"Hahahaha! This is what happens when you offend my Tang family—cough, cough…"
Tang Xiangui laughed wildly, only to choke on the thick smoke as his body shook with exhaustion.Beneath the wings of the white swans, the group ascended rapidly into the sky, holding their breath as they fled from the inferno below.
Yang Kai approached Tang Shirou slowly, his grin wicked and gleaming."Shirou," he said, voice dripping with lust, "now you can finally be with me in peace. No one can take you away—no one can escape my grasp!"
Tang Shirou's eyes were hollow.She crumbled to the ground, her tears long dried, her soul empty.
Old Master Yang stepped forward, his laughter coarse."Shirou, once you join our Yang family, you'll have to serve both my son and me well. You'll be his seventy-eighth wife!"
"Hahaha, Dad, say less! Don't scare my little bride!"Yang Kai's laughter was unrestrained, even in front of the Tang family.
Tang Xiangui forced an awkward smile but quickly regained composure."Rest assured," he said stiffly, "the Tang family's heritage is far beyond what one city can hold. In less than half a month, I will still be the ruler of Jiangnan!"
Yang Kai clapped him on the chest, grinning."Of course I believe you! You even used the Pearl of Death—you truly are a man without limits. I acknowledge your Tang family."
Then, with a smirk, he turned and began walking toward Tang Shirou.
Tang Xiangui instantly stepped between them, voice rising sharply."What a joke! If you enjoy her now, and she doesn't marry later, wouldn't my Tang family lose both our dignity and our army? The Pearl of Death is gone—the wedding must proceed!"
Yang Kai curled his lips but said nothing. He understood Tang Xiangui's meaning and swallowed his dissatisfaction.Old Master Yang, now recovered from his panic, brushed the dust from his sleeves. His eyes gleamed again.
"You'll start rebuilding the base immediately," he said coldly."In a few days, we'll return to the capital for the grand wedding.""The location—my Yang family's base.""I'll invite a hundred noble families from the capital to witness this union!"
Tang Xiangui's face split into a broad smile."Good! Good, good, good!"
Five minutes earlier.
Chen Xiao had stopped running.Facing the overwhelming energy crashing down from the heavens,the only path to survival—was to face it head-on!
He closed his eyes and channeled every last ounce of strength within him.The scales covering his body glowed like molten armor.Each one radiated a cold, unyielding light in the blinding brilliance—forming an unbreakable barrier.
It was the ultimate defense posture of a prehistoric Tyrannosaurus Rex!
But the explosion's power far exceeded his imagination.A blinding white light, like the sun's own corona, engulfed the entire world.
In that instant—he felt as though an invisible giant hand had struck him with infinite force!The heat was apocalyptic,turning everything around him into ash.
Chen Xiao roared and forcibly activated [Dragonification] again!His [All Things Water] talent surged outward, forming a thick, watery shield that wrapped tightly around his body.
But even this—the fusion of his two greatest powers—seemed fragile before the annihilating heat.
His scales began to sizzle, melting slowly like burning metal.Every instinct screamed at him—
Run!He had to keep running!
But before he could move again—a massive hand burst up from beneath the ground and dragged him downward!
He was yanked into the earth, narrowly evading the scorching blast that could erase worlds.Suddenly, he felt his body accelerating at incredible speed—the soil around him seemed to part like water, rushing backward in waves.
He was moving underground like a meteor, propelled by a strange, invisible force!
"Have I repaid the life I owed you?"
A familiar voice echoed beside him.Chen Xiao strained to open his eyes.
Jiang Yunhan?!
He was behind Chen Xiao, maneuvering swiftly underground.A green glow pulsed from his palm as he continuously injected [Black Tortoise Vitality] into Chen Xiao's body.
Ahead of them, a young man bathed in purple light was desperately channeling another power.
"His talent is [Mountain Piercing]," Jiang Yunhan said, voice calm despite the chaos."If it weren't for the gifted ones from the Jianghe Grain Warehouse, you'd already be dead."
"Rumble——"
The earth quaked violently above them as the explosions raged on.
Jiang Yunhan continued, his tone grave."Now you understand how terrifying the Tang family truly is.""Even someone like you—a living superhuman—can't contend with that kind of monstrosity."
Chen Xiao tried to speak, but a sweetness rose in his throat.He spat out a mouthful of blood.
His entire body was torn and burnt, covered in blood and ash.Every cell screamed in agony.
"If it weren't for Chu Xue insisting on coming, you'd have been doomed today…"
As Jiang Yunhan's words faded into the roar of the earth,Chen Xiao could no longer hold on.His body went limp—and he sank into unconsciousness.
Jiang Yunhan sighed deeply as he watched him faint."What kind of monster is this kid…"
He had seen everything—Chen Xiao descending from the heavens like a god,slaughtering armies, crushing the Tang family like paper.One man—against one city!
If not for that final explosion,the Tang family would have been wiped from the map.
Unfortunately… there were no ifs.The Tang family had chosen to sacrifice half the city to destroy one man.That alone was proof of how terrifying Chen Xiao truly was.
Jianghe Grain Warehouse — Master Bedroom
When Chen Xiao opened his eyes again, it was the next day.He carefully examined his body—and was stunned.
Most of his injuries had healed.The skin that had been charred by the explosionwas now smooth and new, delicate as jade.
His final [Dragonification] had saved him—its vitality and regeneration were monstrous.Burns and internal wounds were mending in real time.
Of course, Jiang Yunhan's [Black Tortoise Vitality] had played a part as well.
Chen Xiao stepped out into the living room.There, Jiang Yunhan and several others were gathered, poring over maps of the Jiangbei Triangle forces.Opposite him sat five S-rank talents and a few familiar faces—the core of the Jianghe Grain Warehouse, now under Jiang Yunhan's command.
The moment Chen Xiao appeared, everyone sat upright,like subordinates facing inspection from their supreme commander.
"You're awake," Jiang Yunhan said with a faint smile."I didn't expect you to recover this quickly."
Chen Xiao massaged his temples and found a seat.
"You all may go," Jiang Yunhan ordered quietly."The Jianghe area is under total lockdown. Keep a low profile for now."
One by one, the others left the room.Chen Xiao understood—it was to keep word of his survival from leaking.
Jiang Yunhan poured him a cup of tea and sat across from him.His tone was measured, eyes avoiding Chen Xiao's.
"The Tang family's Pearl of Death nearly obliterated the entire base.""Now, they're recruiting heavily—offering generous rewards to rebuild the city.""As for you…"He paused."They've branded you as a demon—one who colluded with new humans.""They call themselves heroes who used a nuclear weapon to save humanity from you.""And those who died?""They've become martyrs—pioneers who fell fighting the so-called demon."
Chen Xiao wasn't surprised.This was the Tang family's way—controlling public opinion, turning black into white.
Since almost everyone who had witnessed the truth was dead,they could rewrite the story however they pleased.
Jiang Yunhan leaned forward."What's your plan? Why not stay here—be the shadow ruler of Jianghe. Forget the capital's affairs."
Chen Xiao's gaze hardened."You mean… give up on Tang Shirou?"
Jiang Yunhan sighed helplessly."Chen Xiao, Miss Tang is Chu Xue's best friend. I don't want to see her like this either."
"But she's accepted her fate. She doesn't want to drag anyone else into this."
Chen Xiao raised the teacup and downed it in one gulp, ignoring the scalding heat."I'm going to Jiangnan."
"?" Jiang Yunhan blinked. "Going to Jiangnan—for what?"
Chen Xiao clenched his fist."I've almost recovered."
Jiang Yunhan's face darkened.Chen Xiao narrowed his eyes."What is it? You know something else?"
"Uh…" Jiang Yunhan hesitated, his jaw tightening.
"Stop stalling," Chen Xiao snapped. "If you've got something to say—say it!"
Jiang Yunhan finally spoke."In seven days…""Tang Shirou's grand wedding—will be held in the capital."