Chapter 267: Tense Atmosphere

"Is that brat the successor your Ling Clan originally chose?" Yi Huang appeared quietly beside the black-robed figure and asked with interest.

"Yes!" The face shrouded under the black robe was revealed; the calm yet deeply sorrowful expression of Fairy Lingyi made one sigh involuntarily.

"However, I must still thank Langya Pavilion for its help!"

Fairy Lingyi was well aware of just how much trouble the people of the Ling Clan would bring to Langya Pavilion next. Even though this was a pre-existing agreement, this expression of gratitude had to be said.

To this, Yi Huang merely smiled calmly: "We are simply uniting all forces that can be united; Fairy Lingyi need not be like this."

"May I ask..." Lingyu hesitated, but ultimately voiced his confusion:

"Does Langya Pavilion have a grudge against the Soul Clan?"

Yi Huang was taken aback, but upon recovering, she immediately laughed: "The grievances between my Langya Pavilion and the Soul Hall are known to everyone in the Central Plains, and the same naturally applies to the Soul Clan behind them."

"No!" Fairy Lingyi shook her head in denial, "I am referring to the Soul Clan, not the Soul Hall."

"Does Langya Pavilion itself have any grievances with the Soul Clan?"

During her time living in seclusion at Langya Pavilion, Fairy Lingyi had not been in closed-door cultivation the entire time; she would occasionally walk around the pavilion.

Being observant, she discovered that the entire Langya Pavilion did not seem to fear the Soul Hall or even the Soul Clan. This phenomenon was not yet obvious among the Disciples, but it was particularly prominent among the more steady, veteran Elders.

Regarding the Soul Clan, they only felt wariness and solemnity toward its strength, but they were not afraid, and even had a hint of longing to cross swords with them.

This gave Fairy Lingyi the feeling that the two houses had long since had a falling out.

Facing Fairy Lingyi's inquiry, Yi Huang did not give a clear answer, instead revealing a mysterious smile: "Fairy Lingyi will naturally understand this in the future."

Afterward, her figure quietly vanished, leaving behind an afterimage that slowly dissipated in place.

Half a year passed in a flash, and during this period, the turmoil caused in the Central Plains by the disappearance of the Ling Clan gradually subsided, appearing to return to its former state.

However, only a few could see the surging undercurrents hidden beneath the calm surface. Langya Pavilion, caught in this vortex, remained completely unaware, continuing to go its own way as usual.

However, these days were declared over the moment certain guests arrived.

In the main hall of Langya Pavilion, only twelve people were seated at this moment; yet, if any outsider were present, they would surely be able to feel the terrifying aura radiating from each person.

The twelve people sat in distinct groups, the hall was silent, and the atmosphere was somewhat tense.

Finally, Xiao Han, sitting at the head, spoke slowly, his voice unhurried and as calm as an ancient well:

"Guests from the various Ancient Races have come from afar; please forgive me for the poor hospitality!"

However, from Xiao Han's expression, no one could see any sign of apology.

"Heh heh~" A burly, blood-colored middle-aged man let out a sinister laugh. The people from the other Ancient Races kept a distance of several feet from him, the heavy scent of blood making one unable to help but frown.

A hoarse voice sounded in the hall, "Ice Saint need not be so polite, as long as Langya Pavilion hands over those Ling Clan people to our clan..."

"There will definitely be a reward!"

"Past grievances will be wiped clean!"

"How about it?"

Hearing these words, Xiao Han did not react, but another pale old man with the air of an immortal frowned and said: "Hun Tu, you have gone a bit too far!"

"Heh heh~" Regarding the old man's warning, Hun Tu was completely indifferent and said disdainfully:

"Are you not here for those Ling Clan people?"

"To still be putting on a facade after arriving here..." Hun Tu sneered, "Gu Dao, is your Ancient Clan always this hypocritical?"

Gu Dao's expression changed; having his intentions pointed out, the expressions of the others from the Ancient Races also looked rather unpleasant.

In fact, what Hun Tu said was not false; the fundamental reason so many powerhouses of the Ancient Races could gather in one hall was the ten Ling Clan geniuses in Langya Pavilion.

Although there was now no news of the Ling Clan, for some, no news was the best news. But everyone had their suspicions that the Ling Clan was likely finished.

And the culprit was likely one of the Ancient Soul Tribe. Because of this, in their seats, Gu Dao and Hun Tu were vaguely isolated and shunned by the people of the other Ancient Races.

But this was not the goal of those who came. The destruction of the Ling Clan not only served as a warning to the other Ancient Races but also represented the disappearance of a type of Dou Di Bloodline.

And as Langya Pavilion held the only remaining Ling Clan Dou Di Bloodline, the other Ancient Races naturally had to make a trip.

On the surface, it was protection; in reality, it was just covetousness. The ten remaining genius Dou Di Bloodlines of the Ling Clan were all of a quite dense grade within their clan; otherwise, they would not be called geniuses.

A group of helpless geniuses—after taking them back, even without doing anything deliberate, as long as they intermarried within their own clans, the Ling Clan's Dou Di Bloodline would naturally be propagated.

How to choose between two types of Dou Di Bloodlines was clear and explicit. But although that was the goal, everyone just needed to keep it tacit; once it was brought into the open, it would not look very good on anyone's face.

Just as Gu Dao wanted to continue saying something, Xiao Han, who had been silent, looked over the representatives of the various factions before him and suddenly spoke with a half-smile:

"The Three Immortals of Gu, the Four Demon Saints of the Soul Clan, the Great Elders of the Shi, Lei, Yao, and Yan clans..."

"I never expected that those little Ling Clan fellows in my Langya Pavilion would actually be such a hot commodity!"

Although Xiao Han's tone sounded very calm, the playfulness and mockery within it were obvious.

"It's just that... can you all answer me one thing..."

Xiao Han's voice suddenly turned cold and sharp, "Is the agreement that those above the Five-star stage do not take action just a decoration?"

Two Seven-Star Dou Saint Late Stage, three Six-Star Dou Saints, and one Five-star Dou Sheng Late Stage—this was not negotiating with Langya Pavilion; it was practically forcing the palace!

The others' expressions stiffened. Today was perhaps the most embarrassing time they had experienced in their lives; they were the ones who set the rules, and they were the ones who violated them.

In the end, Hun Tu was more open-minded; for the Soul Clan, face was merely a burden. He said calmly with a warning tone:

"Rules are made and broken by the strong. I hope the Ice Saint will consider this carefully; do not delay Langya Pavilion for a group of completely irrelevant Ling Clan people!"

Yi Huang and the others, who had been silent on the side, were first angry, but then revealed playful smiles, watching the scene with schadenfreude.

If it were back then, it would have been quite troublesome for Xiao Han to deal with this group, but now it was just a matter of suppressing them with a flip of his hand.

Xiao Han gave a look to the people of Langya Pavilion, and the latter immediately understood, silently rising to leave.

Noticing the departure of Yi Huang and the others, Hun Tu smiled, while inwardly feeling some disdain. This Ice Saint was rumored to be god-like in the Central Plains, but in front of so many Ancient Races, didn't he still cave in?

The others also breathed a sigh of relief; if not absolutely necessary, they were unwilling to provoke a super-faction.

At this moment, Xiao Han revealed a strange smile and said quite approvingly: "This Pavilion Master also very much agrees with the meaning of Lord Hun Tu; without strength, everything is in vain..."

Before Hun Tu could reveal a triumphant smile, Xiao Han's next sentence made the corners of his mouth stiffen on his face,

"But whose strength is actually stronger now is a matter of debate!"

As the voice fell, a terrifying chill erupted from Xiao Han as the center, exploding throughout the Langya Pavilion hall amidst the horrified gazes of the crowd.