Rumors about the strange phenomenon at the eastern seaside of the city spread like wildfire throughout the entire area.
Naturally, ordinary people were curious too.
But they were quickly cordoned off by military forces who moved in rapidly to seal the area. The military explained it as a military exercise. Combined with the fact that Bai Fanxian's residence sat on entirely private land surrounded by forest, the cover story held.
As for cultivators, ordinary military forces couldn't stop them anyway.
Before long, most cultivators still in the city gathered around the perimeter of Bai Fanxian's estate. The crowd was smaller than the one at the duel between two Grandmasters, since some had already returned to their cities or regions.
"What's going on here?" A cultivator at 3rd-stage Martial Practitioner asked an acquaintance he happened to run into.
"Didn't you see? Those purple light pillars that appeared earlier."
His companion, slightly stronger in cultivation, replied.
"I did, but by the time I rushed over, they'd disappeared."
"It must be a Tier 5 treasure for sure! Look, even the military got involved. This isn't a small matter." Another cultivator jumped into the conversation.
"But those weird light pillars vanished, right? Didn't the military already take the treasure?" The first cultivator sighed.
For wandering cultivators without affiliations like them, obtaining even a single treasure was harder than climbing to heaven. Because in this era, any treasure that appeared either got taken by the military or auctioned off by one of the great clans.
Given such difficulties, it wasn't surprising some of them felt joining a faction would bring better benefits.
That's why the Han Clan had so many affiliated cultivators and expanded into one of the four great clans—they incentivized these unaffiliated cultivators to join them.
"That's not it. You guys just got here, huh?"
Nearby stood a 1st-stage Martial Master. He crossed his arms while gazing at the estate's territory with a strange expression.
"Brother, what do you mean?"
Seeing the other party was in the Martial Master class, these Martial Practitioner-level cultivators quickly showed respect while asking curiously.
"I mean even the military couldn't take it."
He spoke while pointing toward the front gate, where many people in military uniforms had gathered. At the very front was General Liu Yianfei speaking with an elderly butler.
Cutting back to the front of the house, Liu Yianfei had a splitting headache. Earlier, he'd watched the purple light pillars gradually dissipate with his own eyes. But when he tried to enter, he found a transparent wall had appeared instead—one that wouldn't let him through no matter what he tried.
Though bodies couldn't pass, sound still reached through. He asked Butler Huang on the other side worriedly.
"Butler Huang, what exactly is happening here?"
The elderly butler who heard the question could only sigh. How could he explain when even he wasn't entirely sure what was happening!
He only knew his mistress had done something earth-shattering again!
"Um... this is rather difficult to explain."
Uncle Huang, not knowing how to respond, thought it wouldn't look good to say that because Grandmaster Bai got annoyed with people causing trouble, she put up a realm and decisively cut off the problem.
...Or would it actually be better?
Instead of making excuses, using the power and mighty identity of a Grandmaster might solve the problem more easily.
"You see, lately people keep coming to bother Grandmaster Bai, right?" Uncle Huang began after making his decision. He observed Liu Yianfei's reaction too.
"Recently it was Grandmaster Han... before that it was your Black Hawks..." By the time he reached this point, Liu Yianfei started choking. He hadn't thought he and his people would be part of the cause too.
"Or is this...?"
"So Grandmaster Bai created something called a 'Border' for personal peace and quiet."
"...A Border?"
Liu Yianfei repeated Uncle Huang's words in confusion. Because even as a being of General rank and Grandmaster level, he'd never heard of something called a Border before.
"Yes... Grandmaster Bai said only people she permits can enter it."
Uncle Huang chose to conceal the truth that he himself was another person who could bring people in. Because he'd received what was called "secondary authority" from Grandmaster Bai, and it was imprinted on his wrist.
The stunned Liu Yianfei gently rubbed his hand against the Border. He felt a light repelling force when he pressed his hand in.
"...What is this?"
Liu Yianfei murmured in surprise. The more force he used, the more he felt the realm pushing back equally.
The young man circulated qi to his hand. And the moment he touched the Border, the repelling force became so intense his arm jerked back slightly.
No one noticed, but Liu Yianfei inhaled sharply. Did this mean the thing could withstand even the qi of a Grandmaster-level cultivator?
"Then where is Grandmaster Bai?"
The young man decided to give up. He sighed softly and turned to ask Uncle Huang.
"Grandmaster Bai has retired to rest inside. Today she's not receiving guests." Uncle Huang finished speaking and bowed his head, implying politely that he should come back another day.
"Hah... I understand."
After speaking, Liu Yianfei turned to order his subordinates who'd followed later. They were all confused why, having just arrived, their commander was ordering them to withdraw so quickly.
But being military, and elite special forces at that, their commander's orders were absolute. No matter what they thought, they didn't complain and began loading everything back onto vehicles in an orderly fashion.
The cultivators in the outer ring were the ones surprised. Because suddenly the military was leaving. Had the military given up on that treasure?
Just then, another black military vehicle appeared from behind the crowd and drove in. Liu Yianfei was initially surprised, but after noticing the license plate, his eyes narrowed as he watched someone step down from the vehicle.
"General Liu, why are you leaving already?"
The person who got out was a bespectacled man in military uniform. Jin Ling, standing not far away, turned his face away upon seeing him. He could be none other than Major General Zhou Haoyun who'd argued in that meeting about Bai Fanxian that day.
So why was he here?
Zhou Haoyun wasn't a cultivator. He was someone who usually worked behind the scenes in the military. It was extremely unusual for someone like him to show up.
"Major General Zhou, must I explain my reasons to you?" Liu Yianfei spoke coldly. He emphasized the words "Major General" especially, then walked off immediately. This made Major General Zhou, standing behind, grind his teeth.
"Hmph!"
Zhou Haoyun watched Liu Yianfei's retreating back with displeasure. He too had received news about the appearance of what might be a high-level treasure and rushed here, abandoning his work.
But he hadn't expected the military to be withdrawing forces. This was something he didn't understand.
When the military began withdrawing, the cultivators became the ones surrounding the house instead. Zhou Haoyun himself didn't leave either. He observed the situation from the outer ring.
"Hey, that treasure's in this house, right?" One cultivator asked quietly.
"Should be. But why did the military leave already?"
"Does that matter? Isn't it better this way?"
They murmured among themselves. But no one dared to rashly do anything like storm into that house.
Uncle Huang watched the situation and assessed with his eyes. If even General Liu Yianfei couldn't get in, then he needn't worry about these cultivators anymore.
The old man was about to walk into the house. It was almost time to prepare dinner. The children had gone back to train at the beach. He didn't need to stay here anymore.
"Wait a moment!"
Uncle Huang heard a voice calling from behind. He turned back to see a group of cultivators trying to call him.
One of them was at 4th-stage Martial Master level, judging from the qi flowing throughout his body. He had no intention of hiding it even slightly.
"Is there something you need?"
Uncle Huang replied politely. To be the butler of a mighty being, he needed to control his expressions flawlessly.
"That Tier 5 treasure's in this house, isn't it?"
He asked directly. That made the cultivators in the area gradually tighten their encirclement.
"You're mistaken..."
Uncle Huang shook his head with a smile. When he was about to step away again, he was blocked once more.
"Don't lie! Open the gate. Let us in to see."
Not knowing who spoke that sentence, but the cultivators around all responded to those words.
"That's right! Open the gate."
"Treasures that appear should belong to everyone."
"Right. Just because we came late, you're going to hog it alone?"
All sorts of words floated out continuously until the elderly butler's eyes started twitching. The group of cultivators was becoming increasingly frenzied. Not far from there, Zhou Haoyun smiled with satisfaction.
That's right. The one who sparked these issues was his man, planted to infiltrate the crowd.
Even if Liu Yianfei gave up, he was different. If it was something even a General like Liu Yianfei couldn't bring back, but he could bring it back for the military, it would surely create merit and affect his position!
And as the situation seemed to escalate, qi began exploding from several cultivators' bodies. They were really thinking of storming into this house if Butler Huang didn't open the gate.
Suddenly, a small figure of a young girl ran out from inside the house.
It was Tang Yeye.
The little girl tugged on the old man's pant leg. She spoke with an innocent manner.
"Uncle Huang, my lady has a message."
The little girl's words drew the attention of everyone in the area excellently. They all fell silent, waiting for the girl to speak.
"What did your lady say?"
Uncle Huang bent down to ask Tang Yeye. He himself was surprised too.
"My lady said..."
"...'Deaf fools. Blow them away.'"
When she finished, the cultivators all felt deeply humiliated. Especially some Martial Master-level beings who got so angry they prepared to charge in and make trouble.
But they were blocked by the old man standing in their way first.
Huang Zihan's face showed a smile. He felt the character on his wrist beginning to glow faintly purple. It was signaling that the Border was starting to respond to his command!
"As that child said..."
"Today, my lady is not receiving guests. Please kindly get lost."
Suddenly, the Border that had been transparent shone with brilliant purple light. Cultivators who were in close range all went flying up into the sky with wailing cries, without any chance to resist at all!