Standing to Xiao Zhatian’s right, Xiao Zhanxuan’s eyes flashed with savage intent. Without the slightest warning, he struck out with a backhand palm, carrying the full force of Golden Core first level, slamming viciously into Xiao Zhatian’s back.

“Big brother—sorry about this!”

Xiao Zhatian was both shocked and furious. He roared, “You—!”

Most of his attention had been fixed on the Sun family ancestor. By the time he sensed danger, it was already too late. He could only drive his protective spiritual light to its limit while gritting his teeth and counterattacking with a palm aimed at Xiao Zhanxuan’s face!

Xiao Zhanxuan hadn’t expected his brother’s counter to be so fast. He twisted aside in haste.

“Boom!” “Bang!”

Two muffled impacts rang out almost simultaneously!

Xiao Zhatian took the palm squarely to the back. His protective light shattered, and a mouthful of fresh blood sprayed out.

Xiao Zhanxuan’s left shoulder was clipped by the palm force. The crisp sound of bones shattering rang clear as he screamed and was sent flying backward.

Using the momentum, he rolled several times before stumbling to a halt several zhang away—already clear of the Xiao family’s formation.

Clutching his shattered shoulder, blood spilling from the corner of his mouth, he shot Xiao Zhatian a venomous glare, then retreated rapidly. In a few flashes, he was already at the Sun family ancestor’s side.

All of this happened in the blink of an eye.

It wasn’t until Xiao Zhanxuan stood still, blood at his lips glaringly obvious, that everyone finally reacted.

The Xiao family’s Third Master had betrayed them!

“Father!”

Xiao Che’s pupils shrank as he shouted sharply.

Xiao Yuantu’s beard and hair bristled as he glared at Xiao Zhanxuan, forcing out two words through clenched teeth:

“Animal!”

The Sun family ancestor revealed a cold, sinister smile.

“Xiao Zhanxuan, you truly know how to read the times.”

Xiao Zhatian staggered, coughing up another mouthful of blood.

He stared at his own younger brother, disbelief filling his eyes.

“Zhanxuan… why?”

“Why?”

Xiao Zhanxuan wiped the blood from his lips and burst into laughter. “My good big brother, you fool. At a time like this, you’re still asking why?”

His laughter cut off abruptly, his gaze turning icy.

“Of course, it’s because you were in my way. The position of clan head should have been mine from the start!”

“Father valued me the most back then. He said it himself—I was more suited to lead the clan than you. But then… he vanished for no reason, and you took the seat!”

Xiao Zhatian’s face turned even paler, his voice trembling.

“So… a year ago at the Black Mountain spirit mine, when Che was ambushed and his dantian crippled… that was you who sold him out?”

“Who else would it be?”

Xiao Zhanxuan sneered, admitting it outright. “My dear nephew’s talent was simply too high. With him around, your position as clan head would have been unshakable. Naturally, I had to… help him along a bit.”

“And this time—Qing’er being captured, your sister-in-law and I being injured…” Xiao Zhatian’s fists clenched until they cracked.

“Of course, that was me as well.”

Xiao Zhanxuan didn’t shy away at all, a trace of smugness even appearing on his face. “If I didn’t push you into a corner, how would you give up the position of young clan head? And how would I get the chance to reclaim everything that was rightfully mine?”

Xiao Yuantu trembled with rage. “A wolf-hearted, dog-lunged thing! How did the Xiao family produce a vile creature like you?!”

Xiao Zhanxuan grinned savagely. “Uncle, those who know the times are the true elites.”

He turned to the Sun family ancestor and bowed slightly. “Ancestor, I have not failed your trust.”

The Sun family ancestor nodded in satisfaction, his gaze returning to Xiao Zhatian and Xiao Che as if looking at fish trapped in a jar.

“Xiao Zhatian, do you have anything left to say now?”

Xiao Zhatian’s chest heaved violently. The movement tugged at his wounds, and he coughed up another mouthful of blood.

He looked at his son, sorrow filling his eyes.

Xiao Che slowly raised his head, his gaze icy.

“Finished?”

His voice wasn’t loud, yet it suppressed every other sound on the field.

“The debt of betraying the clan. The debt of injuring my parents and kidnapping my sister. The debt of crippling my dantian…”

“We’ll settle them—one by one.”

The Sun family ancestor stared at him like a venomous snake.

“Settle accounts? With you?”

His voice was hoarse, filled with disdain.

“I’d like to see just what kind of waves a brat like you can stir up today!”

Xiao Che didn’t answer. The Qingfeng Sword in his hand moved slightly.

The sword tip slid along Sun Tao’s neck, slowly traveling downward until it came to rest at the root of his right leg.

He looked at the Sun family ancestor, his voice calm.

“Old thing—have you ever seen a human stick?”

He pressed his wrist down slightly. The cold bite of the blade made Sun Tao’s entire body go rigid, his whimpers choking in his throat.

“It’s when both arms and both legs are chopped off—piece by piece.”

“N-no… don’t…”

Sun Tao’s voice trembled with the despair of impending death. “Ancestor… save me…”

Before the words could finish—

The sword flashed!

“Pshhk!”

Sun Tao’s right leg was severed at the root, blood erupting like a spring.

“AAAAAH—!”

His scream was so shrill it no longer sounded human.

“Young Clan Heir!”

“What vicious methods!”

“Killing someone only takes a nod of the head—Xiao Che, you’re too cruel!”

Shouts of shock and fury rang out from the Sun family ranks.

His body convulsed violently, yet he still didn’t lose consciousness. The vitality of a Foundation Establishment cultivator was indeed tenacious—unfortunately, that also meant enduring far more pain.

Xiao Che flicked the blood droplets from his sword. The tip fell once more, resting at the root of Sun Tao’s remaining left leg.

He looked at the Sun family ancestor, whose face twitched as killing intent boiled over.

“Well?” Xiao Che asked. “Seen it now?”

The Sun family ancestor’s chest rose and fell violently. Bloodshot eyes glaring, he forced out a hoarse voice through clenched teeth.

“You… what will it take for you to spare him?”

“Very simple.”

Xiao Che pointed with his left hand at Xiao Zhanxuan.

“Trade him.”

“Cripple his cultivation, bind him, and hand him over to the Xiao family for judgment.”

Xiao Zhanxuan’s face went deathly pale. He cried out urgently, “Ancestor, don’t listen to his provocation! You and I are allies—how could—”

“Silence!”

The Sun family ancestor cut him off with a low shout, his gaze flickering violently.

At that moment, Xiao Zhatian had already suppressed his injuries and stepped forward together with Xiao Yuantu, flanking Xiao Che on both sides.

Though one Golden Core aura was stronger and the other weaker, the two locked firmly onto the Sun family’s formation, forming a tense standoff.

Xiao Che pressed the sword down another fraction. The skin broke, and blood seeped out.

“Decide quickly.”

He looked at Sun Tao, bleeding profusely and barely clinging to life.

“Your young clan heir… is running out of blood.”

“Though I think he could still be saved—for a bit.”

He tapped Sun Tao’s face lightly with the flat of the sword, his tone gentle.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk. Truly pitiful, Young Clan Heir Sun—don’t you agree?”

Sun Tao no longer had the strength to speak. He could only force out hoarse wheezing sounds from his throat, yet driven by instinct, he desperately nodded.

Xiao Che curled his lips in satisfaction.

“That’s more like it.”

As soon as the words fell, the trace of gentleness vanished from his face, his voice turning frigid.

“I’ll give you three breaths to decide.”

“Hand him over—trade for a life.”

“Otherwise—”

His gaze hardened as it swept over the Sun family ancestor, each word enunciated clearly.

“We all perish together.”

“Three.”

The Sun family ancestor’s eyes darkened, shifting ominously.

Xiao Zhanxuan’s face was as white as paper, and cold sweat poured down his forehead.

“Two.”

Fear and madness intertwined in Xiao Zhanxuan’s eyes as he took half a step back.

Handing his life over to someone else? Absolutely impossible!

“One!”

At the instant the word “one” fell—