"What? Lost your nerve?" Luan Hong sneered. "Believe it or not, if you so much as lay a finger on me today, I guarantee my Profound Mystery Sect will raze your kingdoms to the ground tomorrow."

"A bunch of worthless trash."

"Hahaha! What arrogant, ignorant fools."

Ye Fanxing, Bai Qi, and the others burst out laughing.

They couldn’t believe Zuo Yi Alliance and his group would dare to touch them after they had revealed their origins. While the Profound Mystery Sect wasn’t one of the absolute top sects on the Celestial Profound Continent, it was a powerhouse in the Dream Realm Plain. The difference between it and the Thirteen Nations Alliance was like heaven and earth.

Sure enough, the moment they announced their sect, fear flickered across the faces of Zuo Yi Alliance and his men. Seeing this, Luan Hong’s group grew even more conceited.

Zuo Yi Alliance and the others had been about to capture Luan Hong’s group, but after hearing where they were from, they hesitated, not daring to make a move.

"Hmph. So what if you’re from the Profound Mystery Sect? You come to our Thirteen Nations Alliance and run wild as you please. Do you really think we’re pushovers?"

It was Master Zhu Tianlan who stepped forward resolutely and spoke in a cold shout. From his expression, it was clear he paid no heed to the threats from Luan Hong and his companions.

Luan Hong’s brow furrowed. "So, it’s Master Zhu Tianlan. Hmph. A Peak of Fourth Grade Soul Refiner? The so-called ’number one Soul Refiner’? What a joke. With your level of strength, you can only act high and mighty in a backwater place like the Thirteen Nations Alliance. In my Profound Mystery Sect, Soul Refiners like you are a dime a dozen," Luan Hong said with utter derision.

Zhu Tianlan’s expression remained placid. He said calmly, "My strength is irrelevant. The Thirteen Nations Alliance is not a place where just anyone can come and cause trouble. It’s true that your Profound Mystery Sect is powerful. But according to the regulations issued by the Profound Domain, powerful sects from different regions may clash with one another, but they are forbidden from bullying and plundering weaker factions from other territories without cause. You are the ones who broke the rules first. How could the Profound Mystery Sect dare to rampage through our Thirteen Nations Alliance?"

At Zhu Tianlan’s words, the eyes of Zuo Yi Alliance and the others instantly lit up.

According to the continental peace decree issued by the Profound Domain, the various powers within a given territory were free to battle amongst themselves, but they were strictly forbidden from bullying weaker factions from other territories without justification.

The Thirteen Nations Alliance and the Dream Realm Plain were two entirely separate regions. If the Profound Mystery Sect were to attack the Thirteen Nations Alliance without cause, they would face severe punishment from the Profound Domain once word got out.

Having found their justification, the previously deflated Zuo Yi Alliance and his men immediately became aggressive again. "Kid, President Zhu Tianlan is right! You broke the rules first. Once we take you down, the Profound Mystery Sect won’t have a leg to stand on."

"That’s right! I now suspect you’ve come to our Thirteen Nations Alliance with ill intentions. Surrender peacefully and hand over everything you have."

"Don’t worry. We won’t kill you, out of respect for the Profound Mystery Sect. But while you may escape death, you won’t escape punishment. Surrender now, and you can spare yourselves a world of pain."

With savage expressions, Zuo Yi Alliance and Xuu Xin Hua bellowed their threats and, without another word, lunged at Luan Hong’s group. They were inwardly ecstatic. ’If we’re the first to capture them,’ they thought, ’the Seven-Colored Lotus will be ours for the taking!’

Luan Hong and his companions’ faces darkened. They hadn’t expected Zuo Yi Alliance’s group to attack even after learning their identities. However, they had anticipated this possibility. As Zuo Yi Alliance and Xuu Xin Hua lunged, the four of them shared a chilling smile.

"A couple of mere Tier Five Martial Sects think they can take us down? What a joke."

A disdainful taunt echoed through the valley. The four from the Profound Mystery Sect swiftly took positions at four corners, and an invisible, iridescent light instantly enveloped them. A terrifying aura of Profound Power erupted from Luan Hong at the forefront. Before everyone’s eyes, he thrust out a palm, viciously colliding with the attacks from Zuo Yi Alliance and Xuu Xin Hua.

With a thunderous BOOM, Zuo Yi Alliance and Xuu Xin Hua were both sent flying backward. STOMP, STOMP, STOMP. They stumbled back a dozen steps before finally regaining their footing, their blood churning and their faces alternating between flushed and pale.

"You’re a Tier Five Martial Sect?"

"How is that possible?"

After landing, they both cried out in shock, their faces flushing a deep red. They wished the ground would open up and swallow them whole.

The esteemed Presidents of two major Soul Master Towers couldn’t even handle a few disciples in their twenties. If word of this got out, how could they ever show their faces again?

At this thought, the two men exchanged a look, and a thick killing intent filled their eyes. Simultaneously, a Black Drum appeared in one’s hands and a sharp awl in the other’s, both emanating an utterly terrifying aura.

Seeing them bring out their treasures, still intent on attacking, the mockery on the faces of Luan Hong’s group deepened. "You want to have a contest of treasures?" they scoffed. "Do you really think a few bumpkins from a backwater corner of the continent can compare with us from the Profound Mystery Sect?"

VMMMM!

As they spoke, talismans appeared in the hands of Luan Hong and his companions. Some radiated a domineering aura, others a piercing sharpness, but all of them pulsed with an incredibly potent Profound Power.

’Tier Five talismans?’

Seeing the talismans, everyone’s expression changed. Talismans with such a dense aura of Profound Power had to be Tier Five treasures or higher. In the entire Thirteen Nations Alliance, only the most elite factions possessed one or two. The fact that each member of Luan Hong’s group held several was enough to stun the entire crowd.

After all, talismans, unlike other treasures, were single-use items. Even on the Celestial Profound Continent, only the truly great powers could afford to casually bestow them upon their disciples.

"With these talismans and our combined strength, killing one of you shouldn’t be a problem, would it?"

A cold smile played on Luan Hong’s lips as he fixed his icy gaze on Zuo Yi Alliance and Xuu Xin Hua. It was clear that he would unleash a devastating attack at their slightest move.

Zuo Yi Alliance and Xuu Xin Hua froze in their tracks.

’Damn it, how does this kid have so many treasures!’

The two were caught in a dilemma, unable to advance or retreat.

Not far away, Zhu Tianlan’s expression grew grim. The strength of Luan Hong’s group had far exceeded his expectations.

Luan Hong in particular... back at the site of the Seven-Colored Lotus, he had clearly been just a Tier Four Celestial Martial Artist. How had he broken through to the Tier Five Martial Sect Realm in the mere half-month since?

Although there was only one tier of difference between a Tier Four Celestial Martial Artist and a Tier Five Martial Sect, to Zhu Tianlan and the others, it was a world of difference. After all, they, the Presidents of the various Soul Master Towers, were merely Tier Five Martial Sects themselves.

’Could it be... he consumed the Seven-Colored Lotus?’

Zhu Tianlan suddenly considered a possibility and came to a realization. He was secretly amazed at the decisiveness of Luan Hong’s group.

’Knowing they had become public enemies, they consumed the Seven-Colored Lotus on the spot. It not only boosted their strength but also made it clear to everyone that they no longer possessed the treasure. What a ruthless and decisive move.’

As if confirming Zhu Tianlan’s suspicions, Luan Hong sneered, "I know why you’re all so eager to fight us. It’s for the Seven-Colored Lotus, isn’t it? Well, too bad. We’ve already consumed it. Tsk, tsk. The Seven-Colored Lotus truly is a heaven-defying Spirit Medicine. Just one flower was enough to raise all four of our cultivation levels by more than a full tier. Haha! It was well worth all the effort."

Zuo Yi Alliance and Xuu Xin Hua had also considered this possibility. Hearing Luan Hong’s confirmation, they were so filled with regret they could have killed themselves. If they had known the Seven-Colored Lotus was gone, they never would have charged in like that.

"So? Are you still going to fight?" Luan Hong sneered, seeing the hesitation on their faces. "If you still want to try something, the four of us will be happy to oblige. But let me give you a piece of advice. All of you working together might be able to capture us, but I guarantee that at least a third of you will die in the process. If you don’t believe me, feel free to try."

The four from the Profound Mystery Sect stood there in the middle of the clearing, and for a time, no one dared to make a move.

Zuo Yi Alliance and Xuu Xin Hua had lost all desire to capture them now that they knew the Seven-Colored Lotus was gone. Zhu Tianlan, on the other hand, was weighing the cost. ’Is it really worth sacrificing so many disciples just to capture these four?’

He knew Luan Hong’s words were no empty threat.

Seeing that neither Zhu Tianlan nor Zuo Yi Alliance spoke, Luan Hong knew his gambit had paid off. He smiled faintly, walked up to one of the pillars of light, and declared, "We’ll be taking this teleportation array."

With that, Luan Hong, Ye Fanxing, and Bai Qi stepped into the pillar of light.

"Zhou Liang, you stay behind. I trust that among the people remaining here, no one will dare challenge the might of our Profound Mystery Sect."

The expressions on the faces of Zuo Yi Alliance and his men flickered, but they remained silent.

The crowd was jolted back to reality. The time to fight for the teleportation arrays was now.

After Luan Hong’s group snatched an array, only one of the seven teleportation arrays was still available.

The hearts of the Soul Master Tower Presidents from the kingdoms that had yet to secure a teleportation array sank.

The other six arrays were occupied by either the five great kingdoms or Luan Hong of the Profound Mystery Sect. They were in no position to challenge any of them, which meant their only hope was to fight for the last one.

But with so many people left, could they really secure it with their strength?

None of the remaining contenders felt confident.

Ye Xuan saw that only one teleportation array was left. He knew that if he didn’t act now, it would be claimed by someone else.

Without waiting for anyone else to speak or move, he shot toward the last teleportation array with all possible speed and landed on it. "This teleportation array is mine," he announced.

Ye Xuan’s move left everyone utterly stunned.

Everyone stared dumbly at Ye Xuan. There were still so many Soul Master Tower Presidents who hadn’t made a move, yet this disciple, not even twenty years old, had the gall to claim the last array for himself. ’What is he thinking?’

"Ye Xuan, what are you doing?"

Even President Dongfang Yanyu and Vice President Kuchen were taken aback and hastily called out to him.