Chapter 58: Waiting, the First Thirteen

The Xiao Family Manor, located at the far eastern corner of the capital city of the Wu Kingdom, was connected to the winding mountain range where beasts roamed behind it.

The capital city of the Wu Kingdom could indeed be considered a fortress.

Of course, like all the fortresses on this unknown continent, the initial purpose of building the fortress was to protect the people and resist the attacks of beasts.

However, with the increasing number of human strongmen and the flourishing of martial arts, and for some unknown reason, the number of beasts suddenly and sharply decreased from their previous rampant state. Over time, the city walls of Luzhou, like those of the Wu Kingdom's capital, gradually disappeared from people's sight.

Because, as humans, they needed social interaction and management.

Having a system is right, but the system should not be a fixed structure enclosed by city walls! It should be a flexible and evolving model!

The reduction in the number of beasts led to a decline in the importance of the city walls. With the current prosperity of martial arts, the city walls became even less useful. Under these circumstances, the disappearance of the city walls became a historical inevitability.

The Xiao Family Manor, although not in the center of the capital, was close to the mountain range where beasts roamed. However, due to the abolition of the city walls, it could be said to be truly within the capital, as part of it.

Moreover, because of the renowned Tianlong Army led by the Xiao Family, a large number of Wu Kingdom citizens gathered in the surrounding area to build houses and live.

Xiao Zhan led many of the Xiao Family's men, facing the rising sun, filling a large open space in front of the Xiao Family Manor, and gradually, the entire nearby street as well.

This directly reflected the prosperity of the Xiao Family's population and the size of the Xiao Family!

Every man of the Xiao Family, regardless of age, had a devout expression on his face.

Like a rock, silent, persistent, with an unimaginable willpower that seemed to have existed since ancient times.

Even a few Xiao Family members with relaxed expressions were influenced by the surrounding atmosphere, becoming devout as if they had been dyed.

The magnificent scene caused the surrounding civilians to discuss it extensively.

"Have you heard? The Xiao Family's clan trial started a few days ago. When it was still dark this morning, I heard the commotion and saw some of the Xiao Family's clan trial participants who hunted beasts returning," a thin man in a blue robe said softly, looking at the strongmen coming out of the Xiao Family Manor.

"Right, you can imagine, this time, the Xiao Family must have killed many beasts, saving us humans from losing a few more. Those beasts, damn, several of my fellow villagers from my hometown have been devoured by those animals," a burly man beside the thin man said in a deep voice.

"Exactly, but the Xiao Family is really powerful. I heard that there are dozens of innate realm strongmen in the Xiao Family. Sigh, they are really too strong. How many innate realm strongmen do we have in the entire Wu Kingdom..." a man in a martial robe, holding his fists, said enviously.

"Rubbish, without so many strongmen, could they have a foothold in the Wu Kingdom and become a major family? Don't talk nonsense. Do you guys want to try the buns from my shop? They have fresh meat filling, quite good. Pair them with a bowl of steaming hot mutton soup made by my wife, the taste..." a man in his fifties joined the discussion, pointing to the bun shop behind him and a few others.

This action made the people around him roll their eyes, as if he was very good at doing business.

Time passed.

The rising sun moved to the zenith, becoming a scorching sun.

The people of the Xiao Family at the manor gate remained motionless, undaunted by the scorching sun, showing a fearless spirit.

Gradually, as time continued, the sky darkened.

A half-moon hung in the sky, the thin moonlight like diluted mercury, spilling everywhere. The stars in the sky emitted brilliant starlight, competing with the half-moon.

"Head of the family, Xiao Bai and others have returned."

From a distance on the street, a member of the Xiao Family drifted over.

Xiao Zhan, standing not far from the main gate of the Xiao Family Manor, maintained a stern posture.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Zhan's body slightly tensed, and the veins on his clenched hands relaxed.

Then, Xiao Zhan's sharp gaze swept over every clan member in front of the Xiao Family Manor, and he said, "Prepare to welcome the clan members!"

Xiao Bei, not far from Xiao Zhan, noticed Xiao Zhan's actions and immediately released his aura to sense. Xiao Bei could feel that Xiao Zhan, who had a faint but continuous connection with a presence deep within the Xiao Family Manor, had completely retracted his aura.

Xiao Bei had already sensed in the morning that there were more people in the Xiao Family Manor.

In other words, there was an ambush in the Xiao Family Manor... Xiao Ting!

Xiao Ting's aura was in the depths of the Xiao Family Manor!

In other words, the reason Xiao Zhan dared to set up this trap was entirely because of Xiao Ting's presence in the Xiao Family Manor. Additionally, Xiao Bei could sense that there were two Imperial Rank martial artists and over a dozen innate realm experts gathered around Xiao Ting.

Was this the Xiao Family's trump card? Was this the core strength behind Xiao Zhan's empty city strategy today?

However, from what Xiao Lie and Xiao Bing had said, the Zhou Family seemed to have two Imperial Rank martial artists... The Xiao Family only had Xiao Ting, so the strength was insufficient.

Thinking about it, a flash of inspiration suddenly struck Xiao Bei... Among those innate realm experts, a few did not have the aura of the Xiao Family, but rather, their auras were similar to Jiang Huan's.

The Jiang Family, reinforcements?

Xiao Bei looked thoughtfully at Xiao Zhan, who was waving his hand and speaking, and came to a conclusion... Since reinforcements were invited, it was likely not just the Jiang Family. Those few innate realm martial artists with auras clearly indicating they practiced different cultivation methods were probably invited by Xiao Zhan from other forces...

"Head of the family, we have returned!"

Figures of the Xiao Family appeared in the sky, and on the ground, the outstanding clan members with a sense of family, led by Xiao Xu, were the first to arrive.

Xiao Bei, seeing the joy on Xiao Xu's face and the bloodstains on his clothes, knew that Xiao Xu must have fought hard this time and was likely to have secured one of the top three spots.

Looking at the people behind him, some were happy and some were sad, but most were sad. After all, the beast-hunting trial they had fought for could only select the top three.

This was a law that had never changed in this world: the survival of the fittest. Those who seized the opportunity and had the strength to grasp it were always a minority.