Right now, everyone on the stage except for Lu Mei had collapsed to the ground, crushed by the Demon Wolf’s terrifying aura.
Even Lu Mei, at the True Fate Realm Peak, trembled violently as he stared at the Demon Wolf.
The Demon Wolf continued to float lightly above the stage...
It was a mere ten meters or so from the tip of the Blood Stele, and every single person in the crowd was staring at the suave, blue-robed young man.
The blue-robed young man scanned the crowd, then let out a soft, mocking laugh. "So this is the so-called Three-Academy Showdown? The place where the strongest cultivators of the Azure Flame Domain gather? How come it looks like a pack of country bumpkins who’ve never seen the world?"
His mocking laughter echoed through the arena, causing pupils to shrink in shock.
Some had heard the name "Azure Flame Domain" before, but most had not...
Indeed...
Many who lived within the Azure Flame Domain had no idea what outsiders called their corner of the world.
Lu Chao, of course, knew the name "Azure Flame Domain."
Dragon Flame Master Wang had mentioned it.
His eyes narrowed sharply. ’Anyone who can say that name is definitely not from the Azure Flame Domain.’
Seeing that no one answered, the blue-robed young man laughed arrogantly. "I am from Cyan Sword!"
The voice struck everyone present with stunning clarity. One by one, their eyes widened in shock before their gazes slowly drifted to Lu Chao... ’The Cyan Sword Great Empire... they’ve really sent someone.’
Slowly, their gazes shifted to Nan Zhuiming.
PFFT...
From the side of the Dragon Flame and Hundred Countries factions, Yu Xiaoping’s bright voice suddenly cut through the silence. "I say, Old Man Nan, I don’t think you quite got what you were expecting, did you? You said you were going to call our Brother Lu ’Dad’... So, sonny boy, get over here and say it."
The arena was so quiet that Yu Xiaoping’s voice was perfectly clear.
Nan Zhuiming’s face instantly flushed crimson. He was utterly bewildered. ’How could people from the Cyan Sword Great Empire be here?’
’Why didn’t Lord Black Shadow give us any warning?’
The others looked toward Yu Xiaoping, speechless. ’Is this really the time to be taunting Nan Zhuiming? The point is, people from the Cyan Sword Great Empire are actually here! What do they want?’
’This terrifying Demon Beast... it has to be at least at the Creation Realm.’
Lu Dingtian’s expression flickered with uncertainty.
He felt the same as Nan Zhuiming. ’Why didn’t Lord Black Shadow inform us?’
’Why did they suddenly show up?’
Aboard the terrifying Demon Wolf, the blue-robed young man shot Yu Xiaoping a cold glance. ’This little girl actually dared to interrupt my grand entrance.’
’But no matter,’ he thought. ’Not worth my time.’
He swept his gaze across the crowd once more, a smug smile spreading across his face...
"My name is Yan Mu. I am from the Cyan Sword Great Empire’s... actually, forget it. It’s useless telling you bumpkins. You’re all going to be stuck in this shithole for the rest of your lives anyway."
"I heard you people in the Azure Flame Domain were holding a Three-Academy Showdown. Is it finished?"
The crowd exchanged glances, unsure how to respond.
’In a way it was finished, but in another, it wasn’t. The whole thing had already devolved into chaos.’
Just then, the blue-robed Yan Mu pointed at Lu Mei on the stage. "You. Answer me."
Lu Mei slowly raised his head, but instead of answering, he looked to Lu Dingtian...
At that, Lu Dingtian finally snapped out of his stupor. His expression grew solemn as he instantly teleported to Lu Mei’s side. "To answer Young Master Yan, our Three-Academy Showdown has already concluded."
’No matter what, the most important thing right now is to curry favor with this young master.’
’If I’m not mistaken, Yan Mu must be the young master Lord Black Shadow mentioned.’
At this thought, Lu Dingtian suddenly glanced at his daughter Lu Hanyan’s body, and killing intent surged within him. ’Before all this, I was hoping my daughter could win that young master’s favor.’
’Now, that chance is gone.’
He wasn’t saddened by his daughter Lu Hanyan’s death, but rather by the loss of the opportunity she represented.
Yan Mu frowned at his words before breaking into another arrogant laugh. "It doesn’t matter if it’s over or not. I want all you so-called geniuses of the Azure Flame Domain on this stage. You’re going to fight me."
The entire crowd was dumbfounded.
WHOOSH! Yan Mu leaped down from the beast. His guards followed, landing one by one on the stage. Then, with a casual wave of his hand, Yan Mu sent the massive Demon Wolf soaring back into the sky.
He straightened his robes and looked at Lu Dingtian...
"I came here to challenge the so-called geniuses of your Azure Flame Domain."
"The Three-Academy Showdown has gathered your strongest young cultivators. I’m going to crush every last one of them."
"Now, clear this stage. All you so-called geniuses who can still fight, get up here."
On the stage and below it, everyone exchanged bewildered glances, completely baffled by this sudden turn of events. A young master from the Cyan Sword Great Empire shows up out of nowhere, and he’s only here to challenge the geniuses of the Azure Flame Domain?
Seeing the silent, unresponsive crowd, Yan Mu showed a hint of displeasure...
He spoke again, his voice cool. "You all seem rather slow to act on my words. Very well... Niu Dong."
"Your subordinate is here!" The middle-aged man in black armor behind Yan Mu immediately stepped forward with a heavy THUD.
Yan Mu gave the order directly: "Take down every Peak Realm cultivator here. Leave none of them standing!"
As his voice fell, the expressions of everyone present, including Lu Dingtian, twisted in horror.
In the next instant, the middle-aged man in black armor named Niu Dong flashed forward and threw a punch at Lu Dingtian. Lu Dingtian instinctively tried to block but was completely overpowered, sent flying back by the heavy blow.
The middle-aged man in black armor then leaped off the stage and charged toward Nan Zhuiming.
Nan Zhuiming blurted out instinctively, "Wait, I’m one of you—AHH!"
He’d wanted to say he was on their side, but he was sent flying in an instant. Next came Zheng Liling, Zeng Quan, and the others. Finally, as the middle-aged man in black armor charged toward Dongfang Ren...
The Dragon Flame contingent reflexively loosed a volley of arrows, but the middle-aged man in black armor just scoffed and shattered them all with a single punch.
He continued his charge, straight for Dongfang Ren...
But just then, Lu Chao suddenly roared, "Everyone, gather your power with my Dragon General Bone! BOOM!"
Lu Chao thrust his spear heavily toward the middle-aged man in black armor. Under the powerful influence of the Dragon General Bone, most of the people from Dragon Flame and the Small Kingdoms unleashed their True Qi in unison, all of it converging upon Lu Chao’s spear.
The explosive strike shot straight for the face of the man in black armor...
The middle-aged man in black armor, who was just about to reach Dongfang Ren, furrowed his brow, turned, and smashed his fist against Lu Chao’s spear.
KABOOM! A deafening explosion erupted!
Everyone from Dragon Flame and the Small Kingdoms, including Lu Chao, was forced back a single step.
The middle-aged man in black armor, however, was pushed back several steps before he could stop.
The middle-aged man in black armor’s eyes blazed with fury as he stared at Lu Chao. "You dare to resist me?"