"Are we going to war?"
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"Come on, Xiao Zhan. You're all bark and no bite. Do you really dare to go to war with both our clans?"
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"Aren't you afraid the Xiao Clan will be wiped off the map in Wutan City?!"
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Aoba Pa and Jia Liebi traded barbed remarks.
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On the dais, Xiao Zhan and the others looked furious.
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"You..."
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The hot-tempered Second Elder started forward, but Xiao Zhan pulled him back.
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"Clan Leader, they've gone too far..." the Second Elder said angrily.
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"Wait. Let's see what Ling'er has to say."
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Xiao Zhan looked grim, but still turned his gaze toward the White-robed Youth beside him.
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The Second Elder looked over as well, forcing down his anger for the moment.
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At those words, the hot-blooded Xiao Clan youths were so incensed they stamped their feet, itching to tear into the other men.
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Still, they held back their urge to attack and looked toward the dais—or, more precisely, toward the White-robed Youth.
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Even Xiao Yu looked over. She believed her Brother Xiao Ling would surely stand up for them.
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Seeing the Xiao Clan youths' reaction, Aoba Pa and Jia Liebi exchanged puzzled looks and followed their gaze. They spotted a white-robed boy in his teens, head lowered as if lost in thought.
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Just then, the boy seemed to notice them watching. He raised his head casually and glanced their way.
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His indifferent gaze sent a chill through them, as if they'd been doused with cold water. A surge of anger and humiliation followed.
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Yet Xiao Ling seemed not to notice their expressions. His cold, unquestionable voice, carried by Dou Qi, rang across the entire Martial Arts Arena.
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"You two old dogs, who gave you the nerve to come stir up trouble in the Xiao Clan? Aren't you the ones who wanted a war? Then let me make this clear: if you start one, every one of your lackeys here today will stay behind to be buried with my Xiao Clan. Believe me or not!"
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At his words, every member of the Xiao Clan—from the Three Great Elders to the youths, guards, and servants—wore a look of grim resolve and glared at the two clans.
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They looked ready to tear the other men apart the moment Xiao Ling gave the word.
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Aoba Pa, Jia Liebi, and the others were so frightened they froze on the spot. When they recovered, both men looked grim, and Aoba Pa glared at Xiao Ling with a chilling look.
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"You little—"
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"Aoba Pa, say one more word and I'll kill you right here! Just try me!"
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Xiao Zhan stepped forward, and the aura of a Seven Star Dou Grandmaster erupted from him, pressing down on everyone present.
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Aoba Pa, Jia Liebi, and the other Dou Grandmasters looked wary.
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They were only Two-Three Star Dou Grandmasters, no match for Xiao Zhan. And that was before counting the three old men watching them like hawks.
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Aoba Pa looked especially grim, his heart full of unease. With Xiao Zhan's strength, no one there could stop him from killing Aoba Pa.
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But this also proved the rumors were true. With Xiao Zhan's talent, he couldn't have advanced from a Five Star Dou Grandmaster to a Seven Star Dou Grandmaster in just a few short years otherwise.
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At that thought, Aoba Pa and Jia Liebi exchanged a glance, both seeing the same desire in each other's eyes.
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Aoba Pa then looked toward the dais, a strained smile on his face.
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"Congratulations, Brother Xiao Zhan, on coming one step closer to becoming a Dou Ling. Our clans came here mainly to have a friendly spar with the Xiao Clan youths. What do you think, Brother Xiao Zhan?"
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Well, that was a quick change of tune.
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Xiao Yu and the other Xiao Clan youths silently mocked Aoba Pa and his companions, looking at them with disdain.
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The elders and youths of both clans lowered their heads, wishing they could crawl into a hole.
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They'd come to swagger and extort the Xiao Clan, but a mere youth had pointedly insulted them the moment they arrived. Worse, they hadn't dared to answer back, because they had no doubt Xiao Zhan would truly kill them.
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At that, Xiao Zhan turned to the White-robed Youth beside him, asking with his eyes.
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"Ling'er, what do you think? Should we accept, or leave them here? With my strength and the three elders at my side, we can take them all."
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Xiao Ling waved a hand. "No need. Even if you and the three elders fought together, their desperate counterattack would cost our clan plenty of lives. It wouldn't be worth it."
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"Then what do you suggest?"
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"Accept. Let's see what tricks those two old dogs have up their sleeves. We can set a wager, too, and give our clan's youths some real combat experience. Even if something does go wrong, I'll be there to protect our side. They won't be able to stir up trouble. As for anyone above the Da Dou Shi level, I'll leave them to you and the three elders."
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It wasn't that he didn't want to kill them. The system could only plunder lifespans from people he killed himself.
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In his eyes, everyone from the two clans was a walking treasure. Even a baby could grant him a considerable number of years, so he had no intention of letting a single one escape!!!
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Once this was over, he planned to head back to the Magic Beast Mountain Range and plunder enough lifespans to prepare for his breakthrough to Da Dou Shi...
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He also planned to check whether that opportunity was still there... If it was, he'd claim it on behalf of his "Yan Di," as compensation for trying to steal his girl...
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"All right. Since you have a plan, Ling'er, you can negotiate on behalf of our clan. The three elders and I will back you up."
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Xiao Zhan smiled.
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"Good!"
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Xiao Ling nodded, then looked coldly down at Aoba Pa and the others.
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"A spar isn't out of the question, but there should be something at stake. What have your two clans brought for the wager?"
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"Well..."
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After waiting for a while, Aoba Pa and Jia Liebi exchanged glances, then looked toward the back of the crowd, where a gray-robed youth had been resting with his eyes closed the entire time. Reassured, they turned toward the dais and smiled.
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"We'll each put up fifty thousand gold coins. How does that sound?"
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Xiao Ling frowned.
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"Not enough."
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"Your two clans will each put up a hundred thousand gold coins. The Xiao Clan will offer two Fourth-grade Foundation Establishment Powders." As he spoke, Xiao Ling took a small Jade Bottle from his robes and gave it a shake. "I'm sure you're both familiar with this, aren't you?"
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A flash of greed crossed Aoba Pa's eyes, and he smiled. "No problem!"
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"Now that we've settled the wager, what will the rules be?"
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"A tournament. Your two clans will each send three people to spar with our youths. Best two out of three. How does that sound?"
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Xiao Ling spoke casually, but his tone left no room for argument.
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"Fine. No problem."
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Aoba Pa and Jia Liebi nodded. Neither took issue with his attitude...
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Aoba Pa turned to the youth beside him and spoke softly.
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"Hu'er, you'll take the first match. Remember what I told you. Hit him hard. Better yet, cripple him."
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"Don't worry, Father."
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A finely dressed boy of about seven or eight, with a pointy face and ratlike features, wore a sly grin.
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He strode up to the raised platform at the front of the Martial Arts Arena and looked toward the Xiao Clan youths, disdain flickering in his eyes.
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On the dais, Xiao Ling glanced at the Xiao Clan disciples. His gaze passed over Xiao Wu and Xiao Yu before settling on Xiao Yan. Then he spoke.
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"Xiao Yan, you'll represent our clan in the first match."
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