Chapter 573: Sect Master Tang Zhao

"Hmph." Fairy Cai snorted coldly.

But then Ye Xuan continued, "Senior, you're so young. Calling you 'granny' would make you sound old. 'Auntie' is more appropriate."

A... Auntie?

At that moment, everyone felt as if ten thousand alpacas were stampeding through their minds. They all stared at Ye Xuan, dumbfounded.

'Is this kid really stupid, or is he just pretending?'

"You little bastard, you're courting death."

BOOM!

Cai Yan could no longer hold back and blasted a palm strike at Ye Xuan.

CRASH!

In that instant, a crimson wisp of smoke appeared in the void. The smoke constantly changed shape, finally transforming into a rosy skull that lunged forward to bite Ye Xuan.

"Fairy Cai, for a venerable senior like yourself to attack a junior is going too far."

How could Ge Puzi let Cai Yan succeed? With a wave of his large hand, an invisible surge of Profound appeared between heaven and earth, forming a transparent barrier that blocked the rosy skull. The two forces clashed, and a series of cracking sounds echoed as the ethereal barrier shattered with a boom. The rosy skull formed from the smoke also quietly vanished into thin air, as if nothing had happened at all.

'So this is a clash between Tier Seven Peak Martial Kings? It doesn't seem like much...'

Many of the onlookers were stunned to see the exchange was so unremarkable. But before that thought could even fully form, they heard—

"CRACK!"

On the street between Ge Puzi and Cai Yan, a crack suddenly appeared. It spread rapidly, forming a huge chasm that ran across the front of the Profound Mystery Sect's estate. A blast of energy erupted from within it.

BANG!

A nearby Profound Mystery Sect elder who was standing too close was sent flying by the blast of energy. He spat out a mouthful of blood as the crisp sound of breaking bones echoed from his body.

HISS!

All the spectating Martial Artists couldn't help but suck in a cold breath, a chill running down their spines.

Cai Yan strode forward, her gaze cold. She said icily, "Ge Puzi, step aside. If I don't teach this little bastard a lesson today, then my name isn't Cai."

A cold glint flashed in Ge Puzi's eyes. He said coolly, "Fairy Cai, you're exaggerating. My academy's disciple has done nothing to offend you. Why fly into such a rage?"

Cai Yan bristled with anger, pointing a finger at Ge Puzi as she said icily, "Ge Puzi, I'll ask you one thing: are you moving or not?"

Ge Puzi's gaze turned cold. "Fairy Cai, I have given you enough face. Do you really think my Gale Light Academy is afraid of your Bright Moon Empire? If you continue to be unreasonable, I will suppress you today."

An invisible aura spread out from Ge Puzi's body.

Everyone's heart trembled. Many could see that Ge Puzi was truly angry. At the same time, they were utterly speechless. 'What's going on with Gale Light Academy lately? Their conflict with the Profound Mystery Sect isn't even over, and now they're picking a fight with the Bright Moon Empire?'

Many of them looked at Ye Xuan with strange expressions, all thinking that this guy was a complete disaster magnet.

"Ge Puzi..." Cai Yan shrieked, her phoenix eyes glaring with rage. Ripples of red energy coursed around her body, transforming into dazzling ribbons of light. They were beautiful and brilliant, yet they emanated a dangerous aura.

"Fairy Cai, please don't be angry. We can talk things over."

Just as Cai Yan was about to lash out in a fury, Yan Song gave a wry smile and hurriedly tried to placate her.

"Vice Sect Master Yan, it's not that I want to be angry, but this boy's insults are too much." Cai Yan stared hatefully at Ye Xuan.

Ye Xuan rubbed his nose and said, "Auntie, when did I ever insult you?"

"Ah, you're courting death..."

Cai Yan couldn't take it anymore. No one could stop her. A terrifying mass of red Profound transformed into a skeletal claw and shot towards Ye Xuan to grab him.

"Stop."

Ge Puzi said coldly, thrusting out a palm. An invisible great hand of Profound materialized and instantly slapped the skeletal claw, blowing it apart. Amidst the violent roar, the great hand of Profound continued onward, undiminished, and crushed down into the Profound Mystery Sect's estate.

"Sirs, save us!"

Several elders of the Profound Mystery Sect were within the range of the great hand of Profound and cried out in shock and anger.

Yan Song's eyes flashed. His figure flickered, and in an instant, he appeared before the elders. His robes billowed as a strong wind materialized out of thin air. A faint chanting sound could be heard as he tore the great hand of Profound apart in an instant.

RUMBLE!

The entire great hand of Profound shattered, but it did not lose its power. Instead, it broke down into countless fine motes of Profound that swept forward, crashing into the Profound Mystery Sect's estate. Amidst the spreading dust and smoke, large sections of walls collapsed.

A few streams of energy even shot violently towards the core of the Profound Mystery Sect's estate.

Yan Song's expression changed instantly. His figure flickered and vanished, reappearing inside the Profound Mystery Sect's estate. He struck out with his palm repeatedly, dispersing the few streams of energy, before returning to his original spot.

"Vice Sect Master Yan, you must help us!"

The Profound Mystery Sect elders, their inner qi and blood roiling, looked utterly wretched. They glared with furious eyes and began to wail.

Ye Xuan suddenly laughed and said, "No wonder the Nine Yang Sect was able to persuade the Profound Mystery Sect to negotiate. The relationship between your two sects is truly harmonious. The Profound Mystery Sect's elders are wronged, and with so many factions present, they don't ask anyone else, only begging Vice Sect Master Yan of the Nine Yang Sect for help. Anyone who didn't know better would think the Profound Mystery Sect and the Nine Yang Sect were actually on the same side."

His words, though seemingly casual, struck a chord.

Ye Xuan's 'casual remark' made the experts from the other factions, who had been watching from the sidelines, frown in thought.

Yan Song's expression changed instantly. He narrowed his eyes at Ye Xuan. He suddenly felt that Gale Light Academy's actions today were exceptionally strange. 'Could it be they know something?'

Though he thought this, a smile appeared on Yan Song's face. He laughed lightly and said, "Haha, you must be joking, Your Excellency. The reason the Profound Mystery Sect elders asked me for help is simply that my Nine Yang Sect initiated these peace talks. We have both the right and the obligation to ensure these negotiations proceed smoothly."

"Therefore, I hope everyone can give me some face and stop causing trouble."

A cold glint appeared in Yan Song's eyes as he swept his gaze over Xuan Ye, Cai Yan, and the others.

Ge Puzi said faintly, "Brother Yan, you're the one who's joking. We at Gale Light Academy don't look for trouble, nor do we cause it. We simply want to resolve this matter as quickly as possible."

"I won't say more on the matter. Three days. Gale Light Academy will give the Profound Mystery Sect three more days at most. If the Profound Mystery Sect doesn't show up within three days, Gale Light Academy will abandon the peace talks and leave Ancient Yang City."

Yan Song's face turned ashen.

Just then, a voice full of majesty and cold severity suddenly rang out between heaven and earth. Like rolling thunder, it rumbled closer, quickly arriving right above everyone's heads. "There's no need. Ge Puzi, I am already here."

As thunder roared, an astonishing pressure swept down. The many spectating Martial Artists felt their qi and blood churn, an uncontrollable sensation. Their Profound Power ran rampant inside them, completely out of their control.

A group of several people descended from the sky, landing in the open space in the middle of the crowd.

The leader, dressed in a martial robe of cyan with embroidered edges, possessed an air of authority without being angry. It was none other than the Sect Master of the Profound Mystery Sect, Tang Zhao.

Behind him stood several experts with indifferent gazes, their auras surging. They were clearly the core strength of the Profound Mystery Sect.

Surprisingly, among them was a young man in a long cyan robe. His expression was apathetic, his eyelids slightly lowered as he stood at the back of the group.

"Sect Master Tang Zhao, you've finally arrived."

Seeing Tang Zhao, everyone began to greet him.

As the Sect Master of the Profound Mystery Sect, Tang Zhao's status and position were extraordinary, far above anyone else present.

After all, most of the experts from the various factions were in deputy positions.

A smile played on Tang Zhao's lips as he nodded to each of them. Finally, his gaze landed on Ge Puzi, a cold glint flashing in the depths of his eyes. "Vice Director Ge, it's been a while."

"You're too kind, Sect Master Tang Zhao," Ge Puzi said faintly.

Their gazes clashed in mid-air. A murderous aura swept out, and the entire scene fell silent in an instant.

Everyone held their breath, their hearts heavy. It felt like the calm before a storm, a suffocating pressure in the air.

"Sect Master, you must get justice for us!"

The Profound Mystery Sect elders were so agitated they felt like they were about to explode. Sniveling and crying, they recounted what Ge Puzi had done.

"I am aware," Tang Zhao said faintly, then looked at Ge Puzi. "Ge Puzi, don't you think you owe us an explanation for your earlier actions?"

Ge Puzi narrowed his eyes. "Sect Master Tang Zhao, you're the one who needs to explain. We agreed to hold peace talks in Ancient Yang City, and we've been waiting here for you for a very long time."

Tang Zhao said indifferently, "Aren't you being a bit hasty? Our peace talks were clearly scheduled for a few days from now. Why the rush?"

"Since everyone is here, as long as the intent to negotiate is genuine, what difference does it make if we start a little earlier or a little later?"

At this point, Ge Puzi suddenly cupped his fist to the crowd and said in a loud voice, "Everyone, since Sect Master Tang Zhao of the Profound Mystery Sect has arrived, I personally suggest we begin the peace talks now. What do you all think?"

Everyone was stunned. 'What in the world is Ge Puzi up to? But on second thought, what he said makes sense. Since everyone is already here, why wait several days? Wouldn't holding the talks today be the same?'

"I have no objection."

"My Sky Empire has no objection either."

"I have no objection either."

The experts from the major factions spoke up one after another, all while looking at Tang Zhao.

Tang Zhao's eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of killing intent in them. He said, "Since the date has already been set, why must we move it forward?"

Ge Puzi said faintly, "What difference does it make whether we start early or not? Or is it that you, Sect Master Tang Zhao, have some shady business you haven't finished yet?"

Tang Zhao's gaze sharpened. He said icily, "Ge Puzi, you are the dignified Vice Director of an academy. Surely you know to watch your words? You can be careless with what you eat, but not with your speech. If you want to start early, that's fine. But you must have a reason, correct?"