A cold snort resounded through the chamber. Medusa's figure materialized within the hall.
"Cai Li, what brought you out? Where are Xian'er and the others?"
Xiao Tian regarded Medusa with surprise. He had not expected her sudden emergence.
"They are assisting with the Xiao family's arrangements, demonstrating the diligence of proper daughters-in-law."
"Hmph. I did not come out to assist you with anything. I merely wished to see whether the Blood Sect held any medicinal ingredients I require."
Beneath Xiao Tian's scrutiny, Medusa felt a twinge of guilt.
The true reason she had emerged was that she could be of no help inside. She lacked the proper standing to assist, unlike the others, who all had legitimate reasons.
"Why are you still standing there? Are we going or not?"
Medusa fixed her gaze on Xiao Tian, who remained rooted in place, studying her with an amused expression as though he had seen straight through her pretense. She spoke with immediate irritation.
"Then let us go. An extra pair of hands only eases the task."
Xiao Tian and the two women arrived directly above the Blood Sect's main stronghold.
Gazing downward, the entire Blood Sect was, true to its name, composed of blood-red structures. It was unnervingly eerie.
The Blood Sect's cultivation method relied upon fresh blood for advancement. It was precisely for this reason that Mu City possessed the smallest population and ranked as the most chaotic and lawless place in the entire Black Horn Region.
"Old Wen, I leave Fan Lao to you. Cai Li and I shall deal with the remaining Dou Kings."
Xiao Tian issued a simple division of labor. Had he not feared accidentally damaging their treasury, Xiao Tian would have preferred to simply let Old Wen obliterate the entire compound with a single palm, just as they had done when annihilating the Mo family.
The three nodded to one another and commenced their operation.
Roughly five breaths later, screams erupted from within the Blood Sect.
As the sounds subsided, the Blood Sect was officially eradicated. Every Dou King and Dou Spirit within had been slain by Xiao Tian and Medusa.
The two arrived at the Blood Sect Master's main hall, only to find the Sect Master, Fan Lao, already dead in his seat. Blood streamed from all seven orifices, his face frozen in an expression of sheer terror and bewilderment.
He had perished with his eyes wide open, never having glimpsed his killer.
"Tragic. Truly tragic."
A perfectly dignified experience package for Xiao Yan had perished here in utter silence, without even the chance to show his face.
Xiao Tian searched the entirety of the Blood Sect but could not locate Fan Ling, who was likely already en route to Black Seal City.
He was merely a minor Dou Spirit. It would be simple enough to eliminate him later. He absolutely could not be permitted to live. When cutting weeds, the roots must be torn out. A Dou Spirit still posed a significant threat to the current Heaven Suppressing Hall, and Old Wen and the others could not constantly monitor everyone.
The three located the Blood Sect's treasury and confiscated a considerable collection of Dou Techniques and cultivation methods, including the Blood Sect's foundational art—the Blood Fiend Technique.
Xiao Tian glanced at it and incinerated it on the spot. This art required blood, was far too sinister, and would even warp a practitioner's sanity. It was unfit to be kept within Heaven Suppressing Hall.
Old Wen busied himself organizing the cultivation methods and Dou Techniques. Medusa, meanwhile, was wholly absorbed in sifting through the medicinal ingredients.
Suddenly, a breathtaking smile bloomed across Medusa's face, freezing Xiao Tian in place. This heartfelt smile was akin to a sacred lotus blossoming at the summit of a snow-capped peak, radiating exquisite beauty amid solitude and cold.
Medusa clutched a flower-like medicinal ingredient tightly in her hand. It was one of the ingredients for the Soul Fusion Pill.
Seeing there was only one, a slight disappointment flickered through her, yet joy prevailed. After searching for so long, she had finally found one. This was undeniably an auspicious beginning. The corners of her lips curved gently upward.
"Ghost Dream Spirit Flower, one of the principal ingredients for the Soul Fusion Pill. It seems your luck is rather fine."
Xiao Tian approached Medusa's side and cast a glance at the ingredient in her hand.
"Yes. I did not expect to find a main ingredient so swiftly. It appears my fortune is quite good."
Medusa's voice held a note of delight.
Xiao Tian mused inwardly, *When you later discover I possess other means to better resolve your soul predicament, I wonder whether you will be able to handle it.*
With a sweep of his hand, Xiao Tian stored all the remaining medicinal ingredients into his storage ring.
"Xiao Tian, why do we not go and destroy a few more sects? Perhaps we may find other ingredients within."
Medusa suddenly spoke, her voice brimming with eagerness.
Three black lines materialized on Xiao Tian's forehead. *As expected of you, Medusa—the queen who slaughters men as though butchering chickens, speaking the coldest words from those warm lips.*
Xiao Tian ignored her and turned to leave.
"Do not go! If it truly will not work, we could simply infiltrate the treasuries of others and search. The spoils would be yours. I want only the Soul Fusion Pill ingredients."
Watching Xiao Tian's retreating figure, Medusa hurriedly gave chase, her words spilling forth without pause.
She, too, wished to search on her own, but she lacked the capability. Only Wen Yan could wield spatial power to slip quietly into the treasuries of others.
Xiao Tian pretended not to hear and strode away without a backward glance.
Returning to Heaven Suppressing Hall, then entering the Eternal Dream Realm, Xiao Tian briefly informed Xiao Ding and Xiao Li that the Blood Sect had been obliterated and instructed them to assume control over all of Mu City.
"We merely exchanged a few words with Father, and the Blood Sect is already gone?"
Xiao Ding's teacup crashed to the floor. His mouth hung agape, his face a mask of utter disbelief.
Beside him, Xiao Li was even more dumbstruck. Fellow folks, who could comprehend this? In less than half a day, Mu City had changed hands.
"With Old Wen at your disposal, you should have eradicated the Blood Sect long ago. Why bother with this dual-power-division farce?"
Xiao Tian settled into a chair, his expression utterly indifferent.
"We feared drawing the attention of other powers, to avoid being targeted."
Xiao Ding offered a wry smile, while Xiao Li nodded frantically.
"Fret not over such matters. From this day forward, act without restraint. We now possess three Dou Ancestors and four Dou Emperors, along with a fair number of Dou Kings and Dou Spirits. We can swagger sideways through the Black Horn Region without trouble. Merely keep a modicum of caution regarding Maple City."
Xiao Tian directly revealed the entirety of Heaven Suppressing Hall's high-tier combat strength, delivering a potent dose of reassurance.
"What? Three Dou Ancestors? Did my ears deceive me?"
Xiao Ding and Xiao Li sprang to their feet upon hearing Xiao Tian's declaration, gripping his hands so tightly their eyes bulged.
"You heard correctly. The Dou Ancestors are Old Wen, Xian'er, and Cai Li."
"The Dou Emperors are Old Mo, Old Hai, Yun'er, and Qing Lin's pet—the Rank 6 magical beast, the Eight-Winged Black Serpent Emperor."
Xiao Tian concisely introduced the apex combatants of Heaven Suppressing Hall to the two of them.
Xiao Ding and Xiao Li exchanged a look of sheer horror. They naturally knew Yun Yun and the others, but they had never imagined that their extended family included Dou Ancestor-level powerhouses as well. Medusa, too, was regarded as a sister-in-law by them. Though the relationship had never been explicitly stated, everyone could see it plainly.
What astonished them most was that seemingly innocent and delicate Qing Lin actually possessed a Rank 6 magical beast as a pet—an entity equivalent to a human Dou Emperor.
It appeared that not only was their third brother a monster, but even the wives he had taken were equally terrifying.
"Little Tianzi... formidable. Truly formidable."
"Indeed. Birds of a feather flock together... you utter rascal..."
Xiao Ding and the other gave Xiao Tian a double thumbs-up, truly resembling a calf riding an airplane.
"Keep it understated. Understated. In any case, there is no need for concern from now on. Xian'er and Yun'er will both be permanently stationed at Heaven Suppressing Hall going forward. You may act freely, without fear or hesitation."
Having delivered his piece, Xiao Tian waved his hand and ejected them from the Eternal Dream Realm.
He retrieved an object from the Demon Flame Ring and tossed it lightly in his palm.
"It is time for you to prove useful."