Chapter 209: A Grand Display

In a desolate, uninhabited wilderness northeast of Daling City—a place usually devoid of human presence—dozens of figures had gathered. Each of them possessed a formidable and enduring aura, clearly indicating they were cultivators of significant strength.

These figures were split into two distinct, opposing factions.

"Aobaniu, I advise you not to push your luck. This is the territory of the Feiyun Empire’s Alchemist Guild; it is not for the Tianlong Empire to run wild!" President Frank stared at the group opposite him, his face flushed with fury as he shouted.

"Frank, don’t think you can use the Feiyun Empire to pressure me. You know full well the status of Ling Si within our Tianlong Empire. Since entering the Holy Spirit Tower, he has not only suffered severe physical trauma but his soul has also been damaged, leaving him in a coma. Your guild must give us an explanation!" Aobaniu retorted with a cold laugh, his face contorted with unconcealable rage.

"Before entering the tower, I warned them not to overestimate their abilities by venturing below the fourth level. Furthermore, this was not Ying Lingsi’s first time in the Holy Spirit Tower. If he was forced out because he could not withstand the pressure, blaming our Alchemist Guild is nothing but unreasonable provocation!" Facing the enraged Aobaniu, Frank stood his ground.

"Hmph! As I see it, only five people entered the tower, and all of our Tianlong Empire’s people were expelled, each bearing man-made injuries. If this wasn't the work of those three from your guild, then who else could it be?" Aobaniu’s eyes were bloodshot, practically spitting fire as he roared at Frank.

Ying Lingsi was the apple of the eye of a certain powerful figure in the Tianlong Empire. This excursion had left her severely injured; even with his status as a sixth-rank alchemist, Aobaniu knew he would face harsh punishment upon his return.

"Aobaniu, I warn you! We had an agreement: if any alchemist is forced out of the tower due to their own lack of strength, the consequences are theirs to bear. You have brought people here by force—do you think the Feiyun Alchemist Guild is defenseless?" As Frank spoke, the five elders behind him shook their robes, and a terrifying aura erupted across the wilderness. They were five masters at the peak of the Spirit Connection Realm.

"Do you really think our Tianlong Empire fears you?" Aobaniu sneered, and simultaneously, five figures behind him surged with an equal amount of power—five more masters at the peak of the Spirit Connection Realm.

With twelve peak Spirit Connection experts unleashing their power, the spiritual energy in the air turned violent. The standoff reached a breaking point, waiting only for a single command to ignite a massive battle.

Just as the atmosphere reached its zenith, a soft light emanated from the formation nearby. A disheveled young man was teleported out—it was the alchemist who had entered with Yang Yan and Xue Qing. Shortly after, a slim, beautiful young woman appeared. Upon seeing the tense scene, her face filled with shock. The combined aura of these dozen experts was enough to level some of the most powerful sects in the Feiyun Empire.

"Master, what is this?" Xue Qing asked, her shock eclipsed by confusion. She couldn't understand what could have happened in the five days they were in the tower to cause such a confrontation.

Frank waved his hand to silence her, his gaze locked on Aobaniu.

"Little girl, Ling Si and Li San were injured and expelled by the tower's rejection force on the third day. Was this your doing?" Aobaniu asked coldly, casting a sinister glare at her.

"After we entered, Ying Lingsi and Li San walked ahead of us. I descended from the first to the fourth floor and never saw them," Xue Qing replied. She had no love for Aobaniu, but hearing that Ying Lingsi had been beaten was shocking. The tower could only be opened by Frank’s ancient jade; even a Spirit Sea Realm expert couldn't force their way in. Since only five people had entered, who could have hurt her? She kept her suspicions to herself.

"Xue Qing, what did you say? You managed to reach the fourth floor, and you didn't see them?" Frank asked, his face filled with astonishment. He knew her strength well; even the third floor had been a struggle for her. He was certain she couldn't have lasted long on the fourth.

"Yes, Master. I don’t know why, but the soul energy in the tower felt much weaker than before, so I descended to the fourth floor to cultivate. And I truly did not see Ying Lingsi there."

"Weaker? How is that possible?" Frank was stunned. The tower had been closed for a long time; the energy should have been at its peak. He glanced at Aobaniu and caught a flicker of an unnatural expression on his face.

"Is this your doing?" Frank’s face turned icy. The Holy Spirit Tower was the foundation of his guild; if these people had tampered with it, they had touched his bottom line.

"Hmph, don't change the subject! We haven't resolved our issue yet. Besides, you know the tower was left by a powerful existence thousands of years ago. Do you think we have the power to affect it so drastically?" Aobaniu recovered his composure quickly.

As he finished speaking, another white light shimmered in the formation. A thin, young figure appeared.

"It must be this brat! Speak, did you hurt Lingsi and the others?" Aobaniu’s eyes brimmed with killing intent as he pointed at Yang Yan.

Yang Yan steadied himself and surveyed the scene. He was slightly surprised by the presence of six peak Spirit Connection experts from the Tianlong Empire. But, facing Aobaniu’s accusation, a faint smirk touched his lips.

"I did it."

The entire field fell silent. Even the sinister Aobaniu looked stunned. He had suspected Yang Yan from the start, but he hadn't expected such a blunt confession.

"Frank, you heard him! He has admitted it. Since he joined your guild five days ago, we need an explanation!" Aobaniu sneered, looking at Frank with a predatory gaze.

"Yang Yan, did you really do it?" Frank asked. The two empires had an agreement: no internal fighting. If a side violated it, the other could seize control of the tower. If Yang Yan was responsible, the Feiyun Empire would be in the wrong.

"Yes, President. I wouldn't have bothered with them if they hadn't been tampering with the tower," Yang Yan replied. He then recounted what happened. He omitted the part about the *Soul Absorber* (Naling) ending up in his hands, only stating that he caught them using a device to forcibly drain the tower’s soul energy, which led to the confrontation.

"A device that can absorb and store soul energy? Is it a *Soul Absorber*?" Frank gasped. As a sixth-rank alchemist, he knew of such legendary items. If Yang Yan's description were true, it could only be that.

Aobaniu’s face turned from blue to purple. He was more concerned about the missing *Soul Absorber* than the injuries of his subordinates. It was a priceless treasure borrowed from a major power; losing it would bring catastrophe upon the entire Tianlong Empire. He knew that in this vast world, the true rulers were not empires, but ancient sects and powerful organizations that could wipe out an empire with a wave of a hand. The thought sent a chill down his spine.

"Brat, hand over the *Soul Absorber*!" Aobaniu roared, his killing intent overflowing. The five experts behind him stepped forward, their spiritual energy surging.

"Aobaniu, I didn't expect the Tianlong Empire to be so shameless! Trying to drain the soul energy and then biting back? Do you think the Feiyun Empire is defenseless? Even if you hadn't brought men today, you wouldn't be leaving Daling City so easily!" Frank’s voice was as cold as eternal ice. He realized that if Yang Yan hadn't intervened, they would have been left with an empty tower.

"Seize that boy!" Aobaniu shouted. The twelve experts unleashed their power, causing the world’s energy to churn in chaos.

"Yang Yan, Xue Qing, go and summon reinforcements from the guild and inform the elders of the truth!" Frank ordered.

Yang Yan nodded. While he could fight a Spirit Connection master, he didn't want to be caught in the crossfire of an imperial conflict. He and Xue Qing vanished toward the Alchemist Guild.

"Old Hu, go catch that brat! I’ll handle this!" Aobaniu commanded. One of his elders broke away to pursue them. Aobaniu then locked his aura onto Frank and the other guild master, attempting to fight two at once.

"Heavenly Fire Transformation!" Aobaniu let out a cry, his aura surging until it neared the Spirit Sea Realm. It was a forbidden technique that would leave him crippled for months, but he had no choice. He had to retrieve the *Soul Absorber*.

"Finish him quickly!" Frank ordered his colleague, his face grim. They had to neutralize Aobaniu to save Yang Yan, though in their minds, a teenager like Yang Yan stood little chance against a master of that caliber.