Chapter 63: Public Execution!

The six major families of Qin, Li, Gu, Zhang, Liu, and Zhao gathered together at the entrance of the Tianfu Grand Hotel.

Qin Zhennan, the head of the Qin family, alongside the second-in-command, Qin Xiongbei.
Li Zhonglei, the head of the Li family.
Gu Shanqing, the head of the Gu family.
Liu Yuelong, the head of the Liu family.
Zhao Xin, the head of the Zhao family.

These were all titans of Jiangnan City, figures whose mere stamping of a foot could trigger an earthquake. Normally, catching a glimpse of even one of them was an extraordinary stroke of luck. Yet now, the supreme leaders of all six great families had assembled here—a spectacle of extreme rarity.

Moreover, every single one of them wore an expression of utmost reverence, standing by the hotel entrance like mere bellhops, maintaining a posture of profound awe and humility.

Although it was already evening, the entrance of the Tianfu Grand Hotel remained bustling with incoming and outgoing guests. Witnessing this scene, everyone was struck dumb with shock and bewilderment.

"What the hell? Isn't that the head of the Qin family? Who on earth is he waiting for?"
"It's not just the Qin family—all six major families are here!"
"Good god, what kind of grand occasion is this? Which supreme dignitary holds the privilege of being awaited by the helmsmen of the six great families?"

People whispered among themselves, desperately guessing the identity of the expected arrival.

At that very moment, a stretched Lincoln limousine drove up and pulled into the hotel's driveway. The heads of the six families hurried forward in unison. Qin Zhennan even took the initiative to open the rear door himself.

Immediately afterward, a towering, robust figure stepped out of the vehicle. His gaze was fierce and predatory like that of a tiger, and an overwhelming aura of murderous intent radiated from his entire being. He felt like a battle-hardened lion forged through a thousand trials in the arena. No matter who crossed his path, they would inevitably find themselves crushed and utterly overwhelmed by this formidable presence.

"Second Master Qi, we have been waiting here to welcome your esteemed arrival!" Qin Zhennan said respectfully.
"Indeed, after such a long and weary journey, Second Master Qi has had a hard time!" Gu Shanqing chimed in.
"It is nothing. I have come for only one reason: to kill," Second Master Qi declared, his voice deep, resonant, and powerful, echoing like the beating of a heavy war drum.
"Please proceed inside, Second Master Qi. We can sit down and talk!" said Li Zhonglei, the head of the Li family, with a smile.

As the group vanished into the interior of the hotel, the entrance erupted in a frenzy of whispers.

"Holy shit, I think I heard the head of the Qin family address him as Second Master Qi! Could it be that Second Master from the family of the supreme Military Commander Qi?"
"It has to be him! Who else could possibly bear the title of Second Master Qi?"
"Besides, if it weren't him, why else would the heads of the six families humble themselves to wait here?"
"What on earth brings the Second Master of the Qi family to Jiangnan?"

"Heh, your information is hopelessly outdated. I heard it's all to kill someone..."

While the crowd buzzed with speculation, the six family heads had already escorted Second Master Qi to the presidential suite on the top floor.

"I never imagined that with the six of you holding down the fort here, you would actually let some pathetic nobody run wild and arrogant to such an extent!" Second Master Qi said coldly as he took a seat on the sofa.

The expressions of Qin Zhennan and the others turned horribly grim. Duan Lingxiao’s rampage in Jiangnan City—slaughtering families without the slightest regard for the six major families—had severely dented their prestige. This was precisely why they were sparing no effort to eliminate him.

"Second Master Qi, that brat possesses some deeply bizarre witchcraft. Not only is his martial prowess formidable, but he acts with total lawlessness, killing whoever he pleases," Qin Zhennan said with a dark expression. "From the moment he appeared until now, in just a few short days, he has left a trail of countless corpses across both Jiangnan and Jiangbei."

"He even dared to assassinate the vice president of the Dongying Chamber of Commerce, showed zero respect for the prestige of Elder Yao Xuanchen of Jiangbei, and snuffed out the heiress of the Hong Kong He family like she was nothing more than an ant!"

"He is an absolute maniac! A violent ruffian!"

"Hmph! When all is said and out, it only proves that your own strength is lacking. You've grown soft living in peace, and the moment a martial artist with some actual muscle pops up, you completely lose your ability to cope," Second Master Qi said coldly, his voice booming like a bell. "He is merely an impudent punk. On a real battlefield, I could slaughter a million single-handedly with my bare fists!"

"Indeed, indeed! Second Master Qi bears the reputation of a ferocious tiger, and with your peerless strength, you will undoubtedly crush that little bastard with a single blow!" Li Zhonglei flattered obsequiously.

"Precisely, precisely!" Gu Shanqing, Zhao Xin, and the others chimed in with hurried agreement.

"By the way, Second Master Qi, where shall we execute that little bastard tomorrow?" Qin Zhennan inquired respectfully.

"That little brat murdered my sworn brother, Fuhu. This blood debt must be avenged—and it must be avenged publicly!" Second Master Qi said in a low, grim voice. "Here is what we will do: tomorrow, I shall hold a public execution! I will use the most brutal methods to subject that little wretch to endless torment. At the same time, I will let everyone in the world witness the fate that awaits those who dare to cross the Qi family!"

"The location shall be Tianfu Square!"

"Splendid! That is a brilliant choice!" Qin Zhennan was overjoyed. "I will notify every faction in Jiangnan City to ensure they arrive on the scene punctually tomorrow, so they may bear witness to your invincible might!"

Tianfu Square was one of the landmark locations in Jiangnan City—vast in scale and frequented by massive crowds. Killing Duan Lingxiao there would undoubtedly serve as a striking deterrent to warn the public, while simultaneously restoring the heavily damaged prestige of the six major families.

"With Second Master Qi making a move, this matter is guaranteed to be a success."

"We won't bother summoning any hostesses tonight. Instead, let us substitute wine with tea and toast to Second Master Qi's triumphant victory tomorrow, reviving the morale of the martial arts community in Jiangnan City!"

Everyone laughed heartily. An atmosphere of absolute certainty spread through the room as they eagerly anticipated tomorrow's triumph.

...

Xiao Mengxue was still fast asleep. To avoid waking her up moments earlier, Duan Lingxiao had moved with the speed of lightning, flashing behind the black-clad assassins and ending the battle with ruthless efficiency.

At this moment, Xiao Mengxue remained lost in sweet slumber, completely oblivious to what had transpired.

Tucking the blanket securely around her, Duan Lingxiao returned to his own room.

"Reaching the Advanced Xiantian realm truly accelerates the cultivation speed of the God of War Manual. It seems it won't be long before I break through from the seventh layer to the eighth," Duan Lingxiao muttered as he crossed his legs in meditation.

With the steady enhancement of his strength, sleep had become a matter of negligible importance to him. A session of cross-legged meditation to absorb spiritual energy was more than enough to dispel all physical and mental exhaustion.

"My master, the First Evil, once said that when my God of War Manual reaches the ninth layer, it will trigger a qualitative transformation. It looks like I need to step up my pace."

In truth, Duan Lingxiao knew very little about the backgrounds and origins of his seven eccentric masters. Because none of them had ever mentioned it, he naturally never pressed the matter. He understood that they had their own reasons for keeping silent; each of them harbored their own secrets. Since they chose not to speak, Duan Lingxiao would never attempt to tear away the veil shrouding those mysteries.

Regardless of who or what his seven masters truly were, he cared not a whit. He would only ever remember one thing: they were his benefactors. Without them, he would not be the man he was today. He would have perished in Prison Zero five years ago, let alone walked out of its gates to return to society and seize the chance for vengeance.

"Clear the mind and focus the spirit!"

Duan Lingxiao shook his head, banishing all stray thoughts. He then directed his awareness to his dantian and began drawing in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

Focus!

No matter what task one undertook, absolute focus was the prerequisite for achieving high efficiency and superior quality. As his concentration deepened, he quickly plunged into a specific, harmonious state of cultivation where his mind and spirit became one.

Had there been any outside martial artists present, they would have dropped their jaws in sheer disbelief!

For the state of cultivation Duan Lingxiao had entered was the legendary state of epiphany that countless practitioners dreamed of attaining. Such an epiphany was exceedingly rare—something met with only by chance, never by design. Yet Duan Lingxiao could slip into it anytime and anywhere.

That alone was terrifyingly prodigious.

This was the very reason why, in the span of just five years, he had crossed thirteen layers of Qi Refining to reach the Xiantian realm.

The night passed in silence.

The morning mist cleared, and the first rays of dawn pierced the sky as the morning sun rose majestically. A brand new day had arrived!