"Hmph, I am the Third Elder of the Tian Family from Tiandu. You can all call me Old Third Tian," the elder snorted and announced his identity. He had been cultivating in seclusion within the family and had never participated in this so-called Grand Competition of the Southwest. It was only this time, after the Tian Family had integrated all the cultivation families in Tiandu and the Patriarch himself aimed to secure the top three spots in the competition, that he had personally stepped forward. He hadn't expected to stumble upon such a massive windfall the moment he entered the secret realm! Seeing that the spiritual energy of the two in front of him was almost depleted, he felt it would be a piece of cake to take them down!
"Elder Tian the Third, we are both from the Five Sects and Four Families. No matter which one of us you pick, your mere Tian Family of Tiandu cannot afford to offend us!" Zhou Kai looked at Old Third Tian and issued a warning. Due to Old Third Tian's sudden appearance, Zhou Kai and Qian Zhongchun exchanged glances, their intentions clearly understood. This Old Third Tian clearly had ill intentions, and if they couldn't deal with him first, they might both die here today!
"Tch, the Five Sects and Four Families?" "This is the Grand Competition of the Southwest, a battle to the death. If you fear death, feel free to hand over your jade talismans and storage bags and withdraw immediately." Old Third Tian looked at the two with icy eyes.
"You scoundrel! Do you really think you can defeat both of us alone?" Seeing Old Third Tian's aggressive stance, Zhou Kai immediately snorted and questioned him. At worst, he could use the Seven Injuries Fist and fight them to a mutual destruction, so what was there to fear? Even if they withdrew on the spot, those outside wouldn't be able to open the formation to let them out immediately. They would still have to wait until midnight for the formation to be opened uniformly before they could leave. Who could guarantee that after handing over their storage bags and jade talismans, the other party wouldn't make a move against them?
"Then stop the nonsense. Today, I, Old Third Tian, will experience the prowess of the Five Sects and Four Families!" "煞天掌 (Sha Tian Zhang)!" Old Third Tian didn't waste any more words and lunged at Zhou Kai with a palm strike. He could sense that this person had just used some Seven Injuries Fist and his spiritual energy was rapidly depleting. If he could kill him first, the remaining Qian Zhongchun would be much easier to deal with!
"Seven Injuries Fist!" Zhou Kai gritted his teeth, stomped his foot, and met Old Third Tian head-on. With a "boom," a wave of energy erupted as their fists and palms collided. Zhou Kai was sent flying back several steps from the impact. "Hmph, the legendary Five Sects and Four Families are nothing special." "I just don't know how many more palms you can withstand, old man! Kill!" After gaining the upper hand, Old Third Tian attacked swiftly again, launching another palm strike towards Zhou Kai.
"Qian Zhongchun! When else will you make a move if not now? If I die, you won't live either!" Seeing Old Third Tian's fierce assault, Zhou Kai knew he couldn't win and immediately turned to look in the direction Qian Zhongchun had been standing. However, that spot was now completely empty, with no sign of Qian Zhongchun. "Scoundrel!" Seeing that his only helper had fled amidst the chaos, Zhou Kai's eyes widened in anger.
"Huh? Interesting, not bad at escaping!" Even Lin Chen, hidden in the shadows, couldn't help but marvel. He had been so focused on watching Zhou Kai and Old Third Tian fight that he hadn't noticed when Qian Zhongchun had slipped away! "It seems the Five Sects and Four Families, with their millennia of heritage, are indeed full of hidden talents and should not be underestimated!" Lin Chen calmed himself down slightly and continued to watch the duel.
"This damned old bastard!" Zhou Kai gritted his teeth, but there was nothing he could do. "Tsk tsk tsk, boy, your helper has also run off. Kneel and accept your death, and I'll give you a quick one!" Old Third Tian looked at Zhou Kai, his eyes filled with killing intent. Before entering the competition grounds, the Patriarch had given a direct order: any cultivator of the Heavenly Human realm from the Five Sects and Four Families, if killed, would be rewarded with medicinal pills. Originally, with Qian Zhongchun present, he had anticipated a tough fight. He hadn't expected that people from the Five Sects and Four Families would be so spineless! They abandoned their temporary ally and fled directly! If this were to spread, it would surely be a laughingstock!
"Wait! Elder Tian, if I hand over the storage bag and jade talisman in my possession, will you spare my life?" "When I get out, I will surely reward you handsomely!" Zhou Kai's face flushed as he actively pleaded for mercy. Handing over his jade talisman and storage bag was somewhat humiliating, but there was no better option at this point. As long as he could preserve his life and leave here alive, once outside, he would definitely give the Tian Family a piece of his mind!
"Hmph, Zhou Kai, don't be foolish. Do you think I'm a three-year-old child?" "Although my Tian Family has integrated all the cultivation families in Tiandu, our strength is still inferior to your Five Sects and Four Families." "Let you live and then seek revenge on me?" Old Third Tian snorted coldly. He had only said that to break their psychological defenses. With medicinal pills as a reward, how could he pass up such a golden opportunity? The Zhou Kai in front of him was a genuine mid-stage Core Formation cultivator! If he killed him, according to the rules set by the Patriarch, he would receive at least two spirit pills! Two spirit pills were a reward he would normally take two years to earn, so how could he easily give it up now?
"Alright, since you are so aggressive, don't blame me for being impolite!" Seeing his plea rejected, Zhou Kai's face turned red. "Senior hiding in the shadows, I am an elder of the Zhou Family, one of the Five Sects and Four Families. If you are willing to help me and save my life," "I, Zhou Kai, swear by the ancestors of my Zhou Family that I will surely reward you handsomely later!" Zhou Kai gritted his teeth and looked in Lin Chen's direction. He possessed a secret technique that allowed him to sense spiritual energy fluctuations here, so he naturally knew that besides the recently revealed Old Third Tian, there was another person hiding behind him!
"Oh? There's someone else?" Hearing Zhou Kai's words, Old Third Tian looked surprised and turned to look over. Lin Chen, unable to hide, slowly stood up from the grass. "As expected of one of the Five Sects and Four Families. Just this technique for sensing auras is enough to make one marvel." Lin Chen looked at Zhou Kai with a grave expression. He believed his disguise was flawless, and since he had been discovered, it only proved that this Zhou Kai was not simple!
"Fellow Daoist, if you beg me, I will readily hand over this cultivation technique!" "Once you learn it, you will be able to use your divine sense within this secret realm!" Zhou Kai gritted his teeth and stomped his foot, making a promise to Lin Chen.