Putting an End to This Farce

"Crackle, crackle!"

The pale white flames continued to burn until the bones had turned to ash, then slowly dissipated into the world.

The ground outside Wutan City was scorched black, and everything that had happened before felt like a dream.

Xiao Ling'er broke free from Xiao Yan's restraint and ran toward Xiao Yi Xian. The patriarchs of the three great clans went pale the moment they saw such a lovely child approaching that baleful star.

They could not believe what might happen to that little girl next. That was a baleful star who killed without batting an eye.

Xiao Yi Xian smiled when she saw Xiao Ling'er approach, though no one could see it behind her mask.

Yao Lao was also somewhat weakened at the moment, quietly absorbing the last remnants of Dou Qi within Xiao Yi Xian's body.

"Big Sister, are you all right?"

Xiao Ling'er spoke slowly, her eyes filled with concern. She did not want to lose anyone close to her again.

Xiao Yi Xian picked Xiao Ling'er up and said gently, "Don't worry. I'm fine."

Holding the adorable Xiao Ling'er, Xiao Yi Xian headed toward Wutan City. Though the three great clans were somewhat surprised by the little girl's background, they had nothing to do with that baleful star. What if she took a dislike to them...

The heads of the three great clans all took a fearful step back.

Liu Yan obediently followed behind Xiao Yi Xian. From now on, he was her servant. Although the reversal had come a little quickly, a wise man submitted to circumstances. At least he was still alive.

Besides, he still wanted to find the enemy who had killed his disciple...

Xiao Yan slowly walked over at that moment. Seeing this, Xiao Zhan said with some concern, "Yan'er..."

Xiao Yan turned back to look at his father and smiled faintly, giving Xiao Zhan a reassuring look.

Jia Liebi and Oba Pa secretly thought, Is this idiot going over there to offer up his life?

"Big Sister, you're amazing!" Xiao Yan praised with a grin, completely unabashed.

"Big Sister?"

Jia Liebi and Oba Pa's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. They rubbed their eyes and ears, suspecting that they had seen and heard wrong.

What was going on?

"Big Sister?"

Jia Liebi and Oba Pa could barely process it. Since when had the Xiao Clan gained someone so powerful?

"Hahaha!"

Xiao Zhan laughed wildly at the sight, casting a smug glance at the two of them. Jia Liebi and Oba Pa gritted their teeth at his triumphant expression.

Xiao Yi Xian walked up to Xiao Zhan and said calmly, "Uncle Xiao, I may have to trouble the Xiao Clan for a few more days."

Looking at Xiao Yi Xian, whose clothes still bore traces of blood, Xiao Zhan laughed heartily. "No problem. Since you are Yan'er's elder sister, you may stay as long as you wish."

The group swaggered toward the Xiao Clan, while many of Wutan City's powers realized that the heavens were about to change.

The Xiao Clan had a Dou Ling expert, and an exceptionally powerful one at that. With a Fourth-grade Alchemist joining them as well, nothing in Wutan City would likely be able to stop the Xiao Clan's rise.

Oba Pa asked Jia Liebi fearfully, "What do we do?"

Jia Liebi sighed helplessly and looked up at the clear blue sky. "What else can we do? Get ready to pack up and leave. Otherwise, next time, we'll end up like those people."

Though Oba Pa was unwilling, he still nodded. That ruthless woman was part of the Xiao Clan. If she ever decided to deal with them one day, then...

Watching Xiao Yi Xian in bloodstained white, Nalan Yanran said in surprise, "This woman is incredibly strong. Before long, she may become another Dou Huang expert!"

Hearing Nalan Yanran's words, Ge Qing fell into deep thought. He was considering whether to take the Young Sect Master to annul the engagement.

With such a talented person in the Xiao Clan, would they not be setting themselves against a future Dou Huang expert by breaking off the engagement?

By then, the Xiao Clan had also heard about Xiao Yi Xian. Countless clan members welcomed her arrival. Such was the prestige of the strong.

Wearing her battered bronze mask, Xiao Yi Xian walked at the front, while Xiao Ling'er's steady breathing came from her arms.

The Xiao Clan elders all welcomed Xiao Yi Xian with smiling faces, and they were also filled with respect for Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan.

Looking at Xiao Yi Xian's figure, Xiao Ning could not help recalling the young lady he had seen in the back mountain not long ago.

In his eyes, the two figures continually overlapped, as though they were the same person. Xiao Ning shook his head. He still could not quite believe that a girl who looked about his age could be a Dou Ling expert.

As Xiao Mei watched Xiao Yi Xian's figure, an indescribable glimmer flashed through her eyes.

Xiao Zhan looked at Xiao Yan with delight. Ever since Xiao Yan had lost his talent, Xiao Zhan's standing within the clan had become somewhat unstable. Now, the entire clan would revere his branch above all others.

Xiao Yan walked behind Xiao Yi Xian without a ripple of emotion. He had once enjoyed these gazes and this respect, and feeling them again now stirred nothing in him.

Yao Lao took a somewhat weary glance outside before falling asleep. He would not awaken for a while, though neither would he slumber for too long.

Carrying Xiao Ling'er to a courtyard, Xiao Yi Xian said to Xiao Zhan beside her, "Uncle Xiao, Xiao Yi Xian will stay here for a few days. If anyone comes to visit, please turn them away."

Xiao Zhan patted his chest and promised, "Don't worry!"

Xiao Yi Xian held the Storage Ring in her palm and said to Xiao Yan, "Stay with me for now. Otherwise, you won't have enough Dou Qi!"

Xiao Yan nodded. He was the only one present who knew the whole story, and he had no desire to endure that awful sensation of his Dou Qi vanishing again.

Xiao Yi Xian carried Xiao Ling'er back into the room. The furnishings inside were no worse than those in Xiao Yan's former room.

Xiao Yi Xian placed Xiao Ling'er on the bed. She did not know what was going on. Ever since she had given Xiao Ling'er the cultivation technique, the girl seemed to sleep every day.

She had no idea what had happened, and Yao Lao happened to be asleep as well. It seemed she would have to stay here for a few days before leaving.

There was nothing left worth caring about in the Xiao Clan's future plot. She did not need to wait for either the coming-of-age ceremony or Jia Nan Academy.

She could enter Jia Nan Academy whenever she wanted, provided that her Calamity Poison Body had not been discovered. Moreover, Jia Nan Academy had someone she valued greatly.

She did not care at all about Heavenly Fire Venerable or the Heavenly Flames. What she wanted was Zi Yan—yes, Zi Yan.

Zi Yan was an Ancient Void Dragon, and after consuming the Origin Fruit, she could evolve. She was an absolute genius.

Taking her under her wing would be an enormous gain. She could also get a free nine-star Dou Sheng Ancient Void Dragon Emperor. With his aptitude, breaking through to Dou Di with Origin Qi would definitely not be a problem.

Moreover, she knew that the Life and Death Gate of the Misty Cloud Sect contained a great amount of Origin Qi.

Although this had not been mentioned in the novel Battle Through the Heavens, it was stated in the later plot of The Great Ruler.

Nalan Yanran inherited the Life and Death Gate, ascended to the Great Thousand World, and even became a Heavenly Sovereign.

She had to get her hands on that inheritance...