Ancient Realm, Gu Yuan's residence.
After Gu Yuan returned to his residence, the ease and calm had vanished from his face, replaced by worry and bewilderment.
Knowing Xiao Xuan as he did, he could not believe that Xiao Xuan would attack Xiao Tian Ce, much less commit such a deranged act as wiping out an entire branch of the Xiao Clan.
"Xiao Xuan, oh, Xiao Xuan... is this a scheme of yours, or has your obsession with breaking through to Dou Di truly clouded your mind?" Gu Yuan sighed softly.
Meanwhile, in the Soul Realm.
Unlike the Gu Clan, which chose to watch and wait, the Hun Clan became wildly excited upon receiving the news from the Xiao Realm.
The spies they had planted in the Xiao Realm had seen it with their own eyes: Xiao Xuan had indeed killed Xiao Tian Ce and slaughtered his entire branch. Thus, both Hun Tiandi and the other Hun Clan elders believed the news was true.
Hun Clan Conference Hall.
Hun Tiandi sat at the head of the hall, with the nihility devouring flame beside him. By now, the nihility devouring flame had taken the form of a handsome man dressed in black robes, his striking looks rivaling those of the most beautiful man in the world.
The commanding arrogance and wicked charm in his eyes only made it impossible for anyone to look away once they caught sight of him.
Honestly, compared with those celebrity idols on Earth who only knew how to act cool and pose, all of them put together could not hold a candle to his looks and bearing.
Nearby sat four middle-aged men: Hun Yuantian, Hun Shengtian, Hun Yao, and Hun Motian (whose name was not mentioned in the original work).
Apart from Hun Yuantian, who was an Early Eight-Star Dou Saint, the others were all Mid-Stage Eight-Star Dou Sheng. Each possessed a Gate of Dead Silence, and the four gates together could form the great Realm of Death formation.
They were also the strongest members of the Hun Clan apart from Hun Tiandi.
This emergency council had been convened specifically because Hun Yuantian and Hun Tiandi had received the news at the same time.
"Clan Leader, the Xiao Clan has severed one of its own arms before even going to war with us. That gives us an even better chance of defeating them!" Hun Yuantian said with a beaming smile, a terrifying gleam flickering in his eyes.
"Indeed. You specifically instructed me to find Xiao Tian Ce before the battle began, Clan Leader. Who would have thought Xiao Xuan would kill him outright!" Hun Shengtian chimed in with a chuckle.
Hun Motian and Hun Yao said nothing, but their excitement was plain to see.
From his seat at the head of the hall, Hun Tiandi took in their expressions. He waved a hand and smiled. "Heh, even I never imagined Xiao Xuan's obsession with reaching the dou di realm would run so deep that he would attack Xiao Tian Ce regardless of the consequences.
"Still, this is a good thing. Although I ambushed Xiao Tian Ce a hundred years ago and left him gravely wounded and unconscious, he was by no means an easy opponent to deal with.
"Now that Xiao Xuan has removed this thorn in our side for us, he has certainly made things easier for our clan.
"In that case, Elder Shengtian, join us in surrounding and attacking Xiao Xuan. This time, we must destroy both Xiao Xuan and the Xiao Clan and seize the Tou She Ancient God Jade."
Like Xiao Xuan, Hun Tiandi's word carried the weight of nine cauldrons within his clan. Since he had spoken, naturally, no one would object.
Yet just then, the nihility devouring flame sitting beside Hun Tiandi sneered and said gravely, "Aren't you being too optimistic? Xiao Tian Ce has always planned before acting. He is renowned within the Xiao Clan for his wisdom and composure. Would someone like him really clash head-on with Xiao Xuan?
"Over the past hundred years, I have gathered plenty of information about Xiao Tian Ce. Beyond his strength, what truly earned him fame among the Ancient Eight Clans was his intelligence and strategic prowess.
"Now, on the very eve of Xiao Xuan's attempt to break through to the dou di realm, news suddenly emerges that he opposed Xiao Xuan head-on and was killed, his soul destroyed as well. Don't you think there might be something false about this?
"As for Xiao Xuan, however ruthless he might be, he only needed to strip the dou di bloodline from Xiao Tian Ce and then take the bloodline power from the members of his branch. Why go so far as to slaughter them?
"Has Xiao Xuan gone stupid, or has Xiao Tian Ce? Did they not know that removing the dou di bloodline would cause the Xiao Clan's strength to plummet by several levels?
"Doesn't starting a battle at such a critical moment seem a little too deliberate?"
After the nihility devouring flame finished speaking, everyone present looked thoughtful.
After a long while, Hun Yao looked at the others and said, "Lord Void has a point. I also believe there must be something suspicious about this. We cannot afford to let down our guard.
"As Lord Void and the Clan Leader said, even if Xiao Xuan's obsession with breaking through to the dou di realm has robbed him of his reason and made him bloodthirsty, Xiao Tian Ce is not an impulsive man.
"We all know Xiao Tian Ce possesses exceptional talent. He never uses the dou di bloodline within him when cultivating, yet he could still keep pace with Xiao Xuan. Despite his modest cultivation, he firmly held a place among the Xiao Clan's five strongest fighters a hundred years ago.
"Even more frighteningly, he likes to conceal his abilities, and his hidden trump cards emerge one after another. Back then, even the Clan Leader suffered a major setback at his hands.
"He never reveals the mountains or waters of his true abilities before others. Such restraint shows that he is neither impulsive nor reckless.
"Yet he supposedly stood resolutely against Xiao Xuan's attempt to extract the dou di bloodline from their clansmen and was killed without even his soul surviving. I do not believe that outcome."
"Exactly. Brother Yao is right. I don't believe this news is true either. Could this merely be a performance staged by Xiao Xuan and Xiao Tian Ce together?" Hun Motian, who had remained silent until then, also spoke up.
Yet while the three wore doubtful expressions, Hun Tiandi shook his head with certainty. "No. You need not worry that this is a performance staged by Xiao Xuan and Xiao Tian Ce. All the life tablets kept under watch for Xiao Tian Ce's branch of the Xiao Clan have shattered. Thus, this cannot be an act.
"The purpose of life tablets needs no explanation. A shattered tablet means that person's life has ended and they have perished. Rest assured, everyone."
At those words, the doubts on the faces of the nihility devouring flame, Hun Yao, and Hun Motian disappeared, replaced at once by smiles.
"In that case, we can throw ourselves into this without holding back. The Xiao Clan is certain to fall, and Xiao Xuan is certain to die!" The nihility devouring flame laughed heartily and gave Hun Tiandi's plan his wholehearted approval.
Hearing this, Hun Tiandi laughed with unrivaled arrogance. "Never mind Xiao Tian Ce's death and the destruction of a branch of the Xiao Clan. Even without that, once the Xiao Clan loses its dou di bloodline, it will face certain death against us.
"This time, all of you must prepare thoroughly. We must wipe out the Xiao Clan in one stroke."
"Rest assured, Clan Leader. We will spare no effort to eliminate the Xiao Clan, this thorn in our side." The four elders rose together and cupped their hands in salute.
"Good. Return for now and await my next command." Hun Tiandi swept his hand outward and dismissed them with a smile.
"Yes. We take our leave."
The four saluted once more before swiftly departing.
After they left, Hun Tiandi turned to the nihility devouring flame. "Void, with them present just now, I did not explain the plan in detail. Once we kill Xiao Xuan, I will have to trouble you with what comes next!"
"Not a single member of the Xiao Clan will escape. Back then, Xiao Tian Ce ambushed me while I was wounded. Although he is dead now, I have yet to avenge that grudge. Let the lives of his entire clan quench the hatred in my heart!" the nihility devouring flame said with a cold laugh.
Hearing that, Hun Tiandi laughed heartily, then declared in a ringing voice, "Hahaha! After this battle, the Ancient Eight Clans will surely be short one Xiao Clan. Once I ascend to Dou Di and unite the entire Dou Qi Continent, Void, I will give you everything you desire!"
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