The instant Xuan Ji spoke, the people of the Profound Pavilion started circulating their divine power. Their vast, combined momentum bore down on the Xiao Family.

Lady Xuan Ji, have you thought this through? This is the Xiao Family! Xiao Yans expression instantly tensed. The meaning behind his words was clear: this is Xiao Family territory. In terms of numbers, we have nothing to fear from you.

The other members of the Xiao Family had long since sensed something was amiss and gathered behind Xiao Yan. The honor of the Xiao Family could not be defiled!

They wanted to force their way into the lightning pool? Even if the God Emperor himself were here, they couldnt do it!

Both sides unsheathed their swords and bent their nows.

Their vast auras collided violently in the skies. Soon, everyone in the Royal Capital noticed the situation at the Xiao Family.

Look, someones causing trouble at the Xiao Family estate.

The Xiao Family was a peak-level existence even amongst the gods. Although the Xiao Family usually handled their affairs competently, even their security guards were haughty and arrogant.

Someone challenging the Xiao Family wasnt something you could see every day. The citizens of the Royal Capital were all excited to watch the excitement.

Just who exactly was stupid enough to start something with the Xiao Family?

Several others in the crowd carried out similar conversations. The Xiao Family had been built of over countless eras; its roots were extremely deep. Furthermore, the lightning pool that controlled all lightning tribulations was located in their territory. Even if the God Emperor himself visited, he still had to give them some face..

Making trouble for the Xiao Family was suicide, plain and simple.

A sharp-eyed person pointed and said, hey, look! Isnt that the Profound Pavillions Lady Providence? Then arent those guys behind her Xuan Jis Sixteen Generals?

Another onlooker scrutinized the attackers and said, it really them.

When he said those words, even he himself didnt quite believe what he was saying.

Look at that guy with the handlebar mustache. Isnt he that Master Four Pillars [1] whos always by Lady Providences side? And isnt that red-haired buff guy the God of Strength?

Is this for real?

Some of the crowd didnt believe it. You ought to understand: the Profound Pavilion and the Xiao Family were amongst the strongest factions of the Royal Capital. Theyd always stayed out of each others business. How could they just start fighting all of a sudden?

Many of them couldnt help but scoot forward to get a closer look. They wanted to check and see if the troublemakers really were from the Profound Pavillion.

When they confirmed that it really was the Profound Pavillion, they all felt as if bombs went off in their heads.

Was the political landscape going to change?

The news of the Profound Pavillion taking the initiative to provoke the Xiao Family spread almost instantaneously. Within less than fifteen minutes, a massive crowd of onlookers had gathered around the Xiao Family estate.

In this lifetime, this might very well be their only chance to watch two peak-level powers bump heads!

Why havent they started fighting yet? said one of the spectators.

Before hed even finished his sentence, he heard the person next to him say disdainfully,

Do you think they're just roughhousing children who can fight at the drop of a hat? Both factions represent peak-level strength within the Royal Capital. Fight? Do you think they can fight so easily?

It wasnt just him, though; a lot of people present clenched their fists and inwardly urged them to hurry up and fight.

My Lady, have you thought this through?

Xiao Yan smiled confidently even as more and more people gathered behind her.

He was willing to bet that Xuan Ji wouldnt dare attack the Xiao Family for real. At the end of the day, the Xiao Family was still an emperor clan. Even the God Emperor had to give them some face.

Furthermore, he currently had far more subordinates than the Profound Pavilion. If they really fought, the Xiao Family would undoubtedly be at an advantage.

He was just waiting for Xuan Ji to back down. When that happened, he would effortlessly resolve this situation. Hed even go down in history as the first person to make Xuan Ji yield.

Hed save face and boost his reputation, too.

However, he was mistaken. If it were anyone else, they really might back down, but the person standing in front of him was the Profound Pavillions Lady Providence.

Ol Five, you can break it, right?

Lady Providence took a few steps back and stopped next to a bare-armed, red-headed man in shorts.

The God of Strength.

He was one of Xuan Jis sixteen generals. His strength far surpassed even the yao of the mighty Raging Bull Race.

Boss, you really want to attack the Xiao Family?

So, youd have me yield to him? Xuan Ji glanced at him coolly.

Thats naturally not possible, the fully two-meter tall God of Strength laughed contemptuously. The teensy-weensy little Xiao Family isnt qualified to make you back down.

Then quit talking nonsense. Hurry and break down their doors!

Xuan Ji pointed at the Xiao Family gates. The God of Strength nodded and took a step forward. Vast divine strength flooded out of him. His arms, originally as thick and an ordinary persons thighs, instantly grew as thick as his waist.

Xuan Ji, you dare?

Xiao Yan was at a loss; he never would have guessed Xuan Ji truly dared openly attack the Xiao Family right in the middle of the Royal Capital.

Do I dare? Is there anything I wouldn't dare do? Ol Five, dont listen to his nonsense. Break down their doors for me!

Xuan Ji crossed her arms and snorted like a gang leader. The God of Strength didnt hesitate at all.

He swung his fists.

Boom!

The God of Strengths fist shattered the majestic gates of the Xiao family into pieces. [2]As the gates collapsed, the walls framing them crumbled, and even the God Emperors hand-carved sign crashed to the ground.

Xuan Ji!

Xiao Yan had just barely managed to dodge God of Strengths fist. When he saw the shattered gates and the walls, his expression turned gloomy.

She really did it!

After breaking the gates, Xuan Ji didnt hesitate. She turned to her people and shouted, fight your way to the Xiao Family lightning pool!

It was as if her words stoked a fire in her subordinates hearts. They fought their way towards the lightning pool with all their might.

Stop them!

The Xiao Family didnt need Xian Yans orders at all; theyd already started fighting the Profound Pavillion.

Damn, theyre really fighting.

How exciting!

Theyre just too irrational! How could two peak-level factions fight for real?

As the Xiao Family and Profound Pavilion fought, the onlookers finally let out their long-repressed shouts. Some of them were in it for the excitement and egged them on. Others, of course, were more rational and thought their fight was ill-considered.

But, no matter how they felt about it, the Profound Pavilion and the Xiao family really were fighting.

My Lady, aren't we being just a bit too..

Of the people of the Profound Pavilion, only the mustached man had yet to charge in. He wasnt just not fighting: hed even rushed to Xuan Jis side and was trying to persuade her to stop.

The God Emperor is in the Royal Capital. What were doing is considered deliberate provocation

Ill fight whoever I want. What are you just standing there for? Get in there and fight!

Lady! Master Four Pillars was the rational type. He was loyal to Xuan Ji, but that didnt mean he was in favor of all of her commands.

Besides, their Profound Pavillion truly needed rational people like him.

Unfortunately, Xuan Ji gave him no opportunity to use his rationality.

Hm? It seems you need a beating too! She glanced at him coolly.

Instantly, the mustached man swallowed his words, rolled up his sleeves, put his hands on his hips, and started furiously cursing the Xiao Family. F*ck, you dont know your place. How dare you make our Lady this angry? Xiao Family whelps, I, Four Pillars, have come to teach you a lesson!

[1] His name is kind of a play on words. I can't really translate it, so I'm explaining it in a footnote. His Chinese name is written like this: . has lots of meanings. First, it means "the character eight." In addition to the number eight, can be used to describe certain types of mustache because, come on. It looks like. mustache. also refers to the Four Pillars, a kind of ancient Chinese astrology. So his name could be interpreted as "a master of ancient Chinese astrology," but it can also just mean "guy with a mustache."