The Strong Preying on the Weak?

Liu Yuan didn't get up and continued speaking:

"Reporting to Elder Wanhua, this spiritual herb was obtained by my subordinate from a rogue cultivator named Li Changqing. He wanted to use the Domain Gate of my Dao One Sacred Ground to traverse the Void to the Southern Region. Because he didn't have enough Source Stones, he used this spiritual herb as payment."

"He clearly possesses such precious spiritual herbs, yet he lacks Source Stones, and hasn't even bothered to exchange Source Stone, yet he's in such a hurry to leave the Central Domain. I'm certain that Li Changqing has even more spiritual herbs in his possession, perhaps even older ones."

Upon hearing this, Wanhua raised an eyebrow, showing great interest, and asked, "Li Changqing, what is his cultivation level? That you have to come to me for instructions—could he be Dragon Transformation like you?"

Liu Yuan shook his head. "If my perception is correct, it should be the Four Extremes."

Wanhua frowned, as if he had misheard. "Four Extremes? You are a cultivator from the Dragon Transformation Secret Realm. Dealing with a Four Extremes cultivator should be a simple matter for you. Why are you reporting this to me?"

"Reporting to the Elder, that person is indeed at the Four Extremes of cultivation, but he looks very young and should be a genius. Moreover, even when I personally questioned him, he remained very calm and showed no fear whatsoever."

Liu Yuan then recounted Li Changqing's entire situation.

"I am worried that he might have some powerful backing, and if we let him escape, it might provoke his retaliation and bring trouble to the Dao One Sacred Ground. That is why I have come to ask you for instructions."

Wanhua nodded slightly, showing some appreciation. "I see. Not bad, you are very cautious and deserve great use."

Liu Yuan was extremely excited, as he had achieved his goal.

With Wanhua, an Immortal Platform cultivator, as his backer, he can do whatever he wants around Wan Wanhua Wankong City, as long as his bottom line isn't crossed.

Wanhua slowly rose to his feet, a look of intense greed on his face:

"That Li Changqing is going to the Southern Region, right? The Domain Gate to the Southern Region shouldn't be activated yet. We can't let him get away."

"Indeed, activating the Domain Gate takes an extremely long time. Li Changqing definitely hasn't left yet. I will lead the way for you, Elder."

As he spoke, Liu Yuan also stood up, a fawning expression on his face, and led Wanhua toward the Domain Gate leading to the Southern Region.

On the south side of the Dao One Sacred Ground's residence, there is a huge altar covered with dense array patterns, which is the place where the Domain Gate is opened.

All the cultivators who wished to travel to the Southern Region had already taken their places on the altar.

The people from Dao One Sacred Ground were inspecting the array patterns. Once the inspection was complete, they could activate the array patterns, allowing everyone to enter the Void and head to the Southern Region.

Li Changqing stood among the crowd, carefully observing the array patterns on the altar, trying to memorize them.

Suddenly, a powerful aura emanated from it.

Everyone was startled and looked to the north. The people from Dao One Sacred Ground who were checking the array patterns also stopped what they were doing.

Someone exclaimed in surprise:

"I've sensed this aura before; only cultivators from the Immortal Platform Secret Realm can release it. It seems Immortal Platform cultivator has arrived. Could it be that we are fortunate enough to ride the Immortal Platform Domain Gate alongside them?"

"That can't be right. Immortal Platform cultivators are so esteemed, how could they be opening a Domain Gate with us? Seniors at the Immortal Platform level are fully qualified to open Domain Gates independently."

"If it really is Immortal Platform cultivator coming, then we're afraid we'll be expelled from the Domain Gate. Let that senior go first, then it'll be our turn."

The cultivators who wanted to go to the Southern Region were making all sorts of guesses, while the people of the Dao One Sacred Ground were also unclear about what was going on.

If it truly was a cultivator from Immortal Platform coming to Southern Region through the Domain Gate, how could they have received no information whatsoever?

A moment later, an elderly man and a middle-aged man flew to the sky above the altar; they were Wanhua and Liu Yuan.

Upon seeing this, the people of Dao One Sacred Ground bowed and greeted, "Greetings, Elder Wanhua, and Deacon Liu Yuan."

Wanhua and Liu Yuan simply nodded in response. Then Liu Yuan pointed at Li Changqing and said:

"Elder Wanhua, that young man is Li Changqing. He definitely possesses even more aged spiritual herbs, and perhaps other more precious treasures."

Wanhua followed Liu Yuan's finger and looked at Li Changqing, spotting Li Changqing immediately.

The reason is simple: when others saw the appearance of the Immortal Platform cultivators, they could not remain calm at all, and their faces showed more or less panic and fear.

Only Li Changqing remained indifferent, as if he hadn't seen Wanhua at all, and didn't care at all.

However, this only made Wanhua more certain that Li Changqing definitely possessed a treasure, and one that was quite extraordinary, which explained his fearlessness.

This treasure is so powerful that it gives Li Changqing, a cultivator at the Four Extremes Secret Realm, the confidence to face cultivators at the Immortal Platform level.

Wanhua didn't care at all. He was a genuine Immortal Platform Second Heaven. With Li Changqing's mere cultivation at the Four Extremes Secret Realm, even if he had some powerful treasure, how much power could it unleash?

I'm afraid it won't last long before its Divine Power is completely exhausted.

Upon hearing Liu Yuan's words, the people on the altar finally realized what was happening.

It wasn't that any Immortal Platform cultivators wanted to travel to the Southern Region through the Domain Gate, but rather that Elder Wanhua of the Dao One Sacred Ground coveted the treasures in Li Changqing's possession and came here specifically to snatch them.

They were curious about what kind of treasure Li Changqing possessed that would make Elder Wanhua disregard the dignity of the Sacred Ground and try to snatch it in front of so many people.

Although they were curious, they were also self-aware enough to leave the altar, fearing that they would be affected by the aftermath of Wanhua's actions against Li Changqing.

Those were cultivators from the Immortal Platform Secret Realm; even without being deliberately targeted, their dissipated power was something they couldn't withstand.

Li Changqing wasn't worried at all, and looked at Wanhua with a smile.

He clearly sensed Wanhua's cultivation level; he had just entered the Immortal Platform Second Heaven, and he was already quite old, with a trace of death energy already tainted on his body. It seemed that he was unable to break through and his lifespan was nearing its end.

He originally thought that the Dragon Transformation cultivator named Liu Yuan wasn't targeting him because he was concerned about the reputation of the Dao One Sacred Ground and didn't intend to forcibly take the treasure from him. He didn't expect that Liu Yuan had gone to call for help.

However, Liu Yuan was far too cautious. A cultivator from the Dragon Transformation Secret Realm, dealing with a Fourth Secret Realm cultivator like him, actually had to call in Immortal Platform cultivator.

Wanhua stood high in the sky, his feet treading on the Void. A gentle breeze made his Daoist robe flutter, and he looked at Li Changqing with indifferent eyes.

In his eyes, Li Changqing was nothing more than an ant that could be crushed at will.

"Young man, hand over the treasure you possess, and I might spare your life. Otherwise, I won't hesitate to bully the weak and seize it by force! In that case, your life or death will be out of your hands."

As soon as he finished speaking, Wanhua's aura surged, releasing the oppressive force of the Immortal Platform Second Heaven, pressing down firmly on Li Changqing.

Li Changqing's smile remained unchanged; the oppressive aura emanating from Wanhua seemed to have no effect on him.

Those who escaped the altar, though not specifically targeted by Wanhua's oppressive aura, still found it difficult to breathe, with those of lower cultivation levels even forced to prostrate themselves on the ground.