"Things should have been this way from the start." Seeing that Xun Er had finally agreed to return with them, the mockery in Gu Yao's eyes faded somewhat, though his expression remained cold. He raised a hand and patted the unicorn's neck before saying icily, "Let's go. Return to the Ancient Clan."
At his words, more than twenty Four-Winged Unicorns let out low cries in unison. Their black feathered wings beat fiercely as they flew toward the skies beyond the Inner Academy, carried by sharp gusts of wind.
Just then, a shout wrapped in immense Soul Force abruptly rang through the skies above the entire Inner Academy, making even the clouds tremble faintly.
"Without my permission, no one is taking Xun Er away!"
Before the voice had faded, a pitch-black spatial rift suddenly tore open in the sky not far ahead of the Four-Winged Unicorns. Purple-brown Dou Qi surged out like roaring flames.
A familiar figure stepped out of the rift, walking through the air. Dou Qi rolled around him like waves, and even space rippled under the force of his aura.
That figure was Xiao Yao.
His gaze blazed as he locked onto Xun Er atop the unicorn, anxiety and fury churning in his eyes. The Dou Qi beneath his feet solidified as he advanced step by step toward the Black Annihilation Army formation. "Xun Er, I'm back! No one will take you away!"
The instant Xun Er saw him, her pupils contracted. Her reddened eyes immediately filled with tears, and she instinctively leaned forward, her voice trembling. "Brother Xiao Yao!"
Gu Yao's expression darkened, and his Dou Qi suddenly surged. He stared at Xiao Yao, his tone icy. "Xiao Yao, this is an internal matter of the Ancient Clan. It is not your place, an outsider, to interfere!"