Chapter 333: A Self-Willed Decision

While Xiao Han and Zhu Huo were heading toward the Taixu Ancient Dragon, a standoff was erupting in the Manghuang Ancient Region on the other side.

One of the leaders on the opposing sides was Xian'er, whom Xiao Han had specifically sent out to hold the fort, while facing her was a black-robed man with a face as handsome as jade.

"This must be Miss Xian'er of the Langya Pavilion. Truly a beauty who could topple cities, with an ethereal air—worthy of being a disciple of that person."

"I am Hun Yu. Greetings, Miss Xian'er," Hun Yu said as he greeted her.

His long hair hung loose, adding a touch of wild, uninhibited flair to his demeanor. The faint smile on his face made it hard for people not to develop a bit of goodwill toward him.

However, in Xian'er's eyes, this man who could not elicit a shred of ill will from others was already a dead man. The reason was none other than his identity as a member of the Soul Clan.

As Xian'er stared expressionlessly at the person before her, a Langya Guard behind her stepped forward to introduce him:

"Elder Yi, this Hun Yu should be that genius of the Soul Clan, Hun Yu. He is one of the only two people in the younger generation of the Soul Clan with a Divine Grade Bloodline, and he is known as a strong contender for the next Clan Leader of the Soul Clan."

"His strength is quite formidable!"

Xian'er subconsciously ignored the last sentence the Langya Guard added; he was merely at the peak of the four or five-turn Dou Zun, so killing him would be quite easy.

"Soul Clan Divine Grade Bloodline?" Xian'er murmured indifferently.

Hun Yu revealed a hint of pride; the Divine Grade Bloodline was his glory and the sharp weapon that allowed him to suppress many competitors within the Soul Clan.

However, Xian'er did not say much more. She slowly extended her jade-like hand, gray Qi swirling in her palm. The terrifying aura caused the onlookers nearby to subconsciously retreat a few steps, and after they realized what was happening, they struggled to swallow a few times.

"If one of you dies, it should count as a bit of interest."

Following that, Xian'er's words caused Hun Yu's smile to lose its warmth.

"Miss Xian'er, you decide my life and death with a single word. Isn't that a bit too confident?" Hun Yu narrowed his eyes and said coldly.

While speaking, he secretly retreated, his Dou Qi quietly circulating within his body. Although Hun Yu did not spare her with his words, from the moment Xian'er revealed her aura, he had sensed her terrifying strength and knew that fighting her would likely be a nine-deaths-and-one-life situation.

At the same time, the forces of the Soul Clan and the Langya Pavilion each drew their weapons and circulated their Dou Qi, staring coldly at each other. The atmosphere on the field was extremely heavy for a moment.

Not far from the center of the standoff, a group of people was watching this scene with interest; they were the experts from the Ancient Clan. One man dressed in fine robes raised the corner of his mouth.

"Well, this is great. They haven't even broken through the army of ferocious beasts yet, and the two sides have already torn off their masks."

"Even if they have a grudge against the Soul Clan, these people from the Langya Pavilion seem a bit too impulsive."

If the Dou Qi Continent had a creature like a honey badger, the man would surely honor the Langya Pavilion with the title "Central Plains Honey Badger."

A ruthless bunch that would defy heaven and earth without a care!

However, the woman in green sitting in the center of the Ancient Clan's forces shook her head. "Gu Hua, you haven't forgotten how the Soul Clan provoked the Langya Pavilion, have you?"

The fine-robed man named Gu Hua froze, saying in disbelief, "Could it be that the news circulating from the Elder Council in the clan is true?"

"What do you think, Brother Qingyang?" The girl in green did not answer, instead turning her gaze toward the man beside her who looked extremely steady—he was the Great Commander of the Black Annihilation Army, Gu Qingyang.

Hearing this, Gu Qingyang said with a tone of shock:

"Before today, I also thought that news was fake."

"But looking at the reaction of Miss Xian'er of the Langya Pavilion now, the possibility that this matter is a fact is extremely high."

"This Soul Clan actually dared to do something so big!" Gu Hua shook his head repeatedly. "They are simply insane."

Although the Langya Pavilion's strength was far inferior to the Soul Clan's, they were not without a temper. Even a rabbit would bite when pushed into a corner, let alone such a super force that had fought its way up.

In Gu Hua's view, the Soul Clan had actively provoked a huge problem, and today's encounter for Hun Yu might become very common in the future.

"Xun'er, do we need to go up and help?" Gu Qingyang asked.

He had also sensed Xian'er's strength, but he did not believe that the others in the Langya Pavilion had the strength to contend with the experts of the Soul Clan. If the two sides fought, it might end in a situation where both sides suffered.

If they could go up and help, they would not only strike at the Soul Clan but also earn a favor—the best of both worlds!

To this, Xun'er revealed a smile. "Brother Qingyang seems to have little confidence in the Langya Pavilion side."

"Oh?" Gu Qingyang became interested. "It seems Xun'er is very confident in that Miss Xian'er?"

"If no one helps, the people from the Soul Clan will die very miserably this time," Xun'er said, giving this evaluation indifferently.

"This..." Gu Qingyang and the other exchanged a glance, both seeing astonishment in each other's eyes.

It was precisely because they believed Xun'er would not exaggerate that they were so shocked by the combat power of this so-called Langya Pavilion.

"Did you see those black-robed people?" Xun'er signaled.

"They should be that Langya Guard of the Langya Pavilion, rumored to be composed entirely of Dou Zun experts, right?"

Gu Hua looked at those figures radiating killing intent and frowned, saying that the other side's aura was indeed formidable.

Xun'er nodded and continued: "Since the Langya Guard has been able to make such a great name for itself in the Central Plains, it is not by relying on the golden signboard of the Langya Pavilion."

"Brother Qingyang, you and the Black Annihilation Army should also get to know the intelligence on the forces in the Central Plains. The Central Plains now is really very interesting." Xun'er did not know what she was thinking of, but a blush appeared on her face.

Seeing this, Gu Qingyang and the other exchanged a look, then said casually:

"That's right, Xun'er is right! The Central Plains is indeed not weak now, for example, the personal disciple of a certain Heavenly Mansion Master..."

"You two are really..." Hearing the teasing in their words, Xun'er said in shy anger.

"Alright, alright, alright!"

"I was wrong... I was wrong..." However, one could still hear Gu Hua's unserious voice.

Just as Xun'er was debating whether to take action and teach him a lesson...

"They've made their move." Gu Qingyang's slightly urgent voice rang in her ear.

In an instant, everyone's attention was drawn to the battle about to erupt.

Several minutes ago.

Xian'er sensed the change in the atmosphere on the field and the gazes cast by everyone, frowning slightly. What she hated most were these gazes as if looking at monkeys.

Hun Yu thought that Xian'er had realized it was not a good time to make a move and was wavering, so he was secretly happy. After all, he did not want to suffer heavy losses before seeing the Bodhi Ancient Tree.

Thus, he spoke to persuade her:

"Miss Xian'er might have some misunderstandings about my Soul Clan, but since everyone is here for the Bodhi Ancient Tree, why not stop for now and wait until we see the Bodhi Ancient Tree to compete for it!"

Xian'er's eyes were like knives as she stared straight at Hun Yu and shouted indifferently: "Heavenly Poison Hand Seal!"

The gray Qi in his hand expanded rapidly, flew from his grasp, and formed a gray-black handprint several zhang in size in the air.

Hun Yu's expression changed, his Dou Qi erupted, and he slapped the giant hand away, simultaneously using the force to retreat several zhang.

He said coldly, "What is the meaning of this, Excellency?"

His words no longer carried the poise from just a moment ago, and his expression instead appeared somewhat ferocious.

To Hun Yu's questioning, Xian'er gave a rather speechless answer:

"My primary mission this time is you all."

"You are right; if I finish you off now, I can also go and contend for the opportunity of that Bodhi Ancient Tree while I'm at it."

Upon hearing this, the corner of Hun Yu's mouth twitched involuntarily; I suspect you are trying to fool me, but I have no evidence.

With such a glaring opportunity as the Bodhi Ancient Tree right in front of us, you actually tell me that you brought such a large group of people specifically to deal with us of the Soul Clan, and that the Bodhi Ancient Tree is just something you're picking up along the way—do you have to be so willful!

Hun Yu naturally did not know that Xian'er was falsely conveying an imperial decree; otherwise, he would surely have a much deeper understanding of someone's willfulness.