Chapter 176: "You're Forcing Me to Show Off!"
"Insolent! Do you think this is just any place, you brat?"
Eastern Dragon Island, Ancient Void Dragon Clan
As soon as Zhu Lu's words fell, the smile on Xiao Tiance's face vanished instantly. However, he didn't even glance at Zhu Lu. Instead, he turned his gaze toward Zhu Kun, his expression clearly saying: This subordinate of yours doesn't know the rules. If I kill him, you wouldn't have an issue, right?
"Silence, Zhu Lu!"
Zhu Kun's eyelid twitched, and he quickly stopped Zhu Lu, fearing that he might provoke Xiao Tiance further.
If there was anyone who knew better, it was Zhu Kun. He knew Xiao Tiance's temperament well. Don't be fooled by the ever present smile on Xiao Tiance's face. If you truly crossed him, the same smiling face would decide where to bury your corpse in the next moment.
"Dragon Emperor…" Zhu Lu called out, dissatisfied, but he didn't dare make any further moves. He understood that anyone who could make Zhu Kun wary was not someone he could afford to offend. His outburst was more about protecting Zhu Kun's dignity than anything else.
"Alright, Clan Leader Xiao. Take your disciples and leave. Let's end things here today," Zhu Kun said quickly, hoping to bring the matter to a close before things escalated.
"Thank you for your understanding," Xiao Tiance replied with a nod.
Before long, the restrictions on Huang Min and Ling Yun were lifted. Though the two were weak, they could still stand and walk on their own.
They shuffled over to Xiao Tiance, lowered their heads, and greeted him quietly, "Teacher."
Their dejection was obvious, their spirits crushed like roosters beaten in a fight. Huang Min, in particular, was visibly distraught. She had planned to use her death to take Zhu Kun's life in revenge, but Zhu Kun had been too cautious to kill them outright. Her plan had failed spectacularly.
"Qing Lian, look after them," Xiao Tiance instructed with a calm, emotionless face.
"Yes, Clan Leader," Qing Lian replied immediately, helping the two disciples step aside.
In the distance, members of the Sky Demon Phoenix Clan and the Nine Netherworld Python Clan called out desperately, "King, save us!"
Hearing this, Xiao Tiance turned his gaze toward the captured magical beasts. Before he could say anything, Huang Min suddenly knelt down, bowing her head to the ground.
"Teacher, please save them! They only came here because of me. If we abandon them, I won't be able to live with myself!"
At her side, Ling Yun also knelt down, pleading, "Please, Teacher, save them!"
Seeing his two disciples on their knees, Xiao Tiance glanced over at the imprisoned magical beasts. Among them were ten or so ninth tier magical beasts and a larger number of eighth tier ones valuable allies, all of them. After a brief moment of contemplation, he sighed.
"Very well," he said finally, before turning to Zhu Kun.
"Senior Zhu Kun, please, as a favor, release my disciples' subordinates. I assure you they won't trouble your Ancient Void Dragon Clan again."
Before Zhu Kun could respond, Zhu Lu erupted with fury, **"Xiao Tiance, who do you think you are? The Dragon Emperor has already been merciful in releasing your two disciples. Don't push your luck asking for these trash to be released too!
No one can invade the Ancient Void Dragon Clan and walk away without paying a price!"**
"No!"
"Careful!"
Zhu Kun and Zhu Ku immediately felt their hearts tighten in alarm, but before they could stop him, Xiao Tiance's figure blurred and reappeared in front of Zhu Lu.
With a single swift motion, Xiao Tiance grabbed Zhu Lu by the throat, lifting him into the air.
In the same instant, Xiao Tiance cast a sealing spirit array into Zhu Lu's body. Within seconds, Zhu Lu's once powerful aura as a late stage eight star Dou Saint vanished entirely. In less than a second, his cultivation plummeted to the peak of the Dou Huang (Battle Emperor) realm.
"Cough! Cough!"
Zhu Lu struggled in disbelief, clawing at Xiao Tiance's arm. He had never expected Xiao Tiance to strike so quickly. His Dou Qi had been sealed almost instantly, rendering him powerless.
No matter how hard he struggled, Xiao Tiance's grip was unyielding, like iron forged in flames. Zhu Lu couldn't budge him in the slightest.
"When did trash like you gain the right to act insolently in my presence?" Xiao Tiance said coldly, his voice sharp and cutting.
"Time and again, you've defied me. Did you think I'd let it slide forever? Let me remind you of one simple truth: on the Dou Qi Continent, strength reigns supreme. Those who are weak have no right to speak!"
He had no intention of holding back. If Zhu Lu was going to push him, Xiao Tiance was more than ready to retaliate.
"Wait! Clan Leader Xiao!"
Zhu Kun quickly stepped forward, his voice urgent. He couldn't let Xiao Tiance kill Zhu Lu not here, not today.
If Zhu Lu were killed, there would be no salvaging the situation. War would be inevitable.
After all, Zhu Lu and Zhu Ku weren't just ordinary members of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan. They were the First and Second Elders, Zhu Kun's most trusted lieutenants. Their strength as true eight star Dou Saints made them indispensable to the clan.
If Xiao Tiance killed Zhu Lu here, it wouldn't just be a loss of face it would weaken the Ancient Void Dragon Clan's very foundation.
Xiao Tiance glanced at Zhu Kun and smiled coldly. **"Senior Zhu Kun, you're a respected elder of the Dou Qi Continent, so I'll give you some respect.
But this subordinate of yours clearly doesn't know his place. You hadn't even spoken, yet he dared to oppose me. If not for my respect for you, killing him would be no harder than crushing an ant. Do you believe me?"**
As he spoke, Xiao Tiance's aura surged to its peak, no longer restrained as before. He now exuded the sharp, oppressive presence of a blade poised to strike, radiating a terrifying energy that made it hard to even look at him directly.
Zhu Kun clenched his fists in frustration but forced himself to remain calm.
If Zhu Lu hadn't spoken out of turn, things wouldn't have escalated to this point. Zhu Kun might have held firm and refused Xiao Tiance's request to release the magical beasts, confident that Xiao Tiance wouldn't press the issue. After all, sparing his two disciples had already been a significant concession.
But Zhu Lu's reckless words had given Xiao Tiance the perfect excuse to act, leaving Zhu Kun with no choice but to back down.
**"Clan Leader Xiao, I apologize on Zhu Lu's behalf for his rude words. He meant no harm his temper just gets the better of him sometimes.
As a gesture of goodwill, I'll allow you to take the Sky Demon Phoenix Clan and Nine Netherworld Python Clan members with you. I only ask that you spare Zhu Lu for my sake."** Zhu Kun bowed slightly, his tone respectful.
"Dragon Emperor!" Zhu Lu's voice was hoarse, his pride clearly wounded.
Zhu Lu felt touched. In his eyes, the Dragon Emperor's willingness to bow his head despite his pride was all for his sake.
"Hahaha, since Senior Zhu Kun has spoken so magnanimously, how could I possibly refuse? I wouldn't dare betray your goodwill."
Xiao Tiance laughed heartily as he tossed Zhu Lu to the ground like a piece of trash. At the same time, he removed the seal in Zhu Lu's body, allowing his suppressed Dou Qi to recover in the blink of an eye.
Zhu Kun frowned inwardly. "Damn it, I've been played again. That brat never intended to teach Zhu Lu a lesson Zhu Lu just happened to put himself in Xiao Tiance's line of fire!"
Though Zhu Kun felt frustrated, he had no intention of breaking their agreement. After witnessing Xiao Tiance's display of power, Zhu Kun had no delusions about being able to defeat him.
Even a sneak attack wouldn't work Xiao Tiance had subdued Zhu Lu, a late stage eight star Dou Saint, with such ease, and the instant sealing of his Dou Qi was far too strange and terrifying a technique.
"Zhu Ku, release the captives," Zhu Kun sighed.
"Understood, Dragon Emperor!"
Zhu Ku bowed respectfully and motioned for Zhu Li to release the prisoners.
In no time, all the captured magical beasts were freed. They quickly rushed to stand behind Huang Min and Ling Yun, bowing deeply and saying, "Thank you, King!"
Huang Min and Ling Yun, both deeply grateful, turned to Xiao Tiance and knelt down. "Thank you, Teacher, for all your help and trouble!"
Xiao Tiance nodded slightly before turning to Zhu Kun. **"In that case, we'll take our leave now.
Thank you, Senior Zhu Kun, for your generosity. If you ever wish to visit the Xiao Clan, I would be honored to host you personally."**
"Don't bother!" Zhu Kun replied coldly.
Let him visit the Xiao Clan? That would be like walking into a trap willingly!
He firmly believed that if it hadn't been for the bond he had formed with Xiao Tiance during their two years together outside the Ancient Emperor's Cave, today's events might have turned Dragon Island into a graveyard.
"Farewell," Xiao Tiance said with a faint smile.
With a wave of his hand, a massive spatial vortex appeared. He turned to the others and said, "Let's go. Back to the Beast Region."
"Yes, Sir!"
The magical beasts quickly leaped into the vortex one by one. When Qing Lian helped Huang Min and Ling Yun enter, Xiao Tiance turned back to Zhu Kun with a smile.
**"Today's events have earned you a favor from me, Senior Zhu Kun.
If my two disciples seek revenge again in the future, you needn't hold back. Their grudges with you will no longer concern me. Farewell!"**
With that, Xiao Tiance disappeared into the vortex.
Zhu Kun stood silently for a long time, waiting until Xiao Tiance's aura completely vanished before letting out a deep sigh.
"With a man like him in this world, I can't tell if the Dou Qi Continent is lucky or cursed."
Hearing this, Zhu Ku respectfully asked, "Dragon Emperor, his strength is terrifying, and his methods are unpredictable. No wonder you are wary of him."
"Hmph, one day, we'll make him regret this," Zhu Lu growled coldly.
Zhu Kun, however, knew the truth. Losing face to someone as powerful as Xiao Tiance was not something to be ashamed of.
**"For now, Xiao Tiance and the Xiao Clan are not enemies we can afford to provoke.
Zhu Ku, send out the Dragon Emperor's Command. Recall the other three Dragon Islands, and seal off Dragon Island. We have other matters to attend to."**
At the mention of the Dragon Emperor's Command, a glint of determination flashed in Zhu Ku's eyes. He bowed deeply. "Understood, Dragon Emperor!"
Beast Region, Sky Demon Phoenix Clan Territory
Xiao Tiance sat on the throne, looking down at Huang Min and Ling Yun, who knelt before him.
He was furious. He had spent a thousand years teaching these two, only for them to behave so recklessly.
"Teacher, please punish us!"
Before Huang Min could speak, Ling Yun took the initiative to apologize. He understood that if Xiao Tiance hadn't shown up in time, not only would he and Huang Min have perished, but the Sky Demon Phoenix Clan and the Nine Netherworld Python Clan would have been decimated as well. Their efforts over the years would have been for nothing, and they would have destroyed themselves in the process.
"Punishment? Do you think punishment will solve anything?"
Xiao Tiance's voice carried a sharp edge.
**"You two are my proudest disciples, yet today you allowed yourselves to be completely outmaneuvered and captured! Did you even stop to think?
If the Ancient Void Dragon Clan were so easy to deal with, do you think the other Imperial Clans would allow them to dominate Dragon Island for so long?
Do you know how many people envy their ability to ignore all spatial restrictions and claim an Ancient Void Dragon as a mount?
And you! Last time, you already witnessed Zhu Kun's strength. A peak nine star Dou Saint, nearly at the level of a Half Emperor. Did you seriously think you could defeat him with your current abilities?
Even without Zhu Ku and Zhu Lu, do you realize that Zhu Kun alone could have wiped you all out today?"**
Xiao Tiance's anger was palpable.
While Huang Min and Ling Yun had managed to trap Zhu Kun with over a dozen spirit arrays, they had no way to control the arrays. Had Zhu Kun been given enough time, he would have broken through every single one.
Spirit arrays required energy to maintain. Without a proper energy source, they couldn't hold for long.
"We understand, Teacher. Please don't be angry," Ling Yun said, his tone sincere. He had grown up under Xiao Tiance's guidance and knew that admitting fault was better than making excuses.
Xiao Tiance nodded slightly before turning his gaze to Huang Min, who remained silent.
With a sigh, he asked, "Min'er, do you know what would have happened if I hadn't shown up today?"
"I… I know," Huang Min whispered.
"You're too impulsive," Xiao Tiance said, his tone softening slightly. **"I understand your desire for revenge. But if you've waited thousands of years, why couldn't you wait a little longer?
You're not just representing yourself. You're the King of the Beast Region. If you had died today, the Nine Netherworld Python Clan and the Sky Demon Phoenix Clan would have fallen into decline.
Not to mention, you would have dragged Ling Yun down with you.
And what about Elder Huang? How do you think he would have felt?
His greatest wish is to see the Heavenly Phoenix Clan rise again. For that dream, he entrusted all the clan's resources to me a thousand years ago."**
Xiao Tiance sighed again before continuing, "Revenge is not impossible. But I want you to seek it with your own strength not by throwing your life away to take Zhu Kun's."
Through tears, Huang Min raised her head and replied, "Teacher, I understand now. I won't seek revenge on Zhu Kun again until I've reached the nine star Dou Saint level."
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