The people present all knew that Yan Chengyun's cultivation was at the peak of the Sixth Layer of the Fanxu Realm, not far from the Late Stage of the Fanxu Realm, and his divine sense was far more acute than anyone else.
As he stood up, the Heaven's Pride members from other nations who originally intended to leave suddenly halted, their eyes focused.
"Has he arrived?"
"Is it finally beginning?"
Yan Hua's expression darkened, a flash of killing intent crossed his eyes, mixed with a hint of dread.
"Since you're here, there's no need to hide!"
Yan Chengyun stood on the altar, with his hands behind his back, looking in a certain direction, and said loudly.
His tone carried a slight tinge of sighing and lamentation.
"Hehehe... your god-given sense, Yan Chengyun, is even sharper than a dog's!"
At this moment, an aged laughter suddenly echoed from the void in Yan Chengyun's line of sight.
Then, the originally empty void suddenly twisted and changed, and a white-haired old man in a black robe stood hunched at the high sky.
"It's not Mu Jinyu!?"
"Who is he?"
The crowd was astonished at the appearance of the old man in the black robe.
Never had they expected Yan Chengyun's actions to be because Mu Jinyu hadn't arrived, but rather because of this old man they hadn't detected.
Those Heaven's Pride from major nations who initially did not regard Yan Chengyun, their pupils shrank fiercely.
If this old man in the black robe hadn't hidden but rather approached them, then struck at their vital spots, even if they reacted, it would be a step too late.
It seems even within small nations, true experts do exist!
At this moment, a sense of reverence grew in their hearts.
And those ranked in the top ten of the National Guard List, such as Xiao Wudao, Yeqing City, Suxiao, Li Mufan, among others, upon seeing this old man appear, recognized his identity, and their eyes carried deep dread.
This black-robed old man was precisely the first National Scholar of their neighbor Yan Kingdom, revered alongside Yan Chengyun by Zhao Kingdom's people, Zhao Daoji!
Unexpectedly, the battle between Yan Chengyun and Mu Jinyu had attracted him as well.
Yan Chengyun, hearing Zhao Daoji's taunts, chuckled and did not bother to respond further. In a calm voice, he said, "Leave, today is an important day for the confrontation on our Yan Kingdom National Guard List. As Zhao Kingdom's National Scholar, you should not linger too much in our Yan Kingdom Royal City!"
"Hehe..." Zhao Daoji mocked a few times, glanced at the foreign Heaven's Pride below, and said, "So they're not welcome either? You don't consider them human, do you?"
When those foreign Heaven's Pride who came to witness heard this, they knew Zhao Daoji was provoking Yan Chengyun but felt uncomfortable at heart.
His implication was obvious: Yan Chengyun wasn't worried about these people's interference when he battled Mu Jinyu but seemed wary of the old man, unwilling to let him observe the fight.
How could they feel comfortable hearing this?
"Hmph, won't leave? Then I'll send you away first!"
Yan Chengyun was tired of talking nonsense with Zhao Daoji, rose up tall, and charged toward Zhao Daoji!
Indeed, as everyone speculated, Yan Chengyun did not regard these foreign Heaven's Pride, because although their strength was notable, most were merely at the Third Layer of the Fanxu Realm, and the most talented were barely at the Fourth Layer of the Fanxu Realm.
In front of him, they were nothing, as even during his battle with Mu Jinyu, they wouldn't stir up much trouble.
But Zhao Daoji was different; he ranked first on Zhao Kingdom's National Guard List, his strength was also at the peak of the Sixth Layer of the Fanxu Realm, even having stayed in this realm longer than Yan Chengyun, and he hadn't made a move for many years. No one knew if he had broken through to the Seventh Layer of the Fanxu Realm!
Moreover, with the tense relations between Yan and Zhao Kingdoms, Yan Chengyun dared not allow him to stay and watch his battle with Mu Jinyu.
Regardless of who would win the fight between him and Mu Jinyu, it would inevitably result in heavy losses, and should Zhao Daoji strike, the consequences would be severe.
Thus, before Mu Jinyu came to fight, Zhao Daoji must be driven away!
"Go, let's go together!"
Xiao Wudao also understood this reason; seeing Yan Chengyun charging Zhao Daoji, he followed suit, breaking through the air to attack Zhao Daoji!
He scorned joining forces with Yan Chengyun to besiege Mu Jinyu, who was at the Third Layer of the Fanxu Realm, but Zhao Daoji was different. There was enmity between them, along with Zhao Daoji's formidable strength; there was no need to talk about fairness!
"Kill!"
Li Mufan, Yeqing City, Suxiao, and others, their eyes alight with killing intent, followed suit, breaking through the air to attack Zhao Daoji!
"Wow, you people are shameless, dare to fight me one on one!"
Zhao Daoji saw those on the Yan Kingdom's National Guard List working together to attack him, a bit of rage twinging in his eyes.
He certainly wouldn't foolishly stand and let them besiege him and swiftly decided to flee into the distance!
"Hmph, trying to escape?"
"Yan's Return Strike!"
Yan Chengyun snorted coldly, raised both arms high, mobilized the forces of heaven and earth, simultaneously gathered the Dragon vein qi of Yan Kingdom, and unleashed his absolute killing divine skills!
"Caw!"
Instantly, a startling bird cry resounded, and then a jet-black swallow appeared out of thin air, flickered through the void like a black lightning bolt, swiftly charging toward the fleeing Zhao Daoji!
This was precisely Yan Chengyun's renowned unique skill: "Yan's Return Strike!"
"Boom!!"
Zhao Daoji had been at odds with Yan Chengyun for years, knowing that after Yan Chengyun performed this move, no one could escape; they had to meet it head-on.
Thus, he had to halt and conjured up a golden shield to confront the black swallow!
"Ugh!"
Due to the hasty block, Zhao Daoji couldn't help but spat a mouthful of blood, and when he saw Xiao Wudao and others pursuing him, he had no time to utter a harsh word and quickly turned to flee again!
Vomiting blood seemed messy, but in reality, he wasn't significantly harmed!
Zhao Daoji also knew that coming here, Yan Chengyun, who shared the Dragon Vein of Yan Kingdom, would surely detect him, although his intention was not to interfere in the battle.
Instead, he aimed to deplete Yan Chengyun's energy before his fight with Mu Jinyu.
Though it might not have much effect, it would annoy his nemesis Yan Chengyun.
Seeing Zhao Daoji fleeing, Yan Chengyun and the others did not stop, for they couldn't be sure that if they halted now, Zhao Daoji might not strike back.
Only by joining forces to injure Zhao Daoji seriously and driving him out of Yan Kingdom could they cease to vigilantly monitor him, allowing Yan Chengyun to face Mu Jinyu without constantly guarding against Zhao Daoji's ambush!
Soon, everyone below watched as Yan Chengyun and others pursued Zhao Daoji out of Jade Emperor City, where he fled they couldn't tell!
"What's this about, one man hasn't arrived, another goes to chase someone down, leaving us watching what?"
The foreign Heaven's Pride in attendance, after realizing what had happened, couldn't help but complain.
Following this, several started leaving the vicinity of the altar, leaving behind attendants to notify them when Mu Jinyu and Yan Chengyun's duel was about to begin.
Time slowly passed, Yan Chengyun and the others hadn't returned, and no one knew where they pursued Zhao Daoji.
Yan Hua's face showed worry, fearing Zhao Daoji had set an ambush, and Yan Chengyun's group might encounter danger while chasing him.
The sun was setting, turning to dusk.
Then...
"Da da da..."
The sound of footsteps resonated, and Mu Jinyu finally arrived at Jade Emperor City, accompanied by Wen Rou and Jian Ruyan, escorted by Yan Ran!