Sun Tao didn’t even have time to react before he felt a chill along his right arm.

Blood burst into the air.

An arm flew up, then fell into the grass. In its hand, it still clutched the lustrous white jade token.

Only then did the bone-rending pain crash over him like a tidal wave.

“AAAH—!” His scream had barely begun—

When the sword light flowed back like water, sweeping upward in a reverse arc.

Another dull thud.

The second arm was severed cleanly, a fountain of blood spraying out.

“AA—NGH!”

The first scream had just forced its way out when an even sharper agony flooded in, choking the sound back down his throat, leaving only broken gasps.

Sun Tao collapsed as if his bones had been pulled from his body, crumpling into a pool of blood, his limbs twitching uncontrollably.

Xiao Che lowered his sword. Blood droplets slid down the blade and fell from the tip.

He glanced at the curled figure on the ground, his voice icy.

“Just now, it was these two hands that touched my sister.”

“Now they’re clean.”

He spat inwardly.

As if it mattered—there were already dozens of emperor-level love rivals. What was one more Sun family to offend?

Crippling a cultivation that was all surface strength anyway—Foundation Establishment, fifth level trash—

With Foundation Establishment first-level spiritual power, paired with a tailor-made peak Yellow-rank sword art…

It was more than enough.

Playing the pig to eat the tiger—that was the real way of things.

In the distance, atop the slope, the Sun family froze for a split second before erupting into an uproar.

“Young Clan Heir!”

“Xiao Che! How dare you!”

Roars of fury exploded as more than ten Sun family elites unleashed their spiritual power and charged downhill.

Almost simultaneously, the four guards—Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning—moved as one. Like four bolts of dark lightning, they arrived first despite moving later, firmly blocking the path between Xiao Che and Sun Tao, facing the Sun family head-on as killing intent condensed sharply.

Xiao Che didn’t even lift his eyelids.

Because behind him, a trembling, tear-choked voice had already sounded.

“Big brother!”

He turned around.

Xiao Qing had already rushed into his arms like a fledgling returning to its nest. Her small body shook uncontrollably as she clutched his clothes, burying her face against his chest. Suppressed sobs instantly soaked through his robes.

Xiao Che kept one hand on his sword. His other hand rose slowly and came to rest gently on his sister’s trembling back.

The shouts, the standoff—

All of it faded into the distance.

“Don’t be afraid, Qing’er. It’s over now. Everything’s fine,” he said softly, patting her shoulder. “Big brother is here.”

Xiao Qing nodded hard in his arms, whimpering. After a long moment, she finally lifted her head.

Tear tracks streaked her small face. Her eyes were red and swollen, her soft, baby-round cheeks pale to the point of fragility.

“B-Big brother… your cultivation…”

Seeing the light suddenly flare in her eyes, Xiao Che felt his heart soften. He nodded.

“Mm. It’s recovered a bit.”

He paused, choosing the safest wording.

“Foundation Establishment first level.”

He didn’t mention that his dantian was fully restored, nor that he had already reached the seventh level.

Some things were safer the fewer people who knew—safer for Qing’er, safer for the family.

Xiao Qing’s eyes instantly lit up with joy. Tears spilled over again, but this time they were tears of happiness.

“That’s wonderful… really wonderful! I knew it—big brother is the most talented genius in the world!”

Xiao Che gently wiped the tears from her face, his voice low and steady. “This time, it was my fault. I didn’t protect you well. From now on, I won’t ever let you be wronged again.”

“Mm!” Xiao Qing nodded hard, tears still falling as she forced a smile. “I believe you, big brother!”

Xiao Che released her and lifted his left hand, beckoning through the air.

The lustrous white jade token flew from the severed hand into his palm.

A faint glow flickered at his fingertips as he wiped away the bloodstains, restoring the token’s warm, pristine sheen.

He placed it gently into Xiao Qing’s hand and closed her fingers around it.

“Keep this.”

Xiao Qing froze, staring at the token so many people dreamed of obtaining. “B-Brother… then what about you?”

Xiao Che ruffled her hair, his tone relaxed.

“I’ll get in on my own.”

Xiao Qing broke into a tearful smile, clutching the warm jade token tightly.

At that moment—

More than ten Sun family elites shouted in rage, spiritual power surging as they formed an encirclement, facing off against the four guards in a tense standoff.

Xiao Che didn’t spare them a glance. His gaze returned to Sun Tao, who lay at his feet, barely clinging to life.

With a flick of his wrist, the cold edge of the Qingfeng Sword came to rest against Sun Tao’s throat, pressing down slightly.

“All of you, stop!”

“Try taking one more step.”

He lifted his eyes toward the slope. His voice carried no anger, yet it tightened every heart.

“Impudent!”

An aged, icy shout thundered as a bolt from clear skies, exploding from the rear of the Sun family ranks.

The soundwave rolled forward, carrying the oppressive pressure of a Golden Core cultivator—aimed straight at Xiao Che.

Xiao Qing shuddered at the sudden shout.

Xiao Che didn’t move an inch. He only guided his sister a bit further behind him and looked up.

The Sun family ranks parted like a tide.

Three figures stepped forward, each carrying an aura as heavy as a mountain.

At the center stood an elderly man in black robes, his gaze sinister, his presence deep as an abyss—the Sun family’s old ancestor, a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator.

On either side stood two others, both early Golden Core—the Sun family’s two elders.

The pressure of the three crashed down like three towering peaks.

Almost at the same time, three figures flashed into existence behind Xiao Che and landed in front of him.

Xiao Zhatian stood at the center, Golden Core third-level power fully unleashed, his expression cold.

To his left was Great Elder Xiao Yuantu, Golden Core second level, calm and composed.

To his right stood Xiao Zhanxuan, a Golden Core first-level, his eyes flickering slightly.

Six vast auras collided invisibly in midair, releasing a low, muffled boom.

Xiao Zhatian stepped forward, his voice ringing like steel.

“Old ghost Sun, this is a matter between juniors. Are you really planning to bully the young by taking action yourself?”

The Sun family ancestor swept his gaze over him and let out a cold laugh.

“Xiao Zhatian, you took one of my palms head-on yesterday. Your meridians are already damaged. I advise you not to force yourself—unless you want your foundation completely ruined.”

Then his tone shifted, his gaze locking onto Xiao Che like a venomous snake.

“As for this little beast… Foundation Establishment first level. You hid it well.”

Xiao Che stood with sword in hand, his aura restrained at the Foundation Establishment first level.

He tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“Old thing, your eyesight’s decent. Too bad I’ve only recovered part of it—thanks entirely to your Sun family.”

“What, the young can’t handle it, so the old want to step in personally?”

“Ancestor… save me… ah…” Sun Tao’s broken wails drifted up.

Seeing Sun Tao’s arms completely severed, blood pouring freely, the Sun family ancestor’s face twitched, his eyes darkening.

“Young man, your methods are far too vicious!”

“Vicious?”

Xiao Che pressed his wrist down, the Qingfeng Sword settling firmly against Sun Tao’s neck.

“When you destroyed my dantian back then, did you leave even the slightest mercy?”

“Enough nonsense!”

The Sun family ancestor’s beard and hair bristled as mid-stage Golden Core pressure crashed down like a mountain. “Release him immediately! Otherwise, today I’ll wipe out your Xiao family—man and beast alike!”

“Release him?”

Xiao Che let out a cold laugh. The sword edge didn’t move an inch, but his voice cut like ice.

“Fine.”

He spoke each word clearly.

“All of you—retreat one li.”

The pupils of the Sun family’s ancestors shrank sharply. He clearly hadn’t expected such hard defiance.

After a brief silence, killing intent surged in his eyes. His gaze flickered toward Xiao Zhanxuan, and he gave a slight nod.

At that instant—

A sudden change erupted!