Half an hour later.
When Xiao Zhan stepped into the Lei family estate, the entire manor had already turned into a river of blood.
Before the Shadow Guards, any resistance was nothing more than a mantis trying to stop a chariot.
Xiao Zhan glanced at Lei Zhen kneeling on the ground, his gaze sweeping over the bloody wound on the man’s chest. His voice was like ancient ice, so cold it made Lei Zhen tremble uncontrollably.
Lei Zhen already knew that standing before him was a legendary God-tier powerhouse, the supreme Temple Master of the Temple of the War God.
“My lord, I truly don’t know where your daughter is.” Lei Zhen slammed his head heavily against the ground, his voice shaking. “Ye Qingshan’s second son, Ye Hongwen, said it was a Daoist who appeared out of nowhere who took your daughter away.”
“My lord, please spare my life! I swear I’ll do everything I can to find your daughter!”
Xiao Zhan said nothing, yet his earth-shaking killing intent surged skyward, blasting the clouds apart in a single instant.
The three thousand Shadow Guards immediately formed ranks, their faces filled with reverence as they looked at Xiao Zhan.
They all knew that Shadow, the leader of the Shadow Guards, was the Dragon King’s sole disciple.
In other words, the Shadow Guards could be considered a branch of the Temple of the War God.
The difference was that the Shadow Guards served Yanlong Nation, suppressing domestic threats, while the Temple of the War God answered to Xiao Zhan alone.
“Search!” Xiao Zhan finally roared, no longer able to suppress his emotions. The thought of his daughter’s unknown fate pushed his guilt and fury to the breaking point.
He threw his head back and let out a long howl.
“Pass down my War God Decree! Anyone who provides information about my daughter shall be protected by the Temple of the War God for life!”
“Anyone who harms even a single strand of her hair shall suffer death by a thousand cuts!”
With a wave of Shadow’s hand, the three thousand Shadow Guards scattered in all directions, launching a full-scale investigation into the Daoist who had taken Xiao Zhan’s daughter.
Shadow glanced at the Lei family members kneeling on the ground and asked in a low voice,
“Temple Master, the Lei family colluded with the Black Mamba. How should they be dealt with?”
Xiao Zhan kicked out casually. Lei Zhen exploded into a cloud of blood on the spot.
“Those who knew, execute without mercy. Those who didn’t, disperse them all.”
Then Xiao Zhan glanced at Lei Yu, who looked exactly like Lei Zhen and was trembling on the ground as well.
“Feigning stupidity for over twenty years, that takes skill.”
“I’ll give you a chance to join the Temple of the War God.”
Lei Yu was ecstatic. He slammed his head hard against the ground.
“Thank you, Hall Master!”
An hour later.
A helicopter landed at the southern reservoir outside Yunshan City.
At the far end of the reservoir stood a verdant mountain peak nearly a thousand meters tall, its summit crowned by a luxurious villa hidden among towering ancient trees.
The helicopter touched down precisely on the helipad.
Guo Haijun was already waiting respectfully with his men.
Xiao Zhan surveyed the surroundings, nodded, and asked,
“Has Weiwei woken up?”
Guo Haijun’s expression was grave. “Temple Master, Madam is overwhelmed with grief. Her mind isn’t quite clear.”
Xiao Zhan looked toward the villa dozens of meters away and let out a quiet sigh.
“It’s all my fault. If only I’d come back sooner.”
With that, he headed toward the villa.
By the swimming pool.
Ye Wei sat on the ground, hugging her knees. Her long, unkempt hair hid her pale, haggard face. Her eyes were empty, devoid of any light, like a walking corpse.
Xiao Zhan sat beside her, his eyes reddening as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
Ye Wei shuddered violently and screamed in terror.
Xiao Zhan pulled her tightly into his embrace and said softly,
“Weiwei, it’s me, Xiao Zhan. Don’t be afraid. I’m here. No one will ever hurt you again.”
As he spoke, a gentle stream of true qi flowed from his body into hers, soothing her shattered spirit.
Clarity flickered in Ye Wei’s eyes, and then tears the size of beans streamed down her face.
“Yaoyao…” she sobbed, her body trembling.
“I need to find my Yaoyao!”
Tears welled up in Xiao Zhan’s eyes. “I should be the one apologizing. I failed to protect you and our daughter.”
“Don’t worry, Weiwei. I will bring our daughter back.”
Ye Wei forced down her grief, stubborn resolve flashing across her face as she pushed Xiao Zhan away.
“You should leave, now! I’ll find Yaoyao myself!”
“The Ye family is cold-blooded, and Xiao Tianzuo is a devil who eats people without spitting out bones. You can’t fight them.”
Xiao Zhan shook his head, about to say that the Ye family no longer existed and that the Xiao family of the capital would be wiped out in three days.
But Ye Wei spoke first. “I’ll ask Yiyi for help. She’ll help me find Yaoyao.”
Xiao Zhan wanted to explain who he truly was, but Ye Wei continued,
“This must be your friend’s place. Hide here for a few days, then find a chance to leave Yunshan City.”
She turned to Guo Haijun, who had just walked over, and bowed slightly.
“Thank you for your help. Please let Xiao Zhan stay here for a few days. Don’t worry, I’ll arrange for him to leave soon and won’t cause you any trouble.”
Guo Haijun’s eyelids twitched violently as he hurriedly stepped aside.
He dared not accept her bow.
Ye Wei borrowed a car and sped away from the villa like a gust of wind.
Guo Haijun asked, baffled,
“Temple Master, why didn’t you explain everything to Madam?”
Xiao Zhan sighed.
“Do you think a strong mother would sit in a villa, waiting for others to rescue her daughter?”
“That kind of waiting would be torture for her.”
“Let Weiwei do things her way. No one is to interfere.”
“Also, contact the Twin Maidens. Have them protect Weiwei.”
Guo Haijun answered with a quick “Yes,” pulling out his phone to make the call.
At the same time, fifty Heaven-tier experts of the Temple of the war God, both overt and covert, had all arrived in Yanlong Nation.
Aside from Jiang Yuan, who was searching for Xiao Yao’s whereabouts in Wanshan Province, all the other Heaven-tier experts had gathered in the capital.
The Xiao Family of the Capital.
Covering over fifty thousand square meters, the Xiao estate had once been the residence of a prince several hundred years ago.
Carved beams and painted rafters adorned the grounds, with pavilions, terraces, koi ponds, and gardens scattered throughout. Hundreds of Xiao family members lived within.
Half an hour earlier, a small wooden box had been delivered to the current family head, Xiao Beihe.
Inside lay one of Xiao Tianzuo’s ears and a jade pendant engraved with the character “Xiao.”
Xiao Beihe, dressed in a dark robe embroidered with auspicious clouds, sat at the head seat of the council hall. Though he said nothing, his terrifying aura kept everyone else silent.
“Well? Speak! Have you all gone mute?” he snorted coldly.
“You’re all familiar with this jade pendant. Any thoughts?”
Several middle-aged men seated at the far left immediately lowered their heads.
Xiao Beihe’s gaze turned icy.
“Five years ago, you returned from Yunshan City and told me that that brat was dead!”
“And now? The ‘dead man’ you spoke of is back, and he’s taken my son!”
“So yes, you all deserve to die!”
The men shuddered and hurriedly dropped to their knees.
“Family Head, give us one more chance! We’ll go to Yunshan City immediately, kill that remnant, and bring the Young Master back safely!”
“Safely?” Xiao Beihe roared, springing to his feet. With a casual wave of his hand, the wooden box rolled into the center of the hall, the bloody ear tumbling out.
“This is what you call ‘safe’?!”
“Family Head, please calm your anger,” an elderly man with white hair and beard said, frowning.
“Even if that little beast survived back then, he’d only be twenty-five this year. At most, he’d be Earth-tier, not worth fearing.”
“The real danger is the Temple of the War God.”
Xiao Beihe’s pupils shrank. “What does this have to do with the Temple of the War God?”
The old man continued,
“There are rumors that the Temple Master of the Temple of the War God personally arrived in Yunshan City and is frantically hunting down the hidden pieces left behind by various underground forces.”
“If they discover our Xiao family’s connection to Blood Shark Island, things will get troublesome.”
Xiao Beihe immediately calmed down.
The Temple of the War God was not something the Xiao family could afford to provoke.
After a moment of silence, Xiao Beihe said grimly,
“Opportunity and destruction coexist. If we’re careful, we might gain both Blood Shark Island and the Temple of the War God as backers.”
“When that happens, my Xiao family will become the strongest clan in Yanlong Nation!”
“Notify the First Elder and Second Elder. Tomorrow, gather all Xiao family members at Earth-tier and above, we’re going to Yunshan City!”
“And inform all major families in Yunshan City: those who wish to become vassals of the Xiao family should act now. Have them keep an eye on Xiao Zhan. He must not be allowed to escape again!”
“This time, I’ll eradicate the roots and send that little beast to meet his father!”
“I’ll show him that five years ago he was nothing but a bug… and today, he’s still a bug that can be crushed underfoot!”

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