Xuanhu Mountain!

Three hundred and sixty li away from Lintian City lies a massive group of volcanoes. The ranges are rugged and towering, and even from a distance, you can see huge columns of smoke rising into the sky.

As we approach, the rolling heat waves in the air become increasingly perceptible.

"The essence of fire is within the largest crater!" Ye Qingchen took out the map, examining it meticulously. However, the journey is far more complex than it appears on the map.

"Mr. Ye, is there any danger there?" Lu Yanwu asked with some concern.

She could sense that the spiritual qi was quite abundant in this area, although it couldn’t compare to Hidden Dragon Mountain, it was like an oasis in a desert compared to other regions, often attracting some monsters to dwell there. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

And the crater, as the most densely concentrated area of fire elemental spiritual qi, made this situation unavoidable.

"Rest assured, as long as the opponent is not above a Human Immortal, I can handle it," Ye Qingchen replied arrogantly with a smile.

Having said that.

He suddenly seemed to sense something and sharply looked back.

Moments later, Lu Yanwu’s expression also changed abruptly, and she quickly turned back to look.

"What’s wrong?"

As Zhou Hai wondered curiously.

Whoosh!

A burst of energy light flew past, breaking the silence of Xuanhu Mountain.

A group of people swiftly charged past from behind. Leading them was a woman dressed in splendid attire, with a beautiful appearance and a teardrop mole at the corner of her eye. Behind her followed seven or eight young men and women.

"Are you from the Daluo Sect?"

Seeing these people, Lu Yanwu, Zhou Hai, and the others all had a change in their expressions.

And the other party, upon seeing Ye Qingchen and the others, also frowned, especially when they saw the map in Ye Qingchen’s hand, their faces darkened. Clearly, both parties had the same destination!

"This place has been reserved by our Daluo Sect, you must leave immediately!"

The leading woman said coldly and rudely, issuing an expulsion order directly.

After she spoke, the people behind her also shouted repeatedly.

"That’s right, this is Daluo Sect’s territory!"

"Hurry up and leave!"

"This place isn’t your home, why should we leave?" Lu Yanwu was so angry that her nose almost crooked, "Clearly we arrived first, if anyone should leave, it should be you!"

"Right!"

Zhou Hai also took a step forward.

"Just you lot?"

The other party chuckled disdainfully and said coldly, "In that case, let’s try!"

Saying this.

The woman had already stepped forward, and an invisible true qi surged from her, crashing fiercely towards Lu Yanwu.

"Good!"

Lu Yanwu also snorted coldly, fiercely activating her true qi, charging back without conceding.

"Boom!"

In the void, the massive true qi of both sides collided fiercely.

Almost instantly.

The outcome was clear.

Lu Yanwu stood her ground motionlessly, but the other party was forced to stagger back several steps.

"How about that? Now do you see my ability?" Lu Yanwu said proudly, waving her sleeve with a cold look, "Now Xuanhu Mountain is reserved for our Taotian Palace! You should be the ones to leave!"

"Dream on!"

The teardrop mole woman, having suffered a secret loss, was not about to give up so easily.

Almost simultaneously, her group had already taken a collective step forward.

Lu Yanwu, furious, clenched her fists, gripping her spear firmly. Just as the two sides were on the brink of a clash, Ye Qingchen suddenly spoke, "Since we have the same goal, why not join forces to explore Xuanhu Mountain? With each relying on their own abilities, everyone gets what they need!"

The teardrop mole woman had long noticed Ye Qingchen, but seeing that he was merely at the Celestial Venerable Seventh Layer and had not spoken until now, she paid him little mind. Yet now he suddenly spoke up.

Upon hearing his proposal, the once tense Lu Yanwu surprisingly fell silent, contemplating for a moment before nodding, "Alright!"

Her side had the numbers and the average strength was greater, should hostilities arise, they wouldn’t be at a disadvantage.

Disregarding Lu Yanwu, she immediately led her group towards Xuanhu Mountain.

When only the three of them were left, Lu Yanwu whispered, "Mr. Ye, we can go alone, why bring them along? If they suddenly turn against us, it could lead to unforeseen trouble!"

Zhou Hai also nodded in agreement.

However, Ye Qingchen shook his head and said, "The spiritual qi within Xuanhu Mountain is abundant, and I see faint demonic qi swirling around the crater, just right for using them to scout the way. Instead of driving them away, it’s better to keep an eye on them, this way I can still have control should anything happen!"

Hearing this from Ye Qingchen, the two of them finally understood.

Though both sides verbally agreed to cooperate in exploration, after the initial skirmish, they kept their distance, avoiding direct conflict. Yet, Lu Yanwu could still perceive the high status of these Daluo Sect disciples.

"The leading woman should be a Five Views Disciple of Daluo Sect!" Lu Yanwu whispered, "But whether she is a True Disciple, I am unsure!"

"Five Views? What’s that?" Ye Qingchen wondered.

Lu Yanwu explained in a low voice, "In the Taotian Palace, disciples are ranked: Servants, Outer Sect, Inner Sect, Seven Peaks Disciples. The Daluo Sect has the Five Views, similar in status to our Seven Peaks Disciples! As for the others, they are likely just ordinary Inner Sect disciples!"

As for True Disciples, while they are also part of the Seven Peaks Disciples, they obviously hold a higher status.

"I see," Ye Qingchen nodded slightly upon hearing this.

Though now only at the Celestial Venerable Seventh Layer, he feared not even a Half-Step Human Immortal. It was only a true Human Immortal that could give him pause.

As Lu Yanwu and the others assessed the opposite group, over at the Daluo Sect side, they were also discreetly evaluating Ye Qingchen and his companions.

"Senior Sister Kong, that young man seems familiar,"

Not far away.

On a large boulder, a sturdily built man whispered to the teardrop mole girl, "I heard the other two call him ’Mr. Ye’, if I’m not mistaken, he should be that Ye Qingchen, number one in Taotian Palace’s grand selection, but who was screened out in the aptitude test!"

"It’s him?"

This statement caused everyone to be greatly shocked, and they all turned to observe Ye Qingchen from a distance with surprise.

Yet his behavior and demeanor didn’t reveal much of a master demeanor.

"Celestial Venerable Seventh Layer, his cultivation isn’t high. I don’t know how he defeated Wu Xingyun and Tuoba Ye, and managed to slay a Half-Step Human Immortal!" someone sneered mockingly.

"Indeed, there’s a rumor going around that this kid hugged the thigh of Su Moran from Heaven-Shocking Peak. When he was driven out of Taotian Palace, Su Moran directly brought him into Heaven-Shocking Peak!" someone else agreed.

"I didn’t believe it at first, but now it seems he’s just a pretty face hiding behind a woman!"

"The one we truly need to guard against is Lu Yanwu!"

Kong Jing said flatly.

After all.

Lu Yanwu is a True Disciple, and how could Ye Qingchen compare with her, which is why she paid no attention to Ye Qingchen.