Chapter 572: Appearing One by One

"Huh, isn't that Vice Director Ge Puzi from Gale Light Academy?"

"What are they planning to do?"

"Judging by the direction they're heading, it looks like they're going to the Profound Mystery Sect's residence. Is Gale Light Academy about to start a fight with the Profound Mystery Sect?"

This massive, imposing crowd immediately caught the attention of many Martial Artists, drawing in a large number of onlookers who began to discuss excitedly amongst themselves.

"Where is Sect Master Tang Zhao of the Profound Mystery Sect? Tell him to come out and see me."

The moment Ge Puzi and his group arrived before the Profound Mystery Sect's residence, he shouted coldly. His voice boomed, echoing throughout the skies of Ancient Yang City.

"Who are you people?"

Inside the Profound Mystery Sect's residence, only a few elder-level figures were present. All of them looked flustered. One of them, trying to save face, forced himself to ask coldly.

"You don't know who we are? I am Ge Puzi of Gale Light Academy. Your Profound Mystery Sect agreed to negotiate with our Gale Light Academy. We have been waiting for almost half a month, yet no one from your sect has shown up. Are you looking down on us that much?"

Ge Puzi sneered, waved a hand, and said, "All of you, step aside. I'm going in to see whether your Sect Master Tang Zhao has actually arrived or not."

"You... how insolent." Upon hearing the origin of Ge Puzi's group, the few Profound Mystery Sect elders flew into a rage. Their eyes turned fierce as they blocked the entrance to the residence.

"So it seems you few won't be moving?"

A chill flashed in Ge Puzi's eyes. BOOM! A terrifying shockwave radiated from his body, slamming into the elders who were blocking his path. The pitiful elders of the Profound Mystery Sect were all Tier Six Martial Venerables, yet when struck by Ge Puzi's aura, they were sent flying like kites with broken strings, blood trickling from the corners of their mouths.

Ge Puzi laughed coldly. "I'd like to see who dares to stop me today."

The Profound Mystery Sect elders were terrified, but for the honor of their sect, they grit their teeth and charged forward viciously.

"Fine." Ge Puzi's gaze turned cold. Just as he was about to strike, a terrifying pressure suddenly descended, halting his actions.

"Vice Director Ge, why are you so incensed? We can talk things over, we can talk."

An old, somewhat majestic voice sounded out. Vice Sect Master Yan Song of the Nine Yang Sect had appeared silently, a smile on his face, blocking Vice Director Ge's path.

At the same time, one terrifying aura after another appeared in the surroundings. It was the experts from the other eight major powers.

"Vice Sect Master Yan, you must stand up for us!" Seeing this, the Profound Mystery Sect elders were filled with grief and indignation. Without even wiping the blood from their bodies, they cried out, "These people from Gale Light Academy have ignored the rules set by the major powers and tried to force their way into our Profound Mystery Sect's residence! They even attacked and injured us! We implore Vice Sect Master Yan to seek justice for us!"

They glared fiercely at Ge Puzi and the others, their expressions furious.

"Rest assured, I will not let you suffer any grievances." Yan Song smiled faintly, then looked at Ge Puzi and said, "Brother Ge, we went to great lengths to bring both sides to Ancient Yang City to sit down and talk things out. For you to come to the Profound Mystery Sect's residence and start a fight... this seems rather inappropriate."

The experts from the other major powers also frowned. Among them, a middle-aged woman dressed in a bright red martial robe, with a rather flamboyant appearance, a golden hairpin in her hair, and heavy makeup, couldn't help but sneer mockingly, "What's so inappropriate about it? Gale Light Academy proclaims itself one of the three top powers. They destroy a city in my Bright Moon Empire on a whim, so why would they care about barging into a mere residence?"

This person was the leader of the Bright Moon Empire's delegation this time, Fairy Cai—Cai Yan. She was the sister of the current emperor of the Bright Moon Empire. The Bright Moon Empire had always been on good terms with the Profound Mystery Sect, so it was perfectly normal for Cai Yan to speak up for them.

Ge Puzi let out a cold laugh and said, "Ah, so it's Brother Yan. Our actions were born of helplessness. As you all have seen, we came to Ancient Yang City specifically for peace talks between Gale Light Academy and the Profound Mystery Sect. Gale Light Academy arrived half a month ago, showing our utmost sincerity. But Sect Master Tang Zhao and the others from the Profound Mystery Sect have yet to appear. Isn't that a blatant show of disrespect? Brother Yan, as I recall, it was your Nine Yang Sect that initiated these peace talks, and you were the one who notified the Profound Mystery Sect. Now that they are so late, shouldn't you, Brother Yan, give us an explanation?"

The members of the other major powers also fell into thought. For the sake of these peace talks, the other nine of the ten major powers of the Dream Realm Plain had arrived early. Only the Profound Mystery Sect had yet to appear, which was indeed very unseemly.

In front of the Profound Mystery Sect residence, an elder immediately said, "Seniors, it's not that our Sect Master Tang isn't coming, but he has been delayed by sect matters. I have already received word that Sect Master Tang and his group will arrive in a few days. I ask for your understanding, Seniors. On the other hand, Gale Light Academy, despite the agreed-upon time for talks not having arrived yet, has resorted to violence here. If you all hadn't arrived, I'm afraid we would have been in mortal danger. Vice Sect Master Yan, please, you must seek justice for us!"

Yan Song sighed and said, "Brother Ge, you heard him. Sect Master Tang was delayed by business and couldn't arrive on time. There are still several days until the scheduled talks. Can't we wait a little longer?"

Just then, a cold laugh suddenly rang out. "Heh, 'wait a little longer'? What important business could the Profound Mystery Sect possibly have right now that's more important than the peace talks with our Gale Light Academy? I say the Profound Mystery Sect doesn't respect any of you at all. Or perhaps they're delaying their arrival because they're secretly plotting something?"

"And who might you be?" Yan Song looked coldly at Ye Xuan.

Ye Xuan said dismissively, "I am just a disciple of Gale Light Academy, nothing of consequence."

Yan Song said coldly, "So you know you're of no consequence? Hmph, a mere disciple dares to spout such nonsense here. Brother Ge, are all the disciples of your Gale Light Academy so ignorant of their station?"

Ge Puzi said flatly, "Brother Yan, you're mistaken. What Xuan Ye said, while a bit out of line, is not without reason. In fact, it's exactly what I was thinking. What business could the Profound Mystery Sect have right now? Could it be more important than peace talks with Gale Light Academy? There can only be two reasons for their failure to appear. First, the Profound Mystery Sect doesn't respect us in the slightest and has no intention of negotiating. Second, they haven't shown up because they might be plotting something in secret. It's only natural for our Gale Light Academy to be a little concerned."

Many people frowned, feeling that what Ge Puzi said was not entirely unreasonable.

All the top powers of the entire Dream Realm Plain had gathered in Ancient Yang City with the sole purpose of resolving the dispute between Gale Light Academy and the Profound Mystery Sect. It would be one thing if other powers were late, but for the Profound Mystery Sect, one of the main parties involved, to be a no-show was bound to raise suspicions.

Yan Song's expression changed slightly. He smiled and said, "Brother Ge, I think you're overthinking things. From my understanding of Sect Master Tang Zhao, he's not that kind of person. His delay is likely due to some genuine matter. I'm sure he'll be arriving shortly."

After speaking, he glanced at Ye Xuan and said with a smile, "So this is the famous Xuan Ye. Having met you today, you truly live up to your reputation. I've heard so much about you."

For a Vice Sect Master of the Nine Yang Sect to say he'd "heard so much about" a young man like Ye Xuan immediately made many people's expressions turn strange.

And yet, when he said it, no one present found it particularly inappropriate.

It was just that Xuan Ye's fame was too great. The cause of the conflict between Gale Light Academy and the Profound Mystery Sect had long been the talk of the entire Dream Realm Plain. No matter which version of the story one heard, it always involved a certain young man named Xuan Ye.

Instantly, all the spectating Martial Artists in the crowd focused their gazes on Ye Xuan, curious to see what kind of extraordinary person could provoke an all-out war between two major powers.

Fairy Cai of the Bright Moon Empire couldn't help but mock, "So he's Xuan Ye, the main culprit who caused two major sects to come to blows? Now that I see him today, he's certainly as arrogant as they say."

Ye Xuan rubbed his nose and said, "This old lady here, it's true I'm Xuan Ye, but I'm no 'main culprit'. Don't get it twisted, red-clothed old lady."

Old... old lady!

Silence. A deathly silence. Everyone stared at Ye Xuan in horror.

Fairy Cai, Cai Yan, was very famous throughout the Dream Realm Plain. Almost every Martial Artist knew that she was extremely sensitive about her age and had a volatile temper. For this reason, nearly all experts who met her would address her as "Fairy Cai" and wouldn't dare use her real name.

Once, a Martial King from the Bright Moon Empire had inadvertently shown her disrespect. Not two days later, she had him beheaded, his head put on public display, and his entire family annihilated.

Because of her tyrannical strength and her status as the Bright Moon Emperor's own sister, there was almost no one in the entire Dream Realm Plain who dared to provoke her.

But now, Ye Xuan had actually called her... an old lady.

Everyone's hearts trembled, and cold sweat broke out on their foreheads as they looked at Cai Yan in terror.

"You little bastard, what did you say?"

As expected, the moment Ye Xuan's words fell, Cai Yan flew into a thunderous rage. Her gaze was bone-chilling, her face so dark it looked like it could drip water. A terrifying aura suddenly erupted from her body, pressing down viciously on Ye Xuan.

BOOM!

Ge Puzi naturally wouldn't let her succeed. The aura of a Tier Seven Third Layer expert spread out, colliding with Cai Yan's. A violent whirlwind of Profound energy formed between them.

"Fairy Cai, don't be rash." Ge Puzi glanced at Ye Xuan and admonished, "Xuan Ye, Fairy Cai is your senior, after all. Be a little more polite to her."

Ye Xuan put on an innocent expression and said aggrievedly, "Vice Director Ge, I was already being very respectful to her! I even honorifically called her 'old lady.' Was I wrong?"

"You..." The sharp glint in Cai Yan's eyes intensified, and her killing intent surged.

"Oh." Ye Xuan suddenly slapped his forehead. "I get it now."

He cupped his fists in a salute toward Cai Yan and said respectfully, "Senior, I was being offensive just now. A senior as young as yourself, how could I call you 'old lady'? No wonder you were angry. My apologies, my apologies..."

'This Xuan Ye is completely clueless, isn't he? To only realize his mistake now... If he had shown this attitude from the start, would he have made Fairy Cai so angry?'