Chapter 328: Burning Sky's Fury (Part 1)

"Xiao… oh no, Yun Che…" Xiao Ze’s legs trembled as he swallowed hard, saying, "My grandson, Chengzhi, went with Xiao Kuangyun to the Xiao Sect three years ago. He's now a member of the main Xiao Sect. Can you… can you spare us for Chengzhi’s sake…"

To them, the Xiao Sect was like a divine mansion; joining it was the greatest honor of their lives. Xiao Ze thought to use Xiao Chengzhi, who had entered the Xiao Sect, to make Yun Che hesitate. But before he could finish, Yun Che's suddenly chilling gaze pierced him, rendering him speechless. "Xiao Chengzhi? Heh, don't tell me he's just a bottom-feeder in the Xiao Sect, not even as useful as a gate-keeping servant. Even if Xiao Juetian, the Sect Master of the Xiao Sect, were to come, I'd settle scores with him today too! A father cannot escape responsibility for the debts his son owes!"

Yun Che's words were chillingly sharp, clearly showing he held even Xiao Juetian, the Xiao Sect Master, in contempt. Everyone who heard him felt their hearts tremble… If he didn't care about Xiao Juetian, what was Xiao Chengzhi worth? No, no! He wasn't worth anything at all.

*Bang!* Yun Che delivered a flying kick, sending Xiao Yunhai sprawling. Xiao Yunhai's body flew sideways, knocking over a dozen disciples behind him. However, Yun Che did not use lethal force in his attacks. Otherwise, with his current strength, even a fraction of his power would be enough to utterly destroy anyone. Xiao Yunhai, as the Master of the Xiao Clan, was naturally not a complete fool. He realized this and struggled to sit upright, saying, "Yun Che, what happened back then… we wronged you and the Fifth Elder… But at that time, we were forced by circumstances. We couldn't afford to offend anyone from the Xiao Sect… If we hadn't done that, none of us would have had a good outcome… We expelled you from the Xiao Clan simply because you truly didn't possess the Xiao Clan's bloodline… But after all, our Xiao Clan raised you for sixteen years…"

Xiao Yunhai was certainly not a man of staunch integrity who would rather die than yield. Otherwise, he wouldn't have betrayed and framed his own clansmen to appease Xiao Kuangyun back then. So, upon realizing that Yun Che didn't seem to intend to kill them, he immediately began to beg.

"Nonsense!" Yun Che roared, his brows furrowed. "Forced? Xiao Kuangyun never even met my aunt on his first day here, so how could he have had any dirty thoughts about her?! And you have the nerve to say that the framing you orchestrated on the second day was 'forced'? Furthermore, the one who raised me was my grandfather, Xiao Lie, not your Xiao Clan! All you ever gave me was condescending disdain, contempt, mockery, and bullying! I will never forget any of it."

As Yun Che spoke, his gaze swept over everyone present. Anyone who met his eyes felt a chill run through them, especially those who had repeatedly mocked and ridiculed him as a good-for-nothing. They all instantly lowered their heads, trembling, not daring to even breathe.

If an ordinary powerful expert had stood before them, they would not have cowered so much. After all, with so many people in the Xiao Clan, united, they were arguably the strongest force in Floating Cloud City. But Yun Che's displayed strength was simply too terrifying. Xiao Bo, Xiao Yunhai, Xiao Li… these three, currently the strongest in the Xiao Clan, couldn't even put up a struggle against him. His casual sword strike that split the earth caused many hearts to burst in terror on the spot. Faced with the immense pressure brought by such power, they felt only fear and lacked any courage to resist.

Xiao Bo's right arm was completely crippled, Xiao Li was pinned to the wall, his screams now incredibly hoarse, and Clan Master Xiao Yunhai knelt on the ground, his face covered in blood. Xiao Cheng and Xiao Ze's legs were visibly trembling, not daring to take a single step forward… The entire Xiao Clan was permeated with an aura of near despair. Watching Yun Che, who radiated heavy pressure, resentment, and a malevolent aura, they were filled with intense regret… The Yun Che who was now famous throughout the world was actually the Xiao Che they had driven out with their malicious words back then! If they hadn't committed those treacherous and wicked deeds to curry favor with Xiao Kuangyun back then, Yun Che's current glory would have benefited their Xiao Clan! The Xiao Clan's reputation would have soared without question, perhaps even surpassing a branch of the Xiao Sect… The Xiao Clan's name would have been known throughout the world. They would also have established connections with the Imperial Family and the Ice Cloud Asgard, all because of Yun Che. This was something they wouldn't have dared to dream of, surpassing the Xiao Sect's meager handouts three years ago by tens of thousands of times over! Yet, all of this, which could have been realized, was utterly destroyed by their greed and treachery three years ago… Replaced instead by Yun Che's hatred! And the likely arrival of eternal damnation.

For the first time in their lives, Xiao Yunhai and the elders understood perfectly how to write the word "regret." But there was no medicine for regret in this world, and they could never turn back time. This was the cause they themselves had sown, and they could blame no one else. They had to painfully accept this outcome themselves.

Xiao Cheng cautiously said, "Yes… these were all our mistakes. We were completely blinded by the Xiao Sect's prestige back then, but… but all of this was the idea of the former Young Clan Master, Xiao Yulong! We merely… merely cooperated with Xiao Yulong, and he also received his retribution afterwards. That very night, his eyes were gouged out, his nose and ears cut off, his tongue severed, and his tendons in his hands and feet were cut… He even… even became a eunuch… and died within a few days… All of that genuinely wasn't our idea!" The matter of Xiao Yulong had always been a forbidden topic in the Xiao Clan; otherwise, Xiao Yunhai would surely go mad. But at this moment, to gain a chance at survival, Xiao Cheng had no choice but to bring it up, placing all the blame on the tragically deceased Xiao Yulong. Yun Che shifted his gaze, sneering, "You're right. All of this is retribution… the retribution he deserved! And you, after what you did that day, did you never consider that you, too, would receive your retribution someday?!"

Yun Che's voice still echoed in their ears, but his figure had already vanished. Xiao Cheng and Xiao Ze simultaneously felt a wave of profound energy, sharp as a blade and as wild as a tsunami, surge towards them. Two overlapping slaps rang out, so loud they made eardrums tremble. Xiao Ze and Xiao Cheng were simultaneously slapped flying, landing far away, collapsing on the ground, unable to stand for a long time. Blood seeped from the corners of their mouths, their old faces turned crimson, and the slapped sides of their faces swelled to two or three times their normal size. They clutched their burning faces, moaning in pain.

With another blur, Yun Che was back in his original position. His speed was so immense that no one present could clearly see him. Yun Che stood with his arms crossed, a cold sneer on his face, and said, "But don't worry, I won't kill you yet. Otherwise, you'd already be scattered pieces of flesh. It's not that I don't want to kill you, but my grandfather and aunt are inherently kind and benevolent. They've never committed any acts of slaughter in their lives. Moreover, since you are, after all, of the same clan as my grandfather and aunt, if I were to kill all of you like this, they would feel responsible for your deaths and bear a sense of guilt."

The few who had been in despair were instantly overjoyed upon hearing this. But then, they suddenly thought of something, and their expressions changed again, becoming even more distraught than before.

Xiao Yunhai quickly struggled to his feet and said, "Yes… we wronged the Fifth Elder first. For that great mistake we made back then, it's only right that we receive this retribution today. As long as you… spare us today, from now on, our Xiao Clan will follow your lead. Any reasonable request of yours… ah no, demand, we will absolutely obey, even if it means going through fire and water, hoping only to make up for the mistakes of the past." Yun Che saw the changes in their expressions and felt a slight doubt, but he didn't pay it much mind. He looked coldly at Xiao Yunhai, saying, "Xiao Yunhai, you're quite the schemer. You drove me out of the Xiao Clan back then, and now you're thinking of associating with me again? Very well. Since your Xiao Clan intends to be obedient, then I have something for you to do right now!"

Yun Che's eyes darkened as he looked at everyone, stating coldly, "All of you, go to the Rear Mountain's Valley of Self-Reflection right now. Kneel where my grandfather and aunt are confined and beg them to leave the Valley of Self-Reflection! If you persuade them to leave, I will consider sparing your lives and leave your fates to my grandfather's discretion. If you can't persuade them… then you will kneel there until you die!" Yun Che was not a merciful person, but Xiao Lie was, and so was Xiao Lingxi. Especially Xiao Lie: if he wasn't deeply loyal and righteous, how could he have endured countless taunts and criticisms, raising Yun Che—a child with crippled profound veins and not even his biological grandson—with such hardship and suffering? Yun Che knew what the outcome would be if he left their fates to Xiao Lie's discretion. Even though they had wronged Xiao Lie in countless ways, Xiao Lie would still be unable to be ruthless towards them… Yun Che understood this clearly, but he could only choose this path. Otherwise, as he himself had said, his grandfather would forever bear a burden of guilt that would be impossible to unload. However, he didn't expect that after he finished speaking, the expressions on the faces of the Xiao Clan members weren't surprise or relief, but rather a terror that intensified severalfold. His brows suddenly furrowed, and an ominous premonition arose in his heart.

"This… this… this…" Despite this immense hope, which was almost a divine blessing, Xiao Yunhai and the others felt a chill run through their bodies. Xiao Yunhai's body slumped back into a half-kneel, completely limp, unable to stand again. He spoke in a hoarse voice filled with deep terror, "F-F-Fifth Elder, and Xiao Lingxi… they've already… already…"

Yun Che's pupils suddenly constricted, and an extremely cold, malevolent aura and killing intent erupted from his body. With a flicker, he rushed in front of Xiao Yunhai, grabbing his collar tightly, his eyes blazing red as he demanded, "What happened to my grandfather and aunt?! What happened to them… Speak! Tell me now!"

Seized by Yun Che, Xiao Yunhai gasped, his face turning deathly pale. Xiao Cheng, clutching his swollen face nearby, cowered and stammered, "They… they're no longer in the Rear Mountain…"

Yun Che's mind buzzed, and the world spun violently around him.

A chilling, malevolent aura, as if from hell itself, made everyone shiver. Xiao Cheng swallowed hard, terrified that Yun Che might suddenly explode in rage and kill him. He stammered frantically, "It was the Burning Heaven Clan… people from the Burning Heaven Clan…"

"Three days ago, a group from the Burning Heaven Clan suddenly arrived here… They claimed they wanted to take Xiao Lie and Xiao Lingxi… We had no idea why, and they didn't explain anything to us… We simply dared not resist the Burning Heaven Clan's orders. We could only watch as they went to the Rear Mountain… and took away the Fifth Elder and Xiao Lingxi… It was the Burning Heaven Clan… it truly had nothing to do with us…"

A violent shock ripped through Yun Che's mind. Every drop of blood, every nerve, every fiber of his soul was completely consumed by a sudden surge of fury and hatred.