"Alright, if there's nothing else, you all can leave. I have things to discuss with my student."

Pei Jing spoke.

The Xu Tianci and others felt as if they had been granted a great amnesty, leaving with their heads hung low.

For a moment, he truly felt Pei Jing's intention to exterminate the Xu Family, sending chills down his spine.

Could it be that Pei Jing no longer cared about the bigger picture?

After everyone silently walked away, Xu Tiannuo couldn't help but ask, "Big brother, did Pei Jing just let us leave like that?"

This question reflected the thoughts of many people.

Those overlord-level transcendents attached to the Xu Family also wanted to know the reason. If Lord Pei really targeted the Xu Family, the future days would be tough, and they might consider completely severing ties with the Xu Family.

Risking your life is one thing, but throwing it away is incredibly foolish.

Xu Tianci seemed to understand the thoughts of others as well, and with a deep gaze, he said, "Do you think the Xu Family would be allowed to expand unchecked if we truly had no apostle-level transcendents?"

These words.

Hit like a thunderclap.

Even the core member Xu Tiannuo was shocked beyond measure: "Big bro, are you saying our Xu Family has an apostle-level transcendent!?"

"How could I not know? Which elder from our Xu Family ascended to such a supreme realm, and why wasn't there any commotion?"

"Shouldn't the whole family celebrate such a great event?"

Xu Tianci hesitated, his face shifting like a storm, as if a venomous snake was gnawing at his organs. Finally, he forced out, "Xu Family's Secret Technique..."

Upon hearing this, Xu Tiannuo felt a sudden explosion at the back of his head.

Nobody understood better than him the origin of the Xu Family's secret technique.

Xu Xiaofan, their youngest brother, born to a maid and never treated well by his brothers, was always ridiculed and humiliated.

Even when he became the first student of Zone 9 High School and received Pei Jing's guidance, he still showed average talent, nothing impressive.

Especially when he awakened a mysterious path using blood as a medium, he became a laughingstock. He had to rest for over ten days after using his ability.

Even his beloved was cruelly taken away by Xu Tianci.

Yet this so-called waste, regarded as lesser than trash, stormed the Xu Family on Xu Tianci's wedding day, single-handedly abducting the bride, revealing unfathomable power.

Whether it was family guards, peers, or elders, none could withstand a single move from him!

Terrified elders suggested appeasing Xu Xiaofan, bringing him back into the family fold.

However, Xu Tianci, humiliated and enraged, sought help from the Security Bureau, who declined, citing it as a family matter.

Cornered, Xu Tianci became furious and took the step of heading to the newly established court in the Ninth District, fabricating charges against Xu Xiaofan as a suspected aberrant.

This court, a top extraordinary power, was tasked with punishing those polluted or specially corrupted aberrants.

Coincidentally, the branch's first enforcement officer wanted to make a name in the Ninth District, launching a citywide manhunt for Xu Xiaofan.

Only Xu Tianci, who participated in the manhunt, knows what happened next.

In less than three years after awakening, Xu Xiaofan alone withstood apostle-level transcendents!

The epic battle still vivid in Xu Tianci's mind.

In the end.

Pei Jing intervened to save his student.

However, Xu Xiaofan argued he wasn't an aberrant but had a secret technique to control pollution traits. To prove it, he willingly handed it over.

Amidst various power plays, Xu Xiaofan was classified as severely infected and expelled from the Ninth District.

To this day, Xu Tianci clearly remembers Xu Xiaofan's defiant words as he threw the secret technique at him before leaving: "Want this thing? I bet you won't succeed in cultivation. If any Xu Family member masters it, I'll toast you from Hell!"

Until he couldn't resist trying to cultivate the secret technique.

Only then did he understand why Xu Xiaofan was so confident.

Only then did he understand why Pei Jing didn't protect Xu Xiaofan.

The secret technique indeed allowed one to rapidly advance in realms using pollution traits while maintaining reason.

But...

The pain, excruciating pain.

Every moment, every inch of flesh and every cell was perpetually trapped in cycles of death and rebirth.

Currently.

The Xu Family's secret technique is merely a modified or rather castrated version.

For all these years, Xu Xiaofan never truly left, occasionally revealing himself, seemingly mocking him as a clown.

Therefore.

Xu Xiaofan was eternally listed as Sequence 0 on the Hidden Dragon List.

This is also why other families are genuinely wary of the Xu Family; if that person still lives, he probably has long reached, perhaps even excelled in, apostle-level.

No one could fathom why someone so vengeful towards the Xu Family hadn't retaliated all these years.

Xu Tianci vaguely felt his ability to endure the secret technique's pain was solely because of the Xu Family's presence.

While tormenting himself through the Xu Family, he was also tormenting the family. The stronger he got, the more the Xu Family lamented, with elders often dying of depression.

At this moment.

Old City District.

Chen Zhen dismissed Wu Feng and other Security Bureau members, smiling as he scrutinized Su Qi, his tone full of irrepressible surprise: "Tsk tsk, kid, being able to single-handedly contend with so many overlords at your age, truly unprecedented."

"Well done, really reminds me of my own legacy!"

Upon hearing Chen Zhen's praise, Su Qi uncharacteristically smiled awkwardly: "Just so-so, still need to work hard."

Meanwhile, Pei Jing seemed to think of someone, a look of regret momentarily flashing in the depths of his eyes, but he quickly composed himself and said to Su Qi, "Blame me for letting the Xu Family go so easily?"

"No."

Su Qi quickly shook his head, never including Pei Jing in his plans to deal with the Xu Family.

His actions tonight were merely to warn and intimidate.

In just a few days, he alone would be enough to obliterate the Xu Family completely, with no room left for them.

Pei Jing smiled, releasing Xu Family members as a whetstone for Su Qi was just one of his intentions.

He also chose not to reveal Xu Xiaofan's existence because the Xu Family might not even wield Xu Xiaofan.

Moreover, he hoped Su Qi would experience setbacks, lest he became too lawless. Knowing there was someone like him for protection yet failing to utilize it wisely, instead choosing a head-on collision with the Xu Family.

If this continues, the future might indeed see another Chen Zhen.

"Hey, hey, boss, what's with that look? I honestly feel like you're bad-mouthing me." Chen Zhen noticed Pei Jing's gaze and couldn't help but grumble.

Pei Jing ignored this fool and asked Su Qi, "Forget about those matters. Is there time for an old guy like me to have a chat?"

Su Qi knew Old Principal Pei intended to evaluate him, but he worried about the Xu Family posing a threat to his family.

After expressing his concern, Chen Zhen pounded his chest, claiming he'd dispatch about twenty teams from the Security Bureau to protect Su Qi's family twenty-four hours a day.

This suggestion, however, was met with a stern glare from Pei Jing: "You think everyone's as idle as you? You go personally!"

Chen Zhen glanced between Pei Jing and Su Qi.

Immediately understood the boss wanted to send him away, which gave him a sense of being distrusted.

"Boss, trust me, I can keep a secret!"

Pei Jing side-eyed him: "Trust you? I'd rather trust I'll step into Destruction Level tomorrow."

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