Shi Tiehan, his face grim, led seven Shi family guards through the streets of Tianyun City in broad daylight.

The route from the Shi family residence to the Zuo family estate mostly traversed prosperous mercantile districts. As the Shi family contingent approached on their fine steeds, the bustling crowds swiftly parted ways, voluntarily yielding passage to them.

Shi Tie, mounted high, his expression heavy, was preoccupied with how he would broach the subject of dealing with the Ling family when he met with Zuo Xu shortly.

Gradually, the eight members of Shi Tie’s party arrived on a street that was considerably less vibrant.

This thoroughfare lay between the Shi and Zuo family domains. While never overwhelmingly crowded in the past, it usually featured small vendors selling daily necessities.

Today, however, not a single merchant was in sight; the street was eerily deserted.

Shi Tie paid it little mind. Tianyun City had been restless recently; many commoners dared not loiter even during the day. Since this was hardly a bustling district to begin with, the lack of people seemed normal enough.

Riding hard, the group galloped on, quickly reaching the center of the street.

Shi Tie’s expression abruptly changed, his demeanor instantly turning sharp and cold.

"Boom!"

A stone building beside the street suddenly exploded outwards. Boulder-sized chunks of rock danced in the air before crashing down towards Shi Tie.

Simultaneously, several figures erupted from the side of the street, swooping toward Shi Tie like predatory eagles.

Thick, powerful bolts of lightning—like electric dragons soaring across the sky, shimmering with crystalline light—converged to envelop Shi Tie from above.

Space warped strangely, contracting, as a bizarre barrier, like a massive net, swept in from all directions, completely sealing off this entire stretch of the street.

A chill shot through Shi Tie’s heart as he roared, "Mo Tuo Ling Jue!"

The lightning, dragon-like and as thick as a man’s torso, stretched for a hundred meters; the barrier, net-like, locked down the space. This once quiet lane had instantly become lethally perilous.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Shi Tie's body petrified, his strength at the peak of the Nirvana Realm surging forth. Crystalline radiance burst from him, shattering the massive stones raining down from every direction.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

The surrounding stone structures shattered one after another, unleashing an even greater deluge of giant rocks that hammered down upon Shi Tie like small mountains.

Faint wisps of purple smoke began to drift out as the stone buildings disintegrated. Possessed of a strange sentience, they spiraled together, winding their way toward Shi Tie.

Shi Tie held his breath, his mind reeling in horror. He snarled, "Bu Bo! My Shi family declares itself your mortal enemy!"

"Your Shi family lacks the capacity, and you too will die soon," the voice of the Poison Man Bu Bo hissed back, venomous and laced with cold contempt.

The strands of light smoke swept over, enveloping Shi Tie and his entire entourage.

The Shi family guards who accompanied Shi Tie possessed cultivation in the Hundred Tribulations or Status Realm. Though they clamped their mouths shut, they could not resist the invasion of the purple vapor. Their skin instantly turned a pale violet, and their faces twisted in unimaginable agony, feeling as though billions of tiny insects were gnawing at their very flesh.

Screaming, the Shi family guards collapsed one by one, their bodies rapidly putrefying.

Even the petrified Shi Tie turned a faint shade of purple beneath the pale violet toxic mist. A numb ache spread through his body, and his limbs gradually lost all strength.

"Hmph. Merely the Nirvana Realm, yet you dare challenge my 'Hundred Poisons Corpse Rotting Smoke.' Truly ignorant of death," Bu Bo’s sinister voice slowly drifted from within another ruined stone building.

"Crack! Crack! Crack!"

The continuous dragon-like bolts of lightning released by Mo Tuo hammered into Shi Tie's body. At the same time, the barrier unleashed by Ling Jue seized the opportunity, surging forward to bind Shi Tie's form.

The Mo and Ling family masters, moving like sharp-eyed hawks, swarmed forward, surrounding Shi Tie tightly.

Weapons imbued with strange, flashing lights, accompanied by brilliant gleams of energy, shot out like rain, impacting Shi Tie’s body relentlessly.

Dozens of ferocious assaults left Shi Tie battered and ravaged; even his Stone Martial Soul could not hold, and blood spilled from him.

"Kill!"

Mo Tuo finally revealed himself. Already a level higher than Shi Tie, he swung a silver hammer wrapped in crackling lightning, brutally smashing it into Shi Tie's flesh.

"Crack! Crunch! Crack!"

Shi Tie's bones shattered throughout his body; blood streamed from his seven orifices, and his vitality was systematically extinguished.

"Boom!"

Shi Tie, his expression now that of a raging ghost, his once mighty frame suddenly crashed to the ground, his body reduced to rotten flesh that rapidly decayed.

Ling Jue emerged slowly from the shadows, watching the putrefying Shi Tie with cold eyes, remarking lightly, "With Shi Tie dead, Shi Jian loses an arm. Dealing with the Shi family henceforth will be significantly easier."

Mo Tuo grinned with savage delight, bringing his silver hammer down for another blow onto Shi Tie’s skull, smashing out the man's brains.

"I want every member of the Shi family to be buried with my children and grandchildren! Shi Tie’s death is just the beginning—this is far from over!" Mo Tuo sneered hideously.

"Brother Mo, I think we should hold the young ones' wedding soon. Heh heh, the Shi family holds a funeral, and we hold a celebration. Don’t you think that would be far more amusing?" Ling Jue suggested with malicious glee.

"Agreed!" Mo Tuo laughed maniacally. "Men! Pack up Shi Tie’s bones. Have someone deliver them to the Shi family later—tell them it’s a gift from me. Wish all the Shi family lads long lives, ha ha ha!"

"Yes, sir!"

...

Above the Dead Silence Swamp.

Shi Yan sat astride a sixth-tier demonic beast, the Azure Blood Demon Bat. Beside him, the Asura King, Xiao Hanyi, maintained an indifferent expression, his eyes closed as if deep in ascetic practice, a turbulent aura of sanguine energy swirling around him.

When cultivating the Blood Fiend Dao, Xiao Hanyi seemed capable of influencing the blood in those around him. Sitting near him, Shi Yan constantly felt uneasy; the blood within his own body felt slightly out of control, as if trying to burst through his skin and flesh.

Xiao Hanyi appeared to notice Shi Yan’s strange state, suddenly opening his eyes and smiling faintly. "Young Master Yan, my Blood Fiend Dao is rather tyrannical and affects the blood of others. You should be cautious sitting so close to me. Heh heh, if Young Master Yan is uncomfortable, you could switch to another Azure Blood Demon Bat. How about it?"

As he spoke, Xiao Hanyi subtly glanced toward the Azure Blood Demon Bat beside them, where Xia Xinyan was seated.

Xia Xinyan still wore a veil, her eyes, clear as a lake, were tranquil and serene as she stared absently into the distance.

Her slender, delicate hands rested on a prominent ridge of bone on the bat’s back. Her delicate form was slightly arched, revealing curves of truly perfect stature that drew the eye and made one instantly want to look away.

Following Xiao Hanyi's gaze, Shi Yan couldn't help but glance at Xia Xinyan beside him. A trace of envy flickered in his eyes, and the corner of his mouth curved into a knowing smile. "Old Xiao, would you consider this woman a top-tier beauty in the Endless Sea?"

For the past few days, Shi Yan and Xiao Hanyi had been in close proximity. Shi Yan was someone entirely without reservation; even addressing this expert at the second heaven of the Celestial Rank, he showed no deference, daring to utter any thought, utterly failing to treat Xiao Hanyi as a senior master.

Xiao Hanyi, accustomed to campaigning and following his own inclinations, possessed an inherently lawless spirit. Far from being offended by Shi Yan’s casualness, he actually found it refreshing. He felt this young man lacked the airs of the Yang family young lords and was more like a rough-and-tumble fellow, so he spoke to Shi Yan about everything.

"Absolutely," Xiao Hanyi replied with an ambiguous expression, chuckling. "This girl is indeed one of the most outstanding beauties in the Endless Sea. Countless young talents there dream of being close to her. However, she holds herself in high regard, possesses astonishing talent, and rarely shows favor to any young man. Young Master Yan, if you manage to pluck this exquisitely beautiful water lily, even the Family Head might give you a thumbs-up."

"Heh heh," Shi Yan chuckled softly but said no more, lost in his own thoughts.

"If the young one isn't decent, the old one isn't proper either," Xia Xinyan, seemingly having overheard their murmuring, spoke up. She twisted her long, swan-like, fair neck, and her captivatingly clear eyes fell upon them. Biting her pearly teeth lightly, she snorted disdainfully.

"Ha! Did you hear that, lass Xia?" Xiao Hanyi, thick-skinned as ever, showed no embarrassment, instead chuckling heartily. "Lass Xia, my Young Master Yan is quite exceptional. Though his current realm is slightly low, his future potential is limitless. Once he returns to the Endless Sea and cultivates the Yang family's Immortal Rebirth Art, his strength will surely climb further. Since your Xia family is allied with us, a marriage between our houses would be a wonderful match. What do you think of Young Master Yan? Ha ha!"

Shi Yan maintained a detached expression, though inwardly he cursed Xiao Hanyi for speaking so carelessly and revealing things so soon.

Xia Xinyan cast a cool glance at Shi Yan and stated plainly, "Although his talent and perseverance are commendable, his realm is too low. No one can predict if he can break through in the future. Hmph, he wants to marry me? Let him wait until the day he can defeat me."

Shi Yan rubbed his nose, showing no annoyance, and laughed heartily. "Xinyan, you said it yourself. Don't worry, I will defeat you sooner or later. Just wait."

"Thi... Thianyan?" Xia Xinyan paused, looking somewhat helplessly amused, shaking her head. Her gaze held a peculiar expression. "The blood flowing in your body truly belongs to the Yang family. You share the same nature as the Yangs: arrogant, overbearing, and shameless."

"Heh heh," Shi Yan was utterly thick-skinned and showed no embarrassment, smiling faintly. "We have an agreement then. When I defeat you one day, you will..."

"We’ll see when that day comes," before Shi Yan could finish, Xia Xinyan interrupted him, her tone proud. "However, I doubt I'll have to wait that long. Hmph, are you progressing while I stand still? You’re advancing quickly now, but when you break through to the Hundred Tribulations Realm, you’ll find breaking through subsequent realms increasingly difficult. I hope you still possess such arrogant spirit then."

"Don't worry, Xinyan, I won't make you wait long," Shi Yan cheerfully called her "Xinyan" repeatedly, sounding as familiar as if they were childhood friends, showing no reserve whatsoever.

Xia Xinyan possessed unparalleled beauty, keen intellect, and noble elegance, her figure being utterly perfect. Such a magnificent beauty was unlike anyone Shi Yan had ever encountered, so it was impossible for him not to be moved.

Previously, because the gap between them was too vast, Shi Yan had the interest but dared not reveal it. Now that he saw a glimmer of hope, his true nature began to surface.

Xia Xinyan seemed alarmed by his constant use of "Xinyan." She shot him a fierce glare, then lightly patted the Azure Blood Demon Bat beneath her.

The bat’s speed immediately slackened, and it slowly moved to the rear, widening the distance between itself and Shi Yan significantly.

Shi Yan paid it no mind, turning to look deeply at her, his eyes revealing an undisguised, raw desire for possession.

"Good lad," Xiao Hanyi praised, lowering his voice. "If you can truly handle this woman, it will greatly benefit the family. I support you putting more effort into it."

"Just take it easy, take it easy," Shi Yan said with a detached smile, his eyes gleaming with a strange light, leaving even Xiao Hanyi guessing his true intentions.

...V