Proud Sword Soaring Clouds

Faced with the Li Family’s sudden, violent attack, the members of the Gou Family, who were already on guard, roared in anger. Gou Shuang, a Tier Five Sword Sect and the weakest among them, shouted, "What do you think you’re doing?! Whatever grudges you have, can’t you settle them outside? Fighting amongst ourselves in here—do none of you want to get out alive?"

Li Yan sneered. "Cut the crap! If our positions were reversed, you think you’d hold back? Don’t be ridiculous! It’s not too late to deal with the Magical Beasts after we finish you off!"

Although Qin Zhaoran could see there was a feud between the two families, he never expected the Li Family to attack so decisively. Moreover, with ten Sword Emperor Powerhouses against the Gou Family’s five, the Li Family had an overwhelming advantage! If no one intervened, he feared that not a single person from the Dragon Valley Gou Family attending this grand event would be left alive!

Whether the Dragon Valley Gou Family was powerful or not wasn’t the point. This event was being held on Qin Family territory, and the Qin Family had ambitions for the position of Alliance Leader. How could they just stand by and watch such a tragedy unfold?

"Stop! Everyone, listen to me!" Qin Zhaoran forced himself to shout, but he found that no one was listening to him at all! He couldn’t help but look pleadingly toward the members of the other families and sects, only to find them all looking on as if it had nothing to do with them. They backed away, keeping one eye on the fight between the Li and Gou Families and the other on the pairs of gleaming green eyes lurking in the darkness.

AWOOO!

One of the Magical Beasts let out a howl, darting out of the darkness and pouncing on the nearest person. The vast horde of Magical Beasts behind it followed suit, surging toward the patch of light like a tidal wave!

Zhe Shixun, who had been looking grim, brandished his treasured sword. A long, swift arc of Sword Qi swept viciously toward several Magical Beasts pouncing at him. A shower of blood rained down as the beasts were sliced in two. The thick stench of blood, rather than frightening the remaining Magical Beasts, only further incited their savagery. They roared furiously and charged forward.

"Courting death!"

Zhe Shixun roared again and again, unleashing frequent blasts of Sword Qi and slaughtering the Magical Beasts like a man possessed. The other members of the Zhe Family frowned to themselves but understood his actions. His only grandson had been murdered, and while he had dispatched men for revenge, he couldn’t go himself. The frustration bottled up inside him was easy to imagine.

As they slew the Magical Beasts, many people noticed something. The majority of these beasts weren’t high-tier—mostly just Tier Three or Tier Four. For ordinary people, a horde of Tier Three and Four Magical Beasts would be a catastrophe, but everyone here was an elite powerhouse from a major family. For a Sword Emperor, dealing with Tier Three and Four Magical Beasts was ridiculously easy! However, hidden amongst them were one or two incredibly powerful ones! Just now, one such beast had been among those surrounding the Qin Family. Qin Feng had run right into it and was nearly injured. Luckily, a Qin Family Elder was nearby, or the consequences would have been unthinkable!

The battle between the Western Li Family and the Dragon Valley Gou Family concluded with shocking speed. At the cost of one Sword Emperor suffering minor injuries, the Li Family annihilated all six members of the Dragon Valley Gou Family, including their Patriarch, Gou Shuang. Not a single one was left alive.

Qin Zhaoran never imagined the Li Family would be so audacious as to kill all the elites the Dragon Valley Gou Family had brought, right in front of everyone. ’Although there are still some low-level disciples outside,’ he thought, ’it seems likely they too will meet a grim fate.’

Li Yan, while slaying a Magical Beast, said, "Patriarch Qin, it’s not that the Li Family doesn’t understand the rules. The Gou Family meddled in the succession for the throne of our Royal Family! They killed our Li Family’s descendants and even threatened to wipe out the Li Family! Hmph, do they think the Li Family is some kind of pushover they can just crush whenever they please?"

Qin Zhaoran was, of course, aware of the recent change in succession within the Lanyue Imperial Family. The great families and sects, in their lofty positions, paid little mind to the various rumors circulating in the outside world. To them, it was just the death of an Emperor in the Mortal World. It mattered little to them who ruled the empire.

Hearing the Li Family’s words now, he instantly understood. The Gou Family must have been the backing power for one of the factions in that imperial power struggle. ’Still, for the Li Family to be so murderous is going too far!’ Thinking this, Qin Zhaoran kicked away a tiger-shaped Magical Beast that pounced at him, a chill running through his heart. ’The Li Family... they’re making a statement!’

At this thought, an indignant expression appeared on Qin Zhaoran’s face, but now was clearly not the time to dwell on such things. He hardened his heart. ’If you really push us, I’ll have the three ancestors kill every last one of you! I’ll let all the great families and sects suffer a devastating blow!’

Ling Xiao protected the two women and the trembling Gu Family disciple, all while calculating in his mind. ’How can I get my hands on that giant net? Taking it openly would definitely get me noticed. Even though so many people are busy slaying Magical Beasts, their Divine Senses are all powerful. I can feel numerous auras blanketing the area.’ It was clear that after the Li Family’s recent slaughter, the Sword Emperor Powerhouses trusted no one outside their own families!

Because of this, the slightest unusual move from Ling Xiao would certainly not escape their notice!

Just as he was thinking, a much deeper beastly roar suddenly echoed from behind. The sound seemed to resonate in the very depths of one’s soul. The expressions of many Sword Emperor-level powerhouses changed in unison. An old man from the Zhe Family, who had not yet made a move, suddenly opened his eyes. A sharp light burst from them as he said in a deep voice, "To think there’s a Magical Beast this powerful. It seems I’ll have to take action as well!"