Soul Emperor Martial God

Chapter 56: Chapter 55: The Entire Clan Evacuates

After arranging the affairs, the deacons were busy healing the seriously injured clan members. Xiao Yi and the elders went directly to the family hall.

As soon as he entered the hall, he already saw the Great Elder spitting out another mouthful of fresh blood, coughing violently.

Xiao Yi was shocked and hurried to take his pulse, saying, ”How could the Great Elder be so severely injured, when the battle just now seemed to be within easy reach?”

The Third Elder said gravely, ”Before the Second Elder came to help, the Great Elder alone was contending against Murong Shan and two other unfamiliar martial artists, naturally sustaining serious injuries.”

”What? One person against three Innate Ninth Layer?” Xiao Yi was startled.

The Great Elder pushed away Xiao Yi’s hand, saying, ”My injury is of no concern, but what about the situation at the mine?”

Xiao Yi briefly explained.

Upon hearing this, the Great Elder nodded with satisfaction and said, ”Good, very good. Xiao Yi, you truly haven’t disappointed us. As for the Fifth Elder, alas...”

The Eighth, Ninth, and Tenth Elders were aside, bowing their heads in shame.

The Second Elder said coldly, ”Humph, fortunately you three are not as deranged as the Fifth Elder.”

The three elders quickly bowed and said, ”We are Xiao Family Disciples, naturally we could not do something that would harm our family and disgrace our ancestors.”

”Enough.” The Great Elder waved his hand and said, ”I am aware of your nature, and it was the Fifth Elder who dragged you into this. Today, your fierce battle against Murong Family Elders demonstrates your loyalty to our family.”

”The Great Elder sees clearly.” The three bowed again.

At this moment, the Great Elder looked at Xiao Yi with a face full of gratification and said, ”Xiao Yi, thanks to you, the Xiao Family was able to survive this crisis.”

”The Murong Family had been plotting for a long time, suddenly attacking our Xiao Family and enlisting so much help, yet their conspiracy was utterly foiled by your return.”

”At such a young age, you possess Innate Strength, combined with intelligence beyond others and a mature mind, very good. With you in the next generation of the Xiao Family, we old fellows could die without worries.”

Xiao Yi was startled, feeling as if the Great Elder was making his last testament.

Then, in a grave voice, the Great Elder said, ”Issue the command that all clan members evacuate Purple Cloud City today, without error. Third Elder, you escort Xiao Yi and the other young disciples first, ensuring their safety is paramount.”

”Wait, what exactly is going on?” Xiao Yi asked in shock and confusion.

The Great Elder sighed and said, ”Do you know about Murong Mo?”

Xiao Yi nodded and replied, ”I do, isn’t he the long-unseen Great Elder of the Murong Family?”

The Great Elder said, ”Indeed, but it’s not that we haven’t seen him for a long time, but rather he left Purple Cloud City many years ago and only recently made contact with Murong Shan.”

”Those unfamiliar martial artists we saw today from the Murong Family, as well as those two Innate Ninth Layer Martial Artists, were sent by Murong Mo,” said the Great Elder through clenched teeth, clearly filled with hatred for those who had invaded the Xiao Family.

Xiao Yi was astonished, saying, ”Innate Ninth Layer Martial Artists are honored, even in Purple Cloud City we have but a few, and they are all key figures from the Three Great Families.”

”If Murong Mo could send two people to attack the Xiao Family, could it be...”

Xiao Yi harbored a terrible thought.

The Great Elder glared at Xiao Yi with an ugly expression, ”Correct, Murong Mo is a warrior from the Mysterious Profundity Realm. Having left Purple Cloud City many years ago, he made a breakthrough on his return.”

”The Mysterious Profundity Realm?”

Upon these words, all the elders in the Xiao Family hall had their expressions drastically change.

What the Mysterious Profundity Realm warriors represented was clear to everyone, and the terror they inspired was universally understood.

Warriors from the Mysterious Profundity Realm were a legend in Purple Cloud City, never seen before.

They possessed the ability to fly and escape into the earth, wielding unfathomable powers.

With just one individual, they could effortlessly sweep through the Three Great Families of Purple Cloud City.

The Mysterious Profundity Realm, its strength so formidable it was alarming.

Xiao Yi asked in amazement, ”Great Elder, if he is a Mysterious Profundity Realm warrior, why didn’t he come to confront the Xiao Family personally?”

This was the question Xiao Yi couldn’t understand; with Murong Mo’s strength, the Xiao Family would’ve surely been doomed that day.

The Great Elder shook his head and said, ”It’s unclear, but while fighting Murong Shan earlier, I surmised from his few words that Murong Mo seems to be in seclusion. Perhaps he thought that with three great Innate Ninth-layered Martial Artists, they would be sufficient to annihilate our Xiao Family.”

The Great Elder continued, ”Regardless, it is a fact that Murong Mo has broken through to the Mysterious Profundity Realm. The Murong Family has suffered heavy casualties this time, he will definitely come to attack personally. We must leave Purple Cloud City and relocate the entire clan before he leaves seclusion.”

”Yes.” All the elders responded in unison.

They had no hope left; the power of a Mysterious Profundity Realm warrior was far beyond their ability to resist.

Only by relocating the entire clan could they preserve the family’s lineage, preventing total extinction.

The Great Elder issued orders methodically, ”The young disciples of the family leave first, the deacons to protect them along the way, while we of the older generation will cover the rear, guarding against pursuers.”

”The other clan members must disperse and evacuate, saving whoever we can.”

”Take the family statues and the martial arts books; leave all other valuables behind. Everyone travel light and aim to leave before the Murong Family catches on.”

”Send a message to the mine; tell the Fourth Elder to immediately lead our people to evacuate without returning to the Xiao Family.”

One by one, the elders received the orders and quickly made arrangements.

Xiao Yi stood there in a daze, never having imagined that the great Xiao Family would be forced to abandon their many years of business in Purple Cloud City and flee with the whole clan.

And all this was because of one person.

But this person was a Mysterious Profundity Realm Warrior.

”Mysterious Profundity Realm, huh?” Xiao Yi silently vowed to himself. ”One day I will reach it too. Then, I will lead the Xiao Family to a strong return.”

Xiao Yi was proud and didn’t even want to leave.

But he wasn’t a fool, let alone the fact that the safety of the entire clan was at stake. He had no choice.

He wouldn’t attempt the impossible task of hitting a rock with an egg.

Even if they combined the entire Xiao Family’s strength, they would be nothing but a fragile egg; Murong Mo alone was the unyielding rock.

Before long, everything had been swiftly handled, and the clan members had begun to disperse and evacuate Purple Cloud City.

”Young Master, it’s time to go,” a deacon said to Xiao Yi with a somber tone.

Xiao Yi smiled and said, ”You go first, I’ll catch up in a bit.”

”Hmm.” The deacon nodded and led a group of family members to leave first.

The vast Xiao Family was left with only the elders, Xiao Yi, and Yiyi—a few people in total.

Everyone gazed at the manor for a long time, unable to le. They were born and raised here, and it held all their memories.

Suddenly, the Third Elder knelt heavily towards the manor, showing deep guilt. ”Before the Family Head left, he tasked me to take good care of the family. I’m useless, letting the Xiao Family’s many years of foundation be handed over. I’ve let down the Xiao Family ancestors, and the Family Head.”

The Third Elder was usually strong, but today he couldn’t help but shed tears.

The Great Elder sighed and lifted the Third Elder, saying, ”Stand up. Even if the Family Head were here today, he wouldn’t be able to change the situation.”

Xiao Yi spoke seriously, ”Uncle Xiao Chong, don’t be sad. We will be back, and it won’t be long. Trust me.”

The Third Elder looked up at Xiao Yi, hope in his eyes mixed with tears, and said, ”Of course, I believe. With your talent, you’ll surely lead our family to reclaim everything one day.”

”That’s enough,” the Second Elder suddenly spoke. ”Leave these sentimental remembrances to us old folks. Xiao Yi, you take Yiyi and leave now.”

”Heh.” Xiao Yi suddenly chuckled, ”Let’s go together.”

”Together?” The Second Elder glared at Xiao Yi, ”What are you ranting about? We elders have to stay behind to stall the Murong Family’s pursuers.”

”Now that all our people have evacuated, it’s just you and Yiyi left. Hurry and catch up with them.”

Xiao Yi shook his head and said calmly, ”Either we all go, or I don’t go either.”

”You...brat, what nonsense are you spouting at a time like this?” The Second Elder raised his hand as if to slap Xiao Yi.

At that moment, the Great Elder gave the Third Elder a look, and the Third Elder nodded in understanding.

Xiao Yi glanced at them and said indifferently, ”Third Elder, I know what you’re planning. And you know my temperament—if you knock me out and send me away by force, once I wake up, I’ll come back here immediately to avenge you.”

”Ridiculous,” the Second Elder exploded in rage. ”Everyone in the Xiao Family can stay behind, but you must leave. If you die, what hope does the Xiao Family have? How will we seek revenge later?”

The Third Elder also spoke earnestly, ”Yii’er, be good and go. You are the family’s number one talent, and you will surely breakthrough to the Mysterious Profundity. You are also the only son of the Family Head; only with you can the Xiao Family have hope for the future.”

Xiao Yi sneered, ”Hope? If you old folks are all gone, then there truly is no hope for the Xiao Family.”

”On the vast Flame Dragon Continent, everywhere is grand, but without your protection, relying solely on a bunch of Postnatal Deacons to lead such a large group of clan members, where could they find peace and security?”

”You know better than I how cruel this world can be. Even if the Xiao Family can evacuate safely, such a large family, possessing martial techniques and treasures, without Innate Martial Artists’ protection, death is not far off.”

Xiao Yi spoke with a forceful tone that left the elders stunned.

”It’s the same thing I said before, either we all go, or I don’t go either,” Xiao Yi said firmly.

”You...” The Great Elder said resentfully, ”Brat, so you stayed behind purposely to force us to leave together.”

Xiao Yi spread his hands and said, ”That’s one way to look at it.”

”Brat,” the Great Elder laughed and scolded, ”We’re pressed for time, so this time I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt. Anyway, the future of the Xiao Family is in your hands. Since you insist on going together, we’ll listen to you and go together.”

”Whatever happens, let’s leave it to fate.”

With that said, everyone left together.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh... A series of figures swiftly left Purple Cloud City.