Soul Emperor Martial God

Chapter 8: Chapter 7: Strong Counterattack

The toxicity had been removed, but Yiyi had lost too much blood and still fainted.

Xiao Yi gave her simple bandaging to stop the bleeding wounds; after a while, just some antiseptic medicine was needed, and Yiyi would be out of danger.

At this moment, Xiao Yi looked towards the corpse of Yang Fu on the ground.

After all, Yang Fu was a notorious assassin from Purple Cloud City, and if he were to be discovered, Xiao Yi could not explain himself clearly. A Mortal Realm Second Layer Martial Artist killing a Mortal Realm Ninth Layer Martial Artist, that was an incredibly hard thing to explain.

With a ”whoosh,” a blazing flame burst out of Xiao Yi’s palm.

After advancing to an Orange-rank Martial Soul, the Fire Control Beast’s flame power had increased by more than tenfold.

”Orange-rank Martial Soul, the power is indeed much stronger than a Red Rank Martial Soul,” Xiao Yi was slightly taken aback.

At the same time, he had made up his mind that the fact he possessed a Purple Martial Soul, the Ice Phoenix Sword, must absolutely not be spread; otherwise, it would surely bring calamitous disaster.

The preciousness of a Purple Martial Soul goes without saying.

Most importantly, a Martial Soul, once awakened, would follow a Martial Artist for life, without any further changes.

A Red Rank Martial Soul would always be a Red Rank Martial Soul.

An Orange-rank Martial Soul would always be an Orange-rank Martial Soul.

This was why there was a saying in the Flame Dragon Continent that one’s Martial Soul determined a Martial Artist’s future.

But now, the Ice Phoenix Sword had granted him the ability to absorb other people’s Martial Soul Power and allowed his own Martial Soul to advance. This was an unprecedented event in the entire Flame Dragon Continent.

Once the word got out, one could imagine the massive waves it would cause.

Moreover, his current strength was too weak. The secrets and trump cards that needed to be kept had to be tightly guarded.

At the very least, before he had enough power to protect himself, the existence of the Ice Phoenix Sword could not be revealed to others.

”Go.” Xiao Yi uttered a low shout and threw the flame in his palm towards Yang Fu’s corpse.

In an instant, dense, high-temperature flames engulfed Yang Fu’s corpse.

Ten minutes later, Yang Fu’s corpse was burned to ashes.

Speaking of the power of flames alone, Fire Control Beasts, being adept in fire control, indeed had the upper hand over other Orange-rank Martial Souls. At least it was stronger than the flames of the Fire Burning Vine and Fire Wolf Martial Souls.

After all, besides the fire control ability, the Fire Burning Vine also possessed the ability to ensnare, and the Fire Wolf additionally granted enhancements in speed and strength.

Therefore, just in terms of flame power, the Fire Control Beast Martial Soul was indeed stronger.

At this time, where Yang Fu’s burnt corpse had been, there now lay a small cloth bag.

These types of bags, known as Qiankun Bags, were essential aids for Martial Artists in this world. They had a Qiankun space inside, with as much as five cubic meters to store food, weapons, and other things.

They provided great convenience for Martial Artists.

However, the price of a Qiankun Bag was not cheap, at least several hundred taels, and Martial Artists below the Mortal Realm generally could not afford it.

Xiao Yi’s eyes lit up.

Being an assassin was risky, but the rewards were also extremely high. A renowned assassin like Yang Fu naturally had ample wealth.

Moreover, assassins operated alone and would certainly carry all their possessions with them.

Just as Xiao Yi was about to open the Qiankun Bag to see what was inside, a series of footsteps could be heard from outside the door.

”Someone is coming.” Xiao Yi quickly pocketed the Qiankun Bag.

”Knock, knock”

”Young Master Xiao Yi, have you retired for the night? The Third Elder requests your presence in the Council Hall.”

This was the voice of a servant of the Xiao Family.

Xiao Yi furrowed his brow and muttered to himself, ”It’s so late, and the meeting hasn’t ended yet? What do they want me for?”

A bad premonition emerged in Xiao Yi’s heart.

Gently covering Yiyi with a blanket, Xiao Yi walked out of the room and headed towards the family Council Hall.

....

The Council Hall was the center of power of the Xiao Family, where almost all important matters were discussed and decided by the various elders and deacons.

When Xiao Yi arrived there, he found the spacious Council Hall filled with clanspeople.

Of the nine elders, seven were present; nearly half of the deacons, and a few family disciples were there as well.

The moment Xiao Yi appeared, almost all the clanspeople cast unusual glances at him.

”Yii’er, come over here,” the Third Elder Xiao Chong said in a deep voice, gesturing with his hand.

The Third Elder was the Acting Patriarch, sitting at the foremost position in the Council Hall.

Xiao Yi nodded and sat down next to him.

”Third Elder, why have you summoned me at such a late hour?” Xiao Yi asked.

The Third Elder was silent for a moment, his expression complex, and said, ”I’ve called you here because there are some matters to discuss.”

Xiao Yi noticed that among all the people in the hall, aside from the Third Elder who had a complex and guilt-ridden expression...

All the others were looking at him with schadenfreude.

”Third Elder, if you have something to say, just say it,” Xiao Yi said.

”Sigh.” The Third Elder sighed, but the words seemed to be stuck in his throat and would not come out.

”Hmph.” At that moment, a middle-aged man with a domineering expression stood up.

It was the Fifth Elder, Xiao Ruohan’s father.

By his side was a young man with handsome features, who was none other than Xiao Ruohan.

”If the Third Elder can’t say it, then I will,” the Fifth Elder said disdainfully as he looked at Xiao Yi, ”Xiao Yi, after a whole day of discussion among the nine elders and deacons, we have decided to strip you of your position as Young Master.

”After all, you have no talent, and your aptitude is poor, yet you occupy a large number of cultivation resources. This is very unfair to the other outstanding members of the family.”

”Of course, in consideration of your father, who is the former family head and who has made significant contributions to the family in the past, we could consider temporarily preserving your position as Young Master. However, you must give up the spot to enter the Purple Cloud Cave for training half a month later.”

Having spoken, the Fifth Elder sat down with a domineering look on his face.

”So the reason you called me here was for this matter,” Xiao Yi sneered coldly.

With a face filled with worry, the Third Elder said, ”Yii’er, I called you here to make a decision. Will you keep your position as Young Master, or will you keep the training spot available half a month later?”

The Third Elder looked guilty, as he had always treated Xiao Yi as his own, and was entrusted by Xiao Yi’s father to look after him, but now, he had put Xiao Yi in such a difficult situation. He was uneasy.

”Third Elder, don’t be sad; I know you’ve done your best,” Xiao Yi reassured him, seeing what was in the Third Elder’s heart.

It wasn’t hard to imagine that the Third Elder must have tried his hardest. Otherwise, with the Fifth Elder’s ruthless nature, Xiao Yi would not even have the opportunity to choose now.

Instead, both his position as Young Master and the training spot would have been stripped away.

The Purple Cloud Cave was a treasure land and part of the Xiao Family’s heritage. Normally, family members were forbidden to enter, and it only opened once every three years, allowing only the most outstanding descendants to train inside for ten days.

Moreover, there were only ten spots available.

It was said that the spiritual energy within the Purple Cloud Cave was extremely plentiful, tens of times more concentrated than the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy outside.

Therefore, the ten spots available every three years were something all the young members of the family would fight tooth and nail for.

However, there was a rule in the Xiao Family: The Young Master did not need to compete and was directly granted one spot.

”Xiao Yi, make your decision quickly,” the Fifth Elder’s domineering voice rang out again, ”We have discussed it for a day, and now the day is late. Do not waste our time any longer.”

The Seventh Elder also spoke, ”Xiao Yi, your aptitude is poor, and to put it bluntly, you are a waste. The family has been granting you cultivation resources for years, which is already a profound grace. You should be grateful.”

The Eighth Elder also rebuked, ”Xiao Yi, the Purple Cloud Cave opens only once every three years. Since you do not have the ability, even if you went inside, it would be a waste of time. It would be better to leave the opportunity to other members of the family who need it, which could be considered your contribution to the family. Don’t just be a freeloader and bring shame upon the Xiao Family.”

”Hold your tongue,” the Third Elder suddenly became angry, ”It is not your place to lecture Yii’er.”

Xiao Yi sneered. These three elders were shamelessly overbearing. Over the years, the cultivation resources had always been seized by others, not graciously given.

Of course, if this were the former Xiao Yi, no matter how much he was bullied today, he would have no choice but to swallow his pride.

But the current Xiao Yi would no longer tolerate such treatment.

”I have a spot to train in the Purple Cloud Cave because it’s a longstanding rule of the Xiao Family. It is my right. Why should I give it up?” Xiao Yi asked coldly in response.

The Fifth Elder said sternly, ”Are you saying that you choose to keep the training spot and give up the title of Young Master?”

”All right, then it’s decided,” the Seventh Elder and Eighth Elder said in unison.

Their excited expressions seemed to indicate they were more eager to see Xiao Yi lose his position as Young Master.

”When did I say I did not want the position of Young Master?” Xiao Yi asked, spreading his hands.

”What do you mean?” The Fifth Elder’s tone suddenly turned icy.

”You want to keep both the training spot and the position of Young Master? Xiao Yi, don’t be delusional,” the Seventh Elder scolded.

”Is that so?” Xiao Yi asked unflinchingly, ”I’d like to ask, Fifth Elder and Seventh Elder, what right do you have to strip me of my position as Young Master?”

”This is the Council Hall. The matters decided by the elders and deacons here—are you refusing them?” said the Fifth Elder domineeringly.

Xiao Yi laughed coldly, ”Ordinary matters can indeed be discussed and decided by the elders and deacons. But according to the family rules, the position of Young Master must be stripped by the family head; if the family head is unavailable, then it must be done by the joint decision of the nine elders; if there is disagreement among the elders, then it shall be decided by the vote of all clan members.

”Only if more than ninety percent of the clan members agree can the position of Young Master be stripped.”

”Nonsense,” the Fifth Elder said angrily, ”The Xiao Family is large, and every family member is busy with family matters, how can they all gather to deal with your trivial issues?”

”Pfft, as if you think you are some genius,” the Eighth Elder said disdainfully, ”You don’t have the stature that requires the whole Xiao Family to make such a big fuss.”

Xiao Yi sneered, ”Then I guess there’s no way around it. After all, a country has its laws, and a clan has its rules. Do you elders intend to disregard the clan rules and disrespect the ones set by our ancestors, ignoring the legacy of our forefathers and desecrating them?”

Xiao Yi threw a big accusation over their heads, leaving them at a loss for words.

Actually, rules were rules. After all, the position of Young Master was an important one in the Xiao Family. In the past, all Young Masters were individuals with tremendous talent, so it was necessary for the entire clan to make a decision.

But as for Xiao Yi, he was not truly qualified, holding only the title without any real power.

However, if Xiao Yi insisted on the family rules, the Fifth Elder and the others indeed had no way to do anything, unless they wanted to disregard the clan rules and openly disrespect the regulations established by their ancestors.

”You... you... useless trash, don’t get cocky,” the Seventh Elder was at a loss for words.

”Xiao Yi, don’t spout nonsense,” the Eighth Elder was also startled.

The Fifth Elder furrowed his brows, thinking to himself, how had Xiao Yi suddenly become so assertive today, even learning to fight back?