Three days later, in the Jia Lie Family's main hall.
Jia Lie Bi sat at the head of the hall, looking as though he had aged fifteen or twenty years.
He had led his men in pursuit of that bastard Lin Hong for three whole days, yet still failed to catch him.
That meant the huge batch of pills they had counted on to turn things around was gone for good.
Everyone in the hall stared at him, their faces clouded with worry.
Panic hung over the entire hall.
As members of the Jia Lie Family, they knew at least something of the inside story.
To fight the Xiao Clan to the bitter end, their Jia Lie Family had gambled all its savings. And the result...
Not only were the family's savings gone, but that damned thief Lin Hong had also made off with every last pill he had refined.
The entire Jia Lie Family had been thrown back to square one overnight.
Utterly penniless!
The Second Elder could no longer stand it. He sprang up and shouted.
"Clan head, the Xiao Family Market has no shortage of pills. Give me a few capable men, and I'll lead them in a raid tonight. We can at least recover some of our losses."
The Jia Lie Family's Second Elder actually found quite a few voices agreeing with him.
Not only had the family run out of money, but the Xiao Clan was also crushing their market business.
They had been driven into a dead end.
Jia Lie Bi's expression darkened. He had only three choices left.
They could surrender and willingly become a subordinate of the Xiao Clan, but the two clans had nursed grudges for so long that the Xiao Clan would likely keep suppressing them behind the scenes even after their surrender.
They could fight the Xiao Clan to the death, but that would most likely send the Jia Lie Family plunging into a bottomless abyss.
Or they could abandon their holdings and leave Wutan City with the entire family, tails between their legs, to start over in some distant land.
The first and third choices would undoubtedly preserve much of the family's strength, but how could Jia Lie Bi accept either?
The First Elder said gravely, "Clan head, whether we fight the Xiao Clan to the death or seek peace and surrender, make your decision. We'll all follow your lead."
Jia Lie Bi pondered for a moment, took a deep breath, and gave the First Elder his orders.
"First Elder, begin preparations today. Abandon all our baggage, gather every Storage Ring, and take every remaining valuable the family can carry."
After hearing Jia Lie Bi's instructions, the First Elder's cloudy eyes narrowed slightly. After long consideration, he said quietly, "Clan head, the Third Elder is younger. Let him handle this. These old bones of mine can still burn a little brighter for the family."
Though he could not guess exactly what Jia Lie Bi was thinking, he vaguely sensed that he intended to make one final, major move before leaving Wutan City.
The rewards would be great, but the risks would be considerable too. Some of them were certain to die.
Jia Lie Bi exchanged a glance with the First Elder, sensing an unyielding resolve in his voice.
"Very well. We'll do as the First Elder suggests." As soon as Jia Lie Bi finished, he noticed the Third Elder hesitating to speak and said gravely, "Third Elder, this is no time to refuse."
At Jia Lie Bi's words, the Third Elder sighed and said nothing more.
Jia Lie Bi then turned to Jia Lie Ao below him. Useless as the fellow was, he was still his son.
"Ao, once everyone disperses, gather all our clansmen Below Dou Shi. Tonight, leave the city under cover of darkness with the Third Elder. Head west if you can, and go as far as possible."
Jia Lie Ao immediately panicked and looked anxiously at Jia Lie Bi.
"Father, what about you?"
Jia Lie Bi snorted coldly, a chilling gleam flashing through his eyes. He said calmly, "Our Jia Lie Family has fought the Xiao Clan for so many years. Now that our family is finished, the Xiao Clan can forget about enjoying an easy time.
"Tonight, I'll lead the Grand Elder, the Second Elder, and the family's elite at Dou Shi rank and above in a surprise attack on the Xiao Family Market.
"If possible, we'll sweep up their entire stock of pills in one go. Even if we can't, we'll cause as much destruction as possible and make them hurt.
"We'll let them know that although our Jia Lie Family has lost, we aren't soft persimmons for them to squeeze however they please."
Jia Lie Bi had not spent all those years as the family head for nothing. His voice rose and fell with stirring force, instantly firing up everyone in the hall.
As though injected with a shot of adrenaline, they clamored to teach the Xiao Clan a lesson.
The Jia Lie Family's elders in the hall also nodded slightly, approving Jia Lie Bi's plan.
Although the Xiao Clan Grand Elder guarded the Xiao Family Market, he was nowhere near enough to withstand the combined elite of their entire family.
The Jia Lie Family had suppressed the news that Lin Hong had killed two of their elders and made off with all the pills. Otherwise, it would have stirred up a towering wave throughout Wutan City.
Night fell.
Dressed in black night clothes and wearing masks, Jia Lie Bi and his men silently approached the outskirts of the Xiao Family Market.
At the sight of the two rows of guards standing at the market entrance, murderous intent surged in Jia Lie Bi's eyes.
He turned to the Jia Lie Family elites around him. "That old bastard, the Xiao Clan Grand Elder, was only a four-star Da Dou Shi a few years ago. Even if he's broken through since then, he can't be stronger than a Five-Star Da Dou Shi.
"If he appears, First Elder, Second Elder, the three of us will strike together. We must kill him as quickly as possible. If he holds us off until the Xiao Clan's reinforcements arrive, we'll be in trouble.
"As for the rest of you, cause as much chaos in the Xiao Family Market as you can. Focus on the weapon shops, medicinal herb shops, and the Xiao Clan's pill shop."
"Yes, clan head!"
The Jia Lie Family elites answered quietly.
For this surprise attack, the Jia Lie Family had deployed all its elites. There were three Da Dou Shi alone, with Jia Lie Bi himself being a six-star Da Dou Shi.
Beyond them, there were another twelve elites at Dou Shi rank and above.
It was a formidable lineup indeed.
All of it was to ensure the plan went off without a hitch.
Some of them would certainly die pulling off this job, but as long as they could wipe out the Xiao Family Market, they would replenish a good portion of the lifeblood of their now-penniless family.
"Move!"
At Jia Lie Bi's command, the Jia Lie Family members stopped concealing themselves and charged toward the Xiao Family Market at full speed.
"Enemy attack!"
The Xiao Clan guard watching the market saw black-clad figures hurtling toward different parts of the market, and his expression changed drastically.
At his shout, the Xiao Clan guards stationed around the market immediately rallied, weapons in hand, their Dou Qi surging forth.
"They've come looking for trouble! Hurry and summon the First Elder!"
"Yes!"
"Form up! Form up! Don't let them through the market gates!"
A Dou Shi-ranked Xiao Clan elite stood before the guards with a greatsword in hand, remaining calm and composed as the black-clad attackers charged toward him.
"Finish them as quickly as possible!" Jia Lie Bi shouted from the front of the charge.
He gripped a Silver-White Long Spear, his Dou Qi surging fiercely as he immediately locked onto the Xiao Clan Dou Shi standing at the front.
The instant Jia Lie Bi locked onto him, the Xiao Clan Dou Shi's expression changed, and he cried out involuntarily, "A Da Dou Shi!"
Though he was an eight-star Dou Shi, he was nowhere near a match for a Da Dou Shi.
And Jia Lie Bi was no ordinary Dou Shi.
Just as the silver spear swept in for the kill, a cold shout suddenly rang out behind the Xiao Clan Dou Shi.
The Xiao Clan Grand Elder rushed out of the market and thrust his palm forward.
Surging azure Dou Qi shot from his palm, forming an enormous palm imprint several dozen feet across. It whipped up a terrifying gale and collided with Jia Lie Bi's silver spear in an instant.
Bang!
Terrifying energy erupted from the point where the Dou Qi palm imprint struck the silver spear, spreading in every direction.
But a mere moment later, Jia Lie Bi was sent flying backward.
The Xiao Clan Grand Elder looked at Jia Lie Bi's bedraggled figure and burst out laughing.
"Hahaha! Jia Lie Bi, did you think covering your face would keep this old man from recognizing you?"
Though his identity had been exposed, Jia Lie Bi paid it no heed.
He simply stared at the Xiao Clan Grand Elder with a dark expression and said, stressing each word:
"You're actually an Eight-Star Great Dou Master!"
Every member of the Jia Lie Family looked horrified at those words.
After all, even Jia Lie Bi, the strongest among them, was only a six-star Da Dou Shi.