The Xiao Clan's Tragic Plight

"What has my Xiao Clan done wrong to deserve such treatment from you?!"

Xiao Zhan, the current head of the Xiao Clan, stood alone in the center of the hall. Behind him were clan members trembling under the coercion of the Ancient Clan's Black Annihilation Army.

Xiao Zhan's eyes were bloodshot. Though he knew the person before him possessed extraordinary strength, his heart now held nothing but rage and fury. He refused to yield even an inch!

"Ha ha ha ha!"

"Clan Head Xiao, you really know how to joke. The Ancient Clan's food isn't for you to eat and drink for free. What is wrong with having you Xiao Clan people carry out a few simple clan assignments?"

Ling Quan, commander of the Black Annihilation Army, stood with his arms folded, an amused smile on his lips. His gaze swept over the terrified Xiao Clan members Xiao Zhan was protecting, his eyes filled with the teasing amusement of a cat playing with mice.

Every member of the Xiao Clan knew exactly why these people had come. Each time they arrived, they took away more than a dozen Xiao Clan members. This had gone on for quite some time now, and very few of those taken ever returned. Naturally, today's unlucky victims would be chosen from among them.

It was not as though no one from the Xiao Clan had ever resisted. Xiao Zhan's two sons had once taken the lead in voicing their dissatisfaction, but without exception, they had failed. Now, the Xiao Clan members no longer even had the courage to fight back. Only Xiao Zhan, the clan head, still stood stubbornly before them all despite his poor physical condition. As clan head, he wanted to protect every Xiao Clan member behind him!

"Assignments? What fine assignments indeed!