Dou Zong Returns, Covering the Sky with One Hand!

"Xiao Ding! Xiao Li! Come out and surrender at once! Otherwise, this seat will raze your Xiao Family to the ground today!"

Jialie Bi's arrogant, killing-intent-filled roar exploded above the Xiao Family ancestral home like a sharp, rolling thunderclap, causing everyone's eardrums to ache. Immediately following this, heavy footsteps rumbled like muffled thunder, the clashing of armor sounded like metal striking metal, and the shrill, piercing hum of Dou Qi erupting wove together into a surging tide. It poured in from all directions, encircling the entire Xiao Family ancestral home until not even a drop of water could pass through.

At this moment, the main gate of the Xiao Family ancestral home was tightly shut, and a thick, defensive barrier of light stood like a massive shield between the estate and the outside world. The barrier flickered violently, its light dimming and brightening as it endured wave after wave of fierce attacks from the outside. Each time a strike landed, the barrier trembled intensely, as if it might shatter at any moment.

Inside the barrier, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li stood at the forefront, leading every Xiao clansman capable of fighting. Holding sharp blades, their eyes were firm and resolute as they guarded every vital passage like immovable fortresses. Meanwhile, the women, children, and the elderly were gathered in the safest inner courtyard, their faces etched with fear and despair, their eyes revealing a deep anxiety for their unknown fate.

Ya Fei stood quietly on the steps before the main hall, her moon-white palace gown fluttering gently in the night breeze like a white lotus blooming in the dark. Her beautiful face was frosted over, and her originally charming, alluring eyes were now as cold as blades, staring fixedly at the three powerful figures outside the light barrier—

Jialie Bi, a peak Dou Grandmaster, had earth-yellow Dou Qi churning around him like a surging wave, his eyes filled with such deep resentment that it seemed he wished to devour the entire Xiao Family.

Aoba Pa, also a peak Dou Grandmaster, gripped a flaming long blade tightly. The flames dancing on the blade reflected his face, which was twisted in a continuous, hideous grin, making him look like a demon from hell.

Luo Bu, the commander of the City Lord's Mansion and a terrifying one-star Dou Ling, stood with an aura as heavy and steady as a mountain, pressing down upon the entire Xiao Family until they could barely breathe. Behind him were hundreds of fully armed, murderous City Lord's Mansion guards; their cold eyes and sharp blades made them look like a pack of hungry wolves, ready to pounce on their prey at any moment.

"Miss Ya Fei!" Luo Bu's voice carried an official tone, his majesty laced with unquestionable pressure as it rang in Ya Fei's ears like a thunderclap. "This commander acts under the City Lord's orders to apprehend the suspected collaborators Xiao Ding and Xiao Li! If your Miteer Auction House insists on shielding them, do not blame this commander for treating you as an accomplice and taking you down as well!"

"Commander Luo Bu, your official authority is certainly overbearing!" A cold sneer curled the corners of Ya Fei's lips. Her voice, as if carrying a blade with piercing magic, cut straight through the light barrier and clearly reached the ears of everyone present. "If you are determined to condemn someone, you will always find a pretext! Your City Lord's Mansion, along with the Jialie and Aoba families, are all birds of a feather, colluding to frame others with such practiced ease. Do you really take my Miteer Family for a soft persimmon to be kneaded at will? I have already sent word to the Heiyan City branch; reinforcements will arrive in a few days! I would like to see who dares to touch a single hair on anyone in the Xiao Family today!"

"Heiyan City?" Jialie Bi curled his lip and let out a scoff. A flicker of wariness flashed in his eyes, but it vanished in an instant, replaced by madness and greed. "By the time your reinforcements arrive, the Xiao Family will have long since been reduced to scorched earth where nothing grows! Ya Fei, don't refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit! Attack! Use everything you have to shatter this turtle shell!"

"Yes!" The City Lord's Mansion guards responded in unison, their voices as loud as a great bell. Immediately, even more violent Dou Qi attacks poured down like a torrential rain, slamming fiercely against the defensive barrier. The barrier swayed violently, like a candle in a gale, its light fading rapidly as if it were about to extinguish; it clearly could not hold out much longer against such a storm of attacks.

"Prepare for a death battle!" Xiao Ding's eyes were as red as blood, and he let out a desperate, shrill roar that seemed to pierce the clouds. Lightning flashed around Xiao Li's body, making him look like a ignited thunderball, and he slammed his Heavy Xuan Ruler into the ground with a deafening thud. Every Xiao clansman, regardless of age or gender, ignited a flame of desperate resolve in their eyes—it was a longing for survival and loyalty to their family.

Ya Fei bit her red lip until it bled, her jade hands clenched into fists, her nails digging deep into her palms and bringing a piercing pain. She knew clearly that the shadow guards she had dispatched to "create evidence" and spread rumors needed time, and the reinforcements from Heiyan City would take at least half a day to arrive... Could the Xiao Family really hold out until then?

Just at this critical moment, as the defensive barrier was on the verge of shattering and everyone had fallen into despair!

A sudden change occurred!

Hum—!!!

A terrifying pressure, impossible to describe in words, descended upon the entire Wutan City without warning, carrying an aura of destruction as if an ancient god had suddenly awakened from its slumber. The pressure was like an invisible mountain, crushing people until they could not breathe, as if the entire world had frozen at this very moment.

Time seemed to have been gently seized by an invisible hand, freezing completely in this instant.

The Dou Qi attacks that had been pouring down like a rainstorm froze in mid-air, looking like a dangerous painting that had been paused. Each bolt of Dou Qi flickered with cold, dangerous light but could not advance even a fraction, as if an invisible giant hand had pressed the pause button. The City Lord's Mansion guards, who had been charging like tigers descending a mountain, suddenly stiffened. The arrogant, overbearing expressions on their faces were instantly replaced by boundless fear, as if they had seen the most terrifying sight in the world.

The Dou Qi that had been churning like surging waves around Jialie Bi and Aoba Pa was extinguished instantly, as if a basin of cold water had been dumped on a fire. The ferocity and madness on their faces were replaced by terror, their eyes filled with panic and helplessness. Luo Bu's Dou Ling-level aura, in the face of this sudden, terrifying pressure, was as fragile as a candle flickering in the wind; it instantly collapsed and dissipated into the air like a wisp of smoke.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

A series of dull sounds rang out one after another, as if an invisible giant hammer had struck everyone's knees. Including Luo Bu, the Dou Ling expert, every member of the City Lord's Mansion guards, the Jialie Family, and the Aoba Family knelt to the ground like wheat being swept by a gale, completely unable to resist. The sound of knees hitting the bluestone floor was incessant, sounding like a ruthless verdict of fate being passed upon them.

Jialie Bi and Aoba Pa bore the brunt of the pressure, suffering the vast majority of its force. The two felt as if a ten-thousand-foot mountain were pressing down on their backs; their internal organs groaned in pain, and their vision went black, as if they were trapped in an endless dark abyss. A sweetness rose in their throats, and with a "wa," they both spat out large mouthfuls of blood, which splashed onto the bluestone floor like glaring red flowers. They were pressed flat against the ground like dead dogs, unable to even perform the simple act of lifting their heads, and could only struggle powerlessly.

The entire Wutan City fell into a deathly silence at this moment, as if time had stopped flowing. Everyone who felt this pressure, no matter where they were or what their cultivation level, felt a trembling fear from the depths of their souls. It was an instinctual awe, as if ants were looking up at the firmament; there was no choice but to submit.

"What... what kind of power is this?!" Luo Bu was pressed into the ground, his face glued to the cold stone slabs. The bone-chilling cold seeped through his cheek into his body, but it was nothing compared to the fear in his heart. His eyes were filled with boundless shock and disbelief, his voice trembling like a leaf in the wind. A Dou Emperor? No! This pressure was far stronger than a Dou Emperor—could it be a Dou Zong?! How could a legendary figure like a Dou Zong appear in a remote place like Wutan City?!

Inside the Xiao Family ancestral home, the defensive barrier that had been teetering and on the verge of shattering quietly dissipated under this pressure, like a soldier who had completed its mission and was silently retreating. Yet, the Xiao Family members were unharmed. They were also stunned by this sudden, terrifying pressure, but for most, what they felt was a sense of intimacy and excitement from the depths of their bloodlines, as if a long-lost relative had returned, bringing endless warmth and strength.

Xiao Ding and Xiao Li looked up almost simultaneously, their gazes like torches, staring straight at the deep sky. Ya Fei's delicate body shook violently, as if struck by a bolt of lightning. Her originally charming eyes widened to their limit, staring fixedly at the direction from which the pressure originated, as if she wanted to pierce through the void.

They saw that in the night sky directly above the Xiao Family ancestral home, the space was rippling like water after a boulder had been thrown into a calm lake, slowly spreading outward. A figure slowly stepped out from that endless void and hung quietly in the air, like a god walking from ancient times.

He wore a simple green robe; though it lacked ornate decorations, he possessed an extraordinary, transcendent temperament. His face was resolute, with lines as if carved by a knife, revealing an unquestionable tenacity. His eyes were deep, like the vast, boundless starry sky, hiding endless mysteries and majesty. He did not release any earth-shattering aura; he simply stood there, yet he seemed to have merged with heaven and earth, becoming the absolute center of this world. And that terrifying pressure that made all things in the world submit originated from him!

"Fa... Father?!" Xiao Ding and Xiao Li's voices trembled violently, filled with unbelievable ecstasy, as if they had suddenly seen the dawn of hope in the darkness. Their voices were laden with longing for their father, relief from the family crisis, and infinite anticipation for the future.

"Xiao... Patriarch Xiao?!" Ya Fei's red lips parted slightly, and a brilliance as bright as stars erupted in her beautiful eyes. Excitement, joy, grievance... all sorts of complex emotions intertwined in her heart, leaving her unable to speak for a moment. She could only stare blankly at that figure, tears swirling in her eyes.

The person who had arrived was none other than Xiao Zhan! He had finally returned at the most critical moment for the family!

Xiao Zhan's gaze was as indifferent as ice, slowly sweeping over the people crawling on the ground like mud below. His eyes revealed endless contempt and disdain. Finally, his gaze landed on Jialie Bi, Aoba Pa, and Luo Bu. That look was as if he were watching three insignificant ants that could be crushed to death at any moment.

"I, Xiao Zhan, have been away for only a few days, and the petty scoundrels of Wutan City already dare to bully my Xiao Family?" His calm voice, like a cold wind blowing from the depths of the Nine Serenities, carried a chill that could freeze the soul, clearly reaching the depths of everyone's consciousness. His voice contained anger toward the petty villains and a defense of the family's dignity.

"Dou... Dou Zong, spare me! Spare me!" Luo Bu was the first to break down. He struggled desperately to lift his head, wailing with tears and snot streaming down his face, looking utterly wretched. "It... it was the City Lord! The City Lord accepted bribes from the Jialie and Aoba families! This lowly one was only following orders! Spare me!" His voice was filled with fear and despair, as if he had grasped at a final straw.

"Patriarch Xiao! It's a misunderstanding! It's all a misunderstanding!" Aoba Pa was scared out of his wits, his face as pale as paper. He tried desperately to explain, but his voice became incoherent and rambling due to his fear.

"A misunderstanding?" Xiao Zhan's lips curled slightly, forming an extremely cold arc that hid endless killing intent and majesty. His gaze pierced through the void like a sharp sword, landing steadily on Jialie Bi, his voice as cold as ice: "Jialie Bi, you just boasted that you would raze my Xiao Family to the ground?"

"No! I wouldn't dare! Lord... Lord Xiao Zhan! Spare me! I..." Jialie Bi felt a chill shoot from the soles of his feet to his crown. His liver and gallbladder were shattered, and he was so terrified that he collapsed on the ground, his words becoming incoherent, like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered, trembling helplessly before the god of death.

"Too late."

Xiao Zhan's voice was as calm as a still lake, yet it sounded like the verdict of the god of death, carrying an irresistible majesty. He slowly raised his right hand, the movement elegant and composed, as if he were merely brushing away a speck of dust. Then, he made a light, grasping motion in the air toward Jialie Bi, as if he had seized the fate of the entire world.

There was no earth-shattering sound, no dazzling display of Dou Qi; everything happened in silence.

The space within three zhang of Jialie Bi was instantly gripped and twisted by an invisible giant hand, as if it were being kneaded into an endless vortex.

Puff—!

Jialie Bi didn't even have time to let out a scream before his entire body was like a watermelon being crushed; it instantly turned into a thick mist of blood, blooming into a shocking flower of blood in the night sky. Along with the bluestone floor beneath him, it silently caved in under that terrifying force, forming a palm-print crater several zhang wide, as if telling the story of the terrifying scene that had just occurred.

The smell of blood quickly permeated the air, shrouding the entire Xiao Family ancestral home.

Dead silence!

Absolute, dead silence!

Everyone was scared out of their wits by this terrifying and eerie scene, as if they had seen the most horrifying sight in the world. A peak Dou Grandmaster had been wiped out silently, like crushing a bedbug, without even a chance to resist.

The might of a Dou Zong was truly this terrifying! This power had already exceeded the scope of their understanding, making them feel an unprecedented sense of despair and fear.

"Hiss--!" Aoba Pa gasped, his eyes rolling back as he was scared senseless, fainting on the spot. His crotch soaked through instantly, emitting a pungent stench of urine.

Luo Bu trembled like a sieve, his head slamming against the ground with rhythmic thuds. His forehead streamed with blood, yet he felt no pain. "Spare me, my lord! Spare me! This lowly one knows his mistake! I will never dare again!" he shrieked, his voice thick with terror and despair, as if clutching at a final straw of salvation.

Xiao Zhan's gaze slowly shifted to Luo Bu, cold and resolute, as if staring at a dead man who had already stepped into the gates of hell, devoid of the slightest pity or hesitation.

"Xiao Zhan! Stay your hand!"

Just then, an anxious, frantic voice erupted from the direction of the City Lord's Mansion. City Lord He Gan (a two-star Dou Ling) arrived, flying at breakneck speed with a few trusted aides. His face was as pale as paper, as if he had witnessed the most terrifying sight in the world. Before he even arrived, his voice, laced with pleading and panic, rang out: "Brother Xiao! It's a misunderstanding! All of it! I was muddled for a moment, listening to the slander of villains! I beg you to show mercy! I am willing to compensate the Xiao Family for all losses—if ten times isn't enough, then a hundred times!"

He Gan was truly panicked, his heart filled with endless regret and fear. He had never imagined that Xiao Zhan would suddenly transform into a Dou Zong powerhouse! Before such a terrifying existence, his position as City Lord was nothing more than a joke, worth absolutely nothing!

However, Xiao Zhan did not even glance at He Gan. His gaze remained locked onto Luo Bu like ice, as if in this moment, Luo Bu was the only person in the world.

"Those who aid the wicked must be executed."

Xiao Zhan's voice was calm and indifferent, yet it carried the weight of a death sentence, filled with unquestionable majesty. As the words fell, he flicked his finger lightly.

A faint, nearly invisible golden finger-wind, as if piercing the boundaries of space and time, instantly bored through the center of Luo Bu's brow. The speed was so great that Luo Bu had no time to react.

The terror on Luo Bu's face froze, like a still frame, and his eyes dimmed rapidly, losing all luster. His body collapsed limply, a small, clean blood-hole through his forehead leaking blood slowly.

With a single flick, a Dou Ling powerhouse was slain! Such terrifying strength left everyone present chilled to the bone.

He Gan, having just arrived, witnessed this horrifying scene. His body stiffened in mid-air as if an invisible hand had gripped his throat. His face drained of all color, and he dared not utter another word.

Only then did Xiao Zhan slowly turn his icy gaze toward He Gan.

"City Lord He."

These three words alone sounded like three thunderclaps in He Gan's ears, striking him so hard he trembled uncontrollably, nearly plummeting from the sky.

"Xiao... Lord Xiao..." He Gan's voice was dry and raspy, as if rubbed by sandpaper, filled with endless fear and despair.

"You have failed to govern, allowing petty villains to act recklessly and frame the loyal," Xiao Zhan's voice remained calm, yet carried the weight of an absolute judgment. "From this day forth, step down from your position as City Lord. Bind yourself outside the Xiao Family gates and await your fate. The affairs of Wutan City shall be managed by my Xiao Family for the time being. Do you have any objections?"

He Gan's face was ashen, his lips trembling uncontrollably. His gaze swept across the ground—the blinding mist of blood where Jialie Bi had been reduced to, blooming like an eerie flower of evil; Luo Bu's cold corpse lying nearby, silently accusing the tragedy that had just unfolded. In that moment, all his ambition and reluctance were washed away by the rising tide of boundless fear.

"No... no objections! Thank you, my lord, for sparing my life!" He Gan's voice was dry and shaky, as if all his strength had been drained. Like a deflated balloon, he slowly descended from the air. Under the gaze of countless fearful and awestruck eyes, he tremblingly took out a rope, bound himself tightly, and knelt before the Xiao Family gates with a face like death. His aides, already frightened out of their wits, knelt on the ground, their bodies shivering like leaves in an autumn wind.

Xiao Zhan's gaze swept over the kneeling City Lord's guards and the members of the Aoba Family like a cold frost; in his eyes, they were merely lambs for the slaughter. His voice was calm yet chilling, as if coming from the depths of the abyss: "All who participated in the siege of the Xiao Family, cripple one arm and get out of Wutan City! Never step foot here again! Aoba Family, hand over all your assets, and leave the city immediately!"

No one dared to hesitate! Under the tangible, death-like gaze of a Dou Zong, the instinct for survival surged like a tidal wave, crushing all else.

"Crack!" "Crack!" The sickening sound of bones breaking rang out in succession, followed by muffled screams. The guards and Aoba Family members, faces pale as paper and eyes filled with despair and pain, did not hesitate to draw their blades and sever their own left arms. Blood sprayed instantly, staining the ground. Then, like stray dogs, they helped one another and crawled away from the place that terrified them to their very marrow. The Aoba Family members were even more devastated; they carried the unconscious Aoba Pa like a lifeless corpse, marking the final end of a once-arrogant family.

In just a short moment, the desperate situation that had been at the gates, tense and ready to explode, vanished like a dream.

Before the Xiao Family gates, only the self-bound He Gan remained, along with the two glaring corpses and a pool of blood mist that had yet to dissipate. They silently told of the terror of a Dou Zong's wrath, as if declaring to the world: on this continent, the dignity of a Dou Zong is not to be offended.

Xiao Zhan's figure descended slowly from the sky. He stood tall, his aura extraordinary, like a god descending to the mortal realm. He landed lightly in the courtyard of the Xiao ancestral home, each step landing on the heartstrings of those present, causing everyone to hold their breath involuntarily.

"Father!" Xiao Ding and Xiao Li could no longer suppress their surging emotions. Like wild horses, they rushed forward, dropping heavily onto one knee, their voices choked with overwhelming excitement. The grievances of the past few days had weighed on them like heavy clouds, their anger burning like a raging fire, and despair swallowing them like a cold abyss; yet now, all of it melted like spring snow, replaced by endless excitement and deep adoration.

"Rise." Xiao Zhan's gaze fell gently upon his two sons, a hint of relief and warmth flashing in his eyes like the gentle sun of winter. "Father has returned." These simple words were like an anchor, causing the heavy stones in the hearts of Xiao Ding and Xiao Li to fall away instantly.

His gaze drifted past the crowd, like a bird taking flight, and finally landed on the moon-white figure on the steps. Ya Fei stood there, graceful as a white lotus blooming in the moonlight.

Ya Fei was also gazing at him, her charming eyes shimmering with moisture. In the ripples of her gaze, there was the excitement of surviving a disaster, like a giant stone cast into a calm lake; there was an unbelievable shock, as if witnessing the most incredible miracle in the world; and there was an indescribable, star-like radiance—the reverence and adoration for a powerhouse. She took a deep breath, trying to suppress the turmoil in her heart, and walked down the steps like an elegant butterfly.

She bowed gracefully to Xiao Zhan, her posture as supple as a willow. Her voice carried a trace of imperceptible trembling—a melody woven of excitement and nervousness—yet it held an unprecedented gentleness, like a spring breeze brushing against a flower: "Ya Fei... welcomes Clan Head Xiao, upon your return as a Dou Zong!" The voice, clear and melodious like a nightingale, echoed in the silent atmosphere.

"Ding!" A crisp system notification rang out in Xiao Zhan's mind like a lively note. "Ya Fei's favorability +30 (shock, admiration, sense of security), current favorability: 93/100! You have reached the 'Deeply Rooted Affection' stage!" The sound seemed to hide Ya Fei's affectionate gaze and her shy, burning heart.

"Ding! The host has used the might of a Dou Zong to turn the tide and reverse the situation, successfully intimidating Wutan City! Family prestige has risen like the morning sun! 'More Children More Blessings' system judgment: The family foundation is as solid as a rock, and the environment for offspring growth has been greatly optimized! Special reward: One chance for a random talent upgrade for an offspring (Available targets: Xiao Ding, Xiao Li, Xiao Yan)!" The system's voice carried a hint of excitement and anticipation, as if cheering for Xiao Zhan's glorious achievement.

"Ding! Special mission triggered: Subdue Queen Medusa (Remaining time: 358 days). Please, host, continue to improve your strength, deepen your relationship with Queen Medusa, and complete this ultimate goal." The system's prompt rang like a warning bell, reminding Xiao Zhan of the even more arduous challenges ahead.

The system's prompts flowed through Xiao Zhan's mind like a babbling brook. He nodded slightly at Ya Fei, his movements elegant and composed, his gaze as deep as the stars in the night sky, hiding endless wisdom and determination.

The crisis in Wutan City had dissipated like light smoke, but this was merely the starting point of a long journey. The mysterious contract of the Snake-People Tribe waited like ancient runes to be deciphered; Queen Medusa's burning, expectant gaze seemed to pierce through time and space; the Soul Hall, like a dark haze, always loomed over the Dou Qi Continent; Xiao Yan's growth, rising like a star, required his careful guidance; Ya Fei's adoring gaze warmed his heart like the spring sun... and that Detoxification Spirit Bead, urgently needing to be delivered, felt like a key to an unknown door.

Vaster storms were gathering like surging waves, waiting for Xiao Zhan to stir them. A Dou Zong was merely the starting point on his path to the peak of the Dou Qi Continent. Xiao Zhan, like an eagle spreading its wings, had only just embarked on this journey filled with challenges and opportunities, soaring bravely toward the endless peak!