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Xie Lingfeng and Hu Shan looked at their excited senior brothers, feeling perplexed.

"That's a Grandmaster at the peak of his art! In your eyes, is he so unworthy? Like grasshoppers that can be easily crushed?" 

"Brother Xie, are the other Grandmasters from the peak also from the Demon Sect, or are they the Black Robe people?" Curiously, Xu Yan asked. 

Apart from the Demon Lord Huotu, other Grandmasters at the peak either belong to the Demon Sect or hail from the Black Robe faction. Besides, Xu Yan couldn't think of any other faction that might target them at the moment. 

Having just slain a Grandmaster from the Black Robe faction, if there were still lurking Grandmasters on Canglan Island, it showed the immense power of the Black Robe faction. 

"Probably from the Black Robe faction!" Xie Ling's expression turned serious. "Even with the information I obtained from the Sword Sovereign Cliff, I couldn't determine which faction the Black Robe people belong to. Their depth of concealment suggests that their strength is not to be underestimated." 

Xu Yan's expression hardened, then he spoke coldly, "After killing their Grandmasters, I want to see if they reveal their true identities and how many more Grandmasters they have left to kill!" 

"Let's go to Canglan Island, but before that, let Huotu Mo Zun prepare my fee." Xu Yan waved his hand. 

The group of four left Tieshan County and headed straight for Canglan Island.

However, the news spread to Lanping County and further to Canglan Island.

To get Xu Yan to confront Canglan Island, Huotu Mo Zun had to prepare one million spirit crystals and move all his belongings to Canglan Island! Otherwise, Xu Yan wouldn't go to battle!

The news stunned the martial artists in the Inner Domain. 

Can things really happen like this?

Xu Yan's reason was that Canglan Island might have been destroyed, and he suffered heavy losses. Even if he recaptured Canglan Island, he couldn't recover his losses. 

Unless Huotu Mo Zun paid a battle fee of one million spirit crystals and transferred all his belongings to Canglan Island.

Only then would it be worth it for Xu Yan to take action!

On Canglan Island, Huotu Mo Zun, with his fierce expression and fiery red hair, was furious. "This young brat is pushing his luck too far!" 

He openly demanded a battle fee from him!

And also required him to move all his lifelong treasures to Canglan Island just to engage in a battle.

Moreover, he did so unapologetically, without feeling any shame, showing no demeanor of a strong martial artist!

What infuriated Huotu Mo Zun even more was that the martial world in the Inner Domain considered Xu Yan's avoidance of battle wise, even praised him, acknowledging him as a young genius who knew when to advance and retreat!

At such a young age, with strong talent and high strength, avoiding a battle with Huotu Mo Zun, a notorious Demon Lord, was not shameful at all!

This made Huotu Mo Zun so angry that he wished to destroy Canglan Island!

However, if Xu Yan didn't come to fight, he had no way to force him. Even if he wanted to personally go and confront him, it was impossible.

If he could find where Xu Yan was, he wouldn't come to Canglan Island.

"Agree to his terms," a black-robed figure behind Huotu Mo Zun said in a deep voice.

"Who has the right to take my spirit crystals? If you want to kill him, cough up the million spirit crystals yourselves!" Huotu Mo Zun said coldly.

"Fine!" the black-robed figure nodded.

"Yin Jue, as the Vice-Master of the Hidden Tower, why would you personally engage in such deep enmity with Xu Yan?" Huotu Mo Zun squinted.

"Mo Tu, some things shouldn't be known, don't speak out of turn. Some things shouldn't be said, don't talk recklessly, otherwise, the consequences will be severe," Yin Jue's eyes were unusually cold.

"Hmph!" Huotu snorted. "You secretive types, if it weren't for the old freak who's the Master of the Hidden Tower, would I ever cooperate with you?"

"Mo Tu, I advise you to be cautious with your words," Yin Jue said coldly.

"Hmph!" Huotu snorted again.

A hint of fear flashed in his eyes. As a Grandmaster at the peak, he actually felt a sense of fear towards the Master of the Hidden Tower!

Truly terrifying!

"Tell Xu Yan that I've left a map of my treasures on Canglan Island waiting for him!"

Huotu spoke in a cold voice.

His gaze passed over Yin Jue and looked towards the back, where a black-robed figure stood.

One of the guardians of the Hidden Tower.

A Grandmaster at the peak.

His gaze fell on the Cang River, seeming to hide someone underwater.

With the Vice-Master of the Hidden Tower and two guardians, plus himself, Huotu, four Grandmasters at the peak were gathered just to kill one youth!

This had never happened in the martial world from ancient times to the present!

However, they harbored fear towards Xu Yan's strength and talent. They had to eliminate him before he fully matured!

Otherwise, the consequences would be endless!

However, it seemed that the Hidden Tower had another purpose. It seemed to be the order of the Master of the Hidden Tower to find someone!

Canglan Island attracted the attention of many powerful individuals this time.

The infamous Demon Lord Huotu Mo Zun actually wanted to challenge the rising genius Xu Yan. This was unprecedented in the martial world.

Xu Yan's deeds gradually spread, breaking through the nine levels of the Seven Star Academy's Martial Arts Platform, defeating Grandmasters, and single-handedly killing two Grandmasters besieging him.

At such a young age, with strength surpassing many Grandmasters, he was an unprecedented prodigy in the martial world.

Huotu Mo Zun's notoriety was too great, and there were many who wanted to kill him. On Canglan Island, his enemies wanted to come and kill him.

However, it seemed that they were all being hindered.

The other two Demon Lords of the Demon Sect actually intervened.

Moreover, there were other unknown powerful individuals suspected to be other Demon Lords.

This made all major forces suspect that the Demon Sect was planning to unify the Inner Domain again?

The Demon Sect used to be extremely powerful, but since the disappearance of the Demon Lord, under pressure from various parties and internal chaos, it was no longer as formidable as before.

While many powerful individuals and forces were focusing on Canglan Island, a piece of news spread.

Huotu Mo Zun paid a battle fee of one million spirit crystals!

This shocked everyone and made them realize even more that Huotu Mo Zun was determined to kill Xu Yan, to the extent of agreeing to such conditions.

It was also rumored that Huotu Mo Zun left a map of his treasures on Canglan Island. If Xu Yan won, he would naturally obtain it.

So, everyone's eyes turned to Xu Yan.

Was Xu Yan really going to accept the challenge?

Moreover, some astute forces vaguely sensed that Canglan Island seemed to be a trap.

A deadly trap!

Upon receiving the one million spirit crystals sent by the Tianbao Pavilion on behalf of Huotu Mo Zun, Xu Yan was overjoyed.

"The more enemies like this, the better. If I kill ten or eight of them, I won't be poor anymore!" Xu Yan exclaimed.

"It's only Senior Brother who knows how to do business. I'm no good at it. I haven't earned many spirit crystals," Meng Chong sighed, feeling that he needed to learn more from Senior Brother.

Xie Lingfeng and Hu Shan exchanged glances, not knowing what to say.

Only these senior brothers knew how to make money in this way, and only they had the strength for it!

"Tell Huotu Mo Zun that I, Xu Yan, will definitely accept his challenge and have a decisive battle outside Canglan Island," Xu Yan said sternly, instructing the Tianbao Pavilion to send a message.

Having received what he deserved, Xu Yan and his group leisurely began their journey to Canglan Island, without any hurry.

"Senior Brother, now that you've obtained the treasure map of Huotu Mo Zun, will someone come to rob you?" Meng Chong asked eagerly.

"Hard to say. After all, I've killed Grandmasters. Who dares to come and rob me?" Xu Yan shook his head, feeling somewhat regretful.

Xie Lingfeng couldn't help but speak up, "Perhaps, other Demon Lords might intervene?"

Xu Yan's eyes lit up. "That would be great! The Demon Lords must be very wealthy, right? It would be another windfall!"

Xie Lingfeng's mouth twitched, not knowing what to say.

He sighed inwardly. This was the confidence that came with great strength!

On the way, they unexpectedly encountered a familiar figure.

Fu Yuntian, the Chief Instructor of the Seven Star Academy.

"Chief Instructor Fu, are you here to find me?" Xu Yan was surprised.

"Xu Junior, after this battle, come to our Seven Star Academy. Our Master wants to see you, and of course, there are some things you want to know," Fu Yuntian said.

"No problem," Xu Yan agreed readily.

As for why he had to go to the Seven Star Academy after this battle, it was simply to see how his strength had improved.

As Fu Yuntian left, two graceful figures appeared.

The Grandmaster of the Peerless Pavilion and a woman in plain clothes.

"Young Master, it's been a long time," the woman in plain clothes smiled.

"Not that long," Xu Yan blinked.

The woman in plain clothes: ...

The Grandmaster of the Peerless Pavilion seemed to be holding back laughter.

"Do you have something to tell me?"

Xu Yan spoke up.

"I'm here to remind Master Xu that there is more than just Huotu Mo Zun, a peak Grandmaster, on Canglan Island. I hope Master Xu will be cautious when going there," the woman in plain clothes said solemnly.

"Are there ten peak Grandmasters?" Xu Yan asked after some thought.

The woman in plain clothes was stunned. Ten peak Grandmasters? Could it be that without ten peak Grandmasters, they couldn't pose a threat to you? Are you really that powerful?

"I suppose not?" the woman in plain clothes said hesitantly.

"Not even ten? Are you underestimating me, Xu Yan?" Xu Yan sighed.

Could it be that just because he was young, they looked down on him like this?

The woman in plain clothes fell silent. For a moment, she didn't know what to say.

The Grandmaster of the Peerless Pavilion snorted coldly at this moment and said, "Kid, how arrogant can you be? Without ten peak Grandmasters, you look down on me? Are you saying you can take on ten peak Grandmasters by yourself?"

This kid was too arrogant.

She couldn't stand his arrogance. She almost couldn't resist teaching him a lesson.

Xu Yan glanced at her and said, "What do you know, woman? The weak are arrogant. True strong ones are never arrogant; they speak the truth!"

"Huh, how strong do you have to be to say such things!" the Grandmaster of the Peerless Pavilion sneered.

"Not too strong. Someone like you, I could kill with two or three strikes without much effort," Xu Yan said seriously after some thought.

The Grandmaster of the Peerless Pavilion was furious. Her aura surged, and the atmosphere changed. She gritted her teeth and said angrily, "Arrogant brat, you think you can kill me with two or three strikes? Let's see how you'll kill me!"

She, a peak Grandmaster, had never been humiliated like this before!

Even Sword Saint Cliff Xie Tianheng wouldn't dare to make such arrogant remarks!

"Master, calm down, calm down!" the woman in plain clothes hurriedly advised.

Xu Yan frowned. "Why would I kill you for no reason? Besides, it's expensive for me to make a move. Without a million spirit crystals, it's not worth it!"

The Grandmaster of the Peerless Pavilion couldn't bear it anymore. With her chest heaving and her face flushed, she angrily flung her disciple to the side and said, "Today, I must teach this kid a lesson, don't stop me!"

The woman in plain clothes changed her expression and hurriedly shouted from behind, "Master Xu, please show mercy!"

The Grandmaster of the Peerless Pavilion: ...

Rebellious disciple!

She was even more infuriated. She seized the opportunity to send something, right? Where did this kid get his charm from!

"Master, are you okay?" the woman in plain clothes hurried over, comforting her master whose chest was heaving with anger. "Don't be angry. Master, Xu is an honest person and never lies. Why don't you listen to him?"

Rebellious disciple!

The Grandmaster of the Peerless Pavilion was furious, glaring fiercely at her disciple.

After comforting her master, the woman in plain clothes approached with an apologetic look. "Master Xu, please forgive her. My master is just a bit temperamental, but she means no harm."

Xu Yan nodded. "It's okay."

"Thank you, Master Xu, for sparing her. This is a small token of appreciation from her. I hope Master Xu won't dislike it," the woman in plain clothes said as she handed a bag to Xu Yan with her own hands, and while doing so, she took the opportunity to touch Xu Yan's hand a few times.

Xu Yan's eyes lit up, happily saying, "How can I accept this? Miss is too polite."

"It's only right," the woman in plain clothes said reluctantly as she withdrew her hand.

The Grandmaster of the Peerless Pavilion was almost driven mad by her disciple. Giving gifts at such a time, was she? Where did this kid get his charm from!

"Master, my name is Yun Miao Miao. Please be careful on Canglan Island," Yun Miao Miao said softly.

"Just a few peak Grandmasters are not worth mentioning. Miss Miao Miao can rest assured," Xu Yan finally learned that the woman in plain clothes was named Yun Miao Miao.

Recalling when he first saw her at the Peerless Pavilion, he couldn't help but sigh at her charm and beauty. Truly like a wisp of cloud, beautiful yet unattainable, making her unforgettable.

However, that charm didn't affect him.

Yun Miao Miao was about to say something else when the Grandmaster of the Peerless Pavilion couldn't bear it any longer and dragged her disciple away in embarrassment.

"Miss Miao Miao is truly a good girl, generous and generous. When I was tempering my mentality back then, she spared no effort to help. It's rare," Xu Yan sighed with emotion.

Meng Chong nodded on the side, expressing agreement.

Xie Lingfeng remained silent. Xu Brother was truly "without women in his heart." His mentality was too profound. I'm far from it!

Hu Shan's facial muscles twitched. These two brothers were too straightforward. Didn't they notice the tender affection of that girl? He couldn't help but ponder, could it be that because he had only martial arts in his heart and nothing else, he was so extraordinary and powerful?

"I should change too. I shouldn't think too much. It's good to only have martial arts in my heart," Hu Shan thought to himself.

Wishing everyone a happy Mid-Autumn Festival and a happy family reunion! ^_^

(End of this chapter)