Chapter 549: Xiao Yan Reappears


    The white giant hand easily shattered the ck giant hand and moved at an incredible speed. In almost an instant, it appeared at the location where the Tou She Ancient God''s Jade was.


    It then imprinted itself on Nihility Devouring me who had just seized the jade!


    Nihility Devouring me was sent flying like a shooting star, only halting after covering an immense distance.


    This sudden turn of events left everyone dumbfounded.


    What kind of strength did Nihility Devouring me possess? Without a doubt, Nihility Devouring me, who had reached the nine-star Dou Saint in addition to having an Emperor Realm soul, was unquestionably one of the strongest beings in this world.


    Even people as strong as Lei Ying or Yan Jin would have to go all out to resist his previous palm strike. Yet, that attack just now had effortlessly dispersed Nihility Devouring me''s strike and even delivered a heavy blow to him?


    "This strength... a Nine-Star Dou Saint? How can it be?"


    The shocksted only a moment. Lei Ying and Yan Jin snapped back to reality and eximed in disbelief. Was the Nine-Star Dou Saint so worthless nowadays? Howe they kept appearing one after another!


    Nihility Devouring me had just pushed back the three of them with a single palm strike, and now this person had sent Nihility Devouring me flying the same way.


    Wouldn''t that mean that dealing with them would only require a casual p from this person? Could Xiao Ming really be that powerful? Or was someone else impersonating him?


    The trio of Yan Jin and the others looked up in astonishment and uncertainty, their eyes fixed on the space above where a ripple had suddenly appeared.


    At the same time, in the Gu Realm, amidst the vast mountains, numerous figures stood in the sky, all staring in shock at the space that rippled like water waves.


    A spatial channel gradually formed in the rippling space. Then, under the tense gaze of the numerous powerhouses, a figure slowly appeared from it.


    An overwhelming aura immediately spread out in all directions!


    Sure enough, this was another elite powerhouse, not any weaker than a Nine-Star Dou Saint!


    Nihility Devouring me managed to stabilize himself, clutching a palm-sized, crystal-clear ancient jade. His eyes filled with resentment as he red at the handsome figure in front of him.


    Although he had not seen the neer before, he recognized him from his portraits. This person was undoubtedly the Xiao Ming he hated so much that his teeth itched!


    "Xiao Ming, you could have taken the ancient jade yourself, but you didn''t act. Instead, you lured me to make a move, cunningly ambushing me. How devious!"


    As Nihility Devouring me''s resentful, usatory voice echoed in his ears, Xiao Ming simply looked at him with some amusement. Nihility Devouring me appeared pale, his breathing erratic. He had clearly sustained some injuries.


    "Nihility, it seems like that blow screwed up your brain. You hid your strength for so long to make me reveal myself. Wasn''t it just to make a move against me? Talk about being devious. When ites to cunning, who can match you? I just turned your n against you," Xiao Ming replied with a slight scoff.


    ''And of course, if there''s an opportunity for a sneak attack, why not take it?''


    He didn''t voice thisst thought out loud, but the smirk on his face told Nihility Devouring me enough. The humiliation of a failed scheme, feeling like a botched attempt to steal a chicken only to lose the rice used to lure it, enraged Nihility Devouring me to the point where he wished he could immediately engage in a three-hundred-round battle with Xiao Ming.


    But Nihility Devouring me wasn''t the only one stung by Xiao Ming''s words; the trio of Yan Jin and others also felt the impact.


    They had fought Nihility Devouring me for so long, and now they discovered that he had been hiding his true strength. This left them feeling somewhat powerless.


    They exchanged nces and sighed in unison. The disparity between a Nine-Star Dou Saint and an Eight-Star Dou Saint was indeed too vast!


    Others, withparatively lesser strength, didn''t ponder too much. They just felt that the Alliance Leader of the Heavenly Court was so powerful, truly the number one genius on the Dou Qi Continent. Joining forces with the Heavenly Court was undoubtedly the right choice!


    Many young women from the Ancient ns looked at him with strange colors in their eyes.


    The members of the Hun n, however, had a bit of a headache. Xiao Ming''s sudden appearance and terrifying strength could be said to have disrupted their ns.


    Hun Tu, one of the Four Demon Saints of the Hun n, furrowed his brow for a moment, but then rxed his expression and said.


    "There''s a slight deviation in the n, but it''s not a big deal. We''ve already obtained the ancient jade of the Gu n. Let Hun Huzi bring those people here. With them in our hands, the ancient jade of the Xiao n won''t get far either."


    ...


    Ignoring what others thought, when Nihility Devouring me was seething with anger and everyone expected him to engage in a major battle with Xiao Ming, he unexpectedly subdued his anger and retreated. This turn of events took many by surprise.


    Back in the sky, Xiao Ming neither chased after him nor looked surprised at this oue.


    Would a surprise attackunched by him really be so easy to withstand? In the past, none of those he had ambushed in this manner had survived.


    Even now, though Nihility Devouring me was still alive, he was not unscathed and had lost much of hisbat power.


    It was just that Nihility Devouring me was still of some use to his ns; if it were just him, Xiao Ming would have pped him to death without hesitation.


    Of course, there was another reason why Xiao Ming did not go after him: Gu Yuan and Hun Tiandi had stopped fighting.


    Attacking Nihility Devouring me again would give Hun Tiandi an opportunity to escape with his forces. Therefore, there was no need to waste any more effort.


    When Nihility Devouring me returned to the sky, Gu Yuan and Hun Tiandi had just finished their confrontation, with neither side gaining any significant advantage.


    Hun Tiandi merely cast a slight frown at Nihility Devouring me before shifting his gaze to Xiao Ming.


    "I didn''t expect your strength to improve so much in just a few months. I was wrong in my assumption. It seems that your contribution was half the reason why the Purifying Demonic Lotus Saint was able to injure me back then. I shouldn''t have let you live until now..."


    "Hehe, Hun Tiandi, why bother bringing up the past? No matter how much you regret it, it won''t change anything," Xiao Ming replied, unfazed by the danger concealed in his tone.


    "That''s true. This n head is only here today for the Tou She Ancient God''s Jade. Hand it over, and I will leave. How about it?"


    "No way!"


    Even before Xiao Ming could utter a word, the elders of the Gu n vehemently objected.


    With seven pieces of the Tou She Ancient God''s Jade already in the hands of the Hun n, they couldn''t afford to lose the one in Xiao Ming''s possession.


    Gu Yuan, who had just returned to the Gu n''s side, also frowned deeply but didn''t shout like the others. The Hun n wouldn''t havee without being confident in their leverage, and the decision ultimately rested in Xiao Ming''s hands.


    Of course, Gu Yuan still felt a tinge of anger in his heart. Xiao Ming had the opportunity to take back the ancient jade from the Gu n, but he only chose to injure Nihility Devouring me, thus putting the Gu n in a somewhat passive position.


    Unswayed by the others, Xiao Ming simply stared calmly at Hun Tiandi.


    "And what if I refuse?"


    "You don''t have a choice! Hun Huzi, bring the people out."


    Hun Tiandiughed lightly and issued an order. A dark passage appeared behind him, and soon, numerous figures were escorted out one by one.


    Xiao Ming recognized several familiar faces among those being brought out.


    ''Elders of the Jia Nan Academy...''


    ''Elders of the Heavenly Court who have been captured by the Hall of Souls...''


    ''Xiao Li, Xiao Ding...?''


    The number of people brought out was considerable, easily reaching over a hundred.


    The appearance of the Heavenly Court members did not surprise Xiao Ming. Given the massive battle between the Heavenly Court and the Hall of Souls, both sides suffered considerable losses, including arge number of captives. The people from the Heavenly Court who appeared now were all well-known figures, and he could even call them by name.


    The Jia Nan Academy was an important part of Xiao Ming''s growth, and knowing Hun Tiandi''s ruthless methods, it was to be expected that it wouldn''t be spared either.


    Fortunately, Xiao Ming had already taken those close to him away. These included his Master, his childhood friend, the Deputy Headmaster, and the First Elder. Those who remained were only those necessary for the continued operation of the Academy.


    The presence of Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, on the other hand, caught him off guard. To be honest, he hadn''t given them much thought over the years. Why were they even here, as captives of the Hun n? Xiao Ming was truly perplexed.


    ''Wait, isn''t that guy Xiao Yan? Why is he holding soul chains attached to his older brothers?''