The next day, Dragon Cloud City’s fighting stage was enveloped by a roaring crowd shouting their cheers. 

On the stage, two youths stood thrilled and panting, surrounded by either dead or wounded people.

“The winner of today’s battle hails from Crescent Sword City, the Xue clan! They are advancing to the final battle!” A Profound Heaven expert stepped on stage and gestured at the youths.

The crowd exploded with applause, raising the excitement of the two. They left the stage and walked to their cheering clan.

“Big brother, second brother, congratulations!”

Xue Ningxiang gave them a hug and a sweet smile.

The two were Xue Gang and Xue Lin. After the horrors of Blue Expanse City, Xie Tianyang saved them and their clan became Sword Marquise Abode’s vassal.

It was the only way they could have joined the Esoteric Debate.

“Gang’er, Lin’er, you’ve done well. You are now ready to join the final battle and help Sword Marquise Abode’s young masters in their fight!” Xue Wanlong laughed with pride, “Remember, never let down our clan and protect the two young masters!”

Patriarch Xue Dingtian nodded at the side.

Thanks to Xie Tianyang, their clan was under Sword Marquise Abode’s wing, cared for and well supplied. But this left them uneasy, and they were going to use this chance to repay their help! This was the reason for joining the Esoteric Debate.

Xue Gang and Xue Lin nodded, filled with battle spirit.

Xie Tianyang stood next to Xue Ningxiang, sighing, “Uncle, why did you let the brothers join such a cruel battle? This time’s battle will be far more deadly and vicious than any of the past ones. I fear…”

“Second young master, I have made my decision. We cannot go on receiving Sword Marquise Abode’s grace without giving anything back. Please give us this chance to show our gratitude!” Xue Wanlong cupped his hands.

Xie Tianyang sighed.

The Profound Heaven expert on the stage suddenly said, “The next fight will be between Drifting Flowers City’s Dong clan and Flood City’s Yu clan!”

Two familiar figures walked on stage. Xie Tianyang’s eyes brightened, “Who knew we’d see them here?”

“Aren’t they brother Dong and sister Wan’er? You know them as well?” Xue Ningxiang was startled.

Xie Tianyang looked at her instead, “Ning’er, how do you know them?”

“Drifting Flowers Edifices and Sword Marquise Abode are allies. We met when the two houses gathered for negotiation. Brother Dong is somewhat frivolous, but Wan’er is very nice!” Ning’er smiled, “How do you know them? Disciples of the seven houses hardly ever meet with people from second rate clans.”

“Uh, we met in Drifting Flowers City. I hear that Dong Xiaowan and the kid have something going on between them.” Xie Tianyang grinned, thinking of having a little payback.

Xue Ningxiang looked closer at Dong Xiaowan and muttered, “No wonder she never said anything when the topic about who she likes came up…”

Correct, the two Dong siblings were those Dongs.

Because of their ties with Zhuo Fan back in Drifting Flowers City and having gotten familiar with Drifting Flowers Edifices’ leaders, the Dong clan had been on a swift rise. They had long outstripped the title of vassal clan and moved to Drifting Flowers City to become their trusted aide.

The old master of the Dong clan couldn’t be happier and stated that they had to go and see their most treasured benefactor in the flesh.

Of course, such a thing wasn’t so easy to achieve, not with how busy Zhuo Fan was. If he wasn’t blowing something up, he was beating the life out of someone. The likes of him could hardly squeeze a meeting between his murderous rampage and endless mayhem.

Thanks to Drifting Flowers Edifices’ help, Dong Tianba had entered the Profound Heaven Stage, displaying his majestic air on today’s stage. In but half an hour, he and his sister won over their opponents and arrived next to their clansmen and friends.

“Young master Xie, uncle xie, sir Xie, brothers Xie, how do you do?”

Dong Tianba cupped his hands in pride. Dong Xiaowan bowed as well with a smile. The others nodded, while Xue Gang had eyes only for Dong Xiaowan and her charming smile.

Everyone could tell what he was thinking.

“Brother Xue, how have you been? I never thought our clans would enter the final battle. We will be fighting alongside it seems, ha-ha-ha…” A portly man came over.

Dong Tianba and Dong Xiaowan cupped their hands, “Dad!”

Xue clan greeted in kind, but only when he saw Xie Tianyang did the old man greet back.

He was the Dong Clan Head.

Dong Clan Head pointed at Xue Gang, “Young master is of great talent. Could I be so bold as to ask if you’re married?”

“Uh, no.” Xue Dingtian smiled, his meaning clear.

Dong Clan Head nodded and smiled at his daughter, “What a fine coincidence, neither is my daughter. I find our clans so friendly that I was wondering…”

“Dad!” Dong Xiaowan gave him the stink-eye and was sullen.

Xue Ningxiang could see herself in her and shook her head. The two already had someone and were not going to just change their minds at the drop of the hat.

Meanwhile, the Profound Heaven expert on the stage said, “The next fight is between Sun Spire City’s Hong clan and Blue Expanse City’s Sun clan!”

Shuddering, the Xue clan turned to the stage. Blue Expanse City used to be their turf while being Hell Valley’s vassal. Since betraying their patron, Blue Expanse City fell under another clan’s jurisdiction.

Bluntly put, the Sun clan was their replacement, Hell Valley’s brand new lap dog.

The Sun clan only sent a man and a woman to fight against fifty Bone Tempering experts led by two Profound Heaven cultivators.

Such power among second rate clans made it a seeded clan, closely approaching the qualifications to be a first rate clan.

Against such strength, the Sun clan sent merely two, a really odd pair. Their eyes released a bloody glow, and closely resembled monsters rather than humans. Not even their appearances could be distinguished.

The sight of them standing there sent shivers among many. As if they were demons who sprang out of hell. But upon closer look, they were only peak Bone Tempering cultivators.

“He-he-he, two peak Bone Tempering cultivators want to mess with fifty experts?” The leading youth snickered, “From your demonic look, living must’ve been hard and you’ve come for the sweet release of death, right? Ha-ha-ha…”

The others laughed as well.

That demonic man however was wrapped in black energy as it suddenly jumped from him with a roar.

A veritable fountain of blood bloomed, while the Hong clan youth fell with a perplexed look.

He was still wondering how a peak Bone Tempering cultivator killed him.

Sss~

The others gasped. Hong clan’s laughter died and watched the pair of enemies in shock.

How could a fresh Profound Heaven expert die in one blow?

[A sneak attack for sure!]

With a shout, the fifty men from Hong clan stormed the pair. The two only had a creepy grin as they turned into black mist and roamed among them.

The slaughter began. Not of the pair, but of those fifty experts as the two crazed monsters were unleashed upon them.

Wails, sobbing, and horror grated on the audience’s ears. In just fifteen minutes, they were the only ones standing, while the corpses around them had their throats ripped out.

Blood soaked into the arena and the dead stare of the bodies gave a glimpse into the cruelty they had just suffered.

Xue Ningxiang had long since covered her eyes. Xie Tianyang’s brow was furrowed, [What made these guys act with such brutality?]

The girl on stage suddenly snapped her head back and pointed at the Xue clan with a nasty grin, “Traitor of Hell Valley, you will die in the final battle, by our hands. None of you will live. We will cleanse the Hell Valley of its traitors! Your time will soon come, hi-hi-hi…”

The Xue clan felt a shiver run down their very core.

This pair was way too abnormal. Not just the sons, but even the father and patriarch felt their hair stand on end.

Xie Tianyang stepped up and shielded Xue Ningxiang as he roared, “Stop barking! I would like to see you try and touch the Xue clan!”

“Second young master Xie, our house lord’s son will deal with you and we will deal with the traitorous Xue clan!” Snickering, the girl threw her head back.

The creepy way she talked and her posture only worked to deepen one’s fear.

The man next to her said, “Don’t forget our main objective, the Luo clan. Xue clan is just a side dish!”

“You’re after the Luo clan?” Xue Ningxiang was worried.

On the other hand, Xie Tianyang felt relief. A few days back he would’ve been worried as well, but not now.

Because the Luo clan had recovered their pillar, the Demon Archon Zhuo Fan.

With him around, these weirdos looked like imps in comparison. Going after the Luo clan was a death sentence.

But the man saw Xue Ningxiang’s distress and reveled in it, “Yes, we will find the Luo clan and slaughter them all! Especially that Zhuo Fan. We will tear him limb from limb!”

Xue Ningxiang’s pure heart was stuck in her throat, vexed over Zhuo Fan’s safety.

[Brother Zhuo, two bad men are after you!]

While Xie Tianyang almost burst out laughing, [Dude, have you even seen Zhuo Fan? Have you seen his power? What is your boasting based on, hot air? Not even a moron will believe such a lame joke!]

But then he saw Xue Ningxiang sick with worry and amended his thoughts with a twitch of his cheek, [Ning’er excluded.]

She was no moron, just naive…