"Yes! Yes! Wen Qingye defeated Tong Tian!"

"This is incredible! Wen Qingye defeated Tong Tian of the Divine Wind Country!"

"This is the best news ever!"

In the Celestial Martial Country’s Imperial City, the crowd gazed at the Water Curtain ahead and erupted in thunderous cheers. People began to disperse, rushing off to spread the word.

The Celestial Martial Country had always been suppressed by the Divine Wind Country. Not only did the two nations secretly vie for supremacy, but there were also constant minor skirmishes. Yet, the Celestial Martial Country had always been at a disadvantage. In several hundred years, this was the first time someone from the Celestial Martial Country had displayed such might in the Thousand Rivers Secret Land and gained the upper hand.

In an instant, the people of the Celestial Martial Country trembled with excitement, goosebumps rising on their skin.

.......

Wen Qingye took a few deep breaths, then turned his gaze to Zhou Yuling.

Wen Qingye, holding his sword, asked, "Are you still going to block me?"

Zhou Yuling gritted her teeth and said to Wen Qingye, "Wen Qingye, you’re just a spent force now..."

"A spent force?" Wen Qingye waved his hand, interrupting Zhou Yuling, and smiled. "Then you can give it a try!"

As Wen Qingye spoke, he took a step forward.

Watching Wen Qingye stand tall against the wind, Zhou Yuling couldn’t help but frown, suddenly lost in hesitation.

Suddenly, Wen Qingye’s brows furrowed.

BOOM!

A brilliant golden light suddenly erupted from the sky, bathing the earth below. The very air between heaven and earth began to churn violently.

"This... An Exotic Treasure has appeared!"

Feeling the sky constantly change colors, everyone stared up in shock.

At this moment, everyone stopped fighting. If their eyes had been fervent when they saw the Array Discs, now they were filled with a crazed frenzy.

Legend had it that possessing an Exotic Treasure could literally double one’s strength. Moreover, some had endless, wondrous uses that were simply beyond the imagination of ordinary people.

Powerful Exotic Treasures are extremely precious even in the Celestial Profound Sect, let alone in the Sixteen Countries.

Celestial Martial Country, Divine Wind Country, Lanyu Country, Yuqi Kingdom... The people of every country before the Water Curtain grew exceptionally excited.

"An Exotic Treasure?" Yanl Yu watched the light continuously refracting in the sky, his pupils widening as he stared intently at the Water Curtain.

.......

BANG!

Suddenly, a patch of ground cracked open, sending rubble flying, as if something was about to break through the earth.

A red radiance shone into everyone’s eyes, and they couldn’t help but subconsciously close them.

SWOOSH!

As the light faded, a nearby figure shot toward the red glow with lightning speed.

"Guann Xuan!"

When the crowd saw, they couldn’t help but cry out in alarm.

Guann Xuan had been the closest to the Exotic Treasure. With quick eyes and faster hands, he snatched the item before it had even fully emerged from the earth.

"Guann Xuan, hand over the Exotic Treasure," Wenren Xiao said coldly, his gaze burning as he stared at Guann Xuan.

Everyone looked at Guann Xuan, a trace of greed in their eyes.

Wenren Xiao made a gesture, and an Array Disc flew into his palm. Wen Qingye also put his own Array Disc away. Meanwhile, Luoo Ying forcefully snatched the last Array Disc from Lin Zijun’s hands.

But at this moment, everyone seemed to have lost interest in the Array Discs. All of their eyes were fixed on Guann Xuan.

Then, Luoo Ying, Lin Zijun, Zhou Yuling, the Seventh Young Master, Luo Xue, and the experts from the various countries surrounded Guann Xuan.

The Seventh Young Master said with a hint of joy, "Brother, you got the Exotic Treasure?"

Guann Xuan nodded, then swept his gaze over the crowd and burst out laughing. "Hahaha! This Exotic Treasure goes to the virtuous. If you want to seize it, then come and try! As a proud man, how could I simply hand over an Exotic Treasure under duress?"

Watching the crowd surround him, Guann Xuan showed no fear in his eyes. His heroic voice soared to the heavens.

The Seventh Young Master, Luo Xue, and the people of Hua Country, Snow Country, and Lanyu Country all subconsciously moved closer to Guann Xuan.

Wenren Xiao frowned and said, "Guann Xuan can’t be allowed to have this Exotic Treasure. Once he gets it, who among these fourteen countries will be his match?"

Luoo Ying and Lin Zijun both nodded, deeply agreeing with Wenren Xiao’s words.

Luo Xue walked to Guann Xuan’s side and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with him.

"Xuan, where’s the Exotic Treasure?" Luo Xue asked casually.

Guann Xuan’s eyes were on the surrounding people as he said, "It’s in my robes."

Luo Xue nodded and said no more, but her eyes were fixed on a sliver of white cloth peeking out from Guann Xuan’s chest.

"If you don’t hand over the Exotic Treasure, then all of you will... die!" Luoo Ying’s voice was a bit hoarse, carrying a grim killing intent. "People of Gaotang Country, listen! If Guann Xuan doesn’t hand over the treasure today, we will kill them all!"

"People of Yuqi Kingdom, if Guann Xuan doesn’t hand over the Exotic Treasure, kill everyone from the three countries." Wenren Xiao was still all smiles, but everyone who heard his words felt a chill in their hearts.

The people from Hua Country and Snow Country in particular turned pale.

"People of Gaotang Country..."

"People of Sang Country..."

"People of the Divine Wind Country..."

"People of Yul Country..."

"Kill them all!"

"Kill them all!"

.......

For a moment, aside from the Celestial Martial Country, people from ten countries threatened that Guann Xuan must hand over the Exotic Treasure, or else they would be killed without mercy.

The killing cries shook the heavens, deafening all who heard them.

The killing intent continued to spread.

Tong Tian’s eyes were gloomy as he looked at Wen Qingye and said coldly, "Wen Qingye, now it’s your turn."

Tong Tian’s words seemed to have successfully piqued everyone’s interest. Wenren Xiao, Luoo Ying, and Lin Zijun all turned to look at Wen Qingye.

Seeing Tong Tian direct the hostility toward them, the expressions of the Celestial Martial Country’s people changed, and they all frowned.

Wen Qingye smiled faintly. "Whatever decision I make seems to have nothing to do with you, does it?"

"Not necessarily," Tong Tian sneered at Wen Qingye. "Who’s to say you’re not just planning to profit from our conflict?"

Tong Tian’s words instantly voiced what everyone was thinking.

"Hahahaha!" Wen Qingye threw his head back and laughed loudly.

His uninhibited laughter echoed in everyone’s ears, and for some reason, their hearts all tightened.

"All of you, step back. My business has nothing to do with you." Wen Qingye held out a hand, gesturing to the people of the Celestial Martial Country behind him. Hearing his words, they all subconsciously took a few steps back.

Wen Qingye looked up at the people of the ten countries surrounding them and brandished the sword in his hand. "If you want to kill me, then come on! Enough with the nonsense."

"Wen Qingye, you’re courting death." Luoo Ying’s eyes flashed with a cold light, and the aura of a Refining Spirit Eighth Layer Heaven expert spread toward Wen Qingye.

It was like a spark spreading, and a raging fire was about to ignite.

But just at this moment, a clear shout reached everyone’s ears.

"People of the Snow Country! Retreat with me!"

The crowd turned toward the sound.

Luo Xue turned her head and looked at Guann Xuan apologetically. "Xuan, I have to be responsible for my people from the Snow Country."

As she spoke, Luo Xue walked to the side. The people of the Snow Country glanced at each other, then all followed behind her.

Guann Xuan’s expression was already cold, revealing no emotion.

"Brother Xuan! My apologies! I have to think of my people from Hua Country." The Seventh Young Master cupped his fists at Guann Xuan, then turned around.

With the Seventh Young Master leaving, the people of Hua Country naturally did not stay.

Guann Xuan watched impassively as Luo Xue and the Seventh Young Master led their people away, but a hint of loneliness and desolation appeared in his eyes. Now, only the people of Lanyu Country remained around him. The Lanyu Country contingent looked at each other, as if struggling with an internal conflict.

As Luo Xue walked out of the crowd, a strange smile seemed to tug at the corner of her lips.

At that moment, the Seventh Young Master turned his head and looked over. Luo Xue also looked over. The two exchanged a smile, a silent understanding passing between them.