Flames soared into the sky, illuminating half the firmament.
Explosions echoed continuously. The activated Evil Prison Shadow Kill Array was terrifying, its unleashed chaotic energy obliterating the entire Ximen family.
Almost all members of the Ximen family perished, with only a handful managing to escape.
Amidst the raging inferno, forty-nine colossal evil shadows, seemingly from hell, flickered in and out of existence, fiercely attacking something before vanishing without a trace.
"What in the world happened? The Ximen family actually deployed the Evil Prison Shadow Kill Array?"
"Could it be that an Emperor Immortal realm expert attacked the Ximen family, forcing them to choose mutual destruction?"
"Which Immortal Emperor was so audacious as to dare cause trouble at the Ximen family's stronghold? Wasn't that just asking for death?"
Such a massive commotion drew the attention of all living beings in Blue Jade City.
Everyone was discussing who the Ximen family had offended to bring such a calamity upon themselves.
They were also curious about which unlucky and foolish Immortal Emperor had died at the Ximen family's hands.
This was because the Evil Prison Shadow Kill Array possessed a peculiar characteristic: the evil shadows would not dissipate until the locked-on enemy was dead.
The disappearance of the forty-nine evil shadows proved that the expert who invaded the Ximen family had definitely kicked the bucket.
Inside a brothel.
Ximen Yaoqing, indulging in revelry, couldn't help but go to the window to watch after hearing the commotion.
He was already quite drunk. Seeing the distant sea of fire, he let out a gloating cry, "Whose unlucky home is that? Burned to such a state, they have nowhere to cry. Hahaha..."
The accompanying courtesan, with a sympathetic expression, quietly reminded him, "Young Master Ximen, that was the Ximen family being burned. Your home... is gone."
"What?"
Ximen Yaoqing sobered up instantly. He took a closer look and realized it was indeed his home that was burning. His face completely lost its color.
"Oh my god, I just came to a brothel, and my home is gone?"
Ximen Yaoqing's eyes rolled back, and his body swayed precariously. He never imagined he would be the unlucky one.
He shouted in panic, leaped out of the window, and sprinted towards his home.
"Alas, how pitiful!"
The courtesan sighed, then suddenly realized something and yelled at the top of her lungs, "Ximen Yaoqing, you scoundrel! You're trying to skip out without paying! Shameless!"
In the past, she wouldn't have feared the young master Ximen defaulting on his bill. But now that the Ximen family was reduced to ashes, the courtesan feared Ximen Yaoqing would renege on his debt. Enraged, she cursed him.
Thus, Ximen Yaoqing's reputation for enjoying services without paying quickly spread.
Before Ximen Yaoqing could get halfway, someone covered his mouth and dragged him into a dark alley.
"Father, did you get kicked in the head by a donkey? Why did you activate the Evil Prison Shadow Kill Array and ruin our family's business!"
Upon recognizing the face, Ximen Yaoqing berated him loudly, no longer caring about respecting his father.
In his eyes, he was the next family head of the Ximen family, and the vast Ximen family estate naturally belonged to him. Now that it was all destroyed, how could he not be furious?
"What do you mean *my* family business? I'm not dead yet."
Ximen Cang wanted to beat his unfilial son to death. However, since his relatives and clansmen had all been killed by him, and he didn't know if any other descendants had escaped, he naturally wouldn't harm this sole surviving heir.
He briefly recounted the events, admitting it was a desperate measure, as Ji Mo was simply too terrifying.
"Father, you believe that damned Han Zhu's nonsense? She only knows how to paint a rosy picture. We gained nothing and lost our entire family. That woman is a jinx; ever since she appeared, our Ximen family has been plagued by misfortune."
Ximen Yaoqing cursed vehemently. Recalling that after meeting Han Zhu, he had not only been beaten repeatedly but also suffered continuous bad luck, he grew increasingly angry.
"What did you say?"
A high-pitched female voice suddenly rang out, laced with icy coldness.
Han Zhu appeared. She had been nearby all along and had heard Ximen Yaoqing's words clearly. Her nose was nearly twitching with rage.
Ximen Yaoqing trembled in fear for a moment. However, upon turning and seeing Han Zhu's face covered in blood, her shell on her back gone, looking extremely disheveled and pathetic, he lost all reverence.
He directly questioned her face-to-face, "Did I say something wrong? What will you compensate for the losses of my Ximen family?"
"Once my Sea Tribe takes over Blue Jade City, you can have whatever territory you want."
Han Zhu suppressed the anger in her heart, continuing to paint a rosy picture. She added, "That scoundrel Ji Mo is dead now. Many important figures in Blue Jade City have been controlled by my poison. Now, we only need to find a way to eliminate the Chi family, and Blue Jade City will be easily within our grasp. At that time, as my Sea Tribe advances onto land, your Ximen family will surely benefit."
This speech immediately appeased the Ximen father and son.
"Our Ximen family has an ancestor in seclusion in a cave dwelling outside the city, attempting to break through to the Emperor Immortal realm. I will immediately ask him to come out of seclusion to deal with Chi Qingying, seize the Heaven and Earth Three Talents Array Diagram, and help Miss Han Zhu take Blue Jade City in one fell swoop."
At this point, Ximen Cang had no other path. He decided to go all the way with the Sea Tribe.
Only by completely allying with the Sea Tribe could the Ximen family have a chance to prosper.
Ximen Yaoqing felt something was amiss. Their family business was gone. If their ancestor was also lost, the Ximen family would truly be finished.
He asked with unease, "Is that fellow named Ji truly dead?"
He still had lingering fear from nearly being instantly killed by Ji Mo that day, leaving him with a significant psychological shadow.
"With the full eruption of the Evil Prison Shadow Kill Array, even an Immortal Emperor couldn't survive. How could he possibly still be alive?"
Ximen Cang had absolute confidence in his family's trump card, firmly believing that Ji Mo was as dead as one could be.
Ximen Yaoqing's expression improved considerably. As long as that bastard Ji was truly dead, this price seemed worth it, not a total loss.
"You go invite your ancestor out of seclusion. I will arrange for personnel to attack the Chi family together. Within a month, we will definitely capture Blue Jade City."
Han Zhu made arrangements, her tone very serious.
She had even lost her shell, the most precious part of a conch maiden. This was more shameful to her than losing her chastity. Therefore, she needed to achieve something to regain her honor, otherwise, her position would be precarious.
After a brief discussion, the three began their respective actions.
The Chi family was also in chaos, primarily because Granny Shi and Ji Mo could not be found anywhere in the city.
Furthermore, the upheaval at the Ximen family made Chi Qingying's heart sink, suspecting that the incident might be related to Ji Mo.
After all, besides Ji Mo, she couldn't think of any other expert in the city who would warrant the Ximen family using the Evil Prison Shadow Kill Array at such a cost.
"You silly憨憨, are you really dead like this?"
Chi Qingying was incredibly sorrowful. The thought of Ji Mo potentially being in trouble made her heart ache terribly.
If she had known, she should have listened to her mother and forcibly taken Ji Mo by storm.
Indeed, some people, once missed, might never return.
"Good people don't live long; bad people live for a thousand years. This bad guy won't die so young."
Bonny's tears fell like pearls from a broken string.
Xia Wan'er, however, refused to believe Ji Mo was dead. She led a large contingent of the Chi family, searching everywhere in the city.
The great fire at the Ximen family burned fiercely and incessantly. The overwhelming chaotic energy prevented outsiders from daring to approach.
It wasn't until the night three days later that a dust-covered figure slowly emerged, dragging a long shadow.
If anyone had witnessed this scene, they would have been terrified on the spot.
Not because the person looked frightening, but because their shadow was alive.