Everyone was shocked and enraged, not expecting the enemy to arrive so quickly, giving them no chance to react.

One moment they were discussing in the hall, the next moment the enemy was at their door.

“Bastards, daring to disturb the old Alliance Leader’s seclusion!”

Fu Jingmen was agitated.

Thousand Mechanisms Sect’s Master Han Xie looked toward the sky, squinting as he carefully discerned, his expression changing slightly:

“There’s a flying magical treasure in the sky.”

Cao Qingyang and other high-ranking figures looked up, indeed seeing a black dot suspended in the azure sky.

Even with their eyesight, they could barely make out it was a boat-shaped magical treasure.

A flying magical treasure… Cao Qingyang’s heart sank, but he didn’t panic. He had set up checkpoints and scouts on Quanrong Mountain and surrounding roads, and many mounted crossbows were positioned on the mountain.

The military garrison’s cavalry was ready for battle, able to charge forward or retreat into the mountains to resist strong enemies.

The Martial Alliance’s internal experts working with the soldiers could form quite impressive combat power.

“Sound the gong!”

Cao Qingyang turned to give orders to Vice Leader Wen Chengbi, then surveyed everyone:

“You nine follow me to the back mountain to resist the enemy. The rest gather your disciples and stand guard, preventing other enemies from taking advantage of the chaos.”

Speaking, he leaped onto the roof ridge, glancing at the various sects’ disciples stirring in the square outside the mansion.

If the enemies were few but all top experts, these people could preserve their lives by merely watching.

Then whether the Martial Alliance won or lost would be irrelevant to these low-ranking disciples.

If those on the flying boat were the enemy’s vanguard, with large-scale enemy attacks to follow, then those in the square and the Martial Alliance’s direct disciples would face a life-or-death crisis.

Fu Jingmen, Xiao Yuenu, and the other eight major affiliated sect leaders followed Cao Qingyang toward the back mountain.

They could all briefly fly, but the Divine Walking Sect’s master had the most agile movement technique. This thin master didn’t ride the wind, instead stepping across treetops.

Each light touch of his toes on the treetops sent him shooting like an arrow. When momentum slowed, he’d lightly step again, cycling this way, moving notably faster than the Fourth Rank martial artists flying at a constant speed.

Soon, they arrived at the back mountain, where beast roars and qi explosion sounds layered continuously.

Cao Qingyang and the others suddenly elevated, darting into the sky to survey the back mountain situation.

They saw a beast about four zhang long, shaped like a dog, fighting with a golden figure before the cliff’s stone door.

It had a face similar to humans, covered in short black fur, its eyes red like two crimson lanterns.

“Roar!”

The Quanrong beast pounced at the golden figure, trying to tear it apart.

Unexpectedly, that golden figure was extremely agile, dodging the beast’s repeated pounces and swipes through rolls and flips.

Boom boom boom…

The hard rocks kept cracking under the Quanrong’s strikes. The golden figure seized an opportunity, sliding under the beast’s belly in a tackle, instantly appearing behind it.

Crack!

The golden figure cracked the ground, transforming into a golden light stream charging toward the stone door, seemingly trying to break it.

Dong!

In a heart-shaking impact sound, the golden figure was sent flying back, struck by the Quanrong’s six thick tails.

Jingyuan crashed through several large trees before barely stabilizing. He casually tore off his tattered kasaya, revealing a physique like cast gold.

After repelling the enemy, the Quanrong raised its head and roared, releasing its anger, sound waves echoing throughout the Quanrong mountain range.

Pat pat… Cao Qingyang led everyone to land, coming to the Quanrong’s side, both calming the giant beast and saying:

“Vajra Divine Skill—indeed Buddhist people.”

“Heh, a Fourth Rank warrior monk? The main forces haven’t come down yet—who’ll test him?”

The Divine Walking Sect’s master stepped forward, pondering:

“My movement technique can counter him, I’ll…”

Before finishing, he was interrupted by the Iron Clothes Hall’s master, who said irritably:

“What, you’ll circle him? Your Divine Walking Sect is good at escaping, not fighting. Even if he stood still letting you hit him, you’d go bald before hurting a hair on his head.”

This was a tower-like man, not tall but terrifyingly broad.

Monks are already bald… the Divine Walking Sect’s master grumbled internally, not insisting on his view because what Iron Wushuang said was true.

“You Stone, be careful.”

Cao Qingyang said, raising his head to watch the Wind-Riding Boat in the sky warily.

There was an awkward situation here—though Fourth Rank martial artists could briefly fly, their height and speed were limited. The Wind-Riding Boat was clearly beyond Fourth Rank martial artists’ maximum range.

“Alliance Leader, rest assured. This subordinate has long wanted to test whether Buddhist Vajra Divine Skill is stronger, or our Iron Clothes Hall’s protective divine skill.”

The short, sturdy You Shi’s eyes gleamed as he stared at the golden figure in the distant forest.

Jingyuan stood beside a broken tree trunk, expressionlessly watching the Martial Alliance crowd, his gaze cold and proud, seeming to not take them seriously.

Such an arrogant monk… Xiao Yuenu and others frowned.

With thudding sounds, You Shi charged out, leaping midway like a meteorite smashing toward Jingyuan.

Dong!

You Shi’s fist struck Jingyuan’s cheek, making his body suddenly lean back. Just before falling, Jingyuan’s spine contracted, like a roly-poly toy, snapping back from an exaggerated angle.

Dong!

Another huge sound—You Shi’s forehead hurt, his brain instantly entering a dizzy state as his body flew backward.

Jingyuan, who had headbutted his opponent flying, merely casually rubbed his forehead, saying in imperfect Central Plains official language:

“Not quite enough.”

Yang Cuixue and other Fourth Rank martial artists showed serious expressions. Just from that exchange, they could judge You Shi’s physique as inferior to this Buddhist warrior monk.

Of course, You Shi still held back, not fighting all-out, but who could be certain this monk had used full power?

Just the vanguard warrior monk having such cultivation… Cao Qingyang looked up, calling loudly:

“Friends on the boat, since you’ve come, why hide?”

Sound waves echoed.

Shortly after, as if responding to his call, five figures leaped down from the Wind-Riding Boat.

They were: a young monk in kasaya, gentle-browed with pronounced features showing clear Western Region racial characteristics; a one-armed burly man with tiger eyes and a square face, extremely imposing, surrounded by spiral winds.

A middle-aged man wearing colorful robes with curly hair, blue eyes, and brown skin—Southern Borders racial type.

A beautiful young woman with a cold demeanor holding a curved blade, coldly standing on branches looking down.

And a woman in a red dress, alluring with a graceful figure.

“Liu Hongmian?!”

Xiao Yuenu’s tone changed slightly.

Liu Hongmian swayed her waist, approaching gracefully, giggling: “Senior Sister, how have you been?”

Xiao Yuenu said coolly: “You betrayed Wanhua Tower long ago. This Tower Master cannot bear such address.”

Resentment flashed in Liu Hongmian’s eyes as she sneered:

“If not for you, good Senior Sister, interfering, how would your Junior Sister have betrayed Wanhua Tower? That old debt, it’s time to collect.”

“White Tiger, I told you Xiao Yuenu was a national beauty, didn’t lie, right?”

The one-armed White Tiger examined Xiao Yuenu, slowly nodding:

“Though wearing a veil, indeed a rare human beauty. I’m very satisfied.”

Liu Hongmian smiled alluringly:

“Good, I’ll capture her for you as a slave girl, for your pleasure.”

“Ah, Young Master Ji Xuan and Qihuan Danxiang don’t like women, Xu Yuanhuai doesn’t understand romance—lucky you.”

White Tiger nodded: “Thanks, I owe you one.”

As king of beasts, women were like tools for releasing desire in his eyes. He didn’t even bother showing expressions of desire or lust.

This made Liu Hongmian quite unhappy—she needed a lecher to play along in attacking Xiao Yuenu.

Cao Qingyang’s steady gaze swept over the five present Fourth Rank experts, neither over- nor underestimating them, pausing briefly on Liu Hongmian.

Liu Hongmian… all the Martial Alliance leaders present recognized her.

Years ago, she had caused quite a stir competing for the Wanhua Tower Leader position.

Normally, sect disciples competing for gang or tower leader positions was most natural. Many became enemies.

But Wanhua Tower’s previous generation’s leadership competition was quite interesting. Liu Hongmian and Xiao Yuenu were both the previous Tower Leader’s disciples, important contenders for the position.

Xiao Yuenu was acclaimed as Sword Province’s premier beauty—naturally, Liu Hongmian, who could compete with her, couldn’t be too inferior.

But later, Liu Hongmian was excluded from the competitors due to her promiscuity.

As a sect composed of women, Wanhua Tower placed extreme importance on the Tower Leader’s virtue—how could they let a promiscuous person control the sect?

But Liu Hongmian didn’t accept this, saying she was wrongly accused.

Soon after, she betrayed Wanhua Tower, disappearing without a trace.

Unexpected that today she’d return to Sword Province, bringing a group of enemies.

“Tch!”

You Shi of Iron Clothes Hall, his mood disturbed, silently retreated to Cao Qingyang’s side.

The two sides faced off.

…

On the flying boat, Ji Xuan looked down at the layered mountains below, stroking his chin:

“The bait isn’t enough. Just them won’t bring out Xu Qi’an.”

At the bow, Dong Fangrong offered her view:

“He might not know anything happening here at all.”

Ji Xuan smiled and shook his head:

“No, I dare bet he’s come.”

“Destroying the Martial Alliance is the State Teacher’s intention, meaning it involves the game between the State Teacher and Bureau Chief. The Bureau Chief won’t let the Martial Alliance be destroyed.”

“In Great Feng now, only Xu Qi’an is available among martial artists. If he doesn’t come, who will? At most add Sun Xuanji.”

Dong Fangrong tilted her head to listen for a moment, slowly nodding, agreeing with Ji Xuan’s words.

Ji Xuan continued:

“Now it’s like two armies facing off, probing each other. Xu Qi’an is wary of the State Teacher. Before touching bottom lines or understanding our trump cards, he won’t act rashly.”

“We’re the same—who knows how many means the Bureau Chief has besides Xu Qi’an?”

Dong Fangrong smiled beautifully, radiant and charming. She turned to look at the Azure Dragon Seven Stars behind Ji Xuan:

“Then let’s touch those bottom lines, force him out.”

Ji Xuan nodded, turning back, speaking respectfully:

“Azure Dragon, please trouble you to meet the Martial Alliance’s experts.”

Azure Dragon stepped to the ship’s rail, leaping down, the seven cloaked people behind him following.

The eight cloaked people dove headfirst, their robes fluttering.

…

Below, Cao Qingyang suddenly looked up, staring at eight black dots diving down, slowly saying:

“Eight people?”

Another eight Fourth Rank experts? Three forces gathered so many Fourth Rank experts to attack the Martial Alliance.

He was somewhat puzzled. In any system, Fourth Rank experts were the backbone, the true ruling class.

But on the current battlefield, Fourth Rank martial artists were just appetizers—this battle involved the Third Rank Transcendent realm.

Sending fourteen Fourth Rank experts as vanguard at once, weren’t they afraid of Xu Qi’an, potentially lurking, taking them all out at once?

“Guard!”

Cao Qingyang’s expression suddenly changed as he thought of Transcendent experts possibly hiding among these eight.

At this moment, the eight diving people adjusted their posture during descent, connecting head to tail in a line.

Qi suddenly expanded, transforming into a phantom dragon shadow, opening fangs to pounce down.

Almost instantly, terrifying Qi descended from the sky like a mountain collapsing.

“Third Rank?”

Cao Qingyang clenched his fists, his robes instantly inflating like balloons as streams of qi gathered toward his fists, rising with scorching energy.

A punch toward the sky.

A small sword flew from Xiao Yuenu’s sleeve, wrapped in qi, following Cao Qingyang’s fist force toward the Azure Dragon Seven Stars.

Other Fourth Rank sect leaders either struck with both fists, drew swords to shoot sword light, or continuously shot qi arrows… all meeting the enemies in the sky together.

Boom!

As qi collided, thunder-like explosions erupted at the mountaintop, qi energy becoming hurricane winds, making all trees on the peak sway.

This scene would be magnificent viewed from afar.

The dragon shadow slightly stagnated, weakened somewhat but didn’t disperse. Seeing they couldn’t block it, Cao Qingyang roared:

“Retreat!”

Everyone scattered like birds and beasts, letting the Azure Dragon Seven Stars descend.

With the phantom dragon shadow’s landing, the entire peak shook.

The Azure Dragon Seven Stars drew long sabers from their waists, then looked toward the distant stone door, which showed no movement.

“The old man indeed isn’t right. You entangle these Martial Alliance fellows, I’ll go behead the old man.”

A hoarse voice came from within the cloak.

“Roar!”

The Quanrong beast howled as it pounced, its paw larger than an adult man’s head striking down.

Azure Dragon flipped his blade up in an upward slash. In a teeth-aching sound, sparks exploded as the blade severed the Quanrong’s paw.

Bang!

Cao Qingyang seized the instant of the beast and man’s clash, appearing ghost-like behind a black-cloaked person, fierce fist intent erupting.

But at this moment, he suddenly felt his target’s qi surge, breaking through Fourth Rank in an instant, reaching a realm mortals couldn’t touch.

The martial artist’s danger sense frantically warned. Cao Qingyang decisively withdrew his fist, sliding backward.

Almost simultaneously, that black-cloaked person slashed with their long saber. The blade qi fell where Cao Qingyang had stood, cutting a bottomless crevice.

What’s going on? This is also Third Rank?

Cao Qingyang’s expression changed slightly. He turned to look at the lead black-cloaked person, finding they had just exchanged another move with the Quanrong. The blade that could easily sever the Quanrong’s claws before now only created sparks on the giant beast’s body.

Their strength weakened… Cao Qingyang suddenly realized, shouting:

“They aren’t true Third Rank—they’re using a formation technique to achieve Transcendent realm’s explosive power.”

“Everyone attack together, break the connections between them!”

These eight people could merge their power as one, flowing through any of them. Each could be Third Rank, but they couldn’t all be Third Rank simultaneously.

Therefore, using mass tactics to attack all eight simultaneously could effectively suppress them.