Long Chang knelt on the ground, looked up at Zhou Qiong, and said in terror, "How is this possible? We're both at the eighth layer of the Eternal Realm. Why are you so strong?"
Zhou Qiong ignored Long Chang and looked toward the east of Black King City. He sensed a powerful presence soaring into the sky in that direction. A dark green figure instantly tore through the air and arrived before Lanyu Wu. Judging by his appearance, he was clearly also a member of the Blue Rain Clan.
The newcomer glanced at Long Chang, who was too severely injured to get up, and asked Lanyu Wu gravely, "Lanyu Wu, what exactly happened?"
Lanyu Wu immediately breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing the newcomer and recounted what had just happened in the square. When he mentioned that everyone from the Demon Sect had ascended from the Lower Realm, the Blue Rain Clan's patriarch cast a meaningful glance toward the Demon Sect. When Lanyu Wu said that Zhou Qiong had severely injured Long Chang with just one move, the patriarch looked solemnly at Zhou Qiong atop the Demon Dragon Flying Carriage.
To severely injure Long Chang with a single strike, his actual combat strength must surpass his cultivation at the eighth layer of the Eternal Realm. It might even have reached the Eternal Peak, the Blue Rain patriarch thought.
The Blue Rain patriarch cupped his hands toward Zhou Qiong and said amicably, "I am Lan Yukong, patriarch of the Blue Rain Clan. According to Black King City's rules, our Blue Rain Clan is responsible for guarding the Ascension Square for these ten years. Some misunderstanding may have led to the attack on your sect members. I hope you won't take offense!"
Immediately afterward, Lan Yukong added, "Might you tell us exactly what happened in your Lower Realm? I would be immensely grateful."
Zhou Qiong looked at Lan Yukong. Though the man's attitude was excellent, his own subordinates had just killed quite a few members of the Blue Rain Clan. Clearly, the other party was only speaking this way because he feared Zhou Qiong's strength.
But a man knew his own affairs. Although Zhou Qiong currently appeared to possess cultivation at the Eternal Realm Eighth Layer and had even severely injured Long Chang with a single move, that was the result of taking a pill. Leaving aside the fact that it would only last three years, the restriction that he could only use three moves within those three years alone gave him something of a headache.
He had originally thought that directly striking and severely injuring Long Chang of the One-Eyed Clan would settle the situation here. Then he would take the Demon Sect members straight out of Black King City and make further plans after learning about the Upper Realm.
But judging by Lan Yukong's current demeanor, leaving easily was unlikely.
Just as Zhou Qiong was about to answer Lan Yukong, he suddenly frowned, glanced around, and said gravely, "Since you've already arrived, why not come out and meet me?"
"What keen perception. It's truly hard to imagine you've only just ascended from the Lower Realm!"
Several figures appeared in the air. Judging by their appearances, they belonged to different factions, yet they tacitly surrounded Zhou Qiong, cutting off any possibility of escape!
Among them was a fat, squat man in yellow robes, also a human, who chuckled. He was the one who had just spoken! None of the others were human. Two were female members of the Demon Race with fox tails and alluring faces, while another was a tall minotaur with a bull's head and a human body. What they all had in common was that their presence was around the eighth layer of the Eternal Realm.
The crowd below had already gone numb. In such a short time, seven Eternal Realm experts had gathered in the square, not even counting Shangguan Yun of the Sword Sect, who had already left. Five of Black King City's eight major factions had already arrived.
The middle-aged human man looked at Zhou Qiong and spoke again. "Brother, I am Qian Sihai, leader of Black King City's Great River Gang. I'm also very curious about the secret of your Lower Realm. As a fellow human, I guarantee your safety as long as you're willing to tell us!"
The others remained silent, but their eyes were fixed on Zhou Qiong, effectively acknowledging Qian Sihai's words. After all, the secret of this Lower Realm interested them more. Making trouble for Zhou Qiong seemed unnecessary by comparison.
After all, Zhou Qiong was also an expert at the eighth layer of the Eternal Realm. Unless they had to, there was no need to deal with him. But if Zhou Qiong refused to speak, they might not be so accommodating!
Zhou Qiong knew that if he did not reveal the situation in the Lower Realm today, these people would not let him leave easily.
"System, open the shop! I want to buy a Greater Teleportation Talisman."
"Understood, host. The shop is now open. Purchasing a Greater Teleportation Talisman requires 300,000 Villain Points. Confirm exchange?"
"Confirm exchange!"
"Exchange successful. 300,000 Villain Points deducted. Remaining Villain Points: 80,000!"
A talisman instantly appeared in Zhou Qiong's hand, bearing a strange formation.
Zhou Qiong looked at everyone around him and said gravely, "Our Demon Sect has ascended this time with no desire to stir up unnecessary trouble. Once I have settled in, I'll have a proper chat with you!"
The minotaur with the bull's head and human body shouted, "Do you think you can leave today without explaining yourself?!" A great hammer instantly appeared in his hand. Clearly, he was already preparing to strike.
Zhou Qiong ignored him, waved his hand, and crushed the Greater Teleportation Talisman in his hand. Space began to ripple, enveloping every member of the Demon Sect in an instant. Before anyone in the square could react, the entire Demon Sect group vanished.
Qian Sihai was the first to react. Looking toward where the Demon Sect had vanished, he exclaimed, "It was actually a teleportation talisman! What grade of teleportation talisman could move so many people at once? That Lower Realm actually had a treasure like this!"
The others also spread their divine sense, searching everywhere. Qian Sihai sighed and said slowly, "Don't waste your effort. With a teleportation talisman of that grade, they're certainly no longer within Black King City!"
Qian Sihai turned his gaze toward Lanyu Ting. He knew this was the guard captain the Blue Rain Clan had stationed in the square and questioned him directly. "Which stone stele did that group ascend through just now?"
Lanyu Ting looked toward Patriarch Lan Yukong. The leaders of the other factions also looked at Lan Yukong. In the end, Lan Yukong nodded lightly. After all, this was no secret. Many people in the square had seen it. Qian Sihai had only asked Lanyu Ting directly to learn about it faster. There was no need for him to offend several major factions over this.
Lanyu Ting pointed at the dim stone stele in a corner of the square. Qian Sihai's expression darkened. "Are you making a fool of me? How could anyone ascend through a dim stone stele?!"
Lanyu Ting bowed to Qian Sihai. "Gang Leader Qian, I haven't deceived you. That group who called themselves the Demon Sect truly did ascend through this stone stele. But after they ascended, the stele grew dim. Many people present witnessed this with their own eyes."
Qian Sihai and the others turned toward the surrounding crowd. Voices of agreement immediately rose from the crowd, all saying that the Demon Sect had ascended through that stone stele.
Qian Sihai and the others looked at the stone stele, their expressions all darkening!