"I said I would go back by myself, so why did you all come all this way?"
Xun'er's expression was quite cold due to Ling Quan and the others' arrival, which interrupted her time with Brother Tian, so even her words carried a chill.
"The Clan Elder ordered it, so we could only obey," Ling Quan smiled slightly, then looked at Xiao Tian and asked with a smile, "You must be Master Xiao Tian of the Xiao Family. The Clan Elder ordered that if we saw anyone from the Xiao Family, we could inquire about the key's whereabouts. Would you mind telling us where the key is?"
Xun'er, standing nearby, tensed up momentarily and glanced at Xiao Tian without showing it.
Xiao Tian frowned, looking at him in confusion. "Key? Have the dogs of the Gu Clan become so arrogant that they openly demand the Xiao Clan's key? It seems that living in your secret realm, you've forgotten that you were once nothing but ants before my Xiao Clan."
Ling Quan was angered by the insult, but he could not say anything about it.
"No matter, my main task this time is to bring Miss back to the clan. The Clan Elder misses Miss Xun'er dearly," Ling Quan smiled slightly, stepped aside for Xun'er, and said respectfully.
Xiao Tian glanced at Xun'er beside him, directly wrapped his arm around her waist, and pulled her into his embrace. Ling Quan, seeing Xiao Tian's action, instantly turned grim.
Xiao Tian and Xun'er both felt the faint fluctuation of Dou Qi, but neither paid it any mind. The current Xiao Tian gave Xun'er ample confidence.
Xiao Tian gently stroked Xun'er's smooth hair, buried his head in her beautiful hair, took a deep breath of her body and hair scent, and whispered softly in her ear, "You cultivate well in the Gu Clan. I'll come to pick you up soon. No one will be able to stop me."
By the end of his words, Xiao Tian's tone carried an incredibly firm resolve.
"Okay, I'll wait for you!" Xun'er thought of Xiao Tian's current cultivation speed, realizing it wouldn't take long for him to reach Dou Zong or even Dou Zun, so she nodded heavily, her heart full of anticipation.
"However, when I'm not around, you have to restrain yourself a bit. Otherwise, don't blame me for ignoring you."
Xun'er, thinking of Xiao Tian's philandering nature, "gritted her teeth" and whispered something in his ear. After saying this, her tone instantly changed, becoming bashful. "Once I reach Dou Sheng, we can…"
When Xiao Tian heard the words Dou Sheng and her bashful words, he knew what she meant. He caressed her waist and chuckled mischievously. "Can what?"
"Oh, Brother Tian, you're too naughty…" Xun'er saw Xiao Tian's expression and knew he must have guessed what she meant.
She stomped heavily on Xiao Tian's foot, then, with a slight blush, pushed him away. Tapping her toes, a pair of golden wings appeared behind her. With a gentle flap, Xun'er's delicate body quickly flew toward a flying magical beast, landing steadily on its back. Then the flying magical beast flapped its wings, carrying Xun'er as it soared into the distant sky.
The other Black Annihilation Army members and flying magical beasts quickly followed, escorting the flying magical beast carrying Xun'er.
Xiao Tian watched the departing Xun'er and called out, "Xun'er, wait for me!"
"Brother Tian, Xun'er will wait for you forever!"
Xun'er's clear yet trusting voice came from afar, creating echoes.
Hearing Xun'er's words, Xiao Tian's lips curled into a slight smile. He looked at Ling Quan, who was still standing in place, raised an eyebrow, and said indifferently, "What, Deputy Commander Ling Quan, aren't you leaving yet?"
"I'm not in a hurry," Ling Quan's perpetually smiling face no longer pretended to be amiable. He instantly became grim, his eyes cold as he stared at Xiao Tian. "With your current background and strength, you are simply unworthy of Miss. Your Xiao Family is now like a stray dog, and your Xiao Clan has declined. Only true powerhouses on the continent are worthy of Miss. You still…"
Slap!
Before Ling Quan could finish speaking, a slap landed on his face before he could react.
It was Xiao Tian who struck. He shook his hand. "Watch your words. If you don't know how to speak, I can teach you for free. Also, I am currently the Xiao Clan's chef, and my status is the same level as Gu Yuan and all the Ancient Clans' chefs. You are nothing but a younger generation to me. If you dare to disrespect me, then I will destroy your nine generations."
Ling Quan, who was sent flying, stabilized himself after tumbling a few times in the air. This was only possible because he was a Dou Huang; anyone else would have been rolling on the ground. There was a clear slap mark on his face, and his eyes were filled with shock and fury as he glared at Xiao Tian. "You… you dared to lay a hand on me!"
Ling Quan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. Hearing Xiao Tian's words, the anger in his heart intensified. He, who had always been proud, had never suffered such humiliation. The fire-attribute Dou Qi throughout his body constantly surged, and the aura of a Six-Star Dou Huang continuously erupted.
"With Miss protecting you, I won't kill you, but I'll give you a lesson you'll never forget, so you learn to behave yourself from now on. I will become your nightmare."
Ling Quan's body surged with killing intent, and his heart was boiling with murderous rage.
"Oh, I'd very much like to see that."
After Xiao Tian finished speaking, he directly activated his Black Demon Lightning. The space around them shattered like a mirror.
Looking at Xiao Tian and the Black Demon Lightning, whose aura surpassed all directions, Ling Quan's expression became incredibly solemn. He thought to himself, This is impossible. How could a Xiao Clan with a depleted bloodline produce someone with such talent?
Xiao Tian ignored his expression. His Heaven Slaying Divine Sword appeared directly in his hand, and terrifying black Lightnings constantly pulsed along its blade. Holding the sword, he looked at Ling Quan before him with piercing eyes.
Just as Ling Quan was about to make a move, he found that the surrounding space was suppressing him. The world, space, and aura of heaven and earth had all turned black and white. His body was numb and sluggish, and even his thoughts seemed to be breaking under the pressure.
"What's going on?" Ling Quan's expression became incredibly ugly, and he constantly tried to break free from the restraints.
"Mortal World Destruction!"
Xiao Tian directly greeted him with his Heaven Slaying Sword combined with the first move of the Heaven Slaying Sword Art.
Ling Quan could only watch helplessly as a crescent energy slash flew toward him. At the last moment, he unleashed his full power and Dou Technique to break through the Black Demon Lightning's restraint. But the slash had already arrived before him. He had no time to block it and could only condense Dou Qi in front of his chest to reduce the damage of the attack.
The Lightning slash instantly shattered his defense, and the powerful crescent sent him flying.
"This… how is this possible? Impossible, absolutely impossible."
Ling Quan struggled to his feet from the ground, and his eyes filled with disbelief.
Xun'er and the other Black Annihilation Army members, who had flown far away, felt a powerful energy fluctuation behind them. Xun'er sensed the auras of Xiao Tian and Ling Quan and slightly frowned.