Chapter 571: Chapter Five Hundred Sixty-Seven: Challenge

Compared to the flattery showered on the victor, most people tended to sympathize with the fallen combatant.

Since everyone was a martial artist and death could come unexpectedly any day, mourning the fallen and showing respect for them was an unwritten rule amongst warriors.

Given this, Tang Luo’s dismissive words about Xiao Ziyu’s death were undeniably infuriating.

“Tang Tianjiao!” Arbitrator Xiao Qi, whose body was covered in blood, glared at Tang Luo and barked, “I called an end to the duel when your Innate Divine Sword shattered Xiao Ziyu’s Monument Dragon Diagram. Why didn’t you cease your assault? Why did you keep thrusting your Innate Divine Sword into your opponent’s body?!”

Tang Luo feigned surprise, “Really? You called for a halt? I didn’t hear you. As you know, a fighter must focus entirely on the fight. It’s hard to pay attention to outside events.”

If you’re going to play the part, play it to the hilt. Since he had won so convincingly, the Xiao Family had not had any opportunity to intervene. There was no other choice but to fan the flames of hatred, even if it meant uttering such insincere, deceitful words.

These words successfully provoked the Xiao Family’s martial ancestors, who pointed at Tang Luo and scolded:

“If you didn’t hear Xiao Qi’s call, how could you have known the direction of the Divine Dragon Shadow?!”

“The Divine Dragon Shadow is formless and elusive! If you were able to accurately perceive its coming, how could you not have heard the Arbitrator calling for a stop?”

“You were ruthless, intentionally trying to kill off the Xiao family’s future. Such a merciless man like you, the first Ancestor Martial from Xiling, doesn’t deserve to be a martial artist.”

Tang Luo’s words could probably fool ordinary warriors, but everyone watching the battle from above was at the Martial Ancestor level. In just an instant, they found the holes in his argument and launched a brutal public attack.

Caught out in his lie, Tang Luo was filled with rage. He looked around for who had spoken against him. “Who!? Who is speaking out? Come out! Let me see which ass is provoking the Tang Clan!”

Every time he merely hinted at his privileged background, cold snorts of disapproval followed. Such behavior truly disgusted everyone.

From the Xiao Family’s ranks, a furious warrior revealed himself. He was directly above the Red Cloud Peak, looking down at Tang Luo and coldly said, “I’m the one speaking. Winning a fight, only to viciously attack your defeated opponent—such a despicable act, you’re saying you didn’t do it?”

Before the veteran could finish, a golden flash of light brutally struck his left shoulder, piercing through and knocking him off the peak. He fell heavily onto the platform of Red Cloud Peak. The force of the attack sent a notoriously fierce combatant flying.

Following the golden light, Tang Siyuan, the Great Elder of the Tang clan, could be seen, bringing back his finger casually. He said indifferently, “Who gave you permission to hover over the Tang Clan’s array?”

As the fallen warrior clutched his bleeding shoulder, the gold aura energy beneath his skin wreaked havoc, making even the circulation of his spiritual power sluggish. The injury only made him angrier. When he looked at Tang Siyuan, his gaze was full of rage. “The Tang Clan’s Great Elder, renowned for his Extreme Sharp Finger Force, turned out to be a sneak who attacks from the shadows. Truly like father, like son. Your whole Tang family is filled with rogues!”

Force can kill but not convince. Both their actions had indubitably placed the Tang Clan in opposition to everyone else. Even the martial ancestors who were initially only watching from the sidelines now wore faces of rage.

Ignoring the open resentment, the Great Elder, Tang Siyuan rose and looked around. He asked simply, “Who disagrees?”

“I…”

A Martial Ancestor from one of the great families, his face red with anger, hadn’t even finished speaking when Extreme Sharp Finger Force pierced through his heart. The gap that housed his heart was completely severed by the golden aura energy. The accomplished warrior, dumbstruck by Tang Siyuan’s brazen action in the open, could only point a trembling finger at him and stutter, “You…”

The golden energy rampaged through his body, and the martial ancestor fell helplessly from the sky like a bird that had been shot.

After two moves from Tang Siyuan, the atmosphere in the sky changed abruptly. The martial ancestors hastily activated their protective tactics to keep their distance, terrified they might share the same fate as their comrades.

Tang Siyuan’s Extreme Sharp Finger Force, used against a martial artist without defensive capabilities, was flagrantly unjust. The people finally understood why the old man from the Mi Clan would be so evasive when talking about Tang Siyuan’s Extreme Sharp Finger Force.

A single person had forced tens of martial ancestors to retreat. The domineering aura of the Great Elder of the Tang Clan was evident.

Tang Luo, standing on the ground, watched the Great Elder’s display of overwhelming power. With a burst of hearty laughter, he cried out, “Long live the Great Elder!”

He turned towards the Xiao family on the eastern side and provoked, “Just now, you didn’t seem too scared. Why so quiet now? Speak up and tell me who else refuses to accept?”

His booming voice filled the air, producing shockwaves with the force of a thunderclap. Tang Luo, rampant and wild, pointed at the crowd. Behind him stood twelve gold-shining martial ancestors of the Tang Clan, formidable as gods.

It felt as though they were back to the days when the Tang and Mi clans ruled everything. For a moment, everyone held their tongues, and the martial ancestors scattered across the sky could only bow their heads in humiliation, pretending they hadn’t heard.

Seeing that everyone had fallen silent, the Great Elder, Tang Siyuan, nodded in satisfaction. “That’s better. Xiao Ziyu was too weak yet he dared to challenge someone, resulting in his own demise. Although losing such a pillar of support is regrettable for the Xiao Family, these are the duties of a martial artist. Given the Xiao Family’s grief, I won’t press on regarding your disrespectful comments about the Tang Clan. But should there be a next time…”

As the first elder of the Tang Clan, Tang Siyuan had dedicated his life to upholding the glory of the clan. To those who dared to challenge the Tang Clan, there was only one answer. Kill!

Although the current situation was totally unexpected, since he was in charge of this mission, his duty was to ensure the safety of Tang Luo and the dignity of the Tang Clan.

Even if he considered Tang Luo’s actions foolish, it was a matter to be dealt with inside the clan, behind closed doors, without interference.

“As Xiao Ziyu is dead, the winner of this battle is Tang Luo of my Tang Clan. Arbitrator, you may announce it.” The Great Elder, Tang Siyuan, looked down at Xiao Qi, who was half-soaked in blood, and spoke calmly.

All he wanted was to quickly conclude the duel, return to the clan, and interrogate Tang Luo on why he had taken such a lethal action. Was it truly because of what others claimed about the threat of the Holy Flame Bloodline in the future?

It was the same case with Mi Chu and Xiao Ziyu. Tang Siyuan had a vague sense of worry. If the future of the Tang Clan was in the hands of someone with such a twisted nature, he wasn’t sure if that would be a blessing or a curse for the clan.

Xiao Qi, filled with rage, rose level with Tang Siyuan, staring him in the eyes, and announced with dramatic pauses, “I declare, the winner of this duel is, Tang Luo!”

“However! I, Xiao Qi, challenge the Great Elder of the Tang Clan, Tang Siyuan, here and now!” Xiao Qi’s eyes were filled with madness: “Right here, right now!”