Fighting: I am Han Feng, I respect my teacher

“Young friend, your words are quite apt. I have never told anyone about this matter. After all, even a damaged sacred artifact will attract the attention of many envious people.”

"The reason I chose to hand it over to you back then was because I was worried that the Xiao family would perish after I was old and frail, so I couldn't care less about anything else."

Xiao Tianbao spoke frankly, explaining his reasoning at the time.

"Of course, I was also very surprised that Young Friend Han could make the Crimson Earth Armor recognize him as its master."

Han Feng smiled and chose to tell the story of the Xiao Clan directly.

"The ancestors of the Xiao family were extraordinary. They were one of the eight ancient families, a force on par with the Soul Clan, and were called the Xiao Clan. However, due to a defeat in a war, the Xiao Clan declined, and its members scattered and fled. One branch came to the Nanli Empire, which is why the Nanli Xiao Clan exists today."

Xiao Tianbao frowned.

"Young friend Han has mentioned this Soul Clan repeatedly. Could it be that he has a grudge against the Xiao Clan?"

"That's right. The destruction of the Xiao clan back then was largely due to the Soul Clan."

Xiao Tianbao pondered for a moment, then asked, "The relationship between the Soul Palace and the Soul Clan..."

"The Soul Palace is the Soul Clan's power base in the Central Continent, established to carry out certain plans."

Han Feng said.

"One of their targets is the descendants of the Xiao clan scattered throughout the continent."

“I was worried before that the Xiao family’s increased reputation would attract the attention of those with ulterior motives, but because the Southern Li Empire handled the Soul Hall matter much better than other places, I didn’t tell you about these things.”

"But just today, I discovered traces of the Soul Palace in Crimson Feather City."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Tianbao's body tensed slightly.

Even someone as unfamiliar with Zhongzhou as him knew that the Soul Palace was one of the top powers on the continent.

It is an existence on par with the Dan Tower, the holy land of alchemists.

Being targeted by such a powerful force would be unpleasant for anyone.

The Xiao family has only just begun to see some improvement; is it really going to face another calamity so soon?

"Young friend Han, what should we do about this?"

Xiao Tianbao could not hide his worry.

Han Feng pondered for a moment and said, "The Nanli Empire is located in a remote area, not a place where the Soul Hall's forces are based, so there is no need to worry about too many enemies appearing."

"At present, we only need to find out how many people the Soul Palace sent to the Southern Li Empire, and then eliminate them one by one."

"Don't worry, leave this to me. I'll figure it out quickly."

Han Feng's words brought Xiao Tianbao some comfort.

"It still has to be you, young friend Han."

If Han Feng only raises the problem but doesn't solve it, Xiao Tianbao will definitely have a headache coming on.

However, Han Feng thoughtfully provided a follow-up solution, which immediately relieved Xiao Tianbao's pressure considerably.

"Senior Xiao, please don't say that. What I did was at most the first step."

Han Feng said.

"If the Soul Palace still refuses to give up, the Xiao family will need to come up with its own countermeasures."

"Moreover, whether or not we are prepared to confront the Soul Palace is something Senior Xiao needs to make a firm decision about."

Xiao Tianbao remained silent for a moment, then nodded emphatically.

"Since Young Friend Han has already revealed the other party's background, it is destined that there is no possibility of reconciliation between us."

"If that's the case, we might as well rebel against it."

"Young friend Han must have had this plan in mind long ago, right?"

The older generation is indeed experienced; they knew that Han Feng's decision to tell him these things must have been premeditated.

After all, in case of an emergency, Han Feng wouldn't say that he had the idea of ​​informing others several years ago, but just hadn't had time to implement it.

Moreover, at that time, Han Feng's strength was even inferior to his own, so even if he spoke up, there probably wouldn't be a solution.

The reason for choosing to inform them now is partly because the Soul Palace has already taken action, and partly because they need to know Xiao Tianbao's decision.

Fortunately, his choice did not disappoint Han Feng.

"There is indeed a plan. This is a protracted war. Before the major battle really breaks out, we must first nip the small skirmishes in the bud."

"What do you need us to do?"

Xiao Tianbao asked.

"For now, it's fine to just build up our strength like this. If the Soul Palace sends people again after this cleanup, we might have to move away from here."

Do we need to move out?

Xiao Tianbao sighed inwardly.

Having lived his entire life in the Southern Empire, he would certainly be reluctant to leave this land.

"It's not necessarily required, but we need to make preparations in many aspects to leave a glimmer of hope for the Xiao family."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Tianbao's pupils contracted slightly.

"War is cruel, and no one can guarantee what the future will be like."

Han Feng said seriously, "Even I am unable to be in two places at once and cannot take care of everything."

"The future of the Xiao family must still be in our own hands."

Han Feng knew that the choice the Xiao family in Nanli would make would be much more difficult than that of the Xiao family in Wutan City.

After all, the two are different in size, and the Xiao family of Nanli has a reputation that can be said to be at the top in this area.

It's obviously unrealistic to just leave such a colossal object; various factors need to be considered.

And even if we leave the Southern Li Empire, will we be safe anywhere else?

Not necessarily.

Although bringing them together makes it easier for Han Feng to protect them, he can't protect them forever.

There will always be times when they have to face the enemy on their own.

Xiao Tianbao nodded heavily.

"Young friend Han, you are right."

"The future of the Xiao family cannot depend on others; it must depend on ourselves."

Chapter 259 Deterrence

Han Feng's words made Xiao Tianbao's thoughts somewhat heavy.

The Xiao family is about to face the Soul Palace, the number one power in Zhongzhou.

Sometimes, standing at a high point allows you to see more of the scenery, but it also makes you more aware of your own limitations.

For families like the Xiao family in Wutan City, who had never seen a Dou Zun or witnessed the sheer size of the Soul Palace, Xiao Zhan did not have many doubts.

In any case, it's just death. If you want to fight against the Soul Palace with your own strength, there's really no difference between a Great Dou Master and a Dou Zong.

With no other choice, following Han Feng became the only way out.

However, the Xiao family of Nanli need not do that. They have their own lineage and foundation, and will not easily follow Han Feng away.

Han Feng understood this as well, so he simply offered a reminder.

Furthermore, the Soul Palace already knew that the main branch of the Xiao family was in the Northwest Continent, and the Tuoshe Ancient Emperor Jade was the main reason why they were keeping a close eye on the Xiao family.

As for the Xiao family in Nanli, they probably only sent people to investigate because they discovered the Xiao clan's weapon-refining techniques.

After finishing the pot of tea, Han Feng got up to leave.

"Senior Xiao, I'm going to investigate the people from the Soul Palace."

"Are you making a move so soon?"

"There's no time to lose; I can't stay in the Southern Li Empire for much longer."

Han Feng walked outside.

"What I said today is just to prepare Elder Xiao mentally. There is no need to worry too much about it in the short term."

Xiao Tianbao nodded.

"I know."

"By the time we meet again, young friend Han should be famous throughout the Dou Qi Continent, right?"

Xiao Tianbao couldn't help but speak.

Han Feng's growth was too rapid, making this older generation cultivator marvel at the power of the era's prodigy.

"Ah, perhaps."

Han Feng said softly.

By the time he becomes famous throughout the continent, the second war with the Soul Hall will be entering its final countdown.

After bidding farewell to the Xiao family, Han Feng instantly appeared inside the rice shop.

This rice shop has a hidden underground room.

The people from the Soul Palace stepped out of the shop, changed their clothes, and revealed their backs etched with blood-red horn patterns.

This is a special method used by the Soul Hall to train secret assassins. By tempering their bodies with blood horns, they can increase their strength while concealing their aura within their bodies, disguising themselves as ordinary people without any flaws.

"We've pretty much figured out the situation with the Xiao family. The people here have no idea where they came from, and there are no higher-level experts contacting this place."

A bronze mirror floated in mid-air, and behind the mirror was the Soul Hall Vice Hall Master, a three-star Dou Sheng, far away in Zhongzhou!

Those in the Soul Palace who possess the Blood Horn Mark are extremely rare. Each one is a nine-star Dou Zong level expert with extraordinary combat power. They often form groups of three and are said to be able to kill a Dou Zun when they join forces.

Only the higher-ups of the Soul Palace can command them.

"It seems that the place is simply a descendant of the Xiao clan."

The deputy hall master's hoarse voice echoed through the dark, secret chamber through the bronze mirror.

He originally thought that the Xiao family of Nanli had developed to such an extent because there might be remnants of the Xiao clan supporting them.

But now it seems he was overthinking things.

After the Xiao clan was massacred, many people still escaped, including some powerful individuals who were already abroad and never returned.

The most famous among them is Xiao Xuan's cousin, Blood Axe Xiao Chen, a five-star Dou Sheng level expert.

These people may be hiding in a corner of the continent, secretly accumulating power, or they may have changed their appearance and supported some forces, seemingly having no connection with the Xiao Clan, but in reality they will secretly fight against the Soul Palace.

Over the past thousand years, the Soul Hall has encountered such forces before. Through the efforts of the Vice Hall Master, no fewer than five peak Dou Zun and one Half-Saint were among the remnants of the Xiao Clan that were wiped out.

The Dou Qi Continent is too vast, so vast that even with the Soul Clan establishing the Soul Palace, it is difficult to oversee many areas.

If it weren't for his immense fame, the Xiao family in Nanli might have been overlooked by the Soul Palace.

After all, the strength of this family is not actually that great. A Supreme Elder who was about to die of old age and had just barely broken through to the Dou Zun realm could be secretly ambushed and killed by just three Blood Pattern Assassins without even needing the Soul Palace to eliminate the Venerable Elders.

They've kept it up until now only to lure out the person behind it all.

"Find a suitable time to kill Xiao Tianbao, and remember to bring back the weapon-refining inheritance he possesses."

The deputy hall master issued the order.

"Also, don't cause too much of a commotion. There are quite a few powerful individuals within the Southern Li Empire."

"Yes."

The Bloodstained Assassin accepted the order, and with a slight flicker of light and shadow behind the bronze mirror, he severed the connection.

The Xiao family of Nanli is not a big deal to the Soul Palace; they are a force that can be wiped out at will.

The Bloodstained Assassin strolled into a hidden room within the secret chamber. After activating the mechanism, a strong stench of blood assaulted his senses.

Upon closer inspection, there was a huge pool inside the room, filled with bubbling, living blood.

Only through this kind of blood circulation can the power of the blood horn pattern be maintained at its maximum value.

If the Blood Pattern Assassin's strength is not replenished for a period of time, it will decrease significantly. Although it will not fall from its cultivation level, it will be very difficult for it to kill a Dou Zun.