A colossal explosion erupted, shaking the very foundations of the city. Luckily, a protective array shimmered into existence, deflecting the brunt of the devastating energies outwards. The dust settled slowly, revealing the aftermath of the earth-shattering clash.
The demonic cultivator, the old man, lay sprawled on the ground, his robes tattered and blood staining the earth around him. His demonic aura had dissipated, replaced by the pallor of defeat. Bai Yu emerged from the dust cloud, Snowflower gleaming cleanly in his hand. He had moved with the speed of light, a silent whisper of a man delivering the final blow.
"Just a second-rate city," Bai Yu muttered, a hint of surprise lacing his voice, "and I already encountered such a battle." The ferocity of the Central Plains surpassed even his most daring expectations.
A warm hand landed on his shoulder. The middle-aged man, his face etched with relief and gratitude, stood beside him. "Thank you, fellow expert," he said, his voice sincere. "I am Xuan Fei, Patriarch of the Xuan Clan."
Bai Yu's eyes widened a fraction. Xuan Fei? The leader of one of the three most powerful clans in Black Fire City? Intrigue swirled within him. Here, in the aftermath of a chaotic battle, stood a potential ally, a powerful figure in this complex city.
A smile, genuine this time, curved his lips. "I am Bai Yu," he replied, extending his hand in greeting. "It seems I have arrived at an interesting time in Black Fire City."
n a blur of motion, Bai Yu and Xuan Fei reappeared within the Xuan Clan territory. Relief and amusement colored Xuan Fei's features as he boomed with laughter. "Ha! Thanks to you, Brother Bai, that old coot is finally out of the picture!"
A smile played on Bai Yu's lips as he returned Xuan Fei's laughter with a chuckle of his own. Together, they strode purposefully towards the Xuan Clan's main hall. As they walked, Bai Yu's gaze swept across the sprawling complex. Towering structures, each a testament to the Xuan Clan's power and prestige, dwarfed anything he had witnessed back in the Bai Clan.
heir steps finally brought them to the Xuan Clan's main hall, where a delegation of elders awaited them. Bai Yu's eyes widened in surprise. Ten figures, each radiating the unmistakable aura of a Law Domain Master, stood assembled. Ten!
"This is just a second-rate city," he thought, his mind struggling to comprehend the sheer concentration of power before him. The Central Plains truly was a land of unimaginable powerhouses. Here, a single clan in a minor city could boast ten Law Domain Masters. The weight of his ambition settled heavily upon him.
Several hours melted away as Bai Yu engaged in conversation with the Xuan Clan members. Xuan Fei, the patriarch, addressed his elders, explaining that despite being a Middle Law Domain Master, Bai Yu possessed combat prowess that rivaled his own Late Law Domain Master cultivation. This revelation garnered Bai Yu a newfound respect from the assembled elders. After accepting their invitation to reside as a guest within the Xuan Clan for a time, Bai Yu retreated to his assigned quarters. The day's events swirled through his mind, his thoughts lingering on the explosive confrontation.