"Since things have come to this, it should be about time. Time to end this farce!"
At the entrance to the Xiao Realm.
Xiao Tian Ce slowly rose, then rolled his neck, sending a series of sharp cracks through the air.
"Whew!"
After letting out a soft breath, he turned to the Heavenly Demon Puppet and ordered, "Let's go. It's time to deliver this grand gift to Hun Tiandi."
With that, he and the Heavenly Demon Puppet, Old Phoenix, flashed into the Spiritual Array together.
Passing through the Spiritual Array, the two figures swiftly entered the Xiao Realm.
The moment he entered, Xiao Tian Ce saw corpses strewn across the ground, along with the ruins of numerous buildings destroyed by the Hun Clan Powerhouses.
The sight left Xiao Tian Ce heartsick. Although he and Xiao Xuan had planned this outcome beforehand, intending for the Xiao Clan to undergo a baptism of blood and rise anew from the wreckage, seeing it before his own eyes still pained him.
It seems the original owner's feelings for the Xiao Clan ran deep enough to affect even my emotions.
After that inward reflection, Xiao Tian Ce sighed, then ordered Old Phoenix, "Kill them. Leave not a single member of the Hun Clan alive!"
The Heavenly Demon Puppet wore a mask, hiding any expression on his face. But the instant Xiao Tian Ce finished speaking, a terrifying aura erupted from Old Phoenix.
Boom!
In an instant, everyone still fighting throughout the Xiao Realm stopped.
If Xiao Qing's aura as an early eight-star Dou Saint had been enough to horrify every Dou Sheng Expert of the Hun Clan, then the power Old Phoenix revealed now wiped any thought of continuing the battle from their faces.
"Damn it, who is this? His strength has actually reached peak eight-star Dou Saint!" Hun Yuanpo's expression darkened. He had only just managed to organize more than twenty mid- and high-level Dou Sheng to hold Xiao Qing back, and now someone even stronger had appeared. How was he supposed to carry out the clan leader's orders?
Just then, Old Phoenix's figure flashed, and a moment later, he appeared behind a Hun Clan expert at the peak of five-star Dou Sheng.
Boom!
Without joy or sorrow, he delivered a punch comparable to that of a peak seven-star Dou Sheng, blasting the Hun Clan Dou Sheng's body apart.
He had disposed of a peak five-star Dou Sheng in such a short time. His killing power was truly formidable.
Behind him, Xiao Tian Ce also began to move. Compared with Old Phoenix's brutal attacks, his methods were somewhat gentler.
He slapped a one-star Dou Sheng, and in an instant, the Hun Clan Dou Sheng felt all the Dou Qi in his body become sealed.
"Heh, I never imagined the Spirit-Binding Array could be used like this. True knowledge comes from practice-the ancients did not deceive me."
Once he had sealed the man's power, Xiao Tian Ce lightly thrust out a finger under the Dou Sheng's horrified gaze, instantly piercing his heart.
Pfft!
Blood spurted out, and the Hun Clan's one-star Dou Sheng fell straight out of the air, clearly dead.
"Third Uncle!"
Seeing the Hun Clan expert dispatched in an instant, Xiao Qing immediately called out to Xiao Tian Ce in excitement.
At her call, Xiao Tian Ce flashed to her side, then thrust out his palm, driving several Hun Clan Dou Sheng back.
"You really couldn't bring yourself to harden your heart after all," Xiao Tian Ce said with a smile.
Hearing that, Xiao Qing's bloodshot eyes gradually regained their calm. Somewhat apologetically, she said, "Third Uncle, I know I was wrong. But I still couldn't stand by and watch our clansmen being slaughtered. I've let you down."
"There's no need for that. I never intended to let these Hun Clan people return alive anyway."
Xiao Tian Ce's expression was serene, as though he were discussing something utterly insignificant.
Across from him, Hun Yuanpo finally understood upon hearing those words.
With a cold expression, he looked at Xiao Tian Ce and said, "Before coming here, I was wondering how Xiao Xuan could possibly bring himself to strike so ruthlessly, given his relationship with you.
"Besides, with your strength, even if you were no match for Xiao Xuan, he shouldn't have been able to finish you off in just a few moves.
"Hehehe, so it was all merely a performance staged by you and Xiao Xuan. What an unexpected turn of events."
"Heh, Hun Yuanpo, since you've already realized that this was all just a performance, I take it those were your last words?" Xiao Tian Ce chuckled, regarding Hun Yuanpo with utter contempt.
Seeing how relaxed he was, Hun Yuanpo's expression grew even uglier. He knew full well how difficult this man was to deal with. The sight of Xiao Tian Ce holding Hun Tiandi back single-handedly was still fresh in his memory.
Just then, Hun Yuanpo took out a jade pendant and crushed it in his hand. Then he looked at Xiao Tian Ce and laughed loudly. "Xiao Tian Ce, if I were you, after going to such lengths to stage that performance, I would never have shown myself again.
"Do you know that, of everyone in the Xiao Clan besides Xiao Xuan, you are the one our clan leader fears most? Once he receives my message, he will find you and grind your bones to dust!"
"Is that so? Should I feel honored that Hun Tiandi thinks so highly of me?
"Come to think of it, Hun Tiandi ambushed me from behind back then, throwing away even his dignity as an expert. That certainly fits what you just said.
"However, whether he grinds my bones to dust or not, you most likely won't live to see it.
"Oh, I forgot to tell you. Ever since you entered, I've sealed off the entire space of the Xiao Realm.
"In other words, Hun Tiandi won't receive the messages you've sent out-at least not before every last one of you has become a corpse," Xiao Tian Ce said mildly, a smile on his face.
As those words fell, Hun Yuanpo's expression darkened further. Only then did he realize that his message had been blocked.
He turned to look at the others, only to find that their results were the same.
"That certainly suits your style. But if you think you can keep all of us here, you're far too naive!"
Hun Yuanpo gave a cold laugh, then shouted, "The operation has failed! Everyone, retreat!"
As he spoke, Hun Yuanpo hurtled toward the Xiao Realm's entrance at supersonic speed. The other Hun Clan Dou Sheng, along with the few Hun Clan spies planted within the Xiao Realm, also rushed toward the entrance.
"Don't let them get away just like that! Everyone, follow me! We have to kill those bastards!"
Seeing this, the Xiao Clan's experts prepared to give chase. Xiao Tian Shan and several others, in particular, had already charged after them.
At that moment, Xiao Tian Ce smiled faintly, then called out, "Do not pursue a cornered foe. Everyone, come here."
Once the Xiao Clan members stopped, countless Spiritual Seals appeared in Xiao Tian Ce's hands. He handed control of the array's core to Xiao Qing, then instructed her, "There's no limit on numbers this time. Teleport all our clansmen out first, then take them all to Heaven Beyond."
"Yes, Third Uncle!"
Xiao Qing had wanted to stay and help, but after glancing at Old Phoenix beside him, she respectfully accepted it.
Only after making these arrangements did Xiao Tian Ce look at the clansmen gathering around him and say gravely, "Everyone, with our clan leader absent, I will temporarily assume the position of Xiao Clan leader. Does anyone object?"
At his words, they exchanged glances, then finally bowed to Xiao Tian Ce in unison. "Greetings, Clan Leader!"
"Very good. I know you have many questions, but now isn't the time. Leave with Qing'er first. Once I've dealt with things here and returned, I will give you all an explanation," Xiao Tian Ce said with a nod.
"We respectfully obey the clan leader's command."
Seeing everyone begin to withdraw, Xiao Tian Ce headed toward the entrance with Old Phoenix.
"Damn it, what kind of array is this? Why can't we get out?"
Before you continue