Zhang Fan and Xiao Yi spent several days and finally rendezvoused with Shen Feichen's group in a mountain range near the inner region.
At the same time, he summoned everyone who had been cultivating in the Golden Light Immortal Mansion. A group of over ten people finally reunited.
During their time in the Great Luo Realm, various factions of cultivators had suffered casualties. Fortunately, their Six Royal Mansion cultivators maintained a relatively high completeness. Apart from Zhang Fan's group, seven others from the Six Royal Mansion had survived.
Compared to before entering the Great Luo Realm, each of them had improved their strength. Now that they were gathered together, their overall strength had increased rapidly, and each of them was full of fighting spirit.
"It seems Brother Feichen has also had his opportunities. In just a year, he has broken through to the late stage of the Nine Tribulations Realm. Congratulations," Zhang Fan said immediately upon meeting him, sensing that Shen Feichen's aura had become even more powerful, not far from the peak of the Nine Tribulations Realm.
Shen Feichen nodded, but there was no joy on his face, as he had also received the news that the Immortal Ascension Mansion, Black Sand Cave Heaven, and Giant Spirit Hall had joined forces to flatten the Domain Lake. This put him under considerable pressure.
"Elder Zhang Fan, what do you think about the joint action of the Immortal Ascension Mansion, Black Sand Cave Heaven, and Giant Spirit Hall?" Shen Feichen asked, staring at Zhang Fan with piercing eyes.
"Since the Giant Spirit Hall has joined forces with the Immortal Ascension Mansion and Black Sand Cave Heaven, they will likely attack me as well. If that's the case, then we'll just leave all three forces in the Great Luo Realm," Zhang Fan said calmly.
Although many had witnessed Zhang Fan's strength, having killed Teng Chongyun, who was at the peak of the Eight Tribulations Realm, in just a few encounters, that was ultimately only the Eight Tribulations Realm.
Nangong Feng, Fu Tianling, and Qin Hao were all cultivators at the Nine Tribulations Realm, each carrying powerful legacies. The weakest had cultivated top-tier silver Nascent Souls, incomparable to ordinary Nine Tribulations Realm cultivators.
Even Fu Tianling was a monstrous talent who had cultivated a golden Nascent Soul, possessing astonishing combat power.
Shen Feichen shook his head and said, "With our current strength, facing those three, the odds are slim. I know Elder Zhang Fan's combat power cannot be simply measured by his realm. Even if you can contend with Fu Tianling or Nangong Feng, we are still short one top-tier expert on our side."
"Does Brother Feichen have any ideas?" Zhang Fan asked, knowing that Shen Feichen's words were not just a simple inquiry of his thoughts.
"If we can win over either Gong Yiyi of True Fire Cave Heaven or Zhan Feiyang of Sun Shadow Cave Heaven, with one top-tier expert joining us, we will not fear the combined forces of the Immortal Ascension Mansion and the other two," Shen Feichen said.
In battles at the Nascent Soul stage, numbers were not very significant; it ultimately came down to the battles between the top-tier experts.
Just like the Domain Lake, there were hundreds or thousands of Nascent Soul stage demonic beasts under the four overlords, and countless Golden Core stage demonic beasts, yet they were slaughtered by Nangong Feng and his dozens of people. When the top-tier experts fell, the cultivators below could not resist.
"Fourth Brother is right. The situation dictates it. Even if we have to pay a price, as long as we can win one side over, it will be worth it," Xiao Yi also agreed.
Zhang Fan looked at the two, a flicker of emotion in the depths of his eyes. In such a situation, it was truly rare that the Six Royal Mansion had not distanced themselves from him. Perhaps this was why the Six Royal Mansion was so united.
"Alright, having some strength is better than none," Zhang Fan nodded, and then added, "However, with the current situation, it probably won't be easy to win them over."
Although Zhang Fan was confident in dealing with the combined forces of the three factions, he knew that Shen Feichen and Xiao Yi were filled with worry. To reassure them, he agreed.
After several days of investigation, they finally made contact with Zhan Feiyang of Sun Shadow Cave Heaven and met in a valley near the core region.
Zhan Feiyang was tall and wore an ice-blue robe. His face was chiseled with sharp features. He stared at Shen Feichen's group, sensing their auras, and a strange look flashed in his eyes. He hadn't expected the Six Royal Mansion to be so powerful now.
"Brother Feiyang, the Immortal Ascension Mansion, Black Sand Cave Heaven, and Giant Spirit Hall have joined forces and are plundering vast resources in the inner region. Not long ago, they swept through the Domain Lake. This action will likely trigger a beast tide. How about our two sides join forces?" Shen Feichen asked.
Perhaps due to cultivating the path of ice, Zhan Feiyang exuded an aura that invaded the soul. His eyes were sharp and cold. He glanced at Zhang Fan, who stood beside Shen Feichen, and his lips twitched slightly with a hint of a smile. "Brother Feichen, the grievances between your Six Royal Mansion and those two factions are known to all. It's rather unfair to drag our Sun Shadow Cave Heaven into this."
"A Nascent Soul of a Nine Tribulations Realm beast is considered a token of sincerity," Shen Feichen said indifferently.
"The Nascent Soul of a Nine Tribulations Realm beast is indeed precious, but it's not difficult for me to obtain it with my current strength," Zhan Feiyang remained unmoved, his eyes inscrutable. He said softly, "I have never had a suitable magic treasure since I started cultivating. If Elder Zhang Fan is willing to part with that supreme-grade heavenly treasure, I might consider it."
As soon as he said this, the air became silent. A brief stillness fell upon the valley. Shen Feichen did not speak, knowing that this deal seemed unlikely to go through.
Zhang Fan grinned and drew his iron sword. After being tempered by slaughter and blood, this blood-refined divine weapon was sharper and more powerful than when it was first forged.
Zhan Feiyang's eyes fixed on the blood-colored long sword in Zhang Fan's hand, his eyes flashing with cold light. Although he primarily cultivated the path of ice, he also practiced swordsmanship. Among the supreme-grade heavenly treasures in the Wu Mountain Star Domain, only Zhang Fan's Profound Iron Sword was a supreme-grade heavenly treasure.
"Since you want it so much, why don't you come and take it yourself?" Zhang Fan smiled faintly, his words full of provocation.
This iron sword was Zhang Fan's blood-refined divine weapon, capable of growing with him, akin to a life-bound magical artifact. Since Zhan Feiyang had his eye on it, it was destined that the two parties could not coexist peacefully.
Luo Xiaoxiao, Lin Haotian, and Wuchen Sword Immortal looked at the people from Sun Shadow Cave Heaven, their eyes filled with hostility. How dare they have designs on the Profound Iron Sword? They were truly courting death.
"Will there be a chance?" Zhan Feiyang did not make a move. He gave Zhang Fan a deep look, then left with the people from Sun Shadow Cave Heaven.
Shen Feichen sighed and shook his head. He had shown his sincerity by offering a Nine Tribulations Realm Nascent Soul to Sun Shadow Cave Heaven, but he never expected Zhan Feiyang to say such a thing. This made him realize that Sun Shadow Cave Heaven had no intention of joining forces from the beginning and had even shown signs of taking advantage of their predicament.
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