Clash of Powers

Old Ancestor Cui, wielding a formidable azure saber light, forced the blue-robed woman back and hastily spoke.

“Xuanhui Holy Mother, don’t push things too far!”

“This old man is not afraid of you.”

“Don’t forget, this is the Cui family’s main camp.”

“If I truly wished to be your Xuanhui Sect’s enemy, I could activate the city-wide protection array and trap all of you inside.”

“Surely you can see that much?”

Xuanhui Holy Mother immediately let out a cold snort.

“Old Freak Cui, are you feigning ignorance?”

“My disciple died at the hands of your Cui family’s Azure Origin Saber Aura—the very move you just used.”

“As far as I know, this Azure Origin Saber Aura is an exclusive technique of your inner family, is it not?”

“If you have a clear conscience, why do you not dare let this Matriarch search for the killer?”

Hearing this, Old Ancestor Cui laughed in exasperation.

He felt this old woman was being completely unreasonable.

The Cui family’s home was not a public market; how could they possibly allow another power to casually search their grounds?

Among any powers in the cultivation world, unless the disparity in strength was too great to resist, none would ever permit such a thing.

“Now that makes this old man want to laugh.”

“If a disciple of my Cui family died outside, and I suspected your Xuanhui Sect was responsible, would you let me search your entire sect?”

“You’ve lived to such an age, yet you speak without thinking?” Old Ancestor Cui retorted, his anger giving way to a mocking smile.

Xuanhui Holy Mother, upon hearing this, erupted in fury.

“Bastard, you dare mock me!”

“Fine, fine, fine!”

“In any case, this old woman’s time is running out.”

“Before I pass on, I might as well take an old thing like you with me and destroy your Cui family’s main camp while I’m at it!”

After speaking, Xuanhui Holy Mother suddenly brandished a purification vase that radiated a boundless blue light.

The moment the vase appeared, it unleashed an infinite pressure.

A massive torrent of blue water poured from it, gathering above Qinghe City and forming a colossal water sphere.

“The Xuanhui Sect’s sect-guarding supreme treasure!”

“You? Are you insane?”

The moment this treasure appeared, Old Ancestor Cui grew anxious.

In terms of heritage, their Cui family was weaker than the Xuanhui Sect.

The Cui family possessed only a single flawed Divine Venerable magical treasure.

“Flawed” meant it was incomplete, its power likely falling somewhere between the Divine Soul Realm and the Divine Venerable Realm.

“This old woman is insane!”

“If you don’t give me an explanation today, I’ll let you know just how formidable my Xuanhui Sect truly is.”

Xuanhui Holy Mother seemed truly prepared to make a move.

Old Ancestor Cui’s expression turned grim.

He glanced down at the city below.

If his opponent unleashed the full power of that treasure, their Cui family would likely be finished.

“Old woman, can you not calm down and use your brain to think for a moment?”

“My Cui family is weaker than your Xuanhui Sect, so why would I take the initiative to kill one of your disciples?”

“I’m saying, is there a possibility that someone is framing us, hoping to see our two families fight to the death so they can reap the benefits?”

“Of course, if you think that’s not possible, then there’s another possibility.”

“Could someone have secretly learned our Cui family’s ancestral technique?”

“Or perhaps someone is impersonating a Cui family disciple?”

“There’s even one more possibility: that person happened to learn our ancestral technique and then used it against your Xuanhui Sect disciple.”

“If you feel none of these are possible, then there’s one final possibility: maybe someone from our Cui family did it, but you have to give us some time to investigate, don’t you?”

Old Ancestor Cui conceded.

He had no choice but to back down.

He might not fear his opponent’s methods, but the Cui family certainly did.

Before Xuanhui Holy Mother had arrived, she had certainly considered these possibilities as well.

If she were certain a Cui family member was the culprit, she wouldn’t have sent people to demand answers; she would have directly declared war.

Often in negotiations, especially when one holds the upper hand, appearing weak from the start makes it difficult to get the other party to cooperate.

Her approach was to try reason before resorting to force.

“So you know fear now?”

“I thought you, Old Freak Cui, were afraid of nothing!”

“Fine, I’ll give you a chance.”

“Go back and investigate now.”

“You must give me an answer.”

“Either prove it wasn’t one of your people, or find the perpetrator and hand them over to me for punishment.”

“Otherwise, this old woman will camp right outside your city and I won’t leave.”

Xuanhui Holy Mother relented slightly.

“Fine, fine, fine, as you wish.”

“Have your people stop first, and I’ll go investigate immediately,” Old Ancestor Cui said helplessly.

Only then did Xuanhui Holy Mother signal to her subordinates.

“Alright, stop fighting for now.”

“Give them some time.”

“If they don’t give us an answer by this time tomorrow, we’ll continue the fight.”

Thus, the group of female cultivators in water-blue robes flew out of Qinghe City and gathered outside.

The Xuanhui Sect was composed entirely of female cultivators.

Soon, a group of women in water-blue robes followed Xuanhui Holy Mother and set up camp directly outside the city.

Once they had departed, Old Ancestor Cui looked at the chaotic mess of Qinghe City, his face a mask of frustration.

“All core members of the Cui family’s five lineages, come to the ancestral hall for a meeting!” Old Ancestor Cui shouted, then vanished from his spot.

The other Cui family experts also made their way to the ancestral hall immediately.

“Ah, it’s finally over.”

“Truly, when gods fight, mortals suffer.”

“I don’t even know if my house is still standing.”

“If it’s been destroyed, I’ll be homeless!”

The ordinary people were now worried about their homes.

Seeing the battle end, Yan Yun couldn’t help but look at the group of women behind her.

But just as Yan Yun turned her head, a voice tinged with curiosity sounded in her ear.

“Oh? It’s a little fox with the bloodline of the divine beast, the Heavenly Fox.”

“Little girl, is this little fox your pet?”

“Are you willing to sell it?”

Yan Yun’s expression froze.

She felt a moment of dizziness, and by the time she came to her senses, she found herself standing before the members of the Xuanhui Sect.

And not far in front of her stood the very same Xuanhui Holy Mother who had just been fighting with Old Ancestor Cui.

“Eh? This?”

Yan Yun glanced around her, realizing she had been unknowingly restrained and brought before the woman by her power.

Yan Yun and Xiao Leng on her shoulder simultaneously grew vigilant.

“Senior, what is the meaning of this?”

“Why have you suddenly used a technique to bring me here?” Yan Yun asked, her eyes narrowing.

Xuanhui Holy Mother carefully sized up Yan Yun, a look of confusion on her face.

“What a peculiar power.”

“The successor of the Heavenly Poison Maiden has appeared in the neighboring Jiang Country, and news of the Heavenly Poison Sutra has spread everywhere.”

“Young lady, you’ve cultivated the Heavenly Poison Sutra, haven’t you?” Xuanhui Holy Mother asked.

On this matter, Yan Yun naturally had nothing to hide.

“Senior has sharp eyes.”

“This junior was fortunate enough to succeed by chance.”

Xuanhui Holy Mother nodded.

“Alright, back to my previous question, is this little fox for sale?”

“This little one’s bloodline is extraordinary, but you cannot bring out her full potential.”

“If you’re willing to give her to this old woman, I can give you spirit stones corresponding to this spirit beast’s value, or you can name whatever you desire.”

“We can also trade item for item,” Xuanhui Holy Mother said slowly.

Yan Yun glanced at Big Brother Xiao, then refused without hesitation.

“Senior, forgive this junior for being unable to agree.”

“She is my sister, not my pet.”

Yan Yun’s direct refusal naturally displeased the people of the Xuanhui Sect.

It was well known that within the Dao Alliance’s sphere of influence, might made right.

To offer a trade was already considered reasonable.

Most of the time, if your strength was insufficient, others would simply take what they wanted without wasting a single word.

“Little girl, my Master offering to trade with you is a sign of respect.”

“Don’t be ungrateful,” a woman in palace attire beside Xuanhui Holy Mother immediately stepped forward, her tone cold and sharp.

Since Yan Yun was unwilling to trade, they were prepared to use their power to pressure her.

“That’s right, little girl.”

“With my Master’s status, she has no need to negotiate with you at all.”

“Can a mere Spirit Transformation Realm cultivator like you protect such a spirit beast?”

“Fortunately for you, we are not wicked people.”

“If we were, we would have killed you long ago and taken the spirit beast for ourselves,” another woman in palace attire added.

Yan Yun listened to their self-righteous words, feeling a wave of speechlessness.

‘As expected of cultivators from the Dao Alliance. They can make robbing someone sound so righteous. This truly is a regional custom.’
After grumbling internally, Yan Yun looked at Xuanhui Holy Mother, her attitude still calm and unhurried.

“Senior, I say the same thing.”

“This beast is my sister.”

“I cannot trade her with you.”

“I ask that Senior does not make things difficult for me.”

Seeing that Yan Yun still refused to yield, the members of the Xuanhui Sect grew angry.

“Hah? Little girl, you’ve got some nerve, don’t you?”

“Master, stop wasting words on her, let’s just take it!”

But Xuanhui Holy Mother suddenly raised her hand to stop them.

“If you’re unwilling to trade, then so be it.”

“You may leave.”

The members of the Xuanhui Sect were stunned.

They didn’t understand what had come over Xuanhui Holy Mother, why she had suddenly changed her mind.

Yan Yun smiled faintly.

“Many thanks, Senior.”

“This junior will take her leave.”

Yan Yun immediately flew up, heading towards the gates of Qinghe City.

After she left, the members of the Xuanhui Sect hurriedly questioned Xuanhui Holy Mother.

“Master, why… why did you let her go?”

“A spirit beast like that is exceedingly rare.”

Xuanhui Holy Mother’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“Just now, I sensed a very powerful Divine Venerable cultivator’s aura on her.”

“That little girl most likely carries a Divine Venerable Talisman condensed by a powerful cultivator.”

“She’s probably a disciple from a major power, out on a journey of experience.”

“We can’t afford to provoke her.”

“Let it go.”

“What? The aura of a Divine Venerable cultivator?”

“One that even you fear, Master?” a woman in palace attire asked in astonishment.

“Far stronger than me,” Xuanhui Holy Mother replied, her gaze grave.

Of course it was. Xuanhui Holy Mother was merely an ordinary minor accomplishment Divine Venerable, while the Divine Venerable Talisman in Yan Yun’s hands was one condensed by the foremost expert of the Demonic Dao, the Evil Emperor.

Activating it to annihilate this group would be an effortless task.

Meanwhile, on the Cui family’s side, they had already begun their investigation.

“All of you, quickly investigate yourselves!”

“See if anyone in the Cui clan killed a direct disciple of the Xuanhui Sect.”

“Even if you can’t find the culprit, check for any inside help that might have let the technique leak out.”

“In any case, we must provide an answer, or there will be big trouble tomorrow,” Old Ancestor Cui commanded the heads of the Cui family’s five lineages.

The heads of the five lineages glanced at each other, then immediately began to arrange manpower, gathering everyone from their respective branches to investigate one by one.

As for Yan Yun, she once again went to Qinghe City to recruit workers.

She quickly gathered over a hundred workers and led them out of the city.

Her act of leading so many people away naturally attracted the attention of the Xuanhui Sect members.

“Master, what is that little girl doing?”

“Why did she bring so many low-level cultivators out with her?”

“What is she planning?”

Xuanhui Holy Mother shook her head.

“It’s hard to say.”

“Su Meng, follow them secretly and see what they’re up to,” Xuanhui Holy Mother gestured to a female cultivator at the Divine Soul Realm.

That female cultivator immediately began to shadow Yan Yun.

Unfortunately for her, the moment she started following, she was discovered by Yan Lingyun.