The instant that cold, bone-piercing voice reverberated across the battlefield, all slaughter came to an abrupt halt. Blades froze mid-swing, killing intent dissipated, and countless gazes turned in alarm.
Startlement spread like wildfire—for within that silence, a hand had silently manifested. One hand shackled Gu You's arm, while the other pressed firmly against Ya Fei's delicate back.
Honglong!
The void trembled as boundless ripples of space surged outward, shattering the stillness. From the empty space, four pairs of wings slowly unfolded.
Each wing blazed with nine-colored brilliance, weaving together light so resplendent that heaven and earth dimmed in comparison. Beauty and divinity intermingled in those wings, ensnaring the hearts of all who beheld them.
In but an instant, the eight wings swept forth, enfolding Gu You and Ya Fei in a luminous cocoon. Not even the keenest spiritual perception could pierce through that radiant barrier.
Gu You's pupils contracted violently. Recognition dawned, and with it, terror. His breath seized in his chest as despair surged like a tide. These divine wings—those four pairs of splendor—he knew them well. His body screamed to flee, yet the moment he willed it, his heart plummeted further into hopelessness.
The familiar bond with the natural energy of heaven and earth—severed. The surrounding void—completely sealed.
It was as though beneath those unfurled wings, an entirely new realm had descended. A world sovereign unto itself, its laws absolute, its will unshakable.
Everyone held their breath, watching in stunned silence as the eight wings wrapped around Gu You and Ya Fei. No one dared to move. None could see what lay within, yet each felt a suffocating sense of death the moment they even considered to leave this place.
Yet Cai Lin and the Little Fairy Doctor were different. They recognized that aura, the familiar voice that had spread across Jia Ma Empire.
'Xiao Hua? Is it truly him? Has he finally arrived?'
The thought surged through their hearts as they fixed their gazes upon the brilliant wings, waiting with quiet anticipation.
The wait did not last long. The wings quivered softly, then spread apart in a slow, graceful motion.
"Hehe… Father, you really came back like you promised…!"
A tender, innocent laugh rang out, crisp and clear, as though the battlefield itself melted into spring.
When the light receded, a young man in a black robe embroidered with patterns of blue, gold, and white appeared.
In his hand, Gu You's severed head dangled like discarded refuse. With casual disdain, Xiao Hua flung it aside as though tossing away a sack of filth. The light of the wings then flowed over his hand, cleansing it of the lingering taint, before he reached down and playfully pinched the cheeks of the little girl before him.
With a gentle smile, he said, "I have, haven't I? This is the first time we meet face to face. Tell me, what is the beautiful name your mother has given to my precious daughter?"
"…Xiao Yuyan…"
The little girl's voice was soft, timid, yet filled with radiant joy. Her smile bloomed like a flower, shy yet brilliant, as she gazed at Xiao Hua.
Though this was their first true meeting in the mortal world, she remembered the dreams where they had played together. She had never seen his face then, yet the warmth of those moments remained etched in her heart.
Now, with the bloodline's resonance stirring deep within her, she felt no fear—only intimacy and belonging. Her answer, though timid, carried unshakable sincerity.
"Xiao Yuyan… what a beautiful name your mother has given you."
Xiao Hua's smile deepened, his gaze brimming with tenderness as warmth radiated from every part of him. His eyes never left the little girl before him—his daughter, so pure and precious.
"I didn't expect you to know about her…" Ya Fei's voice carried a trace of wonder as she stepped closer, her figure gently brushing against his side. She knew father and daughter had never truly met, and yet their bond already shone so vividly.
"Perhaps it is the ability of our bloodline," Xiao Hua replied gently, his smile filled with warmth. "Even in my deepest slumber, I would meet her in dreams. Each time, she would come to me, and I… I always waited for her arrival, Fei'er."
The way he called her caused Ya Fei's heart to tremble. For a brief moment she was stunned, before her lips curved into a tender smile. Taking Xiao Yuyan into her arms, she corrected him softly, "You mean our daughter. Sister Cai Lin's child is also ours—not only hers and yours."
A light chuckle escaped Xiao Hua's lips. Lifting his gaze, he looked toward the elegant figure in purple robes and the enchanting figure in red, who hovered high in the sky. His eyes softened, rippling with gentle warmth and quiet sentiment, a depth of affection that even his calm smile could not conceal.
Hong—!
With a simple wave of his sleeve, a powerful spatial fluctuation swept across the battlefield. In an instant, the crowd was divided into two distinct sides: on one stood the Primer Clan, the Snake-People Race, and the Xiao Clan; on the other, Yun Shan and his gathered allies.
Meanwhile, Cai Lin and Little Fairy Doctor suddenly appeared at Ya Fei's side. The three women stiffened at once, caught off guard by Xiao Hua's effortless command over space.
Xiao Hua's faint smile deepened as his gaze lingered on their graceful figures. Warmth and affection welled in his chest at the sight of his beloved wives. His gentle voice drifted into their ears, soft as spring wind.
"Cai'er, Xian'er, Fei'er… forgive me. I have returned… a little late."
The three women exchanged glances, their eyes rippling with unspoken emotions. A tender smile bloomed on each of their faces as they nodded together, their resentment melting in the presence of his return.
Cai Lin stepped forward, carefully taking Xiao Yuyan into her arms. The three of them leaned close, their gazes sweeping anxiously over the little girl's body, unwilling to let the slightest harm befall her.
Though they knew Xiao Hua had already examined their daughter with utmost care, the three of them still could not suppress her motherly instincts. They checked again, their touch gentle yet firm.
Naturally, Xiao Hua understood—were their positions reversed, he too would act the same.
Only after confirming her daughter's safety did Cai Lin exhale softly, relief easing her taut heartstrings. Stroking the little girl's head, she murmured, "I thought… you would never return."
Though her tone held reproach, beneath it hid the sorrow and burdens she had borne alone. These past years, she and Ya Fei had borne the weight of everything—raising Xiao Yuyan, Xiao Hua's and her daughter, while also shouldering the growth of the Hua Alliance.
They had endured Misty Cloud Sect's constant probing and relentless desire to annihilate them, all while standing firm in his absence.
As for the Hall of Souls, she had long known this man before her would serve as the lure to draw their gaze away. Even so, every other responsibility, every danger, every worry… had fallen upon their shoulders. And all of it was because of him.
Xiao Hua could only let out a dry laugh, guilt pressing heavily upon his chest. His gaze lingered on Cai Lin's tightly pursed lips and Ya Fei's faint, bittersweet smile, and an unspoken apology surged from the depths of his heart.
Sensing this, Little Fairy Doctor gently nudged the two women forward and said softly, "My sisters have carried many burdens for you… Don't you think you owe them some words?"
Xiao Hua nodded, stepping closer. Without hesitation, he extended his arms, drawing Cai Lin's supple, serpentine waist and Ya Fei's graceful, slender form into his embrace. He ignored Cai Lin's slight struggle, holding them both firmly as his voice, low and sorrowful, brushed against their ears.
"I'm sorry… It has been hard on the two of you."
Even someone as proud and unyielding as Cai Lin felt her nose sting and turn sour. Even someone as poised and calculating as Ya Fei felt a mist cloud her eyes. In those simple words, they heard the weight of his guilt and the sorrow in his heart—proof that he had never once forgotten them.
Indeed, none of them had ever sent word to him about the struggles within the Jia Ma Empire. Yet, they had still hoped—no, yearned—that he might visit, even once, before vanishing into his two years of seclusion.
No matter how strong Cai Lin appeared as the Snake Queen in the eyes of the world, no matter how indifferent Ya Fei acted before others as a shrewd and untouchable woman… they were still women. Women who had already entrusted their hearts to him. Inevitably, they harbored grievances from his long absence.
But in the moment his warm embrace enclosed them, and those two soft sentences fell by their ears, all grievances melted away like snow under the spring sun.
"Do not think that I will let you off because of this!"
Although the grievances in Cai Lin's heart had faded, her stubborn nature remained. Gritting her teeth, she snapped coldly. Her fair, icy face flushed faintly as she slipped free from Xiao Hua's hand. In the eyes of the Yan Alliance, she was an untouchable queen, a woman of unshakable strength.
How could she allow herself to be seen nestled in his arms like a little woman clinging to her man?
Xiao Hua, Little Fairy Doctor, and Ya Fei—still resting within his embrace—exchanged glances before breaking into soft laughter. The Primer Mansion had been shrouded in darkness, its air thick with blood and solemnity from the battle. Yet here, in this small corner, warmth blossomed quietly. It was like a family reunion after countless years apart—gentle, soft, and full of life.
The contrast was so striking that some onlookers were left dumbfounded, uncertain of what to do. Not that they could move—the crushing pressure radiating from Xiao Hua held Yun Shan's army firmly in place.
"Leave everything else to me..."
Xiao Hua's gentle words fell, and his smile softened as his gaze landed on Xiao Yuyan, safely nestled in Cai Lin's embrace. Leaning forward, he pinched his daughter's tender cheek with infinite care.
"Good daughter, follow your mother closely."
"Father, do your best… They bullied Mothers and everyone in Hua Alliance far too many times already…" Little Xiao Yuyan's timid but determined voice rang out as she nodded earnestly.
"Rest assured, my precious daughter…" Xiao Hua chuckled softly, rising to his full height. His warmth vanished in an instant, replaced by a gaze as sharp and deadly as a blade. His voice carried the weight of a vow as it rolled across the battlefield.
"Every grievance and every wound your mothers and the Hua Alliance have suffered… this father of yours will repay in full."
Xiao Hua's figure flickered, vanishing and reappearing before Yun Shan's army in the blink of an eye. His smile was faint, indifferent—but beneath that calm curve of his lips surged an icy killing intent that seeped into the hearts of all present.
Yun Shan and the others frowned deeply, their brows knitting together as a suffocating pressure enveloped them. From Xiao Hua's presence alone, they could sense it—death. A grim, unavoidable fate awaited them here.
"How… how are you already here?!" Zhai Xing exclaimed in shock. "Even with your strength, without the spatial tunnel, it should have taken you much longer to arrive!"
They had long since destroyed the Moonlit Chaos Mansion's attempt to construct a spatial passageway. By all logic, Xiao Hua's appearance at this moment should have been impossible—even for someone of his power.
But Xiao Hua merely regarded him with a detached expression, unwilling to waste words on explanation. His gaze swept toward Zhai Xing, cold and sharp, before he spoke slowly:
"The fact that Gu You could arrive so swiftly despite joining the war… means you people must have already constructed a spatial passageway nearby."
His eyes narrowed slightly, his voice cutting like steel.
"And it just so happens to be close to the location where my elder was preparing to build one. That is how you discovered him, isn't it? That is how the Hall of Souls found a high-ranking elder of my Moonlit Chaos Mansion at such a secluded, hidden place."
Little Fairy Doctor's pupils shrank in realization, her expression turning grave. At last, she understood how the Hall of Souls had managed to uncover the elder's location. Who could have imagined… that the Hall of Souls had been secretly constructing their own spatial passageway so close to it?
Zhai Xing did not respond, but his expression betrayed him—Xiao Hua's words were the truth. Gritting his teeth, he snarled, "Xiao Hua, if you kill me, the Clan Head will never let you go!"
"Then call him here," Xiao Hua replied coldly, a mocking sneer tugging at his lips. "This father shall see if he's willing to crawl out of his sickbed just to save the likes of you, little ghost."
His voice was sharp as a blade, carrying ruthless disdain. The trembling in Zhai Xing's tone already revealed that even he knew his threat was hollow and desperate.
At those ridiculing words, Zhai Xing's face twisted, but he dared not speak further. He had already heard whispers of the war's outcome. Even the Hun Clan's Clan Head had suffered grievous injuries under Xiao Hua's hand. The Hall of Souls, too, had paid a heavy price—numerous experts had perished beneath the blades of the Moonlit Chaos Mansion.
How could they possibly care about saving him, Old Ghost Zhai Xing—merely a Dou Zun—when they were still licking their wounds and struggling to recover their strength?
That was precisely why the Hall of Souls had sealed all news of the Central Plains, keeping Yun Shan and the others ignorant of the truth. In reality, both the Hun Clan and the Hall of Souls had sent them forth with only one purpose—to abduct Xiao Yuyan, using intelligence provided by the traitors hidden within the Hua Alliance.
Once the girl was seized, their fates no longer mattered. Whether they lived or died was beneath consideration. They were pawns to be abandoned the moment Xiao Hua turned his fury upon them.
Yet, what none of them expected… was that Xiao Hua would arrive in the Jia Ma Empire so swiftly, crushing all their schemes before they could even take root.
Without another word, Xiao Hua lifted his hand. Five flames and five lightnings of distinct colors erupted, intertwining and coiling around his palm.
Bang!
In an instant, the blazing lightning shot forth. Zhai Xing had no time to react—his body was torn apart the moment it struck. Yet not a drop of blood, nor the smallest shred of flesh, fell. His form had been utterly incinerated, reduced to nothingness by Xiao Hua's flame and lightning.
Though the scene struck terror into Yun Shan and the others, the Hua Alliance felt only exhilaration at the sight of their Alliance Head's might.
After all, a powerful Dou Zun had been erased with nothing more than a flick of his sleeve. How could such a display not shake their hearts?
Every gaze fell upon him, eyes brimming with terror, reverence, and awe as they looked at the man who stood tall and unshakable like a mountain.
Unmoved by their reactions, Xiao Hua shook his head slightly before turning his gaze upon Yun Shan. That single glance made Yun Shan instinctively retreat, fear flickering in his eyes.
From the exchange between Xiao Hua and Zhai Xing, he understood enough—Hall of Souls had failed against Moonlit Chaos Mansion, suffering devastating losses. The entire Dou Qi Continent already knew of this matter, save for the northwestern region, where Zhai Xing and the Hall of Souls had deliberately suppressed the truth.
This could only mean one thing—when Xiao Hua returned to the Jia Ma Empire, they were meant to bear the brunt of his wrath. How could Yun Shan not feel hatred and indignation toward Zhai Xing… toward the Hall of Souls?
Yun Shan hurriedly cupped his hands, his voice trembling as he said, "Master Xiao Hua, we are innocent in this matter. We only sought to capture your clan members—we never imagined that the Hall of Souls intended to slaughter them."
Xiu!
Before his words could settle, a streak of light descended, halting beside Xiao Hua. The figure revealed was Xiao Yan.
At the sight of him, Yun Shan's face contorted in horror. He understood all too well what Xiao Yan intended, and he moved as if to speak—but Xiao Hua merely raised his hand, silencing him. Relief briefly flickered across Yun Shan's heart, only for Xiao Hua's next words to crush it utterly.
"I already know what he has done. I have seen Cousin Xiao Yang, and the arm he lost long ago tells me enough. With the First Elder, Second Elder, and Clan Head absent while the rest stand here, the truth of what befell the Xiao Clan during my absence is clear."
He turned to Xiao Yan, his voice solemn and cold as steel.
"Rest assured. This matter will not end until their blood has been paid."
Xiao Yan's eyes widened before he nodded heavily. Yet, there was one truth he could not allow to be mistaken. His voice rose, trembling with fury, grief, and hatred as he spoke:
"Brother Xiao Hua, Father is still alive. But his condition is unknown—he has been taken by the Hall of Souls. Yun Shan and his forces were the vanguard in the assault on the Xiao Clan!"
By the end, his bloodshot eyes lifted, burning with rage as he glared at Yun Shan and every faction that had taken part in that massacre.
Xiao Hua's pupils narrowed, a chilling gleam flickering within. He had never expected the Hall of Souls to personally act against the Xiao Clan, not when their strength was so quite powerful at the time. He had underestimated the depth of their ambition… and the shadow cast by the Hun Clan behind them.
At that moment, Yun Shan's body trembled uncontrollably, as if shackled by the very grip of death. He knew that if he remained silent, his end would be nothing but scattered flesh and bone. Forcing himself forward, he quickly bowed with trembling hands, his quavering voice carrying across the Jia Ma Empire.
"Master Xiao Hua, this old man truly knew nothing of this! We were but pawns in the hands of the Hall of Souls, ignorant of their true purpose. This old man is Yun Yun's teacher, treated by her as a father. For the sake of Yun Yun, I beg you—spare my life!"
He understood well that even if he knelt and begged, Xiao Hua's resolve would not waver. Yet there was one thread left for him to grasp—the bond between Xiao Hua and Yun Yun. And so, clinging to that lifeline, he shamelessly invoked his bond with Yun Yun, wagering her name as his shield.
Xiao Hua's brows furrowed deeply at the mention of Yun Yun. A complicated glint flickered in his eyes as memories surfaced—the noble and graceful woman with whom he had once shared a brief cohabitation within that secluded cave.
Yet, just as he was lost in thought, a streak of light shot out from Misty Cloud Sect, hurtling straight toward Ya Fei.
Yun Shan's face turned ashen at the sight. He recognized it instantly—a message transmission. And since it flew toward Ya Fei, there was no doubt that it contained news of Yun Yun… and the deeds he had committed.
Panic gripped him, and he instinctively prepared to intercept it. But before he could even move, Xiao Hua cast him a single sharp glare—cold and domineering. That gaze alone crushed Yun Shan in place, rooting his body as though bound by invisible chains.
Ya Fei extended her arm, and the transmission landed softly in her hand. She glanced at it, astonished to find it was from Nalan Yanran—she had not expected the girl to emerge from the Gate of Life and Heaven so soon.
Her eyes swept across the contents. With every line she read, her expression shifted, growing colder and sharper. At last, she lifted her gaze, fixing it upon Yun Shan. Under the weight of her glare, his complexion grew paler by the second, as though his very soul was being stripped bare.
"Did something happen?" Xiao Hua asked, his eyes narrowing as he caught Yun Shan's frightened expression. A faint concern stirred within him at the thought of Yun Yun.
Ya Fei rolled her eyes, easily detecting the subtle gentleness hidden in his tone. Though he hadn't spoken Yun Yun's name, she understood well enough. Naturally, Cai Lin and the Little Fairy Doctor noticed too—their sharp, icy glares immediately swept toward him, leaving Xiao Hua momentarily awkward under their piercing stares.
Ya Fei's luscious red lips curved faintly as she licked them, her gaze sliding toward Yun Shan before shifting back to Xiao Hua. Her voice sank into a deep, chilling tone.
"That old wretch… he sealed Yun Yun's Dou Qi, forcing her into retreat. Worse still—he even planned to marry her off to Gu He…"
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