After weaving through countless roads and bustling streets for nearly half an hour, Xiao Hua's group finally slowed to a halt before a courtyard that spanned an astonishing stretch of land.
As the convoy drew near the entrance, they happened upon numerous other carriages already stationed there. Each bore a red-colored badge, and the moment Han Xue and Han Lin saw them, their expressions shifted. Han Lin's face grew dark as he said coldly,
"People from the Hong Clan? They actually dare come to our Han Clan and behave so audaciously?"
"Enter!"
Han Xue's delicate face had regained its usual iciness as she issued her command. She instructed Han Chong's group to unload the goods from the convoy before gracefully dismounting. Without delay, she strode toward the manor, her steps brisk and unwavering.
Xiao Hua followed at a leisurely pace, his gaze wandering about the surroundings. The manor was elegant and well-maintained, yet what drew his attention most was its immaculate state—so spotless it seemed to glimmer under the light.
It was clear to him that this was the influence of Han Yue. Though she did not impose her habits on others, the servants likely maintained such cleanliness out of their deep respect and affection for their young lady.
As Xiao Hua accompanied Han Xue deeper into the manor, they crossed paths with a few female servants. After a brief inquiry, Han Xue learned of the situation within. Not long after Han Lin—the one who had gone to meet her—had left, people from the Hong clan had barged into the Han clan's territory. At this moment, both sides were locked in confrontation within the Meeting Room.
Han Xue's pace quickened at once. She led Xiao Hua and Han Lin through several narrow garden paths until an imposing, grand hall came into view.
With his strength, Xiao Hua's sharp eyes easily discerned the numerous figures gathered within the Meeting Room even from a distance.
As they neared, Han Xue lightly waved her hand, guiding them toward a secluded corner with a clear view of the hall's interior. Her eyes, cold and sharp as winter frost, fixed intently upon the scene unfolding within the Meeting Room.
Xiao Hua's gaze followed hers, sweeping across the grand hall. It made a casual circuit before abruptly halting upon a silver-clad figure radiating a sharp brilliance. His expression froze in surprise.
"Oh? Han Yue has stepped into the two-star Dou Zong realm… She has advanced quite well." Xiao Hua mused inwardly, giving a faint nod of approval.
Though Xiao Hua himself was a monstrous existence—and those close to him were of similar cut—that did not mean he lacked common sense.
Given Han Yue's background, status, and innate talent, it was clear to him that she had not allowed her cultivation to stagnate after graduating from Jia Nan Academy. With slightly better resources and guidance, such advancement was well within her reach.
Seeing this, Xiao Hua felt genuinely satisfied that she had not grown complacent with her gifts, choosing instead to temper them, honoring her high potential rather than wasting it.
However, when his eyes shifted to another side of the hall, his faint smile faded. He exhaled softly and murmured under his breath, his voice so quiet it was almost lost to the air,
"How unfortunate… but it seems I was merely too eager to catch a clue of the Hun Clan's hiding location…"
…
Inside the Meeting Room, the air was steeped in tension. Many experts from the Hong clan stood with arms crossed, cold smiles playing on their lips as they faced the members of the Han clan.
At the center, seated at the place of honor, was a man clad in green robes. He appeared to be around twenty-six or twenty-seven. His face could not be called handsome, yet it bore a certain charm, and between his brows lingered an air of arrogance difficult to conceal.
Yet such arrogance was not baseless. For someone so young, reaching one-star Dou Zong was a feat few could rival. Clearly, the power behind him had spared no effort in nurturing his rise.
However, the true reason for the heavy and gloomy atmosphere on the Han Clan's side lay with the man seated beside the green-robed youth. Though his features appeared somewhat youthful, his hair was stark white, lending him an air of aged solemnity.
"Fei Zun-zhe… aren't you going a bit too far?"
Within the meeting hall, an old man in white robes spoke slowly, his tone calm yet laden with weight. Beside him stood a middle-aged man in a resplendent robe, his expression equally grim. The white-robed elder's voice was not loud, yet each word was heavy as stone as his sharp gaze locked onto the white-haired figure.
Naturally, this white-haired man was Fei Tian—the one who had taken the mantle of Pavilion Head of the Wind Lightning Pavilion, bringing order back to it after the fall of Lei Zun-zhe.
"To suddenly barge into my Han Clan with armed followers, and even demand that my two great-granddaughters marry Hong Chen… Is that not far too overbearing?"
"Overbearing?" Fei Tian turned his cold gaze toward the middle-aged man, his tone dripping with disdain. "Tell me—does the Han Clan find my disciple unworthy of your two young ladies? For him to even take interest in them should be considered a blessing to your Han Clan."
As his words fell, a chilling glint flickered in his eyes. A faint yet oppressive pressure seeped out, pressing down on the two men until their breathing grew strained.
"Father! Great-Grandfather!" Han Yue called out anxiously from the side, alarmed as their faces turned pale.
"Our Han Clan does not follow the custom of having two sisters serve one husband," the white-robed elder declared firmly, his voice like tempered steel despite the invisible weight pressing upon him. "More importantly, I will never allow them to be forced into a marriage they do not want, nor suffer such disgrace. No matter what you say, our Han Clan will never agree to Fei Zun-zhe's request."
"That's right," the middle-aged man added, his tone equally resolute. "Though it may disappoint you, my daughters hold no desire to marry yet. With Hong Chen's talent, I'm certain he can attract beauties far beyond them."
Fei Tian's eyes narrowed sharply. A dreadful pressure erupted from him like a roaring tide, surging toward the two men as though intent on crushing their very bones.
Hua—!
"Why don't we end this… right here?"
Just as the crushing pressure was about to descend upon the two elders—and even Han Yue, who had rushed close out of concern—a calm voice suddenly cut through the suffocating heaviness of the hall.
A ripple of energy swept across the chamber, dissolving the oppressive force pressing down on the white-robed elder and the middle-aged man, while simultaneously overwhelming the surging tide unleashed by Fei Tian.
"What…?" Fei Tian's heart trembled violently, disbelief and shock flashing in his eyes. He could feel it clearly—someone had effortlessly dispersed the pressure he had unleashed. Instinct urged him to retreat, yet he found himself unable to move, as though an unseen force had locked onto his very soul.
"Father! Great-Grandfather! Sister!"
An anxious cry rang from beyond the hall. Everyone turned their heads and saw Han Xue rushing in, her face filled with worry and sorrow. The elders and members of the Han Clan were immediately overjoyed at her safe return, though confusion filled their eyes—none of them knew why the suffocating pressure had vanished so suddenly…
Fei Tian, however, did not even glance at Han Xue. His gaze was fixed solely on the young man who strode in at an unhurried pace, each step steady and unshaken, a faint smile playing on his lips. Recognition flashed in Fei Tian's eyes the instant he saw him.
Fear and regret surged up like a flood, spreading through his entire body. He instantly understood why his pressure had been so easily dispelled. Never had he imagined he would encounter him here, and at this moment at that…
Unfortunately, this realization did not extend to Hong Chen, seated beside him. Hong Chen's face turned ashen, his expression collapsing as the truth struck him like a hammer—their plan to seize Han Xue and force the Han Clan's submission had already crumbled.
"Those useless old fools…!" Han Chong muttered under his breath, fury seething in his eyes.
Meanwhile, Xiao Hua, who had already removed his mask to reveal his true face, frowned faintly—disappointed. Fei Tian was completely unrelated to the Hun Clan or the Hall of Souls.
With his Di State soul, Xiao Hua had sensed Fei Tian's aura the moment he entered the manor. It hadn't even required a deep probe—Fei Tian's Dou Qi was unstable, the hallmark of someone who had forcefully pushed his cultivation forward using external means.
Even more telling was Hong Chen. Xiao Hua could feel the hollowness within his aura, proof that he had recklessly climbed realms without consolidating his foundation, relying entirely on borrowed power to reach his current level.
Yet there was no trace of the Hall of Souls or the Hun Clan in either of their energies. The nature of their cultivation paths was utterly different, completely unrelated to those two shadowy factions.
Confirmed by the clarity of his divine eyes, Xiao Hua knew without doubt that neither of them bore any relation to the Hall of Souls or the Hun Clan.
'So… Fei Tian really did stumble on some fortuitous encounter,' Xiao Hua mused silently, but it's a method that devours the strength of others to raise one's own cultivation.'
Nevertheless, he knew he could not remain a mere bystander. If he allowed Fei Tian to trample upon the Han Clan—especially Han Yue—then his very presence here would be meaningless.
"Girl, you've finally returned…" The middle-aged man coughed lightly. His face, drained of all color moments ago, seemed to regain a trace of warmth as he offered Han Xue a doting smile.
"We are fine, Xue'er," Han Yue said gently, her calm smile meant to soothe her little sister's worry.
The white-robed old man gave a faint nod before turning his gaze toward Xiao Hua, who had silently dispersed the oppressive pressure Fei Tian had released. "However… who might this young master be?" he asked, his tone carrying an unusual respect.
He could tell at a glance that it was Xiao Hua who had intervened on their behalf, shattering Fei Tian's pressure as though it were mist before the morning sun.
"Father, this is the Honorary Guest I invited on behalf of the Han Clan…" Han Xue explained softly after ensuring her family was unharmed. Even she was startled to realize the man she had invited possessed such unfathomable strength.
She had been about to tell Xiao Hua to withdraw their earlier agreement—now that Fei Tian had come in person, she feared dragging him into their clan's calamity. Yet before she could utter a word, Xiao Hua had lightly flicked her forehead, silencing her, and then continue to help her family.
"Hmph. Honorary Guest or not, since when does someone of such meager standing dare meddle in this assembly?" Hong Chen coldly snorted. His voice was sharp as a blade, yet beneath his anger lurked a faint coil of fear that the young man unknowingly stirred within him.
Fei Tian's face immediately drained of color upon hearing his disciple's words. He wished to silence him—or even strike him outright—but his body would not obey. Not a single finger could he move, nor could he force a single word past his lips.
Meanwhile, Han Yue, having finally finished tending to her father and great-grandfather, lifted her head, intending to properly behold the one who had come to their aid. Yet her expression froze the instant her gaze settled upon him.
Her eyes widened as his features seemed to shift subtly before her, and a face emerged—one that she has seen for a long time.
"You are…!" she whispered, her voice trembling with disbelief. Yet within her astonishment, a faint glimmer of hope flickered in her eyes as she stared at him.
Xiao Hua let out a soft laugh at her reaction before turning his gaze upon Hong Chen and speaking, his tone calm yet cold.
"You speak of this so-called 'meeting'… the one you forced upon the Han Clan after barging into their manor—deliberately stalling them from rescuing their Second Young Miss, and using her kidnapping as leverage to bend them into submission?"
His voice was quiet, yet it carried effortlessly through the hall, striking every ear with undeniable clarity.
"What?!"
The middle-aged man's expression twisted with rage as he slammed his palm on the armrest of his chair and shot to his feet. "Hong Chen, you actually dared to kidnap my daughter!"
He had found it suspicious that Hong Chen and his clan had suddenly stormed into the Han Clan's manor, but never had he expected this reason. His own daughter had nearly been taken as leverage!
The other members of the Han Clan were no less furious. Their eyes blazed with killing intent as they glared at Hong Chen, their auras faintly surging with restrained rage.
"Xue'er, let me see you… Did they harm you?" Han Yue asked softly, ignoring her father's outburst as she quickly hurried to Han Xue's side. Only after confirming that her sister was unharmed did she release a long, trembling breath of relief.
"Thank you… for saving my little sister."
Han Yue spoke softly, a blooming smile lighting her graceful face. In her heart, she truly felt it fortunate that Xiao Hua had been there to protect her.
"Hehe… I've been shamelessly enjoying myself in the convoy your little sister leads. Naturally, I couldn't just watch while she was in danger. I may be lazy at times, but I'm not thick-skinned enough to sit idly while someone I owe a favor to is in trouble."
Xiao Hua chuckled lightly, waving his hand in a dismissive gesture.
Han Yue let out a gentle laugh as well, her radiant smile blooming like spring sunlight across her beautiful face. Those who knew her were quietly startled—for it was exceedingly rare to see her display such warmth toward anyone. She had always kept others at a distance, especially men… yet here she was, openly smiling at him.
Watching this, Hong Chen's expression darkened, envy and fury seething within his heart. He had long coveted the Han sisters—Han Yue and Han Xue—to the point of even begging his teacher, Fei Tian, to help him claim them as his wives.
And yet now, right before his eyes, the aloof elder sister was showing rare familiarity toward a man who had seemingly appeared from nowhere. Worse, Hong Chen could sense an unmistakable closeness between this man and the younger sister as well. How could he not feel his heart twist with envy and rage, watching the two women he desired treat another man with such warmth?
"Sister… are you and Mister 'Xiao Yan' acquainted with each other?" Han Xue asked hesitantly, still stunned by the uncharacteristic familiarity her sister displayed toward Xiao Hua.
Han Yue's brows arched slightly, startled by what her little sister had just called him. But realization swiftly surfaced in her eyes. She cast a brief glance at Xiao Hua, understanding now that he had been concealing his identity. Yet since he had revealed his true appearance, she knew he no longer minded if she spoke of who he truly was.
Moreover, she understood why no one had recognized him at first—his overwhelming display of strength had left everyone stunned, their minds too shaken to notice the most striking feature of his appearance.
"I do indeed know him. He once took care of me during my time in the Inner Academy. In fact…" Her beautiful eyes swept over him lightly before she nodded. "…the entire Central Plains would recognize his identity."
"The entire Central Plains… would recognize him?" Han Xue asked, startled. If everyone could identify him, then there must be some unmistakable mark that revealed who he was.
Her eyes traced across Xiao Hua's clothes, searching for a clue, until they settled upon his face—specifically, his heterochromic eyes: crimson on the left, cyan on the right.
The moment she saw them, Han Xue's eyes widened in shock as realization struck. And she was not alone—there was another person who had been silently wondering about the young man's identity felt their heart jolt.
"M-Mansion Master of the Moonlit Chaos Mansion…?" The white-clothed old man—great-grandfather of Han Yue and Han Xue—finally spoke, his voice trembling with disbelief, his gaze filled with awe and shock at seeing such a towering figure standing within the Han Clan's manor.
The entire hall froze at his words for a brief instant… then erupted like thunder. Whether they were from the Han Clan or the Hong Clan, none could restrain their astonished whispers as they stared at Xiao Hua, their faces pale with disbelief.
Hong Chen staggered back on trembling legs before collapsing onto the floor, his face drained of all color as he stared at Xiao Hua as though he had seen a ghost. His heart had never been shaken so violently—terror gripped him to the bone.
When he recalled the way he had spoken to Xiao Hua earlier, the blood in his face drained even further, leaving him as pale as paper.
"Teacher…" Hong Chen's eyes, trembling and unfocused, slowly shifted toward Fei Tian, a storm of unwillingness and resentment flickering in them.
Why hadn't his teacher stopped him?
But then he understood—the moment he truly looked, he saw that Fei Tian could neither speak nor move, completely sealed under Xiao Hua's oppressive aura. Realization struck him like a bolt of lightning, smothering the last remnants of his anger.
Even so, the terror in his heart only deepened. From the fear etched in his teacher's eyes, and the fact that even Fei Tian—a Dou Zun—was utterly immobilized, Hong Chen finally understood: this was not someone disguising himself as Xiao Hua… This was the real Xiao Hua.
None of them had ever imagined that they would one day meet one of the peak existences of the entire Dou Qi Continent—much less at such a dire moment of crisis.
"But… why are you with Xue'er? I never heard any news of you entering the Northern Region of the Central Plains…" Han Yue finally spoke, ignoring everyone else's reactions, her tone laced with genuine curiosity.
"Before I answer that, let me settle this matter first." Xiao Hua's lips curved into a faint smile as he shook his head. Then his gaze turned toward Fei Tian and Hong Chen, that gentle smile deepening—yet a cold light flickered within his eyes as they locked onto the two.
"Fei Tian… it has been quite some time since we last met. Back then, you were merely a middle-level Dou Zong, and now… you have reached Dou Zun."
He paused for a heartbeat, his voice soft yet cutting as he added, "Quite the… 'fortuitous' encounter you've stumbled upon."
Boom!
A deep rumble of lightning erupted from Fei Tian as he fled in desperation, leaving Hong Chen behind. He understood well—Xiao Hua bore no grudge toward him; his killing intent was directed solely at Fei Tian, upon uncovering the vile truth behind the latter's rise in strength.
Fei Tian no longer dared linger. He recklessly surged his Dou Qi without restraint, forcing his body past its limits in a frantic bid to escape.
But then—
"Fei Tian," Xiao Hua's voice thundered, carrying across the heavens like a divine decree, "you have slaughtered countless innocents… even devouring the life-force and strength of non-cultivators—most of them mere infants—without ever paying the price."
Each word resounded through the entire Northern Region of the Central Plains, shaking the hearts of all who heard. Many clutched their heads in agony, their minds trembling; some even collapsed, unable to withstand the weight of his voice.
"Now… it is time you pay for your sins!" His roar was filled with wrath and undeniable majesty.
In the next instant, an overwhelming fluctuation of energy erupted from Xiao Hua's body—an aura both terrifying and sacred, infused with the searing heat of divine flame, the heaven-shaking roar of primordial lightning, and the bone-piercing cold of celestial ice. It swept across the land like a world-ending tide.
It descended with unstoppable force, slamming down upon the earth.
"Ahhh…!"
Fei Tian's miserable scream echoed for hundreds of meters, reaching even the distant Tian Bei City… before it was abruptly snuffed out.
Once, Xiao Hua had slain Lei Zun-zhe, the former Pavilion Head of the Wind Lightning Pavilion. Now, he had struck down Fei Tian—the current Pavilion Head of that same faction.
The fate of two Pavilion Heads of the Wind Lightning Pavilion had been erased by the same man… only at vastly different heights of power.
Once Fei Tian had been eliminated, Xiao Hua shifted his gaze toward Hong Chen and the Hong Clan.
After delivering due repercussions upon the Han Clan and crippling Hong Chen—severing his path of cultivation forever as punishment for blindly following his teacher despite knowing his sins—the turmoil concerning the Han Clan was finally brought to an end.
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