Chapter 15

"Father, sisters, Second Uncle, it's been a while," Xiao Ming said with a warm smile.

The Xiao family froze, struggling to reconcile the stark contrast before them. Moments ago, this man had sentenced three entire clans to destruction without hesitation. Now, he stood before them, radiating warmth and kindness, as if the ruthless figure from earlier was someone else entirely.

Xiao Mei was the first to recover. With a cry of joy, she dashed toward Xiao Ming and wrapped her arms around him tightly. "Brother Ming! You finally came back!"

Not to be outdone, Xiao Rui followed suit, her icy demeanor melting as she embraced him as well.

If members of the other three families had witnessed this, they would have been utterly dumbfounded. The two renowned, cold-as-ice young ladies of the Xiao family—who always maintained a polite yet distant attitude—were now throwing themselves into a man's arms.

Xiao Ming gently patted their backs, his expression soft. Though he wasn't the same Xiao Ming they remembered, the original's memories had merged with his own, leaving him with genuine affection for this family.

"It's okay now. Stop crying," he teased, his voice light. "You're all grown up. Why are you crying like little girls?"

Xiao Haoren stepped forward, his voice trembling with emotion. "Ming'er, it's good that you've come back. It's really good."

Xiao Ming nodded. "Second Uncle, it's good to see you're doing well. Father, you seem to be in fine health as well."

The warmth of the reunion dissolved the tension from earlier. The Xiao family was overjoyed. Not only had the threat of their destruction been eliminated, but their young master had returned, brimming with strength and power.

However, not everyone shared in their happiness.

"Damn it!" Ye Chan clenched his fists, his face darkening as he watched the scene. The two women he had dreamed of winning over were now clinging to Xiao Ming, their eyes sparkling with admiration. The jealousy burned like acid in his chest.

If not for the terrifying aura Xiao Ming exuded, along with the sight of the nine transcendence-level flood dragons hovering behind him, Ye Chan might have dared to challenge him out of spite. For now, he could only swallow his humiliation.

"Brother Ming, you've become so powerful," Xiao Rui said, stepping back but still smiling brightly. "We've missed you."

"Well, I'm back now," Xiao Ming replied, patting her head. His gaze lingered on Xiao Rui and Xiao Mei briefly. Though he acted as the caring older brother, a flicker of something more passed through his eyes. They weren't blood-related siblings, after all, and Xiao Rui possessed the legendary Cold Yin Sacred Body, a physique renowned for its compatibility with dual cultivation. Of course, Xiao Ming wouldn't rush things—he preferred a smoother, more deliberate approach.

At that moment, he felt a malicious gaze on him. Without turning, he already knew it was Ye Chan.

Feigning ignorance, Xiao Ming glanced toward the disheveled figure standing at a distance. Ye Chan's clothes were torn and bloodstained, his messy hair making him look like a beggar who had wandered into the wrong place.

"This... Who is this?" Xiao Ming asked, his tone curious yet indifferent.

Xiao Mei stepped forward. "He's Ye Chan," she said, her voice devoid of warmth. "We met while I was returning home. He saved my life."

"Ah, so Young Hero Ye Chan is Mei'er's savior?" Xiao Ming said, his expression one of mock admiration. "It's a pity I arrived late and couldn't help. And... what happened to him? Did Li Jian and his group do this?"

Ye Chan opened his mouth, but before he could respond, Xiao Rui cut in, her tone brimming with amusement. "No, Brother Ming, this isn't Li Jian's work. Ye Chan got this appearance thanks to Second Uncle."

"Second Uncle?" Xiao Ming feigned surprise.

"Yes, he wanted to show off but didn't have the strength to back it up. Second Uncle only used one percent of his power, and Ye Chan ended up like this," Xiao Rui explained, failing to suppress her laughter.

Xiao Ming chuckled inwardly but kept a composed expression. "Rui'er, don't laugh. It's not polite," he said, pretending to chide her. "After all, Ye Chan is still Mei'er's savior. We owe him our gratitude."

He then turned to Ye Chan with a benevolent smile. "Friend Ye Chan, I apologize on behalf of my sister. You shouldn't feel bad about this little joke."

Xiao Ming acted like a responsible elder brother, but inside, he was smiling. After all, he had intervened subtly when Ye Chan tried to act cool against his Second Uncle. The reason Ye Chan couldn't even move, let alone defend himself, was the Oblivion Jade Pendant.

This pendant, a legendary artifact of the Immortal Xiao family, was incredibly powerful. It suppressed Ye Chan's movements with ease and could hide Xiao Ming's actions even from a powerhouse like Elder Tianxian.

Ye Chan forced a stiff smile, but his clenched fists betrayed his frustration. Meanwhile, the Xiao family continued celebrating, completely ignoring Ye Chan's presence.

Before Ye Chan could voice another word, Xiao Wuye stepped forward, his eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Young Master, is that flood dragon really your mount? And... how strong are they? How did you become so powerful?"

Uncle Chen, standing silently behind Xiao Ming, answered on his behalf. "The Young Master is now a core disciple of the Divine Blue Sect. As for the flood dragons, they are indeed his mounts, and each one has reached the level of transcendence."

The air grew heavy as Xiao Wuye's words sank in. The room fell silent for a moment, stunned by the revelation. Becoming a core disciple of a holy land like the Divine Blue Sect was a monumental achievement. And the thought of nine transcendence-level flood dragons as mere mounts was beyond belief.

"Good! Good! Good!" Xiao Haoren exclaimed, his voice trembling with excitement. "Ming'er, with your strength and status, no one will dare target the Xiao family again!"

Meanwhile, outside the Xiao Manor, the golden-armored guards advanced toward the residences of the Li, Zhang, and Yang families. Their steps exuded an oppressive aura, and the glow of their enchanted armor reflected like sunlight on rippling water.

The Li family was the first to notice their approach. Elder Li stepped out, his aura flaring as he gathered his family's cultivators. "Who dares trespass upon the Li family grounds? Our young master is a core disciple of the Roaring Lion Sect. Turn back now, or suffer the consequences!"

Deacon Chu stepped forward, his expression calm but tinged with disdain. "The Roaring Lion Sect? A minor name. Their so-called 'core disciple' couldn't even survive the first round of the Divine Sect Selection. What gives you the courage to mention them before us?"

"You—" Elder Li's words caught in his throat as Deacon Chu raised his hand.

A golden beam of energy erupted from his palm, cutting through the Li family's defensive formations like paper. The ground trembled as the main hall crumbled in an instant, engulfed in flames. Cries of shock and terror erupted as the family's cultivators tried to defend their home, only to be overwhelmed by the precise, unyielding strikes of the golden-armored guards.

The same scene was happening in the other two families also In mere moments, the three families were reduced to ashes, their once-proud estates now desolate ruins.

Xiao Ming stood among his family, his gaze flicking briefly to the system notification that appeared in his mind.

Ding!

Congratulations, Host...