"Regardless, now that everything has been settled, we should clean up the aftermath. As for injuries, I have prepared numerous recovery pills—whether for light or severe wounds."
Xiao Hua's gaze swept over the Brightmoon Mountain Range, where the scars of battle still lingered, before shifting toward the Chaos Realm high above. His faint yet steady voice echoed in every ear, spreading even into the depths of the Chaos Realm itself.
"Understood!"
Everyone responded in unison, their voices filled with respect. After this battle, Xiao Hua's prestige within the Moonlit Chaos Mansion had undoubtedly reached its peak.
Not only did he stand as a Dou Sheng, but he had already ascended to its very summit—becoming one of the supreme existences of the Dou Qi Continent. This truth had been firmly etched into everyone's hearts after they personally witnessed him defeat countless experts of the Hun Clan, and even force Hun Tiandi—one of the continent's most fearsome peak existences—into retreat.
The strength he displayed and the glory he achieved were more than enough to make everyone present submit wholeheartedly.
Xiao Hua waved his sleeve, and countless streams of light shot forth toward the Elders and disciples. Within each glow was a jade bottle containing recovery pills.
Upon receiving them, the Elders and disciples cupped their hands respectfully and bowed in sincere gratitude before scattering to clean up the remnants of the battle.
Watching them busy themselves, Xiao Hua turned to the Pill Tower's Ancestor, the First Elder, and Ancestor Huo Yun, exchanging a few more words with them. Soon after, the three bid their farewells, for they could sense that Xiao Hua and his companions still had matters to discuss—matters beyond their right to overhear.
Once they departed, Xiao Hua turned to Ming Cheng and his sworn siblings. His voice was low and steady as he spoke, "I plan to head toward the Northwest Region."
Ming Cheng and the others narrowed their eyes, then nodded. They understood that Xiao Hua's reason was not only to visit Cai Lin, Ya Fei, the Little Fairy Doctor, and his daughter, but also out of concern for their safety.
The group of elders they had dispatched were all Dou Zun experts, with the strongest among them a Peak Dou Zun who had undergone five changes. Yet, despite such strength, they had fallen into the hands of the Hall of Souls. This alone meant that several formidable experts were now moving within the Northwest Region.
"Unfortunately, none of us know the exact situation," Ming Cheng said with a soft sigh, feeling quite dispirited.
"Little Fairy Doctor never spoke of it, not wishing to burden us with worry before leaving the Moonlit Chaos Mansion. Still… make sure that nothing befalls her, nor any of our sisters-in-law."
His voice carried a heaviness. The death of the dispatched elders weighed upon him, shocking and bitter. Perhaps, given how swift and secretive the Hall of Souls acted, this news had only just reached their ears.
"Even so, we've already received Cai Lin's message—your daughter has been born. If not for our concern over the Hall of Souls, we would have flown to the Northwest Region long ago," Xin Yu said, shifting the heavy topic and bringing up Xiao Hua's child to ease the mood.
"That's right. If possible, make sure to bring our little niece back when you return," Li Mei chuckled softly, catching Xin Yu's intent and following suit, helping to lighten the atmosphere.
"This is non-negotiable," Mei Ling added with a firm nod. Her tone turned threatening in the second half. "Don't even think of coming back if you don't let us see our little niece."
Wei Jie laughed, but his eyes carried the same eagerness. "I agree with Mei Ling. We must see her. Besides… there's something unusual about your daughter. It would be better for you to examine it personally."
Naturally, everyone knew what he referred to—it was because Xiao Hua's race had changed. Allowing him to personally inspect his child was indeed safer, especially since Lady Azure would also be lending her aid in this matter.
As for worrying over Xiao Hua's well-being, none of them truly did. His strength had already surpassed all others; there was little need for concern.
With the grievous injuries Hun Tiandi had suffered, he would not dare to act rashly. An ambush was extremely unlikely.
Moreover, though the Central Plains and the Northwest Region were far apart, with Xiao Hua's current strength and speed, it would take him little time to traverse the distance and return.
Xiao Hua gave a dry smile and nodded. It was obvious that they were far more eager to meet their little niece than to welcome him as their savior. Shaking his head, he refocused on the matter at hand.
Behind him, four pairs of resplendent wings unfurled, radiant and majestic. With a single beat, his figure shot across the skies. Spatial ripples surged before him, and in the next instant, he rushed into the fluctuation and vanished.
As his silhouette disappeared, Flame and Thunder turned toward Ming Cheng and the others. The latter spoke first, his tone carrying a light smile.
"Sister Li Mei and the others should enter seclusion. The affairs of Moonlit Chaos Mansion will be left to us."
"That's right," Flame nodded, agreeing with Thunder. "With the two of us here, there's no chance of the Hun Clan or the Hall of Souls stirring trouble, especially in their current state."
"Then, we will enter a retreat." Li Mei and the others responded with nods before returning to their respective islands to begin their secluded cultivation.
Before withdrawing, Flame handed Wei Jie and Mei Ling the flame seeds of the four Primordial Heavenly Flames, along with an essence of exceptionally pure dragon blood.
Thereafter, Flame and Thunder assumed their duties as Mansion Masters. Though the disciples were initially confused, Xin Yu's explanation dispelled their doubts.
Upon learning that Flame and Thunder were split souls of their Mansion Master, the disciples were astonished, but they quickly accepted their authority and did not regard them as outsiders.
…
At last, the battle between Moonlit Chaos Mansion and the Hall of Souls had drawn to a close. The outcome was overwhelming—the Moonlit Chaos Mansion emerged victorious.
Yet, this clash unveiled revelations so shocking that the entire Central Plains was shaken to its core. Even the long-standing sects and factions, including the Eight Ancient Clans, could not conceal their astonishment.
Inside the grand hall of the Gu Clan, numerous elderly figures stood in solemn silence, forming a large circle at the front. Their expressions were heavy, yet the shock in their eyes betrayed the weight of the news they had just received.
"Hun Tiandi actually dared to move? Has he forgotten the ancient agreement between the clans?!"
"Even so… he failed! Who would have thought that someone on par with our Clan Head would falter before a newly risen force like the Moonlit Chaos Mansion…"
"That is not the most shocking part. Xiao Hua—he is truly a 9-Star Dou Sheng with a Di-State Soul. His cultivation is genuine, not propped up by external means. This revelation is far more staggering than Hun Tiandi's failure."
"Impossible… Can this truly be? Xiao Hua is barely past twenty years of age. Only a few short years ago, he was no more than a peak Dou Zong…"
"This has been confirmed by countless witnesses. If his realm had been forcefully elevated, it would have been impossible for him to drive Hun Tiandi into such a miserable state—no matter what tricks he employed."
A heavy silence blanketed the hall after those words. The elders fell into deep contemplation, their brows tightly furrowed as they struggled to grasp the meaning of what had just come to light.
The reason for their heavy contemplation was simple—Xiao Hua belonged to the Xiao Clan, the once-declining ancient clan. After losing their Dou Di bloodline, the Xiao Clan had long fallen from its former glory, its status as an ancient clan is nothing but an empty status.
Yet now, a youth from that very clan had risen to become one of the peak existences of the Dou Qi Continent, achieving what even their own clan head deemed extremely difficult to accomplish.
Though many found it hard to accept, they could not deny the truth. Especially since Xun Er herself had openly declared Xiao Hua to be her only love in this lifetime—such an achievement left no room for doubt or rejection.
The elders exchanged glances, each drawing in a long breath. Some had already accepted the matter, others chose to remain silent and ambiguous, while a few were unwilling in their hearts. But in the end, each one could only shake their heads with faint, bitter smiles, resigning themselves to the reality before them.
After all, to deny Xiao Hua's achievements and the height of strength he had reached would be sheer folly—more so when their clan's future now intertwined with the existence of such a formidable expert.
"The younger generation will surely feel dispirited. Their arrogance will be shattered by this news… After all, many have viewed Xiao Hua as their rival in love." One elder finally broke the silence.
"This is especially true for Gu Yao. His infatuation with the Young Lady is no secret to anyone… I only fear this may become a heavy setback for him." Another elder sighed.
A third elder gave a wry chuckle, unable to disagree. "What can be done? Even we are shaken by this revelation. How could the younger ones not be?"
"Regardless, just ensure that none of them are left with a lingering shadow in their hearts. No matter what, they remain extremely talented. It would be an irreparable loss to the Gu Clan if their path of advancement were affected because of this."
At the very front of the hall sat a frail-looking elder robed in white. His hair and brows were pure snow, yet his eyes were devoid of any murkiness. Instead, they resembled an endless abyss, like a black hole that could draw one's soul inward. Any who gazed too long would feel as though they might sink into them forever, leaving behind a profoundly mysterious impression.
"Understood!"
The elders nodded in unison. They knew well that if the younger generation bore such an unshakable shadow, the consequences would be disastrous. And since that shadow was Xiao Hua, all of them understood—it was impossible to dispel once the heart-knot had tightened and entwined.
"Elder Tong Xuan… will he come here for Xiao Xuan's tomb? Our people have failed to step into that place, even now…" An elder, after a long silence, could not help voicing the doubt that weighed on his mind.
Elder Tong Xuan's brows knit tightly upon hearing this. Even he did not know how this matter should be handled.
"None of you should harbor thoughts toward Xiao Xuan's tomb. Even with my strength, I would only have a fifty percent chance of entering it. Thus, you need not squander your efforts…"
A deep, aged voice reverberated through the great hall, arriving just as Elder Tong Xuan's frown deepened.
The elder who had spoken earlier wisely fell silent upon hearing that voice. Since even this person had intervened, he dared not harbor further thoughts about Xiao Xuan's tomb.
"As for whether he comes or not, that will be up to him. If he does, receive him with the utmost respect. I want to see my future son-in-law with my own eyes." The elderly voice continued, deep and unwavering.
A brief pause followed, before a sigh drifted across the hall. "Enough. Let us adjourn. The younger generation will certainly feel dispirited after this incident. Each of you must pay closer attention—do not allow this matter to disturb their cultivation."
"Understood!"
With the order given, the elders cupped their hands and slowly departed the great hall. Their thoughts had already turned toward safeguarding the hearts of the clan's juniors, ensuring that no inner shadow would hinder their future advancement.
Elder Tong Xuan, however, remained behind. His gaze lingered on the emptying hall as his voice echoed, heavy with curiosity. "Clan leader, how do you view Xiao Hua?"
At that moment, space itself warped in one corner of the hall. From within the distortion stepped out a figure who appeared no older than forty. His plain linen garments and ordinary features carried no hint of grandeur, yet the gentle smile upon his face naturally brought a sense of peace.
He emerged fully, and with a calm voice answered faintly, "Formidable. Even if I were to exert all of my strength, I do not believe I could defeat him."
"This…" Elder Tong Xuan's eyes widened in shock. He had expected the clan leader to praise Xiao Hua, even excessively so, yet never to such an extent.
After all, one must remember—this man before him had long stood as one of the peak existences of the Dou Qi Continent, far surpassing Xiao Hua in years and reputation.
He was the Gu Clan's leader, Gu Yuan. And yet, Gu Yuan actually spoke of Xiao Hua with such regard.
Tong Xuan's expression grew subtly strange. Could it be that the clan leader was showing leniency simply because Xiao Hua was his son-in-law, lowering his usual lofty standards?
But Gu Yuan's next words shattered such thoughts.
"Other than Xiao Xuan, I have never seen anyone come so close to slaying Hun Tiandi. Yet Xiao Hua did so immediately after breaking through, before even stabilizing his realm. This alone proves his strength is no less than Xiao Xuan at his peak."
Noticing Tong Xuan's incredulous gaze, Gu Yuan answered faintly, though the shock hidden within his voice betrayed his own unsettled heart.
"Moreover," he continued, "he wields a mysterious technique that allows him to cultivate two additional bodies, each capable of independent training. Both have already reached the realm of 9-Star Dou Sheng at the Di State. In truth, one does not face a single Xiao Hua, but three of them simultaneously."
He exhaled softly, his tone carrying a rare trace of gravity. "This fact alone already makes him the most formidable existence within the Dou Qi Continent."
Elder Tong Xuan's heart trembled violently. He had already received reports about Xiao Hua's ability to create additional bodies, each capable of cultivating independently from the original. In other words, there were not one, but three Xiao Hua.
How could such a revelation not shake him to his core? This was precisely why Hun Tiandi, the Nihility Devouring Flame, the Four Demon Saints, and the other Hun Clan Dou Sheng elites had suffered such grievous wounds and heavy losses.
"What about the Tou She Ancient God's Jade? It is certain that Xiao Hua possesses it, and with him, it should remain safe. However…" Elder Tong Xuan hesitated before speaking further, his tone growing heavy. "We have also received word that Xiao Zhan, the clan head of the Xiao Clan, has been captured and now lies in the hands of the Hun Clan."
Gu Yuan's reply was calm, his expression unshaken.
"Since the jade rests in his possession, Hun Clan cannot steal it. Whatever choice Xiao Hua makes with the 'key' is his alone. With his current strength and abilities, no one can force it from him. Hun Clan has already learned this truth in blood. Even if they wished to use Xiao Zhan's life as leverage, fleeing with the jade would be nearly impossible under his gaze."
His voice carried an unquestionable certainty. "Their desire for the 'key' will not vanish, but their greed will be bound by fear. Thus, Xiao Zhan's life will remain safe, for they need him alive to even attempt such an exchange. They will wait for the right time."
"That is true…" Tong Xuan nodded slowly, muttering under his breath. "Even Hun Tiandi failed to capture or kill him. For others, even harboring such a thought is nothing but delusion."
Inwardly, he acknowledged that even within the Gu Clan, the elders who once coveted the Xiao Clan's 'key' would now abandon such desires completely.
With this matter settled, one thing was certain—under Xiao Hua's hand, the Xiao Clan's 'key' was safer than it had ever been. There was no longer any need to dwell upon it.
"What about the lass? Has she been informed of this matter?" Gu Yuan asked, shifting the conversation toward his daughter.
"Young Lady entered seclusion a few weeks ago. Judging from the fluctuations, she should be on the verge of emerging. Once she leaves her retreat, she will undoubtedly learn of this news—and when she does, she will most certainly head straight for the Moonlit Chaos Mansion."
Elder Tong Xuan let out a dry laugh, his voice carrying a trace of helplessness. He knew well that once Xun Er discovered the truth, nothing would stop her from rushing toward that place.
"See to it that someone watches over her," Gu Yuan instructed, his tone faint but firm after a brief silence. "Now that Xiao Hua has risen to such height, Xun Er will undoubtedly become a target for Hun Clan as well, given the depth of their love for each other."
"I understand," Elder Tong Xuan replied with a solemn nod.
…
A sandstorm swept across the endless crimson plains and jagged cliffs. The scarlet sun hung low in the distant sky, its dim light draping the land in a pale-red veil, as though the very earth had been stained with blood.
The plains were deserted; no human trace could be seen. Only the wild wind whistled and screamed through the barren expanse.
Honglong!
Suddenly, violent spatial ripples spread across the air. From within the distortion stepped out a black-robed figure, four pairs of wings unfurling behind him as he descended upon the scarlet land.
Naturally, this figure was Xiao Hua, who had traversed the Central Plains for an entire week without stopping. With his speed and mastery over space, it did not take long for him to step into the northwestern continent.
From his storage ring, he drew out a map and let his gaze sweep across it. The scroll detailed the northwestern lands in full, an item he had obtained before his long retreat to break through.
Yet, just as he was about to study it, his heart suddenly gave a heavy thump, his blood surging violently as his gaze instinctively snapped toward a certain direction. He did not understand why, but an overwhelming sense told him that if he did not rush there at once, something most precious would be lost forever.
His brows furrowed. This sensation was far too intense to be dismissed—it was not an illusion, but the call of his bloodline. And within this world, the only one who shared his bloodline is only his daughter.
A chilling realization struck him: something had happened to them!
The wings on his back trembled, then flared wide. His body erupted into a streak of light as spatial ripples surged once again, swallowing his figure into the void.
"Xian'er, Cai'er, Fei'er… my cute daughter… wait for me. Whoever dares lay a hand on you—I will drown them in their own river of blood!"
Within the turbulent void, Xiao Hua's hand clenched tightly. His killing intent surged outward in waves, so dense it seemed to bleed into reality itself. The heavens trembled with his fury, as if forewarning the massacre he was about to unleash upon those who dared harm his women and daughters.
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