Chen Wu launched over forty consecutive sword strikes, all of which Tianshin Elder managed to block. His frustration boiling over, he shouted and changed his hand technique, channeling all his true essence into a single devastating blow. The massive golden sword descended upon Tianshin Elder with immense force, resembling a mountain crashing down. This strike was the culmination of Chen Wu's thousands of years of cultivation and was unimaginably powerful. Tianshin Elder could no longer withstand the attack. With a thunderous crash, he and his shield were sent flying, although the shield remained intact, Tianshin Elder was gravely injured, coughing up blood and clearly unable to continue fighting. The Sword Heart Sect had won this round.
Dongfang Feixing, sporting a broad smile, turned to the Dongxu Elder and said, "Now it's one win, one tie, and one loss. We've reached a standstill; shall we let our strongest experts decide the final outcome?"
The Dongxu Elder understood Dongfang Feixing's intentions: Lin Jian's attack power was unmatched among those present; neither he nor Lin De stood a chance against him. Agreeing to Dongfang Feixing's proposal would be tantamount to conceding defeat. With a smile, the Dongxu Elder replied, "Since we're tied, why not let this matter rest? If the Sword Heart Sect releases our people, we can consider it as if this incident never happened. What do you think?"
Dongfang Feixing chuckled, "You're calculating well, Dongxu. But if we let this go, what about the face of my Kunyu Sect and the Sword Heart Sect? Fine, if you're willing to hand over five Tribulation Elixirs, I'll take it upon myself to smooth things over, even if it means we take a hit."
The Dongxu Elder responded, "While our Jinshi Sect is reasonably well-off, we truly don't possess even a single Tribulation Elixir, let alone five."
Dongfang Feixing countered, "You may not have any, but that young man Guo should have plenty. Five Tribulation Elixirs are hardly a significant demand; why make everyone uncomfortable over this?"
The Dongxu Elder glanced at Guo Xingyue, who was still in meditation, and replied, "Whether Guo has Tribulation Elixirs is irrelevant to Jinshi Sect. You're using the capture of our disciple to extort us for them, which is utterly unreasonable."
The smile on Dongfang Feixing's face faltered, and he said through gritted teeth, "It seems you're not giving me face, so let's settle this through strength." With that, he released his magical artifacts.
Upon seeing this, over two hundred experts from both sides unleashed their own magical artifacts, filling the arena with a tense atmosphere as a rare battle in the cultivation world was about to unfold. Suddenly, over twenty cultivators at the Dividing Spirit stage and above flew in from the observing crowd in the distance, heading rapidly toward the battlefield.
Leading them was a short, unassuming elder with white hair and a goat-like beard. His sharp eyes glinted with cunning, and he was surprisingly at the mid-stage of the Combined Body. Both the Dongxu Elder and Dongfang Feixing recognized him simultaneously: the opportunist had arrived.
The newcomers were the experts from the Yining Sect, led by the sect leader, Qian Yi. They quickly flew to a halt between the two sides. Qian Yi surveyed the situation, then chuckled, "Ah, how lively! What a grand setup! You gentlemen are too inconsiderate; you didn't even give me a heads-up so I could join in on the fun."
The other cultivators present understood Yining Sect's usual antics: they wouldn't back off unless they could take advantage of the situation. Given that both sides were relatively equal in strength, whichever side the Yining Sect chose to support would gain the upper hand, leaving the other with no choice but to accept their demands.
Dongfang Feixing, quick on his feet, smiled and said, "Isn't this my old friend Qian Yi? Long time no see! You've made great progress in your cultivation! As long as you're willing to help out, I promise to offer a Tribulation Elixir as a reward after everything is settled."
Qian Yi grinned, "Indeed, a Tribulation Elixir! That's quite a treasure!" His gaze shifted to the Dongxu Elder, seemingly probing for a counter-offer.
The Dongxu Elder, wise to Qian Yi's schemes, was not caught off guard. He had previously discussed such scenarios with the Lingxu Elder and Guo Xingyue and had a plan in place. Seeing Qian Yi's shrewd eyes fixated on him, he laughed heartily, "Qian Yi, you're a clever man. Don't let opportunists take advantage of you. Some people may promise you something they don't have. A wise man like you wouldn't fall for that, would you?"
Qian Yi didn't respond directly but continued to consider his options, his eyes darting around. Since his arrival, Guo Xingyue had awakened from his meditation. Hearing the Dongxu Elder's words, he decided to speak up, "I can guarantee that if Senior Qian remains neutral, once I succeed in refining the Tribulation Elixir, I will certainly present you with one. If you are willing to help, I will offer you an additional one as a token of gratitude."
While the Tribulation Elixir was indeed a valuable item, one had to be alive to enjoy it. Everyone present was a high-level cultivator, and it was uncertain whether they would emerge unscathed from this battle. Qian Yi understood this well. To secure a Tribulation Elixir without lifting a finger was an opportunity not to be missed, given the Yining Sect's traditional stance of profiting without risk.
"Excellent, excellent! A Tribulation Elixir! Truly a treasure," Qian Yi said with a beaming smile. He added, "You all continue with your preparations; I'll just step aside for a moment to cool off." With that, he led the Yining Sect's experts away from the battlefield.
With this group of opportunists departing, both sides sighed in relief. Jinshi Sect had not expected the Yining Sect to intervene; given their typical behavior, if the situation turned unfavorable, they would be the first to flee. Even in a standoff, they were unlikely to contribute meaningfully. It was best to send them on their way.
For the Sword Heart Sect, having the greedy faction withdraw without any cost was a welcome development. Although this group was indeed formidable, their absence from the battlefield was greatly appreciated.