61: Third Life: How Am I the Villain? (Twenty-Five)

Time quietly slipped away in this subtle standoff.

The Spiritual Qi fluctuations at the center of the Blackwater Abyss became increasingly violent, the pool water began to churn as if boiling, and a strange, refreshing lotus fragrance gradually permeated the air, causing everyone who smelled it to feel refreshed, their internal spiritual power becoming slightly more active!

Everyone's gaze was fixed firmly on the center of the pool!

Suddenly, seven brilliant, deep blue beams of light shot up into the sky from the churning pool water!

Within the light, seven crystal-clear lotus flowers, seemingly condensed from the purest essence of water, slowly bloomed!

On the petals, profound patterns were naturally inscribed, and surging life essence and pure water-element power spread outward like a tide!

The Black Water Spirit Lotus had matured!

And there were seven of them!

At this moment, everyone's breathing became heavy, and their eyes were filled with greed and desire!

Just at this tense moment, when conflict was imminent, from the coalition side, Shi Gang and Mu Wanqing exchanged a look, seemingly reaching some kind of tacit understanding.

The two stepped out from the crowd. They did not immediately launch an attack but instead walked toward the direction of the Overlord Blade Sect camp.

Shi Gang took a deep breath, channeled his Spiritual Qi, and his voice boomed like muffled thunder: "Ba Dao Daozi! The Black Water Spirit Lotus has matured, and there are seven of them in total! Now that Purple Cloud Pavilion is out of the running and the Joyful Union Sect's whereabouts are unknown, in my opinion, there is no need to wait for them!"

He paused, then continued: "Right now in this Secret Realm, our Black Iron Mountain, Azure Wood Sect, and your Overlord Blade Sect are the leaders! Why don't the three of us divide these seven spirit lotuses? This would avoid a major conflict and unnecessary casualties. How about it?"

Mu Wanqing also spoke coldly, her voice spreading in all directions: "Chen Daozi, there are seven spirit lotuses in total. If divided equally, it will inevitably be uneven."

"My Azure Wood Sect has discussed with Black Iron Mountain, and we are willing to let your Overlord Blade Sect have three, while our two families each get two."

"In this way, your Overlord Blade Sect has already taken the lion's share. I hope the Daozi will prioritize the overall situation and not let greed trigger a chaotic battle, ultimately causing everyone to return empty-handed."

These words appeared to be a concession, but in reality, they were a delaying tactic, an attempt to secure some benefits in the safest way possible.

The Disciples of the small Families in the coalition, upon hearing this, although dissatisfied in their hearts that they might get nothing, dared not speak up and only nervously watched the reaction of the Overlord Blade Sect.

All gazes focused on Xu Yuan.

Zhao Zheng and other Overlord Blade Sect Disciples wore mocking expressions, waiting quietly for their Daozi's response.

Under the gaze of countless eyes, Xu Yuan finally slowly raised his head, his gaze sweeping indifferently over Shi Gang and Mu Wanqing.

"Divide?"

"Why should I share with you?"

The clear and indifferent voice, like a cold blade, cut through the stagnant air.

"Purple Cloud Pavilion is out, Joyful Union Sect is missing…"

"What does that have to do with me?"

"These seven blackwater spirit lotuses…"

"I want them all."

Xu Yuan's voice was low and devoid of any emotion, yet it seemed to possess an air of arrogance that looked down upon the world.

Everyone was stunned by Xu Yuan's extremely overbearing and unreasonable response!

How arrogant! How confident!

After a brief silence.

"Hahaha! Well said! Your Highness is domineering!"

Zhao Zheng was the first to burst into hearty laughter, a sense of heroic spirit rising in his chest!

This was the enlightened master he had sworn to follow to the death!

Regardless of what coalition you are, regardless of how many people you have, I will break it with a single saber strike!

If you want to seize, seize everything!

"This is our Overlord Blade Sect!"

"Want everything!"

"Fight! Fight! Fight!"

The Overlord Blade Sect Disciples were infected, their Battle Intent erupting like a volcano within their chests, and they roared in unison!

The fierce Evil Qi tempered in the Burial Mound of Soldiers was no longer held back, erupting with a boom and shooting into the sky!

Streams of sharp Saber Intent gathered together, as if a tangible, gigantic blood-colored saber phantom pierced straight into the clouds, tearing apart the dense Spiritual Qi in the surroundings!

That tragic, resolute, and indomitable momentum instantly scattered the pressure brought about by the coalition's massive numbers!

Shi Gang and Mu Wanqing's expressions finally turned completely gloomy.

Although they had long expected that the negotiations would likely break down, Xu Yuan's merciless refusal and the terrifying Aura that the Overlord Blade Sect instantly erupted with still made their hearts jump!

"Good, good, good! Chen Yuan! This is what you asked for! You refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit!"

Shi Gang's forehead veins bulged with anger, and he roared grimly.

"Since your Overlord Blade Sect wants to hog it all, let's see if you have the teeth for it! Do you really think we are made of mud?!"

"Fellow Daoists! The Overlord Blade Sect wants to monopolize the treasure today and cut off our Dao path! Their intentions are punishable! Follow me and kill!"

Mu Wanqing also let out a sharp cry, her green vine whip appearing in her hand, Spiritual Qi surging around her.

"Kill!"

The coalition side was also completely enraged. Led by Shi Gang and Mu Wanqing, they let out a massive roar and, like a breached flood, launched a charge toward the Overlord Blade Sect's saber formation!

The great battle broke out instantly!

"Form up! Pierce through them!" Zhao Zheng, as the frontline commander, roared hoarsely!

With him as the arrowhead, the Overlord Blade Sect Disciples behind him instantly formed a sharp charging formation, like a red-hot iron, crashing fiercely into the surging tide of the coalition!

Boom!!!

The two torrents collided violently!

In an instant, Spiritual light shattered, energy surged, and the sounds of metal clashing, battle cries, and screams instantly resounded along the entire shore of the Blackwater Abyss!

The Overlord Blade Sect's arrowhead formation was incredibly sharp. Especially after being tempered by Evil Qi, the Disciples' spiritual power was connected, their Saber Intent resonated, and every saber strike carried a tragic Evil Qi that disturbed the mind, with astonishing power!

The Disciples of the few small Families at the very front of the coalition had their defenses torn apart by that terrifying saber Evil Qi almost in one encounter, instantly falling into chaos with heavy casualties!

However, the coalition had the advantage in numbers after all.

After the initial chaos, under the forced restraint of Shi Gang and Mu Wanqing, they began to stabilize their footing, and various spells and Magical Artifacts rained down toward the Overlord Blade Sect's saber formation like raindrops!

Shi Gang and Mu Wanqing exchanged a look, and both saw the same decision in each other's eyes—they must not get bogged down in a melee with ordinary Disciples!

They must win quickly!

"Junior Sister Mu, entangle Zhao Zheng! I will go and capture Chen Yuan!"

Shi Gang roared, his body flashing with earth-yellow Spiritual light, like a wild bull charging, about to forcibly break through the battle formation and rush straight at Xu Yuan, who was standing quietly in the back!

"Good!"

Mu Wanqing responded with a sharp cry, the green vine whip in her hand growing wildly like a living thing, turning into countless tough green pythons, sweeping toward Zhao Zheng, who was fighting the coalition, covering the sky and earth, attempting to bind him completely!

"Heh, you want to challenge His Highness with just you? Pass me first!"

Zhao Zheng sneered, his Battle Intent intensifying!

Immediately, he ignored the vines sweeping in from behind, his eyes fixed only on the charging Shi Gang!

"Mountain Splitting · Mountain Breaking!"

Zhao Zheng let out a thunderous roar, and the spiritual power in his body, tempered by Evil Qi, was poured into his long saber without reservation!

A terrifying saber glow, more condensed, heavier, and carrying dark red Evil Qi than before, left the blade!

It was not slashed toward the vines, but straight at the path Shi Gang must take!

He was actually going to use offense as defense, to force Shi Gang to a halt!