Actually, the Qing Family's original strength had been roughly comparable to the Yuan Family's. Among the Nine Great Families, both were considered relatively weak.
But ever since that child descended upon the Qing Family, it was as though heaven itself had taken them under its protection. Cultivation resources were constantly being discovered throughout Qingzhou, and the Qing Family's overall strength began to improve rapidly within a short period of time.
Just two years ago, the Qing Family had even clashed with the Tang Family—and that clash had ended with the Tang Family offering an apology.
The Tang Family had actually admitted defeat to the Qing Family.
One had to bear in mind that the Tang Family was one of the stronger members among the Nine Great Families.
If even the Tang Family was no match for the Qing Family, then his Yuan Family was certainly no match either.
That was why the Yuan Family elder had been so hesitant.
Everyone had noticed the Yuan Family elder's hesitation.
Ma Kun and the Demon Subduing Sect's Sect Master both felt a spark of hope ignite within them, a glimmer of desperate fortune.
They thought they might actually manage to escape this ordeal.
"It doesn't matter whether I belong to the Qing Family or not. You only need to understand one thing," Qing Xuantian said.
"What thing?" the Yuan Family elder asked.
"My name is Qing Xuantian, and I will be the one to end your lives," Qing Xuantian said.
"This..."
Upon hearing those words, Ma Kun and the others wore complicated expressions on their faces.
They silently cursed Qing Xuantian for being utterly senseless. Even if his identity was special and the other party was wary of him, he should have been speaking politely. Threatening their lives right from the start—only a fool would let him go now. If they really let him leave, wouldn't that be like releasing a tiger back into the mountains?
"Hahaha, Qing Xuantian, so it really is you. You're that Heaven-Given Divine Body."
"Is it always like this with Heaven-Given Divine Bodies—so supremely arrogant? A mere ten-year-old child, and you dare threaten us?"
"I had originally been thinking of sparing your life, but now I've changed my mind."
"Your Qing Family rose because of you, and it will fall because of you. Once you're dead, your Qing Family is certain to decline. So today, I want you dead." Having said those words, the Yuan Family elder launched himself forward, blade in hand, streaking straight toward Qing Xuantian.
When the young men and women saw this, they squeezed their eyes shut in horror, while Ma Kun and the Demon Subduing Sect's Sect Master turned their heads away.
None of them could bear to watch the gruesome sight of Qing Xuantian's death.
"Ahhh!"
But in the very next instant, a piercing scream rang out.
Everyone's gaze immediately snapped back to Qing Xuantian, because they realized that the scream hadn't come from him—it sounded far more like it had come from the elder.
Looking closely, every person's expression changed dramatically.
Qing Xuantian stood in place, completely unharmed. The only change was that the ropes binding him had shattered and lay scattered on the ground in pieces.
As for the Yuan Family elder, the blade he had swung at Qing Xuantian had gone flying and landed thirty meters away. More critically, his hand was still gripping the blade.
His entire arm had flown off with it—his arm had been severed.
"You... what kind of monster are you?"
The Yuan Family elder clutched the stump of his severed arm with his remaining hand, his face twisted in panic as he stared at Qing Xuantian. He looked at the boy as though beholding a demon, his eyes brimming with terror.
But Qing Xuantian paid him no mind. Instead, he casually reached out and grabbed, and eleven fallen leaves rose from the ground, drifting and spinning around his palm.
Swish, swish, swish—
In the next instant, Qing Xuantian swept his sleeve, and the eleven leaves shot off in separate directions, each one hurtling toward one of the remaining eleven members of the Yuan Family.
Ahhh—!
Without warning, Ma Kun's disciples—the very same young men and women who had mocked and bullied Qing Xuantian—let out terrified screams.
It wasn't just them who were horrified. Ma Kun and the Demon Subduing Sect's Sect Master wore expressions of sheer terror as well.
The eleven members of the Yuan Family were still standing in place, but every single one of their heads had fallen to the ground. It was the leaves—they had been decapitated by the leaves.
"You... you... monster, monster."
The Yuan Family elder staggered backward, then suddenly turned and activated a movement technique, fleeing at full speed into the distance.
He was incredibly fast. In the blink of an eye, he had already covered a hundred meters, his figure growing smaller and smaller.
But Qing Xuantian remained utterly calm. He casually reached out, and another fallen leaf drifted into his hand.
Swish—
With a light flick of his finger, the leaf transformed into a streak of light and shot off in the direction the Yuan Family elder was fleeing.
A column of blood erupted into the sky, and the Yuan Family elder's head, too, fell to the ground.