"What's wrong? Why are you still standing there? If you don't intend to deal with your own people, do you dislike your subordinates that much? Or would you rather I have someone throw them into the forest outside the city and let them fend for themselves?"
Xiao Tian's calm voice slowly drifted down from the high platform.
Ling Quan's eyes flickered slightly. He immediately took out a large amount of healing medicine and carefully fed it to the injured members of the Black Annihilation Army.
Finally, when it came to Third Commander Yang Hao, Ling Quan reluctantly took out a high-grade sixth-grade healing pill.
After consuming the healing medicine, everyone except Yang Hao gradually recovered. Once they regained consciousness, they hurriedly scrambled behind Ling Quan.
Yang Hao was supported by one of his subordinates. The members of the Black Annihilation Army looked toward the people of the Heaven Punishing Divine Palace with seven parts fear and three parts wariness.
After being jostled while being supported, Yang Hao finally regained consciousness. His first instinct was to circulate his Dou Qi, but the moment he did so, it was instantly suppressed by a familiar and overwhelming aura.
Xun'er looked coldly at the Black Annihilation Army.
"What are you doing here? And why did you force your way inside? Is this how the Black Annihilation Army conducts itself when operating outside the Gu Clan?"
The members of the Black Annihilation Army whom Xun'er looked at immediately lowered their heads.
They were utterly humiliated.
Even if they escaped punishment for this incident, they would undoubtedly become a laughingstock within the clan.
"Reporting to Young Lady, the Elders were worried that you might encounter danger outside the clan, so they specifically ordered us to escort you back to the Gu Clan."
Third Commander Yang Hao gritted his teeth and stepped forward.
"Oh?"
Gu Qing frowned slightly.
"Are you looking down on the two of us? Do you think our cultivation is inferior to yours?"
Gu Feng also sneered.
"If we cannot protect the Young Lady, what exactly do you think you people can accomplish with your insignificant strength? Throw your lives away? Or do you actually believe that all of you together are stronger than the two of us?"
His voice was filled with disdain.
Given their strength and status within the Gu Clan, the two elders naturally had no reason to show any respect to these juniors.
"The two Elders are joking."
Yang Hao bowed slightly.
"Our strength is naturally incomparable to yours at present. However, this is an order from the Elders of the clan, and we can only carry it out."
"Oh?"
Xiao Tian looked at Yang Hao and Ling Quan with a faint smile.
"Then are you saying that the order you received was to force your way into my Heaven Punishing Divine Palace?"
The instant those words fell, an overwhelming aura suddenly erupted from Xiao Tian's body.
Boom!
The members of the Black Annihilation Army instantly felt an immense pressure descend upon them.
They hurriedly circulated their Dou Qi in an attempt to resist.
However, before Xiao Tian's pressure, their resistance was as fragile as paper.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
One after another, the members of the Black Annihilation Army were forced heavily onto the ground.
Ling Quan was no exception.
The only person still standing was Third Commander Yang Hao.
Even he was barely holding on.
His entire body trembled violently as he gritted his teeth. The veins on his forehead bulged, and cold sweat continuously rolled down his face.
"Oh?"
Xiao Tian glanced at him with mild interest.
"Your bones are rather hard. Unfortunately, your strength is lacking."
His tone carried the same arrogant flavor Yun Shan had once used.
Then Xiao Tian slightly increased the pressure.
Crack!
Yang Hao's legs finally reached their limit.
Heavily!
His knees slammed into the stone floor of the main Palace.
The crisp sound of cracking bones echoed throughout the hall.
Yang Hao's face turned pale. Cold sweat poured down his forehead as he desperately circulated his Dou Qi.
Yet he couldn't gather even the slightest bit of resistance.
His muscles tightened, his fingernails dug deeply into his palms, and fresh blood dripped between his fingers.
He barely managed to raise his head and stare at Xiao Tian in disbelief.
"What... exactly is your strength?"
His voice trembled.
"We are the Black Annihilation Army of the Gu Clan. How can you treat us like—"
"Enough!"
A cold shout interrupted him.
Xun'er's delicate face was icy cold, and there wasn't the slightest trace of warmth in her eyes.
"You still have the nerve to bring up the Gu Clan?"
Her gaze swept over the Black Annihilation Army.
"Aren't you embarrassed enough already?"
"If Xiao Tian Gege hadn't considered you members of my clan, you would all be dead by now."
Her voice became even colder.
"And this is the discipline of the Black Annihilation Army?"
"This is the so-called elite force of the Gu Clan?"
"There isn't even the slightest trace of discipline among you."
"I would really like to know how the Black Annihilation King and the Elders of the clan manage you."
The expressions of the Black Annihilation Army members changed slightly.
They lowered their heads even further.
Yang Hao subconsciously glanced toward Ling Quan.
His meaning was obvious.
How did you lead us into this mess?
Ling Quan's face turned green.
He was already struggling under Xiao Tian's terrifying pressure. Now that Xun'er had publicly reprimanded them, his heart became even more chaotic.
If the Elders investigated this matter afterward, he would undoubtedly bear the greatest responsibility.
His position as the Seventh Commander might even be stripped from him.
After Xun'er finished speaking, Xiao Tian gently took her hand.
The warmth of his palm caused the icy expression on Xun'er's face to soften slightly.
Xiao Tian looked down at the Black Annihilation Army, a faint mocking smile appearing at the corner of his lips.
"Why?"
"Because you're the Black Annihilation Army of the Gu Clan, you think you can casually force your way into another faction?"
"If you're really that powerful, why don't I see you forcing your way into the Hall of Souls?"
"Why don't you force your way into the Gu Realm?"
"Are you afraid?"
Xiao Tian's eyes were filled with contempt.
In his opinion, most people in the Gu Clan were only brave when dealing with those they considered weaker than themselves.
When they encountered someone truly powerful, their so-called courage disappeared immediately.
Seeing Xiao Tian holding Xun'er's hand, a trace of jealousy flashed through Ling Quan and Yang Hao's eyes.
Yet after hearing Xiao Tian's words, neither of them could refute him.
Their silence was essentially an admission.
Xun'er also felt somewhat disappointed.
She had once asked Xiao Tian what he thought of the Gu Clan after he had learned so much about it.
Xiao Tian had only given two words:
Cautious.
And internally oppressive.
Afterward, Xun'er had deliberately observed the situation within the clan.
She eventually discovered that Xiao Tian's assessment wasn't far from the truth.
Within the Gu Clan, the strong oppressed the weak.
Yet when facing truly powerful external enemies, they became extremely cautious—even timid.
"Hmph."
"Trash."
Xiao Tian withdrew his aura and looked down at Ling Quan and the members of the Black Annihilation Army lying on the ground as though they were nothing more than dead dogs.
"Let me guess."
"You should also be carrying the Blood Jade Token given to you by the Elders of the Gu Clan."
His words caused Yang Hao's pupils to contract.
"The order was probably to invite someone from my Xiao Clan to the Gu Realm for a discussion."
"And if necessary..."
Xiao Tian's smile became colder.
"You were permitted to use force and forcibly take me away."
His gaze shifted toward Yang Hao.
"And you, Third Commander Yang Hao, were responsible for carrying out that part of the order."
The moment those words fell, Yang Hao's pupils violently contracted.
He stared at Xiao Tian in disbelief.
How does he know?
When the Elders had given him the Blood Jade Token, only the Elders and Yang Hao himself knew about it.
How could Xiao Tian possibly know?
Yang Hao's expression changed repeatedly.
Then a terrifying possibility emerged in his mind.
Could there be a spy within the Gu Clan?
Of course, this was precisely the conclusion Xiao Tian wanted him to reach.
Xun'er immediately noticed Yang Hao's reaction.
Her expression became icy.
There was no need for further confirmation.
Xiao Tian had guessed correctly.
The Gu Clan really had given them the Blood Jade Token.
If Xiao Tian did not possess his current strength, the consequences would be difficult to imagine.
He could have been seriously injured.
He might even have been forcibly taken to the Gu Realm.
Xun'er's gaze gradually became colder.
"I didn't expect you to actually bring that thing with you."
Her voice was calm.
Almost unnaturally calm.
"It seems my previous words were not taken seriously."
Xiao Tian glanced at Xun'er.
He knew her too well.
The colder her voice became, the angrier she actually was.
This time...
Xun'er was truly furious.