"You are…"
Li Tao's sharp eyes narrowed as he looked closer, his expression finally cracking.
"…Su Yixiao!"
The hall fell into a deathly silence.
"Why aren't you saying anything?"
"General Su! General Su!"
Ling Yu stepped forward, her delicate face pale yet composed, her purple robes trembling slightly as she called out to him.
Su Yixiao's gaze shifted toward her. His tall, armored figure stood like an immovable mountain, his sharp brows and fierce eyes radiating a killing intent that chilled the air.
"You must be Li Tao's concubine." His voice was flat, devoid of warmth.
His gaze grew even colder as it settled on her.
Ling Yu's body trembled under that pressure, as though a blade hovered over her neck. Yet she clenched her teeth, forcing herself not to retreat.
"General…Su Ru…is dead…"
Boom!
The butt of Su Yixiao's halberd slammed into the ground. Cracks spread like a spiderweb beneath his feet.
"Who. Did. It?"
Each word fell like a hammer.
Ling Yu's fingers trembled as she pointed—
"T-he… he did it!"
Her finger aimed directly at Su Ye.
Su Yixiao turned.
His gaze landed on Su Ye. The pale youth with white hair, crimson eyes, and a faintly flickering mark upon his glabella. For a brief moment…his eyes softened.
Then he looked back at Ling Yu and let out a cold scoff.
"Concubine Ling," he said slowly, "do you take me for a fool…or are you the fool?"
"My sister had already shown me my nephew's portrait. And you expect me to believe that a boy without even a trace of spiritual energy could kill a cultivator at the 4th Step:Engraving Stage?"
Ling Yu's expression froze.
At that moment—
"Y-Young master!"
Xiao Lan rushed in, her petite figure trembling as her eyes fell upon Su Ye's battered body. Tears welled instantly as she hurried to his side, supporting him.
She pulled out cloth and medicine from her spatial ring, her hands shaking as she began tending to his wounds.
There were times in the past where she had to take care of him without the use of Spiritual Qi, so now she had items on hand.
"Young master… how did you get hurt like this?"
Su Ye forced a faint smile, his pale face streaked with blood. "It's nothing…just a minor injury."
His crimson eyes shifted toward Su Yixiao.
"Xiao Lan…help me greet my uncle."
Xiao Lan nodded, carefully helping him stand.
"…Uncle."
Su Yixiao's sharp gaze softened slightly as he looked at the youth before him.
"Where is your mother?"
Su Ye said nothing.
Instead, he slowly dragged his broken body forward. Each step was heavy, leaving faint traces of blood behind him.
He knelt down.
"…Uncle," his voice trembled, yet remained steady, "Mother…is right here."
His hands moved gently across the ground, gathering the scattered ashes.
He lifted them carefully, forming a trembling cup in his palms.
Silence.
Xiao Lan staggered back, her eyes wide with horror. "W-what…?"
Su Yixiao froze.
His hands extended instinctively then stopped midway, trembling.
"Sister…" His voice cracked, barely above a whisper. "…I'm late."
His eyes reddened.
In the next instant—
They turned into killing intent.
Without another word, Su Yixiao moved.
Boom!
His figure shot forward like a bolt of lightning, halberd cleaving through the air toward Li Tao.
"Su Yixiao! This is the Li family, do you really want war between our clans?!" Li Tao shouted, raising his weapon to block.
"You're the one who started this!" Su Yixiao roared, his voice like thunder. "Trying to back out now? Too late!"
The two figures shot into the sky.
From below, they looked like two colliding stars.
Li Tao staggered backward midair, his right arm hanging limp and useless. Opposite him, Su Yixiao advanced relentlessly, each step upon the void as if walking on invisible currents.
A streak of light split the heavens.
Li Tao twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the strike, but the force still sent him tumbling.
Su Yixiao pressed on, his halberd weaving a storm of attacks, each strike flowing seamlessly into the next. There was no pause. Only endless, crushing momentum.
Li Tao could barely keep up.
He dodged desperately, only managing to block fatal blows. Even so, wounds began to cover his body, blood staining his robes.
"Die!"
Su Yixiao hurled his halberd.
It spun through the air with a deafening roar, like a tiger descending from the mountains.
For a moment—
Time stilled.
Just as the blade neared Li Tao's throat—
A barrier appeared.
Clang!
The halberd rebounded, flying back into Su Yixiao's grasp.
Above them, an old man stood in the sky.
His long white beard flowed with the wind, his azure robes fluttering as his hands rested calmly behind his back. His presence was vast, like the heavens themselves.
"Li Ancestor…" Su Yixiao's voice was cold. "Do you also intend to stop me?"
"Su boy," the elder said calmly, "the Su and Li families have been allies since ancient times. Must it come to this? Can we not talk?"
"I spit on you!" Su Yixiao spat onto the ground below. "You killed my sister and tried to hide it, what is there left to discuss?!"
The Li Ancestor's gaze darkened as he turned to Li Tao.
"Li Tao… what happened?"
"I… I…"
Li Tao faltered.
"Speak!"
"…I killed Su Ru."
Silence.
The Li Ancestor's expression froze.
"What…? You—!"
His hand clenched tightly, anger flashing in his aged eyes. Yet hesitation followed.
Was Li Tao… worth protecting at the cost of the Su family's wrath?
"Li Ancestor," Su Yixiao said coldly, "today, you will give my Su family an explanation. Otherwise, there will be no end until one of our families falls."
"…You will have your explanation," the elder replied.
He raised his hand.
A small, translucent orb appeared, glowing faintly.
"This is the Soul Gathering Orb. While it cannot revive her, it can gather her soul… and allow her to reincarnate safely."
The ashes in Su Ye's trembling hands lifted gently, swirling into the orb like drifting starlight.
Su Ye watched silently, his crimson eyes flickering.
"Su boy, give me three days to investigate. After that, I'll personally give the Su family a explanation."
Su Yixiao was too angry to even bother talking anymore. But still he gave them a warning.
"I will take my nephew," Su Yixiao said. "In three days, if no explanation is given…"
His grip tightened on the halberd.
"I will personally destroy the Li family."
With a wave of his hand—
Space twisted.
Su Ye and Xiao Lan vanished.