Chapter 48: At Death's Door, Xiao Qing Crushes the Array Core
"Elder, something terrible has happened!"
Xiao Realm
Soul Yuanpo's expression darkened as he reprimanded the Soul Clan Dou Sheng who had approached him in a panic.
"What is this hysteria? The Xiao Realm is already under our control. Running around like a headless chicken what kind of image are you presenting?"
"Y Yes, Elder, I was wrong."
The Soul Clan Dou Sheng lowered his head, realizing his mistake, and quickly apologized.
Soul Yuanpo snorted coldly, suppressing his anger. "Now speak. What happened?"
"Elder," the Dou Sheng began cautiously, "we've been scouring the Xiao Clan for resources, but apart from finding minor items on the corpses of their clansmen, there's nothing of significance. We expanded our search, even going through the Xiao Clan's treasure vaults and martial skill pavilions, but they were completely empty. It's likely that Xiao Xuan took everything with him!"
The Soul Clan Dou Sheng felt a chill as he delivered his report. Resource collection was their assigned task, and failing to deliver results would undoubtedly provoke Soul Heaven Emperor's wrath. He knew that even as a Dou Sheng, failure could mean death.
Soul Yuanpo's eyes blazed with fury, but he held it back. The battlefield was no place to lose composure.
"If there are no resources to be found, then make up for it by killing more of the Xiao Clan. That will count as merit."
"Yes, Elder! Thank you!"
Suddenly, boisterous laughter rang out across the battlefield.
Soul Yuanpo turned toward the sound and saw several key figures of the Xiao Clan, including Xiao Tianshan, Xiao Tianyun, and the heads of several other branches.
"Hahaha! Do you think you can destroy the Xiao Clan so easily? When our patriarch returns, not a single one of you will escape!" Xiao Tianshan's laughter was filled with defiance, though his body trembled from the toll of battle.
Having lost their Dou Di bloodlines, his strength had fallen to the late four star Dou Sheng level, far weaker than before. The other Xiao Clan leaders, such as Xiao Wu, were similarly diminished, with most hovering around the five star Dou Sheng peak.
Despite this, their fighting spirit had not waned.
"Your patriarch?" A seven star Dou Sheng from the Soul Clan sneered as he pushed Xiao Tianshan back with a palm strike. "Xiao Xuan might have been the strongest on the continent, but his failure to break through to the Dou Di realm has sealed his fate. Instead of waiting for his non existent return, why not accept your death gracefully?"
Another Soul Clan Dou Sheng mocked, "Indeed. Submit to us, and perhaps we'll speak on your behalf to the emperor. You might yet keep your lives."
Xiao Wu sent a Soul Clan Dou Sheng flying with a counterstrike, then turned to his clansmen.
"Everyone, listen! Soul Heaven Emperor and his strongest forces must be occupied fighting the patriarch. This is the Xiao Clan's moment of life and death. If we allow these invaders to run rampant, our people will face complete annihilation. As a Xiao Clan elder, I order all surviving Dou Shengs to protect the remaining clansmen and ensure their escape. We must preserve our bloodline!"
"Understood!"
With this command, the Xiao Clan's remaining forces began a coordinated retreat. While some stayed behind to block the Soul Clan's advance, others shepherded their people toward the realm's exit.
Soul Yuanpo, seeing their organized retreat, let out a sinister laugh and stepped forward. His overwhelming aura surged, halting the Xiao Clan's escape.
"Pitiful ants! With me here, do you think you can escape? My emperor's orders are clear: annihilate every last one of you. Accept your fate!"
He unleashed a devastating attack, "Ten Thousand Souls Devouring Palm!"
A massive black energy claw, brimming with malevolent spirits, descended toward the Xiao Clan. Its oppressive aura seemed to carry the despair of countless lives.
In this desperate moment, Xiao Wu and the other leaders charged forward.
"Heaven Splitting Strike!"
"Ten Thousand Swords Unleashed!"
"Endless Inferno!"
Their combined attacks clashed with Soul Yuanpo's technique, resulting in an earth shaking explosion. Dust and debris filled the air, obscuring the battlefield.
Soul Yuanpo emerged unscathed, his laughter echoing menacingly. "Weak. Without your Dou Di bloodlines, you're nothing but insects. Let me put you out of your misery!"
Meanwhile, Xiao Qing had already rescued 499 clansmen. The array surrounding him would soon collapse after the final rescue, transporting him away as well.
But as he looked at the carnage before him, rage and sorrow consumed him. The sight of his kin slaughtered mercilessly shattered his composure.
"Is this truly the right decision, Third Uncle?" Tears of blood streamed down his face as Xiao Qing questioned Xiao Tiance's judgment for the first time.
"Forgive me, Third Uncle, but I can no longer stand by!"
With a decisive motion, he crushed the array's core. His Dou Qi erupted like a volcano, engulfing the battlefield in a violent surge of power.
"Boom!"
The sudden burst of energy brought all fighting to a halt. Every pair of eyes turned toward the source: Xiao Qing.
"It's Xiao Qing!"
"How is this possible? He's reached the eight star Dou Sheng level!"
"Brother Qing! He's come to save us!"
The Xiao Clan erupted in cheers as Xiao Qing, radiating an aura of unyielding strength, hovered above the battlefield.
"Soul Clan scum, all of you deserve to die!" Xiao Qing roared as he vanished in a flash of light.
In the blink of an eye, he appeared behind a Soul Clan Dou Sheng, grabbing his neck and crushing it like a twig. The corpse fell lifelessly to the ground.
Outside the Xiao Realm:
Xiao Tiance sensed the destruction of the array core and couldn't help but smile.
"Qing'er, as expected, you've made your choice. Very well. It seems the time has come to end this farce."
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