When the Winds Rose and the Clouds Surged

Though the strange phenomenon heralding the Nine Nether Wind Flame's emergence had faded, the upheaval it caused swept across the entire Jia Ma Empire like a storm. Before its aftershocks had settled, undercurrents were already stirring.

The Xiao Clan's council hall, Wutan City.

Xiao Zhan, Xiao Li, and the other clan leaders gathered with grave expressions. An oppressive atmosphere hung over the hall, like the stillness before a storm.

"Father, I saw it with my own eyes that day. The Nine Nether Wind Flame rose from Uncle's hand, burning the heavens and boiling the seas. Even space twisted around it!" Xiao Yan spoke in a low voice, undisguised awe and admiration burning in his eyes. "Is he... really one of our Xiao Clan?"

Xiao Zhan nodded slowly, tightening his grip on his chair's armrests. "He is my younger brother, Xiao Ze. Twenty years ago, he left to seek the path to Dou Di, and we never heard from him again. I thought he had long since perished... I never imagined he would return like this."

"But... why did he refine a heavenly flame?" an elder asked, his voice trembling. "When a heavenly flame emerges, packs of wolves are bound to covet it! Though our young master now stands guard over the Xiao Clan, our foundations are still shallow. If Dou Zong or Dou Zun experts come, how can we resist them?"

His words silenced the entire hall.

Just then, a cool voice came from outside:

"If you lack even the courage to protect your clan, then the word 'clan' is nothing but a joke."

Everyone turned to see Xiao Ze walking slowly inside, his black robes billowing and his gaze flashing like lightning. Xiao Xun'er followed behind him, her expression calm, yet her bearing carried a nobility that brooked no offense.

"Young master!" Everyone hurried to bow.

Xiao Ze raised a hand, gently lifting them with his Dou Qi. "There is no need for formalities. I know what you fear—you fear I will draw powerful enemies here, that disaster will befall the Xiao Clan. But let me tell you—"

His gaze swept across the hall, and his voice abruptly turned cold. "Fear solves nothing. Only strength can keep others from coveting what is yours!"

"From this day onward, the Xiao Clan will no longer keep a low profile. I, Xiao Ze, swear here and now: within three years, I will make the Xiao Clan the foremost clan in the Jia Ma Empire! Within ten years, we will set foot in the Central Plains and contend for the summit on the path to Dou Di!"

The hall fell silent. No one dared speak.

Only Xiao Yan clenched his fists, fighting spirit blazing in his eyes. "Wherever you go, Uncle, I will follow!"

Xiao Ze looked at him and smiled faintly. "Good. Starting today, I will personally guide your cultivation."

At that moment, several sharp sounds suddenly tore through the distant sky.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Three figures stood in midair above the Xiao Clan estate, their mountainous Dou Qi pressure bearing down over the entire city.

"People of the Xiao Clan, heed my command!" Their leader was an old man in white robes, holding a jade ruler and radiating a sinister chill. "I am Hun Li, a Hall of Souls Enforcer! I have been ordered to investigate the emergence of the heavenly flame. Surrender the one who refined it at once, or we will wash Wutan City in blood!"

"The Hall of Souls?!" Xiao Zhan's expression changed drastically. "They came so quickly!"

An uproar broke out throughout the hall.

The Hall of Souls! One of the most mysterious and terrifying organizations on the Dou Qi Continent, it specialized in capturing soul entities and plundering heavenly flames. Its methods were vicious, and no one dared provoke it.

And now, it had descended directly upon the Xiao Clan!

"Hmph, the Hall of Souls?" Xiao Ze sneered, stepping into the sky to confront the three. "A mere three Dou Zong, and you dare run wild before me?"

"Insolent!" Hun Li roared. "What powerful expert could this paltry Jia Ma Empire possibly produce? Today, I will show you what it means to be worlds apart!"

Before his words had faded, he swung his jade ruler. A pitch-black chain shot out like a venomous snake, runes flickering along its length as it radiated eerie fluctuations capable of devouring soul power!

"Soul Lock: Soul Devour!"

Xiao Ze neither dodged nor retreated. He merely raised a hand, and a deep-blue flame flickered in his palm.

"Nine Nether Wind Flame—burn!"

Boom!

Deep-blue flames swept out like a storm. Before the chain could reach him, it was burned into nothingness, leaving not even ash behind!

"What?!" Hun Li's pupils contracted sharply. "This flame... actually counters the Hall of Souls' secret techniques?!"

"It does more than counter them." Xiao Ze's gaze turned icy. "It can also—devour you!"

Before his words had faded, he vanished. When he reappeared, he was already before Hun Li, striking with his palm!

Boom!

The deep-blue flaming palm opened like the gates of an infernal prison. Before Hun Li could even scream, the flames swallowed him and incinerated his body. His wailing soul was swept into the Nine Nether Wind Flame and refined in an instant!

"What?! The chief deacon is dead?!" The other two Hall of Souls Dou Zong recoiled in terror.

Xiao Ze swept a cold gaze over them. "Go back and tell the leaders of the Hall of Souls—the Xiao Clan is not yours to meddle with. If you dare come again, I won't mind visiting your branch hall myself and burning it all to the ground."

Scared out of their wits, the two turned and fled.

Xiao Ze snorted coldly and flicked a finger. Two wisps of deep-blue flame shot out like meteors chasing the moon, instantly piercing their backs and burning away every trace of life.

Three corpses fell from the sky.

Dead silence reigned.

The Xiao Clan disciples gazed at the black-robed figure standing high above as though beholding a god.

"He... he killed three Dou Zong single-handedly?!"

"Those were people from the Hall of Souls! He killed them without a second thought!"

"The young master... is a Dou Sheng?! No, even a Dou Sheng couldn't do that so effortlessly!"

Xiao Yan stared up at the sky, awe and admiration intertwining in his heart. Uncle... just how strong are you?

Xiao Xun'er stood on a rooftop, her eyes flickering. He... is hiding his strength. He didn't even use his full power in that strike.

[Ding! Killed Hall of Souls Enforcer ×1, Dou Zong ×2. Obtained: Soul Crystal ×3, Dou Qi Essence ×1000, Soul Crystal Fragment ×1 (can be combined into a complete Soul Crystal)]

[Hidden quest triggered: "Enemy of the Hall of Souls"—first kill of a Hall of Souls Enforcer. Quest activated]

[Quest objective: destroy the Hall of Souls' stronghold in the Jia Ma Empire]

[Quest rewards: Heavenly Flame Fusion Secret Technique ×1, Dou Sheng-level movement Dou Technique "Nine Nether Steps"]

Xiao Ze lowered his hand and stood facing the Central Plains, a cold gleam flickering in his eyes.

"Hall of Souls... since you've come, don't bother leaving."

The winds rose and the clouds surged. Killing intent had already emerged.

Beneath the seemingly tranquil surface of the Jia Ma Empire, countless factions had begun mobilizing in secret.

At the Misty Cloud Sect, Sect Master Yun Yun stood atop a mountain, gazing toward Wutan City with a soft sigh. "The Nine Nether Wind Flame... to think the Xiao Clan has produced such a figure. Is this a blessing? Or a calamity?"

Among the Snake-People Tribe, Queen Medusa spoke coldly. "Pass down my command. Our elite warriors are to suspend their attacks on human cities and closely monitor Xiao Ze's movements. This man must not be underestimated."

In an ancient hall somewhere in the Central Plains, a black-robed old man opened his eyes and murmured, "The Nine Nether Wind Flame has emerged... could that person's reincarnation truly have returned? Investigate at once!"

In the Gu Clan, Clan Chief Gu Yuan stroked his beard and smiled. "Xiao Ze... my granddaughter Xun'er sent word that this man is extraordinary. Let us see whether he can shoulder the turmoil of this chaotic age."

The winds rose and the clouds surged. Every faction watched with covetous eyes, and undercurrents churned.

Yet Xiao Ze merely waved a hand, reducing the three Hall of Souls corpses to ash. He turned and descended into the Xiao Clan estate, speaking calmly to everyone:

"Starting today, the Xiao Clan will close its gates for three days. I will lay down a grand formation to protect the clan. Also—"

His gaze settled on Xiao Yan. "Yan'er, come with me to the secret chamber. I will pass on the complete Flame Mantra to you, along with—the starting point of the path to Dou Di."

Xiao Yan trembled all over and dropped to both knees. "Your nephew obeys!"

The winds had not ceased, and the clouds had not dispersed.

The true storm had only just begun.

And Xiao Ze already stood with flame in hand, quietly awaiting the thunder.