Chapter 573: The Battle of the Luo Tian Society (III)

Several days later, within Icewave Palace, in Tianlan Immortal City, the powers of the four sides gathered.

Although the Ice Fortress was the host, their side was represented only by Yin Xiuhua, a late-stage Initiate. She sat in the lowest seat, her face ashen as she kept silent before the other three factions.

Tao Wan sat upon her ice chair with a serene smile, as if watching a play unfold. The "play" was the clash between two Golden Core Adepts: Elder Fei of Ailao Mountain and Elder Qin of the Flame Alliance.

During the Jade Cauldron civil war, which had lasted more than twenty years, every sect had suffered losses, and many grudges had taken root. Yet none ran deeper than the enmity between Ailao Mountain and the Flame Alliance. They had not only fought fiercely in the Blackwater Marshes but also clashed many times on the battlefield of Jilei Nine Mountain. Elder Fei had clashed with Elder Qin no fewer than three times.

Now, glaring at his old rival, Elder Fei's eyes blazed. "The rights to manage this city cannot possibly fall to the Flame Alliance. You have come here for nothing."

Qin Tairan gave a cold snort. "A defeated foe dares speak of courage?"

The retort was completely off-topic, yet it struck directly at Elder Fei's sore spot. It was true: In nearly every duel, he had been the one to lose. Without the support of Golden Core Adepts from the Four-Sect Alliance, he might not even have survived.

Drawing a deep breath, Elder Fei fixed him with a fierce glare. "You dare to come to Tianlan Immortal City alone, stepping into the tiger's den. Do you truly think I cannot deal with you?"

Qin Tairan smirked. "I come and go as I please. Forget about you, even if Fairy Ruthless herself were here, I would not flinch!"

Though his words rang bold, his tone had weakened. The reason was simple. Fairy Ruthless was not in Tianlan Immortal City, and the Ice Fortress had no Golden Core cultivator stationed here. Otherwise, Yin Xiuhua would not have been reduced to the lowest seat.

Elder Fei sneered coldly. Outside, he might not have been a match for Qin Tairan, but within the Tianlan Immortal City, he had nothing to fear. When the city was built, cultivators of Ailao Mountain had contributed greatly, especially in its formation design. They knew its structure better than any other sect. If it came to a fight to the death, he had confidence he could take his rival down.

The only uncertainty lay in the attitude of the Golden Core Adept of the Haoran Sect who presided over the city. That cultivator remained strictly neutral and served only the city and nobody else. Under his watch, no cultivator of the Seven Sects was permitted to fight within the city.

Tao Wan shook her head and, despite her younger status, she spoke up, "Let us return to the matter of the city's rotation cycle. This issue has already dragged on for several days. To keep delaying it is a waste of everyone's time.

"Senior Qin, by reason and fairness, the next ten years of the city's management should fall to Ailao Mountain. For you to come here now, wagging accusations, is nothing short of unreasonable."

Qin Tairan cast her a cold glance. "Junior, this is not a place for you to speak."

Tao Wan only smiled gracefully and tapped the ice table. At once, Elder Long of Longshou Peak entered the hall. "Tao Wan is the Dao Scion of my Green Pill Valley and its future sect leader. She most certainly has the right to speak here."

Seeing who it was, Qin Tairan gave a cold snort. "Very well! Since you insist on speaking of the city's rotation, then let me be plain. The Ice Fortress has already exceeded its term by twenty years. From your stance on this matter, it seems they will keep it for another decade as well. Then tell me, what of the decade after that?"

Elder Fei of Ailao Mountain answered calmly, "What happens in ten years will be discussed in ten years."

Crack!

Qin Tairan slammed his palm down, shattering the ice table in an instant. Shards scattered across the hall, one cutting a thin line of blood across Yin Xiuhua's face.

Her face paled. "Senior!"

Qin Tairan glared coldly at them. "You would hand thirty years to Ice Fortress. By then, Tianlan Immortal City might as well be their backyard. And when the Flame Alliance finally takes over, will our profit not be cut to the bone?"

Elder Fei pressed forward without yielding. "Then why don't you go consult with the Falling Cloud Sect, the Sword Sect, or even the Hundred Flowers Palace backed by the Hehuan Sect!"

Without hesitation, he had pushed the burden squarely onto the two great Nascent Soul sects and the Hehuan Sect. For all its strength, the Flame Alliance was nothing before these three; they would never dare demand explanations from such powers.

Qin Tairan's face darkened. "In any case, the Flame Alliance will not agree to you breaking the rules like this."

Elder Fei sneered. "And just because you disagree, we cannot proceed? Why don't you go mediate the war between the two upper sects instead? Your Flame Alliance sure has gall to meddle into other people's business like this."

Faced with such mockery, Qin Tairan, known for his temper, should have lashed out. Yet he restrained himself and spoke with a newfound seriousness. "Some matters, once they break the rules, become troublesome for all. Because of the war, the Jade Cauldron Domain's strength has been gravely weakened, while rogue cultivators from outside domains have taken advantage. The Flame Alliance's vassals in Tianlan Immortal City have already dwindled. Do you think your sects will fare any better in the decades to come?"

Elder Fei found himself, for once, unable to respond. Back when the Falling Cloud Sect had mediated the division of the city's management rights among the four sects, they had painted a beautiful vision. But now, with the flood of rogue cultivators from beyond the domain, glaring flaws had appeared.

Tao Wan, who had spoken a few words earlier, sensed at once that something was wrong. Qin Tairan's change in tone was far too ambiguous. For days, he had held his ground without budging. Yet today, after only a few exchanges, he had softened.

A sudden realization struck her, and her expression shifted. Without sparing a glance at the Golden Core Adepts present, she rose and walked swiftly outside.

Elder Long furrowed his brows, cast Qin Tairan a glance, and followed Tao Wan out.

The moment Elder Long stepped out of Icewave Palace, his Golden Core divine consciousness swept over the city and instantly detected something amiss.

The entire city of cultivators was in turmoil. Crowds surged toward the gates, voices rising in a thunderous clamor.

"They've started fighting!"

"Come on, let's go watch the show!"

"Maybe we'll even pick up some spoils!"

Amid the deafening uproar, Tao Wan let out a quiet sigh. "That Elder Qin clearly never came for the city's rotation in the first place."

Even as she spoke, Qin Tairan emerged from the hall. He cast a cold glance at those nearby before stepping onto his light and speeding straight toward Danxia Peak.

"We should go too," Tao Wan said softly.

Elder Long swept his sleeve, lifting Tao Wan in a stream of light, and followed.

Only then did Yin Xiuhua stumble out, her face pale with alarm.

Elder Fei of Ailao Mountain gave a cold snort. "That old fox was never here for the city's management rights. He came to salvage the Flame Alliance's reputation. Junior, your sect master's lineage may think to reap the fruit Fairy Ruthless has tended for twenty years, but if the tree itself is cut down, won't you all be the laughingstock?"

With that, he ignored Yin Xiuhua's stricken look and flew toward the outskirts.

"Cultivators, mobilize the enforcement team and follow me out of the city!" Yin Xiuhua cried.

"Senior Sister, the enforcement team cannot take part in battles outside the city. That rule cannot be broken!" someone reminded her.

Yin Xiuhua stamped her foot in frustration before dashing frantically through the city streets. Golden Core Adepts could ignore the laws of Tianlan Immortal City and fly at will, but she was still just an Initiate and therefore enjoyed no such freedom.

Once she finally exited the city, she hastily summoned her flying sword and sped up.

By the time she finally reached Danxia Peak, the sight that met her eyes turned her face pale with horror.

Light streaked across the skies as spirit energy churned in violent waves. Cultivators filled the heavens, and the fires of battle blazed fiercely.

Eight late-stage Initiates, supported by thirty more of lower stages and over a thousand Qi Refinement cultivators, had completely surrounded Danxia Peak. From among them, a Perfected Mastery Initiate stepped forward.

"I am Zheng Xian of Rolling Dragon Ridge. We have come to pay our respects!"

His clear voice rolled out like waves surging across the land.

As soon as his words fell, every Foundation Establishment cultivator struck in unison. Spirit power surged as enchanted artifacts and treasures were unleashed in a thunderous assault against Danxia Peak.

In that instant, multicolored lights filled the sky, and the ground trembled as if the heavens themselves were collapsing.

To some of the older cultivators of the city watching from afar, the scene stirred grim memories.

"The tragedy of the Min family of Danxia Peak, a century ago... Could it really be repeating itself now?"