Wang Yan stopped in front of Xu Yuan. His gaze shifted once toward the ruined clan behind him, then returned.
"This…" his voice was calm, yet heavy, "is the result of what you chose."
A brief pause. "You killed our friend."
His eyes turned cold. "And this… is where it leads."
Xu Yuan's body trembled, his expression twisting into madness.
"You think this is justice?!" he roared. "You destroyed everything—!"
A broken, almost hysterical laugh escaped him. "Then none of you should leave alive!"
His aura surged violently.
Wang Yan's eyes sharpened. "Move back."
The three reacted instantly.
The Slaughter Sword Domain condensed around them, forming a dense crimson-black barrier.
Ahead— Xu Yuan's body swelled with unstable power.
Then— he exploded.
A terrifying force surged forward.
The ground ahead shattered violently, buildings collapsing as the blast tore through everything in its path. The earth split open under the impact.
Inside the domain, the three remained completely unharmed.
When the dust settled— nothing remained of Xu Yuan.
Only a faint glow lingered in the air. A blood-red and golden left arm soul bone floated silently.
Zhao Qing's eyes fixed on it.
"…This is the same thing," he said quietly. "The reason all of this began."
Wang Yan stepped forward and took the soul bone, observing it briefly.
"...hmm..." He paused, then said, "This soul bone does not suit any of us."
Liu Ming glanced around, his expression turning serious.
"We can deal with it later," he said. "We should leave this place first."
Their attention shifted ahead.
The shattered ground had opened completely— revealing a hidden chamber beneath.
For a moment— they fell silent.
Mountains of bones.
Countless skulls and skeletons piled together, layer upon layer, stretching deep into the darkness. The remains of humans filled the entire space.
They had known the Bloodscale Clan was cruel… that it fed on blood and life. But this— this was something else. It was far beyond what they had imagined.
A heavy silence settled between them.
Then Wang Yan turned. "We're leaving."
None of them hesitated.
They understood clearly—what had happened here would soon draw attention from powerful forces.
Without wasting another moment, the three figures left the ruins behind, disappearing into the night, moved quickly through the night and returned to their hotel.
They didn't waste time.
The blood on their clothes was washed away. Fresh robes replaced the stained ones, and the ruined garments were burned.
Liu Ming exhaled lightly, glancing toward the window.
"We shouldn't stay here any longer. Once that place is discovered… it won't take long for people to start digging."
They stepped out soon after, leaving the room exactly as it was.
Under the cover of night— the three left the city behind.
.....
The next morning—
The broken gates of the Bloodscale Clan drew attention. At first, it was only a few people who noticed. No guards. No movement. Something felt wrong.
As more people gathered at a distance, whispers began to spread. No one dared to enter at first—but once someone did, the truth could no longer be contained.
The news spread across the city like fire.
The Bloodscale Clan… had been destroyed. Before long, the area was sealed.
The City Lord arrived with his forces. Not long after, the Branch Hall Master of the Martial Soul Hall also reached the scene.
They met at the entrance. A brief nod. Without further exchange, they walked in together.
The deeper they went—the heavier the silence became.
The clan grounds were in ruins. Buildings had collapsed, the earth was torn apart, and bodies lay scattered everywhere.
Not a single fighter remained alive.
They walked for some time without speaking. Then the City Lord's voice broke the silence. "This wasn't a prolonged fight."
The Branch Hall Master glanced around, then said slowly, "No… the resistance was crushed almost immediately. They were overpowered before they could respond."
They continued forward. Soon, they reached the shattered ground ahead. The exposed chamber. Both of them stopped.
Their eyes lowered— and for a moment, neither spoke.
What lay beneath—was a mountain of bones. Layer upon layer, stretching into darkness.
The City Lord's expression hardened. "So the rumors were true… but even then, no one imagined it would be like this."
The Branch Hall Master's gaze remained fixed below. "This is not something a clan could hide without confidence in its strength."
A brief silence followed.
Then the City Lord spoke again, "Xu Yuan… was not someone ordinary. he should not have fallen easily."
The Branch Hall Master nodded slightly. "And yet he died here. Along with everyone else."
He paused, then added, "This wasn't done by chance. The one who acted knew exactly what they were doing."
The City Lord's eyes narrowed. "To suppress the entire clan… and kill the Patriarch in the same night…"
He let the words settle before finishing, "…only someone at the Soul Douluo level could achieve this."
The Branch Hall Master did not disagree. "Perhaps even stronger."
Silence returned. Neither of them spoke for a moment.
The City Lord's gaze lingered over the ruined grounds for a moment longer before he spoke, his voice low and steady,
"The one who did this… is not an ordinary person." He paused slightly, as if measuring his thoughts. "The Bloodscale Clan was cruel, yes—but they were still a powerful force in this region. To erase them completely in a single night…"
His eyes darkened. "…that is not something just anyone can do."
The Branch Hall Master stood beside him, his expression equally serious.
The City Lord spoke again,
"This is no small incident. Whoever acted… is a powerful figure, and not one we can ignore."
The Branch Hall Master gave a slight nod. "We have no authority to handle something at this level."
The City Lord turned slightly, his tone firm now, "This must be reported to the higher authorities without delay."
The Branch Hall Master responded at once, " A matter like this cannot be left unchecked."
Neither of them said anything further.
....
By the next day evening—
The three friends arrived at Tiandou City and entered the Iron Guard Branch.
At the gates, the guards recognized them immediately and greeted with respect. Wang Yan gave a slight nod and walked in, with Liu Ming and Zhao Qing following behind.
As they moved inside, the members present also acknowledged them, stepping aside as they passed.
The three went straight toward the inner hall and stopped there briefly.
A short discussion followed. They exchanged a glance—then separated.
Each returned to their rooms.
After everything that had happened, they finally allowed themselves to rest.
End of chapter.