The heavens themselves seemed to have dimmed the moment that the gigantic black palm met the golden bell, before a melodious sound was then heard from the bell, as it resounded throughout the Sky mountain.
And yet, the enormous black palm was similar to a gigantic hammer smashing on the bell's surface, barely stopping for a single moment, before it sent the golden bell flying into the distance as it continued descending down on the Xiong family's palace.
''NO!''
A voice filled with fear resounded from the depths of the luxurious palace, as an elder with a head filled with sparse white hair appeared from it, staring at the golden bell that was sent flying away from the Sky mountain.
Shun Long's memories allowed him to recognize this person as the head of the Xiong family, Xiong Qin.
Seeing Xiong Qin's haggard appearance with his disheveled hair and his lips dripping with blood made the thousands of core members of the Xiong family's faces pale from fear, as they all looked at the golden-armored 'Shun Long' with terrified looks in their eyes.
However, before any of them had a chance to move and try to escape, the enormous black palm in the sky finally collided with the Xiong family's palace!
BOOOOM!
Countless runes and formations that seemed to be condensed from a myriad of colorful lights lit up around the palace walls, in an attempt to resist the black palm's descent, but no matter what, it was futile.
Cracks instantly started to appear on the ground below the luxurious palace, while the powerful runes in the palace walls seemed to be rapidly dimming, unable to resist the power of the enormous black palm.
''WHO ARE YOU? WHY ARE YOU ATTACKING MY XIONG FAMILY?''
The Xiong family head, Xiong Qin shouted at the golden-robed 'Shun Long', unwilling to accept this sudden outcome!
This person's strength was definitely extraordinary, and Xiong Qin was also certain, that neither he nor any core member of his Xiong family had ever met him before. And yet, this person seemed to be suddenly attacking his Xiong family!?
'Shun Long' however didn't respond to Xiong Qin's question. Instead, he simply turned his head around and stared at the 10.000 black-armored warriors of the Heaven Trampling Legion with a serious look in his eyes.
Seeing Shun Long's gaze, a 1.8m(5.10ft) tall, red-haired young man who was holding a dark-silver bow in his hands took a step forward, and looking at the black-armored warriors around him he shouted in a loud voice
''Heaven Trampling Legion!
Surround them!
Don't let a single one of them escape!''
The red-haired man's voice was domineering, as he coldly looked at the Xiong family members who were hovering in the sky above the Xiong family's palace.
At the same time, a single name appeared in Shun Long's mind as he looked at the red-haired young man, while waves of memories seemed to be waking up in his mind.
This was the 2nd commander of his Heaven Trampling Legion, Hong Shuren!
As these words echoed in the sky, the 10.000 warriors of the Heaven Trampling Legion immediately surrounded the Sky Mountain, not allowing a single member of the Xiong family to try and escape.
Xiong Qin's face instantly paled when he heard the red-haired man's words, but before he could even open his mouth to respond, cracking sounds resounded from the Xiong family's palace behind him, as the last protective formation was destroyed.
Without any emotion in his eyes, Shun Long then slammed his right hand downwards, as the enormous black palm directly fell atop the Xiong family's palace!
BOOOM!
The moment that Shun Long's palm fell atop the Xiong family's palace, the entire Sky Mountain started to tremble from the terrifying force behind it!
The cultivators living inside the city around the Xiong family's palace thought that the sky was going to collapse, completely unaware of what the Xiong family had done to invite such destruction on their doorstep.
In a single instant, the core of the luxurious palace that spanned for more than 10 miles was instantly obliterated, while flesh and blood dyed the sky above the Sky mountain a bright red color.
At that moment, almost every single core member of the Xiong family had been killed under the enormous black palm's terrifying might.
The luxurious palace of the Xiong family that had been standing there for hundreds of thousands of years was instantly reduced into dust, while the only person who was still alive inside it, was the head of the Xiong family, Xiong Qin!
And yet, the powerful family head of the Xiong family had a blank look in his eyes, as he was unable to understand the reason behind his family's destruction, while his body had almost exploded from the impact of the terrifying black palm's attack, leaving him on the verge of death and yet unable to die even if he wanted to.
At his level, how could Xiong Qin not understand, that Shun Long had intentionally left him alive?!
Despite being on the verge of death, Xiong Qin raised his head with difficulty, and looking at Shun Long, he asked in a hoarse tone filled with incredulity, hate and disbelief
''You! You are the city lord of the Heaven Trampling city... Long Han?
Why??
Why did you destroy my Xiong family??''
'Shun Long' however didn't reply to Xiong Qin this time either.
Instead, he simply turned his head around and looked at the black-armored warriors of the Heaven Trampling Legion, before his gaze landed on a white-haired young man with a black eye-patch on his left eye.
The white-haired young man looked at Shun Long's figure in the sky who seemed like a god of war, with a gaze filled with reverence, before he turned his attention towards Xiong Qin who was lying on the ground amidst the rubble of the Xiong family's palace with a look of hatred in his eyes.
Looking at the white-haired young man, 'Shun Long' nodded his head before he said in a calm tone
''Jiahao, come here.''
The white-haired Hao Jiahao's body trembled when he heard this, as he lowered his head and slowly flew towards Shun Long's direction.
No matter how much he hated the Xiong family, he respected and adored the Heaven Trampling Legion even more.
In his darkest hour, the Heaven Trampling Legion had become his second family.
Looking at the white-haired young man in front of him, Shun Long nodded his head before he said in an amiable but at the same time solemn tone
''You can do whatever you want but remember one thing. Losing yourself in revenge won't bring back anyone! Don't let the Xiong family dictate your life!''
A myriad of emotions flashed through Hao Jiahao's eye when he heard Shun Long's words, as he nodded his head in response.
Taking out a small, white-colored dagger from his spatial ring, Hao Jiahao then flew towards the Sky mountain, towards where the Xiong family's palace was previously located, but all that was left now was a pile of rubble and dust.
Looking at Xiong Qin in front of him, the white-haired young man placed the white dagger in his hand on Xiong Qin's throat before he said in a cold voice
''My name is Hao Jiahao, and I am the youngest son of the third Elder of the Hao family.''
Xiong Qin's eyes instantly widened when he heard the words Hao family.
The Hao family wasn't a big family, and since Xiong Qin had heard from a trustworthy source that they had obtained the 'Golden Immortal bell', he hadn't hesitated to eradicate them down to the last person.
He had never expected that there was actually someone who had survived from that family, and had come to the Sky Mountain with a terrifying backing to obtain revenge!
Seeing the look in Xiong Qin's eyes, Hao Jiahao didn't show any change in his emotions, as he looked at the white dagger in his hands and continued with an absent-minded tone
''This dagger belonged to my elder brother who sacrificed himself to save me, as we ran to escape from your Xiong family! He fell victim to the magic beasts inside the 'Nightmare forest'... because you decided to destroy our family for a single treasure!''
As he finished his words, Hao Jiahao slashed the white dagger in his hands sideways, tearing open a hole in Xiong Qin's neck without giving him any chance to speak and defend his actions!
Although his voice had been calm in the beginning, when he mentioned his elder brother's death, it was obvious that his emotions had been agitated to the extreme.
How could he not feel guilty that his brother had traded his life to save him?
As the white dagger slashed through Xiong Qin's neck, blood spurted like a fountain as it dyed Hao Jiahao's armor with a bright crimson color, while a look of fury as well as helplessness had appeared inside Xiong Qin's eyes when he heard Hao Jiahao's explanation.
At this point, he would be an idiot if he could not understand, that this man had somehow managed to convince the Heaven Trampling city's city lord to come here and help him take revenge on his Xiong family because he had destroyed the Hao family 2000 years ago!
Without taking another look at Xiong Qin, the white-haired young man then turned his gaze to look at the surroundings of the destroyed palace, where the rest of the members of the Xiong family were staying.
Although the core members of the Xiong family had already died, the branch members were still alive and could very well try and take revenge on him in the future.
And yet, Hao Jiahao only threw a single look towards them, before he shot to the sky, as he headed towards the golden-armored 'Shun Long'.
As soon as he arrived in front of Shun Long, Hao Jiahao knelt in the sky on both knees, as he started kowtowing while tears had started to flow from his left eye without stop.
His voice that was previously calm, could no longer hold back his emotions of grief and sorrow as well as gratitude, as he raised his head to look at 'Shun Long' in front of him, and said in a tone that was filled with devotion
''City lord...!
I, Hao Jiahao swear on my soul, that I will always follow the City lord and be a part of the Heaven Trampling Legion... until the day my soul dies!''
Although it was a short and simple sentence, Shun Long could feel Hao Jiahao's sincerity, as the young man in front of him had sworn an oath with his soul!
The rest of the 10.000 warriors of the Heaven Trampling Legion had solemn looks on their faces when they saw this scene, as they all stared at Shun Long and Hao Jiahao and nodded their heads in response.
Respect, adoration, admiration, sincerity, gratitude... there was not a single warrior of the Heaven Trampling Legion who didn't have these feelings for Shun Long.
As Hao Jiahao finished his words, the scene in Shun Long's eyes finally changed.