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The torrential rain poured like a furious downpour of silver needles from the heavens, slicing through the thick veil of mist. The muddy terrain groaned underfoot, but the three figures slicing through the rain at impossible speed were unbothered by such trivialities.
A pale blue light flickered around them, keeping the downpour at bay.
The Third Elder of Silver Blizzard City narrowed his sharp, hawk-like eyes as he glanced at the storm above.
"It is really stupid to bring out a Xuan Core in weather like this," He muttered, his tone mocking, yet tinged with concern. "Does this guy even know that this kind of rain causes Aura interference with the Xuan Core's field? ...Could this be a trap instead?"
Despite flying at such speed that trees blurred past like streaks of ink, the Third Elder's voice carried without strain, sharp and clear.
The Sixth Elder, flying to his right, chuckled low. "True, it's reckless. But there's no mistaking this Aura... so rich, oppressive, absolutely authentic."
His eyes glittered as he licked his lips with anticipation. "That's a level nine Xuan Core. I'd stake my cultivation on it. As for whether this is a trap... ha, we'll know soon enough."
"Don't joke." The Eighth Elder, furthest left, spoke grimly, his usually stoic face taut with unease. "That presence we sensed earlier... it hasn't shown itself again... but I can still feel it. Like someone is watching us."
His fingers twitched, a subconscious reaction to his tension. "Could this Core be a bait left by him?"
The words hung in the air, heavy.
"Third Brother," The Eighth Elder continued, his voice dropping slightly, "if that being is behind this... do we even have a chance of—"
"Don't say that again." The Third Elder's voice turned cold, a firm blade drawn against a whisper. His tone allowed no room for doubt or weakness. His Aura flared, briefly lashing out and silencing the storm around him for the briefest second.
"Yes... yes." The Eighth Elder immediately lowered his gaze as he realized that he had overstepped.
"We have come too far, sacrificed too much," The Third Elder growled. "This is not the moment to falter. Not when our aspirations lie within reach."
The trio surged forward, their pace doubling as lightning split the sky.
Then suddenly, their expressions shifted.
All three felt the Aura of battle stirred somewhere south.
The Third Elder lifted his head, his lips curling into a tight sneer. "Others have come. I can feel Shi Chang Xiao's spirit... and Fei Meng Chen's. Of course they'd come crawling the moment they sensed the Core."
He stopped midair and raised his hand. "You two, go south and intercept them. Stall them as much as possible. I will retrieve the Core in the meantime."
"As you wish." The Sixth Elder bowed slightly mid-flight, his eyes flashing like ice. "But it seems there's also movement in the east..."
He turned his gaze. "Sky Xuan level at most. Just some overconfident fools, not worth your time, Third Brother."
The Third Elder nodded. "I leave them to your hands."
With that, his two companions shot off southwards, slicing through the curtain of rain like twin arrows loosed from the bowstring of a bow.
Far to the south, wind howled like a beast denied its prey.
Shi Chang Xiao hovered mid-air, his long hair plastered to his face by the relentless storm. His sharp, noble features were unmoving, like a statue chiseled from jade. Next to him, Fei Meng Chen floated with a disarming smile on his lips, but his eyes were narrowed with quiet calculation.
He felt them before he saw them as the blue lights cut through the storm like shooting stars.
The Sixth and Eighth Elders of Silver Blizzard City descended before them, their robes fluttering dramatically in the wind, their gazes unreadable.
"Silver Blizzard City greets Brother Shi Chang Xiao and the ever-refined Fei Meng Chen," The Sixth Elder said, his voice carrying with deceptive politeness.
Shi Chang Xiao's eyes narrowed. "It's you."
His voice lacked surprise, only irritation.
Fei Meng Chen laughed lightly, playing the part of the easy-going gentleman. "My, what a coincidence. One can't even go artifact hunting without bumping into old acquaintances these days. I would have never thought that we'd run into the Third, the Sixth and the Eighth Elder of the Silver Blizzard City here; It's nice to meet you though!"
But he wasn't fooled. They had only sent two which meant the third elder who was likely the strongest, was already on the move toward the Core.
His words were a cipher, tossed out like bait.
Hope he catches that.
Shi Chang Xiao did catch it as his Aura surged slightly. His voice rang out cold and clear. "Step aside."
A simple command.
The Eighth Elder smiled as if embarrassed. "Come now, Brother Shi, don't be like that. We've come all this way, why not have a chat? If you two are in a hurry, we're happy to... assist."
"Assist?" Shi Chang Xiao sneered, his voice like cracked granite. "Even your City Lord, Han Feng Xue, wouldn't dare posture in front of me. And you want to assist?"
Fei Meng Chen's smile faded slightly while the Sixth Elder's smile froze.
There was no arrogance in his tone, just some simple truth.
Shi Chang Xiao wasn't just a Spirit Xuan expert. He was one of the Eight Great Masters.
His Aura coiled around him like a dragon uncoiling.
"I don't have time to waste with insects," Shi Chang Xiao said. His eyes locked onto the Sixth Elder's. "Do you really think you can stop me?"
The Sixth Elder's fingers twitched at his sides, and his smile grew razor thin.
He was tempted, very tempted to attack. But the weight of Shi Chang Xiao's Spirit Xuan pressure pressed against his very soul.
Still, Eighth Elder leaned in, chuckling as if to break the tension. "Now, now... we didn't come to fight. But if you insist, we'd be happy to test your edge again."
Shi Chang Xiao's lips curled upward into a snarl.
The wind thickened and the rain slowed, just slightly.
Fei Meng Chen suddenly chuckled again, this time genuinely. "Oh dear, is this where we pretend to be civil before throwing fists at each other?"
He stepped forward slightly. "Why don't we all calm down? It'd be a shame if someone lost an arm over something as trivial as a conversation."
But Shi Chang Xiao was already shifting.
His hand moved behind his back, fingers grazing the hilt of his blade. The air rippled, and even the storm seemed to recoil in warning.
The Sixth Elder and Eighth Elder both readied themselves, but neither took the first strike.
Because neither of them could afford to.
A misstep against Shi Chang Xiao could cost more than pride.
And above them, like a distant star rising through the chaos, the Aura of the Level Nine Xuan Core flared again in the distance.
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