Negotiations Begin!

The old man waved a hand.

"There's nothing presumptuous about it. The Black Domain may be remote, but we don't own it."

"Finding this place proves you're capable."

"Reaching it alive proves you're strong."

"Standing before me with the Human Emperor's sword proves you have his approval."

He paused, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly.

"Put those three things together, and you're stronger than all of us."

Su Ming said nothing.

He couldn't tell whether the old man meant it or was merely being polite.

The old man turned and waved at the crowd.

"Disperse. All of you. Get back to whatever you were doing."

The crowd did not disperse immediately.

They watched Su Ming, their eyes still full of wariness.

Some refused to release their weapons; others blocked the way to the Chaos Spring Eye, unwilling to step aside.

The old man waved again, his tone growing sterner this time.

"Disperse. He's one man against thirty thousand. Do you really think he can get away?"

At last, the crowd began to move.

Slowly and reluctantly, they dispersed like an ebbing tide exposing the reefs beneath.

But those reefs—the few experts at the Immortal Sovereign Initial Stage—remained where they stood.

The old man glanced at them.

"You too. Leave."

The experts at the Immortal Sovereign Initial Stage exchanged glances, then turned and left.

They walked slowly, as though every step were measuring something.

Su Ming knew they hadn't truly left.

They were watching from the shadows. At the first suspicious move, they would strike.

The old man gestured invitingly to Su Ming.

"Come with me."

The old man led Su Ming through the city's streets.

The streets were narrow, only wide enough for three people to walk abreast, with buildings packed tightly along both sides.

The buildings were low,