Gate to the Great Desolation Prison Heaven Finger! Return! Perfected Great Desolation Prison Heaven Finger!

The Ao Cheng Family Hall.

Liu Qing said with great satisfaction:

"With our scale of suppression, we've already encroached upon the Xiao Family's three markets."

"If it were in the past, Xiao Zhan would have already brought his men to fight us to the death."

"But now, he's just cowering in the Xiao Residence, silent."

"This Xiao Family is finished!"

Ao Cheng Nan's two tufts of eight-character white beard twitched as he chuckled:

"It seems our guess was correct."

"The Xiao Family must have angered a strong individual beyond the Grandmaster level. They're probably struggling to protect themselves now."

"How could they possibly have the energy to deal with market affairs?"

"In my opinion, we can be even bolder in our encroachment on the Xiao Family's assets!"

Liu Qing nodded:

"Brother Ao Cheng is absolutely right."

He paused, then looked at the black-robed youth beside him and raised a cup of tea:

"With Brother Liu here, even if the Xiao Family wanted to retaliate, they wouldn't have the strength."

The middle-aged man, who had been silent, didn't refuse their pleasantries and also took a sip of tea.

After drinking, Liu Cheng let out a disdainful snort:

"Those Houtian early-stage martial artists, if they dare to cause trouble, I certainly won't let them leave easily."

"Exactly, the previously agreed-upon reward..."

Ao Cheng Nan continued to smile:

"Brother Liu, please rest assured, my Ao Cheng Family and the Liu Family will definitely keep our word."

"After this is done, and the Xiao Family is merely a name..."

"The thousand taels of gold you require, along with a Qi Gathering Pill, will naturally be presented with both hands."

Ao Cheng Nan said this outwardly, but inwardly he couldn't help but sneer.

This youngster was truly asking for the moon, he actually dared to demand so much!

A thousand taels of gold was nothing, but that pill was incredibly precious. Their Ao Cheng Family only had three.

However, as long as they could swallow the Xiao Family, it would all be worth it.

In the blink of an eye, ten days had passed.

During this time, the exterior of the Xiao Family had descended into chaos.

Many of the Xiao Family's markets had their businesses taken over by the Ao Cheng and Liu families.

Throughout Dongli City, whether commoners or wealthy gentry doing business, everyone knew that Dongli City was likely about to change hands.

The Xiao Family, which had previously been the undisputed authority in Dongli City, was likely to be replaced by the Ao Cheng Family.

Therefore, many gentry and powers began to show favor to the Ao Cheng Family.

In an instant, it was as if everyone was kicking a falling wall.

In contrast to the chaos outside the Xiao Residence, the interior of the Xiao Residence was much quieter.

Xiao Zhan and the other top brass of the Xiao Family understood that it was fine to suffer some losses now. This was also a good opportunity to sweep away those fence-sitters.

As long as they waited for Xiao Huohuo to emerge, everything could be resolved.

Backyard.

Night had fallen, and all was silent.

Only Xiao Huohuo sat alone in the courtyard.

In the dim night, one could faintly see a scarlet rosy glow condensing and swirling around the young man.

Just as this rosy glow was reaching its limit, about to be expelled from his body, there was a faint "pu" sound that spread out around him.

Xiao Huohuo's tensed body relaxed, his entire body drenched in sweat. He panted, "Damn it, what's going on."

"Always just a little bit short."

"Where exactly did I go wrong?"

Over the past ten days, his Great Desolation Prison Heaven Finger had progressed at lightning speed.

From initially only being able to connect to the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, forming phantoms around him.

To completely solidifying this spiritual energy and channeling it out of his body through the mind technique.

Everything is improving, constantly being realized.

But I've been stuck on this last step for a full three days.

In three days, he had failed over a thousand times.

However, Xiao Huohuo still calmed his mind and spirit. After several breaths, his mind became completely still. He muttered to himself:

"Xiao Huohuo, just one last step."

"The last step is often the hardest, and also the easiest to slack off on."

"Once I get past this step, I'll succeed!"

He calmed himself, but didn't act immediately. Instead, he pondered.

He thought about what his Master had said...

Another hour passed.

The bright moon in the sky had already risen overhead, and the night wind had become even colder.

His thoughts, however, had reached an unprecedented state of clarity.

After reciting Chu Feng's words back and forth hundreds of times, his lips parted slightly:

"The key to this immortal technique is the understanding of the connection with heaven and earth..."

"Understanding..."

In his mind, he once again recalled the Martial Ancestor's thrilling and soul-stirring experiences.

It was as if scenes were unfolding in his mind.

And the so-called heavenly might of the Great Desolation Prison Heaven Finger became completely clear at this moment!

His eyes lit up, as if he had grasped something. He immediately closed his eyes.

At the same time, his spiritual energy began to circulate again.

Following the familiar way of circulating spiritual energy, a touch of rosy glow once again overflowed from his body, enveloping him.

This rosy glow, in just a few breaths, condensed into the shape of half a fingertip.

And on Xiao Huohuo's index finger, a faint light flickered like a flame.

When this faint light condensed to its limit, becoming increasingly dazzling, it did not dissipate. Instead, with a gritted determination from Xiao Huohuo, it slowly seeped out from his fingertip.

Suddenly, he forcefully raised his finger and pointed it towards the sky.

Wind!!

A solidified scarlet ray of light ignited from the backyard of the Xiao family, shooting towards the heavens.

In an instant, a terrifying wind wave swept across the sky.

The surrounding trees swayed violently.

In mid-air, the scarlet rosy glow continued to condense, finally forming the shape of half an index finger.

This half-index finger possessed astonishing power. The moment it appeared, all the thousands of lamps in the Xiao Residence lit up simultaneously.

Sensing the pressure suspended above their heads, everyone in the Xiao family rushed out of the gate in a panic, looking up at the sky.

They saw a giant finger appear in the sky, its power significantly less than what it was half a month ago.

Panic and fear appeared on the faces of the Xiao family's disciples and middle-ranking members.

However, four people were an exception.

When these four people saw the shape of the giant finger in the sky, they were all incredibly excited.

Xiao Zhan and the three elders quickly returned to their rooms, hastily put on their clothes, and rushed towards Xiao Huohuo's courtyard.

The scene shifted back to the courtyard where Xiao Huohuo was staying.

Xiao Huohuo's eyes shone with light. He looked excitedly at the half-giant finger he had condensed in the air. He took a deep breath, calmed his mind, and then suddenly waved his fingertip, shouting fiercely: "Half Finger, Shake Heaven and Earth!"

As his voice fell, Xiao Huohuo smoothly controlled the vast spiritual energy he had released, pressing it downwards.

The space in the courtyard seemed to be locked by some terrifying aura, and even the surrounding wind could not escape.

It could only let the half-giant finger descend.

Boom!

The moment the fingertip touched the ground, the soil splashed up like water.

Smoke and dust covered the entire courtyard, only settling after a long time.

Xiao Huohuo looked ahead, his expression becoming somewhat dazed.

A giant pit, with a radius of five meters and a depth of three meters, appeared before his eyes...