Chapter 329: A Roaring Start, A Fizzling End
"A puppet at the pinnacle of Earth Supreme, how is that possible?"
Outside the guest palace of the Luo Divine Clan in Luo Shui City, Ling Jianzi's voice trembled with disbelief.
As his words fell, the energy formed longsword in Qinghou's hand was crushed into fragments with a single squeeze. Though it wasn't his true artifact sword, the ease with which Qinghou neutralized the attack was enough to shock the gathered crowd.
Ling Jianzi, though newly ascended to the Upper Earth Supreme level, was famed for his high offense. Even a peak Earth Supreme might avoid clashing head on with him. Yet his sharp, aggressive strike had been effortlessly countered by Qinghou.
Xiao Tiance's Response
"Heh, impossible? There's nothing impossible in the Great Thousand World. Your ignorance only proves that even as a member of the Western Sky Battle Hall, you're no more than a frog in a well," Xiao Tiance said with a cold smile, his sharp gaze shifting to the figures emerging from the spatial vortex.
The first to step out was Ling Jianzi, his signature sword strapped to his back. Following him was Ling Zhanzi, his imposing aura radiating dominance. His very presence made weaker Supremes nearby falter, as if facing their natural predator.
"Two of the Holy Sons!" Luo Tianshen whispered to Xiao Tiance, his voice tinged with concern.
Xiao Tiance remained silent, his calm eyes scanning past Ling Jianzi and Ling Zhanzi toward the still open spatial vortex. A chilling, concealed energy lurked within, one so expertly hidden that few could detect it. But with his pinnacle Imperial Soul, Xiao Tiance had already discerned its source.
"That must be Winter Elder, the elder whose strength is second only to the Western Sky Battle King," Xiao Tiance speculated inwardly.
The Reinforcements Arrive
After the two Holy Sons emerged, a man clad in purple robes stepped through. His energy level marked him as an Upper Earth Supreme, and a peculiar, familiar aura radiated from him. Xiao Tiance quickly identified the connection it was the resonance between two Array Masters.
"That's Zi Wuji, the sect master of the Purple Mountain Sect," Luo Tianshen informed him via voice transmission.
Next came two identical twins, whose synchronized movements revealed them as Tang Chen and Tang Yu of the Shu Sect. Both were Upper Earth Supremes, and their coordination made them even more formidable.
Lastly, a towering, muscular man with the aura of a demonic beast stepped through. Though Luo Tianshen wasn't familiar with him, Xiao Tiance immediately recognized the figure.
"Bear King Xiong Ba," Xiao Tiance thought, smirking inwardly.
However, the anticipated presence of Winter Elder did not materialize. The spatial vortex abruptly closed.
A Calculated Display
"Heh, trying to play tricks on me?" Xiao Tiance chuckled inwardly, unfazed by Winter Elder's absence. Whether the elder appeared as a hidden card or chose not to engage didn't matter. With six Earth Supreme opponents present five Upper Earth Supremes and one pseudo Earth Supreme demonic beast Xiao Tiance was confident he could handle them alone.
The sight of six powerful figures arriving together, however, was enough to intimidate many observers. Those who had been watching from afar quickly retreated, unwilling to risk getting caught in the crossfire.
"Impressive. The Western Sky Battle Hall doesn't disappoint. Six Earth Supremes at once what a grand gesture," Xiao Tiance said with a laugh, his tone dripping with sarcasm.
Ling Jianzi sneered, about to retort, when Ling Zhanzi raised a hand to silence him. The first Holy Son stepped forward, his tone restrained but laced with veiled threat.
"Sir, may I trouble you to release my unworthy junior, Ling Longzi? His strength may be unremarkable, but he is still a disciple of our teacher, the Western Sky Battle King. If you continue holding him, it may anger our teacher when he emerges from seclusion."
Xiao Tiance's Challenge
Xiao Tiance chuckled lightly, then his smile turned icy. "You want me to release him? No problem. But how about this you personally go to your Little Western Sky Realm and bring back someone I care about? Until then, Ling Longzi stays."
The mockery in his tone was unmistakable, and Ling Jianzi couldn't contain his fury. "How dare you! Do you take the Western Sky Battle Hall for some stray cat or dog you can provoke at will?"
At those words, Xiao Tiance's smile vanished. He threw back his head in laughter, his tone turning glacial as he spoke.
"Stray cat or dog? That's rich coming from the likes of you. Let me tell you if your precious teacher, the Western Sky Battle King, were here himself, I might have given him some face. But you lot? You're not qualified to make demands."
A Show of Power
As Xiao Tiance finished speaking, his aura exploded outward. The force of it surpassed even Ling Zhanzi's domineering energy, exuding the kind of authority that could only come from years of absolute power.
At the same time, Xiao Xuan burst into laughter, unleashing his own peak Earth Supreme aura. Though less polished than Xiao Tiance's, it carried an untamed ferocity.
Gu Xun'er remained silent, but her presence was undeniable. Encased in her fiery Imperial Flames, the space around her warped and burned under her influence.
"Such a grand event how could this old man miss out?"
Joining the fray were the Heavenly Academy's dean and Luo Tianshen, their Upper Earth Supreme energies swelling as they stepped forward. Behind them, Liu Changkong and Wansui added their voices to the chorus, their Supreme level auras making their stance clear.
In an instant, the tables turned. The overwhelming display of power left the Western Sky Battle Hall's representatives momentarily speechless. Ling Jianzi, who had been eager for a fight, felt his fiery resolve dwindle.
An Uneasy Standstill
What had started as an overwhelming show of force from the Western Sky Battle Hall had quickly devolved into a precarious standoff. The situation teetered on the edge of chaos, but with the balance of power no longer in their favor, the invaders hesitated to make the first move.
The Western Sky Battle Hall's Earth Supremes, led by Ling Zhanzi, wore grim expressions. With four pinnacle Earth Supreme powerhouses (including Qinghou) gathered on Xiao Tiance's side, it was evident that even the Western Sky Battle King himself might tread carefully in such a situation.
"Damn it! How could so many powerful figures gather here? And just a few days ago, Xiao Yi Xian was barely worth noticing, but now she's at the pinnacle of Earth Supreme too?" Ling Zhanzi cursed internally, his frustration evident.
Xiao Tiance couldn't care less about Ling Zhanzi's internal grumbling. If the Western Sky Battle Hall truly wanted to fight, he was ready. While Xiao Tiance wasn't confident he could defeat the Western Sky Battle King outright, he was certain that he could take out several of their forces before the king could intervene.
If they didn't dare to act, it was no matter. By the time the Ancient Secret Realm expedition concluded, he anticipated his own breakthrough both in strength and mastery of spirit arrays. Then, even the Western Sky Battle King wouldn't intimidate him.
Xiao Tiance's Ultimatum
"Heh, so what's the plan? Do you want to fight?" Xiao Tiance sneered, his voice cold and confident. "If you do, I won't mind leaving a few of you behind as materials for crafting puppets."
He turned to Luo Tianshen, grinning. "Senior, weren't you interested in a Heavenly Puppet? You might just get some prime materials soon."
This casual provocation left Ling Zhanzi and the others visibly shaken.
Hidden in the void, the Winter Elder whose presence Xiao Tiance had already exposed knew he could no longer remain concealed. He worried that if Ling Jianzi acted impulsively, conflict would become unavoidable.
Not that Ling Jianzi was foolish. Even his battle hardened instincts told him that the four pinnacle Earth Supremes before him were far beyond his ability to handle.
The Winter Elder Emerges
"Ha ha, it's been a long time since I've roamed the world," said the Winter Elder, stepping out of the void with a chuckle. His voice carried an air of respect as he greeted Xiao Tiance and the others. "I never expected that in just a few short years, so many talented individuals would rise in the Western Sky Continent. Truly, the new generation outshines the old.
"If the Western Sky Battle King knew of this, I'm sure he'd be delighted to exchange insights with all of you."
The elder's words were polite, but Xiao Tiance's smirk deepened.
"Exchange insights? Whether the Western Sky Battle King is interested in 'exchanges' or not, I can't say. But I'll tell you this: you have two choices.
"First, fight me now, and I'll make sure to collect enough materials for puppets today. Or second, leave immediately. If you're still here after ten breaths, I'll assume you've chosen the first option."
Xiao Tiance's voice carried an unmistakable threat. He was done with pleasantries. Either they fought, or they left.
Bold Words, Heated Responses
The Winter Elder's face darkened as Xiao Tiance's words cut through the air. He responded coldly, "You've got courage, young man. Few dare to speak so brazenly on the Western Sky Continent. But let me offer you some advice: the Great Thousand World is vast, and the deeper the waters, the easier it is to drown. Recklessness can cost you everything."
Xiao Tiance dismissed the elder's warning with a laugh. "Save your lectures. I'm not interested. If you want to fight, then fight. If not, leave. And don't bother throwing around the Western Sky Battle King's name to scare me it's pathetic.
"If I were afraid of the Western Sky Battle King, I wouldn't have marched into the Western Sky Continent carrying Ling Longzi like a trophy."
With that, Xiao Tiance added sharply, "As for the Western Sky Battle King, I've still got someone in your Little Western Sky Realm. I'll visit him soon enough."
A Hasty Retreat
The Winter Elder's expression turned icy, but his anger was tempered by pragmatism. The Western Sky Battle Hall wasn't accustomed to being spoken to like this. Those who dared had long since met their demise.
Still, with Xiao Tiance promising to visit their realm, the elder decided it wasn't worth the risk to engage now.
"Very well," he said, his voice low. "We will await your arrival at the Western Sky Battle Hall. I only hope you'll maintain this arrogance when the time comes."
"Don't worry. It won't be long," Xiao Tiance replied coolly.
With a wave of his hand, the Winter Elder ordered, "We're leaving."
The group retreated as quickly as they had arrived, their plans thwarted before they could even begin. For those lurking in the shadows, hoping to profit from the chaos, the abrupt end to the standoff was a bitter disappointment.
Aftermath
As the Western Sky Battle Hall's forces disappeared, Xiao Xuan turned to Xiao Tiance, his tone brimming with excitement.
"Tiance, I was looking forward to a fight. Beating the Western Sky Battle Hall into submission would've been a statement proof that we've truly established ourselves in the Great Thousand World."
Xiao Tiance smiled and nodded, glancing at the others as they retracted their auras. "Don't worry, Xuan ge. Our time will come. After the Ancient Secret Realm, we'll visit the Little Western Sky Realm ourselves. Apart from the Western Sky Battle King, you can challenge anyone you like."
"Haha, that old frosty guy looked like a good match for me. I'll use him to hone my skills," Xiao Xuan replied with a hearty laugh.
He wasn't worried about the Western Sky Battle Hall. If not for the uncertainty surrounding the Western Sky Battle King's strength, he wouldn't have bothered listening to the Winter Elder's posturing.
For now, they would wait. The Ancient Secret Realm would open in just a few days, and once they emerged, they'd have their chance to challenge the Western Sky Battle King.
Preparing for the Future
"Alright, everyone, let's rest," Xiao Tiance said, his calm demeanor returning.
As he spoke, spiritual energy surged from his body. The previously damaged palace began to repair itself, returning to its former glory.
The night passed uneventfully.
In the days that followed, more and more powerful figures gathered in Luo Shui City in anticipation of the Ancient Secret Realm's opening.
On the eve of its activation, Liu Changkong rushed over to Xiao Tiance, his expression grim.
"Master Tiance, my old enemy has arrived."
(End of Chapter)
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