Three days later, midnight. Xiao Clan Martial Arts Arena.
A bright moon hung in the sky. On the high platform, Xiao Zhan and the elders stood solemnly. Nearly five hundred clan members dressed in black stood silently below like spears, watching Xiao Zhan with silent focus. Not a sound could be heard; an air of discipline and fierce valor seemed ready to burst forth.
The wind seemed to stop for a moment. After a brief silence, Xiao Zhan nodded in satisfaction.
"These are all fine sons of the Xiao Clan."
Xiao Yan, clad in a black robe, hid off to one side and watched the crowd from afar. "Looks like Xiao Zhan has trained these Xiao Clan youngsters quite well."
An aged laugh came from within the black robe.
"Ah, Teacher, Father won't let me take part in this battle." Xiao Yan looked utterly miserable.
"Stop making trouble. If you went along, wouldn't you just burden your father? Do you expect me to clean up after you? Besides, you're the Xiao Clan's treasure now. You cannot afford to be harmed." Yao Lao was speechless.
"Stop arguing. We'll just secretly follow them later."
"Those standing here today are the elite of our Xiao Clan. Since you were summoned, I imagine you have all heard something about it already." Xiao Zhan took two steps forward, and everyone's attention focused on him.
"That's right. We gathered you today for one reason only: to launch a surprise attack on the Jialie Clan and the Aoba Clan. We will erase both clans from Wutan City completely and make the Xiao Clan the sole ruler of Wutan City. Wutan City is too small to accommodate more than one voice." Xiao Zhan clenched his fists and shouted passionately.
At the sight of this, the calm gazes of the people below gradually turned fervent as they stared fixedly at Xiao Zhan.
"Kill the Jialie Clan! Destroy the Aoba Clan!"
Xiao Zhan's lion-like, muscular body stepped forward once more. He raised both hands, releasing an overwhelming aura that pressed down upon the entire field. He was shockingly a Peak Dou Ling expert.
Seeing this, the three elders behind Xiao Zhan exchanged glances, then each stepped forward and unleashed the mighty pressure of Dou Ling experts without restraint.
The atmosphere that had remained subdued suddenly erupted like a volcano, exploding with a loud buzz.
"Kill the Jialie Clan!"
"Destroy the Aoba Clan!"
"Kill the Jialie Clan!"
"Destroy the Aoba Clan!"
Watching the fervent crowd, Xiao Zhan nodded inwardly. Then he raised his right hand, and everyone fell silent in perfect order.
"Then I and Third Elder will lead half our men directly against the Jialie Clan, while Great Elder and Second Elder lead the other half in a surprise attack on the Aoba Clan. Speed is essential. We must end the battle before dawn."
"Move out!" Xiao Zhan waved his hand and led half the clan members into the night with Third Elder. Great Elder and Second Elder did not hesitate either, silently leading their team away.
"Come on, let's follow them."
Yao Lao watched the main force depart, took control of Xiao Yan's body, and followed behind Xiao Zhan's group.
The night grew ever darker.
Jialie Clan main residence.
"Mr. Shi, we invited you here this time because we hope you will deal with the Xiao Clan. As long as you help our Jialie Clan destroy the Xiao Clan, we are willing to offer fifty thousand gold coins."
The Jialie Clan's main residence was brightly lit despite the late hour. In the hall, Jia Lie Bi, the normally arrogant Clan Leader of the Jialie Clan, stood respectfully to one side as he spoke to a middle-aged man in white seated in the place of honor.
"Hmph! As a mighty Dou Ling expert, in this remote little city where the strongest are merely Da Dou Shi, wouldn't I be able to do as I pleased?" The man in white wore a lofty expression.
"Yes, yes, of course, Lord Shi." Jia Lie Bi fawned over him.
"However, fifty thousand gold coins is too little. If you want me to act, you must add at least another five gold coins." The man in white abruptly changed his tone, greedily holding up five fingers.
"Th-this, one hundred thousand gold coins?" Jia Lie Bi gritted his teeth in shock.
Damn it. Fifty thousand gold coins already account for nearly half the Jialie Clan's liquid funds. I never expected this old ghost to be so greedy.
So be it. The Jialie Clan will just grit its teeth and squeeze it out. Once we destroy the Xiao Clan and deal with the Aoba Clan afterward, Wutan City will belong to the Jialie Clan. What will one hundred thousand gold coins matter then? Hmph, does that idiot Aoba Pa really think I intend to cooperate with him sincerely? Hahaha.
"Clan Leader Jia Lie? Don't tell me you are unwilling to pay?" Seeing Jia Lie Bi remain silent after hearing his demand, the man in white urged him impatiently.
"If Clan Leader Jia Lie does not wish to pay, I imagine Xiao Zhan, the Xiao Clan's Clan Leader, would be willing if he learned this information." The man in white looked at Jia Lie Bi with a false smile.
"No, no, Lord Shi, you misunderstand. Our Jialie Clan can still afford one hundred thousand gold coins. We will certainly present them to you with both hands when the time comes." Jia Lie Bi hurriedly tried to make amends.
Damn it! Once I control Wutan City, I'll spend money to have this stupid, greedy fool killed. Jia Lie Bi thought resentfully.
"Good, hahaha." The man in white laughed loudly.
Just as the two men immersed themselves in the hollow dreams they had woven, mysterious black shadows flashed past outside the hall. The clan grounds, once luxurious and magnificent, were now drenched in blood. Corpses of Jialie Clan guards on night duty lay scattered throughout the residence, while even more people had been killed in their sleep.
Xiao Zhan and Third Elder slowly emerged from the pitch-black night, slaughtering in silence.
However, the closer they advanced toward the center of the clan grounds, the stronger the guards became. At last, Xiao Zhan's swift surprise attack was discovered.
"Ah! Enemies!"
A dying Dou Master of the Jialie Clan let out an enraged roar.
Seeing that they had reached the vicinity of the Jialie Clan's main residence, Xiao Zhan laughed loudly. "The deed is done! Kill with me!"
With a slash, he split open a figure blocking the path ahead.
"Kill!" The Xiao Clan members surged forward.
Suddenly, cries of battle rose outside the hall. Jia Lie Bi and the man in white exchanged shocked glances, then Jia Lie Bi hurriedly said, "Master Shi, please come outside with me and take a look."
"Haha, do not worry, Clan Leader Jia Lie. With me here, let's see who dares act so recklessly!"
Seeing that his chance to display his strength had finally come, the man in white laughed and walked to the doorway. With a tap of his foot, he shot outside.
"A Dou Ling is here! Who dares act recklessly!"
With an angry roar, the man in white impatiently began releasing his aura.
Bang! Unexpectedly, the man in white, who had just launched himself outward, flew back at an even greater speed and landed at the feet of Jia Lie Bi, who was about to step outside.
"Pfft!" The man in white spat out blood. With a look of utter terror, he clutched his chest and pointed outside the hall. "A-a Peak Dou Ling expert?!"
He then fainted.
"Th-this, Mr. Shi, Mr. Shi. Wake up! Mr. Shi, you're a Dou Ling expert! Wake up!" Jia Lie Bi looked as though he had gone mad, frantically shaking the man in white's body.
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