In the Valley of the Dead.

Two groups were cautiously watching each other.

One of the parties was Chen Rui and his team, who had returned, while the other was led by a middle-aged man with a scholarly appearance. He wore a dark cyan robe and exuded a scholarly air, seemingly harmless to both man and beast. But anyone who truly saw him as a harmless scholar would be a fool.

In this abandoned plain, there were no kind people!

Moreover, he had a hundred fierce and formidable strongmen following him. To lead such a group of powerful individuals at the Unity Realm Stage was no ordinary feat.

Buzz!

A spatial fluctuation occurred, and a large spatial vortex appeared on the cliff beside the two groups, with a two-meter-high light gate emerging at the center of the vortex.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh! 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Four figures rushed out from the light gate, which disappeared afterward.

When the four came out and saw the situation outside, they instantly became alert. However, when two of them saw the scholar and his people, they relaxed.

"Scholar, you’re here."

Yan Li chuckled as he approached the scholarly-looking man.

This man was precisely Lu Xian, the Grand Marshal of Wind-Thunder Valley, nicknamed the Scholar, also known as the Blood-Spattered Scholar.

After coming to this abandoned plain, he had fought only three times, each time covered in blood and heavily injured. Yet every time, he managed to kill his opponent when seemingly powerless. His opponents were always stronger than him at the time. In his final battle, he killed a powerful individual at the Semi-Saint Realm, making a name for himself in the abandoned plain!

"Jiang Chen, hand over the Necro Spirit!"

A loud shout stopped Yan Li in his tracks as everyone turned to look.

"Why should I hand it over?"

Jiang Chen looked at the young man in green, his tone indifferent.

Chen Rui and his team had not waited in vain this week. During this time, they had already inquired about Jiang Chen and his companions’ identities. After all, Jiang Chen and Yan Hu had caused a stir when they went to the No. 3 trading town, and the emergence of an Array Master attracted attention from all factions in the abandoned plain.

"Jiang Chen, we’ve all waited at the valley entrance for such a long time, and you picked the fruit as soon as you arrived. Do you think that’s fair?"

Chen Rui looked at Jiang Chen coldly, a chilling gleam in his eyes. The week-long wait had worn away his already limited patience. If he couldn’t gain anything today, it wouldn’t just waste the time spent waiting at the valley entrance but also the entire week.

"This Valley of the Dead is right here, and the Necro Spirits within are also here. If you didn’t hunt them down yourselves, who can you blame?"

Jiang Chen responded indifferently, turning to walk toward Lu Xian.

"Such an arrogant brat! No one has ever dared to rob us of our Yuanling Sect’s possessions. You’re courting death!"

The young man in green shouted angrily, the Great Dao Divine Light appearing as a cyan sword ray slashed toward Jiang Chen.

"You’re courting death!"

Yun Hai’s face turned cold as he drew a longsword from his back and fiercely slashed out.

Whoosh!

A flaming sword shadow rushed toward the sword ray, shattering it instantly, then continued charging toward the green-clad young man.

The young man’s face changed, feeling the pressure from the sword shadow. He drew a longsword and slashed fiercely.

Bang!

The air exploded as the sword shadow burst apart, but the exploding flames didn’t disappear. Instead, they enveloped Chen Rui’s group and attacked again.

"Outrageous!"

A furious shout rang out as Uncle Zhao in black clothes rushed at Yun Hai.

Swoosh!

A blood-red blade slashed toward Uncle Zhao, whose pupils shrank as he hurriedly retreated, solemnly eyeing Yan Li, who blocked his way.

Seeing the fight already underway, Lu Xian wasted no words, waving his hand.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!

A hundred experts from Wind-Thunder Valley leaped up, surrounding Chen Rui’s group.

"What do you intend to do? We are from the Yuanling Sect!"

The young man in green’s face changed, shouting loudly.

"You scoundrels! I’m Liu Yunxia, daughter of the Sect Master of the Qingyang Sect. What dare you do?"

Liu Yunxia spoke angrily. Yun Hai’s attack had caught her completely off guard. Though unhurt, she was left embarrassed, and her usual arrogance made her grit her teeth with fury, her anger boiling over inside.

Hearing this, Lu Xian and Yan Li both frowned slightly.

If it were just ordinary disciples, it wouldn’t matter if they killed them. They weren’t timid. But as the Sect Master of the Qingyang Sect’s daughter, they dared not kill her. Once they did, the Qingyang Sect Master would surely rage, and then they’d have to fully confront the Qingyang Sect!

"Afraid? Hand over these three to us, and I won’t hold a grudge against your offense!"

Seeing Lu Xian and the others intimidated, Liu Yunxia smirked coldly, pointing at Jiang Chen, Yan Hu, and Yun Hai. Despite her arrogance, she wasn’t foolish; realizing Yan Li’s high status, she didn’t target him.

Chen Rui’s group all looked arrogantly at Lu Xian and the others, a mocking gleam in their eyes.

Lu Xian frowned slightly, opening his mouth, but Yan Li spoke first: "Impossible!"

"Aren’t you truly afraid of my Qingyang Sect? I warn you, if you don’t hand them over to us, I will tell Father immediately that you from Wind-Thunder Valley tried to kill me. I’ll make sure you can’t escape unscathed!"

Liu Yunxia shouted loudly, never having heard a refusal since childhood.

"This is the abandoned plain."

Lu Xian spoke calmly, stepping forward to stand by Yan Li’s side, coldly looking at Liu Yunxia.

"What about the abandoned plain? I tell you, I..."

Liu Yunxia retorted, shouting again, not understanding the implication.

Chen Rui pulled Liu Yunxia behind him, stopping her further provocation.

Liu Yunxia didn’t understand, but Chen Rui knew what Lu Xian implied. In this abandoned plain, even if they all died, the sect might never know who killed them. Even if they knew, seeking revenge wouldn’t be easy.

"Senior, will you truly offend both our Yuanling Sect and Qingyang Sect over a few Necro Spheres? That’s not wise!"

Chen Rui stared directly at Lu Xian, sensing he was the most dangerous in this group.

"On this abandoned plain, the strong claim everything. If you wish to fight, so be it. We in Wind-Thunder Valley are ready."

Lu Xian’s tone remained flat, but a bloody gleam appeared in his eyes.

"Haha, Senior Lu Xian, don’t misunderstand. We just want to make friends."

A light chuckle sounded as a young man stepped to Chen Rui’s side, giving him a look, then smiled warmly at Lu Xian:

"Junior is Meng Tiancheng, from the Meng Family, Qingyang Prefecture. My father, Meng Wanlin, had met you once. I hope Senior can overlook today’s events for his sake. The Meng Family will surely send generous gifts."