Those weaker than Long Xiao felt their strength draining simply by approaching him. Those stronger, however, could still feel Long Xiao's suction force.
No one wanted to be sucked dry into a husk, so everyone panicked and dodged Long Xiao, even Old Daoist Xiao kept his distance.
Soon, only Long Xiao remained on the stage. He picked up a long saber from the ground and charged at the people below.
Old Daoist Xiao watched Long Xiao with shock, never expecting him to know the legendary "Taotie Divine Art."
The "Taotie Divine Art" was said to be a cultivation technique left behind by the ancient Taotie. Once mastered, one could absorb any vital energy in the world indiscriminately. The deeper one's cultivation, the faster the absorption and the more energy drawn in.
Lawrence and Michelle initially dodged like everyone else. Once they understood what was happening, they charged at Long Xiao again. Long Xiao couldn't absorb their strange powers, so he could only wield his saber and fight them. Kuai Shu Ge.
Old Daoist Xiao wanted to step forward and help. As he moved, several Heavenly Realm experts lunged at him.
Even with several more Heavenly Realm experts, Old Daoist Xiao could still find a way to escape. He fought and shouted, "Long Xiao, hurry and go!"
Long Xiao was entangled by Lawrence and Michelle. He couldn't break free for a while. The attacks of these two were incredibly strong, and their moves were bizarre, making it impossible for Long Xiao to defend against them.
Long Xiao found himself increasingly on the defensive. Just as he was wondering how to escape, Xiao Ming and his group returned.
Seeing Old Daoist Xiao holding off all the Heavenly Realm experts alone, Luan Jiping hurriedly shouted, "Xiao Ming, have your people save Long Xiao!"
Xiao Ming shook the Xuan Tie cleaver in his hand and said, "Brother Long and I are partners, invincible under the heavens."
Seeing Xiao Ming about to charge in himself, Luan Jiping wanted to stop him, but before she could speak, Xiao Ming blurred into a streak of afterimages and rushed forward.
Witnessing Xiao Ming's speed, Luan Jiping was astonished. She never expected Xiao Ming to improve so quickly; his speed had more than doubled.
Xiao Ming charged forward and swung his cleaver. He had mastered the Mad Saber Technique, and the Xuan Tie cleaver moved unpredictably in his hands, catching Lawrence and Michelle off guard.
Just as their movements slowed, Long Xiao and Xiao Ming seized the opportunity to retreat, disengaging from the battlefield.
"Go, get out of here immediately!" Xiao Ming shouted, brandishing the Xuan Tie cleaver.
Xiao Ming and Long Xiao, with Luan Jiping, began to sprint. Lawrence and Michelle pursued relentlessly.
When they came to China this time, the pair had expected to share in the Dragon family's spoils by cooperating with the Nangong family. They hadn't anticipated the news of the Dragon family's secret treasure. If they could capture Long Xiao, this trip would be incredibly profitable.
The Nangong Manor was vast. The three ran along a road. Luan Jiping, being slower, was carried by Long Xiao after only a few steps.
Old Daoist Xiao did not run. He stayed behind to block the Heavenly Realm experts. As for others who might pursue, he paid them no mind.
Seeing Long Xiao flee, others were about to give chase when the eight fat men, along with members of the Mad Saber Sect, charged in.
Another round of slaughter ensued, and many more Nangong family disciples fell. The members of other families, seeing Long Xiao escape, no longer fought with their usual fervor. They dodged when they could, and few more died.
Long Xiao and his companions had only run a few hundred meters when Lawrence and Michelle caught up.
"Let me go, brother. You two run, don't worry about me," Luan Jiping shouted.
"Sister, I came to save you. How could I abandon you?"
The three rounded a villa when Lawrence and Michelle caught up.
"Can't run away this time, can you?" Michelle said with a smile.
Before the smile on Michelle's face could fade, a young man ambled over.
"Two foreign devils, daring to bully people in China. You have quite the nerve," the young man said.
Long Xiao and the other two looked at the young man, realizing none of them had ever seen him before.
Michelle turned to the young man and asked, "Who are you, and why are you meddling?"
"Who I am is not important. What is important is that you are about to die," the young man said with a smile.
"You think you can kill both of us?" Lawrence sneered at the young man.
"Who said it's just me? Are you blind?"
Lawrence felt someone approaching and turned to see four more young men appear. These four were roughly the same age as the first one and wore identical clothing.
"Brother Long, let's go," Xiao Ming whispered.
Long Xiao nodded, clasped his hands in a salute to the five young men, and said, "Thank you, brothers. Come to Donghai to find me when you have time. I'll treat you to drinks."
The first young man nodded and said, "Alright, it's a deal. You go first."
As Long Xiao and his companions moved, Lawrence and Michelle attempted to pursue. The five young men lunged at Lawrence and Michelle.
Having escaped Lawrence and Michelle, Xiao Ming said, "Head west. The west wall is closest to the mountains. Brother Luo and Sister Ye Mei are waiting for us at the west wall."
Before Long Xiao and his group reached the west wall, two gaunt old men appeared on the road.
Long Xiao hadn't seen how the two had appeared. There had been no one on the road moments before, and suddenly they were there.
"Youngsters, killing people in my Nangong Manor and then trying to leave. Is that not too impolite?" one of the gaunt old men said.
The two were strange. Judging by their words, they were also from the Nangong family. At their age, they should have been ancestors in the Nangong family.
"Are you the Nangong Ancestors?" Long Xiao asked.
The two old men nodded simultaneously. One said, "Kid, you have good eyesight. Knowing we are the Nangong Ancestors, just come with us obediently. Resisting will only harm relations."
Long Xiao whispered to Xiao Ming and Luan Jiping, "You two go first and find Luo Tianshui and the others. I'll be there shortly."
"Brother, you are no match for them."
"Their target is me. It will be easier for me to escape alone."
Xiao Ming and Luan Jiping nodded slightly and began to retreat. The two Nangong Ancestors stared at Long Xiao, and as Long Xiao stood still, they remained immobile.
Soon, the two disappeared behind the bushes.
When the trail of the two was lost, Long Xiao said, "Gentlemen, if I don't go with you, do you plan to kill me?"
The two Nangong Ancestors shook their heads simultaneously. One said, "Why would we kill you? We were originally dealing with the Dragon family, but we didn't expect you to possess the Dragon family's secret treasure. The plan has changed. If we capture you, we will temporarily spare the Dragon family."
"Is capturing me useful? You can't possibly use me to force the Dragon family. I'm not a member of the Dragon family yet."
"Whether you are a member of the Dragon family is no longer important. What matters is that the Dragon family's secret treasure is with you. Hand over the Dragon family's secret treasure, and we'll let you go," one Nangong Ancestor said.
Long Xiao shook his head and replied, "I don't know anything about the Dragon family's secret treasure. I'm a member of the Dragon family, and someone only recently told me."
"Who possesses a treasure would admit to possessing it?" one Nangong Ancestor said.
The other Nangong Ancestor said, "Brother, let's take him down and interrogate him slowly to avoid further complications."
The two Nangong Ancestors suddenly attacked. Long Xiao unleashed all his remaining Five Elements vital energy to resist their energy.
Soon, after an explosion, Long Xiao felt as if he had fallen into a swamp. Even moving a finger was exhausting.