"What? Elder Wu Quanguai has reached the half-step Nascent Soul realm?"
Hearing Elder Wu's words, Sun Zhiqian's eyes widened.
For a long time, the strength of the five sects and four families had been relatively balanced.
Even though the Blazing Fire Sect was slightly weaker overall, the other aristocratic families and sects did not dare to act against them easily.
But who would have thought that the Blazing Fire Sect would now have a powerhouse at the half-step Nascent Soul realm?
"Hmph, naturally."
"So, if you know what's good for you, agree to my terms and become an affiliated family head of our Wu family."
"This way, your Sun family can still maintain its position as one of the five sects and four families."
"But if you refuse, there will only be five sects and three families left in Beichuan!"
Elder Wu narrowed his eyes, the threat in his words unmistakable.
Their Blazing Fire Sect had previously been at the bottom among the five sects and four families.
Now that they had finally achieved something, they naturally wanted to seize the opportunity to expand their influence.
"Elder Wu, is there truly no room for negotiation?"
Sun Zhiqian asked, his face grim.
As the current head of the Sun family, he had worked hard to bring the family to its current position.
How could he be willing to hand it over to someone else?
"Tsk, Patriarch Sun, don't say I didn't warn you."
"In three days, the Southwest Grand Competition will begin."
"This time, Elder Wu Quanguai will personally lead the team."
"If you haven't made your decision by then, your Sun family members who enter the secret realm will have to be careful!"
After issuing a stern warning, Elder Wu turned and left.
He was in a hurry to visit other sects and families and had no time to waste here with Sun Zhiqian!
After all, their current strength was undeniable.
If the Sun family truly refused, they could always ask the Grand Elder to act and simply eliminate them.
Watching Elder Wu's arrogant retreating back, Sun Zhiqian and his two brothers, Sun Zhiqiang, exchanged glances, each seeing a look of difficulty in the other's eyes.
"Huh? This little beauty, are you also from the Sun family?"
However, as Elder Wu walked out the door, he encountered Lin Chen and Zhang Ying, who were waiting outside the reception hall.
The moment Elder Wu saw Zhang Ying's face, he stopped in his tracks.
"Elder Wu, this is our Sun family's guest, not a member of our family."
Hearing Elder Wu's tone, Sun Zhiqian immediately became anxious and hurried to catch up.
Lin Chen had already said earlier that he was here to pick up his senior sister. Did they still need to guess this woman's identity?
It was just that this Elder Wu was a notorious lecher throughout Beichuan.
His words now clearly indicated he had taken a fancy to Zhang Ying!
"Oh? Little beauty, which family do you belong to?"
"Allow me to introduce myself, I am Wu Tie, an Outer Elder of the Blazing Fire Sect, a cultivator in the early Core Formation stage."
"My grandfather is the half-step Nascent Soul powerhouse, Wu Quanguai."
Wu Tie narrowed his eyes and extended his hand to Zhang Ying.
"Ghost God Sect, Zhang Ying."
Seeing Wu Tie's lecherous gaze, Zhang Ying's face immediately showed disgust.
Was he just a half-step Nascent Soul? Her own father was also a half-step Nascent Soul, and was about to become a true Nascent Soul powerhouse.
Why would she give face to this Wu Tie?
If it were someone else, they might have been intimidated by Wu Tie's words.
But as it happened, Zhang Ying was precisely the type who wouldn't be swayed by such boasts!
"Ghost God Sect? I haven't heard of this sect before?"
"Are you also here to participate in the Southwest Grand Competition?"
Seeing Zhang Ying's cold and aloof expression, Wu Tie became even more excited.
Women like this were the best!
"Yes, is there something you need, Elder Wu?"
Zhang Ying replied patiently.
If she weren't here for the grand competition, she would have turned around and left immediately. Why would she waste time talking to Wu Tie?
"Of course, this Southwest Grand Competition, our Blazing Fire Sect is destined to take first place."
"Miss Zhang, would you consider accepting the protection of our Blazing Fire Sect?"
"My grandfather is a half-step Nascent Soul powerhouse, something that a mere Sun family cannot compare to."
Wu Tie said with a smile.
In his opinion, since this beautiful young woman was also participating in the Southwest Grand Competition, she surely couldn't resist the temptation of a half-step Nascent Soul realm expert!
That was a half-step Nascent Soul realm expert!
This was the first in the entire Southwest!
"Thank you for your kind offer, Elder Wu, but I won't need it this time. I want to see how far I can go with my own abilities."
Zhang Ying's direct refusal stunned everyone present.
Because Elder Wu was visiting the Sun family, many cultivators had gathered outside the reception hall.
Most of them were from various parts of the Southwest, seeking protection from the Sun family.
As cultivators, how could they not know what a half-step Nascent Soul realm expert meant?
But now, such a powerful figure had extended an olive branch to Zhang Ying, and she had refused it?
"Heh, woman, don't say I didn't warn you."
"This Southwest Grand Competition, my grandfather is personally leading the team. If you refuse, you will be the first to be eliminated!"
Publicly rejected by Zhang Ying, Wu Tie became enraged.
He had deliberately chosen the weakest Sun family for his persuasion this time.
He never expected to be rejected twice in a row.
How could he possibly save face?
"If I am eliminated first, then that is my fate."
Zhang Ying was quite open-minded.
She had come out this time, essentially, to join the fun.
She didn't care at all about whether she could achieve a ranking!
"Bastard!"
Rejected by Zhang Ying once more, Wu Tie was completely enraged.
His cultivation at the Core Formation stage erupted, pressing down on Zhang Ying from all directions.
"A mere Foundation Establishment cultivator dares to defy my will? You are seeking death!"
The anger from being rejected by the Sun family, coupled with this public rejection, completely infuriated Wu Tie.
He intended to capture this woman and torment her severely to vent his anger!
"I think you are the one seeking death!"
However, just as Wu Tie made his move, a fist came flying from beside him.
Spiritual energy coiled around the fist, indicating considerable power.
"Boom!"
Wu Tie couldn't dodge in time, and his cheek was struck by the fist, sending him flying back two to three meters.
"Core Formation cultivator? Do you know who I am? How dare you lay hands on me?"
Once he recovered, Wu Tie looked at Lin Chen, who had just attacked, and his anger surged to its peak!
He, Wu Tie, had been publicly slapped in the face?