CHAPTER 583: 583 SETTLING ACCOUNTS AFTER AUTUMN

"Alright, you are the Dragon Guiding Tree Spirit, not those annoying folks!"

Due to the influence of the Long Xiao Battle God in his previous life, Yun Xiao had a peculiar aversion to Strange Spirits, but for some reason, upon seeing Little Dragon, he suddenly found his attitude changing.

It appears not all Strange Spirits are malevolent; his initial idea to kill any Strange Spirit on sight might not have been right after all, and this needed reassessment over time.

Without further ado, even Jin Wuli from the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference wasn’t a thoroughly evil Strange Spirit, but died due to certain obsessions.

"Daddy, where are we going now?"

Seeing Yun Xiao admit his mistake and correct it, Little Dragon cheered up, and with this address of "Daddy," their relationship seemed to have invisibly drawn closer.

"Hey, since we’ve grown stronger and Shen Xingmou has turned from foe to friend, it’s time to reclaim certain things!"

A cold smile appeared on Yun Xiao’s face; he didn’t bother evaluating the authenticity of "turning enemies into friends," but those who had united against the Jade Pot Sect emerged in his mind at that moment.

"Little Dragon is still not strong enough; let’s hide him first to avoid holding back Daddy!"

As Yun Xiao’s words fell, Little Dragon muttered to himself, and then, in a flash of light, the Little Dragon he was holding vanished.

"This little one, can even be stored in the Waist Storage?"

Surprised, Yun Xiao eventually found traces of Little Dragon in the Waist Storage, but he was puzzled because humans or living creatures like Vein Demons aren’t supposed to be stored in the Waist Storage.

"Although this little guy has taken a human form, he is still the Dragon Guiding Tree and doesn’t need to breathe, so what’s so strange about entering the Waist Storage?"

The disdainful voice of the Golden Snake Worm came again, thinking that Yun Xiao was really inexperienced; in some spatial treasures in the Li Yuan Realm, even real human Vein Demons could be stored.

With this explanation from the Golden Snake Worm, Yun Xiao accepted and didn’t dwell too much on the matter, and having Little Dragon enter the Waist Storage whenever reduced some visible troubles.

"Where to first?"

As Yun Xiao walked towards the valley exit while stroking his chin, he soon had an idea and clapped his hands: "Let’s start with the three major families in the Imperial City first; these guys need to pay a price for what happened."

Whispering out, Yun Xiao’s figure had already vanished at the valley entrance, now that he had reached the Late Stage of the Spirit Vein Realm, he no longer hesitated to confront the Peak Spirit Vein Realm cultivators, armed with many strategies and tricks.

As the reincarnation of the Long Xiao Battle God, Yun Xiao was not someone who would just tolerate grievances. If Shen Xingmou hadn’t unexpectedly showed up that day, he probably would have died under the attack of several major powers, and the Jade Pot Sect might well have been annihilated.

Since he already regarded the Jade Pot Sect as his second home, a greatly empowered Yun Xiao naturally thought of revenge first. With enemies in the open and him hidden, this time, he might very well turn the Xuanyue Imperial City upside down.

...

Imperial City, Xuanyue Imperial Family!

In a majestic hall, a young figure in a dragon robe sat at the head – the new King Xuan Jiuding, though his face bore a rather displeased expression.

Crash!

A teacup thrown by Xuan Jiuding instantly shattered, and the fragments splashed onto several elders below, who dared neither breathe aloud nor dodge.

"Useless, all of you are useless! You can’t even handle such a small matter; what use are you to me, then?"

The hall was filled with Xuan Jiuding’s fierce roar. How could he not be furious when such a flawless plan was botched?

Standing below naturally were the Xuantie Army commanders like Yan Chun and Yan Yong who had just returned to the Imperial Family, ready to face the new King’s wrath after several days.

However, the current Xuan Jiuding was still only at the Peak of Meridian Union Realm, possibly the weakest in strength among all previous kings of the Xuanyue Empire.

It was this stagnated cultivation that caused Xuan Jiuding to lose the calm he had as Crown Prince; all he wanted was to eliminate everything adverse to him, such as the Jade Pot Sect.

However, the sudden appearance of Shen Xingmou blew up Xuan Jiuding’s entire plan. Although Yun Xiao might already be dead, the "tumor" of Jade Pot Sect was still there.

Now, with the three major families joining forces with the Qingshan Sect, and with the backing of the Royal Family, it seemed that the Jade Pot Sect and these forces were irreconcilable, posing a great threat to Xuan Jiuding.

But as furious and frantic as Xuan Jiuding was, he dared not mention bothering the Jade Pot Sect again because the Heavenly Rank Expert Shen Xingmou had warned that anyone daring to ascend Jade Pot Mountain within a month might have their entire family uprooted.

Xuan Jiuding, the new leader of the Empire, knew he wouldn’t dare offend a powerhouse at the Heavenly Rank Third Realm, so the matter would have to wait until a month later for further plans.

"Get out, all of you get out!"

After venting, Xuan Jiuding felt a bit of his frustration fade, yet he spared Yan Chun and others any punishment, understanding the matter was not their fault.

Suddenly, the grand hall fell into a heavy silence, only to be broken by footsteps. When Xuan Jiuding looked up, he saw a noble and dignified woman entering.

"Empress Dowager!"

For his greatest backer, Xuan Jiuding was quick to stand and bow deeply, respectfully seating Empress Dowager Nie Yi in the high seat.

"Jiuding, having just ascended to the leadership position, why are you so impatient?"

Nie Yi, disappointedly reminiscent of the idiom "to spare the rod spoils the child", had heard Xuan Jiuding’s earlier outburst but only entered after Yan Chun and the others had left, out of consideration for her son.

"It was my fault for being too hasty, please forgive me, Mother!"

In front of the Empress Dowager, Xuan Jiuding dared not show his frustration, especially knowing he had a full brother, Xuan Zhi. He feared Nie Yi might replace him if displeased.

"Since that Heavenly Rank expert has spoken, matters regarding the Jade Pot Sect must be postponed for now."

Nie Yi, without overthinking, spoke this reluctant sentiment then turned the conversation, "Have you still not found that scoundrel Xuan Jing and that wretched concubine?"

As Nie Yi spoke, a fierce gleam shot from her eyes - clearly, after supporting Xuan Jiuding as leader, she meant to eliminate any threats to her son.

Controlling Xuan Haoran was her and her son’s utmost threat, especially from the Second Prince, Xuan Jing. When they sought to act, both the concubine and Xuan Jing had vanished without a trace.

Such royal power struggles had to happen behind closed doors, and so Xuan Jiuding and the Empress Dowager could only act covertly; yet, they found no trace of them during this time.

"Rest assured, Mother, even if I have to turn the Xuanyue Empire upside down, I will find them!"

Confident in controlling his own domain, Xuan Jiuding’s confidence pleased Nie Yi. Although his cultivation could no longer advance, his intellect remained sharp, potentially making him a great ruler in time.

Mother and son then schemed further in secret, unaware that at this very moment in the Imperial City of Baiyue, an uninvited guest had arrived.

...

Baiyue City, West Gate!

A slightly thin figure arrived amidst dust and wind; it was Yun Xiao hurrying from Yurong Mountain. With the speed of the Blood Winged Fire-Eyed Lion, he hadn’t taken long.

Yet now, Yun Xiao had neither the large Flying Beast Pulse Demon, nor did he appear as he used to; he looked like an ordinary young man.

Ever since the end of the Countries Hidden Dragon Conference, Yun Xiao’s image with a wooden sword and simple clothing was widely recognized.

Entering Baiyue City in his true appearance might make him not only a target for Xuan Jiuding’s men but a spectacle for the onlookers.

Thus, using the Disguise Technique to sow deception, Yun Xiao, now at the Late Stage of the Spirit Vein Realm, could even alter his facial features heavily to avoid detection.

The city guards, completely unaware, had no idea what kind of individual they had let into the Imperial City. With Yun Xiao’s arrival, the peace following the Hidden Dragon Conference might once more be disturbed.

"Isn’t one of the three big families, the Guan Family, located in the West City of the Imperial City?"

With a mental image of a distribution map of the Imperial City, Yun Xiao had come to cause trouble for the three big families - why else would he have come prepared?

Ranked third among them, and considering the principle of picking the easiest target, Yun Xiao set his sights on the Guan Family first.

Upon joining the Jade Pot Sect, Yun Xiao had feuded with the brothers Guan Tong and Guan Hu — both of whom died because of him. The Guan Family had attacked the Jade Pot Sect citing this grudge.

Thus, Yun Xiao’s feud with the Guan Family had been cemented then. In that case, let everything end tonight; he believed, after tonight, the Imperial City would no longer have the Guan Family.

Night fell, and the Guan Family manor was brightly lit. Despite their failure at Jade Pot Mountain, it did not affect the Guan Family’s standing in the Imperial City.

However, unknown to anyone, in the dark of the night, a murderous intent was silently approaching. Sadly, within the Guan Family manor, no one had yet detected anything.