Just then, the sound of approaching footsteps was heard as seven old men entered in a line, walking unhurriedly on the floor made of the ten-thousand-year-old mysterious ice; each and every step of these seven elderly men was very calm when they walked in, and they stationed themselves behind the old man who still stood quietly in the center.
An individual clad in white was standing at the door in graceful poise; his eyes twinkled, and power radiated all around him as he appeared at the door and stood proudly. It seemed that all the land under the heavens, including everyone in the hall, existed solely to be his dominion!
At his side, his partner, a beautiful middle-aged woman, was nestled against him like a frail willow; their looks were unrivalled; the man looked like a confident hero who stood above everyone else, and the woman had grace and style, unlike anyone in her generation! The bystanders were admiring the couple, looking at them with envy for their perfect match!
Everyone inside the hall turned to the couple the moment they entered, and bowed, "Welcome, city's master and mistress, it is a pleasure to see you!"
"You needn't be so polite." The two replied with a hint of a smile on their faces as they unhurriedly proceeded to the middle of the hall and sat down on the only two chairs in this huge space, which was capable of seating hundreds of people.
Only these two were qualified enough to sit on chairs inside this hall!
These two were the lords of the city: the Heavenly Sword of Ice, Han Zhan Meng, and his wife, the Far Soaring Frost, Xue Shuang Qing.
The hall itself was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, with crystalline ice pillars reaching toward the high-arched ceiling, their surfaces shimmering under the soft glow of enchanted lanterns.
The atmosphere was formal, almost suffocating, as the meeting was about to begin.
Rumble…
The air itself twisted, as though reality had been folded by an invisible hand. A suffocating wave of spatial fluctuations exploded in the center of the hall, sending shockwaves rippling across the marble floor. The enchanted lanterns flickered violently, and the temperature dropped further, the frost on the pillars thickening in an instant.
"What in heaven's name—?!" Han Zhan Meng shot to his feet, his eyes narrowing as the space before him warped and twisted into a swirling portal of deep black and crimson hues. The energy radiating from it made even his Supreme-level senses scream with alarm.
Xue Shuang Qing, usually composed and graceful, stood with a sharp intake of breath, her hand instinctively reaching for the thin sword at her waist.
Inside a secret cultivation spot in the mountains, Han Fengxue, the Old Master of Silver Blizzard City, was cultivating and abruptly opened his eyes when he felt those spatial fluctuations.
The Old Master of Silver Blizzard City felt his heart skip a beat.
This was no ordinary teleportation technique. For someone to tear open space with such precision and disregard for the city's protective formations… it spoke of terrifying power.
He quickly departed from the mountain and flew to the meeting chamber.
In the blink of an eye, the portal stabilized, and from its depths stepped a man.
Tall, poised, and exuding an aura of absolute dominance, the stranger walked with the grace of a monarch surveying his domain. His sharp features, chiseled jawline, high cheekbones, and thin lips curved in a faint, mocking smile were enough to make any woman blush and any man feel inferior. His cold, golden eyes glowed faintly, like twin suns hidden behind storm clouds.
He wore a plain white robe embroidered with crimson runes that seemed to flicker like living flames.
The very fabric of reality seemed to bend around him, as though unwilling to touch his form. This was not a man to be trifled with.
The chamber fell into stunned silence.
None dared to move.
Han Fengxue, despite his years of wisdom and near-Venerable strength, instinctively stepped forward, raising a hand to stop the guards who had foolishly reached for their weapons.
"Who are you?" The old master demanded, his voice steady but laced with caution. "And what business do you have in Silver Blizzard City, daring to barge into our council chamber unannounced?"
The handsome stranger's smile widened, but it was colder than the frost-covered pillars surrounding them. He reached behind him and, without a word, tossed something forward.
Thud!
The object rolled across the icy jade floor, leaving a trail of dark crimson in its wake, before coming to a stop at the foot of the council platform.
It was a severed head.
Xiao Yuan.
The ninth elder of the Xiao Family. His lifeless eyes stared blankly at the ceiling, frozen in an expression of shock and terror. The blood still dripped from the ragged stump of his neck, the crimson stark against the pristine white marble.
Gasps echoed throughout the hall. Several lesser elders stumbled back, faces pale. Even Han Zhan Meng's composure cracked as he instinctively shielded his wife.
"You…!" Han Fengxue's eyes narrowed dangerously, his Supreme-level aura flaring as frost began to gather beneath his feet. "What madness is this? Do you think Silver Blizzard City will tolerate such insolence?!"
The stranger chuckled, the sound low and rumbling like distant thunder. He crossed his arms leisurely, completely unfazed by the outburst.
"Tolerate?" He repeated mockingly. "You misunderstand, old man. I didn't come seeking tolerance. I came to deliver a message… from my elder brother."
The hall grew colder, but it had nothing to do with the temperature.
"Your brother?" Han Fengxue's eyes flickered with uncertainty. "Who dares—"
The stranger didn't let him finish. He stepped forward, his golden gaze sweeping across the assembly like a predator surveying prey.
"For ten years," He began, voice smooth yet laced with venom, "the Xiao Family has strutted around like mad dogs, barking and biting at anyone they pleased. Why? Because Silver Blizzard City didn't leash them."
His eyes locked onto Han Zhan Meng, whose face darkened.
"But dogs that bite the wrong person… get put down."
He gestured lazily at the severed head, his smile widening. "This? This is just a warning. My brother is merciful, after all."
"Merciful?!"
A scornful laugh erupted from the side.
It was Xiao Xing Yun, the Grand Elder of the city and the true power behind the Xiao Family. He stepped forward, his sharp eyes gleaming with cunning.
"You kill one elder and dare spout nonsense in front of the Eight Great Masters' territory?" Xiao Xing Yun sneered, his voice dripping with derision. "Do you think the other noble families will stand by and watch? Do you wish to become an enemy of the entire continent?"
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