A Five-Year Pact!

Under the horrified gazes of all present, that terrifying grasp brought with it a deterrent force akin to the claw of an ancient dragon crushing an ant.

"Even if you are a Dou Zun, so what? Thinking you can kill me—dream on!"

Old Demon Earth roared in a fit of rage upon seeing this.

Although he had underestimated his opponent's strength, he was, after all, a seven-star Dou Zong!

How could he be defeated so easily by another!

Following this, his seven-star Dou Zong power began to surge, and he unleashed every cultivation technique and Dou Skill he possessed, attempting to withstand this spatial strangulation.

Mo Tianxing did the same; begging for mercy was impossible, and besides, they had already burned their bridges—even if they begged, they would not be allowed to live.

Rather than being slaughtered like cattle, it was better to fight to the death!

"Crack!"

The Dou Skills unleashed by the two veteran Dou Zong experts could not hold out for even a single breath before they were dismantled and reduced to nothingness.

But this strike was far from over.

As Xiao Ze twisted his palm, the space where the two men stood fluctuated violently, revealing pitch-black fissures, and their bodies were forcibly twisted and severed by the space itself.

Immediately, two shrill, miserable screams pierced the sky.

Their eyes glazed over, their mouths twitched uncontrollably, and they fell into the throes of inhuman torture.

Even as they suffered, they kept muttering, "Why would there be a Dou Zun expert..."

But the two did not wail for long before they were swallowed into the pitch-black cracks.

Under the incredulous gazes of everyone present, Black Emperor Sect Leader Mo Tianxing and Demon Flame Valley Chief Old Demon Earth were instantly sliced into blood mists.

Even the soul bodies within them were swallowed in an instant, turned into nothingness, and completely dissipated from this world.

From the moment the move was made to their deaths, only an instant had passed, yet in that brief moment, two representatives of the Black-Corner Region's long-standing powers had died just like that.

Dignified Dou Zong experts, yet in front of a Dou Zun, they were as insignificant as ants and as lowly as blades of grass.

The Dao hearts of the crowd were shattered in an instant.

At this moment, the entire scene was deathly silent.

Below, the masses looked up at Xiao Ze in the sky, their throats parched.

For the original subordinates of the Black Emperor Sect and Demon Flame Valley, it could be said they died as they deserved.

But for the other factions that had joined halfway for the sake of profit, it seemed rather tragic.

They regretted it.

Had they known, they wouldn't have waded into these muddy waters; not only had they failed to reap any benefits, but now their very lives were in jeopardy.

Xiao Ze's expression was indifferent; he had long anticipated such a situation.

He had given these people a chance, but they had chosen the wrong side, so they could blame no one but themselves.

"Kill everyone at the Dou King level and above."

Leaving behind these cold words, Xiao Zhan and his three principal wives stepped through the void and vanished from the spot.

He left the rest to his subordinates to handle.

Without the threat of the Dou Zong, these Dou Emperors and Dou Kings were nothing more than turtles in a jar; leaving them to be dealt with was sufficient.

"Hehehe, brothers, follow me and slaughter our way into Black Emperor City!"

As the lead vanguard, Yuan Yi reacted the fastest, immediately taking the lead to charge into the city.

He was unstoppable, killing anyone who blocked his path, be it man or Buddha.

It was an irresistible force!

"Hahaha, following the Xiao Sect Leader was truly the right choice!"

"Let this bunch of bastards witness the methods of my Black Wolf Sect!"

In an instant, countless Dou Skill attacks blotted out the sky, all unleashed simultaneously toward the territory of Black Emperor City.

At this moment, lives were reaped as easily as wheat stalks during the autumn harvest.

The entire process lasted for three days and three nights, and from then on, the reactionary forces led by the Black Emperor Sect and Demon Flame Valley were completely eradicated.

As for the other smaller factions, Xiao Ze did not kill them all, nor could he have wiped them out entirely.

As long as they did not cause trouble, they remained safe and sound.

In the main hall of Maple City.

"Sect Leader Xiao, after my subordinates conducted a survey, nearly ninety percent of the factions in the Black-Corner Region have expressed their willingness to submit to the Xiao Sect and accept our sect rules, which strictly forbid the slaughter of innocents within the cities!"

Listening to Yuan Yi's report, Xiao Ze nodded with satisfaction.

After this round of governance, the results looked quite good; the Black-Corner Region was no longer as turbulent as rumors had suggested.

But to completely cure the rot and establish order, that was not something that could be changed overnight.

However, as long as the Xiao Sect remained, he believed it could certainly be done.

The next day, news regarding the unification of the Black-Corner Region spread to every corner like a bursting dam.

Jia Nan Academy was naturally no exception; upon receiving the news, First Elder Su Qian personally came to offer his congratulations.

Resolving this hidden danger had been his greatest wish in life, and he had not expected it to be realized so quickly.

"Young friend Xiao Ze, congratulations. To have achieved the peaceful unification of the Black-Corner Region so quickly, this old man feels quite ashamed," the First Elder said with a chuckle, wiping non-existent sweat from his forehead.

"This is all thanks to the First Elder's blessing. In the future, my Xiao Sect will still need to rely on you, First Elder," Xiao Ze laughed.

He could not stay for long, but since the Xiao Sect had only just been established, there was no guarantee that something wouldn't happen once their backbone was gone, so he could only ask the First Elder to look after them.

"Rest assured, as long as I have a breath left in me, I will never let anything happen to the Xiao Sect," the First Elder guaranteed.

"Then many thanks, First Elder."

After seeing the First Elder off, Xun Er followed closely behind.

"Brother Xiao Ze, is this the Maple City you conquered? It looks quite decent," Xun Er strolled through Maple City, feeling that it was generally much safer.

"What is mine is yours, why be so polite with me? If I am the Sect Leader of the Xiao Sect, then you are the Sect Leader's wife," Xiao Ze said while strolling, his arm around her waist.

"You and your glib tongue," Xun Er shot him a playful glare.

But she truly enjoyed this moment of peace.

It wasn't until the sun set behind the western mountains that Xun Er revealed the purpose of her visit.

"Actually, I came to say goodbye to you."

She was leaving.

"Are you going back?" Hearing this, Xiao Ze felt a sense of reluctance in his heart.

But he knew Xun Er's identity; if she kept failing to obtain the Tuoshe Ancient Jade, her father would certainly make her return.

Xun Er nodded, her eyes filled with reluctance, "If I don't go back now, I'm afraid it will bring trouble to the Xiao Clan."

"It's alright, I will come to find you," Xiao Ze said, rubbing her head to comfort her.

The Ancient Clan—he would have to pay them a visit sooner or later.

But not now.

With a cultivation of one-star Dou Zun, he wouldn't be able to accomplish anything even if he went to the Ancient Clan. Rather than inviting humiliation, it was better to wait until he reached the Dou Sheng realm.

He believed that by then, the Ancient Clan leader, Gu Yuan, would have nothing more to say.

That night, the two talked until very late, watching the stars in the wilderness all night long.

Xiao Ze promised that he would definitely go to find her within five years.

"Brother Xiao Ze, I will wait for you."

The next morning, Xun Er returned to Jia Nan Academy alone. By this time, Ling Quan, the deputy commander of the Black Annihilation Army, had already arrived at Jia Nan Academy with his men to escort her away.

To avoid unnecessary trouble, Xun Er had to take the first step.

Looking toward the direction of the Inner Academy, Xiao Ze felt a complex mix of emotions in his heart.

A Dou Zun was still too weak...

The following day.

Xiao Yu found him, and upon hearing that he was leaving, she immediately burst into tears.

Without his company, what meaning did this Inner Academy have left?

"Be good, it's not like I'm not coming back. Wait for me," Xiao Ze said, hurriedly comforting her as he wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes.

Xiao Yu knew she couldn't change his mind and could only watch helplessly as he departed.

"Central Plains, here we come!"

Xiao Ze, Xiao Yi Xian, Yun Yun, and Qing Lin locked eyes, their hearts already filled with anticipation.