Chapter 1263: The Jin Shi Alliance, Guan Hu

Above the Jin Shi Water Abyss, the sudden arrival of a third party broke the tense, drawn-bow atmosphere. Li Li Jinpan and Zhao Jiao both looked over, only to see several figures standing in the air not far away.

The one at the forefront was an old man in a yellow robe. Though his frame was thin and small, on his back he carried a massive, ferocious great bow, and faintly a heart-palpitating aura of clashing metal seeped out, causing the void to tremble.

Above his head, seven Marrow Platforms floated, drawing in the energies of heaven and earth and releasing a powerful, oppressive might.

He was clearly also a seventh-rank Marquis, with deep foundations and strength no less than Li Li Jinpan and Zhao Jiao.

"I wondered who it was — turns out to be Alliance Leader Guan Hu of the Jin Shi Alliance." Zhao Jiao glanced at the old man, his eyes narrowing slightly as he spoke flatly.

This Jin Shi Alliance was an organization formed by scattered cultivators from various quarters banding together within the Jin Shi Water Abyss. Though rather loosely knit, its main purpose was to safeguard the interests of those scattered cultivators here. Its ranks were numerous, and it was not lacking in powerful Marquis-level experts.

This old man named Guan Hu before them had reached the strength of an upper seventh-rank Marquis, and among the scattered cultivators of the Boundary River Domain he could be considered first-rate, with considerable reputation.

Over these years, the Zhao Li Tianwang lineage had attempted to lay a hand on the Jin Shi Water Abyss, a top-grade hunting ground, but precisely because of the Jin Shi Alliance's existence, progress had been quite slow. Of course, this was not to say the Zhao Li Tianwang lineage had any fear of this Guan Hu — after all, even an upper seventh-rank Marquis facing a Li Tianwang lineage would be nothing more than a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

It was simply that within the Jin Shi Alliance, many unruly and fierce scattered-cultivator experts had gathered, and the Zhao Li Tianwang lineage also feared looking too ugly in its conduct — pushing these scattered-cultivator experts into opposition, who would then secretly throw wrenches into their works, would cause them no small trouble.

Thus over these years the Zhao Li Tianwang lineage had only maintained a gradual, step-by-step encroachment upon the Jin Shi Water Abyss, and had not pushed too hard.

The old man bearing the great bow cupped his fists toward both Li Li Jinpan and Zhao Jiao, and spoke neither obsequiously nor arrogantly: "The two of you — the Jin Shi Water Abyss is approaching the arrival of the water tide. During this period, energy fluctuations must be avoided here as much as possible, so as not to disturb the 'Jin Shi Spirit Mussels' hidden within. I imagine everyone has come for the 'Jin Shi Spirit Mussel Pearls' — if you startle them into not showing themselves, and thereby affect this season's harvest, that is perhaps not what you wish to see either, is it?"

Li Li Jinpan restrained his energy fluctuations and said, "Alliance Leader Guan Hu, the Jin Shi Water Abyss should not be the private hunting ground of the Zhao Li Tianwang lineage alone, should it?"

Guan Hu said, "The Jin Shi Water Abyss does not belong to any power."

Li Li Jinpan said with a smile, "This Zhao Jiao with his wild-dog-guarding-food attitude, I almost thought this place belonged to the Zhao Li Tianwang lineage."

Zhao Jiao's gaze darkened. Of course, their Zhao Li Tianwang lineage had long since treated the Jin Shi Water Abyss as their own hunting ground; it was only that, in order to take it slowly, they had not used forceful means to drive out scattered-cultivator organizations like the Jin Shi Alliance. But such a thing obviously could not be spoken aloud, or it would invite the hostility of the many scattered cultivators of the Boundary River Domain.

Although they were a Li Tianwang lineage, they still had to care about their reputation and feathers.

Guan Hu said helplessly, "The two lords, our Jin Shi Alliance is merely a gathering of many friends seeking a living. Behind the two of you stand Li Tianwang lineages — the Jin Shi Water Abyss may be dispensable in your eyes, but for us it is indispensable cultivation sustenance. So I ask the two of you to leave us scattered cultivators a path to walk."

"Whatever the matter, let us discuss it properly. There is no need to take action here and ruin this hunting ground's harvest."

Li Li Jinpan nodded and said, "That is reasonable. This time we have come only to take a share of the spoils."

Guan Hu said, "The Jin Shi Water Abyss is masterless; anyone here relies on their own ability. If your lineage wishes to come, we naturally have no reason to obstruct."

His gaze flickered slightly. In truth, the Li Li Tianwang lineage's sudden move on the Jin Shi Water Abyss was not entirely bad news for their Jin Shi Alliance. After all, over these years, under the suppression of the Zhao Li Tianwang lineage, their Jin Shi Alliance had already found each step difficult. Under the other's encroachment, some of the Jin Shi Alliance's experts had also grown fearful, causing morale to scatter.

If not for the fact that the "Jin Shi Spirit Mussel Pearls" produced by the Jin Shi Water Abyss were of considerable value, the Jin Shi Alliance would long ago have been on the verge of disbanding under the Zhao Li Tianwang lineage's pressure.

Now that the Li Li Tianwang lineage had stepped in, once these two behemoths began to fight, the Jin Shi Alliance's room to survive would instead ease considerably.

Zhao Jiao said sharply, "Li Li Jinpan, the Jin Shi Water Abyss is after all closer to our Zhao Li Tianwang lineage's territory. With just the few of you, you dare to run wild here? Do you think this is Sky Dragon Ridge?!"

"Oh? You want to call for people? As if my Li Li Tianwang lineage has no one. Call however many you want — I'll call just as many over right away!"

"Right, my family's old man is also at Sky Dragon Ridge. Want me to call out your Divine Tiger King as well? My family's old man has now advanced to the Void Triple-Crown King, and was just thinking of catching up with him!" Li Li Jinpan rolled up his sleeves, putting on a brash, overbearing air.

Zhao Jiao immediately stalled. Some time ago, Li Li Jingzhe had touched upon the Void Triple-Crown King realm, gone alone to assault Abyss City, and injured Qin Jiu Zhong Jie — news of this had long since spread to every power, and their Zhao Li Tianwang lineage was all the more aware of it.

The upheaval this matter stirred within the Zhao Li Tianwang lineage was far greater than what the outside world saw. It was said that even their Divine Tiger King, Zhao Zong, had reduced the number of times he went out during this period.

After all, the Divine Tiger King was still only a Single-Crown King; if they were to clash alone, he would likely be comprehensively suppressed by Li Li Jingzhe.

Zhao Jiao's face shifted between shade and light. He understood best in his heart that the Li Li Tianwang lineage's momentum was at its peak right now. If the conflict were truly escalated and Li Li Jingzhe were drawn in, their Divine Tiger King would also be put in an awkward position.

After all, fighting, he couldn't win; not fighting, it would weaken the Zhao Li Tianwang lineage's prestige.

When the time came, the Divine Tiger King in his fury might even give them a harsh scolding.

"Can't beat him and you shake me down for what? Not the slightest consideration for your leader! Get lost!"

While Zhao Jiao was choking on his grievance and fury, that Alliance Leader Guan Hu stepped in to mediate: "Brother Zhao, it is not advisable to take action in the Jin Shi Water Abyss right now. Otherwise, if it affects the appearance of the 'Jin Shi Spirit Mussels', then this whole year we will have waited for nothing."

Zhao Jiao snorted coldly in his heart. This Guan Hu was also an old fox — he clearly hoped the Li Li Tianwang lineage would step in and thereby check the Zhao Li Tianwang lineage's schemes in the Jin Shi Water Abyss.

However, with the Li Li Tianwang lineage currently dominant, this was indeed not the time to clash with them.

Everything still had to center on harvesting the "Jin Shi Spirit Mussel Pearls" first.

At this thought, the surging phase force emanating from his body gradually subsided, and the seven towering Marrow Platforms above his head also dispersed their radiance, finally transforming into flowing light that sank into the crown of his skull.

Then he dropped straight back onto the mountain peak where the Zhao Li Tianwang lineage's forces were stationed.

That Divine Tiger Envoy named Zhao Jiyun stared at Jiang Qing'e a moment longer, only then withdrawing his forces with a beaming smile.

A tense, drawn-bow standoff was ultimately defused with Guan Hu's intervention.

Seeing the Zhao Li Tianwang lineage lower its banner, Guan Hu also secretly breathed a sigh of relief, then cupped his fist in salute from afar toward Li Li Jinpan and said, "Dean Li Jinpan, this time the water tide of the Jin Shi Water Abyss may arrive within half a month. You are new here to the Jin Shi Water Abyss — later I will send over some intelligence regarding the 'Jin Shi Spirit Mussels', so that you may make some preparations."

Toward Guan Hu's goodwill, Li Li Jinpan smiled and politely accepted. Though his temperament was impatient, he could also see that this old man wanted the two tigers to fight. But it didn't matter — as long as he could plant a foot in this Jin Shi Water Abyss, perhaps in the future he could secure another hunting ground for their Li Li Tianwang lineage.

Seeing this, Guan Hu turned and led his people away.

Only then did Li Li Jinpan turn back satisfied, joining up with Niu Niu Biaobiao, Li Li Rouyun and the others, and said with a smile, "These people of the Zhao Li Tianwang lineage just need a beating. Speaking nicely to them only invites them to press their advantage. Only by showing firmness can we force them back."

"Not bad — pity we didn't get to fight." Niu Niu Biaobiao expressed his agreement, while patting the butcher's knife at his waist that gleamed with a vicious light; that face full of horizontal flesh looked exceedingly ferocious.

Li Li Rouyun, standing to one side, was somewhat helpless. These two were simply not cut out for negotiation — they only knew that if dissatisfied they would fight, and if they couldn't win they would go all out.

But one had to admit, it seemed such a temperament was more useful here. Only now did she somewhat understand why the Sect Leader had sent the hot-tempered and overbearing Li Li Jinpan, rather than the mild-mannered Li Li Qingpeng.

But no matter what, they had now smoothly established themselves here at the Jin Shi Water Abyss.

Next, it was to wait for the water tide to erupt and harvest the golden pearls.