Xianlong Peak wasn't very large, but the strange omen that was appearing on the ground around it was clearly visible to those who had been waiting there. They rushed forward, fearing that even a moment's delay would cost them the chance to obtain the treasure.
For a moment, the entire area around Xianlong Peak was bustling with activity, a dizzying sight.
Ming Qi, keeping his eyes and ears alert, followed Qingzhu and the other three people a short distance toward Xianlong Peak. The four of them, including Qingzhu, summoned their flying magic weapons, soared into the air, and soared precariously towards the summit of Xianlong Peak.
"Brother Ming, hurry up!"
Qingzhu was the first to take flight. The flying magic weapon he was piloting was remarkably similar to its name: a emerald green stick adorned with several bamboo leaves, resembling a bamboo staff. It was unknown what it was.
The other three's magic weapons were also different, each capable of flight, regardless of their strength or unique techniques.
Seeing the four men take flight, Ming Qi didn't delay any longer. The situation was still extremely chaotic, and no one had yet successfully reached the summit of the Immortal Dragon. Presumably, a place like this, where rare treasures lay, was guarded by demonic beasts. These people knew this, and despite their intense desire for the treasures, they remained extremely cautious.
With a single step, activating his Yuan Qi, Ming Qi lightly soared into the air, stepping onto the air in the blink of an eye, and was in front of the four men.
"Ah, Brother Ming, you're a master!"
Seeing Ming Qi's actions, Qing Zhu exclaimed in astonishment. They had originally assumed Ming Qi to be at most a cultivator of the third or fourth level of the Xiantian Realm, but they hadn't expected him to display the strength of at least the fifth level of the Xiantian Realm. Even the three men who had looked at Ming Qi with a strange look in their eyes, realizing that he was a hidden master. Their words and actions became much more cautious.
Unconsciously, the four, including Qingzhu, had come to regard Mingqi as the leader of this small group. They all knew that in such a chaotic situation, strength was the only real bargaining chip.
Soon, the first of the many cultivators to rush forward were the large group of cultivators from Yanyu Mountain Villa. Although none of them had reached the fifth level of the Xiantian Heavenly Man Realm, they possessed flying magic weapons, making it easy for them to reach Xianlong Peak.
Mingqi took a quick look and saw that the Yanyu people were moving purposefully west of Xianlong Peak, heading towards it. On the other side were disciples of Yanyu's sworn enemy, the Feihe Sect.
Leading the Feihe Sect disciples was not only the Feihe Sect's young master, Zhuang Xiaosheng, but also a middle-aged man in a black robe beside Zhuang Xiaosheng. Judging from his airborne steps, this middle-aged man possessed at least the strength of the fifth level of the Xiantian Heavenly Man Realm.
It seemed that the Feihe Sect had made a significant effort this time, sending experts to oversee the treasure hunt.
As for Yanyu, no masters above the Celestial Realm were currently visible.
The other wandering cultivators were scattered from the south and north sides of Xianlong Peak, flying towards the summit. Mingqi, Qingzhu, and a few others chose the southern side of Xianlong Peak. Besides Mingqi and his companions, there were many wandering cultivators on the southern side of Xianlong Peak, including the red-haired youth who had previously said that Yanyu Villa might not obtain the Seven Treasures Lotus.
The red-haired youth had clearly not reached the Celestial Realm either. The magical weapon he wielded was a long sword shimmering with a brilliant red glow, radiating sword energy with astonishing speed.
"This red-haired youth is no ordinary person."
After glancing at the red-haired youth for a few moments, Mingqi came to a conclusion. Putting aside his origins, his sword alone was clearly exceptional. Even from a distance, Mingqi could sense the powerful aura emanating from it.
The red-haired youth ignored the others and cautiously advanced towards Xianlong Peak, occasionally glancing sideways at Mingqi's movements.
Although there were many independent cultivators attempting to reach Xianlong Peak, they were all independent and rarely formed alliances, so they couldn't compare to the strength of the Feihe Sect and Yanyu Villa. In a short while, the members of Yanyu Villa to the west had already reached the summit.
Likely a little later, disciples of the Feihe Sect to the east, led by a black-robed figure, also reached the summit.
"Let's go too!"
Seeing the two competing factions reach Xianlong Peak, Ming Qi called out and quickened his pace, arriving there in no time.
At this moment, the Feihe Sect and Yanyu Villa were at loggerheads, and they had no time to pay attention to these independent cultivators.
The Xianlong Peak was only about two miles in radius. Shortly after the Feihe Sect and Yanyu Villa arrived, many independent cultivators also reached the summit. The summit was bustling with activity.
"Where are your Yanyu guardians? It's rather unreasonable that they don't show up in such a situation."
Atop the Immortal Dragon Summit, the black-robed middle-aged man from the Feihe Sect spoke first, addressing the cultivators from the Yanyu Villa across the way.
At this moment, there weren't any masters who resembled a leader present from Yanyu Villa, but the Yanyu cultivators were remarkably calm. They remained unfazed by the Heavenly Man Realm masters of the Feihe Sect, clearly well prepared.
"Elder Zuo, are you looking for me?"
The Yanyu cultivators didn't speak, but a voice rang out from outside the Immortal Dragon Summit. Ming Qi turned to see a middle-aged man, seemingly in his forties, with a sharp, angular face, silently ascending.
It went without saying that this man was the powerful guardian of Yanyu Villa.
"Hmph, I knew it was you, old ghost!"
Seeing this man appear, Elder Zuo's expression darkened, and he snorted coldly.
"Don't be so stern. We're old friends, and it's only natural for old friends to exchange pleasantries."
The man wasn't angry, but rather cheerful. He arrived at the summit of the Immortal Dragon Peak and took a few steps to stand within the Yanyu camp, truly as if meeting an old friend.
However, Elder Zuo from Feihe Sect was a different story. His expression remained sullen, as if he had no interest in engaging with this man. He immediately declared, "Let's be frank. Feihe Sect is determined to acquire this Seven Treasures Lotus. I urge you to leave immediately, or else I will mercilessly slaughter all your disciples!"
With these words, the tension between the two sides ignited completely.
"Who wants to kill my disciples?"
Earl Zuo had barely finished his words when a slightly charming voice rang out, and a woman floated down into the crowd at Yanyu Villa.
Needless to say, it was another cultivator at the fifth level of the Xiantian Heavenly Human Realm.
The woman was tall, voluptuous, yet charming. She was estimated to be in her twenties, with a rosy complexion and watery eyes.
"The one who just arrived is called Du Huifeng, and this woman is called Gui Ji. They are both guardians of Yanyu Villa."
When the woman appeared, Qingzhu, standing behind Mingqi, recognized them and told Mingqi.
"How many guardians does Yanyu have?"
Deploying two guardians for a single Seven Treasures Lotus clearly represented more than Yanyu Villa's full strength.
"Yanyu has four guardians in total, all at the Celestial Realm level. The other two haven't appeared yet," Qingzhu said.
Mingqi nodded, disregarding the conflict between Yanyu and Feihe. He shifted his gaze to survey the top of the Immortal Dragon, searching for the Seven Treasures Lotus.