"What a pity to lose this Heavenly Strategy Manor!"
The Xiao Realm, Heavenly Strategy Manor, Ninth Layer.
Xiao Tian Ce sighed, then the aura around him gradually began to rise.
Seeing that he did not intend to use a Spiritual Array, Xiao Xuan paused in surprise before understanding dawned. He smiled. "Just like you. As cautious as ever, refusing to reveal even a single trump card!"
"There's no need. I have to lose to you anyway, Brother Xuan, so let's keep it simple. Once you've 'killed' me and 'finished off' everyone in my branch, none of this will have anything to do with me anymore.
We might as well get straight to it!" Xiao Tian Ce said with a smile.
Xiao Xuan nodded, then sensed that Xiao Chun had already gathered all the clansmen in the distance. He said quietly, "Uncle Chun is ready. Let's begin!"
"After you!"
The two exchanged a glance, then began their contest of acting skills.
Anger appeared on Xiao Xuan's face, and he roared, "Xiao Tian Ce, I'll ask you one last time! Will you let me collect the Dou Di bloodline within your body or not?"
Seeing him slip straight into character, Xiao Tian Ce's lips curved slightly. He immediately bellowed in anger, "Xiao Xuan, don't think being the Xiao Clan Chief means you can do whatever you please!
You know perfectly well that your attempt to reach the Dou Di realm will fail, yet you still want to collect the Dou Di bloodline from every member of the clan! Don't you know those bastards from the Hun Clan are watching us like tigers eyeing their prey? If we let you take our Dou Di bloodline, wouldn't our Xiao Clan be cutting off its own arms?
I'm telling you, Xiao Xuan, you won't get the Dou Di bloodline from me or anyone in my branch! With such reckless behavior, you're unworthy of being our Xiao Clan Chief!
From this day forward, my branch will sever all ties with the Xiao Clan! We will no longer acknowledge you as our patriarch!"
Their voices were amplified by the Dou Qi surging within their bodies, carrying far into the distance.
As soon as those words fell, many Xiao Clan Members approached to watch, but no one stepped forward to stop them.
Sensing that quite a few people had drawn near, the two nodded to each other. Xiao Xuan then said coldly, "Xiao Tian Ce, since you insist on remaining so obstinate, don't blame me for showing no mercy.
Today, I will not give up the Dou Di bloodline within you or any member of your branch."
"Then try it! Let me see just how much substance there is to the man hailed as the strongest on the Dou Qi Continent!"
Xiao Tian Ce roared, no longer concealing any of his Dou Qi. The power of a late-stage Seven-Star Dou Saint surged outward, instantly destroying every structure on Heavenly Strategy Manor's Ninth Layer.
Once their figures were exposed, the onlookers nearby could see them clearly.
"No way! The patriarch is actually fighting Tian Ce!"
"Hmph! We all agreed. Xiao Tian Ce alone refused. What gives him the right? I say the patriarch should kill him."
"Exactly! He struts around like that all day. Anyone who didn't know better would think he was our Xiao Clan Chief!"
"..."
Seeing that the timing was about right, Xiao Tian Ce circulated the Dou Qi within his body and unleashed an Earth Tier Dou Technique.
"A mid-grade Earth Tier Dou Technique-Flying Spirit Finger? Heh, Xiao Tian Ce, aren't you looking down on me a little?"
Watching the enormous finger formed from energy bear down on him, Xiao Xuan snorted, then sneered.
He struck out with his palm, likewise using a mid-grade Earth Tier Dou Technique.
The instant the palm imprint collided with the finger, both exploded. Fierce winds swept outward in every direction.
"Too weak!" Xiao Xuan remarked coldly.
Xiao Tian Ce remained composed, staring at him with cold eyes. "Is that so? Then let's try again!"
He thrust out a palm. The high-grade Earth-tier Dou Technique-Raging Cloud Demon-Slaying Palm-instantly gathered the Dou Qi between heaven and earth, building a force that neither ghosts nor gods could withstand.
In the distance, a Xiao clansman's eyes filled with excitement. He could tell that the power of this strike rivaled a Heaven Tier Dou Technique.
Across from him, Xiao Xuan snorted, then roared, "Not bad! Much stronger than the last one. If I let that palm strike land, you might smash the entire Xiao Realm to pieces!
Since you insist on being so obstinate, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"
As his words fell, Xiao Xuan vanished abruptly, then appeared right in front of Xiao Tian Ce.
"So fast! That's the patriarch's signature movement technique, the Heaven Tier Dou Technique, Treading the Nine Heavens!"
A Two-Star Dou Saint cried out in astonishment from the distance.
Then Xiao Xuan drove his palm straight into Xiao Tian Ce. In an instant, Xiao Tian Ce spat out a mouthful of blood, and even his aura began to weaken, as though he had suffered a grievous injury.
"You're too weak! A mere late-stage Seven-Star Dou Saint dares to attack me? Then die!"
Having landed his first strike, Xiao Xuan struck out with his palm again.
In an instant, Xiao Tian Ce was blasted from the Ninth Layer straight down to the first, like a meteor plummeting from the celestial river high above.
Crack! Crack! Crack!
Moments later, the entire Heavenly Strategy Manor lay in ruins.
And for a long time, Xiao Tian Ce did not emerge from the ground.
Then Xiao Xuan clenched his hand. An enormous hand of energy descended, its tremendous power reducing the ruins of Heavenly Strategy Manor to ash.
The palm quickly crashed down, and Xiao Tian Ce spat blood once again. Whether he was alive or dead was impossible to tell; he seemed to have already perished.
Above, Xiao Xuan stood suspended in the void. He commanded the enormous energy hand to seize Xiao Tian Ce and sighed heavily. "You forced my hand, Tian Ce. Go in peace!"
As his words fell, the enormous energy hand clenched tight, sending blood splattering everywhere. A Soul Body emerged and fled at top speed, only for Xiao Xuan to crush it in his grasp as well.
Just like that, the brief but fierce battle drew to a close.
"Alas, you brought this upon yourself."
After sighing, Xiao Xuan declared loudly, "Xiao Tian Ce's branch refused to provide me with their Dou Di bloodline. For defying the patriarch's orders, they shall be executed on the spot!"
With that, he extended his hand and clenched it fiercely. The space nearby instantly formed an enormous sphere, enclosing every member of Xiao Tian Ce's branch.
As Xiao Xuan channeled his Dou Qi, the sphere grew smaller and smaller until it became a palm-sized spatial sphere that landed in his hand. A moment later, he glanced at the distant clansmen, then crushed the spatial sphere.
In the distance, the clansmen exchanged looks at the ruthlessness of Xiao Xuan's actions. The horror on their faces made it clear that they had never expected him to act so decisively.
"From this day forward, only five of the Xiao Clan's six branches remain. I will personally deal with any members of this branch who slipped through the net. Let this serve as a warning to you all.
Once I succeed in reaching the Dou Di realm, all of you will be honored contributors to our Xiao Clan," Xiao Xuan announced.
"Yes, Patriarch! We shall obey your orders!"
Xiao Xuan nodded in satisfaction, then abruptly vanished, his destination unknown.
Three days later, Xiao Xuan publicly announced that the collection of the Dou Di bloodline was complete, and that all remnants of Xiao Tian Ce's branch had been eliminated. From that day onward, the Xiao Realm would be sealed. He would begin secluded cultivation immediately and remain there until he was ready to attempt his breakthrough to Dou Di.
Although the Xiao Realm was sealed, quite a few people still managed to send word outside.
The Gu Clan.
After receiving the news, Gu Yuan exclaimed in astonishment, "Tsk, tsk. It seems Xiao Xuan has already lost himself to obsession. Otherwise, he would never have wiped out an entire branch of his own clan!"
"Patriarch, losing an entire branch must have greatly weakened the Xiao Clan. Should we strike them in secret and further reduce their strength?" a Gu Clan Elder suggested.
Several other Gu Clan Elders immediately voiced their agreement. Gu Yuan waved his hand and said gravely, "There's no need. Though the Xiao Clan is strong, the entire clan has now lost its Dou Di bloodline. Apart from Xiao Xuan, none of them poses a threat anymore.
Once Xiao Xuan fails and dies, won't the Xiao Clan be ours to take from as we please?"
"You are absolutely right, Patriarch. The Xiao Clan's decline is now a foregone conclusion. There's no need for us to attack them at this juncture.
Besides, the Hun Clan has surely received this news as well. Why not let them lead the charge? When the snipe and the clam fight, we can be the fisherman who reaps the rewards. Wouldn't that be ideal?" a Gu Clan Elder said with a smile.
"Indeed. We shall wait and see how things develop. Everyone, keep a close watch on the Xiao Realm," Gu Yuan decided, seeing that they had largely reached a consensus.
"Yes, Patriarch!"
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