RUMBLE—

The Qi Force raged, and a visible, ring-shaped shockwave instantly erupted, shattering the entire Prefectural Governor's Mansion into rubble. With the two men at its center, the devastation rapidly spread outwards.

BUZZ—

Walls of light rose from the ground, intercepting the aftershocks of Qi Xiu and Gan Xingba's battle.

This was Jiang'an Prefecture's City Protection Array.

As a sub-provincial city, the entirety of Jiang'an Prefecture was enveloped by a Great Formation that automatically sensed the energy fluctuations within the city.

The commotion from the clash between the two thunder cultivators, Qi Xiu and Gan Xingba, was simply too immense.

It directly triggered the City Protection Array's automatic response, isolating the area they occupied to prevent harm to the innocent civilians within the city.

They separated at first contact!

Two figures retreated violently, all four layers of their Body-Protecting True Gang completely shattered, leaving two searing white trails of energy streaking through the void.

Golden blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. Gan Xingba's eyes shot out Lei Mang as he glanced down at his right fist. It was riddled with cracks, bones shattered and caved in, though it was slowly beginning to heal.

The Furious Thunder Diamond Skill. This is a unique Dharma Gate created by Daoist Yunxiong. It uses Thunder Magic to temper and stimulate the physical body, granting immense physical strength comparable to that of Martial Path grandmasters. However, this Dharma Gate is exceedingly dangerous. A single misstep could lead to one's body being torn apart by Heavenly Thunder, leaving not even dust behind. If I hadn't already touched the threshold of the Blood-Stained Realm, I would never have dared to rashly employ this Dharma Gate.

Yet now, after he had activated the Furious Thunder Diamond Skill, this young Daoist, who claimed to be his master's new disciple, was actually matching him in a direct physical confrontation.

No. It wasn't an even match. Only his Body-Protecting True Gang shattered, while my body suffered considerable damage. In this exchange, he won.

"You are very strong!" Gan Xingba roared, his body gleaming as if cast from gold, his eyes blazing with unwavering conviction. "But I have reasons I cannot afford to lose! Even if I must burn everything to cinders, I will protect my wife!"

Qi Xiu shrugged, his eyelids half-lidded, a chilling glint in their depths. "What are you implying with that? You make it sound as if I'm the villain here. Since you persist in your folly, then I, Qi Xiu, under my Master's orders, will have to knock some sense into you... or kill you!"

BANG!

BANG!

BANG!

Two figures collided wildly above the ruins of the leveled Prefectural Governor's Mansion.

Moving at speeds imperceptible to ordinary humans, they smashed through the air, sending sparks flying.

Shockwaves, dozens of meters high, erupted one after another.

Layers of deafening sonic booms swept out in all directions, causing the ground to collapse repeatedly.

Wherever the two passed, thunder raged and flames soared to the sky.

They were like two ancient gods striding forth, unleashing a pure, destructive force bent on annihilating everything!

BREAK—

A punch landed squarely on Gan Xingba's chest. Qi Xiu's expression remained placid as he instantly shifted from fist to palm. Surging, roaring Vigor, like a dammed flood bursting its banks, erupted outwards.

CLANG—

A sound like clashing metal resounded, as if a Vajra was descending upon the world. The towering figure, blood streaming from all seven orifices, let out a bloodcurdling, agonized howl. He transformed into a blurred afterimage and was violently flung backward, carving a horrifying trench a hundred meters long into the earth.

"This is not a Dharma Gate from the Shenxiao Sect."

Pushing aside the bricks and rubble covering him, Gan Xingba staggered to his feet. His body was now covered in gruesome cracks, making him resemble a porcelain doll that had been shattered and then crudely glued back together.

"Still want to fight?"

Ignoring Gan Xingba's question, Qi Xiu strode towards him, half of whose body was buried in the debris.

This fellow... Gan Xingba clenched his fists tightly, watching Qi Xiu approach. His pride and arrogance as a genius of the Shenxiao Sect had been almost entirely eroded in the short span of their battle. My Thunder Magic couldn't match his. Even the Furious Thunder Diamond Skill, which I desperately activated despite grievous injuries, was still firmly suppressed by this man. And compared to his Thunder Magic, this young Daoist's physique is even more terrifying. Every move he makes carries the colossal power to shatter mountains and sunder peaks. That final strike directly shattered my Furious Thunder Diamond Body. This person... he's inhuman!

Sensing Gan Xingba's resentful gaze, Qi Xiu raised an eyebrow.

It seems he's still not convinced. Well then, let's continue fighting!

Just as he moved to take a step, a pitch-black dagger, exuding a sinister, chilling aura, suddenly phased through Qi Xiu's body.

"What?"

Nian Yiyi stared in utter shock as her arm passed through him without any resistance. The Qi Xiu before her was like a wisp of air, possessing no physical substance.

Slowly turning his head, Qi Xiu looked at Nian Yiyi, who had attempted the sneak attack, his expression indifferent.

He had long since sensed this woman hiding in his shadow using some stealth technique.

He hadn't even bothered to dodge such a childish ambush, simply activating his Void Step to render his body ethereal.

He raised a finger.

CRACK! BOOM!

Heavenly Thunder descended as crimson flames surged!

Fusing the powers of thunder and fire, the Bing Fire Divine Thunder possessed the most terrifying destructive capability among the Five Thunder Orthodox Skill.

Gan Xingba, being a Thunder Path cultivator who had also trained in a grand tome of Thunder Magic like the *Nine Heavens Shenxiao Thunder Commanding Scripture*, had been able to withstand numerous strikes of the Bing Fire Divine Thunder unharmed.

Nian Yiyi, however, naturally lacked such resistance.

"ARGH!"

As the Divine Thunder struck, Nian Yiyi let out a piercing shriek. Billows of black smoke erupted from her body, faintly coalescing into the terrifying, malevolent faces of infants.

"Yiyi!"

Seeing his wife engulfed in lightning, Gan Xingba's eyes nearly split with rage. Just as he was about to summon his remaining True Gang, a foot stomped down heavily upon him.

"Calm down."

Watching the frantically struggling Gan Xingba, Qi Xiu raised his hand. Countless golden Suppressing Talismans surged from his fingertips, transforming into golden chains that bound Gan Xingba's limbs, completely immobilizing him.

"Work's done."

Hoisting the trussed-up Gan Xingba with one hand, Qi Xiu casually scooped up Nian Yiyi, who was still convulsing, black smoke billowing from her body.

Step by step, he walked towards the exit of the Prefectural Governor's Mansion.

Qi Xiu walked this distance very slowly, unhurried and composed.

Just as he lifted his foot to step out of the Prefectural Governor's Mansion, the scene before him suddenly blurred. Bizarrely, the way out had become the way in.

"Young man, don't be hasty. Could you stay and chat for a moment?"

Hearing this, a faint smile touched Qi Xiu's lips, and a knowing glint appeared in his downcast eyes.

The principal actor has finally emerged.

Lifting his head, Qi Xiu spoke with calm composure, "Since you wish to chat, surely you don't expect me to converse with empty air?"

As his voice fell, five figures abruptly materialized before Qi Xiu.

These five individuals were cloaked in black robes and wore wide-brimmed Bamboo Hats, completely concealing their forms without a single gap.

"My, what trendy attire you all have."

"Our appearance demonstrates our sincerity. Young man, would you perhaps be willing to relocate so we might sit and discuss matters in detail?"

"Discuss? Of course, we can discuss."

With a faint smile, Qi Xiu flipped his hand, revealing the token. "However, it is not with me that you will be discussing."

The moment Qi Xiu produced the token, the five figures became visibly agitated. Just as they were about to withdraw, a crushing, oppressive aura, as terrifying as if the heavens and earth were on the verge of collapse, abruptly locked down the entire Prefectural Governor's Mansion.

BOOM—

The token transformed into Lei Mang, and a figure slowly emerged from within the lightning.

Clad in a Deep Blue Taoist Robe, with a grizzled, flowing beard and a stern, icy countenance, he exuded an imperious aura that could dominate all existence.

"Leaving in such a hurry, gentlemen? Are you not planning to give this old Daoist an explanation?"

Daoist Yunxiong glared coldly at the five figures before him, his voice like rolling thunder. With each word he uttered, the pressure bearing down on the five intensified.

By the time Daoist Yunxiong finished speaking, the profound, abyssal pressure had pinned the five individuals firmly to the ground, making even breathing an arduous task.

"Daoist... please... calm your anger..."

Mouthfuls of dirt and dust filled their mouths as they spoke, yet the five still struggled to offer an explanation.

"We... did not harbor ill intentions towards your disciple. It was merely..."

"Merely what?"

Gazing down from on high at the five, who were now half-buried in the ground, Daoist Yunxiong swept his great sleeve. The disguises efeitofthe five instantly disintegrated, revealing pairs of startlingly peculiar platinum-gold eyes.

"Hmph. The Great Bright Sky Skill. Indeed, you are from the Gao Family! You juniors, even with ten times your courage, wouldn't dare to harbor designs on my disciple. Old ghost of the Gao Family! I'll count to three. Show yourself, or I'll take the lives of these youngsters! One! Two!"

Just as murderous intent flared in Daoist Yunxiong's eyes, an intensely brilliant and incredibly warm light, like the spring sun illuminating the earth, suddenly materialized from thin air.

"So many years have passed, yet Daoist Yunxiong's temper is as fiery as ever."

The light receded, and an elderly man with a kindly face, holding a walking stick and riding a grey-furred donkey, emerged with a hearty laugh.

"Gao, I knew it was you! Do you think you've lived too long, daring to target my disciple? Does the Gao Family intend to wage war against my Shenxiao Sect?!"

His voice like a clap of thunder, Daoist Yunxiong immediately escalated the conflict to a confrontation between the Gao Family and the Shenxiao Sect.

It was clear that if the Gao Family could not provide him with a satisfactory answer today, the Shenxiao Sect—which had never suffered a loss or backed down since the Middle Ancient Era—would undoubtedly take decisive action to assert its stance.

Hearing Daoist Yunxiong's words, the old man known as Gao hastily explained with a smile, "Daoist Yunxiong, please, do not misunderstand. This entire affair stems from the juniors' eagerness for quick success. I spoke with your disciple after discovering the situation, and he himself was not opposed. We were merely acting in accordance with his own wishes, giving him a gentle push. Beyond that, there were no other ulterior motives. In essence, this matter isn't necessarily a bad thing, is it?"

"Gao, I know your tricks; don't try that nonsense with me. Your Gao Family wants to drag all the Sects and major religious orders of the province into this, and that's none of my Shenxiao Sect's concern. But you want to use my Shenxiao Sect as your vanguard? Not a chance! I will remember what happened today. A formal declaration of war will soon be dispatched to your Gao Family. Just you wait. We shall meet on the battlefield!"

With a cold snort, giving the old man no further opportunity to explain, Daoist Yunxiong flicked his sleeve, turned, and transformed into a streak of lightning. He swept up Qi Xiu, Gan Xingba, and Nian Yiyi, vanishing without a trace in an instant.

Once Daoist Yunxiong departed, the five Gao Family members who had been pinned to the ground struggled to their feet.

"Fourth Grandfather, will the Shenxiao Sect truly go to war with us?" one of the Gao Family members asked in a low voice, wiping dirt from his face as he approached the old man.

"Alas, what was on the verge of success was disrupted by a mere youngster. Interesting, truly interesting," the old man mused, gently stroking the grey-furred donkey beneath him. He did not answer his junior's anxious query but turned and rode the donkey away into the distance.

...

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