Chapter 190: The Annihilation of the Stone and Ling Tribes, Xiao Tiance Settles His Debt to the Gu Clan
Ling Realm, Ling Hua's Residence
Ling Hua trembled uncontrollably as Tian Luo's decisive tone resonated in the room. His reaction wasn't one of relief but sheer terror.
The Flame Tribe's army was on its way, and with the Ling Tribe's current strength, they had no chance of resisting.
More than that, why was the Flame Tribe attacking the Ling Tribe? Wasn't it clear that the Xiao Clan was behind this?
The Xiao Clan had orchestrated the entire situation. Even if the Ling Tribe managed to survive this onslaught, they wouldn't escape the Xiao Clan's wrath.
What the Flame Tribe left alive, the Xiao Clan would ensure was eradicated. Any who attempted to flee would be hunted down and destroyed.
Realizing this, Ling Hua's fear only deepened. Though his abilities might allow him to survive, what awaited his tribe was absolute destruction.
Tian Luo stood nearby, his expression indifferent.
**"You must understand that this outcome was brought about by the Ling Tribe itself.
"This is not a natural disaster but a man made one.
"As the saying goes: 'Heaven may forgive sins, but self inflicted misdeeds leave no room for survival.'"**
Ling Hua's final sliver of hope was crushed. He knelt before Tian Luo, his voice trembling as he pleaded:
"Tian Luo, I beg you! If you can, please save my wife and children. I ask for nothing else. My life will belong to you from this day forward!"
Tian Luo sneered.
"And if I don't save them, would your life not belong to me already?"
"No, please! I plead with you, for the sake of my loyalty to the Xiao Clan, show mercy and grant them safety!"
Ling Hua banged his head against the floor repeatedly as he begged.
Tian Luo eventually waved his hand in irritation.
**"Enough. Stand up.
"Your wife and children have already been relocated by those within the clan.
"But remember your words today, Ling Hua. Should you ever betray them, do not blame me for my ruthlessness."**
"Thank you, Lord Tian Luo! I swear upon my life that I will remain loyal. If I betray my vow, may heaven strike me down!"
Tian Luo's expression softened slightly as he nodded.
"Let's go. There is no saving the Ling Tribe now. They have brought this upon themselves."
With a single gesture, a spatial vortex appeared before them, and Tian Luo stepped through with Ling Hua.
The Fall of the Stone and Ling Tribes
In the Ling Realm, the Flame Tribe army launched their assault. There was no negotiation, no hesitation only slaughter.
Meanwhile, in the Stone Realm, Gu Yuan personally led the Gu Clan's forces against the Stone Tribe.
The outcome in both places was the same. Neither the Stone Tribe nor the Ling Tribe could resist. Their people were annihilated, their realms shattered, and even the unique dimensions created by their Dou Di ancestors were destroyed.
When the dust settled, not a single member of either tribe remained alive.
Of the once mighty Eight Great Tribes, only six remained: the Xiao Clan, Gu Clan, Thunder Tribe, and Flame Tribe, alongside the reclusive Soul Clan.
Xiao Tiance at Tian Ji Tower
In the headquarters of Tian Ji Tower, Xiao Tiance sat with Xiao Qing and other Xiao Clan members as they received updates from the battlefields.
Within just three days, both the Ling and Stone Tribes had been utterly annihilated.
Xiao Wu clapped his hands in satisfaction, laughing boisterously.
"That's what happens when you betray the Xiao Clan!"
He took particular pleasure in the fact that he had personally hunted down and killed hundreds of fleeing Ling Tribe members.
Xiao Tiance, however, stood up with a calm smile and turned to Xiao Xun'er.
"Come, little girl. Your usefulness here has ended. I will personally escort you home."
His words caused the other Xiao Clan members to stir uneasily.
"Clan Leader, is that really wise?"
Xiao Tiance waved off their concerns with a dismissive smile.
"Relax. The Gu Clan poses no threat to me. I'll be back shortly."
With that, he and Xiao Xun'er vanished into the void.
In the Void
As they traversed the void, Xiao Xun'er couldn't help but speak her mind.
**"Uncle Tiance, don't you think the Xiao Clan has gone too far?
"Nearly three million lives wiped out just like that."**
Xiao Tiance glanced at her with a faint smile.
**"You're still too naive, little one.
"Betrayal must be met with consequences. The Stone and Ling Tribes brought this upon themselves.
"And don't forget: it was the Flame Tribe that destroyed the Ling Tribe, not us. The Xiao Clan's hands remain clean."**
Xiao Xun'er was speechless. She knew full well that the Xiao Clan had orchestrated the entire conflict, setting the Flame Tribe and Gu Clan against the Stone and Ling Tribes.
Still, the sheer scale of the destruction weighed heavily on her heart.
Returning Xun'er to the Gu Clan
Gu Realm, Gu Yuan's Residence
Despite their victory, Gu Yuan felt a lingering unease.
First, while attacking the Stone Tribe, they had confirmed that the tribe had indeed betrayed the Xiao Clan but had not intended to break their alliance with the Gu and Flame Tribes.
Yet, by that point, it was too late to back down, and the Gu Clan had committed to wiping them out.
Second, and more troubling, was the fact that despite scouring the entire Stone Realm, there was still no sign of Xiao Xun'er.
Suddenly, spatial ripples filled the air, and Xiao Tiance emerged with Xiao Xun'er by his side.
"Xun'er!"
Gu Yuan rushed forward, pulling his daughter into his arms. After ensuring she was unharmed, he positioned her protectively behind him and glared at Xiao Tiance.
**"Xiao Tiance!
"You've been toying with the Gu Clan this whole time, haven't you?"**
Xiao Tiance smirked.
**"Why so hostile, Gu Yuan? I merely took my niece for a little trip to the Xiao Clan.
"I haven't done a single thing to harm you."**
Gu Yuan's expression darkened.
"Enough games. What do you want?"
Xiao Tiance's smile widened.
**"Want? Nothing at all. Consider this a gesture of goodwill.
"Your daughter is safe and sound, and I've brought her back to you.
"Let's call it repaying the Gu Clan for generations of friendship."**
Gu Yuan's fists clenched as he struggled to suppress his anger.
"If you truly value our 'friendship,' then stop meddling in our affairs!"
Xiao Tiance chuckled.
**"Oh, Gu Yuan. I meddle because I can.
"Remember this: on the Dou Qi Continent, the strong set the rules, and the weak follow them.
"If the Gu Clan truly wishes to stand against the Xiao Clan… well, you know what will happen."**
With that, Xiao Tiance turned and disappeared into the void, leaving Gu Yuan and the Gu Clan to ponder the price of defiance.
Xiao Tiance's calm demeanor contrasted sharply with the tense hostility in the air.
"By the way," Xiao Tiance began, his tone casual yet cutting, "I should thank both Brother Gu and Brother Yan. The Stone and Ling Tribes betrayed my Xiao Clan, and while we couldn't act directly, you two were kind enough to handle it for us. Truly, I must apologize for making you do our work."
His smile was polite, but the words carried a weight that made Gu Yuan's blood boil.
The battle against the Stone and Ling Tribes had been brutal, and while the two tribes were destroyed, they hadn't gone down without a fight. The Gu and Yan Clans had suffered considerable losses in the process.
Gu Yuan clenched his teeth, his voice icy as he said, "You dare come here alone. Aren't you afraid I'll make sure you never leave?"
Xiao Tiance chuckled, unfazed.
**"If Brother Gu is capable of doing so, then by all means, try.
"But I'm not here to fight. I merely heard that you turned the entire Stone Realm upside down searching for your daughter. Out of the kindness of my heart, I've personally brought her back to you.
"Shouldn't you be thanking me instead?"**
Gu Yuan's eyes burned with fury. Xiao Tiance's words were smooth, but the arrogance beneath them was unmistakable.
Xiao Tiance didn't care. In truth, if not for the lingering debt owed to the Gu Clan, he would have dealt with Gu Yuan long ago.
"Thank you?" Gu Yuan sneered. "Perhaps I should express my gratitude by inviting you to stay here permanently."
The air around them crackled with tension as Gu Yuan's words ended.
In an instant, more than a dozen Dou Shengs from the Gu Clan appeared, including Gu Lie and the renowned Three Elders of the Gu Clan.
From the Yan Clan, Yan Jin himself stepped forward, accompanied by seven or eight Dou Shengs, all at least six or seven stars in strength.
With nearly twenty Dou Shengs gathered, along with Gu Yuan, a Nine Star Dou Sheng, and Yan Jin and Gu Lie at Eight Star levels, the display of power was nothing short of overwhelming.
Xiao Tiance's Confidence
Despite the incredible might arrayed against him, Xiao Tiance appeared utterly unfazed. He calmly sat down, poured himself a cup of tea from the pot Gu Yuan had brewed earlier, and sipped leisurely.
Gu Lie, emboldened by the overwhelming numbers, sneered.
"Xiao Tiance, you've gone too far. Do you truly believe you can ignore us all?"
Xiao Tiance glanced at Gu Lie, his gaze sharp as a blade.
"Gu Lie, have you forgotten the lessons I taught you before? Do you want another demonstration?"
Gu Lie felt a chill run down his spine but steeled himself.
"Hmph! Things are different now. With so many of us here, what can you possibly do to me?"
Xiao Tiance smirked.
"Strong? This group? Nothing but a gathering of petty fools."
He turned back to Gu Yuan and remarked casually, "Brother Gu, your tea is quite good. I appreciate the effort you've gone to in preparing it for me."
Gu Yuan's expression darkened, but he said nothing.
Xiao Tiance's gaze then shifted to Yan Jin.
"Brother Yan, it's been over a thousand years since we last met. Tell me, do you intend to get involved in this matter as well? Or have you forgotten the mark I left on you back then?"
Yan Jin opened his mouth to respond, but a fiery tempered Dou Sheng from the Yan Clan spoke out first.
"Insolence! How dare you speak to "
Before he could finish, Xiao Tiance's expression turned cold.
With a flick of his hand, the teacup he held shot through the air like a missile.
"Bang!"
The Yan Clan Dou Sheng was sent flying hundreds of meters, coughing up blood as his aura faltered, leaving him barely alive.
The sudden attack shocked everyone. Even Gu Yuan and Yan Jin, both seasoned powerhouses, hadn't been fast enough to react.
"You dare interrupt when I'm speaking to your clan leader?" Xiao Tiance said disdainfully. "A mere six star Dou Sheng dares act out in front of me?"
He poured himself another cup of tea, completely unbothered by the stunned silence around him.
Threats and Warnings
Yan Jin's face darkened.
"Xiao Tiance, your arrogance knows no bounds. Do you not fear provoking us into war?"
Xiao Tiance chuckled, his tone as calm as ever.
**"Brother Yan, don't take offense. Only the weak bark without purpose.
"If you wish to start a war with the Xiao Clan, I am more than willing to oblige. But if not, then understand this: none of you are worthy of my attention."**
The room fell silent as those who had considered attacking him hesitated. None of them wanted to be the ones responsible for sparking a full scale conflict with the Xiao Clan.
Gu Yuan broke the silence, his voice laced with bitterness.
"So, is this why you came here? To mock us for falling into your schemes?"
Xiao Tiance smiled faintly.
**"Mock you? I'm far too busy for that.
"I merely came to return my niece to her rightful home. If you feel humiliated, that's your own doing."**
He downed the last of his tea, then stood.
**"That said, I must be going.
"Let me offer you some advice, Brother Gu: as long as you don't move against the Xiao Clan, I will give you face. But if you do... well, you know what happens."**
As he turned to leave, Gu Lie suddenly struck, unleashing the Ancient Emperor Seal, a powerful Gu Clan technique.
A massive palm materialized in the air, radiating destructive energy as it bore down on Xiao Tiance.
Without breaking stride, Xiao Tiance raised a single finger and casually tapped the incoming attack.
"Crack! Crack!"
The Ancient Emperor Seal shattered into fragments, disintegrating into nothingness.
The gathered Dou Shengs were stunned. Xiao Tiance's power was far beyond anything they had anticipated.
He turned back to Gu Lie, his smile laced with mockery.
"Gu Lie, how bold of you to attack me. Do you want to pay the price?"
Gu Lie stumbled backward, his courage evaporating.
Xiao Tiance shifted his gaze to Gu Yuan.
"Brother Gu, I believe sparing Gu Lie today is sufficient to repay the debt the Xiao Clan owed your Gu Clan."
Gu Yuan's expression darkened. He knew the Xiao Clan's strength had grown far beyond the Gu Clan's ability to contend. With a reluctant sigh, he nodded.
"Very well. Our clans' past debts are settled."
Satisfied, Xiao Tiance smirked and vanished into the void, leaving the Gu Clan to face the implications of what had just transpired.
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Albino1