Wutan City.
The events that transpired at the Yunlan Sect had, over the past few days, spread like wildfire through this bustling small town, becoming common knowledge.
As the news spread, the once peaceful town began to stir with undercurrents of tension.
Today, two figures cloaked entirely in black robes, their genders indistinguishable, entered Wutan City.
After navigating through the winding streets, they arrived at a relatively large tavern within the city.
Inside the tavern, the air was filled with noisy chatter, much of it centered around the recent events at the Yunlan Sect.
"Hey, have you all heard about what happened at the Yunlan Sect?" a man asked mysteriously.
"Who in the Jia Ma Empire hasn't heard about it? I heard that even Dou Kings and Dou Emperors were nothing that day, not daring to make a sound. Several Dou Ancestors and Dou Venerables even showed up," someone else chimed in, curling their lips.
"Are you all talking about Xiao Yan? I heard that the Dou Venerables who appeared later were his reinforcements," another person joined the discussion, whether they knew him or not.
"Is that Xiao Yan from the Xiao family in our city?"
"Yes, yes, that's the one. I heard he effortlessly killed two Dou Ancestors in an instant."
"Pfft, that Xiao Yan you're talking about is nothing. In front of our Grand Pavilion Master, he's just trash. Our Grand Pavilion Master can kill Dou Venerables without batting an eye."
"Brother, are you from the Lofty Cloud Pavilion?"
"Of course, I was one of the first to join the Lofty Cloud Pavilion," the man boasted, though in reality, he was just an ordinary mercenary.
"Is the Lofty Cloud Pavilion still recruiting? I heard they only accept those with at least Dou Master cultivation. Since you're an old member, could you pull some strings and let me in through the back door?"
"Uh..."
The crowd was so engrossed in their discussion that they didn't notice the two black-robed figures following the tavern owner into a secret room.
"The identities check out," Zhang Han said as he returned the identification tokens to the two figures, speaking indifferently. "What do you two want to know?"
"Has anyone from the Xiao family left Wutan City since three days ago?"
"Yes, and quite a few."
"Are the elders and the clan leader still in the city?"
"They are," Zhang Han replied, somewhat surprised that a mere Xiao family from Wutan City could be rated as an A-level mission.
"Thanks!" The two figures hurriedly left.
...
At the end of a street stood a large compound.
This was the residence of the Xiao family.
The entrance was eerily quiet, with the stone lions on either side showing signs of damage.
The main gate appeared to have been forcefully blown open, with wood splinters scattered across the ground. Inside the courtyard, several corpses lay, their blood staining the bluestone-paved yard.
In the spacious hall, the lighting was dim, and the room was packed with over a hundred people divided into two opposing factions, glaring at each other.
In front of both factions stood Xiao family members, armed and ready for a life-and-death struggle. In the center of the Xiao family members sat a few individuals: the clan leader and several elders.
While the clan leader, Xiao Zhan, seemed to be in good spirits, the elders beside him looked pale, with dried bloodstains at the corners of their mouths.
"You two clan leaders have really outdone yourselves, attacking us when our defenses were at their weakest."
Xiao Zhan's face was as dark as water, his gaze sweeping over Galiebi and Obadun as he spoke coldly.
"Hehe, Clan Leader Xiao, who doesn't know now that Xiao Yan offended the Yunlan Sect and died within it? Even your own family has been relocating members these days."
As he spoke, Galiebi's expression suddenly turned cold and sinister. "Be sensible and sell your Xiao family's market to us. Out of past sentiments, perhaps Obadun and I might choose to let you off."
"Otherwise, hehe..." Both Galiebi and Obadun sneered simultaneously.
"Damn it, thirty thousand gold coins for a market? You're clearly robbing us!" Before Xiao Zhan could finish, the hot-tempered Third Elder couldn't help but slam the table, pointing at Galiebi and Obadun and cursing angrily.
"Hehe, Third Elder, I think you're getting senile. Who pays when they rob?" Obadun mocked.
"You..." The Third Elder's anger surged, his blood boiling, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
"Third Elder!" Xiao Zhan quickly grabbed the Third Elder, gently patting his back and whispering, "You're too injured to get angry."
"Hehe, the Third Elder is indeed old, spitting blood at the slightest provocation. Anger harms the body," Galiebi sneered.
"Enough with the nonsense. Today, whether you sell the market or not, it's not up to you."
After saying this, Galiebi picked up a weapon nearby, ready to attack if Xiao Zhan refused.
At that moment.
Thud! Thud!
Two figures flew into the hall from outside, collapsing on the floor.
Galiebi turned around, his face suddenly changing.
These two figures were the clansmen he had stationed at the entrance.
"Who?"
Everyone's eyes were fixed on the entrance.
There stood two mysterious figures cloaked entirely in black robes, with only their icy eyes exposed.
"We're here for Xiao Zhan. You can leave."
No one knew which of the two mysterious figures spoke, but the voice alone sent a chill down their spines.
"Sir..."
"After three breaths, anyone still in the hall besides the Xiao family will die!" A powerful aura emanated from the black-robed figure on the left.
Galiebi's words were forcibly swallowed back.
"Dou... Dou Spirit," Obadun stammered, sweating profusely. "My lord, we'll leave, we'll leave."
In less than three breaths, the once-crowded hall became spacious again.
Inside the hall, silence reigned. The Xiao family members holding weapons trembled slightly.
Xiao Zhan quickly stood up from his seat, bowing deeply and clasping his fists respectfully. "May I ask what business you have with me, esteemed seniors?"
"Hand over the jade piece left by your Xiao family ancestors," the black-robed figure who had revealed his aura said.
Xiao Zhan's heart sank, surprised they knew about the jade piece left by his ancestors. He feigned ignorance, "Esteemed seniors, you must be mistaken. Our Xiao family has never had any jade piece you speak of."
Whoosh!
A gentle breeze passed, and the Third Elder beside Xiao Zhan clutched his neck, dead on the spot, blood spurting from the wound.
"Third Elder," Xiao Zhan's fists clenched tightly, the veins on his arms bulging.
"Will you hand it over or not?"
"Go to hell!"
Xiao Zhan's face twisted into a ferocious expression as he prepared to charge forward and fight to the death.
With another swift sound, a member of the Xiao family fell to the ground, lifeless.
"One last chance—will you hand it over?"