In the Ancient Era, the Immortal Officials of the Four Great Domains were the clan heads of the Tiger Might King Family. However, they had offended Monarch Chixiao back then and nearly faced extermination. After the Present Era began, although the Immortal Dynasty had returned, its Immortal Radiance had yet to fully envelop the remote Northwestern borderlands.
Many knew that the Nine Hua Alliance was backed by the Immortal Dynasty. The reasons the leaders and giants of the major sects in the Four Great Domains pledged allegiance to the Nine Hua Alliance were, on the surface, for the Tai Xuan Spiritual Energy within the alliance, but in reality, they were all eyeing the limited number of Immortal Official titles to be announced on the day the Tai Xuan Stele opened.
What none of these sect giants had anticipated was that before the Tai Xuan Stele even opened, someone had already obtained a Ring of Radiance—and that person was none other than Ma Qian, the Hall Master of the Crimson-Letter Sect's Leiyun Branch Hall.
Everyone knew that the Immortal Dynasty had been personally overthrown by Monarch Chixiao back in the day. The relationship between Chixiao and the Immortal Dynasty was one of sworn, irreconcilable enemies.
No one had imagined that the Immortal Dynasty would bestow the Ring of Radiance upon a Crimson-Letter Sect Hall Master like Ma Qian.
Even more unthinkable was that Ma Qian had accepted the Immortal Dynasty's conferment.
After all, he was a Hall Master of the Crimson-Letter Sect, and the Crimson-Letter Sect existed because of Monarch Chixiao. Although not personally founded by the Monarch, everyone knew that without trading on the prestige of Monarch Chixiao's name, the Crimson-Letter Sect would be nothing.
It was true that Monarch Chixiao had overthrown the Immortal Dynasty back then, but in the end, he too was judged by the Immortal Dao and reduced to ashes.
The Immortal Dynasty and Chixiao were sworn enemies, and the feeling was mutual for Chixiao as well.
In other words, by accepting the Ring of Radiance, Ma Qian had accepted the Immortal Dynasty's protection and the conferred title of Immortal Official. In a sense, this was tantamount to betraying Chixiao.
"Treacherous beast!"
Seeing the Ring of Radiance enveloping Ma Qian, the twelve Chixiao People trembled with rage. Ziyang pointed at Ma Qian, roaring in extreme fury, "Do you know how many of our Chixiao Sect brothers died at the hands of the Immortal Dynasty back then? Do you know that Monarch Chixiao was taken from us by the judgment of the Immortal Dao?"
"This Hall Master has said it before: your Chixiao Sect is the Chixiao Sect, our Crimson-Letter Sect is the Crimson-Letter Sect. Monarch Chixiao is your Monarch, not the Monarch of our Crimson-Letter Sect."
Ma Qian looked quite pleased with himself, a savage smile plastered across his face. "Ziyang, the era of your Chixiao Sect has passed. The Present Era belongs to our Crimson-Letter Sect. A wise man submits to circumstances. Your Chixiao Sect are sinners against the Immortal Dao; our Crimson-Letter Sect is not."
"You nurtured the Dragon-Elephant seed—I could have forgiven you!"
"You used blood sacrifice to refine the Dragon-Elephant—I could still have forgiven you!"
"But you defected to the Immortal Dynasty, willingly becoming their running dog—I absolutely will not forgive you!"
Ziyang took a great stride forward, glaring furiously at the hundreds of elders from the Leiyun and Dianyun Branches, and thundered, "You scoundrels! Have you also defected to the Immortal Dynasty? If not, get out of here now, and I will let bygones be bygones! If you have also defected, then stay and die alongside this beast Ma Qian!"
No one left.
Clearly, they were all aware of Ma Qian's defection to the Immortal Dynasty and had long since made their choice between the Crimson-Letter Sect and the Immortal Dynasty.
"Ziyang, you're old... In the Ancient Era, your Chixiao Sect opposing the Immortal Dynasty was utter foolishness, sheer recklessness!"
Xu Changfeng, Hall Master of the Dianyun Branch Hall, also stepped forward. "In the Present Era, our Crimson-Letter Sect has already reached an agreement with the Immortal Dynasty. Moreover, I can tell you this: it's not just our Leiyun and Dianyun Branch Halls in the Four Great Domains. Many branch halls in other great domains of this world have also reached agreements with the Immortal Dynasty!"
"Your Chixiao Sect was the enemy of the Immortal Dynasty in the Ancient Era, while our Crimson-Letter Sect has chosen to turn enemies into friends with the Immortal Dynasty in the Present Era!"
"Your Chixiao Sect sought to conquer this world through war in the Ancient Era, while our Crimson-Letter Sect has chosen to embrace this world in the Present Era!"
"Your Chixiao Sect defied the Immortal Dao in the Ancient Era, while our Crimson-Letter Sect has chosen to comply with the Immortal Dao in the Present Era!"
The elders of the Leiyun and Dianyun Branch Halls stepped forward one after another, circulating their spiritual power. Although none bore the Ring of Radiance, each possessed Tai Xuan Power, and every one was shrouded in bloody mist with Dragon-Elephant guardians.
"Ziyang! You'd better hand over the little girl obediently. This Hall Master might consider sparing your life. Otherwise... heh! Even if I don't kill you, Alliance Leader Hua Xiong won't let you off either!"
Ma Qian stood suspended in mid-air, a smug glint in his savage smile as he looked down upon Ziyang. "You probably don't know this yet: the moment the Tai Xuan Stele opens, Alliance Leader Hua Xiong's first targets for extermination will be you sinners against the Immortal Dao. And I can also tell you that the Special Envoy bearing the Immortal Mandate will descend upon the Four Great Domains any day now. How long do you think you old relics can last?"
"How long I can live, I don't know. But you, beast, will certainly not live through today!"
Whoosh!
The Blood Fiery Aura around Ziyang's body surged like blazing flames, instantly soaring nine meters high. The terrifying Blood Fiery Aura scorched the spiritual energy in the air, emitting a series of crackling sounds that made one's scalp tingle.
"Your life is mine!"
With a furious roar, Ziyang transformed into a fireball and charged forward.
"With just you?"
Yuan Power churned violently within Ma Qian's body. His two Blood Fiery Dragon-Elephants roared wildly, the Ring of Radiance flashing madly as he swung his arms to block Ziyang's fireball charge.
Boom!
Ma Qian grunted, forced back several steps. In that instant, Ziyang flashed into appearance, raising his arms, fingers splayed like tiger claws. The power of Blood Fiery in his palms surged like rolling river waves as his left and right hands instantly clamped onto Ma Qian's left and right ears.
Gah!
Ma Qian spat blood from his mouth and nose, roaring in fury. The Ring of Radiance spun rapidly, its powerful Radiance force blasting Ziyang away.
"Attack! Attack together and kill him!" Ma Qian shrieked.
Xu Changfeng and the hundreds of elders from the Leiyun and Dianyun Branch Halls all moved to attack.
"A pack of beasts who betray your ancestors and forget your roots, chasing profit and forgetting honor! You bear the name Chixiao atop your heads, yet you defect to the Immortal Dynasty! Do you even know the meaning of the word 'dignity' anymore?!"
ROAR—!
A domineering and majestic roar exploded forth. The fury of the dragon's cry, supremely overbearing, shot straight into the heavens, shaking the white clouds in the sky until they scattered. The fury of the elephant's cry, supremely majestic, subdued the earth, shaking the ground until it trembled violently. The fury of the Dragon-Elephant, piercing through heaven and earth, struck fear into hearts and caused souls to tremble!
ROAR—!
A colossal entity burst forth from within Ziyang's body, coiling around him as it spiraled upward. This behemoth stood nine meters tall, resembling both a azure dragon and a furious elephant. As it spiraled within the Blood Fiery Aura, it swung its Dragon-Elephant head, emitting waves of Dragon-Elephant fury, as if contending with the very firmament. Its savage killing intent, domineering aura, and ferocious power all inspired awe and dread in those who beheld it!
The Chixiao Dragon-Elephant! This was the true Chixiao Dragon-Elephant!
"You forsake being Chixiao People, choosing instead to be running dogs for the Immortal Dynasty! Since that is the case, today, this old man shall slaughter you beasts who betray your ancestors and forget your roots on behalf of the Monarch!"