"The disciples of a small sect from the Northern Domain are somewhat overestimating themselves.

Of all people to fight with, they dared to challenge the lunatics of the Barbarian Race.

In the history of the Barbarian Race, there have been several prodigies, who were not at all inferior to the Buddha’s Son of the Lotus Sect at the time, and they made a great name for themselves."

"Although the Barbarian Race is widely ostracized and cannot enter the ranks of the twenty-four major sects of the Immortal Dao Alliance.

But no one dares to deny the strength of their Body Cultivation, it’s built on raw power."

"Huh, this boy actually broke through during the battle? Interesting."

Present are disciples from sects in the heart of Central Continent, such as the Beast Taming Sect, Beichen Sword Sect, Youyue Sect, Money Sect, and others.

They have been watching the battle with amusement, pointing and commenting, words filled with disdain for Shen Aoqun.

This is the sense of superiority that comes from being part of a major sect.

It’s similar to the way some city folks look at country people, perhaps even worse.

But what they didn’t expect was that Shen Aoqun, known as the greatest genius of the True Blood Sect in thousands of years, not only had exceptional talent but also had an unusually strong disposition.

"Ha!"

Due to his breakthrough in the battle, the dragon-head turtle shell-like Spirit Platform above Shen Aoqun transformed into the Fourth Layer.

His entire aura soared rapidly, more than doubling in an instant!

’Boom!’

With a punch, like green lightning splitting the sky, the air resonated with a ’buzz’.

The Barbarian Race prodigy, Juman, took the blow and his expression changed.

He could no longer maintain his posture, quickly retreating with a ’whoosh’.

He collided with a massive boulder five or six zhang high, shattering it into pieces.

"Well done!"

"What Barbarian Race prodigy, nothing more than so-so!"

"To achieve the Golden Core, you must test your sword against the prodigies of the major sects, against the elite!"

Jin Tingfeng, the black-armored man surnamed Cao, and the elder Body Cultivator of the True Blood Sect all shouted excitedly, cheering for Shen Aoqun to boost his momentum.

"Very well, you’ve successfully angered me." Juman crawled up from the rubble, his gaze suddenly turning cold.

He pounded his chest with both fists, making a ’clang’ sound like metal clashing.

Then, a brilliant black and red light erupted from his body.

The strange eight-armed humanoid totem on his chest began to rapidly move its arms.

Four arms suddenly disappeared.

On top of Juman’s head, a cone-shaped tall tower-like Fourth Layer Spirit Platform was constructed, seemingly made of yellow stone, with sharp edges and some scattered window openings on its walls.

The majority of the wall was engraved with ancient human race patterns, depicting the story of the Barbarian Race ancestors founding their tribe.

With the blessing of the Fourth Layer Spirit Platform, Juman’s aura grew tremendously stronger, instantly outshining Shen Aoqun.

’Boom!’

Juman stomped on the ground, creating a huge pit with a web of cracks spreading out.

Then, like a humanoid tyrannosaurus, he charged at Shen Aoqun.

The two instantly engaged in an even more thrilling duel than before!

Purely relying on a physique comparable to Upper Grade Spiritual Artifacts and Top-grade Spiritual Artifacts, sparks and lightning flew.

The scene was filled with swirling spiritual essence, flying debris, and large streams of red and white energy exploded.

Even the prodigies watching had to frown and retreat slightly, fearing collateral damage, showcasing the intensity of the duel.

After all, Shen Aoqun had just broken through and quickly found himself at a disadvantage, being suppressed by Juman.

His body frequently smashed stones, or formed human-shaped pits on the ground, with his body covered in blood.

Yet he still gritted his teeth, refusing to give up, searching for a chance to win while dodging.

"Previously, I was just playing around, do you really think I can’t deal with you?" Juman threw another fierce punch.

He made a blurred blood hole in Shen Aoqun’s chest, with blood shooting out like a column, even his internal organs were clearly visible.

Lu Ziyun gasped, covering her mouth.

The elder Body Cultivator of the True Blood Sect could not just watch their sect’s prodigy perish, already brewing spiritual essence, ready to intervene at any moment.

"Old man, what are you doing?" a young cultivator with a sinister look blocked the elder Body Cultivator of the True Blood Sect, with a mocking expression.

"Fellow Daoists from the Flowing Cloud Sect, do you know what you’re doing?" the white-haired elder Body Cultivator said in a deep voice.

"I’m not familiar with Juman the barbarian, just don’t want to see interference in a fair duel." The cultivator from the Flowing Cloud Sect, wearing a pink and white robe.

With a disdainful expression, as if looking down on everything in the world.

"So-called Flowing Cloud freedom, unbound and unrestrained."

The disciples of the Flowing Cloud Sect are known for acting freely and wildly in Central Continent.

Hearing this, the elder Body Cultivator of the True Blood Sect’s eyes shone with sharp light, about to strike at this person.

But suddenly his face changed, not daring to make any move.

For just as he was about to make a move, he suddenly sensed several malicious auras rising towards him.

If he dared to interfere in the battle, he would surely face the joint attack of these individuals.

"These cultivators from the heart of Central Continent are obviously in cahoots." The elder Body Cultivator thought with surprise and anger.

In the field, Shen Aoqun was completely at a disadvantage, almost only able to defend, having no chance to strike back.

’Bang!’

Juman delivered another punch, brutally sending Shen Aoqun flying, making him spit out a long stream of blood in the air.

"Honestly, your resilience has already exceeded my expectations." Juman laughed wildly, his demeanor arrogant.

However, everyone could see that Shen Aoqun wouldn’t last long, and could be in mortal danger at any time.

Just when the elder Body Cultivator was about to act regardless of consequences, a furious shout rose from not far away.

"Stop, what are you doing!"

A beam of intertwined black and white light swiftly traversed the sky, arriving at the scene in the blink of an eye.

Its appearance revealed a handsome figure, dressed in a flowing black and white Daoist robe, stepping on azure cloud-stepping shoes.

It was none other than Gao Wenxuan, a disciple of the Two Forms Sect.

Upon arrival, Gao Wenxuan spoke with a discontented expression: "The True Monarch’s blessed land is about to open, attracting ambitious contenders from all directions.

We ought to band together to resist foreign sects, why create discord amongst ourselves?"

Seeing Gao Wenxuan arrive, Juma from the Barbarian race halted his actions.

He sneered: "It was this fool who overestimated himself and wanted to challenge me."

"Wasn’t it you who spoke offensively first?" Shen Aoqun seethed in anger.

"Hmm? What on earth happened?" Gao Wenxuan’s face darkened as he began to gather details from others around.

"That barbarian did indeed say something like ’a large backside can be fruitful’..."

Soon, Gao Wenxuan was aware of the entire sequence of events.

"Juma, it was indeed you who erred first.

So, why don’t you apologize to Brother Shen, and we’ll let the matter rest?"

’What?!’

As Gao Wenxuan spoke, not only was the Barbarian race’s prodigy, Juma, stunned, but others at the scene were also taken aback.

Truth be told, Juma’s remarks about some Foundation Establishment fairy were indeed unpleasant.

But his target was merely people from small sects, with no backing, and their own strength was quite ordinary.

The Barbarian race, while not favored by the orthodox sect, was undeniably powerful due to its unique background.

They currently have no less than two Golden Cores in the sect, wielding power in the Cultivation Realm comparable to most major sects.

Gao Wenxuan’s willingness to offend the Barbarian race’s influence for people from a small sect was something almost no one expected.

"Gao Wenxuan, are you kidding me?" Juma touched his nose, puzzled.

"I, Gao, speak objectively, valuing reason over personal ties." Gao Wenxuan’s face was lofty and full of vigor.

"Fine! Since you are willing to turn your back on me for this person, I have no reason to stay." Juma sneered, turned decisively, and left.

His legs emitted astonishing red light, in the air like an arrow released from a bow, disappearing from everyone’s sight in an instant.

Gao Wenxuan didn’t go after Juma, turning instead to Shen Aoqun and showing an apologetic expression: "Brother Shen, I failed to take proper care of you and caused you grievance."

Shen Aoqun waved his hand repeatedly: "Brother Gao, for you to offend the Barbarian race for my sake demonstrates such loyalty, let’s not talk about grievances."

Shen Aoqun was deeply moved.

He truly hadn’t expected Gao Wenxuan to speak on his behalf, even at the cost of angering the Barbarian race’s prodigy.

Simultaneously, he even began to feel ashamed of previously doubting Gao’s hospitality and considering leaving with his team.

He realized he was indeed using a small-minded view to assess the heart of a noble person.

He resolved to avoid similar mistakes in the future.

"Alas..." But soon, he saw Gao Wenxuan sighing.

"Brother Gao, why the sigh? Are you worried about Juma’s retaliation?

Rest assured, I will face the consequences..."

"Heh, though Juma is troublesome, I, Gao Wenxuan, do not fear him.

However, I initially needed his help with something.

Now that I’ve offended him, things have become a bit tricky." Gao Wenxuan explained.

"What is it? Can I help?" Shen Aoqun asked hurriedly.

"Honestly, Brother Shen, you could not help before.

Now, you might be able to contribute a bit." Gao Wenxuan hesitated, "But I’m worried Brother Shen might encounter danger."

"Danger is nothing to me!" Shen Aoqun declared proudly, "We are brothers, why talk of danger?

Besides, if Juma can accomplish it, why couldn’t I?"

"It’s like this..."

Next, Gao Wenxuan explained the task to Shen Aoqun in detail.

...

"Are you saying Gao Wenxuan discovered a hidden location of Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures.

But the location is peculiar, situated in an alternate space of the Abyss, with overwhelming pressure that normal people can’t withstand.

One needs the strength of a Body Cultivator to enter that alternate space?" Lou Yi asked.

"Exactly, Brother Gao has a marvelous array that can weaken the power of the alternate space.

Then we can join the array’s core and help Brother Gao manage the array, how about it?" Shen Aoqun proposed, "The more people, the stronger the array."

"Could there be any danger?" An elder Body Cultivator from the True Blood Sect asked cautiously.

"How could that be?" Shen Aoqun grew somewhat angrily, "Brother Gao has been earnest with me, even offending the Barbarian race.

Let’s be frank, what treasures do we have that could attract him?

Why would he go out of his way to trap us?"

Hearing Shen Aoqun’s words, many nodded, finding them reasonable.

Indeed, today’s actions by Gao Wenxuan had greatly increased his favorability.

Lou Yi listened, not dwelling on these details, but instead asked: "What is the Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure he mentioned?"

"It seems to be a type of crimson lotus root that can significantly boost bodily potential..." Gao Wenxuan was somewhat uncertain.

’Crimson lotus root?’ Lou Yi froze, instinctively glancing at the Attribute Panel.

Could it really be this coincidental?

At this moment, a cold female voice echoed in his mind.

"Fellow Daoist Lou, it’s time to fulfill the promise..."

...