[Forgotten Domain, Northern Region, The Sand Golem Clan]
Xang’s finger rose slowly, and in an instant, thousands of dark pink magic circles materialized in the air, each one resembling celestial inscriptions.
The glowing patterns formed intricate, symmetrical designs, reminiscent of ancient mandalas. Delicate floral motifs intertwined with sharp, arrow-like markings, all converging toward a central star-shaped core. Dotted lines and looping sigils radiated outward, pulsing with an aura of immense, archaic power. The warm, dark pink light bathed the battlefield, casting an eerie glow over the destruction that was about to unfold.
"Destroy!" With a single whispered command, the entire army of Sand Golems was obliterated. The devastation was absolute. No explanation was needed to describe the aftermath, the sheer annihilation spoke for itself.
Silence.
Deafening, suffocating silence.
Every onlooker stood frozen, their jaws clenched in shock. Fear and horror twisted their expressions, but beneath that, something darker flickered, admiration. Obsession. The kind of awe reserved for forces beyond mortal comprehension.
Xang stood amidst the carnage like an ancient warrior, his veiled face unreadable. Yet, one thing was certain, his expression was undoubtedly dangerous. His lips curling into a cruel smile. Without another word, he turned and left, not bothering to wait for anyone’s reaction.
His destination? The Sand Golem clan’s stronghold.
Everyone wanted to stop him and ask where Xang was going, but before they could, he was already gone.
"Wait, where’s the bottle of Celestial Stardust Water?" one of the immortal female disciples asked suddenly, her face pale from blood loss. The others were stunned.
Far ahead, after leaving the group, Xang flew through the sky, holding the bottle of Celestial Stardust Water with an unreadable expression.
Having slaughtered thousands of their kin, he knew the survivors would seek vengeance. And Xang was not one to wait for retaliation. If roots remained, they would regrow. So, he would burn them all, down to the last ember.
Though he was curious about Jun Mu Yang’s identity, a person who could throw away such a priceless treasure was by no means ordinary, he set his doubts aside. As long as that person didn’t stand in his way, he would treat them as if they were nothing more than air.
"Xang, you’re still as cruel as ever. If Auntie were here, would she despise us?" A soft, feminine voice echoed in his mind.
"She won’t know," Xang replied coldly, his steps barely faltering. "She will never see this side of me."
"Are you sure?" the voice pressed, now tinged with unease. "Be careful with your actions. I don’t want Auntie to look at me like I’m a monster. What if she fears me? You should stop this cruelty."
"Stop? If I didn’t have this power today, it wouldn’t be the Sand Golems lying dead, it would be me." Xang let out a low, humorless chuckle. His tone sharpened. "Besides, Xiang’er, you are me, and I am you. You’re the one who should be telling yourself this."
"It’s been so many years. Where is she? I miss her." A pause. Then, her voice softened, shifting away from the topic. The longing in her words was palpable.
"We’ll see her soon," Xang reassured her as he soared through the sky. "That person said she would come. We just have to wait."
"I hope it won’t be long," Xiang’er sighed.
When Xang arrived at the Sand Golem clan’s territory, however, he was met with an unexpected sight.
The entire clan had already been wiped out.
The massacre was brutal, corpses littered the ground, their beast cores ripped out. The treasure vaults had been plundered, stripped bare. And hovering above the devastation was a lone figure, laughing, a sound so unhinged it bordered on madness.
"Who was that?" Xiang’er murmured, her voice laced with doubt. "I’ve never seen him before. He must be new to this realm, yet he dares cause such destruction? Wiping out an entire clan will draw the attention of every major faction here."
Xang remained silent, his sharp eyes catching a faint glimmer amidst the ashes. In an instant, he teleported to the spot and bent down, retrieving a pulsating golden crystal.
"Another ancient relic?" He turned it over in his palm, a faint smirk playing on his lips before storing it away.
"The Heart of Shattered Time! Xang, your luck is unbelievable!" Xiang’er gasped. Her excitement was palpable.
The Heart of Shattered Time was a crystallized core of golden glass, pulsing with the essence of ancient temporal energy. Legends claimed it held the final breath of the first Golem King, preserving fragments of his power and memories. With it, the bearer could glimpse into the past of any place buried beneath the sands, a treasure beyond measure.
"Quickly, absorb it! If we refine its energy, we might inherit the Golem King’s cultivation. After that, we can use it to uncover the secrets hidden here." Xiang’er urged.
"I know," Xang replied, his voice low. The ruins were no longer safe. The battle had been too destructive, and soon, others would come to investigate the annihilation of the Sand Golem clan. They needed to leave, now.
"What about Twilight Desert Town? The Dark Elves who live there are peaceful by nature. They won’t attack unless provoked." Xiang’er suggested.
Xang gave a slight nod. Without another word, the two departed, leaving behind the stunned immortal disciples of Cold Maple Palace. Whether they lived or died was no concern of his.
Unbeknownst to them, however, their every move had been watched. From the moment Xang had slaughtered thousands of Sand Golems to the man’s ruthless eradication of the entire clan, every second had been witnessed by a hidden observer.
And that observer had not gone unnoticed.

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