Chapter 127: There Is No Enemy That Cannot Be Solved With One Move

"Brother Yan, these two are Wang's close friends; this is Brother Zhao, and this is Brother Meng."

On this day, Wang Heng introduced the two newly arrived Golden Core Stage Cultivators to Yan Taibai; both were at the Golden Core Initial Stage, but they had likely been at the Golden Core Stage for quite a bit longer than Yan Taibai.

"I am Yan Bai, greetings to both fellow Daoists."

Seeing the two, Yan Taibai cupped his hands in greeting.

The two before him were likely future elders of the Miaoyin Sect; regardless of what might happen later, at least their willingness to risk offending a Nascent Soul cultivator to come and help now was a sentiment worthy of admiration.

"Greetings, Brother Yan. We will have to trouble you during this engagement with the Poison Dragon Association. Like Brother Wang, we will resolve our opponents as quickly as possible and come to assist."

Elder Zhao cupped his hands in thanks.

After all, they had already heard from Wang Heng that Yan Taibai would be dealing with the Poison Dragon Association's Zhanglong Shangren, the strongest cultivator there.

Therefore, the pressure in their hearts had eased quite a bit.

"Good, then I shall thank both fellow Daoists in advance."

Yan Taibai smiled and expressed his thanks.

"Brother Yan is too polite. Let us discuss in detail how to deal with this Poison Dragon Association, so as to avoid any mistakes."

Elder Meng smiled.

"Mm, that is only natural."

Yan Taibai nodded, naturally not refusing.

Subsequently, the group sat down in the Miaoyin Sect's council hall and began to discuss matters regarding dealing with the Poison Dragon Association.

Half an hour later, Zhou Yuan walked quickly into the council hall with a pale face and an expression full of anxiety.

"Madam, what has happened to you? Could it be that something has gone wrong?"

Seeing this, the Miaoyin Sect Master Wang Heng was the first to stand up, his face full of concern as he asked worriedly.

"Husband, Brother Yan, Brother Zhao, Brother Meng, it is bad. A major incident has occurred. The Four Great Merchant Alliances have secretly set up a betting table on who will win between us and the Poison Dragon Association. Two fellow Daoists placed bets of over one million Spirit Stones, wagering that we would wipe out the entire Poison Dragon Association. To prevent any contingencies, the Four Great Merchant Alliances have directly dispatched five or six Golden Core Stage cultivators to the Poison Dragon Association to assist them in the capacity of guest elders. We are in trouble this time!"

Zhou Yuan's face was full of anxiety and worry.

"What!"

Before the words had even faded, the two, Zhao and Meng, slapped the table and stood up, their faces deathly pale and their expressions filled with extreme fear. Without waiting for Wang Heng to say anything, they directly cupped their hands and spoke apologetically.

"Brother Wang, our strength is insufficient, so we will not be getting involved in this matter. We hope Brother Wang will forgive us. Farewell."

Having said this, they did not care whether Wang Heng agreed or not, and immediately set off to leave, unwilling to stay even for a moment, fearing it would bring about a fatal disaster.

"Madam, this matter, you..."

Seeing this scene, after coming to his senses, Miaoyin Sect Master Wang Heng could not help but smile bitterly. He wanted to blame Zhou Yuan, but could not bring himself to say it, and in the end, he only sighed.

Then, he cupped his hands and bowed toward the composed Yan Taibai.

"Brother Yan, I have a favor to ask, and I hope Brother Yan can agree."

"To have me take your wife and leave Heavenly Star City." Hearing this, Yan Taibai raised his eyes to look at Wang Heng and said indifferently.

He had directly spoken the words Wang Heng had not finished.

"Yes! I wonder..."

Wang Heng nodded heavily in admission.

But before he could finish his sentence, Yan Taibai preempted him with a question.

"Then, Sect Master Wang, do you know who placed that bet of one million Spirit Stones?"

"Who?"

"Could it be Brother Yan?"

At this moment, even a fool would have realized it. Immediately, Wang Heng and Zhou Yuan looked at each other and blurted out.

Then, their faces filled with great joy, and they looked at Yan Taibai with eyes full of anticipation.

They knew all too well what this meant.

"Correct, it is indeed me. So, the two of you surely do not need to worry anymore, right?"

Yan Taibai nodded and chuckled lightly.

"Many thanks, Brother Yan. However, Brother Yan, did you perhaps invite your family elders to assist?"

Wang Heng and Zhou Yuan looked at each other and asked in speculation.

"That is not the case. In any event, just leave this Poison Dragon Association to me. As for the Golden Core Stage cultivators sent by the Four Great Merchant Alliances, hehe, that will just mean a few more Dharma Treasures. Not bad, not bad."

Yan Taibai shook his head, denying it.

"But... but wouldn't this offend the Four Great Merchant Alliances? You must know, the influence of the Four Great Merchant Alliances is vast, and their business spans the entire Chaotic Star Sea. Even the Star Palace, Shengmo Island, and the Wanfa Sect have deep connections with them."

Worry surfaced on Wang Heng's face again.

Clearly, he did not intend to take action against the elders of the Four Great Merchant Alliances.

"If they don't die, wouldn't my million Spirit Stones have been bet in vain? Hehe! A ten-fold payout—that is ten million Spirit Stones, enough for me to squander for a while."

Yan Taibai laughed heartily, not caring in the slightest.

This caused the expressions of Wang Heng and Zhou Yuan to flicker uncertainly. They wanted to say something, but dared not, and in the end, they could only look toward Yan Ruyan.

"The two of you can rest assured. Since my husband has placed the bet, he naturally will not lose. As for the Four Great Merchant Alliances, if they want to welch on the debt, then their reputation built over so many years will be gone. Nothing will happen."

Yan Ruyan pursed her lips and smiled, speaking with full confidence in Yan Taibai.

She knew very well that Yan Taibai needed a large amount of cultivation resources, and this was a rare opportunity, so he naturally would not let it pass.

If it were not for the fact that the maximum limit was only one million Spirit Stones and restricted to one person, Yan Taibai would likely have bet another ten million.

If the Four Great Merchant Alliances were tempted, it would be perfect to resolve them all together. Although they were entangled with numerous factions and had deep connections, as long as there was no Great Cultivator of Nascent Soul Late Stage, it would not be much of a problem.

Moreover, he was in the right, so there was no need to be polite.

"Then I will have to trouble Brother Yan this time."

Things having reached this point, Wang Heng and Zhou Yuan could only hope that Yan Taibai had not gone mad and truly had the certainty to wipe out the entire Poison Dragon Association; otherwise, their Miaoyin Sect would be finished.

……

Poison Dragon Association

"Many thanks to all fellow Daoists for your help this time. I am deeply grateful. Once the matter is accomplished, you may all enjoy the many female disciples of the Miaoyin Sect as you please; I only want that slut Zhou Yuan."

Zhanglong Shangren of the Poison Dragon Association cupped his hands and expressed his thanks to the Golden Core Stage Cultivators who had come from the Four Great Merchant Alliances.

"Haha, you are too polite, fellow Daoist."

One of the Golden Core Late Stage Cultivators from the Four Great Merchant Alliances said with a hearty laugh.

If not for the worry that the Miaoyin Sect might have some outside help this time, they would never have assisted a tiny Poison Dragon Association.

If the ten million Spirit Stones were lost, it would absolutely be a major blow that would cause the Four Great Merchant Alliances pain for a long time.

Although it would not be enough to leave the Four Great Merchant Alliances gasping for air, it could still make the elders of the Four Great Merchant Alliances furious, and when that time came, they would inevitably be the ones to suffer.

Moreover, to ensure there was no room for error, besides them, there was also a Nascent Soul cultivator in the shadows.

As long as Zhanglong Shangren did not die, their Four Great Merchant Alliances' bet would not count; as for the other cultivators, whether they lived or died was of little consequence.

Zhanglong Shangren also understood this point, and in his heart, he was endlessly grateful to the Four Great Merchant Alliances.

After all, when he learned that someone had bet one million Spirit Stones that his Poison Dragon Association would be slaughtered to the last man, he was also incomparably worried.

"In any case, I must thank you fellow Daoists for your help this time. There is no time to lose; tomorrow we shall head to the Miaoyin Sect and slaughter every man in the entire Miaoyin Sect, extracting their souls and refining their spirits."

Zhanglong Shangren of the Poison Dragon Association, with his hideously ugly face, laughed in a manner that was now incomparably twisted and nearly manic.

It was as if he could already see the scene of Wang Heng dying a miserable death and Zhou Yuan begging for mercy beneath him.

And this scene also caused the other Golden Core cultivators in the great hall to reveal unsightly expressions, appearing somewhat displeased, yet they could not easily say anything.

At the same time, the Miaoyin Sect side had also made preparations; if Wang Heng fell, Yan Taibai and Yan Ruyan would take Zhou Yuan and some of the Miaoyin Sect's core disciples to leave Heavenly Star City.

Although Yan Taibai had not revealed his identity, Wang Heng and Zhou Yuan believed that once it was revealed at that time, neither the Four Great Merchant Alliances nor the Poison Dragon Association would continue the pursuit.

To be precise, they would have no choice but to believe it.

Because with the Four Great Merchant Alliances assisting the Poison Dragon Association, the Miaoyin Sect's only hope was Yan Taibai and Yan Ruyan.

As things stood, they had no other choice.

For the world of immortal cultivation, a single day passes in a flash and holds no meaning.

But for the Miaoyin Sect and the Poison Dragon Association, it was a day that would determine the fate of their respective sects.

The current Miaoyin Sect disciples did not yet know that the Four Great Merchant Alliances were already assisting the Poison Dragon Association; otherwise, they would almost certainly have no heart to resist, and would either stretch out their necks to be slaughtered or find a way to leave the Miaoyin Sect.

And Wang Heng and Zhou Yuan also knew deeply the danger of this decisive battle; even with Yan Taibai's help and Yan Taibai's full confidence, the two still gave the Miaoyin Sect disciples the right to choose, which surprised Yan Taibai and Yan Ruyan quite a bit, though they did not say much.

After all, this was the Miaoyin Sect's own business, and Yan Taibai's targets were only the Poison Dragon Association's leader Zhanglong Shangren, the Poison Pill within his body, and the Guardian Poison Array.

And also the Spirit Stones and treasures accumulated over many years, especially these Golden Core Stage Cultivators from the Four Great Merchant Alliances who had come to help.

Whether it was their Life-Bound Magical Treasures or other items, he would not turn his nose up at anything; the more the better, and he would refuse no one.

"Fellow disciples, this sect has encountered a great disaster this time, and it is this Sect Master's failure. Therefore, if any disciple wishes to leave this sect, you may leave today, and this Sect Master will absolutely not stop you. But after today, if anyone wishes to leave again, it shall be considered betrayal of the sect, and you will be killed without exception, your souls extracted and spirits refined."

On the Miaoyin Sect's largest plaza, Wang Heng called most of the Miaoyin Sect's Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining disciples, managers, and elders here, and said in a loud, grave voice.

His words caused the many Miaoyin Sect disciples, managers, and elders on the plaza to look at one another, their expressions gloomy and uncertain, and they began to discuss it via voice transmission.

"What is going on? Could it be that the Poison Dragon Association has some reinforcements? Otherwise, why would the Sect Master say such things?"

"Perhaps!"

"Could it be that the Sect Master is deliberately testing us, wanting to take the opportunity to clear out the traitors so as not to affect the later decisive battle?"

"Hmm! It's possible. Then we must not fall for it, otherwise, we will surely die."

"We are not leaving. Even if we fight a great battle with the Poison Dragon Association, it is not as if we have no chance of winning. But if we fall for a trap, we will surely die."

"That's right, that's right!"

"Big brother, let's go! I always feel that this time is truly too dangerous."

"No, the Sect Master and his wife have shown great kindness to the two of us siblings. If the Sect Master had not bestowed the Foundation Establishment Pill, how could you and I have succeeded in Foundation Establishment?"

Regarding these voice-transmitted discussions, Wang Heng could hear most of them but ignored them, instead watching with an exceptionally calm expression.

After about a quarter of an hour, more than ten Miaoyin Sect disciples stood out, both men and women; most of them were actually Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators, with only four or five Qi Refining disciples.

"Reporting to the Sect Master, we wish to leave the sect, and hope the Sect Master will grant permission."

The middle-aged man at the lead, who was at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, bowed and said respectfully with an unsightly, guilt-ridden face.

He was the youngest Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivator in the Miaoyin Sect with the most potential to reach the Golden Core Stage, and he had received guidance from Wang Heng many times.

It would not be an exaggeration to call them master and disciple, yet he was the first to choose to leave the Miaoyin Sect.

It truly made him feel like a puppet, but he did not want to fall just like that.

After all, he had hope and the possibility of condensing a Golden Core to become a Golden Core Stage Cultivator; this way, he would have five or six hundred more years to live, so naturally, he was unwilling to fall just like that.

As for the other cultivators beside him, they were all his close friends and disciples.

This was also the source of his confidence; of course, he was not a heartless person.

If the Miaoyin Sect were truly destroyed, he would re-establish the Miaoyin Sect after reaching the Golden Core Stage.

But it would not be in Heavenly Star City, but on other islands.

"Very well, you may leave!"

Seeing this, Miaoyin Sect Master Wang Heng said in an exceptionally calm tone.

"Many thanks..."

"Hahaha, you want to leave? What wishful thinking!"

Before the words had faded, a manic, wild laugh resounded from the distant horizon.

Following closely behind were thousands of murderous black shadows, dense like locusts and bees.

And the seven or eight figures at the very front had auras of baleful energy, demonic energy, yin energy, and killing intent that were heaven-shaking, making one afraid to look directly at them.

These seven or eight figures were, without exception, all Golden Core Stage Cultivators.

"What an ugly toad."

Suddenly, a voice full of mockery appeared high above the plaza; although not loud, it completely suppressed the wild laughter of Zhanglong Shangren, which was enough to illustrate the gap between the two.

Following the sound and looking over, one could see a figure appear on a mountain peak not far from the plaza.

It was none other than Yan Taibai!

"Who are you? To dare meddle in other people's business—is it still in time for you to leave now?"

Seeing this, Zhanglong Shangren, who was also high in the air and facing Yan Taibai from a distance, stopped his figure and spoke coldly and unceremoniously.

After all, Yan Taibai had not hidden his strength; he was only at the Golden Core Initial Stage.

Naturally, he would not be worried.

"Who? The person who will kill you. So, you can die now!"

Yan Taibai chuckled and raised his hand to point at Zhanglong Shangren.

"Whew"!!!

A sound of breaking through the air erupted, and immediately following it, a golden light was seen shooting out from Yan Taibai's fingertip, heading straight for Zhanglong Shangren.

The speed was so fast it left people tongue-tied, almost like a teleportation, piercing directly through the center of Zhanglong Shangren's brow.

The protective spiritual light around Zhanglong Shangren's body did not hinder it in the slightest, and it was pierced through just the same.

Almost in an instant, Zhanglong Shangren, who had been fierce and arrogant with an overbearing aura, lost every trace of life and completely perished, falling vertically from the high sky like a giant object.

With a "bang," the loud noise completely shocked the stunned and incredulous parties on both sides back to their senses.

They stared at Yan Taibai with complex expressions in unison; the Golden Core Stage Cultivators on Zhanglong Shangren's side were wary and fearful.

Meanwhile, Zhou Yuan and Wang Heng revealed expressions of wild joy.

They had never imagined that Yan Taibai would actually kill Zhanglong Shangren in a single blow!

(End of this chapter)