C12: The Zhao Clan Strikes back

☯☯☯🌪️💥🔥

Cloud Immortal City trembled under the new order. The Mystic Cloud Pavilion, once a neutral powerhouse that hosted grand auctions, now flew the banner of the Eternal Grind Sect — a black flag with a coiling red and black lightning dragon. Lin Xiao had spent the first three days consolidating control, plundering every storage ring, secret vault, and technique jade slip he could find.

He sat in the grandest cultivation chamber atop the pavilion, cross-legged on a massive immortal jade bed. Su Mei and Murong Xue cultivated beside him, their bodies glowing with dual cultivation energy. Two new immortal maidens — the former servants of Zhao Tian — knelt at the side, ready to serve at any moment.

Red and black immortal lightning danced across Lin Xiao’s skin as he circulated the complete Chaos Emperor Scripture. His long black hair, tied in the high ponytail, floated gently despite no wind. The chaotic energy had grown even more refined in the Immortal Realm, occasionally forming miniature dragon silhouettes that roared silently around him.

【System Notification】
【Immortal Quest “Establish Dominance” – Progress: 35%. Time remaining: 27 days.】
【Current Cultivation: Mid Immortal Ascension Stage (Peak)】
【Immortal Points: 142,000】

Not fast enough, Lin Xiao thought arrogantly. In the Lower World I conquered an entire sect in one night. Here, they think they can take their time to react? I will accelerate their despair.

Flashback – Two weeks before ascension.

In the final days of the Heavenly Cloud Sect conquest, one of the captured elders had begged for mercy by revealing rumors about the Upper World. “The Zhao Clan rules over dozens of ascended forces… they are merciless to new challengers. If you ever ascend, avoid them at all costs.”

Lin Xiao had laughed then and killed the elder anyway. Now that warning felt like a joke.

A powerful alarm formation shook the entire pavilion. Lin Xiao opened his eyes, red lightning flashing within them.

“Master,” Su Mei said softly, her voice filled with concern and adoration, “strong auras are approaching from the northern sky. At least ten Immortal Ascension experts… and two at the Immortal King Stage.”

Murong Xue added coldly, “It’s the Zhao Clan’s retaliation force. They must have received word about Young Master Zhao Tian’s death.”

Lin Xiao stood up slowly. His black and gold robes materialized around him, embroidered with moving lightning patterns. He looked every bit the ruthless immortal emperor from the cover legends.

“Perfect,” he said with a dark smile. “I was getting bored. Let’s go greet our guests.”

He walked out onto the highest platform of the pavilion, followed by his women and elite followers. In the distance, dozens of massive war ships bearing the Zhao Clan’s golden dragon emblem approached like a storm cloud.

At the head stood Zhao Wuji — Zhao Tian’s father, a peak Immortal King Stage expert with a face like carved stone and eyes burning with murderous rage. Flanking him were two other Immortal King elders and a full elite force.

“Lin Xiao!” Zhao Wuji’s voice boomed like heavenly thunder across the city. “You dared kill my son and seize the Mystic Cloud Pavilion? Today I will annihilate your entire fledgling force and refine your soul into a torture artifact for ten thousand years!”

The entire Cloud Immortal City held its breath. Many local powers watched from afar, expecting the rapid fall of the arrogant new ascender.

Lin Xiao stepped forward to the edge of the platform. His high ponytail whipped in the immortal winds as red and black lightning erupted violently around him, forming two coiling chaos dragons.

“Old fool,” he called out arrogantly, his voice carrying the same oppressive force. “Your son was weak and arrogant. He died like a dog. If you want to join him, bring your entire clan. I will grind you all the same.”

Zhao Wuji roared in fury. “Attack! Leave no one alive!”

The Zhao Clan forces descended like a golden tidal wave. Immortal techniques lit up the sky — sword formations, dragon phantoms, mountain-suppressing palms, and forbidden arrays.

Lin Xiao laughed coldly and activated his full power.

Heaven Defying Slaughter Domain – Immortal Version!

A massive dome of red and black lightning exploded outward, covering half the city. Every Zhao Clan member who entered the domain felt their speed and power drastically suppressed while corrosive lightning constantly ate at their immortal qi.

“Follow me!” Lin Xiao ordered his forces.

He charged first, using Immortal Phantom Shift. He became a streak of destructive lightning, appearing directly in front of one of the Immortal King elders.

The elder swung a gigantic golden war hammer infused with supreme laws. The attack could flatten an entire mountain range.

Lin Xiao met it with the Chaos Emperor Sword Art — Immortal Annihilation Dragon Strike. His sword transformed into a roaring red and black lightning dragon that collided head-on with the hammer.

BOOOOOOM!

The shockwave destroyed dozens of nearby buildings. Lin Xiao was pushed back slightly, but he used the momentum to spin and deliver a devastating kick infused with chaos energy, shattering the elder’s defensive armor and sending him crashing into one of the war ships.

Su Mei and Murong Xue fought fiercely beside him, their dual cultivation link allowing them to share power with Lin Xiao. They handled the weaker Immortal Ascension experts, buying him time.

The real battle was between Lin Xiao and the three Immortal King experts.

Zhao Wuji personally joined, wielding a supreme-grade immortal sword that summoned endless golden dragons. The fight turned cataclysmic. Buildings collapsed. The sky cracked. Shockwaves spread for hundreds of miles.

“You are strong for a new ascender,” Zhao Wuji admitted mid-battle, his expression growing more serious. “But you lack foundation. Die!”

He unleashed his strongest technique; Zhao Clan’s Heavenly Dragon Annihilation, summoning nine golden immortal dragons that roared with the power to destroy cities.

Lin Xiao’s eyes glowed with intense red lightning. His ponytail stood straight as chaotic energy overloaded his body.

Foundation? I built my foundation with eighteen years of blood and hatred. You built yours with arrogance and stolen resources. Today I prove whose path is superior!

He burned a portion of his immortal blood essence and activated the full Chaos Emperor Scripture.

Ultimate Form: Eternal Chaos Dragon Descent!

A single, massive red and black lightning dragon — far larger and more terrifying than anything Zhao Wuji summoned — materialized behind Lin Xiao. It roared so loudly that many weaker cultivators in the city coughed blood.

The two dragon forces collided in an apocalyptic explosion that lit up the entire horizon.

When the light faded, Zhao Wuji was heavily injured, one arm missing, his golden armor shattered. The other two Immortal King elders were in even worse condition.

Lin Xiao didn’t give them a chance to recover.

He flashed through the battlefield like a god of slaughter. Detailed, merciless strikes rained down. He severed limbs, crushed dantians, and activated Immortal Plunder on every fallen expert.

【Continuous Immortal Plunder!】
【+320,000 Immortal Points!】
【Major cultivation breakthrough to Late Immortal Ascension Stage!】
【Acquired: Zhao Clan’s Dragon Sovereign Art (High Grade) + Multiple Immortal King Treasures.】

Zhao Wuji, seeing his elite force collapsing, tried to flee in terror.

“Where do you think you’re going, old dog?” Lin Xiao appeared in front of him instantly and grabbed him by the throat. “Your son looked down on me. You looked down on me. Now your entire clan will pay the price.”

He slowly crushed Zhao Wuji’s cultivation base while the man screamed in agony, then fully plundered him alive. The peak Immortal King died with utmost regret and fear in his eyes.

The remaining Zhao Clan forces surrendered or were slaughtered without mercy.

By the end of the day, the Zhao Clan’s retaliatory army had been completely wiped out. Lin Xiao claimed all their war ships, treasures, and resources.

【Immortal Quest “Establish Dominance” – Progress: 85%.】

News spread like wildfire across the Immortal Realm. A terrifying new ascender named Lin Xiao had single-handedly destroyed a major Zhao Clan expedition force and taken over Cloud Immortal City in mere days.

That night, in the newly renamed Eternal Grind Pavilion, Lin Xiao celebrated his victory.

Su Mei and Murong Xue attended to him intimately, their bodies pressed against his as they dual cultivated, further strengthening all three. The new immortal maidens served obediently, feeding him rare immortal fruits and wine.

Lin Xiao leaned back on his throne, one hand resting on Su Mei’s waist, red and black lightning gently sparking across his skin.

“Send a message to the Zhao Clan’s main headquarters,” he ordered arrogantly. “Tell them their son and their army died because they dared look down on me. If they want revenge, bring everything they have. I will grind their entire clan into dust.”

His followers cheered with fanatical loyalty.

As the moon rose over Cloud Immortal City, Lin Xiao looked toward the distant central regions of the Immortal Realm, where true Immortal Emperors and ancient clans resided.

“The Lower World was practice,” he whispered with supreme confidence. “This realm will learn the same lesson.”

The Eternal Grind had truly begun in the Immortal Realm.

And no power, no matter how ancient or mighty, would be spared.

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