The Chen Family was one of the Five Great Families, not inferior to the Xiao Family. A conflict between the two could easily escalate into a larger incident, and coincidentally, Chen Feng was just as reckless. This made Xiao Yansui quite apprehensive, so he naturally refrained from taking action.
With a smile, Xiao He cupped his hands and said, "Brother Chen, Fifth Uncle, I’m off. Just wait here for my good news."
He let out a hearty laugh, shot into the air, and transformed into a cloud of mist, soaring high into the sky. In a flash, he disappeared from the sight of the two men.
Xiao Yansui sighed and said in a deep tone, "Nephew Chen, what you’ve done today might be a mistake."
The young Daoist pursed his lips, his expression laced with indifference.
As Xiao He flew, he felt the boundless sea beneath him and the infinite sky above, a sense of freedom he’d not experienced before. For the first time in over twenty years, he walked the skies alone, and a wave of exhilaration overcame him. A thought suddenly sprang to his mind: "Should I indulge in some amusements somewhere first before seeking revenge against Zhang Yan for my late brother?"
Though the rumors didn’t explicitly state that Xiao Han was killed, everyone knew the truth. Twenty years without a trace—this was almost certainly a bad omen. If Zhang Yan were capable of dealing with the Xiao uncle and nephew, how could he possibly leave loose ends? Surely, he wouldn’t have let the two return alive. Xiao He was well aware of this.
Truth be told, Xiao He had no deep feelings for Xiao Han. In fact, during his younger days, he was often compared to his brother within the family and told he was inferior. This spurred him to strive harder, ultimately achieving the Hua Dan Realm ahead of Xiao Han, silencing the naysayers and putting a permanent end to their criticisms.
Since then, he had never paid much thought to his older brother. This time, he merely wanted to use the situation as an excuse to vent his frustrations; he didn’t harbor any deep hatred for Zhang Yan.
Having been confined to the island for years, Xiao He couldn’t immediately think of where to seek amusement. After mulling over his options, he gave up and muttered to himself, "I’ll deal with Zhang Yan first and worry about the rest later. But as a True Disciple, Zhang Yan can’t be challenged or killed lightly. Even in Absolute Fighting, I need witnesses; else, who would recognize the prowess of Xiao He?"
After a brief consideration, he decided to visit the Six Rivers and Four Islands that Zhang Yan had previously offended, planning to gather a few people to serve as witnesses. Once his decision was made, he oriented himself, extended his body, and transformed into a wisp of smoke, speeding off.
Unbeknownst to him, on a deserted island dozens of miles away, two men were watching. They observed his smoke trail vanish into the horizon and exchanged amused glances.
With his hands clasped behind his back, Feng Zhen said, "Just as I predicted, Xiao He is an impatient man."
Mo Daoist slapped his palm, sending a streak of light with a flying talisman to follow after. Raising his head to look at the bright moon hanging like a disc in the night sky, he muttered darkly, "Life or death, we’ll know by this time tomorrow."
Xiao He reached the Six Rivers and Four Islands, not bothering to distinguish between the various rivers and islands. He headed straight for the brightest cluster of lights, barging in recklessly. Whenever something stood in his way, he swept it aside with his Elixir Evil. The technique he practiced was one of the sect’s Three Skills and Five Classics, **Xuanze Zhenmiao Shangdong Skill**, which could transform Qi into water and stir the seas. Within the Dragon Abyss Marsh, this Mysterious Skill was incredibly potent, allowing him to manipulate the vast swamp waters with ease. Now, he caused the great marsh to surge, lifting waves twenty zhang high. Yet, he held them suspended without releasing them and shouted loudly, "Is there anyone alive here? Step forward! I am Xiao He of the Xiao Family. I’ll count to ten. If no one appears, I’ll wash this island clean!"
This island was within Bai Zhuo River. Its Island Master, Sun Xian, had once been gravely injured by a single drop of Zhang Yan’s You Yin Heavy Water. Feeling too humiliated to show herself, she’d secluded herself on the island for twenty years, burying herself in cultivation within her cave mansion after the death of her master.
At this time, she was facing the Qi Refining and Acupoint Burning phase. She had already opened over a dozen acupoints and felt confident that with continued effort, she could achieve Solidifying Pill Realm within the next year or two. Thus, she practiced diligently day and night without interruption.
Suddenly, she heard someone shouting threats outside. Furious, her anger faded when she realized it was Xiao He of the Xiao Family. Her heart chilled with fear, and she dared not act rashly. Adjusting her hair, she walked outside. Raising her eyes, she saw waves towering in the sky, seemingly ready to crash down at any moment. Terrified, she forced a smile, stepped forward, and bowed deeply. "This humble one, Sun Xian, greets Brother Xiao. May I ask what brings you here?"
Seeing that the person who appeared was a female cultivator, Xiao He paused, tugged at the corner of his mouth, and waved dismissively. "Today, I intend to duel Zhang Yan, but I lack witnesses. Your timing is perfect. Go and summon everyone from the Six Rivers and Four Islands to join me."
At the mention of Zhang Yan’s name, Sun Xian visibly flinched. Hearing Xiao He’s demand, she looked troubled and stammered, "If it’s just me accompanying Brother Xiao, that’s fine, but the other fellow Daoists may not be in their cave mansions..."
Xiao He had no patience for her excuses and said impatiently, "Call whoever you can. If anyone refuses, it’s simple—tell them I’ll retrace Zhang Yan’s steps and attack the Six Rivers and Four Islands again. We’ll see if they come running back then."
Hearing this, Sun Xian’s face turned deathly pale. She had heard of Xiao He’s reputation and had no doubt he would follow through on his threats. Trembling, she replied, "Brother Xiao, please don’t be angry. I’ll follow your instructions and summon the others immediately."
With that, she turned and left.
After her initial panic subsided, Sun Xian calmed herself and began to weigh her thoughts. Reflecting on the overwhelming display of power earlier, she couldn’t help but feel some anticipation. If Xiao He and Zhang Yan were to fight, Xiao He seemed to have a significant chance of winning. With that thought, she quickened her pace.
About an hour later, Xiao He saw over a dozen people approaching from the distance. He was momentarily startled and thought to himself, "This little girl is surprisingly competent. Not bad. If I defeat Zhang Yan, I’ll make her my concubine."
The gathered crowd, however, wasn’t entirely thanks to Sun Xian. These people, upon hearing Xiao He’s name, recalled that he had reached the Hua Dan Realm over twenty years ago, with a third-grade Elixir Formation under a renowned master—a stark contrast to someone like Tu Xuan, a mere Small Golden Core cultivator of questionable skill. Many, like Sun Xian, held some hope that Xiao He could truly defeat Zhang Yan.
As the crowd approached, Xiao He nodded in satisfaction, not bothering to check whether they were all island masters. He declared, "Excellent! Tonight, I shall find Zhang Yan and settle the score. Join me!"
He burst into loud laughter, sweeping his robe with a flourish. A massive wave surged forth, carrying him to its crest. Behind him, the waters roared, the surge lifting the dozen people in tow as they rolled forward like a tidal wave, heading straight for Zhao You Heavenly Pond.
...(To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.) Follow current novels on 𝓷𝓸𝓿𝓮𝓵·𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮·𝓷𝓮𝓽