Chapter 53: The Hidden Xu Family

At the same time, on the other side, as Xu Bukun's cloak was completely torn apart, his true appearance was fully revealed before everyone.

He was a young man with an exquisitely delicate face, skin so pale it was almost translucent, features seemingly sculpted by fate, together creating an almost uncanny beauty.

He wore an ancient battle armor that radiated dark‑purple divine light, its surface engraved with intricate, unknown star totems, exuding an ancient aura.

Most striking was his meticulously groomed hair, split neatly down the middle, adding a bizarre ceremonial air to his presence.

At this moment, his pale, slender fingers gently cradled a mysterious sphere about the size of a fist, perfectly round, with countless gray vortices swirling unpredictably inside.

The sphere rotated silently, emitting a bizarre field that devoured light and warped thoughts, making anyone who gazed at it feel a pang of dread.

"That is... the Jiemie Whole Sky Sphere?!"

Bian Haoyu of the War God Heavenly Realm's pupils suddenly contracted, and he gasped in disbelief, his face full of astonishment.

The saintess of the Ethereal Heavenly Realm's celestial light quivered violently, and from beneath her veil came a gasp of cold air:

"No mistake... it's a replica of that clan's heirloom sacred artifact! Though not the genuine piece, it still contains a trace of the true power! He—he is actually..."

The two exchanged glances, each seeing horror and gravity in the other's eyes, as if they had glimpsed a forbidden presence that should never appear here.

Beside them, Duan Xiuluo's complexion changed dramatically; he hurriedly lowered his voice and, at breakneck speed, transmitted to Ye Wuque:

"Brother Ye! Trouble! This person is likely... a member of the hidden Xu clan!"

"Hidden Xu clan?" Ye Wuque's gaze flickered.

"Yes!" Duan Xiuluo said rapidly, with unprecedented apprehension, "The waters of Cang Mang Heaven are far deeper than they appear! In ages so ancient they cannot be traced, the rulers of this vast realm were not the current Five Great Supreme Heavenly Realms, but... the Four Great Ancient Holy Clans!"

"Each of these Four Great Holy Clans possesses unfathomable ancient foundations and terrifying power; it is rumored that within their ranks lie Ancient Entities that have lived for more than one Epoch, now dormant! Later, for reasons unknown, the Four Great Holy Clans chose to go into seclusion, ignoring Cang Mang Heaven's worldly affairs, yet their might and transcendence have long permeated people's hearts! Even today's rulers of the Five Great Supreme Heavenly Realms appear dwarfed before the Four Great Holy Clans!"

"This hidden Xu family is one of the Four Great Holy Clans! Moreover, it is renowned for its bizarre methods and unfathomable foundation! From his temperament, surname, and that replica of the heirloom artifact, I would say I'm ninety percent certain!"

"I never expected that a descendant of a hidden holy clan, concealed for endless ages, would appear in the Eternal Divine Tomb!"

Duan Xiuluo's voice was filled with worry; clearly, the name 'Hidden Xu clan' weighed on him far more than the previous Supreme Heavenly Realm monsters.

The remaining surviving Heavenly Pride were already terrified enough to retreat far away; although they had never heard of any hidden holy clan, even Bian Haoyu and the saintess of the Ethereal Heavenly Realm were so flustered that anyone could tell just by looking at Xu Bukun's background how terrifying it was! They didn't even have the right to be mere spectators!

Xu Bukun seemed to hear Duan Xiuluo's transmission; a faint, playful smile appeared on his delicate yet pallid face. He lightly stroked the World Whole Sky Sphere in his hand, his gaze sweeping disdainfully over Bian Haoyu and the saintess of the Ethereal Heavenly Realm before finally resting on Ye Wuque, his tone bearing a lofty commendation:

"Heh, you do have some insight, managing to recognize my Xu family lineage. Since that's the case..."

His voice suddenly rose, carrying an undeniable domineering generosity:

"Black‑robed youth, now, I give you a chance!"

"Kneel, submit to me, and offer your True Dragon Emperor Technique along with all your treasures!"

"With your strength, you are worthy to become my first war slave under Xu Bukun!"

"This is your supreme glory! Because..."

Xu Bukun's tone suddenly became fervent and fanatical, as if proclaiming a heavenly destiny:

"Whom you submit to will become a future... Supreme! The sole ruler of Zhutian Wanjie!"

"Since I, Xu Bukun, have already emerged, then Cang Mang Heaven, this the Ten Thousand Ages of Earthly Heaven, will resound with my name! Those who follow me will prosper; those who oppose me... will perish!"

Arrogant! Overbearing! Unbridled!

Yet at this moment, no one thought his words were mere bluster.

His status as a descendant of a hidden holy clan, combined with the bizarre power he previously displayed and the unfathomable Jiemie Whole Sky Sphere, gave him the confidence to speak those words!

Everyone's gaze converged on Ye Wuque, eager to see how he would respond—whether to bow to the holy clan's might, or...

Bian Haoyu and the saintess of the Ethereal Heavenly Realm exchanged complex looks; though they feared Xu Bukun, they were even more curious about what choice the black‑robed youth bearing the True Dragon Emperor Technique would make.

Perhaps in some subconscious way, they hoped Ye Wuque would be a bit more resolute, to blunt the sharp spirit of this holy clan descendant.

However, only one person present kept an unwavering gaze: Duan Xiuluo.

He stood tightly behind Ye Wuque, Asura battle aura silently coalescing within him, already prepared to fight to the death at any moment!

Having fought side by side on the Dao God Main Path, he knows better than anyone Ye Wuque's terrifying pride.

It is an invincible conviction rooted in his very bones, a belief that even monsters like Kun Chi sigh at in envy, never to submit to anyone—even a holy clan descendant!

Under countless gazes, Ye Wuque's face beneath the black robe remained unreadable.

Suddenly, he lightly... smiled.

The laugh was faint yet clearly reached everyone's ears, carrying an indescribable meaning.

Xu Bukun saw Ye Wuque smile; the delicate corner of his mouth curled into a predicted arc, as if everything were under his control, and he said calmly:

"He who knows the times is a hero. It seems you have made a wise choice. Then hand over the treasure on your body, especially the heirloom of the True Dragon Emperor Technique, to me. Rest assured, following Xu Bukun will bring you plenty of benefits in the future..."

However, before he could finish, Ye Wuque interrupted.

Ye Wuque slowly lifted his head; beneath the brim of his black‑robed hat, those deep eyes looked at Xu Bukun, containing no fear, no greed, only a... playful and merciful gaze as if watching a clown on a tightrope.

He spoke, his voice steady yet oddly penetrating: "Do you know? In this world, good people rarely die easily, and bad people tend to live quite long..."

Xu Bukun furrowed his brow and reflexively retorted, "Then who would die?"

Ye Wuque's voice suddenly turned ice‑cold and piercing, like millennia‑old ice shattering:

"That would be... someone like you..."

"Fool!"

"Will die!"

"And... will die quickly!"

"What?!!" Xu Bukun's smile froze instantly, then erupted into raging fury and ferocity!

He could never have imagined that after learning his identity, the other would dare insult him so!

"Fine, fine! What a sharp‑tongued ant!"

Xu Bukun trembled with anger, murderous intent surging like a tangible force, staining the surrounding starry sky with a layer of blood, "Shameless! How dare you mock me, Xu Bukun!"

"It seems today I will not only kill you and extract your soul to light a sky lantern! I will also skin and tendon‑pull you, forge you into the lowest‑grade corpse puppet, making you endure endless suffering for eternity!!"

"Jiemie Whole Sky! Kill him now!!"

Boom!!

The Jiemie cosmic sphere in his hand suddenly erupts in a torrent of gray radiance, instantly swelling into a massive gray star that carries a terrifying aura that erases everything and devours all laws, like a meteor falling from the heavens, and it crushes down fiercely toward Ye Wuque!

The Holy Clan's heir, in anger, Shi Potian is shocked!

The great battle erupts in an instant!