The two guards did not dare to delay for a moment, helping Zhao Qinglan through several palaces and black stone corridors inside the Annihilation God Clan. The deeper they went into the ancestral domain, the fewer disciples came around, until the patriarch's hall, which was located in the center of the entire clan's territory, came into view in its entirety.
The two massive black pillars on either side of the main hall reached straight to the dome, their shafts entwined with dark, ancient patterns. The hall doors were tall, wide, and heavy. Before the disciples guarding the doors could even ask anything, they saw Zhao Qinglan, covered in wounds and pale-faced, being helped in, and their expressions changed drastically.
The two guards didn't stop, helping her straight across the palace gate. One of them cried out urgently, "Clan leader! Clan leader! Junior Sister Qinglan is injured!" The other's voice followed closely. "Clan leader, something has happened!"
The shouts echoed through the empty hall, and at the far end of the hall, on the high steps, a burly figure who had been sitting in the main seat suddenly raised his head.
This person is none other than Yuan Zhanxiao, the current patriarch of the Annihilation God Clan.
After the destruction of the ancient Ancient God Clan, Yuan Zhanxiao and the Supreme Elder Yuan Xuangu were both taken in by Qin Yu as Soul Thrall, and only then was the Annihilation God Clan rebuilt. Now, Yuan Zhanxiao's cultivation is still at the Eternal Silence Realm Peak. He sits in the clan for many years, and his power is far greater than before.
But at this moment, when he saw Zhao Qinglan being helped in by two guards, his usually Steady as a Mountain eyes suddenly widened, and a deep shock surged in his eyes. Zhao Qinglan and her group of six went out, but now only she returned.
A sense of foreboding immediately rose in Yuan Zhanxiao's heart, and anger began to rise in his chest. He suddenly stood up and strode down the steps, his voice more urgent than usual.
"Quickly, quickly help Qinglan to the side and make her sit down!"
Two guards quickly helped Zhao Qinglan to a seat to the side. As soon as she sat down, her body slumped down, her shoulders drooping limply, and her messy hair clung to her cheeks. Every breath she took revealed her undeniable weakness.
Yuan Zhanxiao did not rush to ask further questions. He slightly flipped his palm, and two crystal-clear Supreme Transformation Source Crystal appeared in his hand. The soft and heavy source light slowly rippled out from within the crystals, and the Xuanqing Dao rhyme flowed leisurely along the crystal surface. Sensing Zhao Qinglan's disordered and injured Fate Soul, the two Supreme Transformation Source Crystal immediately trembled slightly.
Yuan Zhanxiao gently moved his five fingers, and two Supreme Transformation Source Crystal floated in front of Zhao Qinglan. The protective essence accumulated within the crystals dissolved and slowly sank into the depths of her Fate Soul, flowing down her brow and chest.
Buzz!!!
Zhao Qinglan's chaotic and turbulent Fate Soul finally achieved its first stage of stabilization. The shock to her Fate Soul from her desperate escape gradually subsided, and a faint trace of color returned to her pale face. Her rapid breathing also slowly returned to normal.
The Supreme Transformation Source Crystal did not directly eliminate the numerous injuries on her body, but it firmly protected her Fate Soul foundation, which was on the verge of collapse and imbalance, allowing her to finally catch her breath.
Yuan Zhanxiao stood quietly in front of her.
He forcibly suppressed the shock and anger surging in his eyes. When he looked at Zhao Qinglan, his gaze carried a rare gentleness, but the pain lingering between his brows could not be dispelled.
"Qinglan." He lowered his voice. "What exactly happened?" Yuan Zhanxiao was silent for a brief moment, but finally asked the question he least wanted to ask. "Where are Chen Yong and the others?"
Zhao Qinglan's breathing, which had just calmed down, suddenly stopped. She lowered her head, her hands clenching the hem of her clothes tightly, her knuckles turning white inch by inch. Her tired, empty eyes reddened again, tears instantly welling up in them. She blinked hard, desperately trying to suppress the tears, but the scenes within the Ten Thousand Swords Golden Ruins continued to surge uncontrollably in her mind.
It was Chen Yong's resolute expression when he urged her to flee, it was the backs of the five people who shielded her from three True Annihilation Realm · Peak cultivators, and it was the terrifying collision of primal forces behind her after she fled, which engulfed everyone.
Zhao Qinglan's lips trembled uncontrollably. "Clan leader..." Her words were cut short by an uncontrollable sob. "Senior Brother Chen Yong and the others... They were killed and eliminated by three True Annihilation Realm · Peak cultivators from the Primordial Dao Clan while covering my retreat."
Yuan Zhanxiao's gaze suddenly hardened, and the entire hall fell into a deathly silence. The two guards standing to the side changed their expressions upon hearing this, and the last glimmer of hope in their hearts vanished completely.
Zhao Qinglan took a deep breath, forcing her swaying body to support herself, and untied the storage bag that she had never parted from during the life-and-death journey from her waist. Her hands were still trembling slightly. The moment the storage bag was opened, the mysterious ancient box that had been taken from the deepest part of the Nine Nether Cold Pool finally reappeared in the world.
The ancient box floated quietly above her palm, its ancient and serene aura slowly spreading outwards.
The runes that once lingered around the box have vanished, but the box itself still exudes a profound aura accumulated over countless years. The moment Yuan Zhanxiao saw the ancient box, his pupils shrank almost imperceptibly.
Zhao Qinglan held the ancient box firmly in both hands, and presented it to Yuan Zhanxiao with utmost solemnity.
"Clan leader, Senior Brother Chen and I fought tooth and nail to slay the Nine Nether Dark Ruins Demon Dragon and finally obtained this box. On our Return Path, we passed through the Ten Thousand Swords Golden Ruins and were ambushed and killed by three True Annihilation Realm · Peak cultivators from the Primordial Dao Clan."
At this point, a tear that had been welling up in his eyes finally fell. "They intended to steal what we had obtained. Senior Brother Chen and his group, to prevent the ancient box from falling into enemy hands, sacrificed their lives to cover their retreat..."
Zhao Qinglan's throat tightened, and after a long while, she continued to speak with difficulty. "I was only able to escape and return to my clan by sheer luck." Yuan Zhanxiao did not speak immediately. He reached out and took the ancient box, and the moment his palm touched the box, his gaze darkened completely.
Chen Yong and several other disciples of the Annihilation God Clan went out, but only Zhao Qinglan returned. The item they had obtained with their lives was now quietly held in her palm.
Yuan Zhanxiao's brows furrowed suddenly, anger gathering in his eyes, the surging resentment in his chest becoming increasingly difficult to suppress. A powerful and solemn aura, belonging to the Eternal Silence Realm Peak, slowly emanated from his body.
The vast hall was immediately enveloped in a somber and oppressive atmosphere; the ancient patterns engraved inside lit up on their own, barely managing to withstand the boundless pressure unintentionally released by the clan leader.
The Primordial Dao Clan stole the treasures of my Annihilation God Clan and slaughtered my Annihilation God Clan Yuan Zhanxiao. Yuan Zhanxiao slowly clenched his five fingers, and then slowly loosened them. He did not want the anger in his chest to continue to torment the already seriously injured Zhao Qinglan.
Yuan Zhanxiao stored the ancient box in his own storage container, forcibly suppressing the surging anger in his chest, and his tense brows relaxed slightly. When he looked at Zhao Qinglan again, the intimidating rage from before had completely subsided, leaving behind only a frank and solemn promise.
"Qinglan, you can rest assured." "The Annihilation God Clan will avenge the blood feud of Chen Yong and the others." Yuan Zhanxiao's voice was solemn, each word carrying immense weight. "The Primordial Dao Clan must pay a heavy price."
Zhao Qinglan's eyes were red-rimmed. She looked up at him, Yuan Zhanxiao, not wanting her to relive the fierce battle, softened his tone. "You have brought back the treasure, so their sacrifice was not in vain. Leave the rest to the clan. Now, you have nothing to worry about. Go to the healing hall and rest in peace."
After speaking, he turned to the two guards beside him. "You two, escort Qinglan to the healing hall." The two immediately bowed in response. "Yes!" They once again supported Zhao Qinglan steadily from the left and right.
As Zhao Qinglan rose, she glanced back at Yuan Zhanxiao, her lips parted slightly, but she ultimately bowed deeply in respect. Then, supported by two guards, she slowly walked out of the clan's main hall.
The heavy palace doors slammed shut with a thud—the vast hall fell into complete silence. Yuan Zhanxiao stood alone in the hall.
The emotions he had deliberately suppressed when facing Zhao Qinglan surged up all at this moment. He slowly turned around, his eyes narrowed slightly, and the last trace of gentleness on his face vanished.
"The Primordial Dao Clan..." A low murmur echoed in the empty hall. A surge of anger swept through him once more. "They coveted the treasure of my Annihilation God Clan, and dared to slaughter my disciples!" Yuan Zhanxiao's eyes grew increasingly cold. "You all, just you wait."
A moment later, he took out the mysterious ancient box again. The box floated quietly in his palm. Yuan Zhanxiao lowered his eyes and stared at it. Under the overwhelming anger, his thoughts slowly turned to another important matter: the master had defeated Hua Jingmeng and won the first place in this competition of the Lineage's geniuses.
This ancient box was the very object that everyone had risked their lives to retrieve, venturing deep into the Nine Nether Cold Pool. Yuan Zhanxiao's cold gaze softened slightly as he made up his mind. "Now that our master has defeated Hua Jingmeng and won the martial arts tournament..."
He gazed at the ancient box in his palm. "This box is just right as a congratulatory gift for its owner." Yuan Zhanxiao carefully put the ancient box away, and then slowly raised his right hand.
A palm-sized, jet-black talisman slowly condensed and took shape in the palm of the hand. The four corners of the talisman were thick and solid, while the center was left empty. There were no elaborate patterns, only the unique primordial mark of the Annihilation God Clan Chief, which floated and flowed within the talisman.
Yuan Zhanxiao lightly tapped his index finger down, and lines of characters flowed from his fingertip, directly imprinting themselves into the talisman. "From this day forward, our clan officially declares war on the Primordial Dao Clan." The second line continued, "All our clan's disciples outside the clan, upon encountering anyone from the Primordial Dao Clan, should—"
Yuan Zhanxiao's fingertips paused slightly, the last trace of warmth in his eyes completely dissipating. "Kill them all." The last word settled. Buzz!!! The entire talisman suddenly shone brightly. Yuan Zhanxiao raised his hand and threw it with all his might. The talisman shot straight towards the dome of the hall, collapsing with a bang the instant it reached the highest point of the hall, turning into countless tiny stars.
Whoosh—billions of points of light scattered in all directions, piercing through the clan's main hall, Annihilation God Clan the many palaces, mountains, forbidden zones, and floating ancient continents of the Annihilation God Clan, and rushing towards every place within the clan that could receive the clan's decree. From this moment on, a clan decree was spread throughout the entire Annihilation God Clan.