While Qiu Ling and Jing Yi had trained without any worry and were preparing to turn in for the evening, things outside weren't quite as harmonious.
Liu Cheng and the other disciples of the Chun Feng Sect were trying to enter the realm as well but regardless of what they did, the array wouldn't light up for them. Sect Master Yuchi and Alliance Head Hua who had first been almost frightened out of their minds finally calm down when they noticed that this was the case.
Hua Min nodded to himself. Well, if he took a moment to think, then this was to be expected. The person that had originally been standing next to the array had obviously been Grandmaster Leng. So this should be an array that he had created. Naturally, if he didn't want anybody to enter, then nobody would be able to do so. After all, he wasn't just a high-leveled cultivator anymore. Instead, he was already the strongest person currently in the human realm considering that he had ascended.
Yuchi Bing Xia also calmed down and looked at Grandmaster Zhangsun, feeling glad that he had been the one to create that array. Ah, it really was great to have such a Master on their side. The only question was how to get his disciple out of there again. He had only just managed to come out of his closed-door cultivation and now something like this happened. Although that did make him wonder why Yu Jin had gone over to the array. Well, maybe he wanted to consolidate his previous achievements and had thus gone to take yet another look at the place where he had gained his insights in the first place.
While the two of them explained the situation to themselves in this manner, Zhangsun Xun Yi observed the people from the Chun Feng Sect and then looked at their guest. He had no idea who this man was but the gaze that he directed at the disciples of the Chun Feng Sect wasn't very friendly. Since he had spoken to that person before, Zhangsun Xun Yi felt that this man should still be on their side. Maybe there was some private grievance with the Chun Feng Sect?
That was the only explanation he could find but he wasn't sure if he should pry any deeper. The Chun Feng Sect and the Yun Zou Sect were on friendly terms but just now, the Chun Feng Sect's disciples had attacked his disciple without any warning and had refused to let him go even when asked by the Sect Master.
That wasn't what a friend should do. If they wanted to stand at their side, then they should do so even when they suspected that Qiu Ling might be a demon. At the very least, they should have the decency to tell the Sect Master or at least him as Qiu Ling's Master about this matter first and then slowly investigate when they gained their approval. Otherwise, what did that say about their regard for the Yun Zou Sect? Obviously, they didn't trust them to the point where they thought that the Yun Zou Sect would be willing to let go of a talented disciple if he turned out to be a demon.
Zhangsun Xun Yi who had given his whole life to the Yun Zou Sect had some complaints in his heart but he didn't voice them. Instead, he turned to Qiang Yan. Dealing with the Chun Feng Sect would have to wait until later but the still had to find out who this man was first. "I gather that you know Qiu Ling?" He didn't dare to directly ask after Jinde but if this person knew one of them, he was likely to know the other as well.
Qiang Yan looked over and then gave a curt nod. "He happens to be my nephew-in-law."
Zhangsun Xun Yi raised his brows. So there was actually such a connection between them. "Then you came to …?"
Qiang Yan gave a wry smile and then motioned at the array. "I came to … deliver … some news." He wondered if it was alright to say so but in the end, he didn't change the words. Anyway, he didn't know what exactly his nephew-in-law's relationship with these humans was and he didn't want to meddle too much. "Who would've known that I would come to see some familiar people here?" Qiang Yan's gaze slipped to the people of the Chun Feng Sect and his eyes narrowed, his hand slowly reaching for the sword hanging at his waist.
Even though Qiu Ling and the previous dragon king had already managed to escape, he still felt like teaching these people a lesson. Maybe he should have himself a bit better under control but these were still the people that had hurt his son. As a father that had only recently discovered that he had a child and who had never had the chance to do much for this child, he was quite happy to be presented with such an opportunity. Anyway, they deserved this.
Zhangsun Xun Yi's gaze grew complicated. Obviously, this man wasn't very friendly toward the Chun Feng Sect. "Might I ask if there's some bad blood between you and the Chun Feng Sect?"
At this point, Liu Cheng looked over, his brows furrowing when he heard Zhangsun Xun Yi's words. Then he turned to Qiang Yan, sizing the other man up. He felt like he had never seen him before. There shouldn't be any grievances between them.
Qiang Yan finally drew his weapon. "That's a good question. But I guess these gentlemen do not require any explanation."
Liu Cheng furrowed his brows. "What's the meaning of this?"
Qiang Yan only huffed. "What is the meaning of your sect attacking people without even a shred of evidence for any wrongdoings? Just because you feel that somebody's bloodline might not be pure, you feel that it is right to kill them or imprison them? You will not even give them the chance to prove whether or not they are a righteous person? Then, if that is the case, what reason do I have to explain myself? If you don't need to do so, then neither do I." With that, he rushed over to Liu Cheng, brandishing the weapon.