266: Zhou Shixuan's invitation

Time passed in a deathly silence and tension.

The two seized this rare chance to breathe, frantically circulating their Cultivation Techniques to absorb the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi and repair their bodies.

The tenacity of the Undying Battle Body and the resilience of the Asura Demonic Form were displayed to their fullest. Their heavily injured bodies, like parched earth greedily absorbing every drop of water, saw their injuries slowly but firmly stabilize and improve at a pace visible to the naked eye.

About two hours later.

At the edge of the terrifying blade wound on Di Lingxiao's chest, new granulation began to stubbornly close. Although it was far from healed, at least it was no longer bleeding profusely.

His collapsed left shoulder blade emitted slight 'clacking' sounds under the wash of golden blood and Qi, forcibly returning to its position.

He exhaled a long, bloody breath of turbid air, feeling a sliver of strength regrouping within his body.

Di Wushang's breathing had also stabilized significantly, and a hint of color returned to his pale face. His Asura Demonic Eyes opened, their ghostly light restrained and appearing even deeper.

Just then!

Outside the stone building, one of the warning runes Di Wushang had set up silently vanished!

The two were instantly alert!

Like taut bowstrings, they simultaneously looked toward the dilapidated entrance.

A steady sound of footsteps approached from afar and stopped just outside the broken threshold of the stone building.

A figure appeared in the doorway, blocking the dark red moonlight from outside.

The newcomer was about forty years old, with a refined countenance. He wore a well-tailored brocade robe and a warm purple jade pendant hung from his waist, engraved with an ancient character for 'Zhou'.

His Aura was deep and steady; he was impressively at the Tong Tian Realm Tenth Level Peak!

But unlike Tu Lie's violent nature, his Aura was harmonious and restrained, carrying the composure of one who had long held a high position.

Behind him stood two guards whose Auras were equally strong and whose gazes were sharp.

“Zhou Family, Zhou Shixuan.”

The visitor cupped his hands slightly with a perfect smile. His gaze swept over the two inside who were facing a great enemy, lingering for a moment on Di Lingxiao’s gruesome wounds and Di Wushang’s cold face. “Two hundred victories kings, taking shelter here in the middle of the night is truly lamentable.”

Di Lingxiao struggled to sit upright, the dragon fall spear already quietly grasped in his hand, his eyes as sharp as knives. “Someone from the Zhou Family? What, do you also want to loot a burning house and take our heads to curry favor with the Tu Family and the Evil Spirit Cult?”

Zhou Shixuan’s smile remained unchanged as he shook his head. “Little friend, your words are mistaken. My Zhou Family stands in Rakshasa City based on integrity and strength, not on kicking people when they are down.” He paused, his gaze becoming sincere. “To be honest, I have come on behalf of the Thunder Prison Prefecture's Zhou Family to once again extend an invitation to you both.”

“An invitation?” Di Lingxiao sneered, which pulled at his wounds and made him grimace in pain. “Recruitment again? We heard your manager’s words clearly enough back at the arena.”

“That was then, this is now.”

Zhou Shixuan took no offense, his tone remaining peaceful. “At that time, you two were at the height of your power with a hundred victories in sight. Though my Zhou Family was interested, we knew it could not be forced. But now...” He glanced at Di Lingxiao’s injuries, his meaning clear.

“You are both heavily injured and surrounded by enemies. The Tu Family and the Evil Spirit Cult have come out in full force, and Master Li Xiong is watching like a hawk. Though Rakshasa City is large, I fear there is no longer a place for you to stay.”

He took a step forward, his voice carrying temptation. “As long as you both nod and join my Zhou Family, we will honor you as Guest Elders with high status and tilted resources!”

“Our Old Ancestor of the Zhou Family is a Heavenly Venerable Realm expert! Our Family Head is also at the Earthly Venerable Tenth Level! With the protection of the Zhou Family, the Tu Family, the Evil Spirit Cult, and even Li Xiong will never dare to touch a hair on your heads!”

“You can even peacefully enjoy the glory of being hundred victories kings!”

The two guards behind Zhou Shixuan also straightened their backs slightly, invisibly emitting pressure to demonstrate the Zhou Family's confidence.

The stone building fell into a brief silence.

Only the faint noise of distant pursuers coming from outside served as a reminder of the imminent crisis.

The Zhou Family's conditions sounded truly tempting, especially in this desperate situation.

Di Lingxiao and Di Wushang looked at each other.

In Di Lingxiao's eyes was unmasked arrogance and disdain, while in the depths of Di Wushang's demonic eyes was a cold mockery.

“Heh...” Di Lingxiao let out a cold laugh. Leaning on his spear, he stood up shakily, his back ramrod straight. Despite being covered in wounds, he possessed an Aura that seemed to support the heavens.

“Zhou Shixuan, is it? Go back and tell your Family Head and that old turtle Old Ancestor...”

His voice suddenly rose, carrying a decisive finality:

“I, Di Lingxiao, am a person of the Di Clan in life and a ghost of the Di Clan in death! You want the sons of my Di Clan to betray their Family and become someone's dogs? In your dreams! Get lost!”

“The glory of the Di Clan shall not be defiled.”

Di Wushang’s cold voice was like a final sentence. He slowly stood up, the asura god-slaying spear pointing diagonally at the ground. Dark Evil Qi spread silently, locking onto the three people at the door.

No more words were needed; that bone-chilling Killing Intent that kept people a thousand miles away was the best answer.

The smile on Zhou Shixuan’s face finally froze completely. A flash of unbelievable shock crossed his eyes, followed by a thick gloom.

He never expected that in this desperate situation where they were at the end of their ropes and their lives hung by a thread, these two could still so firmly reject the olive branch extended by the Zhou Family!

“Good! Good! What a 'hundred victories king'!” Zhou Shixuan laughed from extreme anger, saying 'good' three times. His refined air vanished, replaced only by cold threats.

“Since you two are so ungrateful and insist on seeking death, then... suit yourselves! I hope when the Tu Family's blades and the Evil Spirit Cult's soul banners are upon you, you can still be this tough!”

He violently flicked his sleeves and, with his two guards, vanished into the blood-colored moonlight outside without looking back.

“Bah! What garbage!” Di Lingxiao spat and sat back down, seizing the time to recover.

He knew that Zhou Shixuan's departure meant the end of their final buffer time.

The mad dogs of the Tu Family and the Evil Spirit Cult could sniff their way here at any moment.

And indeed!

Less than half an hour later.

BOOM—!!!

The already tottering door of the stone building, along with half of the wall, was blown to pieces by a violent blood-colored blade astral! Rubble and dust flew everywhere!

“Found you! Little bastards! Let's see where you run this time!” Tu Lie's roar, like a broken gong, was filled with bone-deep hatred as he was the first to charge in!

Behind him, the Tu Family's Heaven-Reaching Realm experts filed in, packing the small space of the stone building to the brim!

Violent, bloody Killing Intent instantly filled every corner!

Almost simultaneously, the several broken windows of the stone building also exploded!

Chilling ghostly Qi flooded in like a tide!

Elder Gui Ku’s figure appeared at the largest window. The mourning mask on his face was half-shattered, revealing the pale, twisted half-face beneath it, his eyes filled with hysterical malice!

Behind him, more than ten Evil Spirit Cultists emerged like ghostly shadows. Dense vengeful Soul Power instantly formed an invisible mire, deathly suppressing the Auras of Di Lingxiao and Di Wushang!

This time, the number of Tu Family and Evil Spirit Cult experts who had pursued them was even greater than before in the alleyway!

Moreover, they had clearly learned their lesson and did not give the two any chance to breathe or be picked off one by one!

The prototypes of the Blood Slaughter Battle Array and the Ten Thousand Soul Spirit-Devouring Array were instantly formed!

Violent blade astrals and poisonous Soul Power intertwined into an inescapable net, completely sealing off the interior space of the stone building!

A true certain-death trap! No escape!

“Kill—!” Tu Lie’s eyes were blood-red. His giant blade, carrying world-destroying blood astral, was the first to slash toward the weakened Di Lingxiao!

At the same time, Elder Gui Ku shook his Soul-Summoning Banner. Countless vengeful soul chains emitting malicious curses shot out like venomous dragons, coiling toward Di Wushang from all directions!

“Ten Thousand Souls God-Locking!”

The other Tu Family experts unleashed their blade astrals simultaneously!

The Evil Spirit Cultists' soul-devouring spikes and cursed soul threads poured down like a torrential rain!

Nowhere to dodge! Nowhere to retreat!

“Wu Shang!” Di Lingxiao let out a desperate roar!

He knew that with their current state, it was impossible to break the situation through coordination and strategy as they had before!

The only way was to fight with their lives!

Squeezing out every last bit of potential, even... paying an unbearable price!

The golden flames in his eyes instantly burned to the extreme!

A ferocity originating from the depths of his Bloodline completely erupted!

He slammed the dragon fall spear in his hand into the ground!

“With my battle blood, I sacrifice my divine weapon! heavens slaughter... Awaken!”