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Two children clad in white slowly pushed the gate open.

Huang Long, the Taoist, and Mu Yi, the Real Man, entered Yanzi Tower one after the other, their steps unhurried.

They were immediately greeted by a spacious hall, well-lit, with beams of golden sunlight spilling in from the windows. Wind chimes in the shape of swallows dangled from the eaves, swaying gently with the breeze from outside, and ringing with a crisp sound.

In the middle of the hall stood a round table.

Around the table were six seats, five of which were already occupied, with only the seat belonging to Lingxiao Sect left vacant.

As Huang Long stepped into the room, multiple scrutinizing gazes also fell upon him.

Clearly late, but Huang Long showed no hint of embarrassment on his face.

He nodded slightly.

Then his gaze swept swiftly across the hall.

Directly opposite the entrance, sitting in the seat of honor, was Meng Huan, the leader of Wuji Sword Sect. Among the remaining groups present, the Fiery Sun Sect was represented by a young girl-like figure, Ling Weizi. From the Jiangzhou Li Family came the Supreme Elder, Li Wangchuan, while the Yuan Family from Hanzhou sent a hulking, armor-clad warrior, resembling a fierce general.

In the seat of the Liuzhou Shang Family sat a young man in a crimson crossed-collar robe and black skirt. He was around thirty, cultured in bearings. If not for the black long knife hanging at his waist, he would resemble a scholar traveling the world.

Next to the young man stood a girl with her hair in a hanging bun, wearing a light blue crossed-collar jacket and a white printed long skirt. She appeared to be only seventeen or eighteen, her skin pale and dimpled at the corners of her mouth.

Though her lips were pursed, she gave off the impression of smiling.

Sensing Huang Long's gaze, the young man with the samurai sword at his waist from the Shang Family seat set down his teacup and smiled at Huang Long. Huang Long, uncharacteristically serious, nodded to him as a return greeting.

He recognized this young man.

His name was Gong Changxiu, an elder from Liuyun Mountain of Changyue.

While the overall strength of Liuyun Mountain wasn't as formidable as Jinming Sect, to which Huang Long belonged, it still was not to be underestimated. There resided multiple Earth Immortal realm experts in the mountain, and they also controlled a small, incomplete world within the Longevity Heavens, signifying profound depth.

Spotting Gong Changxiu, Huang Long recalled some information.

An elder of the Shang Family seemed to have studied under Liuyun Mountain, holding a not insignificant status within it.

The Mythical Battlefield, fraught with dangers yet full of opportunities, had now descended onto Skull Plain. During times of turmoil, it was highly likely that a sect with such deep roots as Liuyun Mountain would intervene, especially as recent events suggested that other surrounding sects might also make their moves.

As for the young girl standing next to Gong Changxiu.

If not mistaken, she must be the current Family Head of the Shang Family, Shang Mengting.

She was of the same generation as Li Lingxiu and Qin Shunying, but the situation of the Shang Family was unique. At just over a hundred years of age, Shang Mengting had already become the leader of a major clan. Yet, since her succession, the decisions she had made were quite commendable, with the influence of the Shang Family steadily advancing and maintaining good relations with other sects and noble families.

If not for the descent of the Mythical Battlefield...

Seeing Gong Changxiu here, Huang Long already knew that, just like Lingxiao Sect, the Shang Family was also planning to withdraw from the Jiang-E Region.

Previously, when Mu Yi spoke of Su Heng's undefeated battle with the Heavenly King, Huang Long had some doubts. But now, seeing Gong Changxiu, he was almost certain, and his expression grew increasingly haughty.

Huang Long moved to the seat reserved for Lingxiao Sect, pulled out the chair, but did not sit down.

Instead, he stretched out his hand and slammed it onto the table!

Bang!
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The table shook, stirring up a cloud of dust.

Instantly, all eyes turned to Huang Long. Except for Gong Changxiu, who wore a faint smile, the others were either expressionless or radiated a somewhat gloomy aura.

All these people were strong practitioners from the Heavenly Deceit Realm, with formidable spiritual power, their swings in mood subtly affecting the environment around them.

For a moment, within the hall of Yanzi Tower.

The once-bright sunlight now seemed dimmer.

"Ahem!" Seeing that all eyes were focused on him, Huang Long coughed lightly. He turned and looked directly at Meng Huan, his brows slightly furrowed, his voice carrying a hint of cold indifference, "Regardless of what you all have discussed earlier, Lingxiao Sect will withdraw from Qizhou and return to the main vein."

"Agreed!" Meng Huan set down his teacup and nodded slightly.

It was not surprising that Lingxiao Sect, a branch of the Daoist sect, would choose to flee in the face of a test. This was within everyone's expectations.

But the crux of the matter was how to let them leave, and how much resources they would be able to take from Qizhou during their departure.

"Lingxiao Sect can leave, but only the core members inside the gate. Those outer disciples and other related forces must stay behind," Meng Huan looked up at Huang Long, his clear eyes twinkling with a faint light, unafraid as he spoke.

"We will take our people with us, and we will also move the resources of Qizhou," Huang Long said, leaning on the table with a cold smirk, looking down at him, "This is an internal matter of our sect. We've informed you as a courtesy, which is already giving you face."

Huang Long continued, "You should be aware of my background. I'll say it upfront; I'm not known for my patience. If it comes to blows, it won't look good for any of us."

"For over a thousand years, you've drawn countless resources and populations from Qizhou. But now, as the great calamity approaches, you just walk away and abandon millions of Qizhou people, isn't that a bit too heartless?" Seeing Huang Long's overbearing manner, Li Wangchuan finally could no longer restrain himself and spoke out to deter him.

"Shut up!" Huang Long twisted his head and coldly scolded, "Who are you to speak to me like that!?"

Publicly humiliated like this.

Li Wangchuan's face turned red with rage welling up within him.

At this very moment, Huang Long harrumphed coldly, his eyes widening as he glared fiercely. A wave of spiritual power spread outward, distorting the air and creating ripples. The chair beneath Li Wangchuan suddenly cracked, the sound sharp, and exploded into pieces.

In that moment of spiritual clash, Li Wangchuan was overwhelmed and fell into a brief stupor.

Now, losing his balance completely, he sat down heavily on the ground.

Covered in dust, he cut a rather sorry figure.

By the time he came back to his senses, his expression was a mix of shock and anger. Yet he dared not speak again, merely clenching his fists and coldly watching both Huang Long and Mu Yi.

As the conflict between the two escalated, the low whispers that previously filled the hall vanished without a trace.

The atmosphere turned even more oppressive, as if it were about to condense into droplets.

"Sigh," Meng Huan let out a soft sigh. The situation had progressed to a point of no return.

If they allowed the Lingxiao Sect to just leave like that, with their people and resources, it would be akin to draining all the resources of an entire province in an instant.

The war in the Mythical Battlefield involved a clash between two worlds.

The number of powerhouses, resources, population, and various other factors had to be taken into account.

The war had not even begun yet.

And they were already set to lose a significant amount of their living forces.

This would place them at a severe disadvantage, and the impact on morale was profound and could not be overlooked.

"Do you really intend to be so ruthless, to disregard millions of lives in Qizhou and the multitude of ordinary people at dawn?" Meng Huan looked at Huang Long, his voice calm.

"Haha!" Huang Long laughed as if he had heard a joke, then scoffed, "I only care about my own longevity and a carefree life. What have the lives and deaths of the people in the world got to do with me?"

"Fine!" Seeing his attitude, Meng Huan knew it was useless to argue further.

In the end, they would have to let actions speak for themselves.

"I have long heard that the practices of the Jingming Sect are profound. I wonder if I would be fortunate enough to learn a thing or two." Meng Huan stood up from his seat, his right hand reaching down and gently touching the hilt of the sword at his waist. He looked calmly at Huang Long, an intense and fierce aura emanating from him.

"How dare you challenge me, young man, you've got quite the guts." Meng Huan was only a little over two hundred years old, both in terms of cultivation and age, he was behind Huang Long.

The term "young man" used by Huang Long was actually fitting.

But he carried an air of arrogance, slightly lifting his chin with a look of certainty about Meng Huan's defeat, "Unfortunately for you, it's not just my Taoist lineage that wishes to leave."

"Isn't that right, Elder Gong?" Huang Long turned to look at the young man in his thirties dressed in a red crossed-collar robe beside him.

Gong Changxiu stood up from his seat, nodding slightly towards Huang Long with a smile, "I have seen Elder Huang Long."

At the same time, he no longer concealed his aura.

His Spiritual Domain unfolded around him like strands of hazy morning light, restrained within a three-foot radius around his body, unostentatious yet the implied threat was unmistakable.

The young girl standing beside Gong Changxiu, head of the Shang Family, Shang Mengting, had an apologetic smile on her fair face.

First, she bowed slightly towards Meng Huan and then softly said, "I apologize, esteemed seniors, the Shang Family must also relocate from the Jiang E region."

As these words were spoken, the expressions on the faces of everyone present turned somewhat ugly.

Two powerhouses above the level of Heavenly Deceit, both hailing from prominent clans with formidable strength, began to impose pressure on Meng Huan tacitly. The burly armored figure from Yuan Family stood cloaked in shadow, expressionless. Ling Weizi clenched her fists slightly, worry flickering through her lively eyes.

Li Wangchuan stood to the side, his appearance of a man in his seventies, white-haired and looking every bit the underling, seething with anger.

Meng Huan's expression remained calm, but he suddenly raised his eyebrows slightly and looked out the window.

This subtle gesture, like a pebble thrown into a tranquil pond, caused ripples to spread.

Almost instinctively, everyone present turned to follow Meng Huan's gaze.

Bang!

A loud noise shook the ground violently.