C49 Kill All the People in the Zhou Family

The entire Zhou family knelt, resigned to their fate.

The burly man's roar still echoed as he lifted a massive iron rod—weighing a good two to three hundred kilograms—and brought it crashing down on the door frame, splintering another chunk of wood.

The wild joy of the Zhou family members was instantly replaced by a heavy silence as they glared at the man, whose natural strength seemed to mock them. His brazenness in the Zhou household was a clear sign that he held them in no regard.

Before they could utter a word, a gaunt man in a long robe slipped past the muscular figure, approaching with a sly grin. His lean frame and bearded face lent him a comical, almost monkey-like appearance.

Standing next to the burly man, the contrast was stark—one exuded strength, the other frailty, making onlookers question if they were even of the same species.

The slender man produced a pristine notice and read it aloud with authority, "By decree of the Iphaseon Imperial Court, the Zhou family has shown contempt for the Court and has acted recklessly within Icefair City. As of today, every member of the Zhou family is to be executed!"

The proclamation sent a chill through the Zhou family, their faces turning ashen, while the regular guards were visibly shaken, their faces blanching with fear.

Could the castellan of Icefair truly have commanded the extermination of the entire Zhou family?

Dismissing the notice with a flick of his wrist, the thin man's eyes roved over Zhou Jibo, Zhou Kaile, and the rest as he taunted, "Does this not thrill you? But wait, there's more to come."

Unruffled, Zhou Jibo responded with a cool smile, "Let's see what other schemes you've concocted."

The man was taken aback by Zhou Jibo's composure but proceeded to extract another document, declaring, "The master of the Star Sect has decreed his support for the Zheng family in Icefair City, to uphold the honor of the Shrine of Astral Radiance. Upon learning of the Zhou family's grievous offenses against the Zheng family, a vassal of the Holy Land, he has personally undertaken to eradicate the Zhou lineage as a testament to the Shrine's majesty."

At these words, Zhou Kaile and the others paled, their bodies trembling on the brink of collapse.

The gaunt man's smirk grew wider as he produced yet another piece of paper and proclaimed, "By order of the Jiao family patriarch in Basinpond, four Innate Stage masters from the Jiao family will join in the extermination of the entire Zhou family to exact revenge for the murder of their son!"

"Zheng Xunqin, the daughter of the Zheng family leader from Icefair City, along with her family, eagerly awaits the Zhou family's downfall to avenge their own!"

Tossing the paper to the ground, the man cackled, "The leader of the Star Sect, the Jiao family patriarch, Lord Lang, and the Zhengs are right outside. All members of the Zhou family, why not kneel and beg for a swift end?"

Zhou Kaile's lips quivered, drained of all color.

Zhou Chulang looked heavenward and lamented, "The Zhou family had just begun to see hope, only to face extinction now? Our hearts cannot bear this!"

Hearing this, the Zhou family clenched their fists in shared defiance. Indeed, they were not ready to give up!

The Zhou family had recently come together, gaining hope and a chance to peacefully grow over the next month. Zhou Jibo had ascended to the Innate Stage. They were on the cusp of becoming one of the most prominent families in Icefair City within a few years.

But now, they faced imminent death. Their hopes and dreams were about to be shattered, a cruel twist of fate.

Zheng Linghan was utterly taken aback. He had assumed they were up against only the Seven Celestial Eagles, the city lord Lang Shen, and eight Innate Warriors. But now, four more Innate Warriors from the Jiao family had joined the fray, making it twelve in total!

Who could possibly stand against them?

Even Wang Sibo found himself looking to Zhou Jibo for answers. "Young Master Zhou, we're facing twelve Innate Warriors. Do you have a plan to counter them?"

Zhou Jibo simply laughed. "A plan? What need do I have for one?"

Wang Sibo was taken aback, "Young Master Zhou, what do you mean?"

Without a plan, they were sure to be defeated.

"Just hold off the Soul Separation Stage warrior. He's the only real problem," Zhou Jibo instructed Wang Sibo before striding forward, Blood Stripe Sword in hand.

Wang Sibo hastily followed in his wake.

It was only upon witnessing this spectacle that the Zhou family members slowly came to their senses.

Zhou Jibo was at the Innate Stage, and Wang Sibo at the Soul Separation Stage. Surely they wouldn't be easily vanquished?

At the very least, Zhou Jibo wouldn't face a devastating defeat. He was certain to secure a fighting chance for the Zhou family's survival.

"I have two questions."

Zhou Jibo's voice rose as he addressed Zheng Xunqin, Lang Shen, and the others outside.

"Firstly, you're all aware of the sequence of events that led us here, correct? For instance, Zheng Xunqin's intention to gift my bone root to the Second Palace Holy Son, or Jiao Lexin from the Jiao family attempting to assassinate me with a concealed weapon."

"Of course, I'm aware," the gaunt man retorted. "Your gravest error is your continued existence. Your failure to be slain by either the Second Palace Holy Son or the Jiao family's young master is the root of the Zhou family's downfall."

Zhou Jibo chuckled dismissively and continued in an even tone, "Secondly, what do you mean by 'washing the streets with blood'? Do you intend to slaughter the entire populace of Icefair City?"

"Not at all. My plan is merely to drag the bodies of the Zhou family's leaders through the streets of Icefair City, letting your blood stain the thoroughfare."

"What, does that frighten you?"

Zhou Jibo unsheathed his sword, the top-grade Earth Rank Blood Stripe Sword gleaming brilliantly.

"Thanks for the clarification."

With those words, Zhou Jibo swung his sword in a swift arc.

The towering man bellowed, hoisting his iron rod to crush Zhou Jibo, while the skinny man shrieked and leapt back.

But in the following instant, it was as though time itself had halted; both men stood frozen, expressions of shock etched on their faces.

A thin line of blood traced across their necks.

Blood gushed forth in an instant, and the heads of both the skinny man and the towering brute tumbled to the ground.

Then came a thunderous crash as the brute's iron rod was sheared in two. To Zhou Jibo, the finely forged iron rod was utterly inconsequential.

"Is this the Blood Stripe Sword?"

Wang Sibo stared, transfixed by the Blood Stripe Sword in Zhou Jibo's grasp, its spirit light visible to the naked eye. He was utterly astounded, the sword's transformation far surpassing his expectations. The once low-grade Yellow Rank Blood Stripe Sword had become a high-grade Earth Rank marvel.

"You've got some nerve!"

An angry bellow erupted from outside the door as a middle-aged, robust man clad in white charged in, wielding a large Yellow Rank machete: "Zhou family, your end has come. The one to deliver your demise is Wu Dongyou, the Seventh Eagle."

Zhou Jibo let out a cold laugh, his sword slicing through the air toward his assailant. "I'll be your executioner, but your name is of no consequence to me."

No sooner had the words left his lips than the Yellow Rank warrior lunged at Zhou Jibo, machete raised. But with a resounding clang, the blade shattered.

A line of blood traced its way across Wu Dongyou's brow, right between the eyes.

His features froze, and he collapsed, lifeless, to the ground.