"Pavilion Master Xun, as a senior, it seems somewhat inappropriate for you to strike at a child."
"To want to kill my son is to oppose my Li Family. Should you really push this old man to desperation, Pavilion Master Xun might want to consider the consequences."
Just as Xun Xiangzhou took action against Li Chu, Li Dashan’s figure flashed, landing in front of Li Chu, and a Palm Wind greeted Xun Xiangzhou head on.
The two Palm Winds clashed in midair, leaving Xun Xiangzhou unmoved, but Li Dashan was forced back several steps, his face also pale.
Although both Li Dashan and Xun Xiangzhou were martial artists of the Heaven-reaching Realm, Li Dashan was merely at the First Layer, whereas Xun Xiangzhou was at the Seventh Layer.
The six-layer difference in realm meant Xun Xiangzhou’s strength completely overwhelmed Li Dashan.
"Arrogant brat, to think you could have me weigh my own strength, you are far too confident in yourself."
Xun Xiangzhou looked at Li Dashan with a cold sneer, then promptly condensed Spiritual Power into a giant palm above his hand, which he brought down on Li Dashan once again.
"Having no idea by what method you’ve advanced to the First Layer of the Heaven-reaching Realm, you dare to spout such nonsense in front of me."
The Spiritual Power formed into a giant hand, and as it fell, Li Dashan was immediately struck down to the ground, spewing fresh blood continuously from his mouth.
"I have no feud with you, Pavilion Master Xun. Could it be that you, relying on your powerful strength, can kill at will in Desolate Sky City?"
Seeing that he was completely no match for Xun Xiangzhou, Li Dashan stopped retaliating with force and instead attempted to infuriate Xun Xiangzhou with words, turning to a battle of tongues.
"I am not like you, naturally, I would not kill the innocent recklessly."
On hearing Li Dashan’s words, a trace of a smile appeared on Xun Xiangzhou’s lips. He knew well that Li Dashan was engaging in a verbal duel, simply out of a fear of death.
However, no sooner had his words fallen than Xun Xiangzhou summoned with his large hand from afar, and a stream of Spiritual Power entered Li Chu’s body.
Li Chu immediately was lifted into the air, utterly unable to resist Xun Xiangzhou.
"Although I will not kill you, this boy here, if I do find traces of him cultivating Demonic Techniques, he inevitably cannot escape a death penalty."
Xun Xiangzhou looked at Li Chu, his eyes filled with an icy, murderous intent. He had already sensed that sinister aura coming from Li Chu’s body, a sign of cultivating Demonic Techniques.
Those who cultivate Demonic Techniques must be ruthless and vicious; therefore, individuals who practice such arts tend to be exceptionally dark-hearted, and everyone on the Mysterious Heaven Continent despises practitioners of Demonic Techniques.
So, as long as the fact that Li Chu has been cultivating Demonic Techniques is exposed before everyone, Li Chu will be condemned by all, leaving Li Dashan with no excuse. In his bid to protect his son, he would have to reveal his true nature.
Pavilion Master Xun, in fact, was curious to see what objective lies behind the Li Family and why in the small Desolate Sky City there would be a Demon Cultivator.
"Xun Xiangzhou, this youngster is one of our own. Whether or not he has cultivated Demonic Techniques is none of your business. This child is not one you can harm."
Suddenly, a supremely arrogant voice came from the sky, followed immediately by a streak of light descending, appearing above the plaza below.
The person who arrived possessed the technique of soaring clouds and driving fog, with a black cloud underfoot for their use.
This was the Black Mist Soaring Cloud Technique, a unique Cultivation Technique from the Black Cloud Sect.
After the person’s arrival, a casual wave of their hand dissipated the control Xun Xiangzhou had over Li Chu.
"These are people from the Black Cloud Sect!"
Seeing the elder descending on black clouds above, everyone’s faces drastically changed, and they screamed out loud.
The Black Cloud Sect was also a second-rate sect within the Great Flame Dynasty, comparable to the Jade Cauldron Sect.
However, unlike the Jade Cauldron Sect, the Black Cloud Sect was a genuine Evil Path sect within the Great Flame Dynasty, filled with individuals who would kill without batting an eye, all notorious and unforgivable big demons.
People from the Black Cloud Sect often engaged in murder and looting, obliterating other sects, and seizing their cultivation resources for themselves.
Concerning the Black Cloud Sect, martial artists of the Great Flame Dynasty universally called for its destruction, yet due to their accumulation of wealth from plunder and looting, many with evil intentions joined their ranks.
Thus, the power of the Black Cloud Sect was immense, certainly not something ordinary sects could eradicate on their own.
Many sects were extremely wary of the Black Cloud Sect and dared not provoke them.
As for the Jade Cauldron Sect and the Black Cloud Sect, these two major sects, one righteous and one evil, naturally had a relationship of life and death, having fought countless battles. Now, as enemies came face to face, their animosity was particularly intense.
"The people from the Black Cloud Sect actually dare to brazenly appear within the sphere of influence of our Jade Cauldron Sect."
Ning Shangfeng, upon seeing the arrival, mysteriously produced a green jade slip and immediately crushed it, sending a message to the sect internally.
The aura of the Demonic Path emanating from this person was extraordinarily powerful, certainly that of a powerhouse of at least the fifth layer of the Heaven-reaching Realm and above.
Dealing with Li Dashan alone was already difficult for him, and if another Heaven-reaching Realm powerhouse were added, he feared he would be planted here today. What was more important, for such a powerful practitioner of the Demonic Path to appear so openly here must indicate some significant scheming. This matter was no small issue.
"Pavilion Master Ximen, you have arrived."
A sight of the newcomer triggered some excitement and joy in Li Dashan’s expression—as Ximen Cailong’s strength was unfathomable. Facing the formidable power of Xun Xiangzhou, Li Dashan had felt somewhat uncertain, but now with backup, he no longer had to worry.
"Useless trash, you’ve ruined years of planning with your ineptitude. You’ll face the consequences back at the sect."
Ximen Cailong snorted coldly, his sharp gaze falling on Li Dashan.
The Black Cloud Sect had plotted for many years, investing much effort in nurturing Li Chu, aiming to use him to infiltrate the Jade Cauldron Sect, acquire insider information, grow his influence within, and then coordinate an inside-out attack with the Black Cloud Sect to annihilate the Jade Cauldron Sect once and for all.
Yet, years of cunning plans went awry in this final step; Li Chu’s identity was somehow exposed, all because he took matters into his own hands and absorbed Lin Chen’s spiritual power.
At this moment, Ximen Cailong’s gaze was fixed on Lin Chen, and a tremendous force of oppression swept toward him in an instant.
This powerful pressure made Lin Chen stumble backward several steps.
Lin Chen’s face instantly turned pale as paper.
"Is this the oppressive power of a Heaven-reaching Realm master!?"
Lin Chen clutched his chest, desperately keeping himself from falling.
A humming sound rose from Chen’s dantian—a cauldron noise stirred within him, and a warm power surged, instantly neutralizing Ximen Cailong’s pressure.
"Ha ha, little Ximen, it’s been years, and you still have quite the presence. To reveal yourself so openly in Jade Cauldron Sect’s territory, your boldness seems to have grown since the old days."
Xun Xiangzhou looked at the newcomer with a strange smile on his lips, seemingly dismissive of Ximen Cailong before him.
He then turned to Lin Chen with even greater astonishment; for Lin Chen, merely at the ninth level of the Body Tempering Realm, to have fully withstood Ximen Cailong’s pressure and come out unscathed, was remarkable indeed. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on novel{f}ire.net