Enveloped in crimson flames, his saber a blur of menacing shadows, Li Feng was like a soul-reaping demon. His overwhelming might weighed heavily on the hearts of the Seven Profound Sect disciples, and a sense of utter helplessness—that he was invincible—welled up within them.

But among all the cultivators, the one with the most horrified look on her face was Yi Yunya.

Her face was deathly pale, but it wasn’t because she was faint of heart. Quite the opposite; it was her extensive knowledge that filled her face with terror.

"The Disaster Ghost Face, the Tribulation Calamity Demon Saber... you’re from the Six Extremes Demon Sect!"

"Why have you come to Jade Lake City!"

The question burst from her, her voice trembling uncontrollably.

Meanwhile, perhaps because he felt he held the absolute advantage, or maybe because he wanted to savor the terrified looks on the Seven Profound Sect disciples’ faces.

Li Feng didn’t immediately begin the slaughter. Instead, he answered with a savage grin, "Demon Sect? Heh heh. Young lady, you must be careful with your words."

"Our Six Extremes Saint Sect has been personally certified by the Frost Moon Dynasty as a renowned and righteous sect!"

"By slandering us as a Demon Sect, are you questioning the decision of the Frost Moon court?"

"..."

At his words, Yi Yunya was left speechless.

Just as Li Feng said, the Frost Moon Dynasty recognized the Six Extremes Sect as a righteous sect. If she were to refute that, she would be questioning the imperial family and the court.

That was not something Yi Yunya could do.

Furthermore, having been privy to a great deal of information, Yi Yunya also knew the reason for the Frost Moon Dynasty’s decision.

Right now, she had only one question.

"Why have you come to Jade Lake City?"

It wasn’t just Yi Yunya who was confused. Outside, upon discovering that the mastermind behind the three great families was the Six Extremes Demon Sect, the various Patriarchs and the elders of the Seven Peaks were in an uproar.

"So it was the Six Extremes Demon Sect. No wonder we investigated in Jade Lake City for so long and still couldn’t identify the mastermind behind the three great families, even after mobilizing the spies the other two major sects have kept hidden for years."

Provoked by the three great families, the Seven Profound Sect hadn’t just sat back and done nothing.

In secret, they had dispatched many spies to investigate the Golden Armor Sect, the Mist and Smoke Sect, and even the Golden Jade Tower.

Unfortunately, the Six Extremes Demon Sect was an outside enemy. The Seven Profound Sect, whose power was confined to the vicinity of Jade Lake City, naturally had no way of investigating them.

"This is big trouble."

"Why would they come here?"

At this moment, the expressions of the Seven Profound Sect’s upper echelons were grim.

But before they could even formulate a strategy, something even more troublesome occurred.

"Hahaha..."

Now that the Six Extremes Demon Sect was exposed, an old man in a black robe, like a black Flood Dragon exuding boundless might, charged straight through the main gates of the Seven Profound Sect.

Unleashing his power without restraint, he declared bluntly, "Why are we here? To earn some resources, of course. Even the Frost Moon imperial family can’t expect us to act for free."

"..."

This blatant act of plundering territory and profits made the expressions of the Seven Profound Sect’s upper echelons turn incredibly foul.

Some of the peak elders even felt a sense of dread.

They couldn’t be blamed. The Six Extremes Demon Sect was simply too powerful; it wasn’t on the same level as the Seven Profound Sect at all.

Although the Frost Moon Dynasty was not a supreme Immortal Dynasty on this continent, it still possessed an imperial city and governed the Twelve States.

Each state had a Prefecture City, and below the Prefecture Cities were mid-sized cities like Jade Lake City.

The Seven Profound Sect, on the other hand, was merely a local power in a mid-sized city—and not even the only one.

The Six Extremes Demon Sect, in contrast, was an entity capable of cooperating and forming alliances with the Frost Moon imperial family.

Faced with such a behemoth, it was only natural that some within the Seven Profound Sect would show panic.

However, the crowd’s panic didn’t last long. Soon, Law Enforcement Elder Wei Jingcheng let out a cold snort.

"What’s there to panic about? The Six Extremes Sect isn’t going to send their main forces here. Besides, they are now a righteous sect. The Dynasty would never allow them to run rampant."

"Isn’t that right, City Lord Yue!"

Wei Jingcheng shot a sharp gaze at City Lord Yue Shan, forcing the latter to step forward with a bitter smile. "Ahem, everyone, no need to worry. The Six Extremes Saint Sect are our allies. Elder You Qiang was just joking with us. The main reason he has led his team here is to assist us in suppressing demons and evil spirits and maintaining the peace of Jade Lake City... I can guarantee he will absolutely not cause any trouble."

"Hmph!"

City Lord Yue’s words made the black-robed elder named You Qiang snort coldly, but in the end, he said nothing.

At this moment, his gaze was fixed primarily on Wei Jingcheng.

Wei Jingcheng, however, was not overly afraid.

Again, the Six Extremes Demon Sect was powerful, but it was impossible for them to focus a significant amount of their energy on Jade Lake City.

’When it comes to power within the Frost Moon Dynasty, who can compare to the imperial court? But City Lord Yue has been in Jade Lake City for so many years, and hasn’t he still been kept in check by us three major sects?’

He was also certain that Yue Shan would represent the court to restrain the Six Extremes Demon Sect, and there were many reasons for this.

For example, since the Six Extremes Demon Sect couldn’t possibly send too many people to a small place like Jade Lake City, the order here was still primarily maintained by the three major sects.

If the Seven Profound Sect were pushed too hard, the three major sects could confer and simply wash their hands of the matter.

At that point, the order here would completely collapse, and things would not end well for Yue Shan either.

Beyond that, the Frost Moon court... also didn’t want the Six Extremes Demon Sect to grow more powerful.

Compared to minor sects like the Seven Profound Sect, the Golden Armor Sect, and the Mist and Smoke Sect, the Frost Moon imperial family was far more wary of the Six Extremes Demon Sect.

That was the kind of sect that could truly threaten their rule.

The only reason they were allowed to enter the kingdom and given benefits was purely because Demons and Evil Spirits were rising up everywhere, placing the Frost Moon Dynasty’s situation in dire straits.

Having no other choice, the Frost Moon Dynasty invited them in. Under these circumstances, to say the court was willing to see the Six Extremes Demon Sect grow infinitely stronger would be nothing but a fantasy.

It was with these considerations in mind that Wei Jingcheng was being so firm and forcing Yue Shan to state his position.

He had to be firm. Elder You Qiang’s arrival was a foregone conclusion. And although the three major sects would unite to resist him and City Lord Yue would represent the court to place limits on him, it was just as You Qiang had said: not even the Frost Moon imperial family could make them work for free. Therefore, they were bound to seize some of the resources and interests around Jade Lake City.

However, how much they would take, and from whom, was a matter for discussion.

At a time like this, if you showed weakness, you wouldn’t earn others’ respect. You would be devoured, leaving nothing behind.

’I have to make the Six Extremes Demon Sect understand that clashing with our Seven Profound Sect isn’t worth the trouble.’

’In the end, it all comes down to strength.’

With this in mind, Wei Jingcheng turned his gaze to the sky screen, a rare trace of worry and tension in his eyes.

The battle between juniors like Zhong Ming, Han Yu, and Li Feng naturally couldn’t directly decide the distribution of interests in Jade Lake City.

But a sect’s strength was judged on all fronts. Moreover, Zhong Ming’s status in the sect was not low. He was virtually the most outstanding disciple of his generation from Jade Lake City. If the Seven Profound Sect were a kingdom, he would be like a Prince in the secular world, representing the sect’s future.

If someone like him were to be easily defeated by a disciple of the Six Extremes Demon Sect in a fair duel, the prestige of the Seven Profound Sect would inevitably suffer a major blow.

And the families that depended on them would see more clearly who was truly worthy of their allegiance.

At that point, the Six Extremes Demon Sect wouldn’t need to expend much effort to squeeze a great deal of resources, benefits, and territory from the Seven Profound Sect.

’He has to win... No, as long as he doesn’t lose too badly, it’ll be fine.’

Knowing their opponent was from the Six Extremes Demon Sect, and seeing how incredibly powerful Li Feng was, Wei Jingcheng no longer dared to hope for Zhong Ming’s victory.

The other families on the viewing platforms were thinking the same thing.

"To have reached the late stage of Qi Cultivation at such a young age, and even comprehended a Rhyme... As expected of a disciple from the Six Extremes Demon Sect."

"The Seven Profound Sect is in for it this time."

"With the Six Extremes Demon Sect here, the Seven Profound Sect will have to bleed one way or another. The only question now is how much."

"They’ll certainly have to give up a lot. The Six Extremes Demon Sect is too domineering, and they have the strength to back up that overbearing style... That Li Feng, he said he’d kill all the Seven Profound Sect disciples by himself. That’s not just talk anymore; it’s about to become reality. If something like that happens, the Seven Profound Sect will forever be a step below the Six Extremes Demon Sect."

"So, they have to win just to earn the right to negotiate?"

"Win with what? Their cultivation is inferior, their Rhyme is inferior, and their cultivation techniques are inferior... Sigh. When Li Feng told all the Seven Profound Sect disciples to attack him at once, they should have just done it."

The cultivators watching from the outside were all pessimistic about the fate of the Seven Profound Sect disciples within the sky screen.

Some even felt that Zhong Ming had made the wrong decision earlier.

It wasn’t just them who thought so. Inside the Heaven-Filling Array Map, as Li Feng approached step by step, the pressure he exerted on the disciples grew immense. It felt as if a blade was pressed against their necks, giving Han Yu, Su Lingya, Xue Yao, and the others the illusion that they could be beheaded at any moment.

This illusion of facing death head-on made their bodies tense up and tremble uncontrollably.

Finally, Han Yu, who had only managed to comprehend a sliver of Dao Rhyme by relying on a top-grade Jade Talisman, could no longer bear the pressure. Swallowing hard, he shouted in the direction of Longxi Peak.

"Zhong, let’s attack him together!" 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

His shout caused a small commotion among the Longxi Peak disciples, but ultimately, no one dared to respond.

Although the pressure from Li Feng was immense, the disciples of Longxi Peak still had more faith in Zhong Ming.

And Zhong Ming did not disappoint them.

"Han, let’s have no more of this joking. Our guest has come from afar. Since this fellow Daoist from the Six Extremes Sect wishes to experience our Seven Profound Sect’s cultivation techniques, allow me to fulfill my duties as the host."

As he spoke, Zhong Ming no longer concealed his presence. He revealed himself within the Heaven-Filling Array Map and walked straight toward Li Feng.

VMMMM...

As the two drew closer, the very air seemed to grow heavy with killing intent. The scene made Su Lingya’s heart pound with even greater anxiety.

She had some confidence in Zhong Ming’s strength, but Li Feng’s power—killing Yan Chen in just three strikes—terrified her even more. She couldn’t help but ask.

"Zhong Ming, are you sure about this? We can..."

Before she could finish, Zhong Ming waved a hand behind him.

"Don’t worry. I will win!"