Shui Ye pressed his assault without mercy, palm winds howling like raging torrents as he forced the cyan-robed youth into continuous retreat.
The young man relied on an endless repertoire of profound Dou Techniques — each one bearing the unmistakable mark of an ancient clan's deep heritage — allowing him to barely hold his ground against the elder.
Yet this was only possible because Shui Ye had not yet revealed his true strength, nor even drawn upon any signature Dou Technique. He understood the other party's identity all too well; his intent was merely to deliver a severe lesson, not to take a life.
One must remember: every warrior of Boundless Heaven Hall had tempered their combat arts within the Boundless Heaven Tower. They were veterans forged in countless bloody trials — their battle sense sharp as honed blades.
The deafening clashes reverberated across Tianbei City.
Countless citizens lifted their heads, eyes wide with shock as they beheld the terrifying spectacle unfolding in the heavens.
"Who in the nine heavens are those two fighting? If that energy wave so much as grazed me, I'd only have time to scream once. A second scream? Impossible — I'd already be reduced to bloody mist!"
Among the crowd, a burly man crossed his arms and spoke with exaggerated bravado.
"Eh? Tiedan, since when did you become so ferocious? Those two are at least Dou Zun, right?"
His companion stared at him in astonishment.
"Nonsense," Tiedan snorted. "After the first scream, I'd already be nothing but scattered ashes. How could there be a second scream?"
"Gods above…" The surrounding onlookers collectively sprouted black lines across their foreheads, having briefly mistaken him for some hidden expert.
His companion silently edged several steps away — just in case the rage of the heavens decided to strike indiscriminately.
…
"What is all this commotion? Why is it so noisy?"
Just as the beatings inside the hall began to wind down from sheer exhaustion, the grand teleportation array suddenly flared with brilliant light.
A clear, languid voice drifted out from the passage.
Then a slender figure stepped forth.
Xiao Jietian swept his gaze across the hall — bodies strewn everywhere, groaning pitifully — and barely suppressed a laugh. Feigning shock, he raised an eyebrow and asked in mock bewilderment,
"Would someone kindly explain what has happened here? Who are these fat-headed, big-eared ruffians littering my hall?"
The warriors of Boundless Heaven Hall immediately ceased their actions and looked down at their handiwork.
…Indeed, they do rather resemble fat-headed, big-eared swine now. So swollen one can scarcely make out their original features.
"Reporting to the Hall Master," Hai Bodong stepped forward with perfect solemnity, "these intruders forced entry into a restricted area of our Boundless Heaven Hall. We questioned them courteously, yet not only did they respond with insolence, they displayed extreme arrogance and presumption."
In truth, Xiao Jietian had been spectating the entire farce from the shadows all along.
He had also quietly suppressed the intruders' Dou Qi and physical strength — ensuring no one could unleash a sudden bloodline eruption and spoil the fun.
Otherwise, without Shui Ye and the other Dou Zun keeping them firmly pinned, things might have grown… less entertaining.
Ling Quan's ears twitched at the sound of that hated, unforgettable voice.
His head snapped up. Bloodshot eyes locked onto Xiao Jietian, burning with naked fury and humiliation.
One of the Boundless Heaven Hall elders noticed the glare directed at their Hall Master.
His body "accidentally" shifted backward.
His Dou Qi-infused foot "very coincidentally" came down — squarely onto Ling Quan's already mangled finger.
"Ugh— ugh— ugh~~!!"
A piercing, bone-deep agony shot through him.
Ling Quan released a string of muffled, pig-like squeals.
He whipped his head around to glare murderously at the elder standing atop his hand.
The elder blinked innocently.
"Why are you staring at me like that? Is it not permitted for this old man to stand where he pleases? Do you wish me to pin you down and continue the lesson? Have you grown addicted to beatings?"
Seeing the elder's perfectly feigned confusion — and recalling the "accidental" stomp just now — Xiao Jietian silently raised a thumb in heartfelt approval.
Truly worthy of reward. When we return, this elder shall receive a generous increase in salary.
"Ahem. Elder Pan," Xiao Jietian coughed lightly and pointed downward, "you appear to be standing on his finger."
"Ah! Oh, oh! My apologies, this old man failed to notice for a moment." Elder Pan scratched his head with an embarrassed chuckle. "I thought you were telling me to keep my footing firm and not let up. I misunderstood — truly sorry."
He lifted his foot with exaggerated care.
"I was just wondering why the ground felt so uneven beneath me, as though something was poking at my sole. Speaking of which, young man… why did you deliberately place your hand under my foot?"
Those words struck like a fatal arrow straight to the heart.
Ling Quan's vision darkened. A fresh mouthful of blood sprayed from his lips.
He collapsed limply to the ground once more — this time truly wishing for death.
At that moment the teleportation array flared again.
Three figures emerged: Xun'er, Gu Qing, and Gu Feng.
"Tian-ge." Xun'er glided to Xiao Jietian's side, then turned her gaze toward the hall filled with groaning, swollen figures. She blinked innocently. "Oh my… why are there so many strangely shaped people lying about?"
Ling Quan — who had been feigning unconsciousness — heard her voice and immediately pressed his already swollen face deeper into the floor tiles, desperately trying to make himself unrecognizable.
Hai Bodong glanced at Xun'er's perfectly surprised expression and thought inwardly:
As expected of husband and wife. Their acting is uncannily similar.
With great perceptiveness, he stepped forward once more and — with even richer embellishments — recounted the entire sequence of events for the benefit of Gu Qing and Gu Feng standing behind Xun'er.
Upon hearing the tale, both elders swept cold gazes across the pitiful heap on the ground.
They had not expected anyone to be so brazen as to force entry into another's restricted grounds and stir up trouble. That these fools were merely beaten half to death instead of outright slain already counted as boundless mercy.
After Hai Bodong finished, Xun'er tilted her head toward the two elders.
"Qing Bo, Feng Bo… do their robes look somewhat familiar to you?"
The two old men narrowed their eyes and examined the tattered purple-black garments more closely.
"Old Feng… don't these look suspiciously like the special robes worn by the Black Annihilation Army of our clan?"
"Bang!!"
Before they could finish speaking, a heavy thud echoed from the hall entrance.
Shui Ye strode in, casually dragging a blood-soaked figure clad in cyan robes.
"This one was lurking in the void outside — a Dou Zun. It seems someone intended to scheme against our Boundless Heaven Hall."
"Though his cultivation is low, he carries quite a few valuable treasures. His background is clearly far from ordinary."
As expected of an old fox who had lived through countless storms, Shui Ye wasted no time in slapping a damning label on the intruders.
With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the unconscious youth into the pile of bodies.
Gu Qing's gaze fell upon the new arrival.
"This person… does he not resemble Yang Hao, Third Commander of the Black Annihilation Army?"
Though unconscious and bloodied, the facial features were still recognizable.
Gu Feng's expression darkened.
"It is indeed him. But why would he be here as well?"
"What other reason could there be?" Gu Qing's voice turned icy. "It's nothing more than…"
He did not finish the sentence — but Gu Feng already understood perfectly.
Xun'er cast a subtle glance toward Xiao Jietian.
Xiao Jietian met her eyes and gave a faint nod.
Understanding dawned.
Xun'er turned to the two elders.
"Qing Bo, Feng Bo — please handle this matter."
The two immediately stepped forward.
They approached Ling Quan first and fed him a healing pill.
Apart from Yang Hao, the other Black Annihilation Army members had suffered only superficial — though exceedingly painful — injuries. No fatal wounds had been inflicted.
After swallowing the pill, Ling Quan's external injuries began to slowly mend.
Yet he remained "unconscious."
Xun'er's beautiful eyes turned cold.
"Since he enjoys feigning death so much… Elder Qing, why not make it permanent?"
Ling Quan felt the terrifying pressure of Dou Qi gathering above his head.
Realizing his ruse had been seen through, he scrambled upright in panic, pretending he had only just regained consciousness.
Gu Qing withdrew his aura upon seeing this.
Now standing, Ling Quan swiftly scanned his surroundings.
A flash of deep fear passed through his eyes.
Then his gaze landed on Yang Hao lying not far away.
His pupils contracted sharply.