Pool Competition

"Those two old bastards must have taken plenty of benefits from the Song Family in private," Xia Zhilan said, her face filled with disgust as she watched the two of them leave.

"The Song Family are fence-sitters too. On the surface, they're close to our Wan Jin Merchant Association, but in the dark, they've been in contact with the Blood Wolf Gang. I'd been worried all along that Song Qing was a mole from the Blood Wolf Gang, ready to deliberately throw the match during the competition. Thankfully, Little Brother Jia Lie helped me solve that problem."

At this point, Xuan Su's beautiful eyes turned toward Jia Lie Jun. With a smile filling her face, she said, "Little fellow, you really aren't simple. With just Spiritual Power alone, you were able to crush Song Qing, who was at the middle stage of the Heavenly Origin Realm."

"You flatter me, Manager Su. How could my insignificant bit of skill compare to yours?" Jia Lie Jun said with a dry laugh.

"Enough. You little fellow, don't try that glib tongue on me." Xuan Su rolled her eyes at Jia Lie Jun with all manner of charm. Heat stirred in his heart, and he turned his head away, hurriedly suppressing the desire within him.

She really is a stunner. I wonder how Ya Fei would compare to her.

Seeing this, Xuan Su covered her mouth and laughed lightly. "We should set off."

When Jia Lie Jun and the others arrived at the entrance of the Wan Jin Merchant Association, dozens of people were already waiting there, holding fine horses. Among the crowd, a rather handsome youth stood out like a crane among chickens.

Xia Zhilan stepped forward and introduced him. "This is Liu Yi. He's at the late stage of the Heavenly Origin Realm, and he'll be taking part in the Danxian Pool Competition with us this time. This is Master Yan's disciple, Jia Lie Jun. His strength is fairly decent; he defeated that Song Qing just now."

"Oh, is that so? No wonder I saw the two stewards carrying the unconscious Song Qing away in such a sorry state just now." Hearing this, Liu Yi was slightly surprised, then cupped his hands toward Jia Lie Jun with a smile. Jia Lie Jun also cupped his fists in return.

"All right, stop chatting. Let's move." At the side, Xuan Su mounted her horse, then gave a light shout. With a flick of the horsewhip in her hand, she sped toward the outside of Flame City. Everyone immediately followed, raising clouds of dust wherever they passed.

After traveling for about an hour, the speed of the group at the front gradually slowed. Jia Lie Jun lifted his gaze and looked at the dense mountains ahead. Vaguely, the roars of some demonic beasts could be heard. A place like this was a gathering ground for demonic beasts, and only factions with considerable power would dare set up camp here.

"Everyone, be careful. Ahead is an area where demonic beasts gather. Although the demonic beasts have been driven away, some stragglers may inevitably remain." Xuan Su dismounted and gave a warning, then quickly swept toward the depths of the mountains. Seeing this, everyone poured Origin Energy into their feet and rushed forward, the sound of rushing wind ringing nonstop through the forest. After roughly a few dozen minutes, the dense trees gradually thinned out, and their field of vision became broader and broader.

As soon as Jia Lie Jun and the others reached the mountaintop, they saw two groups of people facing each other. Both sides were poised to act, staring at each other warily. Jia Lie Jun looked around. A clear little pool about a zhang wide appeared rather wondrous. On one half of the pool, bubbles kept rising from the water's surface, and waves of steam rose into the air. On the other half, bone-chilling cold air drifted across the lake's surface. When the two met, they formed a vast mist, making the pool seem even more mysterious, like an immortal pool.

This must be the legendary Danxian Pool. It really lives up to its name, Jia Lie Jun thought to himself as he looked at the pool.

"Manager Su, you've finally arrived. You've truly kept me waiting." A powerful voice rang out. A burly middle-aged man walked toward them. The man had both arms bare, with a blood wolf tattooed on them, and his entire body emitted a frightening baleful aura. Just standing there, he gave off an intense sense of pressure.

"This man is the leader of the Blood Wolf Gang, Yue Shan, known as Mountain Breaker. His cultivation has reached the Great Perfection of Yuan Dan Realm, and there are few in Flame City who can match him," Xia Zhilan, who was beside Jia Lie Jun, said in a low voice.

Jia Lie Jun nodded. Great Perfection of Yuan Dan Realm was equivalent to the cultivation of a Nine-Star Great Dou Shi on the Dou Qi Continent, only one step away from becoming a Dou Ling. In Flame City, he could indeed be considered a local overlord. Even the clan heads of the Jia Lie Family and Xiao Family were only at the Great Dou Shi level.

"Hehe, Gang Leader Yue, why be so impatient?" As Yue Shan spoke, a refined-looking middle-aged man also walked out from the Wan Jin Merchant Association's side. He looked like a merchant, and faced with the intense pressure Yue Shan brought, his expression did not change in the slightest.

"This is the person in charge of our Wan Jin Merchant Association, Xia Wanjin. He's also my father," Xia Zhilan said, her face full of pride.

Hearing this, Yue Shan glanced over and snorted coldly. "Enough nonsense. Since everyone's here, let's begin. If we drag this out any longer, the energy in the Danxian Pool will be about to disperse."

Hearing this, Xia Wanjin glanced at the Danxian Pool, then looked toward Xuan Su's group. Seeing an unfamiliar person in the crowd, his face filled with confusion as he said, "Xuan Su, where's Song Qing? Why isn't he here? And who is this unfamiliar little brother?"

"This little brother is named Jia Lie Jun. He is Master Yan's newly accepted disciple, so we had him replace Song Qing. Moreover, Song Qing was defeated by this little brother," Xuan Su stepped forward and explained.

"Oh." Xia Wanjin looked at Jia Lie Jun in surprise. He knew Song Qing's strength, and this youth looked even younger than Song Qing, yet he had actually been able to defeat Song Qing. But that was good as well. The Danxian Pool Competition was extremely important, so the stronger the participants were, the better. He immediately gave Jia Lie Jun a friendly smile.

"This time, the Blood Wolf Gang has sent three people to participate in the Danxian Pool Competition. You know two of them: Yue Feng and Yue Ling. Both are now at the late stage of the Heavenly Origin Realm, equal to you in cultivation. If you fight, the outcome will truly be hard to predict," Xia Wanjin said, his face filled with gravity.

"Father, who is the last person?" Xia Zhilan asked.

"Hehe, there's no need to worry too much about the last one. I hear he's the son of one of the Blood Wolf Gang's guest elders, but I saw him once before. From what I observed, his strength should be at the middle stage of the Heavenly Origin Realm, similar to that Song Qing. Since young friend Jia Lie can defeat Song Qing, defeating him likely won't be much of a problem."

Jia Lie Jun nodded, though in his heart he knew clearly that the last person was the strongest of the three.

While they were talking, the crowd on the Blood Wolf Gang's side opened a path. Three figures slowly walked out, two men and one woman. The young man walking at the front wore white robes, and a gentle smile hung on his face, giving off a rather mild impression. He was completely out of place among the Blood Wolf Gang's group, who were all filled with baleful aura.

"The white-clothed young man at the front is Yue Feng, the son of the Blood Wolf Gang's leader. The girl standing to his right is his younger sister, Yue Ling. These siblings have outstanding talent and are quite formidable. As for the young man in gray, he should be the son of the guest elder that President Xia mentioned," Liu Yi, who was standing to the side, introduced with a smile to Jia Lie Jun.

"Enough nonsense. Which of you is going up first?" From the Blood Wolf Gang's side, a young girl walked out, holding a whip in her hand. She flicked it, producing a crisp crack, and shouted arrogantly.

The group from the Wan Jin Merchant Association focused their gazes on Xia Zhilan. The latter glanced at the girl, then stepped forward and snorted coldly. "In such a hurry to admit defeat?"

"Hmph, Xia Zhilan, just you watch how I ruin that face of yours in a bit."

The two girls already had grudges between them, and the Wan Jin Merchant Association and the Blood Wolf Gang were sworn enemies. Naturally, the moment they met, neither was willing to give an inch.

"In that case, let the match begin."

Hearing this, the people around them immediately retreated, clearing out an extremely large space.