Swords Drawn and Bows Bent
"Is that the successor your Spirit Clan chose back then?" Yi Huang appeared quietly beside the Black-Robed Figure and asked with great interest.
"Hmm!" The face shrouded in black robes was revealed, and Ling Yi's serene yet deeply sorrowful expression prompted a sigh.
"However, I still want to thank Langya Pavilion for their help!"
Ling Yi was well aware of the immense trouble the upcoming Spirit Clan would bring to the Langya Pavilion. Even though this was a pre-existing agreement, this expression of gratitude was still necessary.
To this, Yi Huang simply smiled and said, "We are merely uniting all forces that can be united; Fairy Ling Yi need not do so."
"Excuse me..." Ling Yu hesitated for a moment, but finally raised his question:
"Does Langya Pavilion have a grudge against the Soul Clan?"
Yi Huang was taken aback, but immediately smiled and said, "The feud between my Langya Pavilion and the Soul Hall is known to everyone in Central Plains, and the Soul Clan behind them is naturally the same."
"No!" Ling Yi shook her head in denial. "I was referring to the Soul Clan, not the Soul Hall."
Does the Langya Pavilion have any prior grudges against the Soul Clan?
Ling Yi's seclusion in the Langya Pavilion during this period was not a continuous period of closed-door cultivation; she would occasionally wander around the Langya Pavilion.
She noticed that the entire Langya Pavilion did not seem to fear the Soul Hall or even the Soul Clan. This phenomenon was not obvious among the disciples, but it was particularly prominent among the more composed and senior Elder.
They only felt apprehensive and respectful towards the Soul Clan's strength, but not fearful; in fact, they even had a certain desire to fight them.
This gave Ling Yi the feeling that the two families had a long-standing feud.
When Ling Yi asked her question, Yi Huang did not give a clear answer, but instead gave a mysterious smile, "Fairy Ling Yi will naturally understand this in the future."
Then his figure vanished silently, leaving behind a slowly dissipating afterimage.
Half a year passed in the blink of an eye, and during this time, the turmoil caused by the disappearance of the Spirit Clan in Central Plains gradually subsided, and it seemed that things had returned to their former glory.
However, only a few can see the turbulent undercurrents hidden beneath the calm surface. The Langya Pavilion, affected by this whirlpool, remains completely unaware, continuing to do as it always has.
However, this period of time came to an end the moment some guests arrived.
In the main hall of the Langya Pavilion, only twelve people were sitting at the moment. However, if there were other people around, they would definitely be able to feel the terrifying aura emanating from each of them.
The twelve people sat together, clearly divided into groups, and the room was silent, with a tense atmosphere.
Finally, Xiao Han, seated at the head of the table, slowly spoke, his voice calm and unhurried, as still as a deep well:
"Please forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality, esteemed guests of Ancient Races who have traveled from afar!"
However, no one could discern any remorse in Xiao Han's expression.
"Hehehe~" A burly, blood-red middle-aged man chuckled sinisterly. The other Ancient Races were several feet away from him, and the heavy stench of blood made them frown.
A hoarse voice echoed in the hall, "No need for formalities, Ice Saint. Just Langya Pavilion hand over those Spirit Clan members to our clan..."
"I'll definitely get back to you!"
"Past grievances are wiped clean!"
"How?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Han remained silent, but the other pale-faced old man with an air of otherworldly wisdom frowned and said, "Hun Tu, you've gone a bit too far!"
"Heh heh~" The old man's warning was met with complete disdain from Hun Tu, who scoffed:
"Didn't you come here for those Spirit Clan people?"
"Even here you're still trying to hide it..." Hun Tu sneered. "Gu Dao, is this all the hypocrisy you Gu Clan have?"
Gu Dao's expression changed; his thoughts had been exposed. The other Ancient Races also looked rather grim.
In fact, what Hun Tu said was true. The fundamental reason why so many powerful figures from Ancient Races could gather together was the ten geniuses of the Spirit Clan in the Langya Pavilion.
Although there is currently no news from the Spirit Clan, for some, no news is good news. However, many people also speculate that the Spirit Clan is probably finished.
The culprit is estimated to be one of the Ancient Soul Clans. As a result, Gu Dao and Hun Tu are subtly isolated and distanced from other Ancient Races.
But this was not the purpose of the visitors. The Spirit Race annihilation not only served as a warning to other Ancient Races, but also represented the disappearance of a Dou Di Bloodline.
As the only remaining Spirit Clan with the Dou Di Bloodline, the Langya Pavilion is naturally a place that other Ancient Races must visit.
Ostensibly it's about protection, but in reality it's just covetousness. The Spirit Clan's ten remaining geniuses all possess exceptionally strong Dou Di Bloodline within the clan; otherwise, they wouldn't be called geniuses.
A group of helpless geniuses, once taken back, even without doing anything deliberately, as long as they intermarry within their own clan, the Spirit Clan's Dou Di Bloodline will naturally continue to propagate.
Whether it's two types of Dou Di Bloodline or one type, the choice is clear and obvious. However, while the purpose is thus, it's best left unsaid; revealing it outright would be unpleasant.
Just as Gu Dao was about to say something more, Xiao Han, who had been silent all along, glanced at the group of representatives of various forces before him and suddenly spoke, a half-smile on his face:
"The Three Immortals of Gu Dao, the Four Demon Saints of the Soul Clan, and the Grand Elder of the Stone, Thunder, Medicine, and Flame Clans..."
"I never imagined that those little Spirit Clan fellows from my Langya Pavilion would be so sought-after!"
Although Xiao Han's tone sounded very calm, the playfulness and sarcasm in it were obvious.
"But... could you all please answer this for me...?"
Xiao Han's voice suddenly turned cold and sharp, "Is your agreement that you all won't intervene above the five-star level just for show?"
Two Seven-Star Dou Sheng Late Stage, three Six-Star Dou Sheng, and one Five-Star Late-Stage Dou Sheng —this wasn't something they discussed with the Langya Pavilion; it was practically a coup!
The others froze. Today was probably the most embarrassing day of their lives. They were the ones who set the rules, and they were the ones who broke them.
In the end, Hun Tu was more open-minded. Face was just a burden for the Soul Clan. He said calmly, with a hint of warning:
"Rules are made and broken by the strong. I hope the Ice Saint will consider this carefully and not let a group of unrelated Spirit Clan delay the Langya Pavilion!"
Meanwhile, Yi Huang and the others, who had been silent all along, were initially angry, but then revealed amused smiles as they watched with schadenfreude.
If it were said that Xiao Han would have had some trouble dealing with this group of people back then, now it's just a matter of suppressing them with a wave of his hand.
Xiao Han gave a wink to the people of the Langya Pavilion, who immediately understood and silently got up and left.
Noticing Yi Huang and the others leaving, Hun Tu smiled, but at the same time he was somewhat disdainful. This Ice Saint was rumored to be incredibly powerful in Central Plains, but in front of many Ancient Races, he still had to back down.
The others also breathed a sigh of relief; they would not want to provoke a Super faction unless absolutely necessary.
At this moment, Xiao Han revealed a strange smile and said with great agreement, "This Pavilion Master also highly agrees with Hun Tu's point. Without strength, everything is in vain..."
Before Hun Tu could even crack a smug smile, Xiao Han's next words froze his lips on his face.
"But who's truly stronger is still debatable!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a terrifying chill emanated from Xiao Han and erupted throughout the Langya Pavilion Main Hall amidst the horrified gazes of everyone.