Soul Emperor Martial God

The other elders, after having their pride wounded by Xiao Yi, left one by one.

The vast Council Hall was now left with only Xiao Yi and the Great Elder.

The Great Elder was the first to speak, "Xiao Yi, based on what you just said, has your Xiao Family been attacked?"

"Indeed." Xiao Yi nodded and said, "I came to the Sword Sect to see if there were any clues here."

The Great Elder asked with confusion, "I remember you telling me that your Xiao Family is protected by a Demon Hunting Order."

"Who would dare to go against your Xiao Family?"

Xiao Yi spoke gravely, "They are all outlaws from the local Northern Mountain County, as well as from a few neighboring counties."

"Outlaws?" The Great Elder furrowed his brows and said, "It seems that there are people behind this trying to target your Xiao Family."

"These outlaws are just hired hands."

The Great Elder was shrewd and naturally could guess these things.

"Have you found out anything?"

The Great Elder inquired.

Xiao Yi nodded slightly and said, "I have some guesses."

"Those who bear a grudge against me are only a few forces."

In fact, ever since he saw the Fourth Elder appear in the Sword Sect, Xiao Yi had been certain which force was targeting his Xiao Family.

It was none other than Blood Mist Valley.

With Xiao Yi's intelligence, he had even roughly guessed most of the situation.

Blood Mist Valley wanted to target him, but they did not dare to do so openly, so they had to target his family first.

And since the Xiao Family was protected by a Demon Hunting Order, Blood Mist Valley did not dare to attack directly.

Hiring outlaws was their only method.

Of course, under this method, there was a series of flawless plans.

First, they let these outlaws strike against the Xiao Family.

On the other side, they sent people to trap the Demon Hunting Palace Law Enforcement Team outside of Purple Cloud City.

As these outlaws attacked the Xiao Family, with no Law Enforcement Team coming to intervene, they would not know that the Xiao Family was protected by a Demon Hunting Order.

Those outlaws, as well as regular assassin forces.

Naturally, it was impossible for them to know which families were protected by a Demon Hunting Order.

Even ordinary people, if they hadn't encountered a Demon Hunting Order before, wouldn't be able to recognize one.

The Demon Hunting Hall wouldn't broadcast which families had the protection of a Demon Hunting Order.

Naturally, when facing a certain family or individual, whether a Demon Hunting Palace Law Enforcement Team intervened.

This was the main way to determine if that family or person was protected by a Demon Hunting Order.

Any family protected by a Demon Hunting Order would immediately have the Demon Hunting Palace Law Enforcement Team come to intervene and protect them when attacked.

This was common knowledge.

The Law Enforcement Team outside of Purple Cloud City was trapped.

It was only because they did not know that the Xiao Family had the protection of a Demon Hunting Order that those outlaws had the courage to go against the Xiao Family.

Otherwise, even if they were greedy and ruthless, they would not dare to bear the wrath of the Demon Hunting Palace.

Another point.

If the Xiao Family had suffered casualties only, the Demon Hunting Hall wouldn't take it too seriously.

However, if the Xiao Family were to be completely exterminated, the Demon Hunting Hall would immediately pay attention and thoroughly investigate.

If the Demon Hunting Hall found out through these outlaws that Blood Mist Valley was behind the attack on the Xiao Family.

Blood Mist Valley would not be able to escape the involvement and would face retribution from the Demon Hunting Hall.

Therefore, Blood Mist Valley was very clever; the outlaws they hired were from the local Northern Mountain County, as well as a few surrounding counties.

Even if the Demon Hunting Hall really traced it back to them.

They would have a plethora of reasons to disentangle themselves from the matter.

For instance, the outlaws were already targets of the Demon Hunting Hall and official pursuit, so their words could not be trusted.

For instance, this was simply a case of outlaws attacking the Xiao Family.

In short, as long as they did not directly confront the Xiao Family.

They would have innumerable reasons to shirk responsibility.

They could have asked a Sub Hall Master in advance to request the revocation of the Demon Hunting Order.

Likewise, afterwards they could ask one, two, three, or even more Sub Hall Masters to covertly cover up the matter for them.

All it would take was a significant price to be paid.

Generally, if a family protected by a Demon Hunting Order was annihilated, it was the Sub Hall Masters who dealt with the issue.

As long as the Hall Master was not alarmed.

Then, the collaboration of several Sub Hall Masters to cover up the incident would be enough to ensure the matter was forgotten.

Of course, this matter depended on no one in the Demon Hunting Hall being willing to help such a small family like the Xiao Family.

"To put it simply," the Sub Hall Master who exchanged the Demon Hunting Order for the Xiao Family wasn't particularly capable at the Main Hall.

At least, that's what Blood Mist Valley thought.

Although Xiao Yi was the Strongest Sword Master, he was nothing more than a greenhorn who had barely spent a year in the Royal Capital.

It's likely that getting a Sub Hall Master to exchange for a Demon Hunting Order was already their limit.

It was simply impossible for them to know any of the truly influential Sub Hall Masters within the Demon Hunting Hall.

Everything then followed logically.

Blood Mist Valley, on one hand, covertly hired desperadoes to deal with the Xiao Family.

On the other hand, they sent strong fighters to trap the Law Enforcement Team outside of Purple Cloud City.

Meanwhile, other forces were tying down the Sky-splitting Sword Sect and the Commandery Prince's Mansion.

The Xiao Family, isolated and without aid, with only their own clan's power, could easily be annihilated by that mob of not-so-strong desperadoes.

Another impeccable point of Blood Mist Valley.

Was that those holding up the Sky-splitting Sword and the Commandery Prince's Mansion were naturally expected characters.

And not people from Blood Mist Valley themselves.

Like the Sword Sect Fourth Elder.

He came with an edict from the Sect Master, with all legality and justification.

He sought to separate the Sky-splitting Sword Sect from the Sect. If successful, all the better.

If not, it would still tie up the Sword Sect's strong fighters, preventing them from aiding the Xiao Family.

Two birds with one stone.

The situation with the Commandery Prince's Mansion was probably similar.

"Heh," Xiao Yi chuckled lightly, but within that smile lay a chilling intent to kill.

Blood Mist Valley had indeed woven a flawless plan.

But they failed to account for one detail: they didn't anticipate that Xiao Yi would return to Northern Mountain County in time.

And even when he arrived at the Sky-splitting Sword Sect and saw the Fourth Elder, he instantly connected all the dots and confirmed that it was Blood Mist Valley targeting the Xiao Family.

Blood Mist Valley's targeting of the Xiao Family.

Merely arose from Xiao Yi swiftly dismantling several of their Blood Intent Pill manufacturing dens in a short time.

Obstructing Blood Mist Valley's pill refining.

The Fourth Elder was already involved with the Blood Intent Pill matter.

Since he appeared at the Sword Sect, impeding the elders.

Thus, combining various factors and speculations, Xiao Yi had naturally figured it all out.

And was even more certain that it was Blood Mist Valley behind the attacks on the Xiao Family.

However, there was still the most critical point, one that resulted in the utter failure of Blood Mist Valley's seemingly impeccable plan.

That was, Blood Mist Valley was completely unaware of Xiao Yi's other identity.

And they knew even less that the one who exchanged the Demon Hunting Order for the Xiao Family wasn't a Sub Hall Master at Xiao Yi's behest.

But rather another identity of Xiao Yi himself, Yi Xiao Sub Hall Master.

This allowed him, when they tried to convince Gale Sub Hall Master to revoke that Demon Hunting Order.

For Xiao Yi to immediately become aware of someone targeting the Xiao Family and to rush back straight away.

"Hu," Xiao Yi took a deep breath.

He had already come to understand everything.

Now, he was even more grateful that he had never revealed his other identity.

This identity, hidden in the shadows.

Was enough to catch the enemies off guard, granting him significant advantage.

Had he not rushed back to the Xiao Family in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

"Blood Mist Valley, just you wait," Xiao Yi's fists clenched, cracking with tension.

After a while, he contained the murderous intent in his eyes.

He had another purpose in coming to the Sky-splitting Sword Sect today.

"Great Elder," Xiao Yi looked towards the Great Elder and said solemnly, "I have come today to ask you about something."

"What matter?" the Great Elder asked, puzzled.

With a flash of light in his hand, Xiao Yi took out the Eight Dragons Burning Fire Furnace.

"This Alchemy Furnace, the Great Elder is aware of it, right?" Xiao Yi asked seriously.

"Eight Dragons Burning Fire Furnace." The Great Elder's brow furrowed.

"If you are asking me this question, it means you have indeed been investigating Shiyi's matter in the Royal Capital."

"And you've gone quite deep at that."

The tone of the Great Elder became extremely grave.

...

First update.