Soul Emperor Awakening

Tuo Zhanhong stared at them coldly. None of the Lan Family members dared to step forward. This was Tu Family territory; anyone who came here had to play by their rules.

"Arrest him? He is now a Foreign Elder of my Tu Family. Who dares to lay a hand on him?" Tuo Zhanhong snorted, showing them no respect whatsoever.

The expressions of the Lan Family members changed. They hadn’t expected Tuo Zhanhong to be so utterly disrespectful, rejecting them outright.

"Elder Tuo, you should think this through. He is the criminal who killed Young Master Lan, and our Patriarch is furious. Do you really want to make an enemy of the Lan Family?" The Spirit Pill Stage expert once again used the Lan Family’s name as a threat, implying that refusing to hand over Lin Xuan would lead to all-out war.

"That little routine of yours might work on others, but are you out of your minds trying it on our Tu Family?" Tuo Zhanhong said coldly. "Go on, get out of here. Tell Lan Qinghua that the person he wants is an Elder of the Tu Family! Frankly, the only reason you were even allowed on this island is because we were showing you some courtesy. Believe me when I say I can have every last one of you from the Lan Family thrown off Divine Martial Island for good!"

The faces of the Lan Family members turned ugly. Tuo Zhanhong was showing them no respect at all, but the Tu Family certainly had the power to back it up. The Tu Family was the most powerful family in the Demon Cloud Sea, while the Lan Family was merely ranked third. That alone demonstrated the disparity between them.

Of course, if they were to truly fight, both sides would suffer heavy losses. But such a conflict wouldn’t happen unless it was the absolute last resort. For Lan Qinghua to have become the Patriarch of the Lan Family, he must have been a man of some cunning. If he were so impulsive and irrational, the Lan Family would have been annihilated long ago.

Lin Xuan watched from the side with a cool gaze. ’It seems Tuo Zhanhong is genuinely intent on having me join the Tu Family. This is basically a declaration of his stance, making it clear that as long as I’m with the Tu Family, the Lan Family won’t be able to lay a finger on me!’

It was a good thing that Tuo Zhanhong had chosen to recruit him rather than capture him. ’If he had decided to capture me, I really would have had no escape, unless I hid inside the Martial God Tower. But I can hide for a while, not forever.’

What had made Tuo Zhanhong make such a significant decision was not just Lin Xuan’s background, but more importantly, his potential. He had managed to clear the Sixth Layer of the Martial God Tower—the same level the Young Martial God had reached. Just imagining the rewards for such a feat was enough to know they had to be absolutely incredible.

"Elder Tuo, are you serious about this?" one of the Lan Family members asked, his face grim. They would report his words back exactly as they were spoken. As for how their Patriarch would react, that was his concern.

In any case, they didn’t dare try to capture him now. With Tuo Zhanhong here, how could they possibly make a move?

"Elder Tuo, thank you for looking out for this junior. I’ve decided not to accept the position of Foreign Elder in the Tu Family. However, if the Tu Family is ever in trouble, I will honor my previous promise and rush to your aid without delay!" Lin Xuan bowed to Tuo Zhanhong, grateful for his actions. Then, to everyone’s astonishment, he turned to the Lan Family members and said, "You want to capture me, don’t you? Well, if you have what it takes, come and get me!"

The moment he finished speaking, Lin Xuan tossed out a Phoenix figurine. In an instant, a massive Phoenix materialized. He immediately leaped onto its back and soared into the sky, leaving behind a red afterimage before anyone could even react.

"Yunhai, focus on your Cultivation! The next time we meet, I hope you’ll be stronger and able to stand on your own!" With those parting words, Lin Xuan vanished over the horizon.

By the time the Spirit Pill Stage experts from the Lan Family reacted, Lin Xuan had already vanished. They couldn’t possibly hope to catch him, and were left standing there, completely dumbfounded.

It wasn’t just the Lan Family; many members of the Tu Family were also stunned. They were only now learning who Lin Xuan really was—a wanted fugitive of the Lan Family, and with the highest bounty in their history!

"Weren’t you so eager to chase him? Now’s your chance!" Tuo Zhanhong watched them with a mocking gaze. With the speed of that Fire Phoenix, they didn’t stand a chance of catching up. Unless they had a Core Formation Stage expert with them, it was impossible.

The Lan Family members’ faces were ashen. That was the speed of a Phoenix. They were only Spirit Pill Stage experts; they couldn’t even fly. How the hell were they supposed to give chase? Even with flying Demon Beasts as mounts, they would be left in the dust by a Phoenix. It was the King of speed; no other Demon Beast could possibly keep up.

"Elder Tuo, what you said earlier... were you serious?" one of the Lan Family men asked again.

They just wanted a definitive answer from Tuo Zhanhong, especially since Lin Xuan himself had just said he wouldn’t be joining as a Foreign Elder. In truth, Lin Xuan had appreciated the gesture. The fact that Tuo Zhanhong was willing to say such a thing—and protect him in front of the Lan Family—was enough. Because of that, he would choose to trust the Tu Family.

Of course, he didn’t want the Lan and Tu Families to start a war over him; that would make him the villain of the story. Besides, his home wasn’t in the Demon Cloud Sea. The Lan Family might be powerful in the Demon Cloud Sea, but they weren’t nearly as influential outside of it. ’If they’ve got the guts, let them come find me in Qingcheng Mansion. I’ll beat them so badly their own Patriarch won’t recognize them!’

"He may not have accepted the title of Foreign Elder, but in my heart, he already is one. To make an enemy of him is to make an enemy of the Tu Family. I’ve said my piece. If you are dissatisfied, have your Patriarch come and see me himself!" Tuo Zhanhong snorted. "If there’s nothing else, you may leave!"

Now *that* was true dominance!

His words left them speechless. What could they do, even if they were seething with anger? Who among them would dare to fight Tuo Zhanhong?

"Then we will take our leave. We will report your words to our Patriarch, exactly as you spoke them!" They weren’t spineless cowards, either. After saying their piece, they turned and led their men away, looking utterly dejected. They had waited here for so long, only to have their prize fly away right from under their noses.

They had originally wanted to bring a Core Formation Stage expert with them, but cultivators of that level were either Grand Elders or held a rank equivalent to an Island Master. People of that stature wouldn’t just come running. So, they had chosen to come by themselves, planning to capture Lin Xuan if no Core Formation Stage expert was present to stop them.

Now, the Core Formation Stage expert they had feared was gone, but the Phoenix was simply too fast. They couldn’t catch it even if they swam with all their might. They wanted to cry but had no tears left, having wasted all that time waiting here for nothing.

Watching them depart, the heavy stone in Tuo Yunhai’s heart finally lifted. He was so glad Brother Lin hadn’t been captured. He knew that Elder Feng wasn’t coming back, so if Lin Xuan had been caught, his only option would have been to ask the Grand Elder for help. But now, that wasn’t necessary, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Thank you for your help, Grand Elder. I’m grateful on Brother Lin’s behalf!" Tuo Yunhai said.

"There’s no need for that. Go back to your Cultivation. This time, you can finally focus on it without distractions, can’t you?" Tuo Zhanhong said with a faint smile.

Tuo Yunhai nodded, smiled, and headed back. He was determined to cultivate diligently, his mind now free of distractions.

"Grand Elder, is this really wise? Antagonizing the Lan Family..." another Elder walked over, looking worried.

"It’s not as if you didn’t know this was bound to happen sooner or later. The Zeng Family and the Lan Family are already plotting together. I suspect it won’t be long now... I just hope these young ones can grow up quickly. Otherwise, it will be too late..." Tuo Zhanhong sighed deeply, a ruthless glint flashing in his eyes.