Xiao Chen's "And then?" was as light as a breeze, yet it instantly turned the Su family patriarch's face a deep purplish-red.
The Xuantian Sect's reputation is enough to make over 90% of the forces in the Southern Region wary, yet this kid doesn't seem to care at all?
Xiao Chen didn't bother to look at them again. His gaze swept across the crowd and finally settled on a middle-aged cultivator with a face full of scars—that was the eldest elder's son, Xiao Meng.
Back when his cultivation was completely destroyed and he was banished to a secluded courtyard outside the city, it was this Xiao Meng who, along with a group of clan members, would come to "visit" him every few days. They would either steal his last bit of food or drag him into the mud to beat him, cursing him as "useless" and "a disgrace to the Xiao family," laughing without restraint.
The humiliation he suffered during those days was more painful than being expelled from the family.
Xiao Chen walked step by step toward Xiao Meng, his voice not loud, but clearly carrying throughout the hall: "Xiao Meng, do you dare to fight me to the death?"
"Whoosh—"
The hall erupted in chaos.
Having just killed Li Hao, are they now going to turn on their own clansmen?
Xiao Meng was stunned for a moment, then, as if he had heard the biggest joke in the world, he pointed at his own nose and laughed loudly: "Xiao Chen, what did you say? You want to fight me to the death? With your skills?"
He is now at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm, even stronger than Li Hao, who died at Xiao Chen's hands. He considers himself unmatched among the younger generation of the clan, so why would he take a "newly recovered" Xiao Chen seriously?
"Xiao Chen! No!" The Third Elder was the first to jump out and try to mediate, his face full of smiles. "We're all family, let's talk things out. Why resort to knives and guns? Xiao Meng didn't do it on purpose. Back then... he was young and ignorant!"
“Yes, yes,” another elder quickly chimed in, “We’re all family, a life-or-death battle would be too discordant! Clan leader, please say something!”
A group of people surrounded Xiao Chen, offering their advice all at once, as if they weren't the ones who had just been clamoring to "avenge" him.
Xiao Chen ignored him, staring intently at Xiao Meng, and repeated, "Dare you?"
Xiao Lie stood rooted to the spot, not even lifting his eyelids. He knew perfectly well that Xiao Meng was the Grand Elder's confidant, and if Xiao Chen really killed him, it might be a good thing to use the opportunity to put pressure on the Grand Elder's faction. As for "family harmony"? In his eyes, it was far less important than the balance of power.
Xiao Meng felt a chill run down his spine under Xiao Chen's icy gaze, but the jeers from those around him—"He wouldn't dare!" "He's scared!"—and the thought of his own mid-stage Golden Core cultivation filled him with boundless pride. He abruptly drew his long sword from his waist: "Come on then! Who's afraid of who! Today I'll show you that trash is always trash!"
"Very good." Xiao Chen nodded, gently turning the rusty iron spear in his palm, exuding a chilling aura.
The two walked to the center of the hall, and everyone subconsciously stepped back, making room for them.
"Take this!" Xiao Meng shouted, his long sword carrying the force to split mountains and shatter rocks, aimed straight at Xiao Chen's head. The blade was sharp and fierce, clearly indicating that he had murderous intent—he had long disliked Xiao Chen, especially after Xiao Chen's imposing manner when killing Li Hao, which drove him mad with jealousy.
Xiao Chen neither dodged nor evaded. With a flick of his wrist, the rusty iron spear seemed to come alive, its tip angled and precisely wrapping around the blade.
"clang!"
With a crisp sound, Xiao Meng felt a tremendous force coming from the blade, which made his hands go numb and the long sword almost slip from his grasp!
"How is this possible?!" Xiao Meng exclaimed in shock.
Xiao Chen gave him no chance to react. His spear stance changed abruptly, like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, the spear tip pointing directly at Xiao Meng's heart! The speed was so fast that only a blur remained!
Xiao Meng hurriedly parried with his sword. With a "whoosh," the tip of the spear grazed the blade, sending up a trail of blood and leaving a deep, bone-revealing wound on his arm!
"Ah!" Xiao Meng cried out in pain, completely enraged. His swordsmanship became frenzied, each strike ruthless and deadly.
But in Xiao Chen's eyes, his moves were full of flaws.
The profound meaning of the "Prairie Fire Spear Manual" was displayed to its fullest extent in his hands. At times, it was like a raging wildfire, swift and domineering; at other times, it was like a deep, still river, concealing deadly intent. Layer upon layer of spear shadows completely enveloped Xiao Meng, and with each collision, Xiao Meng's aura weakened a little.
"Bang!"
Another shot, hitting Xiao Meng squarely in the chest!
Xiao Meng was struck as if by a heavy blow, spitting out blood and flying backward, crashing heavily into a pillar, his long sword clattering to the ground.
He struggled to get up, but Xiao Chen had already pressed his body against him, pressing the rusty iron spear against his throat.
"No! Don't kill me!" Xiao Meng finally panicked, his face drained of color, and he begged for mercy repeatedly, "I was wrong! Xiao Chen, I know I was wrong! For the sake of us being from the Xiao family, spare my life!"
The elder's face turned deathly pale, and he knelt on the ground with a thud: "Xiao Chen! Please, spare him! He's my only son! I'm begging you!"
The other elders also pleaded, "Xiao Chen, have mercy!" "We're all family, why be so ruthless!"
Xiao Lie frowned slightly, as if he wanted to say something, but ultimately did not move.
Xiao Chen's eyes were icy cold. He pushed the spear tip forward another half inch, piercing Xiao Meng's skin and drawing blood: "When you beat me, cursed me, and stole my food rations back then, did you ever think about being 'family'?"
Xiao Meng was so frightened that he almost jumped out of his skin and stammered, "I...I was..."
"Go to hell." Xiao Chen's tone was calm, his wrist about to tighten—
Just then, an old voice suddenly rang out: "Stop!"
Accompanied by the sound, a figure in black robes appeared before Xiao Chen like a ghost, a withered hand firmly grasping the tip of the rusty iron spear!
The tip of the spear was just a hair's breadth away from Xiao Meng's throat.
Xiao Chen felt a tremendous force coming from the tip of the spear, which prevented him from advancing any further!
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