Chapter 705: Internal Conflict
"Aren't these supposed to be sparring matches? Why is there an option to fight to the death?" Han Li asked as he turned to Xi Yan.
"Allow me to explain, esteemed immortal. The Saya Festival is not only an occasion for the brightest cultivation prodigies of all of the tribes to make a name for themselves, it's also where many tribes settle their differences. Monarch San Miao prohibits battles between tribes, so this is where everyone settles vendettas and disputes," Xi Yan explained.
"I see. This is not a bad method of conflict resolution," Han Li replied with a nod.
"I have to agree with you on that one, Fellow Daoist Li. This is a very simple and efficient process," Shi Chuankong said to Han Li through voice transmission.
"The fact that this is feasible at all indicates that most of these tribes value their integrity. In the Immortal Realm, all of the tribes would've simply targeted each other without engaging in open battle, and vendettas would most likely escalate to the point where they're entirely unresolvable before such a method can be employed," Han Li replied.
Shi Chuankong contemplated this notion for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
At this point, the battle on the platform had already begun. Wu Heli's aura was clearly more powerful than his opponent's, and there was immense baleful qi swirling around his body as he forced Mu Ze back in retreat.
Despite this, Mu Ze remained calm and collected, and his eyes were still flashing with excitement as he ducked and weaved while wielding a trident.
The more ferocious Wu Heli's attacks became, the faster Mu Ze was forced to take evasive measures, and all of the spectators were cheering loudly at the enthralling battle.
Han Li was rather perplexed by what he was seeing. He could see that Mu Ze was suppressing his own aura, employing a classic tactic of luring the opponent into a false illusion of superiority. At this point, Wu Heli had already tired himself out from the ferocious assault that he was unleashing, and Mu Ze could easily retaliate for the kill, but he refused to do so for some reason, continuing to humor his opponent as he dodged from side to side.
After a while, Han Li felt as if he were a staged match, and he lost interest as he turned his gaze to Wave Edge Lake in the distance.
At this moment, there were still countless specks of flames drifting over the lake, and their light was reflected on the rippling waves down below, making it appear as if there were countless fluorescent fish swimming through the lake.
All of a sudden, Han Li spotted something rather strange on the surface of the lake.
Right as he was about to take a closer look, a thunderous buzzing sound suddenly rang out from behind him, and he was struck by a dull sensation in his mind, as if he had been dealt a heavy blow to the back of his head.
The Imperial Peak Spirit Restriction Talisman in his mind consciousness instantly lit up, releasing a burst of white light to quell the sensation of dullness.
Meanwhile, all of the Gray Lizard beings around him crumpled to the ground.
Out of the corner of his eye, Han Li could see that Mu Ze was standing on the stone platform with blood flowing out of all of his orifices, and he was holding a black seashell-like object aloft with a fervent look in his eyes.
Over at the tent, everyone was slumped in their chairs, and they were still conscious, but they were too feeble to move.
In the Gray Realm, even the most vicious vendettas could temporarily be set aside in order to unite against the threat of the Immortal Realm.
Given Han Li and Shi Chuankong's powers, even if they were exposed, he was confident that they would be able to get away. However, in that scenario, their covers would be blown, and it would become much more difficult for them to find a way back to the Immortal Realm.
"What do we do? They're about to get to us," Shi Chuankong asked in an urgent manner through voice transmission.
Han Li's brows were slightly furrowed, and he didn't immediately respond. Instead, he was looking over at the Azure Ape being on the stone platform, who had summoned a large club, with which it was smashing the heads of the Black Teeth Region chiefs.
Mu Qiu was standing before the chief of the Bone Spike Tribe with a long black saber resting on his neck, preparing to decapitate him.
Despite the dire situation that the chief of the Bone Spike Tribe was in, there was no fear in his eyes at all as he met Mu Qiu's gaze with one of righteous fury.
As the Nirarbuda forces drew closer and closer, Shi Chuankong's agitation was mounting by the second, and even his aura fluctuations had become rather unstable as he said, "It looks like we're not going to be able to maintain our covers. If worse comes to worst, we'll just have to kill everyone here, then get away from this place."
"Don't be rash, I have a way out of this," Han Li immediately replied.
As soon as his voice trailed off, a plume of black mist rose up from beneath him, and it circled around in mid-air for a moment, then descended onto the black stone platform.
As soon as Shi Chuankong detected the aura emanating from the plume of black mist, his expression instantly changed drastically.
He could sense a High Zenith Stage Gray Immortal inside!
Upon arriving above the stone platform, the plume of mist instantly crashed violently down upon the platform, causing it to shatter into countless pieces as cracks spread over its entire surface.
The stone platform exploded violently from the center, following which all of the black mist converged to form a tall and handsome young man wearing a tight-fitting black robe.
He was holding a black folding fan, and his High Zenith Stage aura was completely unrestrained.
The man was none other than Mo Guang in his Gray Immortal body, but prior to emerging from the Flower Branch domain, he had adopted this youthful appearance.
Everyone was completely caught off guard by this abrupt turn of events, and on one knew what to make of Mo Guang's sudden emergence.
As soon as the club-wielding Azure Ape being's gaze fell upon Mo Guang, his expression instantly changed drastically as he exclaimed, "You're from the Void Integration Tribe! This is impossible! How could there be a Void Integration being here?"
"The Void Integration Tribe? Judging from your reaction, that seems like quite a powerful tribe," Mo Guang chuckled.