"Ah! Shitang Longsi! You really never learn, have you? You've suffered at my hands a few times already, and you still dare to shout in front of me." Pei Yan said as he took a cut cigar and placed it in his mouth. After lighting it with a flick, he gently smoothed the brim of his hat and mocked, "Oh! I see, I can sense the Power of Origin in you. Impressive! Quite the nurturing you've received! Even your teacher Mu Fanchen hadn't said you'd become a Child of Origin, and you've already advanced!"
As he spoke, Pei Yan glanced past the crowd towards Mu Fanchen standing in the back row and chuckled, "Old Mu, things seem pretty rough for you! With this backstabbing wolf's temperament, aren't you afraid he'll turn on you once his strength surpasses yours?"
"To see a disciple thrive is the greatest achievement for a good master. Pei Yan, there's no need to sow discord between us! Better to focus your efforts where they are needed!" Mu Fanchen replied calmly and composed.
"Oh! Such a touching master-disciple relationship!" Pei Yan said as he removed his hat and casually tossed it back onto the observation platform in the investigation hall. Then, running a hand over his white buzzcut, he slowly lifted his head and eyed Shitang Longsi, asking, "So now you think you've got the strength to challenge me?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the six individuals at the investigation hall immediately exuded their aura, while the Bloodsaw members unceremoniously released their own energy to counteract it. Protected by the Three Tyrants at his side, Shitang Longsi's eyes flared with hatred as he sneered in response, "At least I now have the strength to fight you!"
"Hehehe!" As tensions were about to erupt, a cold laugh came from the edge of the arena, followed by a piercing taunt.
"Some people geet a bit of fame and really think they can run amok across the major planes, thinking a few words is all it takes to make others hand over their people? If someone didn't know better, they'd think you're the Lord of the Plane! What arrogance!"
Pei Yan turned his head at the provocation, only to see it was Flamel. Seeing Pei Yan's gaze on him, Flamel, bearing the principle of adding fuel to the fire, continued his ridicule with a face full of contempt, "What are you looking at me for? Go on! Didn't you say I'm just a useless windbag? Why hold back when it comes to yourself? Pei Yan, you're no different!"
Flamel's words undoubtedly added fuel to the tense standoff, and as Pei Yan's expression grew increasingly furious, Flamel only laughed more gleefully. Meanwhile, the elder of the Immortal Palace, responsible for hosting, grew all the more apprehensive, fearing the two sides might resort to violence on the spot, turning this grand event into a complete farce.
But to everyone's surprise, Pei Yan's angry expression, under Flamel's schadenfreude gaze, turned into a benevolent smile in the next moment. He nodded at Flamel and laughed, "You're right, what I'm doing does seem to be rather unreasonable!"
Having said this, Pei Yan ignored the bewildered Flamel and turned to face Shitang Longsi with a smile, "You think so too, right? I'm asking you one last time, will you hand over the person or not! If you do now, neither of us will regret it too much!"
Having crossed paths with Pei Yan several times, Shitang Longsi knew his temperament and understood this was Pei Yan's final ultimatum. Despite his recent surge in power, Pei Yan still held a psychological shadow over him. Not daring to make a hasty decision, he glanced sideways at Nero, awaiting his decision.
Nero, unbothered by this, nodded toward him. He also wanted to see what Pei Yan could pull off in this tournament set by the six Masters of Origin.
With Nero's approval, Shitang Longsi, now with nothing to hold back, resolutely declared, "That's correct, that's exactly what I think! If you truly want the person, show some sincerity, or else forget it!"
"OK, I thought it would come to this. Fortunately, I made some preparations before coming!" Pei Yan said, turning away from Shitang Longsi, and facing the host from the Immortal Palace, saluting with a smile, "Elder, we're sorry to trouble you with this little matter, but could we trouble you to delay the tournament for twenty minutes? We'll resolve this shortly!"
Before the Immortal Palace host could respond, a youthful voice resonated from all directions of the circular building.
"Granted, but you are not allowed to engage in a physical clash with the opponent on the stage!"
Hearing this disembodied voice, Pei Yan understood it was the local host, Lin Ruxue, permitting his actions. He nodded and cupped his fists in thanks, without further words to those present. He swung his arm through the air, creating a spatial rift behind him.
Seeing this, everyone present, including Shitang Longsi, turned grim. Although this wasn't the most secretive part of the Immortal Palace, its various arrays and restrictions were not much less formidable than those of the Holy Hall in the Hell Plane. For Pei Yan to casually open a spatial rift showed his spatial mastery had reached a significant level.
It seemed the rumors of him devouring a Spatial Divine Artifact in the Hell Plane were true. In the crowd, Flamel and Shitang Longsi wore the darkest expressions, one out of jealousy, the other out of resentment!
However, Pei Yan didn't have the leisure to bother with their emotions. Once the spatial rift stabilized, he was the first to leap inside, followed closely by Gu Shenghui, Ye Ruozai, and the other six filing in one after another.
At the same time, in a private chamber within the circular building, a young scholar sat by the window watching the spectacle outside with delight as he ate from a plate of pastries. Casually, he smiled at Xila, who stood by his side ready to serve, "I wondered why he came to me, and turns out it was for the sake of his few colleagues. Sifuer was right about him, Pei Yan truly values emotions deeply. It's good to be emotional! It makes it easy to exploit one's weaknesses, hmm!"
The scholar said this while pointing at the pastries on the plate, praising, "It's been so long since I've been to the Daoist Realm, and these Blood Silk Hibiscus Cakes from Shunxin Square are getting tastier and tastier. Remember to remind me to bring back more when we leave! Oh, have the arrangements in the Holy City been set? We should seize this opportunity to expand our gains and declare our position. I do not wish for any of our team to appear outwardly compliant and secretly disobedient to Pei Yan's orders."
"Father God, please rest assured!" Xila said, walking to the scholar possessed by the Demon God who was watching the battle, holding up the teapot on the table and pouring tea into the empty cup in front of the scholar, responding, "All major corps have received your secret orders. I believe they are aware of the importance of the issue. To prevent any unforeseen circumstances, Old Samikina has been released from house arrest to serve as the chief commander of this raid. The main force comprises your closest corps, and there will be no problems."
"That's reassuring!" The scholar said, sipping from the teacup, his keen eyes fixed on the screen which began morphing again on the battlefield, his lips curling up in satisfaction, "Now let's just quietly enjoy a good show. As the protagonist, Pei Yan has never disappointed me."
