Stared at by countless eyes, Lý Mộc sighed helplessly. This moment had indeed arrived. If it were truly for someone he loved, he might understand a little, but this was purely to help Thẩm Thải Thanh, and he felt somewhat embarrassed by it.

“It's you!!! I never thought it would be you! Lý Mộc, you have some nerve, daring to snatch my woman! What abilities do you possess? In Thẩm Thải Thanh's eyes, compared to me, you're not even worth a fart! If you're a man, then step forward!” Lỗ Hùng's eyes were bloodshot, his fists clenched and cracking, as he roared furiously at Lý Mộc.

Before Lý Mộc could speak, Tiêu Khoan, that fellow who feared nothing less than chaos, stepped forward. His words were fearless, unafraid of offending, uttering something that made both Lý Mộc and Thẩm Thải Thanh feel embarrassed. “What woman of yours? You're spouting nonsense! As far as I know, Junior Sister Thải Thanh has long been Senior Brother Lý Mộc's person! This is common knowledge within our Golden Jade Sect. You're the newcomer, yet you act so arrogantly. Get out of the way!”

“What?! This youngster is Lý Mộc?” “That's right! He's *that* Lý Mộc from the Golden Jade Sect! I heard he's already the Golden Jade Sect's successor, and the Ten Nations Merchant Alliance's bounty on him still hasn't been rescinded. Capturing him alive could net you a full 500,000 Spirit Stones!” “500,000 Spirit Stones! Oh my heavens, what are we waiting for? Let's act now!” “Are you out of your mind? Don't you see who's sitting in front of him? That's an Elder from the Golden Jade Sect in the Profound Ethereal Realm! How many heads do you have to dare provoke them in her presence? Besides, Lý Mộc himself is a Divine Ability Realm expert. I heard he even subdued a Late-stage Divine Ability Realm sect master successor within his own Golden Jade Sect! His reputation is far from small now!”

As Lý Mộc's identity was revealed, many people in the four directions whispered amongst themselves. Some who were unfamiliar with Lý Mộc's background even considered capturing him to claim the bounty from the Ten Nations Merchant Alliance. However, upon seeing Nguyễn Thanh Hồng beside Lý Mộc, no one dared to entertain such an idea anymore. After all, Nguyễn Thanh Hồng's cultivation was not low; she was a genuine Mid-stage Profound Ethereal Realm expert.

“Ah!!! You, surnamed Lý... go die!” Seeing many people pointing at him, and Lý Mộc, as the other protagonist of this matter, remaining seated without a move, Lỗ Hùng could no longer suppress the rage in his heart. He let out a frenzied roar, then a violet spiritual light flickered in his right palm. His True Essence, vast as an abyss or sea, gathered in his right hand, and he immediately launched a palm strike towards Lý Mộc.

As Lỗ Hùng made his move, a powerful violet True Essence surged from his right hand, transforming into a massive violet lion's head in mid-air. The lion's head roared, spewing forth violet True Essence waves, which immediately sped towards the seating area of Lý Mộc and the other Golden Jade Sect disciples.

“How dare you!” Before Lý Mộc and the others could retaliate, Nguyễn Thanh Hồng, seated in the foremost position, suddenly let out a sharp cry. A ring of multicolored sound waves erupted from her mouth, instantly shattering Lỗ Hùng's attack in mid-air. Simultaneously, Nguyễn Thanh Hồng's multicolored Sound Wave Technique, undiminished in power, flew directly towards Lỗ Hùng.

“Stop!” No one expected Nguyễn Thanh Hồng to suddenly attack. Just as the multicolored sound wave was about to strike Lỗ Hùng, Lỗ Đạt, the patriarch of the Lỗ family, whose face was as grim as Thẩm Lăng's on the square below the platform, suddenly flew in front of Lỗ Hùng. He opened his mouth and spat out a white battle banner artifact. The banner unfurled in mid-air, manifesting a white mist that blocked Nguyễn Thanh Hồng's sound wave attack.

“Elder Nguyễn, this is merely a foolish spat between juniors. As elders, we needn't interfere recklessly! Moreover, this matter was originally provoked by your Golden Jade Sect's disciple being overly aggressive!” Lỗ Đạt, having just nullified Nguyễn Thanh Hồng's strike for Lỗ Hùng, suppressed his inner fury and spoke coldly to Nguyễn Thanh Hồng.

“Fellow Daoist Lỗ, we elders shouldn't interfere in the affairs of juniors, but your son clearly shows no respect for me, an elder. His previous strike encompassed even me and the other disciples of our sect! Considering that your Lỗ family has always been quite courteous to my Golden Jade Sect, I will spare him this time. Should there be a next, do not blame me, Nguyễn Thanh Hồng, for being merciless!”

Although Nguyễn Thanh Hồng was usually quite gentle with her sect's disciples, her demeanor towards outsiders was completely different. Her words were carefully chosen; anyone discerning could tell she was shielding her own, yet no one could find an excuse to refute her. This was because, although Lỗ Hùng's attack was indeed directed at Lý Mộc, it had also encompassed others near Lý Mộc within its range.

“You...!” Lỗ Đạt was choked by Nguyễn Thanh Hồng's words. Her carefully chosen statements left him no room for rebuttal. Moreover, her specific mention of the Lỗ family generally being courteous to the Golden Jade Sect was a clear hint for him not to act rashly. Ultimately, his Lỗ family was merely a subordinate force to the Golden Jade Sect. Lỗ Đạt, as the Lỗ family patriarch, was an experienced and shrewd individual; how could he not grasp the hidden meaning in her words?

“Father!!! She... Your son cannot swallow this insult!” Seeing that Nguyễn Thanh Hồng had suppressed Lỗ Đạt, preventing him from speaking further, Lỗ Hùng trembled with rage. He wanted to attack again but dared not move, feeling such humiliation that he wished he could rush forward and flay Lý Mộc alive.

“What audacious words! When did a disciple of my Nhậm Tuyền need your Golden Jade Sect's mercy? If you have the ability, try to lay a finger on him! Others might fear your Golden Jade Sect, but my Carefree Sect does not!” Just as an awkward tension filled the arena, an extremely brazen voice echoed from outside the Thẩm Residence's main gate. Immediately after, a violet light flashed, and six figures abruptly appeared on the Thẩm Residence's square.

The leader of these six was a bald, middle-aged man with no visible eyebrows or hair. He wore a light violet star-patterned robe, and his entire being exuded a powerful and domineering True Essence aura. Anyone present who had reached the Divine Ability Realm or above could sense his Late-stage Profound Ethereal Realm cultivation, completely undisguised.

Besides the bald man, among the other five, the strongest in cultivation was a pale-faced, purple-robed youth. He looked incredibly young, appearing to be twenty-three or twenty-four years old, yet his cultivation had already reached the Consummation stage of the Late-stage Divine Ability Realm. As for the other four behind him, their cultivation varied, with some in the Early-stage Divine Ability Realm and others in the Mid-stage.

“Master!!! You've finally arrived! You must uphold justice for your disciple and let me vent this anger, otherwise, it will be a laughingstock for our Carefree Sect!” Upon seeing Nhậm Tuyền and his group suddenly appear, Lỗ Hùng, who had been brimming with unvented fury, immediately felt as if he had found his savior. He flashed over to Nhậm Tuy��n, speaking with a tearful, aggrieved expression.

“Oh, Junior Brother Lỗ, I traveled thousands of miles to attend your Grand Dual Cultivation Ceremony, yet your woman has been snatched away? This anger truly needs to be vented, otherwise, our Carefree Sect will completely lose face because of you!” Before Nhậm Tuyền could speak, the pale-faced, purple-robed youth standing beside him opened his mouth first. A smile played on his face, his words impossible to decipher if they were mocking or genuinely sympathizing with Lỗ Hùng's injustice.

“Senior Brother Tiêu Dao! You've also come, this is truly wonderful! I heard Master say he would bring someone unexpected, but I never imagined it would be you. For you to travel thousands of miles to attend your junior brother's Grand Dual Cultivation Ceremony, I am truly delighted! It's just... alas, to let Senior Brother witness such a mockery!” Seeing the pale-faced, purple-robed youth, Lỗ Hùng looked embarrassed. He was usually full of arrogance, but he treated this purple-robed youth with unusual politeness, clearly indicating this person held a high position within the Carefree Sect.

“Disciple, Tiêu Dao is right. This matter concerns the reputation of our Carefree Sect. Handle it as you see fit. With your Master here, I'd like to see who in this Qín nation dares to touch you!” Nhậm Tuyền's tone was rough and wild. His face was filled with killing intent, and he deliberately glared towards Nguyễn Thanh Hồng, who was seated in front of Lý Mộc. At the same time, a powerful spiritual sense pressure erupted from him, completely undisguised. How terrifying was the spiritual power of a Late-stage Profound Ethereal Realm expert? It surpassed everyone present.

Although there were several Profound Ethereal Realm experts on the Thẩm family square, the highest cultivated among them were Nguyễn Thanh Hồng and the Lỗ family patriarch, Lỗ Đạt, both Mid-stage Profound Ethereal Realm experts. Facing the powerful spiritual sense pressure from the suddenly appeared Carefree Sect Elder Nhậm Tuyền, no one present dared to release their own spiritual sense to resist.

As if realizing that no one present could rival him in cultivation, Nhậm Tuyền's spiritual sense erupted even more furiously. He fixated on the direction of the Golden Jade Sect members, unleashing such powerful spiritual sense without any reservation, sweeping towards Nguyễn Thanh Hồng. Clearly, he intended to make the Golden Jade Sect lose face.

Facing Nhậm Tuyền's full-force attack, the light of Nguyễn Thanh Hồng's spiritual sense converged between her brows. The formidable spiritual power of her Mid-stage Profound Ethereal Realm was forced to unleash completely, forming an invisible spiritual sense barrier around her and the other Golden Jade Sect members, intending to block Nhậm Tuyền's unseen spiritual sense pressure attack.

However, in just a brief moment, the barrier formed by Nguyễn Thanh Hồng's spiritual sense was pressured and shattered by Nhậm Tuyền's powerful spiritual sense. Under the immense spiritual sense pressure, the jade seat beneath her exploded into fragments, cracking apart.

Nguyễn Thanh Hồng gritted her teeth, cold sweat beading on her forehead. Although there was only a small realm difference between Mid-stage Profound Ethereal Realm and Late-stage Profound Ethereal Realm, the gap in strength was far from minimal. The higher the cultivation realm, the more each minor realm difference became like an uncrossable chasm. What Nguyễn Thanh Hồng and Nhậm Tuyền demonstrated before their eyes was a perfect living example of this.

Seeing the cold sweat on Nguyễn Thanh Hồng's forehead, Lỗ Hùng, standing beside Nhậm Tuyền, wore a smug expression. With the Carefree Sect and Nhậm Tuyền as his backing, he truly didn't place the Golden Jade Sect or Nguyễn Thanh Hồng in his regard. At this moment, he merely waited to see Nguyễn Thanh Hồng lose face, which would also serve to vent his earlier humiliation. Simultaneously, he did not forget to cast a provocative glance at Lý Mộc.

“Alas! This was originally a matter between us juniors. Why drag our Golden Jade Sect and Carefree Sect into it? Elder Nguyễn, please rest. The trouble I caused, I shall personally resolve!” Seeing Nguyễn Thanh Hồng's face grow increasingly grim, Lý Mộc finally couldn't remain seated. He stood up, walked in front of Nguyễn Thanh Hồng, and spoke. Between his brows, a spiritual sense pressure no weaker than Nhậm Tuyền's suddenly erupted, transforming into a torrent of spiritual sense that surged back towards Nhậm Tuyền's emitted spiritual power.

“This is...!” As Lý Mộc suddenly made his move, everyone on the entire Thẩm family square, save for a few who had witnessed Lý Mộc's spiritual power before, collectively gasped, utterly astonished by the spiritual power Lý Mộc displayed.

“Master!!! Lý Mộc's spiritual power is abnormally strong! Despite being only in the Early-stage Divine Ability Realm, he possesses spiritual power comparable to a Late-stage Profound Ethereal Realm expert! Furthermore, he can use an extremely rare offensive spiritual sense divine ability. We must be cautious!” Seeing Lý Mộc suddenly make a move, Lỗ Hùng's face turned pale. His initial excitement had been too overwhelming; only now did he recall that Lý Mộc had released spiritual sense comparable to a Late-stage Profound Ethereal Realm expert the previous day. Remembering this, he couldn't help but softly remind Nhậm Tuyền.

After hearing Lỗ Hùng's words, a hint of surprise appeared in Nhậm Tuyền's eyes. Firstly, he hadn't expected a junior in the Early-stage Divine Ability Realm like Lý Mộc to possess such potent spiritual sense. Secondly, he hadn't anticipated Lý Mộc also knowing an extremely rare offensive spiritual sense divine ability. One must know that even he, as an elder with real power in the Carefree Sect, had never been fortunate enough to acquire such a skill.

“Lý Mộc!! You said his name is Lý Mộc!!” As Lỗ Hùng spoke, Nhậm Tiêu Dao, who had been standing idly by, looking completely detached from the situation, suddenly perked up. He glanced at Lý Mộc, who was currently clashing spiritual sense with Lỗ Hùng, then fixed his gaze on Lỗ Hùng, hoping to get an answer from him...

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