"Hold on!"
Just as Xu Mu was about to release his grip on the sword hilt, silently grasping the demon sword and preparing to fight for his life, the man from the Exorcism Division's Realm Ranking, who had been passively observing, suddenly spoke.
The Wang family ancestor's fingertips trembled, and the weight hanging over everyone's heads, like mountains and seas, also quivered, but ultimately did not descend.
"Is Lord Yaohuo also going to intervene in this matter?"
The old man spoke in a deep voice. Others also turned their gazes to that man. His opinion was crucial. If he hadn't uttered an "mm" at the beginning, how would Eunuch Huang have dared to make a move against Xu Mu?
"The great war is imminent, and the matter of the sacred artifact has not yet been resolved. Let's not engage in infighting."
The man stood up, dragging a supersized spirit-seeking compass with seven needles.
The Wang family ancestor frowned. What did he mean by "don't engage in infighting"? If the Changsun family and the Hunter's Alliance didn't act, the Exorcism Division only had Yin Zhongxiu to help. As for that old man who lived in trees, he was already in his twilight years; the ancestor could crush him with a single finger.
This was a one-sided war, so where was the infighting?
"My Wang family lost a piece of blood coral and two lives. Are these matters to be let go just like that?" the old man snorted coldly. Even facing a Realm Ranking powerhouse, he did not back down one bit!
"Mm, let it go."
The man put away his compass. His crimson robe fluttered in the wind. His gaze towards the dark palace became even more solemn.
After so much complex calculation, he still couldn't find a way to break through. And as for the danger in the mist, he could guess what it was. However, the compass also indicated that those around him were in danger. What should he do?
"But..."
"I said let it go!"
The Wang family ancestor, filled with anger, wanted to argue further but was silenced by the man's words.
Yaohuo's voice was sharp. He was already extremely annoyed and didn't want to dwell on these matters anymore.
It was one thing for them to want to kill Xu Mu before, but now, with the help of the Changsun family and the Hunter's Alliance, he naturally had to view this kid with more importance and not let him be easily killed.
Seeing the situation change, the other dozens of red-robed figures also stood up. They were all powerhouses from various divisions of the Exorcism Division, following Lord Yaohuo.
"Fine."
Might made right. The Wang family ancestor uttered one word, his expression returning to calm.
He said nothing more, and the mountainous pressure in the space gradually receded.
The other factions' esper users were all somewhat surprised by this outcome.
They hadn't expected that Lord Yaohuo, ranked forty-third on the Realm Ranking, would actually offend the Wang family ancestor for a mere nobody, and with such a resolute attitude!
"If he had continued to pester, would Lord Yaohuo have acted?"
Beneath a large tree, two espers stood, one large like an ox, the other small like a newborn lamb.
"Don't know, maybe."
The large figure shook his head. If it were him, he wouldn't have spoken up for Xu Mu. Even though Xu Mu had shown his extraordinary connections, unless the absolute top existences of the Changsun family or the Hunter's Alliance appeared, their weight could not compare to the old master of the Wang family.
"Precisely because it's uncertain, that old man was willing to back down, right?"
"Even if Lord Yaohuo had only a one in ten-thousand chance of acting, this old man who cherishes his life wouldn't dare to gamble."
The smaller figure, dressed in a skirt and holding a cloth bear doll, said in a sweet voice.
Young people are impetuous and prone to rashness. Like Ji Chang in previous years, no one expected him to be so crazy and act without considering the consequences. But old people are different.
The older people are, the more they fear death. The secret to the Wang family ancestor's long life, besides possessing blood coral, was largely that he knew what to do and what not to do.
In the past, he was willing to abandon all his official positions and retire, unconditionally donating the Wang family's assets to the national treasury, just to make the founding emperor believe he would not rebel. What boldness that was.
He had done many similar things. Because he had lived for so long and had always claimed that the secret to longevity was a gift from heaven, he had even personally seen several emperors pass away.
Dynasties changed, officials changed, and the wheels of history rolled forward. Yet the Wang family ancestor could alone enjoy the path to longevity. It wasn't until the Apocalypse that he revealed the secret of blood coral to the world. His stratagems were extremely deep, and naturally, he wouldn't risk angering a Realm Ranking powerhouse.
"Everyone, please be quiet and listen to me."
Yaohuo's face was stern, his voice surprisingly clear and somewhat childish, but this did not diminish his authority in the slightest.
Everyone in the venue immediately fell silent, not daring to act rashly.
"I have a few words to say about that dark palace."
"First, based on the death of the Lord of Tianshui Domain a few days ago, we can know that the palace is extremely sturdy, and ordinary Domain Lord level powerhouses cannot break it. I have also deduced for a long time and do not have absolute confidence."
"Second, around the palace, there is a layer of mist entirely different from other areas. Within it are terrifying existences that can kill Domain Lord level individuals. If I am bogged down by it, I will certainly not be able to break through the palace's defenses."
"Therefore, I wish to invite everyone to unite and divide into four teams, guarding the northeast, southwest, and northwest of the dark palace. You will help me contain external interference, and I will take this opportunity to break through the palace's defenses. If there are any opportunities within, I will distribute them fairly to everyone. What do you all think?"
After Yaohuo finished speaking, a silence fell upon the venue.
Everyone's faces darkened. What did he mean by them dividing into four teams to help him contain external interference? If Yaohuo truly broke through the gates of the dark palace and obtained the sacred artifact first, how could he possibly share it with them?
The so-called sharing of opportunities was all nonsense. There was no such good thing. Yaohuo simply wanted them to willingly become stepping stones!
"This is absolutely impossible!"
The Wang family ancestor spoke, the first to raise an objection.
His purpose in coming here was for the sacred artifact, to seek an opportunity to break through the Human King realm. Whether Xu Mu lived or died was actually irrelevant, but with such an opportunity before him, he could no longer back down.
"Yes, for an opportunity of this magnitude, Lord Yaohuo wants to monopolize it. The Exorcism Division is perhaps too greedy."
A female voice spoke faintly, her voice as ethereal as clouds. Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw a woman sitting behind the Hunter's Alliance.
She had a fair, almond-shaped face, a pair of bright, elegant eyes, and shoulder-length, seductive hair. Her chest was no larger than a delicate embrace. She appeared to be just under thirty, a truly graceful mature woman.
Duan Xiao, a fourth-stage helmsman, could only respectfully stand by her side.
"Northwest dark sky, a wisp of cloud, clouds drifting... Yun Miao Miao, you've also come!"
Yaohuo frowned slightly. This person was the grand commander of the entire Northwest region for the Hunter's Alliance. She was a powerful fighter, at the peak of the fifth stage.
Although she couldn't compare to him and hadn't entered the Realm Ranking, she was not to be underestimated.
"I think Fellow Daoist Yun speaks with much reason. In the face of such a grand opportunity, no one can monopolize it."
A deep male voice emerged from behind the Changsun and other families.
Everyone turned their heads again and saw a man wearing a dark purple robe with nine-clawed dragons embroidered on it, cinched with a dark purple belt. His eyes shone brightly, clearly indicating he was a powerful expert.
In his hand, he leisurely held a cup of tea.
"King of Linghai, why aren't you staying in Linghai and instead running to Guiye?"
Yaohuo recognized the man's face and felt a surge of annoyance. This person was even more troublesome than Yun Miao of the Hunter's Alliance because he was a king enfeoffed by the Emperor of Xia himself.
His strength was also at the peak of the fifth stage.
"With the sacred artifact before us, although dangerous, one must still come," the man said, sipping his hot tea with a sigh.
"And us!"
"This old man believes this matter is also up for discussion."
With someone taking the lead, other hidden experts from various factions also came forward. Without exception, they were all at the peak of the fifth realm.
Yaohuo's face turned ugly. Why hadn't he noticed so many strong individuals mixed into his ranks before? Now that he realized it, it seemed a bit late.
Even as a Realm Ranking powerhouse, he couldn't face so many peak fifth-realm existences simultaneously. Moreover, he truly might not be able to break open the gate of the dark palace by himself...
"Alright then. Each faction will send one or two representatives, who must be peak fifth-stage powerhouses, to go to the dark palace with me!"
Yaohuo stood up and declared:
"Third-stage individuals can decide whether to stay or leave. Those above the fourth stage will remain in the mist to resist unknown dangers."
"If the dark palace is truly opened, whoever obtains the sacred artifact within first will possess it. No one is allowed to fight over it. Otherwise, all factions will jointly kill them!"
"Does everyone have any objections?"
"No!" everyone shouted in unison. This was already considered quite fair.
"Then, let each faction begin selecting their people!"
...