The four of them tidied up and stepped out of the mountain cave, heading southwest.
Just as they were about to leave the mountain range, Xiao Jietian and Xuan Yi halted at the same instant, both turning their heads toward the same direction in perfect unison.
"Do the people from the Hall of Souls always enjoy skulking around in hiding like this?"
Xiao Jietian sneered, his voice aimed at the seemingly empty air far ahead.
Xuan Yi immediately pulled the two little girls behind her, shielding them protectively.
Xiao Ling and Xiao Meng's usual playful expressions were gone. From behind Xuan Yi, they poked out their small heads, wide round eyes fixed warily on the void where Xiao Jietian was staring.
"Jie jie jie!!!"
A sinister, grating laugh suddenly tore through the air—like countless venomous snakes hissing at once.
The empty space Xiao Jietian had locked onto violently twisted, fracturing like shattered glass.
A blurry black figure materialized without warning, slowly stepping out from the heart of the distortion.
He wore a pitch-black hooded robe. Thick black mist coiled around him like living tendrils, rolling and writhing in the air.
"Jie jie jie… President Xuan Yi really made this Venerable search high and low. So these are the helpers you found? Two little girls and a pretty boy—your lover, perhaps? I never expected President Xuan Yi to be so fond of robbing the cradle!"
"But their souls smell just as delicious as yours. It seems today will be a bountiful harvest, jie jie jie!"
The black-robed man cackled hoarsely as he gazed down at Xuan Yi.
A flush crept onto Xuan Yi's cheeks at his words, but her eyes quickly turned icy. "None of your business."
"Ugh! His laugh is disgusting. And he's wrapped up so tightly—he must be hideously ugly underneath."
Xiao Ling had already figured out that this was the one who hurt Aunt Xuan. She couldn't resist throwing out a cold jab.
"Exactly. Probably his face is all rotten. Look at that foul, decaying stench. If he were even remotely good-looking, he wouldn't hide like that." Xiao Meng nodded seriously in agreement.
Xuan Yi almost laughed despite herself. As expected of Xiao Jietian's daughters—mouths as sharp as blades the moment they open them.
The black-robed figure's aura instantly grew darker. The surrounding space warped slightly—he was clearly enraged by the children's mockery.
Murderous intent exploded from beneath his hood, locking onto the four people below.
"You seek death—!"
The Third Celestial Venerable's voice rasped like something dragged up from the depths of the Nine Hells. His robe billowed without wind as a pitch-black chain shot out, streaking straight toward Xiao Ling and Xiao Meng.
Wherever the chain passed, the air sizzled and corroded with piercing hisses.
Xuan Yi stepped forward without hesitation, placing herself between Xiao Jietian, the children, and the incoming attack. She joined her fingers, ready to unleash a Dou Technique—
But in the next instant, a figure appeared right in front of the chain.
Xiao Jietian's right hand crackled with five-colored lightning. He reached out and seized the black chain in a firm grip.
Clang—!
Metal clashed against metal, echoing through the void.
Crack!!
With a hard squeeze, the lightning-wreathed hand crushed the chain into fragments.
Xiao Jietian stood calmly in midair, dark blue robe fluttering in the wind. His expression was serene, yet a chilling sharpness radiated from him as he looked at the Third Celestial Venerable.
"A bit interesting. A mere Four-Star Revolutions Dou Zun dares to challenge this Venerable? Jie jie jie!!"
The moment their attacks met, the Third Celestial Venerable had already sensed Xiao Jietian's cultivation. He sneered mockingly.
"Laugh while you can," Xiao Jietian replied with disdain. "When you die at the hands of this Four-Star Revolutions Dou Zun, that laugh will be gone."
He glanced back at Xuan Yi, who was about to step forward. "Take them and move back. Leave this one to me. He ambushed you before—I'll repay that debt and vent your anger for you."
Xuan Yi paused. She looked at the tall, upright figure standing protectively in front of her and spoke softly:
"My strength isn't weak. I'm a peak Nine Revolutions Dou Zun. Last time was only because he ambushed me. In a fair fight, I wouldn't lose to him."
Xiao Jietian tilted his head slightly and gave her a faint smile.
"I know you're strong. But you've only just recovered, and the Hall of Souls specializes in soul attacks. If you're careless for even a moment, I'll have to save you again—and then you'll never finish paying back the favor you owe me."
Xuan Yi's eyes flickered with complex emotion. She knew he was only saying this because he was worried about her.
"I…" Her voice trembled faintly with emotion she couldn't quite hide.
Meeting his gaze, she found herself unable to argue. She took a deep breath to steady herself.
"Be careful. We'll wait for you over there."
Her voice was soft, but it carried endless concern.
"Daddy, go get him! Beat that ugly monster!"
Xiao Ling and Xiao Meng waved their little fists in encouragement, full of trust in their father's strength.
Xuan Yi then led the two girls back a safe distance. Her eyes never left Xiao Jietian.
"Don't worry, Aunt Xuan. Daddy can handle a mere Nine Revolutions Dou Zun just fine," Xiao Ling said confidently, arms crossed as she watched.
Xiao Meng nodded firmly beside her. They had both seen Daddy fight Mother Fei Yan—even when she suppressed her cultivation.
"Jie jie jie… Done with the family farewell? No matter. You can all reunite after death anyway."
The Third Celestial Venerable sneered. He raised a hand, and the black mist around him surged, condensing into a massive palm radiating destructive power. It crashed down toward Xiao Jietian!
Space shattered continuously beneath the giant palm's descent.
Xiao Jietian's expression didn't change. He raised a single fingertip. Five-colored lightning shot from his palm, instantly transforming into a roaring five-colored lightning dragon that met the black palm head-on.
Boom—!
A deafening explosion rang out. The black giant palm was devoured entirely by the lightning dragon and scattered into nothing.
"Your strength is indeed decent—for an ant. Tenacious, but ultimately futile…" The Third Celestial Venerable's voice grated like bones scraping together.
The black mist around him swelled dramatically, blotting out the sky.
His full Nine Revolutions Dou Zun aura erupted. The surrounding space warped and trembled under the pressure.
At this level, a single gesture could already alter the weather.
"What a pity—it's all meaningless."
The words had barely fallen when the Third Celestial Venerable crossed the distance in an instant, appearing right in front of Xiao Jietian.
His withered, claw-like hand tore through space itself as it lunged straight for Xiao Jietian's heart.
Xiao Jietian didn't retreat. Instead, he advanced.
Battle intent blazed in his eyes. Five-colored lightning coiled wildly around his body and gathered on his arm. He clenched his fist and met the withered claw with a direct, thunderous punch.