The Grand Elder of the Flying Immortal Manor stared at Cang Lan Mingyue's retreating back, a flicker of apprehension in his deep-set eyes. Cang Lan Mingyue's words, seemingly a piece of advice, were in fact a warning. This left him wondering if the culprit had any connection to the Canghai Palace.
However, recalling the words of the Manor Lord before his departure, the Grand Elder’s gaze slowly became resolute. The current incident had dealt a severe blow to the Flying Immortal Manor. No matter who the perpetrator was, an outcome had to be reached.
Shen Feichen, leading the entourage of the Sixth Prince’s Manor and Lin Haotian’s group, also found their departure obstructed.
"What? Are you intending to find back the face your Flying Immortal Manor lost to the Canglan Hall by picking a fight with my Sixth Prince’s Manor?" Shen Feichen sneered, looking at the Grand Elder of the Flying Immortal Manor.
"Your Highness Prince Chen misunderstands," Nangong Pu said with a smile. "Naturally, I would not dare to stop the cultivators of the Sixth Prince’s Manor from leaving. However, these three must stay."
Lin Haotian, Wuchen Sword Immortal, and Tianhua Tianjun had followed Zhang Fan in hunting down quite a few cultivators from their Flying Immortal Manor. Now that they had encountered them, they naturally would not let them go.
"I must take these three with me," Shen Feichen stated, his gaze fixed on Nangong Pu, his voice chillingly cold.
"Prince Chen, do you perhaps think that after a trip to the Great Luo Realm, you are invincible?" A cultivator from the Black Sand Cave Heaven also stepped forward. Zhang Fan harbored considerable animosity towards their Black Sand Cave Heaven and would naturally not let this opportunity pass.
"Everyone, now is not the time to pursue this matter. Do not forget our purpose here today."
A middle-aged man emerged from the crowd, the leader of the Sun Shadow Cave Heaven. They did not wish to be involved in the grievances between Zhang Fan and the Flying Immortal Manor or the Black Sand Cave Heaven. What they wanted now was to know how Zhan Feiyang and the other disciples of their sect died, and at whose hands.
"Prince Chen, all our cultivators from the Sun Shadow Cave Heaven perished in the Great Luo Realm. We implore you to tell us what befell them that not a single one survived!"
Shen Feichen glanced at the man, recognizing him as Fu Yu, the Grand Elder of the Sun Shadow Cave Heaven, an old man whose cultivation had reached the peak of the Nascent Soul stage.
However, he was no longer the same as before. Even if the other party was at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage, he could face them with composure. "They brought it upon themselves."
"What do you mean by that?" Fu Yu nearly jumped at these words but managed to restrain himself.
"Zhan Feiyang intended to seize Brother Zhang Fan’s treasure and chose to join forces with the Flying Immortal Manor and the Black Sand Cave Heaven to attack Brother Zhang Fan. What’s laughable is that even with their combined might, they were no match for Brother Zhang Fan and ultimately perished, even dragging their sect disciples down with them."
"Do I say they brought it upon themselves, and I am wrong?" Shen Feichen sneered.
"How is that possible?"
As these words were spoken, a wave of uproar ensued. Numerous cultivators exchanged glances, utterly disbelieving Shen Feichen’s account.
What were the strengths of Fu Tianling, Shen Feichen, and Zhan Feiyang?
Among the younger generation on the Realm Heart Continent, they were considered the most elite. Before entering the Great Luo Realm, all three had broken through to the Nine Tribulation stage. A combined effort from these three… even Cang Lan Mingyue, who was hailed as the number one among the younger generation, would not dare to confront them head-on, right?
Among the many cultivators present, only that group who emerged from the Great Luo Realm appeared most composed, for they had witnessed the scene with their own eyes, a sight that remained vivid in their memories even now.
"That Zhang Fan was merely a Seven Tribulation stage cultivator before entering the Great Luo Realm. Even if his talent was monstrous, and even if he gained immense fortune in the Great Luo Realm, how could he possibly deal with the combined forces of three factions by himself?"
"Let alone him alone, even if your Sixth Prince’s Manor’s people were added, it wouldn’t be enough." Fu Yu stared intently at Shen Feichen, trying to find a crack in his gaze, but Shen Feichen’s eyes were as deep and tranquil as water, betraying no trace of emotion.
Shen Feichen slowly shook his head. "You are mistaken. It was not three factions, but four."
"The cultivators from the Great Spirit Hall of the Shattered Star Domain were also involved, but without exception, all perished."
"Then why did my Tengshe tribe perish?" The patriarch of the Tengshe tribe, Teng Tiangu, finally couldn't hold back and asked.
"The Tengshe tribe dared to pursue Brother Zhang Fan’s disciples. Given their strength, the outcome is predictable." Shen Feichen glanced at Teng Tiangu with disdain, mixed with a touch of admiration for his courage.
Coveting the Dark God Body had provoked a formidable enemy without their knowledge, yet they dared to question him. It could only be said that ignorance was also a sin.
Shen Feichen's words were difficult for most cultivators present to accept. It far exceeded their understanding. They all turned their gaze towards the other cultivators who had emerged from the Great Luo Realm, only to find that not a single one denied it.
"Prince Chen's words are not false. We can all attest to this matter." Gong Yiyi, leading the cultivators of the True Fire Cave Heaven, emerged from the crowd. After scanning the onlookers, she slowly spoke.
Shen Feichen looked at Gong Yiyi with some surprise, not expecting the True Fire Cave Heaven, which always remained detached, to step forward and speak at this juncture.
The cultivators of the Sun Shadow Cave Heaven appeared somewhat silent, even feeling insulted. Murder for treasure was one thing; though it was not honorable, since it was confirmed, there was nothing to deny.
Fu Yu's expression turned extremely grim at this moment. What made him feel most disgraced was that in their pursuit of treasure, they were instead killed, even dragging their sect disciples down with them. At this moment, he was cursing Zhan Feiyang internally.
"Regardless, Zhang Fan must give our Sun Shadow Cave Heaven an explanation for this matter." Fu Yu sputtered out this unreasonable demand after a long pause.
"Since this matter was Zhang Fan's doing, then you absolutely cannot take these three away." Before Nangong Pu could finish speaking, he had already made his move, preparing to capture Lin Haotian and the others.
But Shen Feichen was constantly vigilant and would not let him succeed. With a flash, he blocked Nangong Pu, then unleashed a punch. Fist met palm, and a violent wave of energy spread outwards, creating a wave tens of meters high on the sea's surface.
The powerful force sent both of them flying back, and they retreated seven steps before stabilizing their figures.
A full-power strike had resulted in a draw.
"I never imagined that Prince Chen, ranked fourth among the Sixth Prince’s Manor, would possess such strength. It seems you gained quite a lot in the Great Luo Realm!" Nangong Pu was shocked by Shen Feichen's power, his face as dark as water.
"Attack together and take these three down first," Nangong Pu commanded sternly.
"Rumble!"
Just as everyone was preparing to attack, a thunderous roar suddenly erupted from the sea. A figure shot out from the seabed, stirring up waves hundreds of feet high. After the waves receded, everyone discovered that a gaunt man was standing beside Shen Feichen, though no one knew when he had arrived.
"Second Brother!" Shen Feichen exclaimed joyfully.
The newcomer was Mo Yan, known as the "Rock King."
"Take them back to the Sixth Prince's Manor. Leave the rest to me."
Shen Feichen understood immediately. With a wave of his sleeve, his profound spiritual energy enveloped everyone, and they flew towards the outer reaches of the Great Luo Sea. Nangong Pu and the others attempted to intercept, but Mo Yan stood in their path, his powerful soul force locking onto each of them, making them feel immense pressure.
"Is this the soul force that has merged with rules? The Sixth Prince's Manor has truly hidden its strength, and I never expected even the Rock King to have reached the Half-step Nascent Divinity realm." They knew the power of a Half-step Nascent Divinity cultivator was not something they, as peak Nascent Soul stage cultivators, could contend with. Thus, they could only watch as Shen Feichen led Lin Haotian and the others away.
"The Sixth Prince's Manor has taken them. If you are not satisfied, you are welcome to visit us anytime. I believe you all know the way to our Sixth Prince's Manor's gates," Mo Yan said coldly, without further pleasantries, and then flew away.
"With a Half-step Nascent Divinity expert appearing, this matter is no longer something we can resolve. You will return and report this to the Manor Lord, and I will continue to wait here." Nangong Pu summoned a cultivator from the manor and instructed him earnestly.
"The Sixth Prince's Manor is truly pushing their luck. Interfering in this matter time and time again. Do they truly believe our Black Sand Cave Heaven will not go to war?"
"You will quickly return to the sect, report this to the Sect Master, and unite with the other three factions to demand their return!"
Watching the leaders of each faction issue commands, the surrounding rogue cultivators vaguely sensed that a storm that would sweep across the Realm Heart Continent was imminent.
At the same time, they were puzzled. Why was the Sixth Prince's Manor taking such a resolute stance? Did they truly have the strength to contend against four factions? The Tengshe tribe was one thing, but the other three factions were forces that could rival the Sixth Prince's Manor.
Gong Yiyi led the cultivators of the True Fire Cave Heaven away. The remaining rogue cultivators also dispersed. The events that transpired here spread outwards with incredible speed.
A storm centered around the Sixth Prince's Manor was gradually taking shape, poised to erupt at any moment.