C70 Each of Them Had Their Own Ulterior Motives

The lean, dark-skinned youth suddenly collapsed.

Yu Yuan, previously chattering incessantly, found the whole affair tiresome and released his grip, no longer intent on intimidating the boy.

"Combat prowess is certainly linked to one's level of cultivation, yet it's not the sole determinant of one's strength in battle," Yu Yuan mused to himself.

The youth, in the mid-stage of the Spirit Accumulating Stage, undoubtedly had a more refined physique than Yu Yuan's. Still, he was soundly defeated.

Had the stubborn youth been a bit wiser and not so insistent on locking eyes with Yu Yuan, he might have avoided a second humiliating defeat in such a short span.

"What a fool," Yu Yuan muttered, shaking his head as he turned his gaze toward Eastgriffin.

Han Hui was watching him as well. "Maybe their claims aren't just empty boasts or arrogance," she pondered silently. "Darkmoon City's combat strength does appear to surpass ours."

Beside her, Woo Ji remained silent, offering no comment.

While some of Eastgriffin's trial participants were still observing the clash between Zhan Tianxiang and Zhao Yafu, the majority had their attention riveted on Yu Yuan, having witnessed his skirmish with the lean youth.

With a whoosh, Zhan Tianxiang, clutching his small green umbrella, swiftly retreated. A series of ethereal green streams of spiritual energy formed a dazzling shield between him and Zhao Yafu.

Zhao Yafu wielded her dragon-shaped blade, each swing accompanied by a dragon's roar. The blade's piercing, domineering force shattered the green shield with each strike.

"Enough," Zhan Tianxiang declared, a note of finality in his voice. "Let's leave it at that."

Drawing in a deep breath, he steadied himself with a newfound calmness. Speaking twice, he signaled his desire for a ceasefire.

Facing Zhao Yafu, at the late stage of the Yellow Court, he was ready to concede.

"Why stop now?" Zhao Yafu asked, her voice laced with amusement.

"The power bestowed by the Golden Elephant Ancient God has been depleted," Zhan Tianxiang admitted openly. "And you, your strength remains unyielding. Knowing the inevitable outcome, there's no point in continuing the fight."

He bowed respectfully to Zhao Yafu. "I concede."

Turning once more to Yu Yuan, he added, "I assure you, Shadowhall will no longer trouble you. May we take my brother into our care?"

Yu Yuan was taken aback.

He marveled at the decisiveness of Shadowhall's young leader in handling the situation.

At the first sign of defeat, he conceded and made assurances.

Zhan Tianxiang, favored by the Golden Elephant Ancient God, had shed his initial arrogance and now exuded a calmness that made him seem like a completely different person.

Such a transformation earned him newfound respect from Yu Yuan.

"Take your brother away."

Yu Yuan nodded, pausing to clarify, "He was the instigator, picking a fight with us. He crossed the line, harassing my sister, so I set him straight. That's the root of our dispute."

"I'm aware," Zhan Tianxiang replied, unflinching. "I don't admit wrongs or apologize before a rematch."

"But now, I offer an apology to you and your sister on his behalf."

With that, Zhan Tianxiang bowed his head, bent at the waist, and gave a slight bow.

Yu Yuan watched, a flicker of intrigue in his gaze, and responded, "Apology accepted."

Zhan Tianxiang gestured to someone behind him.

A figure stepped forward, lifting the slender, dark-skinned youth from the ground amidst the onlookers and rejoining Zhan Tianxiang's ranks.

"Farewell."

Zhan Tianxiang glanced at Zhao Yafu, then at Yu Yuan, and said, "Darkmoon City is far stronger than I anticipated. I have no desire for future conflicts with you. Rest assured, from now on, I'll keep my people in check to avoid any provocation."

With those words, he led the way, departing first, his followers in tow, silent.

As the distance grew, a girl from Shadowhall, also in the Yellow Court Stage, spoke up, "Brother Tianxiang, you didn't give it your all, did you? And besides, I was here too, wasn't I?"

"Wouldn't we have won if the fight had continued?"

She sought confirmation.

The other Shadowhall cultivators turned their attention to her.

Though her abilities were just shy of Zhan Tianxiang's, they all recognized the girl's formidable strength.

Moreover, the artifact she wielded was of a higher grade than Zhan Tianxiang's small green umbrella.

She never lifted a finger from start to finish.

"Imagine if, in the next two months, we came across an irresistible treasure or opportunity and ended up in a do-or-die conflict with Darkmoon City."

Zhan Tianxiang started with a hypothetical, then provided his own conclusion.

"Obviously, Darkmoon City would be the one to fall."

With these words, all the Shadowhall cultivators were reassured.

"Zhao Yafu is formidable. She's putting a lot of pressure on me right now," Zhan Tianxiang said gravely. "If she were in the Late Period of the Yellow Court Stage, matching my level, I'm not sure I could best her. But as things stand, if I go all out, I'm bound to emerge victorious."

"As for the rest of Darkmoon City, Xiaoyu could wipe them out single-handedly."

He turned to the girl, "Right?"

"Absolutely." The girl made a fist, brimming with confidence. "Aside from Zhao Yafu, there's no one in Darkmoon City who can put up a fight."

"Hmm, that Yu Yuan is somewhat intriguing. Too bad his cultivation level is hardly noteworthy," Zhan Tianxiang said with a dismissive air. "He conceded because he saw no point in continuing. That, and the fact that Zhao Yafu's power exceeded my expectations, not to mention that fool got himself captured so easily."

He was disappointed, casting a glance at the unconscious, lean, dark-haired boy.

"Verbal sparring is the most pointless of battles. Without any exceptional treasures or chances at stake, it's not worth risking our lives over petty squabbles."

"Now, do you all grasp my meaning?"

"Understood."

"We get it."

...

"Brother Yu, to be honest, I'm not entirely sure I can win."

Elsewhere, Zhao Yafu was straightening out her turbulent Qi, admitting sheepishly, "I never anticipated that he would gain the favor of the Golden Elephant Ancient God and be endowed with divine power by that venerable Demon God. He conserved his strength, and the power from the Golden Elephant Ancient God hasn't faded."

"He did it deliberately, feigning that such foreign power was swiftly ebbing away."

Zhao Yafu spoke up.

At that moment, Han Hui and the rest decided to depart following the end of the battle.

Only their own remained.

"I'm aware. The Golden Elephant Ancient God from the Demon Palace, the one willing to grant a sliver of power, is no simple entity," Yu Yuan said with a smile. "Zhan Tianxiang won't engage in a battle of egos unless there's a substantial benefit laid out before him. If we cross paths with him again in the future, he'll be a thorny opponent, not easily dealt with."

"Mm, if he had been determined to keep fighting, we would have been the ones to lose," Zhao Yafu admitted, her spirits dampened.

Yuan Tine, Yu Feifei, and the others felt their morale wane as well.

"No, you've got it wrong," Yu Yuan said, his smile unwavering as he shook his head. "Should it come down to a fight to the death, we would be the ones left standing."

"Ah?" Zhao Yafu exclaimed, taken aback.

The rest were equally baffled.

"Believe me, we would be the survivors. I brought plenty of trump cards with me to the Forbidden Area Trial. Taking out several waves of trial participants would be a breeze with what I've prepared."

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