Abbotess Liang retreated and pulled her hand back. Tian Yunhao was flung into the air limply until he was caught by the new arrival’s spiritual energy. This was followed by an intense blast of force that cleared away the surrounding dead bodies and blood to leave a clean, pristine stone-paved ground.

The immortal Spirit King descended from the sky and landed. He was large and powerfully built like a great warrior. He wore steel-gray fish-scale armor across most of his oversized body. His exposed hands were wider than dinner plates. His neck was thicker than a tree trunk. Aside from the wild white beard that covered most of his face, his features were sharp and imposing like spear tips.

“Immortal Grand Spear Tian Yong, seventh house master of the House of Armament, greets Immortal Fluttering Gown Liang Chuxian!”

His words were courteous but his demeanor was not. His gray spiritual energy billowed out continuously, almost at full strength. The air was buzzing with an intense sharpness; not the supreme piercing sharpness of a sword but an immeasurable weight as if a thousand invisible spears were ready to strike.

This was the product of the most powerful secret art of the House of Armament, Thousand Transformations of Armaments. There was only one man but it felt like there were thousands. The secret art allowed him to wield a thousand weapons and fight prolonged battles against many opponents. It was truly a Dao suited for war.

“That useless boy is yours?” Abbotess Liang asked flatly, not bothering to show any respect.

Tian Yong gave a sarcastic laugh, “Little lass, your conduct is quite bloody. You killed so many without even bothering to think about where you are.”

He glared at her but she merely looked bored. It was not unreasonable for him to call her a little lass since he was much older. A Spirit King’s total lifespan was long, over seven hundred years if one was lucky. At Tian Yong’s age, someone like Abbotess Liang was a junior by many generations.

“I asked, is that little crotch spawn yours? A rotten fruit from your loins?”

“Haha! Yunhao may be lacking in many areas but he is still a young house master of the House of Armament. He is one of the most talented young cultivators of the subcontinent. He is not someone you can kill.”

The abbotess scoffed. “He seemed quite eager to die for a woman.”

“Nonsense!” Tian Yong shot back, “What kind of woman is Long Yifei? If I was five hundred years younger, I would have also done the same. She is the perfect wife for Yunhao. I commend him for showing bravery and righteousness. With me around, he did exactly what he needed to do. He was insolent towards you but who cares. You are an outsider, someone who shouldn’t be here. What are you going to do?”

Abbotess Liang’s expression darkened. Purple spiritual energy swirled around her crimson robes, making them flutter in a deadly dance. She even started to push back against the wall of spears that surrounded her.

“You dare?” She hissed. “Did you forget who I am? You dare offend the Sororal Order… can you piss-poor sect afford the consequences?”

Tian Yong didn’t back down. His own temper rose and he pushed back with greater intensity. The ground between them cracked and split. The entire plaza shook, knocking people off their feet. Spiritual energy ground against spiritual energy with a painful screeching sound. Everyone looked on in shock as two Spirit Kings faced off.

Right when it was about to get ugly, another third source of spiritual energy interrupted the two. Another Spirit King descended over the plaza, emitting a mesmerizing array of blue light. The light beams flashed around, illuminating every single person briefly before aiming at a particular spot within the crowd that had yet to be touched by Abbotess Liang’s rage.

The blue light narrowed and spotlighted a single person wearing nondescript robes and an utterly unforgettable face. There was a surge of energy and that person started getting pulled into the air.

Woosh!

A cloud of snow erupted around that person, obscuring the blue light completely. The ensuing frigid storm blew away those nearby. People were sent tumbling away and left covered in thick layers of fresh snow.

Hooong!

The ethereal hum from the blue light intensified and quickly blew away the interfering gray cloud. But below it was Chen Wentian, his arm wrapped possessively around the stranger.

Another beam of light shot down.

Chen Wentian waved his spare hand and a massive wall of blue flames shot into the air.

Fire fought against light. There was a momentary stalemate before the flames eventually lost out. But by that time, he had already put ample space between him and his opponent.

“Hahaha! Interesting kid, you’re quite capable!” The Spirit King said, “I am Immortal Light of Daybreak Ming Mu, tenth clan head of the Eastern Light Clan! You did well to take back your disciple.”

Whispers from the crowd became shocked gasps as the person in Chen Wentian’s arms turned back into Long Yifei. Since she had been found out, there was no point in wearing the disguises anymore.

Chen Wentian brushed her hair back with his fingers and whispered into her ear. “Don’t worry. I expected this much to happen. Sneaking away in front of so many Spirit Kings was never really possible. But your master has prepared another trick. Just wait and see!”

He turned and looked up towards Ming Mu, ignoring the death glares from the men around him. They were shocked by his intimate actions with his disciple, which he was supposed to be marrying off. Such closeness and tenderness seemed completely unnatural and disturbing!

“Clan Head Ming, well met.” He called out, “If you want to kidnap my disciple as well, you should get in line.”

The Spirit King snorted dismissively and ignored Chen Wentian. He flew past and landed beside the prone body of his descendant, Ming He. A pillar of green light fell on the wounded young man, injecting him with a surge of profound energy.

A few moments later, Ming He stirred and groaned in pain. He was still a mess but seemed a lot better than before.

“Get up!” The clan head said sharply, “Stop disgracing yourself and embarrassing the clan!”

“Y… yes…”

Ming He struggled mightily but he still could not move. He tried again and again but too many bones were broken, too many tendons severed.

Ming Mu sighed and knocked the useless descent out. He waved his hand and a beam of blue light connected Ming He to the Tower of Light far off in the distance. With a surge of energy, the unconscious body was sent away for medical treatment.

Ming Mu then turned, whipped his deep blue robes into order, and stroked his long and well-maintained goatee. He looked at Abbotess Liang, then at House Master Tian Yong, then back at the abbotess, and finally gave a small sigh.

“Well then, this is a huge mess. How should we clean this up?”

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