Chapter 175: Gathering of Powerhouses, Xu Yan's Arrival

Chapter 175: Gathering of Powerhouses, Xu Yan's Arrival

On Canglan Island, there was not just one peak Overarching Grand Master, Fire Butcher Demon Lord, but also other hidden peak experts whose identities remained unknown. It was unclear how many peak Overarching Grand Masters were lying in wait, and their affiliations were a mystery as well.

They could only speculate that these experts belonged to either the Black Robed Man's faction or the Demon Sect. As for the possibility of a third force being involved, there was no way to know for sure.

Regardless of their affiliations, to Xu Yan, they were all the same—he would kill them all!

Outside Canglan Island, on the waters of Cangjiang, numerous small boats floated at a distance from the island. This distance was insignificant to the powerful experts on board.

On each boat stood an Overarching Grand Master, all of them there to witness the battle.

The clash on Canglan Island was an unprecedented event in the inner domain's martial arts world for thousands of years. On one side was a suddenly rising peerless genius, and on the other was the notoriously vicious Demon Lord of the Demon Sect.

Even Grand Master warriors were not qualified to be mere spectators at this event.

On one of the small boats, Wu Shuang, the Overarching Grand Master, was accompanied by Yun Miaomiao, his disciple. In addition to the master and disciple pair, there were two other Overarching Grand Masters present.

They were all powerful experts from the Wu Shuang Pavilion.

"Even the royal family of the Great Yue Kingdom has sent someone." Wu Shuang gazed into the distance, pointing out a small boat adorned with purple patterns.

Yun Miaomiao lifted her eyes, furrowing her brows as she asked, "Will the Great Yue Kingdom intervene?"

Canglan Island was located within the borders of the Great Yue Kingdom and was technically under its jurisdiction. It had once been Yin Hong's territory before it came into Xu Yan's possession.

However, in the inner domain, strength was revered above all else. Even the Great Yue Kingdom would not dare to brazenly claim ownership over a place that belonged to an Overarching Grand Master.

Of course, the Overarching Grand Masters would not deny that the areas under their control were part of the Great Yue Kingdom's territory. There was an unspoken understanding between them.

"It's hard to say whether the Great Yue Kingdom will act against the Fire Butcher Demon Lord or Xu Yan," Wu Shuang shook his head.

On the small boat flying the colors of the Great Yue Kingdom, a young man clad in a purple robe gazed toward Canglan Island. "This island nominally belongs to Yin Hong, but in reality, it is mine. Let's see if Xu Yan has what it takes to keep it."

He was the second prince of the Great Yue Kingdom!

Standing beside him was a middle-aged man with a tall and slender build and sharp eyes—a peak Overarching Grand Master.

"Your Highness, should I make a move?" the middle-aged man asked.

"No need," the second prince shook his head. "We'll just observe for now."

Despite his noble status as a royal prince, true power lay with the peak Overarching Grand Master beside him. The middle-aged man's duty was to protect him, and beyond that, he was not obliged to follow any of the prince's commands.

However, generally speaking, a peak Overarching Grand Master bodyguard would not completely disregard their charge's requests. Usually, they would be asked to intervene in a polite and respectful manner.

Such was the treatment afforded to peak Overarching Grand Masters—even a country as powerful as the Great Yue Kingdom, and a position as exalted as a royal prince, demanded their utmost respect.

On another boat, Fu Yun Tian silently gazed in the direction of Canglan Island. Beside him was an elderly man absorbed in a book, his attention entirely focused on the pages.

The elder's appearance was unkempt, his hair disheveled, but he, too, was a peak Overarching Grand Master.

Among the many boats, one stood out—a small vessel crafted from precious treasure-forging materials, belonging to the Tianbao Pavilion.

For such a significant event, powerful experts from all the major forces in the inner domain had gathered. Even Yan Kingdom and Ziyun Kingdom had sent Overarching Grand Masters to witness the battle.

An old, dilapidated wooden boat drifted quietly on the edge of the Cangjiang River. At the bow sat a man with a black-sheathed longsword across his lap.

This unassuming boat had gone unnoticed by the many powerful experts on the river.

After all, there were too many strong cultivators present, all of them Overarching Grand Masters, and more than one preferred to keep a low profile.

Only the expert from the Tianbao Pavilion had taken note of the man on the old wooden boat.

"Hu Hai from Sword Immortal Cliff has actually come. Xu Yan and Xie Lingfeng are close, could Hu Hai be planning to make a move?"

"Even if Hu Hai intervenes, he can only hold off one person at best. Unless Xie Tianheng shows up."

"Xie Tianheng hasn't made an appearance in a while. He seems to be in seclusion. If he were here, that Fire Butcher fellow would definitely run for the hills."

As the experts from the Tianbao Pavilion conversed, Xie Lingfeng and Hu Shan had already boarded the small boat.

"Dad, are you the only one here?" Hu Shan scanned the surroundings, curious.

"Uncle Hu," Xie Lingfeng called out.

"Mhm," Hu Hai nodded, opening his eyes. He glanced at Canglan Island and said, "There are at least three peak Overarching Grand Masters. If I intervene, I can hold off one and delay the other two for some time."

Xie Lingfeng exhaled, "Brother Xu must have his reasons for coming here. He probably doesn't need our help."

Hu Hai smiled, "I'm curious too. What kind of peerless genius is he that even Young Master Xie admires him so?"

Xie Lingfeng gave a bitter laugh, "Uncle Hu, Brother Xu's talent is beyond compare. How can I compare to him? My only wish in this life is to gain insight into the sword path."

Hu Hai frowned, "Young Master Xie, what are you saying? Even if your strength is inferior to his, how can you say that you haven't even entered the door of the sword path yet?"

Xie Lingfeng shook his head and smiled, not saying anything further.

Not only had he not entered the door of the sword path, but none of the Sword Immortal Cliff cultivators, including his father, could claim to have done so either.

There was no need to voice these thoughts aloud.

Hu Hai was Xie Tianheng's attendant and one of the peak Overarching Grand Masters of Sword Immortal Cliff. Such powerful experts were always proud and confident in their abilities; how could they acknowledge that they hadn't truly comprehended the sword path? Only when they recognized this truth themselves would they be able to improve.

...

"It's quite a lively gathering," Xu Yan remarked as he surveyed the area around Canglan Island.

His gaze fell on the old wooden boat where Xie Lingfeng and Hu Shan stood. Sword Immortal Cliff had sent a strong expert this time, and if necessary, they would lend their aid.

However, Xu Yan felt that their assistance wouldn't be required at all.

Turning his attention back to Canglan Island, he could sense the Fire Butcher Demon Lord's aura, which was not being concealed in the slightest.

"Senior Brother, how many peak Overarching Grand Masters do you think there are?" Meng Chong asked in a low voice.

"No less than three," Xu Yan replied with a smile. His expression gradually turned solemn as he said, "Today, we will show the martial artists of the inner domain what true martial arts are all about!"

This battle served not only to intimidate the various forces but also to display their formidable strength and protect the Longevity Pavilion. It was also an opportunity for Xu Yan to temper his martial arts and prepare for his breakthrough to the Tongxuan realm.

Once he entered the Tongxuan realm, he would stand at the pinnacle of the inner domain!

"Senior Brother, I think there might be an ambush underwater. Leave that one to me," Meng Chong said, his expression equally solemn.

He intended to use this battle to temper his physical martial arts and prepare for a breakthrough to the perfect stage of the innate realm.

He would improve through combat.

"Good!" Xu Yan nodded.

He strode across the water's surface with a graceful gait, his mind recalling the carefree and unfettered steps of his master.

At that moment, he felt he had finally understood what it meant to be a true powerhouse—to possess that sense of freedom and detachment.

"I still have a long way to go to reach Master's level. I haven't been able to emulate his carefree and natural bearing," Xu Yan mused.

Meng Chong's figure disappeared beneath the waters of the Cangjiang River, waiting for the ambushing enemy to reveal themselves. When the time came, he would make his move.

The handsome young man approached with confident strides, his demeanor relaxed and carefree, as if he were strolling towards a utopia rather than a den of danger.

"Master Xu..."

Yun Miaomiao murmured, her eyes narrowing slightly.

"My disciple is beyond saving!" Wu Shuang, the Overarching Grand Master, exclaimed, slapping his forehead.

Outside Canglan Island, on the waters of the Cangjiang River...

Xu Yan came to a halt and called out, "Fire Butcher Demon Lord, come out and face your death. Don't you dare destroy my Canglan Island."

"Arrogant brat!" The Fire Butcher Demon Lord snarled, his voice cold. He leaped into the air, his red hair billowing as he approached the island.

As the Fire Butcher Demon Lord appeared, his crimson hair danced wildly, causing the spiritual energy in the surroundings to surge. In an instant, a scarlet-red aura enveloped him, resembling surging waves of blood that emitted a faint sizzling sound.

The air became heavy with a subtle, pungent scent of blood.

The undulating waves of blood gradually transformed into blood-colored flames, as if they sought to refine and devour all living beings.

"Fire Prison Blood Refining Technique!"

The strong experts witnessing this scene wore grave expressions.

This was one of the Demon Sect's most formidable techniques, and it was also the Fire Butcher Demon Lord's claim to fame. The Fire Prison Blood Refining Technique was a true killing technique, refined by the blood of living beings.

And the essence of martial artists was the best for this purpose.

The fact that the Fire Butcher Demon Lord had cultivated this technique to the peak Grand Master level indicated the countless martial artists he had slain and whose essence blood he had refined to attain such terrifying power.

"Brat, today I shall collect your blood!"

The Fire Butcher Demon Lord gripped a hooked blade, its curved edge dripping with blood. It seemed to have been soaked in the blood of countless eviscerated martial artists.

Xu Yan's expression remained calm as he replied, "Where is the map to your treasure? Hand it over to me. It will be a hassle to search for it after I kill you."

"Yapping again, you insolent brat! I shall rip out your heart and devour it!"

The Fire Butcher Demon Lord's eyes blazed with fury.

With a thunderous roar, a cloud of blood-red mist appeared in the sky, transforming into a raging inferno of blood-red flames that exuded an ominous and bloody aura.

The curved blade slashed through the air, unleashing the ferocious blood flames that engulfed Xu Yan.

The Fire Butcher Demon Lord's initial attack was exceptionally fierce, showing no signs of underestimating his opponent. He was going all out.

Xu Yan's figure flashed, and he shifted his position, effortlessly dodging the attack and reappearing elsewhere.

"Fire Butcher Demon Lord, how do I know you're not deceiving me? Perhaps you never left the map to your treasure's location in the first place?"

Xu Yan remained unperturbed, his tone light and casual, unaffected by the Fire Butcher Demon Lord's formidable aura.

The Fire Butcher Demon Lord's expression turned solemn. Xu Yan's strange movement technique had just dodged his initial fierce attack.

"I am a man of my word. The map is on the island," the Fire Butcher Demon Lord asserted in a deep voice.

"What if someone else takes the map while we're fighting?" Xu Yan asked, his gaze shifting towards Canglan Island.

"Why hide? Bring the map here," Xu Yan said with a smile.

The Fire Butcher Demon Lord's eyes narrowed. Xu Yan knew there was more than one person on the island, yet he still dared to come and challenge them. Was he relying on his strange movement technique to ensure his escape?

Two figures emerged from the island, clad in black robes that concealed their faces, except for their eyes.

One of them threw a scroll towards Xu Yan.

Xu Yan's true energy surged, and the scroll opened to reveal a map.

He promptly put it away, paying no heed to the two black-robed figures who flanked him.

One of the black-robed figures had a red leaf embroidered on his chest.

A Guardian-level expert, perhaps?

The other figure had a crescent moon symbol embroidered on his chest.

A higher-ranking and more powerful individual? Moreover, this crescent moon-clad figure seemed to possess even greater strength than the other.

Three peak Overarching Grand Masters!

The spectators were astonished by the revelation of two additional peak Overarching Grand Masters besides the Fire Butcher Demon Lord.

No matter how strong Xu Yan was, how could he possibly defeat three peak Overarching Grand Masters, even if he could take on the Fire Butcher Demon Lord?

The Fire Butcher Demon Lord was already a formidable figure among peak Overarching Grand Masters, and one of the other two emitted an aura that was no weaker, perhaps even slightly stronger, than the Demon Lord's.

Although the third individual was slightly weaker, they were still a peak Overarching Grand Master.

"Xu Yan is in danger!"

This thought flashed through the minds of the powerful spectators.

Yun Miaomiao's expression turned anxious, and she gripped her master's hand. "Master, you have to intervene!"

Wu Shuang, the Overarching Grand Master, let out a cold laugh. "That kid is formidable. He can kill a peak Overarching Grand Master with two or three strikes. Against three of them, he won't even need ten strikes. Stop worrying."

"Master, this isn't the time to be stubborn!" Yun Miaomiao urged.

"That kid wouldn't have come if he didn't have the confidence to handle this. Don't worry, my dear disciple," Wu Shuang sighed.

"What do you make of these three peak Overarching Grand Masters?" Fu Yun Tian asked the elderly man beside him.

"Use your eyes to see," the elder replied irritably. "That kid isn't foolish. If he can't win, he'll flee. Why are you so worried? There's another one over there. If the situation turns unfavorable, he'll definitely make a move."

Fu Yun Tian followed the elder's gaze and spotted an old, dilapidated wooden boat with a man sitting cross-legged, a black-sheathed longsword across his lap.

"He actually came," Fu Yun Tian muttered, surprised yet not entirely caught off guard. After all, Xu Yan had used Xie Lingfeng's name when he entered the Seven Stars Academy's archive, indicating a close relationship between the two.

The elder looked towards Canglan Island and said coldly, "As long as that old immortal from the Hidden Pavilion doesn't show up, this is just a minor event. If he appears, that would be a major problem."

"Who is that person?" Fu Yun Tian asked curiously.

The elder remained silent, seemingly wary of the individual from the Hidden Pavilion.

Xu Yan surveyed the area, his smile radiant. "So it's you guys again, hiding in the shadows. Did you only bring two people?"

Yin Jue's voice turned stern. "Xu Yan, if you reveal that girl's whereabouts, I might spare your life today!"

They were here for Su Lingxiu! Xu Yan was not surprised, but he became even more curious as to why the black-robed figures were so intent on capturing his junior disciple.

It seemed that they were willing to pay any price to capture her.

"Spare my life? With just the three of you?" Xu Yan's eyes turned cold, and a faint breeze stirred around him, carrying an intent to kill.

Drawing his sword, he fixed his gaze on Yin Jue and said with a cold smile, "You rats hiding in the sewers don't even dare to reveal your names, yet you dare to spout such nonsense? Today, I, Xu Yan, the Sword God, shall cut you down!"

Boom!

"Arrogant!" The Fire Butcher Demon Lord snarled, his hooked blade slicing through the air. The blood-red flames raged, turning the sky above into a scarlet hue, emitting a sizzling sound.

It seemed as if the very air was being corroded.

Boom!

Yin Jue raised his hand and slashed with his blade, merging his attack with the heavens. Layer upon layer of blade light sealed off the surroundings as he unleashed a devastating strike towards Xu Yan.

The other black-robed figure also made his move.

With three peak Overarching Grand Masters joining forces, the colors of the sky changed, and the mighty waves of the Cangjiang River were pressed downward by the overwhelming pressure.

From a distance, the battlefield appeared to be engulfed in world-ending might.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end