The convoy of the Xiao Family stretched like a long dragon along the official road leading toward Qingshan Town. Carriages loaded with household goods rolled forward in orderly formation, while clan guards and deacons rode at the flanks, their eyes constantly scanning the surroundings. The atmosphere was tense but restrained—everyone knew this relocation marked the Xiao Family's true departure from Wutan City and the beginning of an uncertain new chapter.
Xiao Yan did not sit inside a carriage. He rode beside his father, Xiao Zhan, the rhythmic sound of hooves steady beneath them. The wind brushed past, carrying the mixed scents of dust, forest leaves, and iron from the guards' weapons.
Xiao Zhan glanced sideways, his expression relaxed in a way that was almost teasing, completely at odds with the solemn journey.
"Yan'er," he said with a grin that did not quite hide his pride, "that inner armor of yours… Cloud Ascension, was it? An inscription carved right over the heart."
He chuckled softly. "That girl, Xun'er—she really poured her heart into it. Tsk. If your mother were still alive, she'd be smiling herself."
Xiao Yan's ears flushed red instantly. He opened his mouth to respond—
And then the world tore open.
A shrill tearing sound cut through the air, sharp enough to make one's soul recoil. The wind itself seemed to split apart, carrying with it a bone-chilling cold that exceeded the limits of Xiao Yan's perception.
Before anyone could react, thick black mist surged out from the forest to the left of the road.
From within it, a pitch-black chain condensed entirely of sinister Dou Qi lashed out like a venomous serpent, aimed straight at the chests of Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhan.
In that instant, Xiao Yan's mind went blank.
He saw it clearly—the chain, the killing intent behind it, the absolute certainty of death. His body refused to respond, frozen by pressure far beyond his current realm.
Boom!
A nearby carriage exploded apart, splintering into fragments.
Two figures burst out from within.
Blinding holy light erupted as Qian Daoliu stepped forward, his Dou Qi surging like a rising sun. A massive shield of radiant light condensed in front of Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhan at the last possible moment.
The black chain slammed into the shield.
A deafening roar shook the road. Cracks instantly spiderwebbed across the light barrier, holy radiance flickering violently as if it would shatter in the next breath—but it held.
At the same time, Bo Saixi moved.
Water-blue Dou Qi flowed like living silk from her raised hand, wrapping around Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhan's waists. With a sharp pull, she dragged them backward, tearing them out of the chain's attack range just as the light shield finally shattered into fragments.
The killing blow missed by a breath.
The convoy erupted into chaos.
"Enemy attack—!!"
Shouts rang out as Xiao Family deacons drew weapons, desperately trying to form defensive lines. Carriages overturned, horses reared, and frightened clan members scattered in all directions.
Xiao Zhan's face turned pale, but his voice did not falter.
"Scatter!" he roared, his voice tearing through the chaos. "We can't fight this enemy! Everyone scatter—run for your lives!!"
A low, grating chuckle echoed from the black mist.
"Hehehe… two peak Dou Emperors?"
The mist churned, coalescing into a vague humanoid outline. "Interesting. Very interesting."
The pressure exploded outward.
A Dou Ancestor's aura, cold and absolute, crushed down upon the battlefield. Trees bent, the ground cracked, and several weaker guards collapsed instantly, blood seeping from their mouths.
Chains lashed out again and again.
Qian Daoliu and Bo Saixi exchanged a single glance. Without a word, light and water intertwined, forming a layered barrier reinforced by the Tier 6 spirit artifacts in their hands. Holy radiance suppressed the corrosive darkness just enough to hold.
Barely.
Each strike sent tremors through their arms. The barrier rippled violently, on the verge of collapse with every blow.
Qian Daoliu's expression was grim, fury burning beneath the strain.
"Who are you?" he demanded, voice thunderous. "You dare attack a convoy under the protection of the Douluo Alliance?!"
The black mist roiled with mocking laughter.
"Hehehe… with your strength, you're not qualified to know my name."
At that moment—
A second presence appeared.
Silent. Deadly.
Behind Qian Daoliu, in his blind spot, space itself seemed to ripple. A black-robed man with a solid physical body emerged like a shadow given form. Blood-red patterns crawled across his robe, and from within his sleeve extended a claw wrapped in vicious black qi.
The strike was merciless, perfectly timed.
"Behind you!" Bo Saixi screamed.
Too late.
Qian Daoliu felt the killing intent only as it pierced his back.
Pfft!
Dazzling light erupted from the Tier 6 spirit artifact inner armor he wore, forcibly deflecting the fatal thrust—but not completely.
The claw punched through, tearing into his scapula.
Blood sprayed.
Qian Daoliu groaned as his body lurched forward, holy light dimming sharply. His aura dropped in an instant.
Bo Saixi's eyes burned with fury.
Without hesitation, she hurled the spirit artifact staff in her hand straight at the black mist and detonated it mid-air.
Boom!
Violent energy surged outward, forcing the soul-body Protector to recoil. Using that opening, Bo Saixi grabbed Qian Daoliu and turned, her own inner armor flaring as she forcibly endured a follow-up strike from the black-robed attacker. Blood spilled from the corner of her mouth as she was driven backward—but she did not stop.
She retreated at full speed.
Xiao Zhan saw everything.
In that single heartbeat, he made his decision.
He grabbed Xiao Yan's wrist sharply. With a movement so fast and concealed it escaped even Xiao Yan's awareness, he pressed a piece of cool, ancient jade into his son's palm.
Their eyes met.
There was no panic in Xiao Zhan's gaze—only resolve.
Then he shoved Xiao Yan backward with all his strength, throwing him into the chaos of the fleeing crowd.
"All clan members, listen!" Xiao Zhan roared, unleashing every shred of Dou Qi he had.
"Scatter and run! Whoever can escape—escape!!"
Before his words even finished, Xiao Zhan turned around and bolted in the opposite direction, charging straight into the forest away from Xiao Yan, away from the main road.
A deliberate lure.
"Father—!" Xiao Yan's shout died in his throat.
Bo Saixi, dragging the injured Qian Daoliu, flashed past him in a streak of blue light.
"Go!" she snapped hoarsely. "Live!"
In the air, the black-robed attacker chased relentlessly.
"Iron Protector," the soul-body snarled, "kill them. I'll retrieve the item."
The black-robed man vanished in pursuit.
Qian Daoliu clenched his teeth, swallowed a healing pill, and with shaking hands hurled his Tier 6 spirit sword backward.
Boom!
The detonation tore open the air, forcing the Iron Protector to dodge, buying Bo Saixi a sliver of time.
Behind them, the Xiao Family convoy disintegrated.
"Those who flee will die!" the soul-body Protector roared.
Black Dou Qi swept outward.
Dozens of guards at the rear vanished instantly—bodies, trees, and stones crushed into powder as a deep gully was carved into the earth.
"Run—don't stop!" the First Elder screamed, tears streaming as he charged in yet another direction.
A chain flashed.
Crack.
The First Elder's body went limp, head hanging lifelessly.
The screams multiplied.
"Useless trash," the Protector sneered. A wave of black light erased the fallen where they lay.
The Second Elder emerged, roaring defiance, only to be obliterated in a heartbeat.
The Third Elder fled, cursing, drawing pursuit—his throat crushed moments later.
Blood soaked the forest.
Xiao Yan ran.
He ran until his lungs burned, the ancient jade clutched so tightly in his palm that blood seeped between his fingers. Every step felt like his heart was being ripped apart.
He did not look back.
Behind him, laughter echoed, chains whistled, and lives were extinguished one by one.
And ahead of him—
Only darkness, flight, and the unbearable weight of survival.