Soul Emperor Martial God

Chapter 55: Chapter 54: Gruesome

The battle within the Xiao Mansion commenced with a sudden attack on the Xiao Family Council Hall, led by the Family Head of the Murong Family and his elders, while the Murong Family Martial Artists launched a strong attack from the mansion’s main gate.

This gave rise to two battlefields.

One inside the mansion, near the Council Hall, where the battle of the Innate Martial Artists took place.

The other at the Xiao Family’s practice field and near the main gate, where the fight involving stewards and members of both families unfolded.

As Xiao Yi ran toward the inside of the mansion, he could already feel the surging True Qi wreaking havoc all around, even from afar.

The power of Innate Martial Artists was much greater than that of Postnatal Martial Artists, capable of moving mountains and splitting rocks with a mere wave of a hand, each move terrifyingly potent.

It was only when Xiao Yi reached the vicinity of the Council Hall that he realized the intensity of the battle.

The Council Hall now lay in ruins.

Nearly every building in the surrounding area was destroyed, most reduced to broken walls and shattered tiles because of the collateral damage from the fighting.

Whoosh, suddenly, a fierce True Qi struck toward him.

Xiao Yi sidestepped just in time, the True Qi hitting the ground next to him, blasting it to smithereens and sending dust flying into the air.

This was merely the aftermath; one could imagine the ferocity of the Innate Martial Artists’ battle.

Xiao Yi’s agile gaze moved forward and, as expected, saw various elders engaged in combat.

Third Elder, Seven, Eighth, and Ninth Elders, faced off against four elders from the Murong Family.

Second Elder was contending with the Murong Family Head, Murong Shan; both were Innate Ninth Layer Martial Artists, and neither could gain the upper hand.

As for the Great Elder, he was fighting two opponents alone, yet did not appear to be at a disadvantage and even seemed to be suppressing both foes.

”Hmm?” Xiao Yi frowned.

The other elders were fighting the Murong Family members, but the Great Elder’s opponents were two middle-aged men with unfamiliar faces.

Although Xiao Yi couldn’t be certain of these two men’s cultivation level, judging by the strength of their aura, they seemed to be on par with Second Elder and Murong Shan, most likely also Innate Ninth Layer Martial Artists.

”What’s going on? Where did the Murong Family find two Innate Ninth Layer experts?” Xiao Yi was sure that there were no such individuals in Purple Cloud City.

No wonder Xiao Ruyi had said that the Great Elder was tied up and couldn’t come to the rescue.

Xiao Yi glanced at Third Elder Xiao Chong and saw that he was evenly matched with his opponent and unharmed, which made Xiao Yi breathe a sigh of relief.

As for Seven, Eight, and Ninth Elders, this trio was famously known as the weakest among the Xiao Family elders, with only about Innate Third and Fourth Layer cultivation.

Their combat was also at a standstill. This proved that the three elders from the Murong Family weren’t much stronger either, also possessing only about Innate Third and Fourth Layer strength.

”Hmph, I’ll start with you,” Xiao Yi sneered, a glint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes.

Picking on the weak first - this principle, Xiao Yi well understood.

Ninth Elder was fiercely battling a Murong Family elder when suddenly, a fiery red silhouette swiftly approached him.

The Xiao Family elders instantly recognized who this figure was and were immediately alarmed.

”Yii’er, this level of battle isn’t something you can participate in, get away quickly.”

”Xiao Yi, withdraw immediately.”

Third Elder and Great Elder urgently shouted.

Ninth Elder even intensified his offensive to overwhelm his opponent and roared, ”Xiao Yi, what are you doing here? Go, now!”

The Murong Family elder also recognized Xiao Yi and thought to himself, ”Hmph, the Xiao Family’s top talent, eh? If I kill you, the Xiao Family elders will surely be thrown into chaos.”

”Xiao Family Ninth Elder, what if you increase your offensive to contain me? I can kill a mere Postnatal Martial Artist with my mere presence.”

The Murong Family elder sneered, his aura enveloping his whole body.

However, the next second, his smile abruptly ceased. The aura of the fiery red figure soared instantly, and the might of the Fire Sword even spelled a sense of danger for him.

He realized too late that it was already too late.

Xiao Yi’s ’Mountain Shattering Slash’ shattered the protective Qi around the elder, and the Fire Sword cleaved right into him.

”Pugh,” the Murong Family elder spat out a mouthful of blood, his eyes darkening as he collapsed.

Xiao Yi seized the opportunity to deliver another sword strike, ending his life.

Powered by the Ice and Fire Qi Pill alone, Xiao Yi’s attack was comparable to a Postnatal Ninth Layer; with the amplification of the Rising Dragon, he had already reached the strength of about Innate First or Second Layer.

Combined with the Mid-level Xuan Rank Martial Technique, Mountain Shattering Slash, the Murong Family elder was merely Innate Third Layer and had not used True Qi to defend, so it was no wonder he perished.

Relying on just physical strength and presence, even Murong Huai was seriously injured, let alone this elder.

”Fuck, that was fierce,” the Ninth Elder exclaimed, startled.

”Don’t just stand there, go help the Eighth and Ninth Elders,” Xiao Yi commanded, then once again brandished his sword and charged towards the opponent of the Ninth Elder.

On the other side, Murong Shan saw his own elder being killed and was instantly enraged. ”Xiao Yi, I want your life.”

The Second Elder was quick to react, promptly blocking him, and sneered, ”Murong Shan, your opponent is me. Hmph, you’ve been scheming against my Xiao Family for a long time. It seems that this time, it will be you who loses.”

Elsewhere, Xiao Yi and the Eighth Elder teamed up against an elder from the Murong Family.

”Eighth Elder, find an opportunity to contain him, and I will find a chance to finish him with one strike,” Xiao Yi said with a cold laugh.

That elder from the Murong Family was instantly terrified, catching a glimpse of his own family’s elder already lying dead. He couldn’t help but show a look of fear.

Under the shock and fear, the elder gradually began to panic.

As Xiao Yi and the Eighth Elder worked together, he slowly became overwhelmed.

After dozens of exchanges, he even developed an opening.

Naturally, the two of them did not miss this opportunity.

”Fire Devouring Hundred Blades,” the Eighth Elder shouted loudly, as dozens of blades of fire cleaved through the air.

”Green Wave Layered Palm,” the elder from the Murong Family released a huge wave.

It has to be said that, when the elders unleashed their Xuan Rank Martial Techniques, the power was so much stronger than that of the family stewards.

The fire blades collided with the wave, both dissipating.

”Mountain Shattering Slash,” Xiao Yi seized the moment.

At that time, the Murong Family elder had just used his martial technique and didn’t have enough time to mobilize a large amount of True Qi to use it again. He could only use his hands, covered with a small amount of True Qi, to defend.

With a loud bang, the formidable power of Mountain Shattering Slash manifested again. The hands of the Murong Family elder were directly slashed into a bloody mess, blood spurting from his mouth, indicating he had suffered serious injuries.

Xiao Yi and the Eighth Elder attacked together, seizing the opportunity to strike while he was down. Minutes later, this Murong Family elder lay dead under Xiao Yi’s sword, turning into a corpse.

”Damn it, Xiao Yi is just a 16-year-old boy, how can he be so strong?” the elder from the Murong Family battling the Seventh Elder cursed resentfully.

Now, with two Murong Family elders dead, he felt not only rage but also growing concern.

On the other side, Murong Shan was also filled with immense anger, grinding his teeth, ”Ah, today we could have taken down the Xiao Family, but it was all ruined by Xiao Yi and his long-term schemes.”

Although he was furious, as the Family Head, his vision and considerations were obviously better and more thorough than the others.

He was very clear that if things continued this way, the Murong Family elders would just keep dying one after the other, eventually leading to their grand defeat and escape.

After only a few seconds of consideration, he angrily repelled the Second Elder with a palm and then bellowed reluctantly, ”Disciples of the Murong Family, retreat!”

His voice echoed throughout the Xiao Mansion.

The unwilling expression on Murong Shan’s face seemed as if it would bleed, but he had no other choice.

The elder from the Murong Family who was battling the Seventh Elder, upon hearing the order, also repelled the Seventh Elder with a palm and quickly retreated; he had seen that Xiao Yi and the Eighth Elder were ready to join forces against him.

At the same time, the two middle-aged strangers who had been in a fierce battle with the Great Elder also immediately disengaged and rapidly retreated.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh... five figures instantly withdrew from the battle.

Before leaving, Murong Shan yelled angrily, ”Xiao Yi, you’ve ruined my plans. Someday I will surely take your life.”

”Chase them,” roared the Third Elder. ”None of the Murong Family’s bastards are getting away.”

Xiao Yi and the others were just about to give chase.

But the Great Elder stopped them, ”No need to pursue, *cough*...”

The Great Elder spat out a mouthful of blood, his face turned deathly pale, and he staggered.

Fortunately, the Second Elder was quick and caught him.

”Great Elder, you’re badly hurt,” exclaimed the Second Elder.

”It’s okay,” the Great Elder waved his hand and said, ”Go and see how our people fared, tend to the casualties, then come to the Council Hall...”

The Great Elder glanced at the council hall, now in ruins, shook his head, and said, ”After dealing with it, go straight to the family’s main hall for the meeting.”

”Yes,” everyone answered in unison.

Xiao Yi returned to the battlefield outside the entrance of the mansion; the fight had already ended, Murong Family’s warriors long gone. Yet, before their departure, in their clash with the Xiao Family’s stewards, they had suffered heavy casualties, leaving a ground littered with corpses.

The situation for the Xiao Family was not rosy either, but overall the casualties were significantly less than half of the Murong Family’s.

Today’s battle could only be described as brutal.