Chapter 168: Conflict

Outside the Qiao Family Manor, a group of young men had split into two factions and were locked in fierce combat.

The violent fluctuations from the battle were particularly evident in the night.

"Brother Xiao Yao, I advise you all to obediently return. Right now, no one from the Qiao Family is allowed to come and go as they please!"

As he spoke, a young man in white, wielding a sword, swept his blade horizontally and forced back a youth from the Qiao Family. The corners of his mouth curled into a mocking smile as he said,

"Give it up, Brother Xiao Yao. For the sake of our past days drinking and chatting happily, I won't make things difficult for you. Hurry back and shrink into the Qiao Residence!"

Upon hearing this, Qiao Ziyao once again charged toward his opponent.

"Dongye Xiu! I misjudged you. I treated you like a brother in the past, and now you treat me like this!"

The young man called Dongye Xiu sneered,

"Heh, there's a reason everyone calls you the Qiao Family’s Big Fool. Our Four Major Families were never meant to be friends or brothers. Everything was just for show, and you actually believed it!"

"Go ask the others—how many of them aren't laughing at you for being a fool?"

With that, several others on Dongye Xiu’s side also laughed and jeered,

"This time, our three families have joined forces to encircle the Qiao Family. To surround without killing is already the greatest mercy. Brother Xiao Yao, I suggest you go back and advise your family—surrender early while you still can!"

At this moment, another disciple from the Qiao Family stepped forward with a cold expression, blocking Qiao Ziyao behind him.

"Now is not the time to cling to such fake notions of brotherhood. They are enemies who want to slaughter your brothers and sisters, enemies who wish to exterminate the Qiao Family. Are you still going to remain deluded?"

Qiao Ziyao’s expression instantly dimmed, but he soon accepted the reality.

Yes, these people had never seen him as a friend. Their past friendship had been entirely fake!

Now, their families sought to annihilate the Qiao Family!

At this thought, Qiao Ziyao’s expression gradually turned icy.

"Brother Qiao Liang, let’s break out together. Waiting here to die, surrounded like livestock, is no different from awaiting slaughter. Let’s fight our way out, find Old Ancestor and Grandpa—maybe there’s still a chance to survive!"

The youth who had just spoken looked at him and finally relaxed. What he feared most before a battle was a lack of fighting spirit.

It seemed this younger brother of his had come to his senses.

But... could they, with fewer than thirty fourth-generation disciples from the Qiao Family, really break through the joint forces of the three families?

Though the opponents also sent out fourth-generation disciples to engage them, the numbers were one to three—there was no chance of victory!

Their original plan had been to sneak out under the cover of night through a small path to search for the Old Ancestor. As long as they could escape the Qiao Family estate and leave Xuanguang City, even if the other three families were capable, they might not be able to find them.

But now, before they could even step out the main gate, they were surrounded by the younger generation disciples of the three families.

Thinking of this, Qiao Liang wore a helpless expression and said,

"The plan has already failed, Xiao Yao. With the three families united, we can’t possibly break out head-on."

"Then should we just wait here in the Qiao Residence to die?"

Qiao Liang was silent. How could he not know the outcome that even Qiao Ziyao could foresee?

Continuing to cower would only lead to a slow death.

What were the elders of the Qiao Family planning? Did they really intend to die without a fight?

Seeing Qiao Liang remain silent, Qiao Ziyao’s blood surged with fury.

"Today, either I break out of here, or I die fighting at the gate of the Qiao Residence!"

With that, Qiao Ziyao once again activated his Mysterious Power and charged madly at the disciples of the three families, who sneered coldly.

"Hmph, although Grandpa warned us not to kill lightly, since you're so eager to die, killing you shouldn’t get us blamed!"

Dongye Xiu let out a cold snort. Seeing Qiao Ziyao charge at him once again, he drew his sword without hesitation.

"Early stage of the Celestial Profound Realm dares to strike at me, a late stage? Courting death!"

"The one courting death is you!"

In an instant, the two clashed fiercely, while the other disciples from the three families watched with amused expressions from the sidelines.

It felt just like watching Dongye Xiu tease a monkey—there was not the slightest concern.

"Stop!"

At that moment, the eldest of the Qiao Family and others came rushing over, wrapped in the oppressive might of the Divine Moon Realm.

Dongye Xiu and the disciples of the three families showed slight changes in expression upon seeing this.

However, they were not alarmed—there was someone backing them up!

Sure enough, at the same time the Divine Moon Realm cultivators from the Qiao Family appeared, several Divine Moon Realm experts emerged outside the Qiao Residence to intercept them.

"Let the juniors settle their own conflicts. Adults should stay out of it!"

The Qiao Family elder sneered,

"Ridiculous! You dare bully my Qiao Family at our doorstep and still have the face to say such words!"

With that, the Qiao Family elder threw a punch in fury.

The one blocking him was an elderly man of considerable age.

His expression changed slightly at the sight, and he immediately exerted his full strength to defend.

The battle between the Divine Moon Realm cultivators on both sides erupted at once!

The violent fluctuations from their clash instantly drew the attention of the entire city.

After all, the conflict among the Four Major Families caused by the City Lord’s seat was no secret.

Especially now, with the Qiao Family under siege by the other three families, all the city’s factions were watching closely.

Some factions that had previously aligned with the Qiao Family were either fleeing Xuanguang City, fearing a purge, or seeking new alliances for protection.

At this moment, Gu Fan stood quietly atop a nearby rooftop with Ruo Xi, watching the battle between the Qiao Residence and the three families.

"Well? Have you decided? Returning to the Qiao Family at a time like this is hardly a wise choice."

Ruo Xi was silent for a moment before shaking her head with a smile.

"Wise or not, I don’t know. But in my heart, I truly like it there—especially Uncle and Grandma, they care so much about me."

Gu Fan felt a slight ache in his teeth. Was this the obsession of a child starved for love?

Throwing her life away just like that?

Still, he said nothing more. The path one chose was their own. Others had no right to interfere.

As for himself, as long as he could safely deliver Ruo Xi to the Qiao Family, his conscience would be at ease.

"Alright then, I have nothing more to do here. I shall take my leave. Fairy Ruo Xi, take care. If fate allows, we shall meet again someday."

Ruo Xi looked at Gu Fan and suddenly smiled.

"Is it really a goodbye?"

"Hm? What else?"

Ruo Xi then pointed toward the battlefield ahead.

"You say you only seek peace of mind. Do you still remember your promise? To deliver me safely to the Qiao Family. But danger is right before us—can you really walk away without guilt?"

"Brother Gu Fan, do you think Ruo Xi is truly safe now?"

Gu Fan’s expression stiffened as he looked at the young woman beside him, her smile bright and charming.

For a moment, he couldn't tell if this girl's usual silly demeanor was real or an act.

This was something like a heart demon. If she had just stayed silent and let him go, then Gu Fan could have left and counted this task as completed.

But now that she had spoken, if Gu Fan walked away knowing full well how dangerous her situation was, things could become unpredictable.

After all, with heart demons, you never knew what might happen until they surfaced.

Thinking about how he was preparing to be the first to break through to the True Yang Realm in this world—namely, the Divine Moon Realm—if a heart demon emerged at that moment, it would be a major disaster!

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