Bai Xiaodi had to be enraged. Even if his descendant had offended your disciple, you had already slain so many people; shouldn't you cease your fury? Fine, even if your anger persisted and you still intended to execute one of his descendants, you ought to offer a reason, especially in front of his own kin. If you kill a descendant without a single justification, how could he retain any semblance of dignity?
Upon hearing his ancestor demand a reason, Bai Ziyun's heart chilled to the core. He incessantly darted pleading glances toward his father, Bai Yunlan. He was his father’s most cherished son, barely over thirty, and he desperately did not wish to die...
Bai Yunlan naturally saw the look in his son's eyes. This was the son he loved most dearly; if he could choose, he would gladly die in his stead. However, in this situation, there was no choice. He could only meet his great-ancestor's gaze with a look of desperate appeal, hoping that his many years managing White Emperor City would sway him to spare his youngest son...
As for the others present, they kept their heads bowed low, overwhelmed by relief that they were spared, not daring to utter another word...
"Dugu Ba-chen, you push things too far..." Bai Xiaodi let out a heavy snort...
"If you don't act, I will do it myself. But I haven't made a move in many years, so I can't guarantee I won't cause collateral damage if I strike. I won't be responsible for anyone else I happen to kill," Dugu Ba-chen replied calmly, completely disregarding the furious Bai Xiaodi...
"You..." Even though Bai Xiaodi was centuries old, Dugu Ba-chen's words infuriated him to the point of choking. Three hundred years ago, he was already a peerless figure; if he wished, he could sever a single leg of an ant a thousand feet away without harming any other part of it. Yet now, he claimed he might accidentally harm others...
If this wasn't a threat, what was it? This was a blatant, naked threat...
"Last chance. You do it, or I do," Dugu Ba-chen's voice suddenly turned icy. A palpable aura of killing swept through the entire hall...
Bai Yunlan and the others felt a wave of cold wash over them. Bai Tianyu and the rest even began cursing Bai Ziyun internally: It’s all your fault, you good-for-nothing, for having a useless son who has brought ruin upon us all...
Cold sweat beaded on Bai Yunlan's forehead, yet he knew not what he could possibly do...
Bai Xiaodi glared furiously at Dugu Ba-chen, his internal energy surging wildly as he seemed to make a final, desperate struggle...
Killing one Bai Ziyun would not break his heart. All these people in the hall were his descendants; so many had already died—what did one more matter? But Dugu Ba-chen had to afford him some shred of respect, didn't he?
Yet, it was clear Dugu Ba-chen intended to give him none whatsoever...
His aura grew steadily colder, and an oppressive, killing blade energy began to condense in the air above them...
Faced with Dugu Ba-chen’s increasingly terrifying blade energy, Bai Xiaodi's expression turned grim. Three hundred years ago, he was no match for Dugu Ba-chen. Though he had improved significantly over three centuries, he understood clearly that Dugu Ba-chen had improved far more. In this world, perhaps only Xuanyuan Jue could counter him, but Xuanyuan Jue was currently in seclusion and could hardly appear now...
If he truly provoked Dugu Ba-chen to anger, while he himself might escape, his descendants—indeed, the entirety of White Emperor City—might not survive the calamity...
Finally, just as Dugu Ba-chen was about to erupt in fury, Bai Xiaodi suddenly flicked a finger. A blast of sharp wind shot out, piercing directly into Bai Ziyun’s neck. Bai Ziyun’s entire head dropped clean off...
His eyes remained wide open, filled with confusion and utter despair...
When Bai Yunlan saw his son's head fall, his face twisted in agony. His already aged features seemed to collapse instantly, making him look decades older, yet he dared not utter a single protest. He fully understood the decision his great-ancestor had made; that man was too powerful. He had swept across the lands three centuries prior and was the only one capable of wounding Xuanyuan Jue. Even if their own great-ancestor intervened, he would certainly be outmatched...
As for Bai Tianyu and the others, upon seeing their Seventh Brother's head sever, they felt no grief. Instead, they let out huge sighs of relief. Before Dugu Ba-chen’s absolute, domineering might, their normally profound fraternal bonds seemed as flimsy as paper, instantly shattered...
From the moment Dugu Ba-chen began threatening Bai Xiaodi, Ye Jingyu had kept his eyes locked on him. When he witnessed Bai Xiaodi, forced by Dugu Ba-chen's overwhelming power, kill his own descendant with his own hands, the look of pure admiration on his face became unmistakable...
Domineering. So damn domineering. It was the pinnacle of overbearing control...
To force Bai Xiaodi, a figure renowned for ages, to personally execute his own kin without lifting a finger—what true dominance! In the entire world, perhaps only Dugu Ba-chen dared to attempt and achieve such a feat...
If news of this spread, who knew what kind of sensation it would cause? The first City Lord of White Emperor City, Bai Xiaodi, coerced into killing his own descendant by another—this was absolutely explosive news...
Stars ignited in Ye Jingyu's eyes. At this moment, Dugu Ba-chen had become the singular idol in his heart...
Yes, an idol. A true idol. This is how a man should conduct himself in this world...
Dugu Ba-chen glanced at the head still rolling on the floor but made no immediate move to leave. Instead, he turned his gaze toward Ye Jingyu...
"Disciple, are you satisfied now?"
Ye Jingyu froze, realizing only then that his master’s insistence on killing Bai Ziyun was entirely for his sake. Wasn't it because that fellow had humiliated him on the road? Now, look—slain by his own ancestor. What sheer satisfaction...
A layer of respect was added to his existing adoration for Dugu Ba-chen...
"Master, I am extremely satisfied," Ye Jingyu nodded firmly. With matters having reached this stage, how could he possibly express dissatisfaction? As for Bai Tianyu, who had killed his Eldest Brother, Master had already stated that his life belonged to Ye Jingyu; if he sought revenge, he must use his own strength. Beyond that, what grounds did he have to complain?
"Since you are satisfied, let us go," Dugu Ba-chen said plainly, turning and heading toward the exit...
"Oh," Ye Jingyu replied, quickly following closely behind Dugu Ba-chen. Without Dugu Ba-chen's protection, a single glare from Bai Xiaodi could end him...
"Don't forget your blade," Dugu Ba-chen reminded him...
"Master, that is your blade," Ye Jingyu dared not turn back to retrieve it...
"Do I need a blade now?" Dugu Ba-chen scoffed...
"Oh," Ye Jingyu dared not say more. He quickly turned, hurried to the side of the Heavenly Venerable Blade, and pulled it free with effort. He glanced at the fallen body of Bai Ziyun, then remembered the Qiankun Bracelet he had confiscated from him...