"Why? Does Yaowang Valley judge people before deciding whether to serve them?" Orion asked, his expression darkening. "I didn't come here for trouble. I only need some pills. Don't ruin my mood."
The middle-aged man sneered arrogantly, "I won't give you any medicine today. What can you do about it?" He paused for effect, then added, "But since I'm in a generous mood, I'll give you a chance. If you kneel and kowtow to me, I might consider giving you the elixir."
These words ignited the fury of Orion's men.
"Lord! I can't take it anymore—I'm going to kill him!" Xu Chu, one of Orion's most loyal followers, drew his sword, the blade already inches from the man's throat, awaiting Orion's command to strike.
Orion's face turned cold. He was used to arrogance, but this was beyond anything he had encountered. Despite bringing an army, the man before him acted as though they were nothing.
Just as Orion was about to order Xu Chu to strike, a graceful woman emerged from Yaowang Valley. She moved with elegance, her steps like a lotus flower blooming.
"Uncle He, what's going on here?" the woman asked, her voice soft yet commanding. "Why is there so much commotion?"
She was stunning—radiating grace and tranquility with every move. Her delicate face and proud posture made her seem like a figure from an ancient painting, her form perfectly accentuated by a tight, off-white cheongsam.
Uncle He, the man who had been speaking arrogantly to Orion, immediately bowed his head in respect. "Young Mistress, these strangers are attempting to break into Yaowang Valley, claiming they want medicine! They even threatened to destroy the valley if we don't comply!"
The woman's expression darkened. While Yaowang Valley was generally secluded, its strength made it one of the most powerful forces on the continent. It wasn't a place for anyone to trifle with.
"If you had come seeking medicine in good faith, perhaps we could have discussed it. But provoking Yaowang Valley was your first mistake!" she said, her once-gentle tone now cold.
Orion laughed quietly, the corners of his mouth curling in amusement. "Should I call you naïve or just foolish for believing such a blatant lie?"
Uncle He's face contorted in anger. "How dare you! As the deacon of Yaowang Valley, I speak nothing but the truth to the young mistress!" He then turned back to the woman. "Young Mistress, would you trust a stranger over me? Look at the army behind him—they're clearly here to cause trouble!"
The woman glanced at the formidable 100,000-strong dragon cavalry behind Orion, their white armor gleaming, each soldier exuding a menacing aura that made her tremble slightly. It was indeed an elite force, their bloodlust palpable even from a distance.
With that, she nodded at Uncle He, her eyes filled with trust. "Of course I believe you, Uncle He."
Uncle He shot Orion a smug, victorious look, but Orion merely shrugged in response.
"In that case, there's no point in talking further," Orion said calmly. "You've provoked us first, so there's nothing more to discuss. If you won't hand over the elixirs, we'll take them by force."
Orion's tone shifted, and he called out to one of his generals. "Yuan Zuozong!"
"At your command!" Yuan Zuozong responded.
"Prepare the troops. Since they're unwilling to cooperate, we'll storm Yaowang Valley and retrieve the elixirs ourselves."
Originally, Orion had intended to make a fair trade—elixirs in exchange for a large stockpile of resources he had gathered. It would have been a mutually beneficial arrangement. But now, they had left him no choice.
"Understood!" Yuan Zuozong shouted, immediately mobilizing a thousand elite cavalry to charge forward.
Uncle He, still grinning confidently, quickly commanded the valley's disciples to meet the charge. Though fewer in number, they believed their superior cultivation would be enough.
However, when the two forces clashed, Uncle He's confidence crumbled. Despite his disciples' higher cultivation levels, they were swiftly overpowered. His men were sent flying, blood spraying as they hit the ground.
What shocked Uncle He even more was the realization that the leader of the cavalry was at the peak of Half-Saint cultivation—far stronger than he was.
Panic gripped him, and he slowed his steps, retreating behind his disciples.
The young woman, seeing her people fall one after another, grew anxious. "Hold them off! The elders will be here any moment!" she cried out, rallying her disciples.
Her desperate cry caught the attention of one of Orion's men, Xu San, who grinned wickedly. "Look at this beauty! I'll capture her alive and present her to our Lord."
Orion's expression darkened at Xu San's remark, but a smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Well, at least he knows who to think of first," he muttered to himself.