Hai Bodong looked at the elders' money-grabbing, gleeful expressions and shook his head helplessly.
"Look at your faces — truly obsessed with profit. Also, remember: today's mission must remain absolutely secret. Especially you, Old Xie. Don't get carried away at the Yi Chun Brothel and let your tongue slip after a few cups."
Elder Xie — the one singled out — immediately straightened his posture, adopting a solemn and righteous demeanor.
"Grand Elder, rest assured! My mouth is sealed tighter than an ancient array formation. Not a single word of today's events will leak out. You can trust me completely. The Hall Master treats us so well — if anyone dares betray him, I, Old Xie, will be the first to break his legs!"
"Seconded!"
"Seconded with both hands and feet!"
The other elders immediately echoed in unison, voices ringing with conviction.
Though the Hall Master rarely appeared in person, the tangible benefits they received were real and generous — far surpassing what many first-rate powers could offer their disciples.
…
One day later.
After Xun'er returned to the Gu Clan, she walked out of the Elder Council Hall with an ice-cold expression.
Inside the grand hall, numerous elders remained seated. Their faces displayed a kaleidoscope of emotions: livid fury, gloating schadenfreude, stunned disbelief.
One black-robed elder, face dark with rage, glanced toward a white-haired old man not far away and spoke through gritted teeth.
"Are we really going to swallow this humiliation? A mere descendant of a declining clan with thinned blood dares to trample the face of our Black Annihilation Army like this?"
"Thinned blood?" The green-robed elder opposite him immediately sneered. "If someone with thinned blood can reach his current level of Dou Qi cultivation — and according to Gu Qing's report, he is at minimum a Two-Star Dou Zun, possibly higher — then what exactly are your so-called 'outstanding younger generation' who enjoy pure bloodline advantages yet lag so far behind him? What are they?"
The black-robed elder's expression turned uglier still.
"Perhaps he simply received a stroke of luck — some powerful expert's remnant soul or legacy forcibly infused him with Dou Qi. Without the support of a true bloodline, whether he can ever step into Saint realm is still unknown."
"Oh?" The green-robed elder's voice rose sharply. "Then let us set Xiao Jietian aside for a moment. What about the woman always by his side — the Nine-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python? Can she become a Saint? Answer me!"
The hall fell silent.
The name "Nine-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python" alone was enough to make every elder's expression change.
That was a legendary top-tier divine beast bloodline — rumored to possess the potential to reach Emperor realm.
"Enough."
A soft yet authoritative voice cut through the tension.
A white-robed elder with snow-white hair, beard, and even eyebrows spoke calmly.
His gaze deliberately lingered on the black-robed elder who had spoken first.
"This time, we were clearly in the wrong from the beginning — no matter how one looks at it. None of you wish to further worsen relations between both sides. If this matter affects Xun'er's bloodline awakening because of your personal grudges… when the clan rules are enforced, do not blame me for being merciless."
"If there is nothing else, disperse."
His words were gentle, yet carried an undeniable weight.
The two previously arguing elders immediately shut their mouths.
Though all present were elders, the white-robed old man's status was clearly superior.
The other elders rose one after another, bowed respectfully, and departed the hall in silence.
After the hall emptied, only the white-robed elder remained.
Space suddenly twisted.
A gray-robed figure appeared noiselessly on one of the empty chairs, as though he had always been there.
The two began a low, private conversation — the contents known only to a select few.
However…
The very next day, two pieces of shocking news swept through the Gu Clan like wildfire.
…
In the Eternal Heaven Palace.
"Fei Yan, has your bloodline power stabilized now?"
Xiao Jietian looked at Queen Medusa standing before him.
Ever since he learned the full extent of her strength after evolving into the Nine-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python, he had begun preparing large quantities of rare medicinal ingredients to pair with the Saint Liquid.
"Mm. It has completely stabilized." Medusa lifted her chin slightly, confidence radiating from her enchanting face. "I feel unprecedentedly powerful. You are no longer my match. Shall we spar tonight?"
She gave him a provocative glance.
"I am now a High-level Half-Saint. Very strong."
After speaking, she turned toward Ya Fei and the others with a meaningful smile.
"Do you all want to join? We can wash away our previous humiliation together."
(In the original story, Medusa only reached Four-Star Dou Saint after absorbing the Nine Nether Yellow Spring, Nine-Colored Origin Stone, Yellow Springs Demon Saint essence, and countless aids from the Heaven Swallowing Python clan. Now, having absorbed only a single drop of pure essence blood, reaching High-level Half-Saint is perfectly reasonable.)
At those words, Ya Fei and the others instinctively took several steps back.
Are you joking?
Last time she had been this confident too — and they had believed her completely.
Who could have known she was just bluffing?
Xiao Jietian did not interrupt. He simply watched their exchange with amusement.
No matter the outcome, he was the biggest beneficiary. Why spoil the fun?
"No way. Are you seriously stepping back half a pace again?" Medusa stared at their perfectly synchronized retreat, dumbfounded. "You've clearly practiced this many times."
"Very serious." Han Yue shook her head firmly. "We're afraid you'll still be too weak, and we'll all end up lying on the ground again."
Ya Fei and the others exchanged glances, then retreated several more steps in unison.
Medusa's confidence visibly wavered.
But then she straightened her back, patted her ample chest, and declared proudly,
"I am the Nine-Colored Heaven Swallowing Python — the only one on the entire continent! A legendary divine beast! My physical body is incomparably strong!"
Little Fairy Doctor immediately chuckled and patted Han Yue's shoulder.
"We also have a white feline divine beast here. Look how miserable she always ends up. Isn't that right, Yue'er?"
Han Yue nodded solemnly.
"You know Xiao Jietian's combat power. Even when we team up with Dou Techniques, we're still taught a brutal lesson every time."
Han Xue and Hu Jia, standing off to the side, blushed furiously. Their ears were perked high, listening intently, curiosity burning in their hearts.
Medusa's confidence took another hit.
Seeing her waver, Little Fairy Doctor — her eternal "arch-rival" — quickly struck while the iron was hot.
"Fei Yan, what are you afraid of? I believe you can take him down alone! You are the proud, fearsome Queen Medusa! How can you back down now? Xiao Jietian is only a Three-Star Dou Zun — he only broke through recently. You can definitely do it!"
"Exactly! Qing Lin supports you this time too!"
"...…"
Han Yue and the others, comfortably standing on the sidelines, kept egging her on with flattery.
Under their relentless encouragement, Medusa's expression gradually transformed — taking on the exact victorious, smug look Li Yunlong wore in Drawing Sword.
She glanced at the sky, then strode straight to Xiao Jietian, grabbed his collar, and declared,
"Come! Let's go to the training ground right now and spar with Dou Techniques! Tonight, I will show my sisters my true strength!"
With that, she hoisted Xiao Jietian over her shoulder like a trophy and marched away.
Xiao Jietian did not resist — he simply let her carry him, the corners of his mouth curved in a wicked, anticipatory smile.
The others watched that smile and immediately understood.
Medusa was in for a very long, very rough night.
…
Deep within the Gu Realm.
In a grand, dimly lit hall, numerous ancient elders sat in solemn silence.
At the very center of the stone table lay a single golden feather.
Several elders extended their palms, channeling pure Dou Qi into the feather.
Suddenly —
A terrifying vermilion flaming bird manifested above the table.
Its piercing cry alone caused the entire Gu Realm to tremble violently, as though the heavens themselves were roaring in fury.
In an instant, the sky above the Gu Realm darkened.
Thunder roared without clouds.
A colossal thousand-foot human shadow appeared — Xiao Jietian's full-body silhouette wreathed entirely in crackling purple-black thunder.
His voice rolled down like heavenly judgment.
"People of the Gu Clan — a thousand years ago, you broke the covenant between our two clans.
"For a thousand years, you accepted every benefit the Xiao Clan should have, yet offered no aid in return.
"Now, in your arrogance, you dare act as though you are invincible?
"Listen well.
"A thousand years ago, the Xiao Clan could have annihilated all Eight Ancient Clans — yet we chose not to.
"Do you truly believe that with only Gu Yuan's protection you can do whatever you wish?
"Your younger generation dared to intrude into my Eternal Heaven World to cause trouble.
"Dared to bring forth a Blood Jade Token against me.
"If such actions are repeated — I, Xiao Jietian, will personally pay a visit to the Gu Clan to demand answers.
"As for your Elder Council — those old cowards who only know how to hide behind the clan's name and pressure the weak…
"Do not blame me when the older generation comes to settle debts.
"The humiliations of the past thousand years will be repaid — one by one.
"Never forget: the Xiao Clan was once the strongest clan among all clans.
"We still possess means you cannot imagine.
"And do not ever think of forcing Xun'er into a political marriage.
"If you dare… then the Gu Clan's history ends here."
The thunder shadow dissipated.
The vermilion flaming bird let out one final, mournful cry — then vanished.
The thunder-shadow had dissipated.
But the vermilion flaming bird's final, mournful cry had lingered in the sky for a full quarter-hour before fading.
Every formation array in the Gu Realm had trembled.
Every protective grand array had flickered uncontrollably.
Many of the clan's hidden Half-Saints and even the few reclusive Dou Shengs had been startled awake, their divine senses sweeping outward in alarm — only to find nothing but residual thunder laws drifting between heaven and earth.
The second piece of news arrived shortly after noon and struck even deeper panic into the hearts of certain elders.
"Gu Shan — former commander of the Black Annihilation Army's Third Unit — was discovered this morning in a remote training chamber. His cultivation… has completely vanished."
Not fallen.
Not crippled.
Completely vanished.
His Qi Sea had become an empty void — no trace of Dou Qi remained, not even the slightest remnant aura. It was as though his dantian had never once nurtured any energy in his entire life.
Gu Shan had been one of the most promising commanders of the previous generation. Although he had long since retired from active duty due to an old injury, he had retained peak Dou Zong cultivation and served as an important instructor for the younger Black Annihilation Army members.
Now?
He was a mortal.
Worse than a mortal — because even an ordinary person still possessed the potential to cultivate from scratch. Gu Shan's meridians and Qi Sea had been erased so cleanly that no medical pill, no ancient scripture, no heavenly treasure could restore what was fundamentally gone.
When the news reached the Elder Council, the black-robed elder who had previously raged about "trampling the face of the Black Annihilation Army" turned deathly pale.
He remembered very clearly:
Yang Hao's report had mentioned that Xiao Jietian had casually pointed a finger at Ling Quan's abdomen — and Ling Quan's cultivation had dropped three stars on the spot.
If three stars could be stripped so easily…
Then erasing an entire cultivation base…
Was that truly beyond him?
The white-robed supreme elder sat silently atop the highest seat, eyes half-closed, seemingly unmoved.
Yet those who knew him best could see the faint tremor in his snow-white beard.
The Gu Clan had always believed themselves to be the most ancient, the most stable, the most unshakeable among the Eight Ancient Clans.
They had grown accustomed to looking down upon the "declining" Xiao Clan — a clan that had lost its ancestral lands, scattered its bloodline, and fallen silent for a millennium.
Now?
That "declining" clan had produced a monster capable of:
Manifesting a thousand-foot thunder-shadow across realms with only a single crimson feather as medium Threatening to personally visit the Gu Clan and settle thousand-year-old debts Declaring that the Gu Clan's history would end if they dared touch Xun'er's marriage prospects And — most terrifying of all — casually erasing the cultivation foundation of a veteran Dou Zong as though swatting a fly
The hall was deathly silent.
No one dared speak first.
Finally, the white-robed elder opened his eyes.
His voice was soft, yet every word carried bone-chilling weight.
"From today onward — no one is allowed to mention any form of 'marriage arrangement' involving Xun'er. Not even in private discussion."
"Anyone who dares bring it up again… will be expelled from the Elder Council and stripped of all clan resources. Permanently."
He paused.
His gaze slowly swept across every face in the hall.
"And if any of you still believe the Xiao Clan is 'declining'…"
He let the sentence hang unfinished.
But everyone understood the unspoken ending.
…then go ahead and test Xiao Jietian's bottom line yourselves.
See whether the Xiao Clan of today still has the strength to make good on its thousand-year-old threat.
Outside the hall, Xun'er stood atop a distant mountain peak.
She gazed toward the direction of the Elder Council, a faint, cold smile touching her lips.
She had already heard both pieces of news.
The first had come directly from the heavens themselves.
The second… had been quietly transmitted to her through a secret Gu Clan communication jade slip — courtesy of one of the few elders who still remembered their loyalty to the Young Lady rather than to personal grudges.
Xun'er gently stroked the jade pendant hanging at her waist — the one Xiao Jietian had given her long ago.
"Tian-ge…" she whispered softly, "you really are angry this time."
Her smile grew slightly wider.
"But… Xun'er likes it."