All eyes were fixed on the scene.
A voice, as if it were the master of the world, suddenly ca from the barren mountain peak: "As expected of the Mountain Opening Tiger. You actually saw through our concealnt technique!"
Eight figures bizarrely erged from the mountain peak, rushing toward Liger Valley.
These eight people were all clad in silver Sword Robes. On their chests, the sharp words "Cyan Nether" were embroidered in gold thread!
They were none other than the Inner Sect Disciples of the Cyan Nether Sword Sect!
The aura emanating from each of them was a genuine Earth Soul Realm fluctuation. The faint ripples coming from the two leading figures, in particular, were enough to make one's heart tremble in fear.
Their Sword Robes bore small numbers: two and eight!
The identities of these two were...
The Leader of the Four Kings, the peerless Demon Fiend ranked second among the True Disciples, Hong Renjie, and the eighth-ranked, Tie Shou!
They were the experts the Cyan Nether Sword Sect had sent to assist with the new disciples' trial mission.
The group of eight rushed over and landed before the Mountain Opening Tiger, Ding Yuanshan.
Hong Renjie and Ding Yuanshan's eyes t.
A mont later...
"Sun Chasing Fist!"
Hong Renjie suddenly struck.
The punch was powerful and heavy, carrying an indomitable montum as if it could crush everything in its path, chase down the blazing sun, and shatter it.
Ding Yuanshan's eyes narrowed, and he roared, "Mountain-Breaking Stone Shattering!"
One was "Sun Chasing," the other "Mountain Opening"!
Both of their attacks focused on power and offense as their primary direction of cultivation.
The instant they collided, a tremor ran through the air.
Fist t fist. Like the points of needles clashing, neither was willing to give an inch.
After this standoff lasted for a good ten-odd seconds, both let out a low growl at the sa ti: "Break!"
"BOOM!"
As they both withdrew their force simultaneously, the backlash sent them stumbling back several steps.
Ding Yuanshan's expression was ugly as he sized up Hong Renjie, his face clouded and uncertain.
It seed like neither side had lost out in that exchange.
But Ding Yuanshan knew very well, 'If my cultivation hadn't broken through recently, I would have suffered a major loss in that clash!'
A mont later, he suddenly burst into hearty laughter. "Excellent, excellent! Truly, heroes erge from the young. To possess such strength at your age... I am truly impressed!"
He cupped his hands before his chest in a gesture and asked, "May I ask your na?"
"True Disciple, Hong Renjie!"
Hong Renjie's face was indifferent.
"So you're a True Disciple. No wonder you're so formidable!"
Ding Yuanshan nodded. Clearly, the title of True Disciple of the Cyan Nether Sword Sect, combined with the power Hong Renjie had just displayed, was enough to make him treat the situation with gravity.
Hong Renjie said calmly, his tone detached, "Since you already know our identities, I assu Master Ding knows why we have co?"
"I long suspected that the matter of the Eight Desolates Mansion could not be hidden from the Cyan Nether Sword Sect. However, I, the Mountain Opening Tiger, am not to be trifled with. It is absolutely impossible for you to make give up the Eight Desolates Mansion just like that!"
Ding Yuanshan's face was impassive, his words firm and unyielding.
Hong Renjie frowned and said coldly, "If that's the case, then we can only do things by the book!"
Ding Yuanshan smiled. "Younger Brother Hong, why be in such a hurry? Although this Eight Desolates Mansion is within the Fengyue Kingdom's borders, it is not the private property of your Fengyue Kingdom..."
Hong Renjie raised an eyebrow. "What do you propose?"
Ding Yuanshan said, "The appearance of the Eight Desolates Mansion this ti will surely attract experts from the surrounding kingdoms. If we delay any longer, we might draw in Primordial Core Realm experts to compete with us. Instead of that, why don't we join forces and explore this cave mansion together?"
"You want us to team up with you?"
A contemplative look appeared on Hong Renjie's face.
'When I ca this ti, the Sect's upper echelons specifically instructed that if the Primordial Core Realm expert's cave mansion truly existed, I was to explore it as quickly as possible and seize the Treasures inside. Otherwise, if we alert Primordial Core Realm experts from other Sects to intervene, it will surely bring trouble to the Fengyue Kingdom and the Cyan Nether Sword Sect.'
This was also why the Cyan Nether Sword Sect only sent True Disciples instead of Elders.
The entire point was to avoid attracting unwanted attention.
At this thought, Hong Renjie nodded. "A joint exploration is possible, of course. But I wonder, what kind of cooperation did you have in mind? Surely you don't expect all of us from both sides to go in together?" As he finished, a smirk played on his lips.
Ding Yuanshan shook his head. "Of course we can't let everyone in. As a show of good faith, how about each of our sides chooses ten people to enter the Eight Desolates Mansion together?"
Hong Renjie pondered for a mont, then nodded. "Fine!"
"In that case, let's each choose our people. We'll head for the Eight Desolates Mansion in one hour!"
After saying this, Ding Yuanshan departed.
Hong Renjie stroked his chin and murmured to himself, 'Ten people per side? We already have eight, so we just need to find two more!' He looked at Tie Shou beside him. "Tie Shou, how do you think we should choose?"
Tie Shou glanced at Hong Renjie and said flatly, "Since we're exploring a Primordial Core expert's cave mansion, we should naturally pick the strongest!"
"Do you know who is strong and who is weak among this batch of new disciples?" Hong Renjie asked one of the n behind him.
The person who stepped forward was none other than Hong Long.
Hong Long thought for a mont and said, "Brother Jie, the strongest among this batch of new disciples is Ling Tian."
"Ling Tian? The Sect Leader's new disciple?"
Hong Renjie nodded in understanding. "If that's the case, then we'll save a spot for him. There's one last spot. Hong Long, do you have anyone in mind?"
Hong Long hesitated for a mont, then said, "Brother Jie, I think Shi Tao from the Outer Sect is quite good!"
"Shi Tao?"
Hong Renjie was taken aback.
Hong Long rubbed his nose in embarrassnt, took two steps forward, and whispered in Hong Renjie's ear, "That guy Shi Tao ca to see specifically before leaving the Sword Sect to probe my attitude toward Hong Yu. And I've also heard from the returning disciples that this Shi Tao almost killed Hong Yu several tis..."
"Oh? It seems this fellow nad Shi Tao knows how to read the situation!"
Hong Renjie nodded and said indifferently, "In that case, give the last spot to him!"
Hong Long nodded quickly.
「One hour passed quickly.」
The Mountain Opening Tiger Thief Gang was not slow in selecting its ten mbers.
Aside from the unfathomable Mountain Opening Tiger, there was the mysterious second-in-command, as well as the Third Master, who had taken a Pill to stabilize his injuries. Only two of the Ten Great Commanders remained, and the other five were experts selected from the other Earth Soul Realm thieves.
As the ten of them stood together, the imnse pressure they exuded was almost suffocating.
On the Cyan Nether Sword Sect's side, Hong Long announced coolly, "Ling Tian, Shi Tao, you two co here. You will follow us into the Eight Desolates Mansion!"
"Yes!"
Shi Tao ran over, his face flush with excitent.
Ling Tian frowned and walked up to Hong Renjie. Always direct, he asked without a hint of tact, "Why isn't Hong Yu included?"
Hong Renjie glanced at him and said with contempt, "I don't want him!"
"He's stronger than Shi Tao!" Ling Tian insisted.
Hong Renjie glanced at him again and repeated, "I don't want him!" After a pause, he added, "I don't want to see him, so he cannot appear before !"
"You're too domineering," Ling Tian said, slightly angered.
Hong Renjie sneered. "Believe it or not, if you keep spewing nonsense, I can make sure you don't get to go in either."
"You..."
Ling Tian narrowed his eyes, on the verge of making a move.
Just then, a fair-skinned arm blocked his path, and Hong Yu's relaxed, carefree voice drifted over. "Long ti no see. You're as domineering and ostentatious as ever."
"I'm domineering because I'm strong enough to be!" Hong Renjie declared.
Hong Yu pursed his lips, pointed at Shi Tao, then at himself. "Do you really think this piece of trash can take away my chance to enter the Eight Desolates Mansion?"
"He can't!"
Hong Renjie shook his head, then added, "But I bet you don't dare to lay a hand on him!"
"Oh?"
Hong Yu raised an eyebrow, the corners of his lips turning up. He suddenly beckoned to Hong Renjie with his finger. "Look into my eyes and tell , what do you see?"
Hong Renjie froze, then actually did study Hong Yu's eyes seriously before saying, "I see my own reflection in them."
"You're always so self-righteous, thinking the whole world should revolve around you. Unfortunately for you, you're wrong this ti!"
Hong Yu chuckled and shook his head, pointing to the corner of his eye. "You're not in my eyes, because you're not worthy. In my eyes, you're not even worth as much as a piece of sleep crust. As for Shi Tao, he's even less qualified!"
"Heh, you're arrogant! You're really arrogant! So arrogant that I can't help but want to kill you!"
Hong Renjie narrowed his eyes, his voice cold as he spoke through gritted teeth.
His killing intent was now palpable.
'As a Celestial Pride Son, when have I ever been looked down upon like this?'
He had never imagined that soone would dare say he wasn't even worth a piece of sleep crust. This ignited Hong Renjie's killing intent, and he revealed it nakedly with his indifferent words: "But don't worry, I won't kill you for now. I'm going to keep you around and have so fun... slowly toying with you until you die!"
Unafraid, Hong Yu sniffed. "Haven't you ever heard that those who play with fire get burned?"
Hong Renjie sneered. "With a re Star Fire like you, you're not qualified!"
"Even a spark of fire can set a prairie ablaze, let alone a pile of weeds like you?"
Hong Yu replied, neither servile nor overbearing.
Don't be fooled by Hong Yu's usually nonchalant and devil-may-care attitude; deep down, he had his own principles and a bottom line.
For example, during his years in the Hong Family, he had almost never picked a fight with anyone!
Even after his strength had greatly increased, if it weren't for Hong Lin, Hong Luàn, and even Hong Tiande being so aggressive, pushing him again and again until they crossed his bottom line, Hong Yu would not have acted so rashly.
But once soone crossed his bottom line and touched his Reversed Scale, they were destined for misfortune!
For example, Hong Lin, Hong Luàn, Hong Hu, and Hong Tiande...
He had co to the Sword Sect to ask Elder Zhu to treat Yun ngyao; he had no desire to stir up trouble.
But from the mont he arrived at the Sword Sect, Hong Renjie and the others had never stopped finding ways to make trouble for him, even scheming to have him killed.
These were rely the fuse, and Hong Renjie's appearance, with his high-and-mighty attitude, finally lit it!
Hong Yu suddenly smiled.
It was a brilliant smile, yet also a helpless one...
With a sudden flick of his wrist, the silver Coiling Dragon Long Spear appeared, held tightly in his palm.
He pointed it at the smug-looking Shi Tao and shouted, "It is indeed your decision who goes to the Eight Desolates Mansion, but I can also choose to challenge the person you've selected. You choose Shi Tao, I'll defeat him; you choose Dongfang Lang, I'll defeat him too; you choose Duan Hong, I can still defeat him..."
Hong Yu narrowed his eyes, staring down the astonished Hong Renjie...
"Until you have no one left to choose!"
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