On the Azure Wave Lake, dozens of Golden Core stage cultivators and several Nascent Soul stage cultivators gathered, divided into two factions, facing each other in a standoff.
The names of the Tianhai Sect and the Phantom Blood Palace were extremely well-known on Earth. The Tianhai Sect was relatively well-behaved; in the years since their arrival on Earth, their disciples had generally abided by the rules, rarely engaging in acts of slaughter. They had also disseminated many cultivation techniques, earning a decent reputation within China's cultivation world.
However, the Phantom Blood Palace's name struck fear into all. Due to the nature of their cultivation techniques, disciples of the Phantom Blood Palace enjoyed consuming fresh blood. To obtain blood sources, they had committed numerous bloody crimes in various countries across Earth.
It was fortunate that Lin Yun had intervened, forcing the Phantom Blood Palace to restrain themselves somewhat. Otherwise, over the years, a majority of Earth's cultivators might have fallen victim to their cruelty.
Now, the arrival of Earth's two most powerful sects on the lake island had caused a tremendous stir within China. Countless cultivators and martial artists who received the news rushed from all directions, eager to witness what was unfolding.
"Ancestor Tianhai, we have clashed for so many years, and you have never won. Why do you come today to humiliate yourself?" the Phantom Blood Old Fiend emanated an eerie demonic aura. He stared at the silver-haired elder opposite him with utter mockery.
"Phantom Blood Old Ghost, in the past, you could gain a slight advantage because I wasn't serious and didn't fight you with all my might. The treasures in this fortunate land are crucial for me to overcome my fourth Nascent Soul tribulation. If you force my hand, I will detonate my Nascent Soul and take you with me," Ancestor Tianhai said with a grim expression.
"Nonsense, you think you can threaten me?" The Phantom Blood Old Fiend's eyes were filled with disdain, yet a sense of wariness began to stir within him. If he truly pushed Ancestor Tianhai to self-detonate his Nascent Soul, even if he survived, he would be severely wounded. After all, both were at the peak of the Three Tribulations realm; his only advantage over Ancestor Tianhai was his more profound spiritual energy.
"Sirs, what treasures are you arguing so fiercely about?" Zhang Fan walked out from the lake island, with Lin Yun and the Blood Demon Flood Dragon following behind him.
Ancestor Tianhai and the Phantom Blood Old Fiend simultaneously turned their gazes towards Zhang Fan. To their surprise, Zhang Fan appeared so young.
"Kid, hand over the treasures you acquired in the fortunate land, and I shall leave your corpse intact. Otherwise, I will drain your blood dry and refine you into an undead demonic corpse to endure endless suffering," the Phantom Blood Old Fiend took a step forward, his powerful Daoic might radiating, causing the surrounding cultivators to turn pale.
"Such vicious methods!" Zhang Fan exclaimed, and those standing behind him chuckled.
"And you, what methods do you have to force me to hand over my treasures?" Zhang Fan directed his gaze at the silver-haired elder.
Ancestor Tianhai stared intently at Zhang Fan, remaining silent, a sense of unease creeping into his heart. The group of cultivators standing behind Zhang Fan, though they did not reveal their auras, all appeared extraordinary. Facing them, they showed no hint of fear. Without sufficient confidence, who could remain so calm in the face of death?
"It seems you have some sense and haven't let greed cloud your judgment," Zhang Fan observed, seeing Ancestor Tianhai's silence. He knew the elder likely had some suspicions and dared not act rashly.
"Blood Demon Flood Dragon, go and devour all those from the Phantom Blood Palace!"
As Zhang Fan's words fell, a short, plump, disheveled man standing behind him transformed, becoming a blood demon flood dragon hundreds of feet long. His immense power was no longer concealed. He hovered in the void, gazing at the cultivators of the Phantom Blood Palace as if they were mere ants.
Having consumed the Immortal-grade Blood Spirit Pill, the Blood Demon Flood Dragon's cultivation had reached the peak of the Nine Tribulations realm. With its formidable physique, it could contend with those at the Half-step Soul Transformation stage. Merely revealing a fraction of its might was enough to plunge cultivators in the Three Tribulations realm into despair.
"How can it be so strong!" the Phantom Blood Old Fiend cried out inwardly. He had never encountered a demonic beast with such a terrifying aura in his life. He didn't even have the slightest thought of escaping.
As the Blood Demon Flood Dragon opened its massive maw, the cultivators of the Phantom Blood Palace were instantly swallowed into its belly, leaving no trace, as if they had never existed. The cultivators of the Phantom Blood Palace were too weak; devouring them offered no benefit to the Blood Demon Flood Dragon, leaving it feeling somewhat bored.
"Master, should I devour this group as well?" the Blood Demon Flood Dragon asked.
"Forget it," Zhang Fan shook his head. The Tianhai Sect had behaved themselves reasonably well since arriving on Earth. If they continued to perform well, Zhang Fan wouldn't mind sparing them.
"Ancestor Tianhai, is it? Follow me. The rest of the Tianhai Sect disciples are waiting here." After speaking, Zhang Fan headed towards the lake island.
Ancestor Tianhai, hearing Zhang Fan call him, finally snapped back to attention. Without hesitation, he quickly followed.
What a joke! That flood dragon was terrifying, and Zhang Fan was its master. One could imagine the level of his current cultivation. Even on the Boundless Continent, filled with powerful individuals, he would be considered a formidable figure.
Seeing the interior of the lake island for the first time, Ancestor Tianhai was filled with curiosity. On the island, less than a kilometer in circumference, countless high-grade spiritual herbs were planted. The spiritual energy on the island was more abundant than he could have imagined. A refined middle-aged man was setting up arrays on the island, arrays so profound that Ancestor Tianhai couldn't understand them at all.
"May I ask, senior, what array are you setting up?" Ancestor Tianhai asked courageously.
"A teleportation array, an array to teleport to the Boundless Continent," True Monarch Tianhua replied without looking up.
"The Boundless Continent, the central continent of the Wushan Star Domain, as spoken of in legends?" Ancestor Tianhai exclaimed, his body trembling slightly with excitement.
At the same time, he was deeply shocked. "I have consulted ancient texts. To set up a teleportation array for such a distant location requires at least a Grand Array Master. This man before me is actually a Grand Array Master?"
"Ancestor Tianhai," Zhang Fan turned to the silver-haired elder after they had ascended to the lake island and said with a smile.
"Senior, you may simply call me Tianhai," Ancestor Tianhai stammered fearfully, quickly responding.
Zhang Fan nodded and asked, "Do you know why you are still alive?"
"Senior is merciful," Ancestor Tianhai replied hastily.
"Haha, this is the first time I've heard someone call me merciful," Zhang Fan laughed heartily. "If you knew that I had annihilated tens of thousands of cultivators from two major sects on the Boundless Continent, you probably wouldn't say that."
Upon hearing this, Ancestor Tianhai's legs went weak. The young Zhang Fan's methods were indeed incredibly ruthless.
"You can live because you have largely followed the rules on Earth. I can give you a chance to live."
"Please speak, senior. As long as I can accomplish it, I will not shirk my duty." The silver-haired Ancestor Tianhai referring to himself as a junior before Zhang Fan felt incredibly strange to Lin Yun and the others.
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