"By the way, why did you cut off that Crown Prince Pig's arm?"
Ryuga suddenly remembered and asked.
Pfft~
"Crown Prince Pig."
When Hoshimi Miyabi heard this, her eyes curved, and she couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle.
Crown Prince Pig—it was quite fitting.
As soon as she laughed, she noticed Ryuga was staring at her without blinking, and her heart suddenly skipped a beat, her cheeks flushing red.
She turned her small face away a few degrees, and even her breathing became a bit lighter.
"He insulted my father in front of his memorial hall."
Hoshimi Miyabi murmured, a cold ferocity flickering in her eyes.
Ryuga took a sharp breath: "Then he really deserved to die. You shouldn't have just cut off his arm; you should have taken his head."
Yixuan, Yijiang, and Soukaku also nodded in silence.
To speak disrespectfully in front of the memorial of the Hoshimi family head was to trample on the Hoshimi family's bottom line of dignity.
"I intended to cut his throat, but his guards blocked me with their lives. The blade shifted by an inch, so I had to settle for taking one of his arms."
Hoshimi Miyabi looked up and said seriously.
"Well, what's done is done."
"Anyway, the Qiao Group has close ties with the Exaltists, and they already had a blood feud with your two families. As the saying goes, blood must be paid with blood; it's only natural."
"Killing them isn't an injustice at all."
Ryuga's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Really?"
Yixuan and Yijiang were also stunned.
"I can peer into souls, you know~"
"In fact, I suspect the fall of the Old Capital was partly due to them."
The others were a bit dazed. The destruction of the Yunkui Summit disciples and the deaths in the Hoshimi family were all related to the Exaltists?
As Ryuga spoke, carrying the majesty of the Eagle Spirit, he flew over the Qiao Group Building.
When they saw the shadow of the Eagle Spirit blotting out the sun, the entire building fell into a dead silence, followed by an explosion of panicked rioting.
Qiao Group employees looked up at the sky, their faces as pale as paper.
The footage of the Crown Prince being obliterated in mid-air by the Eagle Spirit had already gone viral online.
Now, many people were already fleeing.
"I will give you one hour to leave. Those who are stubborn will be treated as remnants of the Qiao Group and buried in the yellow earth along with this building."
Ryuga stood in mid-air, his voice like rolling thunder echoing through the entire building.
As he spoke, he opened the five fingers of his right hand, and dark purple shadow flames appeared out of thin air, instantly sealing all entrances and exits.
The main entrance, side doors, windows, underground emergency passages, and rooftop escape hatches were all blocked by the flames.
The flames burned silently, bone-chillingly cold, as if they could freeze the soul.
"The 'Good' shall live."
"The 'Evil' shall die."
Ryuga declared coldly.
In the sky, a giant hourglass appeared out of thin air, hanging upside down directly above the building.
The sand fell rustlingly, and the footsteps of the Reaper were gradually approaching.
Inside the building, more and more Qiao Group employees swarmed toward the exits, packed densely.
Cries, prayers, and footsteps were mixed together.
As the time in the hourglass passed, panic spread like a plague.
"What should we do?"
"Call the police! No, wait, where is the Mayor?"
"What's the use?"
"Do you think the Void Hunters can win?"
"Pah, the Void Hunters are on their side."
"What should I do? I don't want to die."
"Waaa~"
Finally, someone couldn't hold back anymore.
"I'll try!"
A young girl grit her teeth, tears in her eyes, and suddenly rushed toward the flames at the main entrance.
The flames passed through her body like cold water soaking her, but they didn't harm her in the slightest.
She stumbled a few steps, fell out of the fire curtain, and turned back to shout excitedly.
"I'm fine! I'm fine!"
Her survival also ignited the hope of countless employees.
The crowd was like a bursting dam, scrambling to rush toward the flame exits.
Some chose to jump out of windows.
Unfortunately, not everyone was spared.
Some people, as soon as they touched the flames, were like withered leaves meeting fire, turning into ashes in an instant.
Wails, pleas for mercy, and the sound of burning flesh and bone intertwined into a hellish elegy.
The sand in the hourglass gradually decreased.
The moment the last grain of sand fell, Ryuga's gaze turned cold: "From this day forth, the Qiao Group Building shall no longer exist."
Those who still remained in the building at this time were all blood-red souls.
Their sins were monstrous.
As his voice fell, a towering sandstorm suddenly rose from the ground, like a giant mouth of sand, swallowing the entire Qiao Group Building in one bite.
"No—!"
The General Manager of the Qiao Group roared in despair.
But soon, he was drowned out by the tooth-grinding sound of twisting steel.
In less than 10 seconds, the entire skyscraper was completely torn apart and annihilated.
The sandstorm suddenly subsided, receding back underground like a tide.
In its place, only a flat, mirror-like empty space remained, where not a single blade of grass grew.
The hundreds of Qiao Group direct descendants, collateral relatives, and associated personnel who remained inside all turned into fine sand.
"Let's go, we're going to the Qiao family's ancestral home."
Ryuga turned around, his figure sweeping away like the wind.
At this time, Ellen and the others just happened to arrive by car. Looking at the empty ground like a wilderness before them, cold sweat slid down like rain.
That Qiao Group Building, which symbolized wealth, was now only a dead silence.
"The Qiao Group is gone."
Ellen's pupils contracted violently. "Go!"
Victoria Housekeeping quickly started the car, and amidst the roar of the engine, they chased after Ryuga's receding back.
...
The Qiao family's ancestral home.
The current old head of the Qiao family stood with his back straight, looking up and shouting at Ryuga: "You... why... did you slaughter... slaughter my Qiao family descendants?"
"Enough, I'm in a hurry."
Ryuga raised his finger mockingly, his movement very slow and light.
A cluster of fine sand particles gushed out from the cracks in the ground, growing as they met the wind. In the blink of an eye, they had grown into a giant golden sand tree.
The branches were like spears, suddenly piercing toward the crowd, skewering the Qiao family descendants through their chests and stomachs, picking them up and hanging them on the branches.
"Ugh, you... I cur—"
Before the screams could rise, they were abruptly cut off.
The old head of the Qiao family could only glare, but unfortunately, the moisture in his body was quickly drained, and his vocal cords were also destroyed; he couldn't even finish his curse.
One by one, the shriveled corpses, which had been drained of moisture and curled up, hung on the branches, swaying gently in the wind.
Like 'Devil Fruits', they actually had a bit of a strange artistic sense?
The entire Qiao family ancestral home had become a sand forest.
One sand tree after another drilled out from under the bluestone slabs, tearing through the foundations, flipping over the roof tiles, and dragging out the Qiao family members hiding in secret passages, cellars, and dark rooms one by one, hanging them on the trees.
No one was spared, no one escaped.
Every single one was a blood-red soul.
In just 10 minutes, there was not a single living person left in the Qiao family mansion.
In the distance, the sound of engines came from far to near.
Ellen was driving a black SUV, speeding toward them.
Looking at the tragic state of the Qiao family, the four people in the car all lost their senses.
A courtyard full of sand trees, a tree full of shriveled corpses.
A cold sweat broke out.
Ellen slammed on the brakes, her fingertips trembling.
Looking at the sand forest as eerie as a work of art, and those 'Devil Fruits' hanging on the branches, the four of them felt their throats tighten.
The Qiao Group Building had turned to ash, and the Qiao family ancestral home had been turned into a place of sand trees and withered bones.
This wasn't revenge.
This was a warning to the entire New Eridu.
Whoever touches his people, dies.
...
Ryuga didn't leave; he was still suspended in mid-air, as if he had stopped moving?
In the silence, there was a heart-palpitating pressure.
More and more figures gathered from all directions.
Nicole stood at the very front with the people from Gentle House, staring at Ryuga with great interest.
Koleda leaped down from the mechanical arm of Belobog Heavy Industries.
Zhu Yuan stood in front of the Criminal Investigation Special Response Team, her hand on her sidearm, her gaze as sharp as a knife.
Fuwa Yuzuha also came with the people from the Strange Eatery. She licked the corner of her mouth and stared at Ryuga with a soft laugh, having a bit of an Elysia vibe.
Vivian from the Banshees was still holding her umbrella.
The Sons of Calydon led by Caesar, their heavy motorcycles roared to a halt, kicking up a circle of dust.
"What do you think he's waiting for?"
"Most likely waiting for the people from TOPS?"
It wasn't just them.
The Marcel Group that produces Bangboos, Pegasos Logistics, Tangerine Network, the New Eridu Broadcasting Corporation (NEBC)—all the various forces of New Eridu were holding their breath and watching at this moment.
"Hi, family—welcome to a historic moment."
Astra Yao sat in front of the open cabin door of the helicopter, waving at the camera with a bright smile, her long hair dancing wildly in the airflow.
Evelyn Chevalier sat behind her, her hands crossed over her chest, staring at Ryuga without speaking.
"This is the Qiao family ancestral home,"
Astra Yao pointed at the ruins below, reporting live for her fans.
"Can everyone see clearly? Unbelievable, the Qiao family with over three hundred years of history was completely wiped out in a single day."
"Everyone has been made into 'fruit'."
The camera panned over the ruined walls, and the shriveled 'fruits' were hair-raising; the footage was thoughtfully given a dynamic blur.
"The majesty of a Demon God cannot be profaned. If anyone touches his people, the end... will only be more miserable than the Qiao Group."
"Look, everyone, that's the shadow of the Eagle Spirit."
"And by his side are Miss Hoshimi Miyabi, the current Void Hunter of the Hoshimi family, and Master Yixuan of Yunkui Summit."
"Director, let's zoom in a bit."
The high-definition zoom lens slowly pushed forward, and the bullet chat instantly went wild.
「Wait, is that Master Yijiang?」
「It is Master Yijiang! Master Yijiang is still alive?」
「Yijiang? Who's that?」
「One look and I can tell you're not from the Outer Rim.」
「I'm from Sixth Street.」
「Back when the Old Capital fell, everyone was fleeing outward, only Master Yijiang led the Yunkui Summit disciples to go against the flow and save us. She herself never came out again. I still remember their backs, silent as pines, as they entered the Hollow.」
「I thought she was dead, but she's actually still alive?」
「Yeah, wait... look, the Demon God seems to have conjured something?」
...
Astra Yao suddenly looked up, her pupils contracting.
She saw the Eagle Spirit shadow raising its arms toward the sky.
In an instant, a giant golden Sun Disc flew out of thin air, instantly ascending to the sky.
On the disc, golden light raced rapidly around the sun totem.
Immediately after, ten thousand rays of light exploded, dyeing the entire world into a brilliant golden ocean.
"Go, Miyabi."
Ryuga raised his hand and gave a light push, a gentle airflow lifting Hoshimi Miyabi, slowly floating her over.
In the next instant, a golden pillar of light projected down from the center of the disc, enveloping Hoshimi Miyabi, and a violent aura suddenly erupted.
Nine fox tail shadows that blotted out the sun slowly unfurled from within the pillar of light.
The fox tails brushed across the sky, causing the space to tremble and crack slightly, emitting heart-palpitating spiritual energy fluctuations.
At this time, inside the Suibian Temple.
Arisugawa, who was gathered in front of the TV watching the live broadcast, and a group of disciples all widened their eyes, taking sharp breaths.
"So... so big, so many tails."
Orange Fufu quietly glanced at Arisugawa; she doesn't have a tail, does she?
...
"An ancient temple?"
In the illusion, Hoshimi Miyabi stood in a quiet forest.
Looking up, a full moon hung high in the sky, shedding silver light.
All around, ancient trees reached for the sky, their shadows mottled.
A dilapidated ancient temple stood quietly in the forest, with a few red lanterns at the door glowing faintly, reflecting an eerie blood-colored halo.
Inside the temple, nine pure white fox spirit bodies lay quietly, surrounded by a faint mist.
Upon sensing Hoshimi Miyabi, nine pairs of eyes opened simultaneously, their fox-like gaze reaching deep into the soul.
Nine white shadows merged with each other, condensing into a slender and graceful figure.
A fox girl just like her, with features like a painting and a smile on her lips, but with a bit of bewitching languidness.
Behind her, nine fluffy snow-white fox tails swayed gently.
"Little cutie,"
"You can call me Ahri."
Ahri leaned languidly against the stone steps in front of the temple, her fingertip lightly touching her lips, looking at Hoshimi Miyabi with a half-smile.
After a long while, she let out a soft sigh.
"So tempting, and so pitiful."
Hoshimi Miyabi bowed respectfully: "Senior."
"Has the bloodline of my fox clan actually fallen to this? Oh... were the tails sacrificed?"
Ahri chuckled, her eyes flowing with a bit of pity. With a turn of her fair wrist, a pure white ball of light floated out from her palm toward Hoshimi Miyabi.
Inside it, a shadow of a nine-tailed white fox could be faintly seen, curled up quietly as if in a deep sleep.
"Accept it."
...
The moment the 'Nine-Tailed White Fox' surged into her body, Hoshimi Miyabi's whole body shook violently, feeling as if ten thousand currents were rushing through her bloodline.
Her bloodline was being reshaped, her power was growing.
She suddenly looked up, her black long hair dancing wildly, a low moan escaping her mouth, sounding like both pain and liberation.
Outside, the light of the Sun Disc gradually faded.
But Hoshimi Miyabi was still suspended in mid-air, surrounded by a faint white mist, until she opened her eyes.
Her gaze was like lightning, clear but with an eerie blue fire.
In the next instant, nine fluffy fox tails behind her exploded outward like clouds and mist, growing as they met the wind, instantly expanding to blot out the sun.
Every tail emitted an astonishing spiritual pressure, like nine mountains pressing down simultaneously.
A towering shadow aura swept out in all directions.
"Ugh!"
The experts watching from ten thousand meters away had their faces change drastically. Just the violent pressure kicked up by the nine tails forcibly pushed them back several hundred meters!
Their hands were trembling.
Even while struggling to support themselves, it was still hard to resist the fear in their hearts.
"The Hoshimi family... is about to take off."
Ellen the shark girl remarked with emotion.
In front of the TV, Arisugawa became excited.
...
The same pressure occurred a second time.
When the sisters Yijiang and Yixuan entered the pillar of light, a shadow of a Divine Phoenix that blotted out the sun slowly emerged.
The Auspicious Feather Holy Phoenix, its wings spread out like the flames of a burning sky.
The wings flapped silently, but they caused the entire New Eridu to tremble rustlingly.
A clear phoenix cry echoed through the clouds, ten thousand birds dropped their wings to the ground, and a hundred beasts prostrated themselves and bowed their heads.
Between heaven and earth, only a shadow of a phoenix looking down on all living beings remained.
"I am the Divine Phoenix Walker, the Auspicious Feather Holy Phoenix, Anivia."
"Are you willing to accept my power?"
Those phoenix eyes burning with red-gold flames looked down on the mortal world, and also looked down on the sisters Yixuan and Yijiang.
"Is no trial necessary?"
Yixuan looked up slightly.
"No need."
"What I wait for are those selfless defenders who have already proven themselves without a trial."
"Anivia's power only opens for those who have courage, kindness, and are willing to fight for others."
The Divine Phoenix whispered, its gaze seeing through past choices and persistence.
"Yixuan, you protected the civilians from being oppressed by evil people."
"This kind heart is like a glimmer that never goes out, and will eventually become a prairie fire."
"I bestow upon you the Phoenix Feather, and wish for you to continue to guard the kindness of mortals with extraordinary power."
As the voice fell, a gold-and-red intertwined Phoenix Feather floated down from the Divine Phoenix's tail feathers, gently merging into Yixuan's brow.
In an instant, a warm rosy light rose around her body, as if a fire was awakening in her bloodline.
Then, the Divine Phoenix turned its gaze toward Yijiang.
In that gaze, there was a bit more resonance of battle intent.
"Yijiang, with your own will, you gathered scattered sand into a barrier, condensing the remaining beliefs of Yunkui Summit into a wall of iron and bronze."
"Facing the disaster of the Hollow swallowing heaven and earth, you did not retreat, did not fear, and ignited the fire of hope with your flesh and blood."
"I heard your roar against the darkness."
Another Phoenix Feather fell, merging into Yijiang's brow.
Her body shook slightly, and a violent but orderly power surged through her meridians.
"I bestow upon you the Phoenix Feather, and wish for you to burn away the darkness of the world with wings of flame."
The two Phoenix Feathers were in place.
Boom!
Auspicious wings exploded outward from behind the two of them, the airwave sweeping for a hundred miles like a tide.
The pressure that transcended the mundane descended once again, as if a god had come to the world.
The group of experts watching was once again forced back several hundred meters.
"The landscape of New Eridu is destined to change."
Lycaon's eyes held both shock and relief.
A power far transcending the Void Hunters was born.
The crowd was silent, then erupted.
And they never expected that the Demon God would wipe out the Qiao Group and directly start the Ascendant legacy on the ruins of the Qiao family.
This move was no different from a slap in the face, a desecration of the corpse.
The balance of order in New Eridu has already tilted.
To be continued…
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