Xiao Wanqing, the Postponed Fifth Battle

"Stop. I'll protect Xiao Yan's life today. If anyone wants to touch Xiao Yan, they'll have to get past me first." Xiao Yuting stood and walked to Xiao Yan's side, her tone extremely forceful.

"Yuting, Xiao Yan decided to take part in this match himself. Since that's the case, he must follow the rules. Besides, won't doing this make him think you're merely using him? And there's no guarantee he can do it. You should know your sister..." Before Xiao Ming could finish, he was interrupted.

"Take your people and leave now. I can pretend what just happened never happened. Otherwise, even if Sister scolds me, I'll still take one of his arms." Xiao Yuting said coldly.

"Yuting, how many times have I told you? If you keep being this unreasonable, then don't go there anymore. Stay obediently in the Xiao Clan." A gentle female voice came from outside. More than a dozen people entered through the door. At their head was a woman dressed in white as light as gauze, as though she stood amid mist and smoke. Beneath her black hair was an exquisitely beautiful face, and the faint smile on her lips gave her a warm, approachable air. The people behind her were all dressed in fine clothes, but compared to those who had been in the courtyard, they lacked that same arrogance.

"Wanqing, you finally came! I have good news—I found the person we've been looking for." Rather than getting angry upon hearing the voice, Xiao Yuting happily rushed to the woman's side and hugged her arm.

The woman's jade-like hand trembled slightly, but she quickly calmed down. Affectionately stroking Xiao Yuting's head, she said, "Don't just say nice things to make your sister happy. It's been over a year. I'm already used to it. You, on the other hand, insist on turning yourself into a witch. Your sister truly doesn't blame you."

Xiao Yuting shook her head helplessly. "When I chose this path, I already understood what lay ahead of me. But you're different, Sister. Whether in talent or ability, you're among the best. You're the one in the family with the greatest hope of reaching the Battle Immortal realm."

Xiao Wanqing did not continue the conversation. She glanced over the devastated grounds, paused briefly on Xiao Yan, Huang Lin, and the others, then turned her gaze toward Xiao Ming's group. "Is it over?"

Xiao Ming's face alternated between green and white. In the end, he gritted his teeth and said, "Not yet. Xiao Yan's match is not over. He personally promised to challenge the five of us alone. The match has not ended."

Xiao Yuting turned to Xiao Ming. "Xiao Ming, don't go too far." Then she said to Xiao Wanqing, "Sister, it's him. Xiao Yan possesses a type of Heavenly Flames. Although it can't compare to Heavenly Fire, it's far stronger than those Beast Fires. I've personally tested it—it can remove the poison in my body. Perhaps it can help you too..."

Xiao Wanqing interrupted Xiao Yuting and looked at Xiao Yan. At this moment, Xiao Yan was extremely weak. He stood there as though even a light breeze could knock him over. For a newly advanced Dou Emperor to endure for so long was enough to show his extraordinary talent.

"Since Xiao Yan can no longer fight, today's match ends here." Xiao Wanqing addressed Xiao Ming and his group.

"Wanqing, how will we explain this if word reaches the Elder Hall? Besides, if the Fifth Match isn't completed, Xiao Yan's own reputation will be hard to preserve." Xiao Ming put on an act of speaking for Xiao Yan's sake.

"I'll explain things to the Elder Hall. As for the Fifth Match, I never said it wouldn't be fought. I'm only postponing it for Xiao Yan. You merely said that Xiao Yan had to defeat the five of you. You never specified a time or date, nor did you say Xiao Yan had to defeat all five of you in one go." Xiao Wanqing smiled at Xiao Ming. Her words left Xiao Ming and the others speechless.

"Wanqing truly deserves to be the foremost talented woman of our Xiao Clan. But when does Wanqing intend to hold this Fifth Match? And whom should we send to fight in order to defend the honor of our Heavenly Spirit Continent?" Xiao Ming asked unwillingly.

Xiao Wanqing, the Postponed Fifth Battle

"As long as he agrees to join our Heavenly Spirit Continent, that will be enough. Then whether he wins or loses the Fifth Match will no longer matter," Xiao Wanqing said.

"But does Wanqing know what his condition is?" Xiao Ming deliberately withheld the answer. Ever since Xiao Wanqing had arrived, he had been suppressed at every turn. Now, he had finally seized the initiative. As long as Xiao Wanqing agreed to hold the match now, he was completely certain he could kill Xiao Yan. But his calculations were wrong. If Xiao Wanqing, the Xiao Clan's foremost talented woman, could be defeated so easily, how could she remain in the Xiao Clan? The current Xiao Wanqing was no longer the Xiao Wanqing of the past. Her high status in the Xiao Clan was not merely because she was a descendant of the clan leader, but also because of her intelligence and wisdom.

"The condition can be changed. A person only has one life. Once he understands his situation here, he'll naturally make a wise choice. Enough. Their injuries are quite serious. By the usual rules, take your people back to the Xiao Clan first. Xiao Tong, lead half of the Dragon-Phoenix Army and escort them."

"Yes, Miss." A man led a group of people over to the finely dressed group.

"Wanqing, how about this? I won't make things difficult for him. Ten years from now, there will be a trial in the clan entry test where one challenges members of the Xiao Clan. Let's hold this match ten years from now. At that time, I will fight personally." Xiao Ming offered his proposal.

"We should still see what Xiao Yan himself wants," Xiao Wanqing said.

"He'll agree, and he has no right to choose. I've already let him live ten more years. During these ten years, I'll instruct them not to deliberately trouble Xiao Yan. Otherwise, even if he survives today, people in the Xiao Clan will keep causing him trouble. For so many years, the honor of Heavenly Spirit Continent has never been trampled on like this." Xiao Ming said.

"Very well." Xiao Wanqing agreed.

Xiao Ming led the finely dressed group away, taking the unconscious people with him as well, including the two men Xiao Yan had captured. Huang Lin and the others were not in much better condition than Xiao Yan. They could only watch helplessly as those people were taken away.

Only then did Xiao Wanqing turn to Xiao Yan's group. "I know you have many questions. I'll answer them one by one. But before that, take these pills first." Xiao Wanqing's voice was lovely and soothing, like a spring breeze. She stepped forward and placed the pills in their hands. Xiao Yuting, meanwhile, went to Xiao Yan's side and helped him sit down with great care. Xiao Yan was now her only hope. She did not want the flame of hope to be extinguished again.

At that moment, someone looked at Xiao Wanqing and said, "You must be one of the nobles they spoke of as well. Sorry, but people from remote continents like us can't accept such generosity." With that, he directly threw away the pill in his hand. After what had happened today, they were filled with hostility toward these nobles. They were unwilling to accept anything from them.

After hesitating for a while, the other three also threw away the pills in their hands. One of them even struck Xiao Wanqing with his pill. Only Huang Lin said nothing and silently swallowed his pill. His body gradually began to recover.

Xiao Wanqing was no stranger to this reaction. She smiled. "You want to know why you do not bear the Xiao surname, yet are members of my Xiao Clan. Why members of the same family, all from the Lower Plane, must kill one another. Why you will have a clan entry test ten years from now. I'll tell you now."