Let's go, follow me to destroy the Xiao Clan!

When the Third Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect arrived in Wutan City with five Dou Ling disciples, the sun had just passed its zenith.

Standing at the city gate, the Third Elder looked at the small city before him, his expression grim. "To think that two of our Misty Cloud Sect elders died in such a wretched place."

A disciple standing nearby spoke up, "Third Elder, shall we head straight to the Xiao Clan?"

"What else? Do you think we came here for anything other than to wipe out the Xiao Clan?" The Third Elder shot the disciple a glance.

The disciple hurriedly lowered his head, not daring to speak again.

"Let's go." The Third Elder waved his hand. "Wipe out the Xiao Clan."

The six of them headed in the direction of the Xiao Clan.

Outside the main gate of the Xiao Clan, two guards stood chatting idly.

One of them noticed the group approaching from a distance and frowned. "Those people don't look like they're from our Wutan City."

The other guard looked over as well. "Their clothes don't look right either. Could they be here to cause trouble?"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the Third Elder reached the gate.

"Who are you people?" one guard asked, stepping forward.

The Third Elder did not speak; he simply raised his hand and struck out with a palm.

The guard's body flew backward, slamming into the doorframe, and he breathed his last on the spot.

The other guard's face changed drastically, and he turned to run.

A disciple behind the Third Elder flashed forward and struck the guard in the back with a palm.

The guard collapsed to the ground, motionless.

The Third Elder didn't even glance at them as he led his men through the Xiao Clan's gates.

Several members of the Xiao Clan were walking through the courtyard, and they froze at the sight.

"Who are you? How dare you barge into the Xiao Clan?"

A young clansman rushed forward, only to be swatted away by a casual palm strike from one of the Dou Ling disciples.

Another clansman tried to flee, but was intercepted and struck dead by another disciple.

In the span of a few breaths, several more corpses littered the courtyard.

The remaining Xiao clansmen fled in terror.

"Where is Xiao Yan?" the Third Elder asked coldly.

No one answered.

"Keep searching," the Third Elder commanded.

Inside the main hall of the Xiao Clan, Xiao Zhan sat in the head seat, discussing affairs with several elders.

They needed to finalize how to take over the Jia Lie Clan's assets and how to arrange their manpower.

The First Elder spoke up, "The Jia Lie Clan has been severely crippled this time; we can seize all of their shops."

"The First Elder is right," the Second Elder agreed, "but we must be quick, lest other clans beat us to it."

Just as Xiao Zhan was about to speak, hurried footsteps echoed from outside.

A Xiao Clan disciple stumbled in, his face deathly pale.

"Clan Head, it's bad."

Xiao Zhan frowned. "What is it?"

"The Misty Cloud Sect... people from the Misty Cloud Sect are here," the disciple said, gasping for breath. "They've killed many of our people. The two guards at the gate are dead, and several clansmen in the courtyard have been killed as well."

Xiao Zhan's expression changed instantly, and the elders stood up, their faces grim.

"How many of them are there?" the First Elder asked.

"Six," the disciple replied. "The leader is an old man who looks like a Dou King expert, followed by five young men."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhan's expression shifted. He gritted his teeth and said, "Let's go out and see."

In the Xiao Clan courtyard, the Third Elder stood in the center with his five Dou Ling disciples lined up behind him.

Seven or eight corpses lay on the ground, all of them Xiao clansmen.

Several Xiao Clan disciples stood far away, not daring to approach.

Xiao Zhan led the elders out of the hall, his face turning livid at the sight of the bodies.

"People of the Misty Cloud Sect, you have gone too far!" Xiao Zhan roared.

The Third Elder looked at Xiao Zhan. "You are the Clan Head of the Xiao Clan?"

"I am."

"Where is Xiao Yan?" the Third Elder asked.

"I don't know," Xiao Zhan said.

The Third Elder sneered. "You don't know? He is your son, and you don't know?"

"I don't know, which means I don't know," Xiao Zhan said.

A cold glint flashed in the Third Elder's eyes. "It seems you won't speak unless I teach you a lesson."

The First Elder hurriedly stepped forward and cupped his hands. "Third Elder, this matter is the fault of our Xiao Clan, and we are willing to offer compensation."

"Compensation?" The Third Elder looked at the First Elder. "What can your Xiao Clan possibly use to compensate? You killed two of our elders; do you think a few gold coins will suffice?"

The First Elder's face turned pale.

"Xiao Yan must die today," the Third Elder said. "And your Xiao Clan must provide an explanation."

Xiao Zhan stepped forward. "If you want to kill or maim someone, come at me."

"Very well." As soon as the Third Elder finished speaking, he kicked Xiao Zhan in the chest.

Xiao Zhan spat out a mouthful of blood as his entire body flew backward and slammed into the ground.

"Clan Head!" Several Xiao Clan disciples tried to rush forward, but they were too terrified to move after a single glance from the Third Elder.

The Third Elder walked over and stepped on Xiao Zhan's face.

"Tell me, where is Xiao Yan?"

Half of Xiao Zhan's face was pressed into the dirt, blood still staining the corners of his mouth.

"I don't know."

The Third Elder ground his heel down with force. "Are you going to talk or not?"

Xiao Zhan gritted his teeth. "Even if you kill me, I still don't know."

A murderous intent flashed in the Third Elder's eyes. "Then don't blame me for being ruthless."

The Third Elder raised his hand, gathering Dou Qi in his palm, preparing to strike down.

The other elders stood to the side, none daring to step forward.

The First Elder opened his mouth as if to say something, but he swallowed his words instead.

Outside the bamboo forest behind the mountain, Xiao Xun'er came running in.

Xiao Xun'er usually walked with a light step, never making much noise, but this time her footsteps were heavy.

Xiao Yan, who had been sitting cross-legged on a boulder, had just finished his cultivation and opened his eyes.

"Brother Xiao Yan." Xiao Xun'er ran to the base of the boulder, panting. "Something has happened."

Xiao Yan looked down at Xiao Xun'er. "What is it?"

"People from the Misty Cloud Sect have arrived. They wounded Uncle Xiao and killed many members of the Xiao Clan," Xiao Xun'er said. "If you don't go now, Uncle Xiao will be killed by them as well."

A chill flashed through Xiao Yan's eyes.

Xiao Yan leaped down from the boulder and landed on the ground.

"Be careful, Brother Xiao Yan," Xiao Xun'er said.

Xiao Yan did not speak; his figure flickered as he dashed toward the Xiao Clan.

Inside the Xiao Clan courtyard, the Third Elder's raised palm slowly descended, the Dou Qi in his palm growing increasingly dense.

Xiao Zhan lay on the ground with a foot still pressed against his face, the blood at the corner of his mouth already drying.

"I'll ask you one last time," the Third Elder said. "Where is Xiao Yan?"

Xiao Zhan closed his eyes. "I don't know."

The Third Elder sneered. "Then go to hell."

The Third Elder struck down with his palm.

"Stop."

A voice came from the entrance.

The Third Elder's hand stopped in mid-air, and he turned his head to look.

Xiao Yan stood at the entrance, the scent of the mountain forest still clinging to him.

There was no expression on Xiao Yan's face, and his eyes were terrifyingly calm.

The Third Elder withdrew his foot and turned around to face Xiao Yan.

"You are Xiao Yan?"

Xiao Yan did not answer; his gaze remained fixed on Xiao Zhan.

His father lay on the ground with blood at the corner of his mouth and a footprint on his face.