CHAPTER 80: CHAPTER 80: THE CONSPIRACY BEGINS_1

The disciple leading the Ten Thousand Flowers Sect this time was named Hua Lin Yue. Sensing the burning gazes from the Changeable Mansion disciples, her willow-like eyebrows knitted slightly, and a secret dissatisfaction bloomed within her. If it weren’t for the Old Ancestor’s command, she would have preferred to turn around and leave immediately.

"What are you looking at? Haven’t you seen a woman before?" Zhang Yangtian scolded. An icy aura spread from him, imposing heavy pressure on the Changeable Mansion disciples, making their chests tighten and their faces turn pale. They quickly withdrew their gazes.

"May our cooperation be pleasant!" After reprimanding his fellow disciples, Zhang Yangtian leaped off the large rock. His black and white robes fluttered as he cupped his fist towards the Ten Thousand Flowers Sect disciples, a friendly smile on his face. His demeanor was polite and courteous, like that of a modest gentleman, easily winning others’ favor.

"You’re too kind, Young Master!" Hua Lin Yue hurriedly bowed with clasped hands, yet she did not lower her guard due to Zhang Yangtian’s amicability.

Take Zhang Yangtian scolding his own disciples just now. On the surface, it seemed he was defending us, the disciples of the Ten Thousand Flowers Sect. But was that the reality? No, that was ’beating the mountain to scare the tiger’! He wanted to tell us that if he could easily suppress his own people, he could just as easily suppress us.

When he spoke his next words, Zhang Yangtian seemed to transform. His aura became majestic, radiating an immense pressure, like that of a natural-born King, making people instinctively want to submit. "In the upcoming operation, you will all hide. You are only to act when I, this Young Master, command you!"

Indeed, if any Martial Artists of lower cultivation had been present, they would undoubtedly have knelt in submission!

"Understood!" Hua Lin Yue’s lips parted slightly, wanting to negotiate for some benefits, but when the words reached her tongue, she found herself unable to speak them. It was as if a stone was lodged in her throat. Deep down, an unseen voice seemed to warn her that to refuse meant certain death.

Zhang Yangtian nodded in satisfaction. His figure flickered as he crossed the valley, flying towards the Myriad-Blade Giant Mountain not far away. From a distance, his lean silhouette created a curious illusion, appearing taller and more imposing than even Male Mountain.

The disciples of the Changeable Mansion obediently followed, like loyal servants trailing their noble master. The disciples of the Ten Thousand Flowers Sect, however, hesitated for a moment before concealing themselves in the shadows!

「About four hours after they left, more than twenty figures flew over.」

Those on the left wielded battle swords, while those on the right carried battle sabers. Their auras were sharp enough to tear any obstacle before them to shreds.

"There’s a disgusting stench in the air!" Yang Yuan, the Junior Sect Master of the Sword Sect, said with a look of revulsion.

A surge of Sword Qi suddenly manifested, striking the giant rock and exploding it into a cloud of dust that scattered in all directions.

"It seems the people from the Changeable Mansion have already reached the center of the ruins. They might have even laid an inescapable trap ahead, waiting for us to walk right into it!" another young man spoke, drawing everyone’s attention. Their eyes held a trace of admiration.

The speaker was named Xue You. He possessed a special physique and was proficient in both the sword and the saber. Three years ago, he had swept through all the prodigies of the Wuling Domain, earning him the title of a rare genius seen once in a hundred thousand years! From then on, he became the brightest star of the Wuling Domain. Gradually, however, some issues began to arise.

"Then, shall we continue forward?" Hearing that there might be an ambush, Yang Yuan showed a hint of worry; the Changeable Mansion’s reputation was truly terrifying.

"Go! Why wouldn’t we? It just so happens I’ve been wanting to test myself against Zhang Yangtian!" Xue You declared without hesitation, his eyes arrogant and burning with intense battle fervor. The prodigies of his own Dao Domain no longer ignited his fighting spirit; he yearned to compete with the geniuses of other Dao Domains, to truly see who was superior.

In his eyes, Zhang Yangtian of the Changeable Mansion was an excellent opponent. Defeating him would bring numerous benefits: besides fame across the nine great Dao Domains, he would earn the praise of his elders and strike a blow against the Changeable Mansion’s arrogance.

From start to finish, the thought of losing never crossed his mind!

The disciples from the Sword Sect and the Saber Mansion blindly worshipped Xue You, obeying his words without question.

Had anyone stood up to stop them then, they might have survived to become respected experts, enjoying glory and riches, their lives not lived in vain.

Unfortunately, no one stood up. The moment they took that first step, the countdown to their doom had begun!

「An hour later, disaster struck.」

As they crossed the valley and approached the Myriad-Blade Giant Mountain, they encountered the Changeable Mansion disciples unexpectedly. Both groups stood beneath the withered trees of a forest, facing each other, ready for combat.

"No ambush?" Xue You said with a hint of surprise. He extended his hands, and two potent Artifacts appeared: a saber in his right, a sword in his left. The saber was heavy as a mountain, the sword agile as a gentle breeze.

A fierce battle intent erupted from him, stirring up a gust of wind that swept up the decaying leaves on the ground. The Void filled with a palpable killing aura, growing ever thicker.

"To deal with you, do I even need an ambush?" Zhang Yangtian was taken aback for a moment, then laughed instead of showing anger. His eyes filled with disdain, like a supreme expert looking down upon ants.

This disdainful gaze pierced Xue You to the core, enraging him. His eyes turned red as he launched an attack. Sword and saber qi erupted, tearing through the vast sky in a dazzling display.

"Mighty! Mighty! Mighty!" The disciples of the Sword and Saber Sects roared with excitement, as if victory were already in their grasp. In the Wuling Domain, Xue You had used this very move to overwhelm countless prodigies and establish his renowned might.

"All flash and no substance!" However, Zhang Yangtian regarded the attack with utter disdain. He extended his right hand, and the power of Yin surged, forming a finger seal covered in arcane patterns. It descended with a force capable of shattering the nine heavens.

Yin-Yang Heaven and Earth Finger!

This was a Divine Skill of the Yin-Yang Divine Body, capable of manipulating the Yin and Yang forces between heaven and earth. Yin and Yang, it must be known, are among the primordial forces of the world, possessing immense power. A single finger to shatter the firmament!

"Kill!" Xue You’s expression turned grave.

He actually felt pressure? How could this be? He possessed the 273rd ranked Sword Body and was invincible within the same cultivation realm! Could Zhang Yangtian also possess a special physique? And one even stronger than his?

While he was momentarily stunned, the Divine Skills of the two special physiques clashed violently. The released energy caused the Void itself to collapse.

"Quick, retreat!" The surrounding disciples hastily retreated, only feeling some relief after falling back a thousand zhang. Their hearts pounded with shock. All those present were prodigies of their respective sects. Though not possessing special physiques themselves, their strength was still considerable! Yet, even so, they couldn’t withstand the mere aftershocks!

After calming their racing hearts, they strained their eyes towards the epicenter of the explosion, silently wondering. Who would claim ultimate victory in this battle?

A few breaths later, the aftershocks subsided.

Zhang Yangtian stood serenely, his clothes immaculate, his black hair cascading down. His ethereal temperament gave the illusion that he was on a leisurely outing rather than in a battle.

Xue You, in contrast, was disheveled, his face deathly pale. A trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, and his aura was faint and unstable.

"Retreat, quickly!" he shrieked, his eyes fixed on Zhang Yangtian in terror.

The disciples from the Sword and Saber Sects, jolted from their stupor, turned to flee, only to find that the disciples of the Ten Thousand Flowers Sect had appeared behind them at some unknown point, completely blocking their escape route.