Five-Year Promise!

Under the horrified gazes of everyone present, that terrifying grasp carried the crushing might of an ancient dragon's claw bearing down on ants.

"So what if you're a Dou Zun? You think you can kill me? Dream on!"

Seeing this, Old Demon Earth roared in fury.

Though he had underestimated his opponent's strength, he was still a Seven-Star Dou Zong, no matter how you looked at it!

How could he let himself be defeated so easily?

Then, the power of a Seven-Star Dou Zong surged, and he unleashed every Cultivation Method and Combat Skill at his disposal, hoping to fend off this Space Strangulation.

Mo Tianxing did the same. Begging for mercy was out of the question. Besides, they had already gone too far; even if they begged, they wouldn't be spared.

Better to fight to the death than be tortured before being killed!

"Crack!"

The Dou Techniques unleashed by the two veteran Dou Zong experts couldn't hold for even a breath before they were dismantled and reduced to nothingness.

But the attack was far from over.

As Xiao Ze twisted his hand, the space around the two men began to violently ripple, revealing pitch-black rifts. Their bodies were forcibly torn apart by the warped space.

Two shrill screams shot up into the sky.

Their eyes glazed over as the corners of their mouths twitched uncontrollably. They were suffering a torment beyond anything human.

Their lips kept moving, murmuring, "Why is there a Dou Zun expert..."

But the two men didn't scream for long before they were swallowed by the pitch-black fissures.

Under the disbelieving gazes of everyone present, Mo Tianxing, the Black Emperor Sect's leader, and Old Demon Earth, the Demon Flame Valley's master, were instantly sliced into mists of blood.

Even the soul bodies within them were devoured in an instant, reduced to nothingness and erased from the world.

From the moment they attacked to the moment they died, barely an instant had passed. Yet in that instant, the leaders of two long-established Black-Corner Region factions had perished.

Mighty Dou Zong experts, yet before a Dou Zun expert, they were as insignificant as ants and as lowly as blades of grass.

Everyone's Dao heart shattered in an instant.

At that moment, the entire scene fell silent.

The people below stared up at Xiao Ze in the sky, their throats parched.

For the former subordinates of the Black Emperor Sect and Demon Flame Valley, at least they had died for a cause.

But for the other factions that had joined halfway for the sake of profit, it was a rather tragic turn of events.

They regretted it.

If only they'd known, they wouldn't have gotten involved. They hadn't gained a thing, and now they might not even make it out alive.

Xiao Ze's gaze remained calm. He had expected this outcome.

He had given them a chance, but they had chosen the wrong side. They had only themselves to blame.

"Kill everyone above the Dou Wang level."

After leaving that icy command, Xiao Zhan vanished into thin air with his three wives.

He left his subordinates to handle the rest.

With no Dou Zong experts left to threaten them, these Dou Emperors and Dou Wangs were merely turtles in a jar. His people could take care of them.

"Heh heh heh, brothers, follow me into Black Emperor City!"

As their foremost foot soldier, Yuan Yi was the quickest to react. He charged into the city at the head of the group.

Nothing could stand in his way—not man, not Buddha.

He was unstoppable!

"Hahaha, following Sect Master Xiao was definitely the right choice!"

"Let these bastards see what the Black Wolf Sect can do!"

In an instant, countless Dou Techniques blotted out the sky, raining down on the area around Black Emperor City.

Lives fell in neat rows like sheaves of wheat at harvest time.

The fighting lasted three days and three nights. At last, the rebels led by the Black Emperor Sect and Demon Flame Valley were completely wiped out.

As for the other smaller factions, Xiao Ze didn't slaughter them to the last man—and in any case, that would have been impossible.

As long as they didn't cause trouble, they would be left in peace.

Maple City's main hall.

"Sect Master Xiao, after making inquiries, this subordinate can report that nearly ninety percent of the Black-Corner Region's factions are now willing to submit to the Xiao Sect and abide by its rules. They've agreed to strictly prohibit the killing of innocents within the cities!"

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

After these measures, things seemed to be going well. The Black-Corner Region was no longer as turbulent as the rumors claimed.

But completely eradicating the problem and establishing order wouldn't happen overnight.

Still, as long as the Xiao Sect endured, he believed they could make it happen.

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

Jia Nan Academy was no exception. Upon hearing the news, Great Elder Su Qian personally came to offer his congratulations.

Resolving this threat had been his greatest wish in life. He hadn't expected it to come true so soon.

"Little Friend Xiao Ze, congratulations! You've brought peace and unity to the Black-Corner Region so quickly. This old man is truly humbled." The Great Elder wiped his brow, though there wasn't a drop of sweat there, and laughed merrily.

"It's all thanks to you, Great Elder. The Xiao Sect will still need to rely on you in the future." Xiao Ze smiled.

He couldn't stay for long, and the Xiao Sect had only recently been established. Without him at its heart, who knew what might happen? So he could only ask the Great Elder to keep an eye on things.

"Don't worry. As long as this old man still draws breath, I won't let anything happen to the Xiao Sect," the Great Elder promised.

"Then I must thank you, Great Elder."

After seeing the Great Elder off, Xun Er came right after him.

"Brother Xiao Ze, is this the Maple City you conquered? It looks pretty nice." Xun Er had taken a stroll around Maple City and felt that it was much safer now.

"What's mine is yours, so why be so polite? If I'm the Xiao Sect's leader, then you're the leader's wife." Xiao Ze put an arm around her waist as they strolled.

"You really do have a silver tongue." Xun Er gave him a coy look.

But she cherished this brief moment of peace.

Only as the sun sank below the horizon did Xun Er finally reveal why she had come.

"Actually, I came to say goodbye."

She was leaving.

"You're going back?" Xiao Ze asked, reluctant to see her go.

But he knew who Xun Er was. Since they still hadn't obtained the Tuoshe Ancient Jade, her father would surely call her back.

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

"It's all right. I'll come find you." Xiao Ze gently rubbed her head, comforting her.

He would go to the Ancient Clan sooner or later.

But not now.

With only one-star Dou Zun strength, he wouldn't be able to accomplish anything in the Ancient Clan. Rather than go there just to invite humiliation, he'd wait until he became a Dou Sheng.

He believed that by then, even the Ancient Clan Chief, Gu Yuan, wouldn't have much to say.

That night, the two talked late into the evening, then spent the whole night watching the stars outdoors.

Xiao Ze promised he would find her within five years.

"Brother Xiao Ze, I'll wait for you."

At dawn the next day, Xun Er returned to Jia Nan Academy alone. Ling Quan, the deputy commander of the Black Annihilation Army, had already arrived there with his people to escort her away.

To avoid unnecessary trouble, Xun Er had to leave ahead of time.

Staring toward the Inner Academy, Xiao Ze felt a jumble of emotions.

Dou Zun was still too weak...

The following day.

Xiao Yu found him. When she heard he was leaving, she burst into tears, her face streaked with tears like pear blossoms in the rain.

Without him by her side, what was the point of staying in the Inner Academy?

"Be good. It's not like I'm never coming back. Wait for me." Xiao Ze quickly wiped away her tears and comforted her.

Xiao Yu knew she couldn't change his mind. All she could do was watch helplessly as he left.

"Central Plains, here we come!"

Xiao Ze, Xiao Yi Xian, Yun Yun, and Qing Lin exchanged glances, their hearts already brimming with anticipation.