Chapter 36: The Tuoba Clan’s True Power Finally Revealed!

"Ahhh!"

Screams rang out one after another.

The powerhouses of the five great imperial clans were thrown into disarray by the quasi-emperor puppets, left crying out in misery. The quasi-emperor puppets were like heartless killing machines; their imperial weapons swung incessantly, each strike claiming countless lives.

In the blink of an eye, the experts of the five imperial clans fell one after another. Even those at the Saint Realm were no match. In just a few exchanges, the bodies of numerous Saint Realm powerhouses plummeted like kites with severed strings, shattering into fragments, while their golden saint blood stained the earth.

The eyes of those quasi-emperor puppets held no trace of mercy, only a cold, murderous light as they continued to wreak havoc within the territories of the five imperial clans, slaughtering all who dared to resist.

"Damn it, these puppets have gone blood-crazy! Stop them, or every member of our imperial clans will die here!"

"These quasi-emperor puppets feel no pain, know no fatigue, and fear no death. Unless they are smashed to pieces, they will never stop."

"Are you joking? These five quasi-emperor puppets were forged by Xiao Xuan; their physical strength rivals that of imperial weapons. They cannot be broken; even imperial weapons of the same grade cannot shatter them!"

"Even if we can't break them, we must try, or we will all die!"

The powerhouses of the five imperial clans roared, preparing to fight to the death. If they did not fight with their lives now, they would truly lose them. They unleashed all manner of saint arts, forbidden techniques, lethal arrays, talismans, and inscriptions.

Yet, these diverse attacks failed to halt the puppets' slaughter. Instead, the experts fell one by one under the puppets' assault, their bodies instantly torn apart into blood mists, their souls extinguished.

"Go, annihilate the patriarchs of the five clans. They were the loudest ones just a moment ago."

Xiao Xuan glanced toward the patriarchs. Soon, the tireless quasi-emperor puppets locked onto the Tuoba patriarch and charged toward him.

"Oh no, they’re coming for me!"

"And there are five of them! Heaven, you do not protect me!"

Tuoba Cangtian’s heart skipped a beat as he saw them coming. His face turned deathly pale, his eyes flashing with intense terror. He knew the horror of these puppets; with his Saint Realm cultivation, he could barely handle one, let alone five. He wouldn't even know how he died. He realized that holding out for even a single exchange would be a miracle. Worse, he was locked on; there was nowhere to run.

"Xiao Xuan, you old dog! I, Tuoba Cangtian, shall not coexist with you under the same sky!"

With a note of desperation, Tuoba Cangtian roared. His mana exploded, forming a powerful defensive barrier in a final attempt to ward off the puppets. He took a deep breath and fired off a series of hand seals, launching powerful spells at the puppets. However, the puppets’ power was overwhelming; his spells were like stones cast into the sea, unable to cause even the slightest damage.

"Crack!"

A puppet’s claw, like a bolt of black lightning, pierced through the barrier and aimed straight for his heart.

"No!"

Tuoba Cangtian felt a massive force slam into his chest, crushing his heart instantly. The terrifying impact sent his body flying, blood spraying like a fountain.

He traced a tragic arc through the air and crashed heavily to the ground with a dull thud. He struggled for a moment before his movements ceased. A flicker of unwillingness and despair passed through his eyes, which gradually dimmed before he closed them forever.

A patriarch of an imperial clan had fallen. Despite his name, "Cangtian" (Heaven), Heaven did not protect him—it stood with Xiao Xuan.

"Hmph, you lot of trash, daring to stand against me? Today, I shall let you know the consequences of resisting."

Xiao Xuan sneered, his eyes filled with disdain. The territories of the five clans had become a killing field; rivers of blood flowed, and corpses littered the ground. The five clans had suffered a devastating blow. Yet, Xiao Xuan felt no pity, only coldness. These clans had to pay for their actions, or else the fate that had nearly befallen the Xiao family would surely repeat itself.

"Xiao Xuan, you killed my brother! The Tuoba clan will never forgive you for this!"

"Do not think we will submit—we would rather die in battle than bow to you!"

Tuoba Tianxing, the only one still stubborn, shouted defiantly. Seeing his brother dead, he was blinded by rage, wishing he could tear Xiao Xuan apart with his own hands.

"If that is what you wish, I shall grant it."

Xiao Xuan sneered. As he spoke, his longsword transformed into a bolt of black lightning, streaking toward Tuoba Tianxing.

"No!"

Tuoba Tianxing hurriedly activated his saint weapon, but it was too late.

"Boom!"

The collision of the sword and the weapon produced a deafening roar. Powerful energy ripples scattered, shattering Tuoba Tianxing’s body. He vanished into a wisp of smoke, his blood raining down. The Great Elder of the Tuoba clan had fallen on the spot.

"No..." the clansmen wailed, their faces filled with despair and disbelief as they watched their kin torn apart by sword qi.

"After today, there will be no Tuoba clan in the Eastern Wilderness!"

Xiao Xuan swung his sword again. Black sword qi descended like rain, precise and lethal, striking every corner of the Tuoba estate. No matter where they hid, there was no escape.

The Tuoba mansion, once strong enough to withstand a quasi-emperor's blow, collapsed under the weight of the emperor-grade sword qi. Dust rose, and the ancient, exquisite buildings were reduced to ruins. The clansmen fell one by one, their bodies pierced and shredded. The once-bustling Tuoba clan had become a slaughterhouse, the ground covered in unrecognizable remains.

Those who tried to flee were caught by the sword qi and incinerated in an instant. The elders, those arrogant Saint Realm powerhouses, were reduced to blood mists.

The ancestral grounds, once a holy place for cultivation, were reduced to ruins. The ancient arrays were destroyed, the spiritual energy scattered, and the training caves collapsed. The treasury doors were blown open, the treasures inside vaporized by the sword qi.

"What a pity, I used too much force and destroyed the treasures along with them..." Xiao Xuan sighed in regret. The Tuoba were guilty, but the treasures were not.

"Boom!"

Just as the clan was on the verge of extinction, a powerful aura erupted from the depths of the estate, like a sleeping dragon awakening. A weathered old man in golden armor stepped out, his gaze icy and piercing. He stood like a mountain, unshakable.

This was Tuoba Yulong, the last surviving Great Emperor of the Tuoba clan.

"What lowly scum dares to destroy the legacy of my Tuoba clan? You have gone too far!"

"Today, I will show you that the Tuoba clan is no soft persimmon to be kneaded at will!"

Tuoba Yulong’s voice boomed like thunder. He waved his hand, and a golden light shot out, slamming into a quasi-emperor puppet. The puppet, which rivaled an imperial weapon in durability, was shattered into pieces by the sheer force of the impact.

"An alive Great Emperor? The Tuoba clan actually hid one. That is unexpected."

Xiao Xuan was momentarily surprised. On the brink of extinction, the clan had finally revealed its true foundation. A living Great Emperor had finally appeared.