Chapter 68: Can I Join You?

The words had barely landed before the crowd erupted.

“The Hanling Heavenly Palace’s Outer Gate Treasury?!”

“You’re joking, right?!”

“Hanling Heavenly Palace was the number one power in the Southern Region during the ancient era! A sect founded by a Quasi-Emperor!”

“Its accumulated treasures… even just the Outer Gate Treasury, if we got even a fraction…”

Countless eyes burned red with greed.

A Quasi-Emperor power’s treasury!

Even just the outer gate – anything pulled out at random would be enough to make every faction outside froth with envy.

Only—

Three thousand Nascent Soul Yin Soldiers.

Standing there in perfect stillness.

Like an impassable chasm.

The cheering froze solid.

*

Not long after, a young man stepped out from the crowd.

He wore golden robes, his features handsome, his aura as deep and steady as an abyss.

The token at his waist marked his identity – Wuya Hall, peerless prodigy, Tianjue.

He studied the three thousand Yin Soldiers, then glanced at the cultivators around him – itching to move but none daring to advance – and spoke slowly:

“Everyone, relying on individual strength alone, we won’t break through.”

He paused, sweeping his gaze across the crowd.

“Better to form a grand array, work together – that’s our only chance.”

*

As soon as he finished, another voice rang out.

“Hmph. Tianjue, my Shengling Sect has no interest in cooperating with your Wuya Hall.”

The crowd parted, and a man in green robes strode forward.

His face was cold, his gaze razor-sharp, and his aura just as unfathomable.

Shengling Sect’s peerless prodigy, Yuan Fei.

Tianjue looked at him, unruffled, and merely smiled.

The two great powers had been at odds for ages – the entire Southern Region knew it.

If Yuan Fei led his Shengling Sect people into an alliance, even if they entered the palace and seized treasures, he wouldn’t be able to explain himself when he got back.

Those old fossils who nursed deep grudges against Wuya Hall wouldn’t care what difficulties he faced inside the secret realm.

Yuan Fei’s future standing and support within Shengling Sect would be gutted.

Tianjue turned to the third person.

A woman in white robes, her features cold and refined, her bearing transcendent, a faint moonglow shrouding her form.

One of Tianyue Palace’s twin peerless prodigies, Su Lin.

“Miss Su, what do you think?”

Su Lin shook her head coolly.

“We’ll each charge the formation on our own.”

She glanced at Tianjue, then at Yuan Fei.

Tianyue Palace and Wuya Hall had no major grudges, but she didn’t trust either of them.

The three sacred lands – all smiles on the surface, all watching each other’s backs in the shadows.

Tianjue nodded, not pressing the point.

“In that case, since neither of you wishes to cooperate, we’ll each fight alone.”

He turned around, facing the Wuya Hall disciples behind him, and his voice suddenly rose:

“Wuya Hall disciples, heed my command! Follow me into the formation!”

At his words, hundreds of figures soared into the air, landing behind him.

Right after, disciples from subsidiary factions sworn to Wuya Hall rushed to follow.

“Wuya Heaven-Breaking Array – activate!”

At Tianjue’s command, the auras of hundreds merged as one!

Golden light shot skyward, coalescing into an enormous golden sword, suspended above the grand array.

*

Su Lin and Yuan Fei merely watched coldly, unmoving.

Even after setting up his formation, Tianjue didn’t charge in immediately.

He simply gathered momentum, watching the three thousand Yin Soldiers with sharp eyes.

Everyone understood perfectly – whoever took the vanguard would suffer devastating losses.

Tianjue was waiting.

Waiting for the other two.

*

Yuan Fei gave a cold snort.

“Shengling Sect disciples, heed my command!”

He stepped forward, and hundreds of figures behind him rose into the air as one.

“Holy Spirit Demon-Slaying Array – activate!”

Green light soared, coalescing into the phantom of a roaring beast, crouched above the formation.

*

Su Lin looked at them both, then finally spoke:

“Tianyue Palace disciples, heed my command.”

She raised a hand, and the hundreds of white-robed disciples behind her stepped forward in unison.

“Tianyue Star-Breaking Array – activate!”

Moon-white light surged upward, transforming into a massive crescent blade, slowly revolving.

*

Three grand arrays. Three surging waves of crushing pressure.

Three thousand Nascent Soul Yin Soldiers. Still standing in absolute silence.

The air itself seemed to solidify.

*

At the edge of the square.

Lin Xiaoyu stood alone in a corner, watching the scene.

She awkwardly clutched the hem of her robe.

She wasn’t a disciple of Tianyue Palace, nor of any subsidiary faction under it.

She was merely a guest invited by Yue Qingshuang to participate in the secret realm.

But now, Sister Yue wasn’t here.

She bit her lip and looked toward the Tianyue Star-Breaking Array.

After a moment’s hesitation, she walked over.

“Senior Sister Su.”

She spoke, her voice soft.

“Can I join you?”

*

Everyone turned their heads to look at this out-of-place young woman.

Qi Refining Stage?

A little girl at the Qi Refining Stage?

Where did she even come from?

Su Lin frowned slightly, sizing her up.

“Who are you?”

Lin Xiaoyu hurriedly said:

“My name is Lin Xiaoyu, a disciple of Qingyun Sect.”

Qingyun Sect?

Su Lin’s frown deepened.

Qingyun Sect was not a force under Tianyue Palace’s banner.

She was about to refuse—

A man suddenly stepped forward from the formation and whispered a few words in her ear.

He wore white robes, a Tianyue Sacred Land token hanging at his waist – one of Zhou Yunfan’s attendants.

“Senior Sister Su, she was invited by Holy Maiden Yue Qingshuang.”

*

Su Lin’s expression instantly changed.

A trace of coldness flickered through those indifferent eyes.

Yue Qingshuang.

That name was like a thorn lodged in her heart.

Back then, in the contest for Holy Maiden, she had lost to Yue Qingshuang – and she still couldn’t let it go.

Though she maintained respectful deference toward Yue Qingshuang on the surface, that grudge in her heart had never faded.

Now, hearing those three words, an instinctive resistance surged up inside her.

And the attendant, having spoken, let a nearly imperceptible cold smirk flicker across his lips.

He would of course carry out what Senior Brother Zhou had asked.

This girl was someone Senior Brother Zhou specifically wanted dead. Keep her locked out and leave her to face three thousand Nascent Soul Yin Soldiers alone. The mental image was exquisite.

*

Su Lin withdrew her gaze and looked at Lin Xiaoyu, her tone flat:

“You are neither a disciple of my Tianyue Palace nor affiliated with its subordinate forces. You have no right to enter the formation.”

*

Lin Xiaoyu opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out.

She lowered her head and silently stepped aside.

The lackey watched her lonely figure retreat, a flash of satisfaction in his eyes.

*

“Little sister.”

A warm, cheerful voice suddenly rang out.

Lin Xiaoyu looked up.

From the Wuya Hall side, Tianjue was looking at her with a gentle smile.

“Would you like to join my Wuya Heaven-Breaking Array?”

The disciples beside him glanced over in surprise.

Senior Brother Tianjue was actually inviting a mere Qi Refining Stage girl?

Lin Xiaoyu froze for a moment, then shook her head.

“Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother. It’s just…”

She paused, leaving the words unspoken.

Yue Qingshuang had invited her here. Even though Tianyue Palace had shut her out, she didn’t want to join another faction.

Tianjue wasn’t bothered. He smiled and nodded.

“Then take care of yourself.”

*

Lin Xiaoyu nodded and retreated even further.

She found a large boulder, leaned against it, and watched the three great formations from a distance.

*

Tianjue withdrew his gaze and turned to the three thousand Yin Soldiers.

“Charge!”

At his command, the Wuya Heaven-Breaking Array surged into motion!

The colossal golden sword tore through the air, hurtling toward the Yin Soldier army!

Right behind it, the Holy Spirit Demon-Slaying Array moved!

The giant azure beast roared as it followed close behind!

Finally, the Tianyue Star-Breaking Array activated!

A crescent blade of moonlight-white slashed horizontally, splitting the sky.

Three great formations, three torrents of power—all crashing simultaneously toward those three thousand Nascent Soul Yin Soldiers!

*

BOOM!!!

The thunderous roar shook the heavens, and battle cries erupted from all sides!