ALL NOVEL
Chapter 656: Splitting the Pie
As the gaunt old man's words fell, black flames swept across the sky, spreading in all directions and causing space to ripple.
Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!
Countless small groups whose protective barriers had been disrupted were now exposed in the sky.
These people looked at each other, unsure of how to respond to the gaunt old man's command to clear the area. They had come out hoping to capitalize on any opportunities, and the thought of returning empty-handed was too disappointing to bear. Thus, no one spoke up.
The gaunt old man paid little attention to these exposed, weaker individuals. They were not the ones he was concerned with. His focus remained on those who had yet to appear.
Then, Old Yan cast his gaze towards a spot in the air, and the space around it suddenly distorted. Countless gazes were shaken as four figures slowly appeared in the sky.
These figures stood silently in the empty space, emitting an extremely terrifying oppressive aura that far surpassed some of the Perfected Earth Sovereigns present.
Like the gaunt old man, they too carried a hint of the Heavenly Sovereign's aura.
The surrounding area became eerily quiet with the appearance of these four figures. All the elite experts present bowed their heads slightly, and fear could be seen on their faces.
These four individuals, just like the old man from the Fire Spirit Clan, had reached the Quasi-Heavenly Sovereign Stage!
Some of the experienced and knowledgeable people in the crowd even recognized them.
Sage Zi Yun, Joyful Fairy, Red Heavens Emperor, and Eastern Thunder Pulse Master.
They were all renowned figures, powerful enough to dominate below the Heavenly Sovereign Stage.
On the mountaintop, Old Yan gazed at these four figures. On the far left stood a middle-aged man in flowing white robes that exuded a detached, otherworldly charm. Yet, his purple eyes radiated a strange and eerie feel that discouraged any slight underestimation.
To his right stood a woman with a clear, beautiful complexion, dressed in very revealing clothing. Large areas of her snow-white skin were exposed, and the few pieces of clothing she wore were adorned with images of men and women in intimate poses. Her innocent face wore an intoxicating smile that constantly attracted the gazes of others.
Standing next to her was a figure dressed in a golden dragon robe, who exuded an imposing, emperor-like presence. He stood with his hands behind his back. His face displayed a faint golden color, faintly radiating an endless majesty that made one's heart race.
On the far right, an old man in a black Taoist robe stood with a cold expression. His eyes were filled with ruthlessness, and every move he made seemed to be accompanied by the sound of thunder, striking fear into the hearts of those who dared to look at him for too long.
Powerful fluctuations emanated from the bodies of the four figures that caused the surrounding space to tremble. The boiling Spiritual Energy of the world seemed to quiet down as it approached them, becoming as docile as a lamb.
Just by standing there, they seemed to merge with the world, creating a mystical sense of unity between man and nature. It felt as though attacking them was akin to attacking the very world itself.
This extraordinary sensation caused Old Yan's eyes to narrow slightly. It had been a long time since he had ventured out, and among these individuals, he recognized only the last one, the Eastern Thunder Pulse Master.
This person was one of the four Great Pulse Masters of the superpower known as Thunder Extreme Temple. Although Thunder Extreme Temple was not as prominent as the Fire Spirit Clan, it was backed by a Spirit Grade Heavenly Sovereign named Lei Ji.
Just as Old Yan was about to inquire about the origins of the others, his ears picked up snippets of conversation from those he considered insignificant, providing the information he sought.
"That man in the white robe, isn't he Sage Zi Yun? The Sect Master of the Purple Cloud Sect from the North Region of Skylaw Continent, one of the overlords there. In the North Region, no one dares to disobey his orders."
"So he comes from a significant background then. The top forces of Skylaw Continent are all backed by superpowers."
"In fact, Sage Zi Yun is backed by Sage Zi Qi of Zi Qi Spiritual Cave, who has been a Spirit Grade Heavenly Sovereign for many years. Without such backing, the Purple Cloud Sect wouldn't have become a top force in Skylaw Continent."
"You're all talking about Sage Zi Yun, but the origins of the other three are not to be underestimated. That man in the imperial robe is the Supreme Emperor of the Red Heavens Continent's Imperial Dynasty."
"As for that voluptuous woman, she is Fairy Huanxi from the Joyous Sect, a cultivator of the Great Joyous Technique. Her strength is no less than the others. I heard she has a fondness for handsome men. The way she looked at that pretty boy, her eyes practically lit up as if she wanted to devour him right there. She must have already staked her claim on him."
"The Joyous Sect? Tsk, tsk, tsk, not sure whether to envy that lad or pity him."
"….."
'Zi Qi Spiritual Cave? That's almost on par with the Thunder Extreme Temple.'
'As for the Joyous Sect and the Red Heavens Continent, they are just Quasi-Heavenly Sovereign powers, nothing to be particularly concerned about.'
Old Yan muttered to himself before exchanging a glance with Huo Mo. They both understood each other's thoughts.
Then, Huo Mo and Old Yan rose into the air and declared:
"Ladies and gentlemen, I am Huo Mo, the Young Master of the Fire Spirit Clan's Fire Pulse. Beside me is our clan's elder, Huo Yan, also known as Cold Flame Yama. These individuals have had conflicts with us in the past, so we kindly ask you to give the Fire Spirit Clan some face and not interfere in this matter."
Upon hearing the name 'Fire Spirit Clan,' the expressions of the four figures changed, especially those of the Red Heavens Emperor and Fairy Huanxi, who lacked the backing of a Heavenly Sovereign. The mere mention of the Fire Spirit Clan was enough to instill fear.
However, the Eastern Thunder Pulse Master narrowed his eyes and then said with a smile.
"Of course, we must give a face to the Fire Spirit Clan, especially since I am an old acquaintance of Cold Flame Yama. However..."
The Eastern Thunder Pulse Master paused for a moment, his expression becoming somewhat troubled.
"Before I set out, the Sovereign decreed that I must bring back the Grandmaster Alchemist capable of reaching the Spirit Grade Divine Pill realm. If I fail to do so, I will face punishment."
"We of the Purple Cloud Sect have a similar mandate; that great person asked me to bring back the Grandmaster Alchemist," Sage Zi Yun added calmly, his eyes lingering on the Eastern Thunder Pulse Master.
"This... I also want to take that handsome little brother with me," Fairy Huanxi said with a pitiful look and soft tone, as if taking him away would be a form of bullying her.
The words of the three made Huo Mo frown. He understood their intention: they were willing to compromise by giving him the Greenstone Azure Flame and the Spirit Grade Divine Pill, but they insisted on taking the beautiful lady alchemist with them.
As for Fairy Huanxi, her behavior was even more outrageous; she had taken a liking to the pretty boy and seemed uninterested in the Grandmaster Alchemist. Huo Mo didn't believe for a second that she had come initially for the pretty boy, but now her eyes seemed to be glued to him, barely moving away even as she spoke!
As for the Red Heavens Emperor, who had remained silent, Huo Mo couldn't quite discern his intentions, but his presence suggested that his thoughts were likely aligned with those of Sage Zi Yun.
Of course, these people might simply want to seize the Divine Pill, but now that they had been intimidated by him, they had changed their demand to seize the person instead. After all, a wild, high-ranking Grandmaster Alchemist would have already found a faction to align with if they had wanted to.
After a moment of reflection, Huo Mo's gaze hardened and he coldly said, "So it seems that you all have no intention of showing the Fire Spirit Clan any face. My Ancestor once told me that since he had not appeared in the world for a long time, outsiders might have forgotten his renown. It seems he was right. It may indeed be time for him to come out of seclusion and re-establish our authority!"
Although Huo Mo was proud, he was not stupid. The beautiful alchemist could refine pills that were close to Spirit Grade, and if she escaped today, she would undoubtedly become a Great Grandmaster Alchemist in no time. Huo Mo knew that he couldn't withstand the target of a Spirit Grade Great Grandmaster Alchemist.
Since they were already deeply offended, he was determined to go all out today. Allowing the Grandmaster Alchemist to be taken away was absolutely out of the question.
If these people insisted on interfering, he would be forced to play his trump card!