"People die for wealth, just as birds die for food. How many people has this ancient adage warned? Yet when a great enough prize lies before them, how many can truly hold their ground?
"If Taixiao Sword Lord hadn't wanted to claim the whole prize and gather every piece of the Sacred Soul Sword Stele, I wouldn't have had the chance to bring you to Water Cage Valley." The smile on Nanyun Cave Lord's face grew more pronounced.
"Perhaps I alone couldn't stand against Taixiao Sword Lord, whose momentum keeps growing, but Nanyun Cave is full of talent. With the restrictions I've laid here, dealing with a mere one of you will be no trouble."
"You brought your subordinates, but didn't invite those friends of yours?" Lotus Avatar asked, somewhat surprised.
"I'd originally wanted to make this as secure as possible, but there's only one Sacred Soul Sword Stele in the world, and I don't want to share it with anyone. I had no choice but to make my elite subordinates put in a little more effort."
Nanyun Cave Lord swept his wide sleeve. "Come out, all of you. Let's give a warm welcome to this rising star of the Honghao Celestial Court, Taixiao Sword Lord."
"He's nothing but a wet-behind-the-ears brat." A cold scoff rang out. The hazy mist churned, and an elderly man with a purple gourd at his waist and a head of white hair and beard appeared within it.
At the same time, one person appeared in each of the other seven directions. One was a woman in a white dress, dressed in bright colors, though she held a horsetail whisk in her hand.
Another was a short, stout man with a sturdy build and a dark face, no taller than an adult's waist. Their auras