At dawn, the golden morning light shone through the mist onto Xia Xiao. He tied on his armor, put on his broadsword, and prepared to set off.

"Wait till I come back!"

"Be careful on your journey."

Shu Shuang spoke softly because Su Huan was still asleep. After Xia Xiao left, she formed the "He" seal and began to practice.

Winter was almost over, but the forest was still slightly cool. Xia Xiao moved very quickly, but stopped after leaving the central area.

The fog in the forest had long since dissipated, and Xia Xiao's vision was wide. He looked at a big tree and frowned.

"Since you didn't leave?"

A man walked out from behind the tree.

The man had a collapsed nose, small and dull eyes, and his slight determination was vulnerable in front of Xia Xiao. Xia Xiao was no stranger to this man. His Xia family could be in the current situation thanks to him, or it could be said that it was thanks to his Zhu family. He was Zhu Tiankang. He was nervous at this moment, and his legs were shaking as he answered:

"Four days ago, after you eliminated Siying, I wanted to evacuate like them, but then I thought about it and decided to come and face you. I only want to ask you for one thing."

"Please?"

Xia Xiao sneered, sat down on a wooden stake, and spoke in a cold tone.

"Your Zhu family is rich and powerful. You can easily take out a hundred taels of gold to bully my Xia family. Now you need to beg me?"

"I'm sorry about my father's matter, but after Siying is eliminated, the Zhu family will be hurt and kicked out of the National Elders' Council, and will never be able to gain a foothold in the imperial capital. So please don't say anything in front of His Majesty. As long as you promise me, I can give you my token."

Zhu Tiankang handed over the token with both hands, with a respectful attitude. But Xia Xiao just pulled up a blade of grass out of boredom and cut it into small sections.

"The Zhu family deserved to be kicked out of the National Elderly Home. What does it have to do with me?"

"I know that it's because of the Zhu family that the Xia family has fallen into such decline, but we will also be punished. Let's just stop here, okay?"

"Can't."

Throwing away the grass in his hand, Xia Xiao raised his head, his eyes cold and sharp.

"Do you know how many people in my Xia family died?"

"Do you know how much my family has suffered?"

"Do you know where we live?"

Zhu Tiankang was speechless. He knew that Xia Xiao was not a person who would get angry easily, but a river covered with ice. But now, Xia Xiao's tone was murderous.

"Have you seen a mass grave?"

“Yes.”

"Have you ever slept in it?"

“No…no.”

"I slept for over a year."

Having said this, Zhu Tiankang no longer dared to look Xia Xiao in the face and avoided his gaze.

Four days ago, he wanted to risk his life to eliminate Xia Xiao, but Si Ying was defeated, and he was too scared to flee with the other two. Now he finally made up his mind, since he couldn't stop Xia Xiao from entering the final selection, he begged him to let Zhu family go. During the time he was with Si Ying, he knew Xia Xiao's purpose of returning to the imperial capital.

"Xia Xiao, when will the cycle of revenge end? Besides, you were wrong in the first place."

Zhu Tiankang made Xia Xiao laugh.

"You want to reason? Then tell me, why can I, who could not sense the fluctuations of vitality, practice cultivation now? Also, even if I wasted the resources of the dynasty, why did the old and young slaves of the Xia family die?"

"this……"

"Were you present when the Zhu family was ordered to kill people?"

Zhu Tiankang shook his head.

"Then let me help you feel the despair at that time."

Xia Xiao picked up the broadsword, his face looking like a Shura.

"I don't want to fight you."

"I think!"

After Xia Xiao finished speaking, he clenched his teeth and stared at Zhu Tiankang with fighting eyes. The latter was a little embarrassed and explained:

"That's not necessary. If I said something wrong before, please forgive me! On behalf of my father..."

"You can't represent him!"

Zhu Tiankang was stunned for a moment, then bowed very respectfully.

"Feel sorry."

In Xia Xiao's eyes, Zhu Tiankang was much better than Zhu Heng, but now they still had to fight. He would naturally tell the world about the affairs of the Xia and Zhu families, but not now. This remote mountain forest made it difficult for Xia Xiao to express his resentment.

Using the forefoot to exert force, Xia Xiao swung the machete in his hand, cutting the air and moving towards Zhu Tiankang.

Xia Xiao originally didn't want to look for Zhu Tiankang. He thought the latter had escaped. But now he comes back and mentions the Xia family's affairs. Then he has to take his token for himself.

With his figure as fast as the wind, Xia Xiao was in front of Zhu Tiankang in the blink of an eye, and then he stabbed him with a knife. Zhu Tiankang knew that Xia Xiao would not hold back, so he dodged quickly.

His palm stopped the machete in time, preventing it from hitting the stone, but the latter still broke with a bang.

"Xia Xiao, do you really want to fight?"

What a nagging man, so soft-hearted even in front of the enemy? No wonder everyone says he is useless.

He appeared again, and this time, the machete in Xia Xiao's hand scratched Zhu Tiankang's arm. The latter was a little stunned. Even without using the wild pattern, the power was so strong?

Soon, Zhu Tiankang pulled away and found that Xia Xiao’s strength had reached the peak of the Condensation Stage.

Seeing the expression on Zhu Tiankang's face, Xia Xiao secretly said that he was slow and stood where he was.

"If you want to fight, then fight. Now that it has come to this, it's time for me to be a man!"

Zhu Tiankang, who was always contradictory, finished his words, gathering water in his arms, which turned into black ice under the cold energy, like armor. The water on his fist turned into a spear head, which kept stabbing out. Xia Xiao countered the moves and kept a distance from the sharp spear head that turned into black ice.

Feeling a chill on his chest, Xia Xiao suddenly raised his left arm, went around the back of the machete, and hit the back of the knife with the scarred bark armor.

Click!

The sharp tip of the ice spear broke and fell to the ground. Xia Xiao moved ghostly and slashed with his backhand. Under the scarlet blade light, a piece of ice chips splashed on Zhu Tiankang's chest.

The little eyes turned and looked around. This dense forest was in Xia Xiao's favor, so he had to speed up the attack. Although Xia Xiao had eliminated Si Ying incredibly, Zhu Tiankang still wanted to fight and couldn't be defeated by him easily!

As he stepped back, the vitality behind him surged and turned into countless ice cones, shooting towards Xia Xiao. Under the bright light, the ice cones exuded an icy chill.

The machete turned and cut off two ice cones one after another, and then ice suddenly formed on the knife.

This was Xia Xiao's first direct confrontation with a master, but he was no longer panicking. He hid behind a tree, and the wood energy flowed into the sword, turning the ice on it into water again, which immediately fell off.

Among the five elements, water nourishes trees, while floods destroy trees. Although the two are not mutually exclusive, whoever has stronger vitality will win. At this moment, the tree in front of Xia Xiao was pierced by an icicle, and immediately, the whole tree was covered with frost, and then Zhu Tiankang punched it.

Xia Xiao rushed out, slashing with his broadsword, against the broken ice blocks of trees. A flash of scarlet blade light passed by, shattering the ice armor on Zhu Tiankang's chest and cutting open the skin underneath.

The surrounding environment affects the power of the five elements. Xia Xiao's current strength is enough to fight Zhu Tiankang, who has just reached the middle stage of the Venerable Realm. The two collided and entangled with each other.

Armor, broadsword, the clever combination of the two made Xia Xiao particularly focused. Zhu Tiankang's strength was not weak either, and his energy reserves were much greater than Xia Xiao's, but every strike he made seemed to lack strength, as if he was afraid of something.

Even in the imperial capital before, Xia Xiao and Zhu Tiankang had never spoken a few words, but he heard that this guy had been destroyed. He was spineless, like a tree without skin and leaves. It looked strong, but it couldn't stop the wind or the rain!

Compared to Xia Xiao's resolute and sharp eyes, Zhu Tiankang was extremely weak. Every time he threw a punch, he dared not look directly into Xia Xiao's eyes. Xia Xiao had seen that kind of look before. The waiters and chores in Rongcheng, as well as countless slaves and servants, were all so timid, fearing that they would do something wrong. Although Zhu Tiankang had deliberately shown his resolute side, it was still far from enough!

The trees turned into ice sculptures and quickly shattered, like delicate works of art destroyed in an instant.

In the light that broke through the clouds, Xia Xiao and Zhu Tiankang swung their weapons at the same time. The machete and the ice knife collided with each other. When the latter broke, Xia Xiao's palm trembled.

Stepping back, Zhu Tiankang formed seals with his hands, and immediately the space was torn apart, and a huge contracted beast fell down.

Crabs again?

This was the first time Xia Xiao saw Zhu Tiankang's contracted beast. This sea crab, as tall as a tree, had a huge and powerful right claw, but its left claw was very small. As soon as it appeared, it raised its huge crab claw and prepared to attack under Zhu Tiankang's command.

Xia Xiao formed seals with both hands, and after the space was torn apart, Ju Mang flew out. Four days ago, Zhu Tiankang did not see Ju Mang because of the fog and distance, but now he was stunned. How could this guy have a bird body and a human head?

Flying behind Xia Xiao, Ju Mang looked a bit cool and handsome.

"Who is this again?"

"Zhu Tiankang, Zhu family."

Upon hearing this, Ju Mang's eyes became sharp.

"Then don't even think about leaving today!"

In the past, Zhu Tiankang really wouldn't have dared to refute, but now he deliberately straightened his back.

"Let me see how powerful those who came from afar are!"

"good."

Xia Xiao took a step forward, and the broadsword pointing to the ground carried an unprecedented force. It came from Ju Mang, and instantly spread across the blade, making it glow silver.

The crab beast raised its huge right claw and smashed towards Xia Xiao. But the latter ignored it and just walked towards Zhu Tiankang. The latter was accumulating strength and seemed to be about to launch a powerful attack.

call--

With the sound of breaking wind, the crab claws were about to fall on Xia Xiao. Even if Shu Shuang was not there, Ju Mang was here, he flew and shot, and the loud collision sound lingered in the sky and earth for a long time.

The four bird claws were as sharp as steel, and they pierced into the hard crab claws in a fierce collision. At the same time, a wave of air was set off, and a strong electric current surged in it.

Zhu Tiankang frowned, sensing something unusual. But the next moment, Xia Xiao's speed was even faster than before, and his afterimage was still far away, while his body had already stopped in front of him.

A knife slashed out, and Zhu Tiankang blocked it with his tremendous energy.

Boom!

The air behind Xia Xiao exploded, the ground behind him was lifted up, and several leaves in the air were torn into pieces. The same happened behind Zhu Tiankang!

"Um?"

Zhu Tiankang was a little surprised. He had released nearly all of his vitality at this time. These icy vitality were like a surging river, which could wash away trees. In comparison, Xia Xiao's vitality was not as good as his, but Xia Xiao's feet seemed to be rooted in the ground, and he did not retreat for a long time. Because there was a flash of lightning in his knife.

Suddenly, Zhu Tiankang lost feeling in his arms and felt numb. This burning numbness quickly spread throughout his body, causing him to tremble violently.

Thunder, lightning, and wind are all born in spring, so they belong to the wood element. But how could a wild beast possess the power of both thunder and wind?

Zhu Tiankang was shocked. He could see that Xia Xiao had revealed the wind when he moved before, and now his sword was carrying electricity that suppressed the water element. This was the manifestation of the two wood elements. And what Ju Mang was about to show was the most essential power of the wood element, but it seemed... a little different from the wood element used by others!