The young girl was petite, wearing an apron made of what looked like either tiger or leopard skin. Her skin was tanned, a mark of the Golden Tent Royal Court.
Her name was Wulan.
Wulan's eyes were pure and clear, a stark contrast to the bloody darkness of this world. It was evident that the girl was unpretentious.
Yet, Agudamu, after the defeat of Aiyan of Changzheng, had sent her to fight.
In other words, she was the Royal Court's trump card.
What was terrifying was that neither Xu Mu nor the Heavenly Daoist, nor any of the high-level cultivators in the Hundred Tribes Alliance, could discern anything different about her.
This was the most concerning aspect.
The Wine Immortal Daoist fell silent for a moment, then looked at Agudamu and spoke with a calm gaze:
"You have already lost once. We have no reason to accept another challenge."
Agudamu grinned, slinging the bone club over his shoulder. He stared provocatively at the silent Xu Mu and said:
"What, are you afraid?"
Seeing that he had been bypassed, the Wine Immortal Daoist immediately stepped in front of Xu Mu and answered on his behalf with displeasure:
"Afraid of what? We simply require proof that she has the qualification to issue a challenge."
Agudamu's expression remained unchanged, and he chuckled:
"I brought her myself. Does that not represent the dignity of the Royal Court?"
"To find excuses and avoid a fight like this, are you perhaps too afraid?"
The Wine Immortal Daoist shook his head and replied calmly:
"Excuses? Certainly not enough!"
"You must prove that this Wulan is qualified to challenge Mu Xu, and then it will be up to Mu Xu to decide whether to accept."
"This rule is not to be questioned. If not, I will go to the streets and randomly pick a few beggars to challenge your King in the future."
"At that time, if your King does not accept the challenge, can I not also assume that he is afraid, that he fears those beggars?"
As the Wine Immortal Daoist spoke, his expression turned extremely mocking. To deal with those who disregarded rules, one had to use unconventional methods.
Upon hearing this, Agudamu's face turned incredibly somber. He slowly lowered the bone club from his shoulder and said to the Wine Immortal in a sinister tone:
"Disrespecting the King, you are seeking death."
The Wine Immortal Daoist chuckled, took a sip of wine, and burped lazily:
"If the Church were here, I would never dare speak like this."
"But unfortunately, you are from the Royal Court. Your King... tsk tsk..."
With each word the Wine Immortal spoke, Agudamu's expression darkened further. Just as he was about to lose control, the Wine Immortal deliberately burst into loud laughter that echoed through the sky, enraging the other elders of the Royal Court.
However, none of them dared to make the first move.
The reason was simple: this was the Hundred Tribes Alliance, not the Golden Tent Royal Court, and the Wine Immortal was not an ordinary Domain Lord, but a Half-step Human King.
Agudamu considered this, cast a glance at the Heavenly Daoist, and gradually calmed his emotions.
He knew that the Wine Immortal was deliberately provoking him.
"If you want qualification, I will give it to you."
Agudamu said, turning to Wulan. Then, with a grave look, he instructed the girl:
"Wulan, release your totem."
The girl heard him and nodded silently without speaking.
Then, along her slender neck, numerous grayish-blue markings appeared, like the meandering lines dragged by a beast in embers, crooked and incredibly complex, but ultimately converging together.
And then, they blazed with light.
The light was red, like agate soaked in blood, emitting a precious dark radiance that illuminated the girl's figure, making her appear like a deity from the heavens.
It was an impact and pressure from the level of bloodline and soul. Almost all the cultivators present couldn't help but feel a sense of reverence.
Reverence, or perhaps awe.
They were in awe of Wulan.
...
After an unknown amount of time, the red light gradually faded, but many cultivators still stared blankly at Wulan.
Seeing this, Agudamu smiled faintly, with a hint of pride in his expression, and asked the Wine Immortal:
"Does she have the qualification now?"
The Wine Immortal Daoist stared intently at Wulan, the Dao source within his body surging uncontrollably.
Even for a fleeting moment, he could sense that the totem of the latter seemed to originate from antiquity and had created some form of resonance with the Dao source in his body.
The Dao source was left by the Dao Ancestor.
And the Dao Ancestor had apparently slain gods.
Agudamu seemed to have grasped something and said meaningfully:
"Time erases many great beings, but it always leaves some traces."
"You are not worthy to know Wulan's lineage, but what you need to know is that she is fully qualified to challenge Mu Xu, and you should feel honored by this."
The Wine Immortal retorted, "I have never seen anyone as thick-skinned as you."
"I admit she has the qualification to challenge Mu Xu, but whether to accept is up to young friend Mu Xu himself. After all, he is also tired and has no time to play house with people from your Royal Court."
As the Wine Immortal spoke, he turned to look at Xu Mu, his calm gaze carrying a trace of tension.
The Heavenly Daoist also coughed twice, looking at the silent Xu Mu, and said, "Yes, your Royal Court has already lost one match. Even if Mu Xu chooses not to fight, it is understandable. No one in the world will say anything, and your Royal Court certainly cannot."
Agudamu sneered:
"In the end, you are still afraid."
Nangong Mao Guan said coldly, "This has nothing to do with fear. Young friend Mu Xu just finished the All-Tribes Assembly, and then fought a match against your Royal Court's prodigy. He is exhausted mentally and physically, and there is no reason for him to accept this fight. You have no right to mock him either."
Nangong Huaitian nodded and also transmitted a message to Xu Mu: "Yes, you absolutely do not need to accept the challenge. If it's really too much, you can do it another day."
"The totem bloodline of that human is not inferior to mine. Brother Hero, you must be extremely careful. Dodge if you can," Qiong Qi also transmitted with a grave voice.
Hearing this, Xu Mu clicked his tongue with a strange look. Even Qiong Qi didn't believe he would win? This was the first time such a situation had occurred.
However, although he was also very curious about Wulan's strength, he indeed had no reason to fight her.
He originally did not want to steal the spotlight; he preferred to avoid it if possible.
But then, a single sentence from Agudamu changed Xu Mu's mind.
Agudamu's expression was calm, and his eyes arrogant as he said:
"If you refuse, Wulan will directly challenge the Saintess Nangong. If she refuses to fight, I will directly march upon the Nangong Ancestral Court, guard your sacred forbidden grounds, until she accepts the challenge."
The Heavenly Daoist's expression changed, and he reprimanded, "How dare you!"
"This is the Hundred Tribes!"
Agudamu sneered, "So what if it's the Hundred Tribes? You are not united."
"I cannot touch you here, but what about when you all return to your respective families? If I march upon the Nangong family, how many of you will come out to stop me? Who would dare to stop me?"
"I'm afraid that at that time, you will all wish for me to stir up some trouble in the Nangong family, so that you can take advantage of the situation!"
"You!" Nangong Mao Guan's eyes blazed with anger, wanting to retort, but he could say nothing, because Agudamu's words were all true.
If, in the future, he truly led people to the Nangong clan's mountain gate, and it coincided with a period of turmoil within their family, even if the Nangong family could endure it for a while after causing a ruckus, they might be devoured by other families later.
After all, such thoughts had existed for a long time, but they had not acted openly due to the deterrence of Baiyun Daoist Temple and Medicine King Valley. However, they had secretly incited many vassals of the Nangong clan, waiting for a grand offensive.
Originally, such a disaster had been averted with Nangong Huaitian's victory, but with Agudamu's arrival, those forces that had been attracted and allied with the Nangong clan seemed to be reconsidering their relationship with the Nangong clan.
After all, Agudamu represented the entire Golden Tent Royal Court, a force that dared to launch invasions against both the Great Zhou and Great Xia dynasties. No one was unafraid.
Therefore, to protect the family, Nangong Huaitian could not avoid this battle.
With that, she tore off her veil, stepped forward with a determined expression:
"Come."
Seeing this, Agudamu smiled slightly. The Heavenly Daoist and the elders of Medicine King Valley all shook their heads helplessly.
This battle involved many factions. Although they were not afraid of Agudamu, they would not easily step in to help.
This battle seemed unstoppable.
Or rather, only one person could stop it.
Xu Mu looked at Nangong Huaitian's retreating back, shook his head helplessly, then took a step forward and pulled her behind him:
"Let me do it instead."