In the days that followed, Xiao Yan focused the majority of his attention on studying the formation scroll he had obtained. After several days of painstaking analysis and experimentation within the Heaven Tomb, he finally deciphered the complete structure and routes of the formation. He even went as far as testing it in practice and confirmed that he indeed possessed the ability to successfully deploy it. However, he chose not to share this progress with Qin Wan'er. Instead, he continued to feign confusion, putting on the appearance of someone still struggling with the complexities of the diagram.
During this period of seclusion and experimentation, Xiao Yan also noticed a subtle stirring in his body—a faint yet distinct sign that his spiritual energy was nearing a breakthrough. If he allowed himself just a brief session of focused cultivation, he was confident he could step into the Eighth Grade Sovereign realm. Unfortunately, with the Dragon God Ruins on the verge of activation, he had no choice but to forcibly suppress this opportunity. Everything else would have to wait until the storm passed.
Though the town of Sun Moon appeared calm on the surface, it was riddled with tension beneath. Almost every day, there were rumors of skirmishes and bloody confrontations. As the holders of the key, the Kunpeng Clan found themselves beset by multiple factions, all eager to seize the prize. Though they were overwhelmed, they still managed to survive, maintaining a fragile grip on the situation.
What caught Xiao Yan's attention, however, was not the chaos itself but the restraint of certain factions. Some groups chose to stay their hands, neither assisting nor hindering the current turmoil. Their calculated silence hinted at intentions similar to his own—they too were waiting for the perfect moment to act.
Judging from the current dynamics, although many forces were targeting the Kunpeng Clan, there was still a strange kind of balance being maintained. No group dared to go all out. It was a game of predator circling prey, each one wary of the others. In this standstill, the Kunpeng Clan managed to cling to survival despite the tightening noose around them.
As for the people from the Myriad Beast Mountain, they indeed followed the path Xiao Yan had predicted. Not long after returning, they began preparing retaliatory measures. However, thanks to Xiao Yan's foresight, Qin Wan'er had long since made defensive preparations. When the attack came, it was intercepted before it could cause any real damage, and their side suffered no casualties. Still, both she and Xiao Yan understood that this was only the beginning. The other side was not going to give up so easily.
That said, Xiao Yan was confident that the Myriad Beast Mountain wouldn't act again anytime soon. Even if their young master was impulsive, his entourage would surely hold him back. Based on experience, Xiao Yan knew that every one of these pampered second-generation heirs had a powerful but cautious elder trailing in the shadows—an old fox who would intervene at critical moments.
However, while those old retainers were cautious and composed, they were also far more troublesome. They weren't likely to underestimate their enemies, unlike the arrogant second-gens they served. In every battle against such heirs, Xiao Yan made it a rule to eliminate their elders first. Only then could he act without worry.
With the Dragon God Ruins on the brink of opening, all factions were in a temporary standoff. While tensions simmered, no one wanted to waste resources in a premature clash. For Xiao Yan, however, this kind of calm was not ideal. The more chaotic the battlefield, the greater his chances to slip in unnoticed and fish in troubled waters.
And so, during one of his spare moments, he quietly slipped out of the residence and made his move. Without leaving a trace, he eliminated all the envoys of the Golden Roc Clan stationed in Sun Moon Town. The Golden Roc Clan, being vassals of the Kunpeng Clan and old enemies of the Nine Nether Sparrow Clan, made them perfect targets.
Despite not being part of the Kunpeng main bloodline, the Golden Roc Clan had long been one of their most fervent supporters. They had helped the Kunpeng Clan on several occasions during their time in Sun Moon Town. The abrupt and total slaughter of the Roc envoys dealt a heavy psychological blow to the Kunpeng Clan, especially since the Golden Roc Clan had its own rivalry with Myriad Beast Mountain. Thus, suspicion naturally fell upon the latter.
For the Kunpeng Clan, if they didn't respond forcefully to such a loss, their other subordinate races would begin to lose faith. And so, needing to show strength, they chose the relatively weaker Myriad Beast Mountain as their target. It was the perfect choice—an enemy with ties to the Roc Clan but not strong enough to pose a major threat. A perfect scapegoat.
Even so, the Kunpeng Clan showed a degree of restraint. They destroyed most of Myriad Beast Mountain's representatives but carefully spared their young master. As long as he remained alive, they hadn't crossed the point of no return. From a diplomatic perspective, the situation could still be salvaged.
However, Xiao Yan had no interest in diplomacy. With deliberate timing, he finished the job for them—slaying the Myriad Beast Mountain's young master at the gates of Sun Moon Town. The entire town was stunned. No one expected such a bold move, especially not when the situation was already so volatile. The Kunpeng Clan instantly realized that they had been framed.
Naturally, many of the other forces guessed the same. But no one would speak up in the Kunpeng Clan's defense. On the contrary, many eagerly fanned the flames of suspicion and rallied to condemn them. The Kunpeng Clan, unwilling to go down so easily, scrambled to form alliances. They offered generous terms and recruited several factions to bolster their side.
Of course, everyone understood that these new allies were not loyal. Most were simply biding their time, waiting for a chance to seize the key for themselves. For now, though, they maintained the charade. No one dared to act prematurely.
Yet, that fragile peace was shattered once again—this time more violently than ever. A powerful reinforcement unit from the Golden Tiger Clan was ambushed and slaughtered a mere ten miles outside of Sun Moon Town. Unlike the Roc Clan or Myriad Beast Mountain, the Golden Tiger Clan was no pushover. Their dispatched squad was among the strongest present, led by a genuine Nine Grade Sovereign.
To see such a squad annihilated so thoroughly, with not a single soul surviving, shocked everyone. The implication was clear—only a Peak Nine Grade Sovereign or higher could have carried out such a feat in silence. And the list of people capable of doing that in Sun Moon Town was short. The Kunpeng Clan was immediately identified as the prime suspect.
The Kunpeng Clan, of course, denied all involvement. But their enemies were no longer in the mood for discussion. After conferring with their own allies, they concluded that the attack was a pretext, an excuse concocted to justify a full-scale assault. Or worse—they suspected the Kunpeng Clan may have orchestrated the attack themselves to consolidate power or provoke conflict.
Tensions rose. The atmosphere thickened with suspicion. Then, as if the heavens themselves willed it, the inevitable happened—a critical figure was slain in a minor skirmish, and the dam finally broke.
All at once, the town of Sun Moon was plunged into chaos.
The factions that had been circling each other like wolves finally bared their fangs. The entire region descended into a brutal, no-holds-barred war. At least a hundred powerful forces were drawn into the conflict. And in the brutal clashes that followed, some factions were completely wiped off the face of the map.
As the fighting spiraled out of control, Xiao Yan simply sat in the shadows, quietly watching.
And smiling.
(End of Chapter)
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