Chapter 262: Who's Making a Move?
"I already said it."
Li Xun strode forward, his steps unhurried, as if walking through a peaceful courtyard. His voice was calm as he spoke:
"This place is just as far from your Spirit Clan's territory. If I decide to cut you down today—where exactly do you think you can run?"
"Arrogant!"
The Spirit Clan patriarch barked coldly, his bearing firm and fearless.
Though he had sustained some injuries, such wounds were nothing to him—he could recover in an instant. If it came to a life-and-death battle, he didn't believe himself to be any weaker than Li Xun.
After all, they had only exchanged one round so far, and both sides still had many hidden cards. If they truly fought to the death, as an elder powerhouse, his odds against Li Xun should be fifty-fifty.
"Today, I'll send you on your way!"
Li Xun's voice was cold.
He clenched his hand, and a massive black halberd materialized—over three meters long. A pale dragon coiled around its shaft, seemingly alive, exhaling an endless killing aura that sent chills down everyone's spines.
"The Azure Dragon Halberd!"
Many people's faces changed, their hearts filled with unease.
From the moment Li Xun had risen to prominence, the halberd in his hand had been instrumental in his countless victories. Everyone knew it well that this weapon had followed Li Xun as he slew one mighty foe after another, its blade soaked in the blood of countless experts.
Now that the Azure Dragon Halberd had reappeared, many realized that things could not end peacefully today.
"The Spirit Clan went too far this time," someone murmured. "They knew full well that Xiao Fan and Li Xun were close, yet they still leaked that recording stone. On the surface, Li Xun looks calm, but in truth, he's already furious."
"The last time he used the Azure Dragon Halberd was inside the minor world of the Great Strength Divine Demon Sect—he killed several Divine Palace realm experts in a single battle. Now he's in the mid-stage of that same realm. If he wields it again today, many of his peers will surely die beneath that weapon!"
Inside the great hall, the atmosphere grew ever heavier.
The pitch-black halberd radiated murderous intent that reached the heavens, the tangible dragon's might spreading through every corner. It felt as though an ancient beast had broken free from its cage and descended into the hall.
Everyone felt as if they'd fallen into an ice cellar. The weaker cultivators were already retreating, unwilling to be caught up in the coming storm.
Toward the rear of the hall, the Xiao Clan, together with the Golden Crow Clan and representatives of the Star-Moon Divine Sect, exchanged subtle glances. Their intentions were clear without a word spoken.
In their eyes now, there was a glint of coldness as they looked toward Li Xun.
A fight breaking out here wasn't something they desired—but if Li Xun truly clashed with the Spirit Clan patriarch, they wouldn't hesitate to strike from the shadows.
A coordinated ambush from multiple Divine Palace realm experts—taking him by surprise—would leave even someone as monstrously strong as Li Xun gravely wounded.
Just as the tension reached its freezing point, a tall figure shot in from outside the hall, moving so fast that a sharp sonic boom ripped through the air. Before the sound had even faded, he was already standing between the two combatants.
"Gentlemen, may I ask that you both give my Crape Myrtle Holy Land some face? Let this matter end here—what do you say?"
Everyone turned.
A man in a wide black robe stood in the center of the hall, his aura vast and immovable, like a mountain looming between Li Xun and the Spirit Clan patriarch.
"The Crape Myrtle Holy Lord has arrived," someone whispered.
At his appearance, the entire hall finally exhaled in relief.
Though the Crape Myrtle Holy Lord might not be able to suppress Li Xun or the Spirit Clan patriarch by strength alone, he represented the authority of the Crape Myrtle Holy Land itself.
If he so desired, he could even summon one of the Holy Land's Saints.
With him stepping forward today, it seemed the looming battle would be halted.
Some people were faintly disappointed that they wouldn't get to see the spectacle they had hoped for.
But most were simply grateful.
Because if this battle truly erupted, it wouldn't just involve one or two factions—Li Xun stood backed by the Ten Thousand Transformations Holy Land and the Northern Yu Empire, both of which already had their powerhouses poised to act at any moment.
It was clear that once either side made the first move, the entire Crape Myrtle Holy Land would likely be reduced to ruins. And when that happened, today's Demon-Sealing Conference would turn into nothing but a complete joke.
"The Otherworldly Demons from beyond the realm have already descended," the Crape Myrtle Holy Lord said solemnly. "At a time like this, if either of you suffers a loss, it will be a loss to our entire world."
"If there truly is some irreconcilable enmity between you, then resolve it after we've eradicated the Otherworldly Demons."
At his words, several other powerhouses quickly voiced their agreement.
At this moment, most people didn't want to see this fight break out. After all, both Li Xun and the Spirit Clan patriarch were top human experts, and the powers behind them were deeply entrenched and influential.
If they fought now, it would only weaken humanity's upper echelons—while the spirit race could simply sit back and reap the benefits.
"Since the Crape Myrtle Holy Lord has spoken," Li Xun said coolly, "then I'll let your head stay on your shoulders for now. When I have the time in the future, I'll come to claim it myself."
He didn't press the matter further. If he continued to push, the Crape Myrtle Holy Lord wouldn't be the only one to appear—a Saint might descend next.
If things escalated that far, it would be a loss of face for both him and the Crape Myrtle Holy Land alike.
"I'll be waiting," the Spirit Clan patriarch replied icily.
Seeing the crisis dissolve at last, everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief. The Crape Myrtle Holy Lord's expression also eased. He immediately ordered attendants to arrange lodgings for the various faction representatives, lest they continue gathering and someone's careless words spark another conflict.
Just as he was organizing everything, from afar, a core disciple of the Crape Myrtle Holy Land came flying in at high speed.
The moment he landed, he shouted anxiously, "Holy Lord! Something terrible has happened—someone's started a fight at the banquet!"
"Hm?"
Hearing that, the Crape Myrtle Holy Lord felt a headache coming on.
For this Demon-Sealing Conference, there had been two banquets arranged: one for the elders and veterans, and another for the younger generation of prodigies.
This side's conflict had just been settled—and now, the other side was in chaos?
"Who's fighting?" the Crape Myrtle Holy Lord asked darkly.
When it came to the younger generation, his patience was far thinner. At the end of the day, they were just impulsive juniors.
"It's…"
The core disciple hesitated, glancing nervously at the great hall—first at the representatives of the Xiao Clan, Spirit Clan, Golden Crow Clan, and the Star-Moon Divine Sect, then finally at Li Xun.
His gaze lingered a moment before returning to his own Holy Lord.
Sensing the disciple's expression, the Crape Myrtle Holy Lord felt his heart sink. Don't tell me… our own Holy Son got involved too?
If that were true, it would be a disaster.
As the host of the event, for his own Holy Son to brawl with guests—wouldn't that make the Crape Myrtle Holy Land the laughingstock of the entire cultivation world?
"It was the Xiao Clan's Xiao Zhan, the Spirit Clan's Ling Heng, the Fourth Prince of the Golden Crow Clan, the Yin-Yang Holy Son, the new Holy Son of the Star-Moon Divine Sect, the Ninth Prince of the Great Chu Dynasty, the Crown Prince of the Great Zhou Dynasty…as well as Lu Qingxian and the others."
The core disciple spoke with a trembling voice.
With each name he uttered, the expressions in the hall grew more and more colorful—until, by the end, nearly everyone wore the same look of stunned disbelief.
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