Chapter 419: A One-Sided Situation

"Peak Seventh Heaven!" When Li Qingchan heard the shocked voices of Bai Li and Qin Hai through the sound transmission stone, her beautiful face also grew somewhat grim. She hadn't expected that Yang Xuan, who wasn't widely known in the Sacred Palace, would possess such strength.

If Yang Xuan had only been in the late Seventh Heaven, Bai Li and Qin Hai could have contended with him if they joined forces. But this slight improvement in his cultivation completely eliminated any chance of victory for the two of them. Clearly, Yang Xuan was the Sacred Palace's hidden tactic for this encounter!

"Zhao Zhu, let's move," Li Qingchan said coldly. If she and Zhao Zhu didn't intervene soon, Bai Li and their group would suffer a crushing defeat. Even if the two of them managed to hold these two rich ore regions, it would only amount to two hundred *li*, a scope not even comparable to what the Hundred Flowers Immortal Palace and the Northern Sea Dragon-Subduing Hall had secured. This would undoubtedly harm the reputation of their Cangxuan Sect.

Inside the sound transmission stone, Zhao Zhu responded with a low hum. The two soared into the sky, their formidable Genesis Qi sweeping out as they prepared to dart towards Bai Li's location.

However, just as they had flown out a short distance, two figures, standing on streams of Genesis Qi, blocked their path. It was none other than Wang Li and Cao Jinzhu of the Sacred Palace. Wang Li looked at the two with a beaming smile, the crimson iron beads in his hand emitting a terrifying heat. "If you two were to intervene," he said, "wouldn't that be a bit beneath your status?"

Li Qingchan's beautiful eyes grew cold. "Wang Li, get lost!" Wang Li shook his head and chuckled, "Saint Son against Saint Son. If you two are itching for a fight, we'll gladly accompany you to the end. But the other areas are battlefields for others; let them decide the victor there."

Li Qingchan's beautiful eyes grew even colder. She knew that Wang Li and Cao Jinzhu would certainly not back down, so they would have no choice but to use force. She and Zhao Zhu exchanged a glance, both expressionless. Then, formidable pillars of Genesis Qi shot skyward from above their heads, their light spreading to obscure the sky, their momentum shaking the heavens.

Two thousand-foot Genesis Qi torrents whistled down, like comets streaking across the sky, their descent stirring up thunderous roars. Seeing Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu act decisively, Wang Li and Cao Jinzhu's eyes narrowed. The next instant, they took a step forward, Genesis Qi rapidly converging in their palms, finally transforming into two enormous Genesis Qi wheels of light.

Boom! Boom! The Genesis Qi torrents slammed into the wheels of light, and an overwhelming shockwave erupted instantly. The ground below cracked, and hills were flattened. The commotion was truly earth-shattering.

In mid-air, Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu, Wang Li, and Cao Jinzhu stood in confrontation, formidable Genesis Qi surging behind them, some scorching hot, some icy cold. The clash between the two sides was immense; even the distant areas guarded by the Hundred Flowers Immortal Palace and the Northern Sea Dragon-Subduing Hall sensed it. Immediately, Feng Ying and a Saint Son from the Northern Sea Dragon-Subduing Hall appeared not far from the battle.

"They're actually fighting..." Feng Ying's beautiful eyes narrowed. Normally, the Saint Sons from the various factions would securely occupy a region, and no one would attempt to snatch or force them out. This was an unspoken rule. But now, of all times, the Cangxuan Sect and the Sacred Palace had their Saint Sons engaged in battle.

"It's said that the Sacred Palace launched an attack on the area guarded by the Cangxuan Sect, and they've now forced the Cangxuan Sect disciples back to their last remaining area," the Saint Son from the Northern Sea Dragon-Subduing Hall approached Feng Ying and whispered.

Feng Ying's willow-like eyebrows furrowed slightly. The Cangxuan Sect and the Sacred Palace already had grievances between them. One was the former top sect in Cangxuan Heaven, and the other was the current top sect, so the friction between them was naturally considerable. In this contention for the Blazing Marrow Vein, the Hundred Flowers Immortal Palace and the Northern Sea Dragon-Subduing Hall, being the furthest away, didn't intend to claim the largest share; instead, they made a concession, so their conflict of interest with the Sacred Palace wasn't significant. However, the Cangxuan Sect had no intention of making such a concession, while the Sacred Palace always aimed for the best and acted domineeringly. Now that the two parties had clashed, conflict was inevitable.

Facing the confrontation between the Saint Sons, although Feng Ying had some friendship with Li Qingchan, it wasn't appropriate to intervene; after all, this was a grievance between two colossal sects. "Wang Li and Cao Jinzhu are clearly trying to tie down Li Qingchan and Zhao Zhu, preventing them from offering support. At this point... one can only hope that the other Cangxuan Sect disciples can withstand the Sacred Palace's assault." She shook her head and sighed.

On the crimson earth, three violent streams of Genesis Qi violently collided. The ground immediately collapsed, and a visible shockwave swept out, sending dust and rocks flying. Amidst the raging shockwave, two muffled groans rang out, and two figures shot backward, their feet dragging deep gouges in the ground. Rocks behind them shattered upon slight contact with the force.

The two figures, who had managed to stabilize themselves, were none other than Bai Li and Qin Hai. However, both looked slightly disheveled and their faces were somewhat pale. Blood dripped from their fingertips, and the surging Genesis Qi around them was somewhat chaotic.

"Heh heh, I told you, you have no chance of winning. Why bother resisting?" From the dust ahead, a white-robed figure slowly walked out. Yang Xuan looked at the two, smiled faintly, and said. Around him, Genesis Qi billowed like smoke, heavy and solid.

"Just obediently get out of the Blazing Marrow Vein. This time, it's not the Cangxuan Sect's turn to contend with our Sacred Palace." The smile on Yang Xuan's lips carried contempt.

"Dream on!" However, their answer was the surging Genesis Qi of Bai Li and Qin Hai, like an angry tide. Then, violent attacks, like a torrential downpour, whistled towards him.

"Courting death," Yang Xuan shook his head slightly. Above his palms, vast Genesis Qi slowly rose. "Since you refuse to be sensible, then I'll just have to break your legs and throw you out..."

Outside the Blazing Marrow Vein volcano, on a mountaintop, Elder Wu gazed at two Genesis Qi light mirrors before him. One of them showed Li Qingchan, Zhao Zhu, Wang Li, and Cao Jinzhu in confrontation. The other showed Bai Li and Qin Hai, tightly suppressed by Yang Xuan.

From the looks of it, Bai Li and Qin Hai probably wouldn't last much longer against Yang Xuan. Elder Wu's expression was exceedingly grim. Originally, in his assessment, he had anticipated the strength of the disciples sent by the Sacred Palace. Thus, after careful comparison, he had given Li Qingchan and the others the task of securing at least six hundred *li* of rich ore.

But he hadn't expected that the Sacred Palace would deliberately play a devious trick by sending a disciple capable of concealing his strength with a seal. This directly disrupted all his plans. From the current situation, the Sacred Palace actually intended to completely seize all the territory chosen by their Cangxuan Sect. This was truly going too far!

Elder Wu glared angrily at the Sacred Palace Elder not far away. However, the latter merely returned a contemptuous smile. Around the volcano, the various factions were now murmuring softly among themselves. They also had Genesis Qi light mirrors before them, evidently using their own methods to observe the Blazing Marrow Vein.

And judging by their gazes, which continually drifted towards Elder Wu, they all knew the Cangxuan Sect's predicament. This time, what appeared to be merely a contention for the Blazing Marrow Vein was in reality a clash between the two colossal entities, the Sacred Palace and the Cangxuan Sect. And from the current situation, it seemed the Sacred Palace held the absolute upper hand. If that was the case, the Cangxuan Sect would likely be suppressed by the Sacred Palace this time.

Bang! Bang! Fierce combat continued within the crimson ore veins. Violent Genesis Qi continuously erupted, and the aftermath of the battle left the area in disarray. Bai Li and Qin Hai gritted their teeth and struggled to hold on, sweat dripping down their cheeks. The Genesis Qi around them was growing weaker and weaker. They looked at the white-robed figure slowly approaching them, but did not flinch. Instead, they gritted their teeth, unleashed their Genesis Qi, and charged forward like lightning.

But very quickly, their figures were once again sent flying backward in disarray. Outside the volcano, the various factions let out soft sighs. These Cangxuan Sect disciples were certainly tenacious, but unfortunately, tenacity couldn't bridge the gap in strength between the two sides.

Elder Wu's hands clenched tightly, veins pulsed on his arms, and killing intent surged in his eyes as he stared at the Sacred Palace Elder.

Outside the core region of the Blazing Marrow Vein, beneath a massive banner, Zhou Yuan sat cross-legged, his eyes slightly lowered, making no sound at all. He could hear Bai Li's and Qin Hai's voices growing fainter and fainter through the sound transmission stone in his ear. The situation for several other disciples was also not good. Clearly, within the core region at this moment, Bai Li and their group were in a grim situation.

He raised his face, his eyes slightly narrowed as he gazed into the distance. His fingers lightly tapped his knee, and he fell into a long silence. But eventually, he raised his head and let out a long breath. "Really..." he muttered, "if you keep this up, you'll make me fail my mission..."

He murmured that if all the territory was seized by the Sacred Palace, their mission this time would undoubtedly be graded as a failure, and then, there would be no heavenly merits to speak of.

He sighed. Although he wasn't entirely pleased with Elder Wu and the others for neglecting him, at a time like this, even if it was just for that single heavenly merit, he couldn't continue to stand by.

With that, Zhou Yuan slightly pursed his lips and slowly stood up. This person, who had been banished to the outer edge of the core region and almost forgotten, finally intended to intervene.