage and charge out of the Giant Spirit Secret Realm to hunt him down.

So what he had to do now was return to his master's side. Only then would he be safe!

Without another moment's hesitation, he released his Spiritual Sense and quickly found the entrance to the Giant Spirit Secret Realm he had entered earlier.

"Follow me!"

As soon as he spoke, Xiao Yao headed straight toward Dongfang Xuetong, without a care for anything else.

Zhuo Dongxuan and Dai Tianwei found this strange, but they had no time to ask. They could only follow quietly behind him.

Dongfang Xuetong had been standing in place, gazing into the distance. When she sensed Xiao Yao's presence, her previously icy, beautiful face broke into a delighted smile.

My disciple! He made it back alive!

That's wonderful!

Whoosh!

A sharp, silvery-white swordlight descended from the sky.

If he hadn't been holding the Nine-tailed Celestial Fox, Xiao Yao would certainly have bowed respectfully.

"Master, I'm back!"

Dongfang Xuetong nodded slightly, joy shining in her star-bright eyes. But when her gaze landed on the Nine-tailed Celestial Fox in Xiao Yao's arms, the smile on her face froze.

"Disciple, why are you holding Sister Susu?"

Xiao Yao repeated the question, utterly confused. "Sister Susu? What's that?"

"Boy, she means me, of course!" Qingshan Gou Di, Su Tanmeng, knew there was no longer any way to hide it, so she spoke aloud.

Xiao Yao's broad frame jolted. He hadn't expected that the Nine-tailed Celestial Fox he was holding wasn't a clone, but Qingshan Gou Di herself.

As expected of a Great Emperor who had reached the pinnacle of the Way of Prudence. She was way too sneaky!