Seeing this, the others on Han Xuanji's side also felt a little uneasy.
They were wary of such a behemoth as the Ten Thousand Immortals Association.
If things escalate to an unmanageable point, they will ultimately be the ones who suffer, being outnumbered and outmatched.
Zhou Yuan subconsciously wanted to say something to ease the tension, but when he caught a glimpse of Han Xuanji's composed demeanor, he swallowed his words back.
If Han Xuanji wasn't afraid, why should he be?
They are in the right.
We can't let Han Xuanji down.
Thinking of this, Zhou Yuan took a deep breath, straightened his chest, and stood beside Han Xuanji.
Although he didn't speak, his tense face clearly conveyed four words.
United in hatred against the enemy.
The Chen brothers were even more decisive. They were renowned geniuses in the outside world, and being young and ambitious, they had just experienced a resounding victory. Their courage was at its peak. When they saw that the other party still dared to use the name of the Ten Thousand Immortals Association to intimidate them, they immediately snorted coldly and stood on the other side of Han Xuanji. The cold light on the blades in their hands gleamed, carrying more weight than any words.
Lan Miao, needless to say, despite expending considerable energy, remained stern-faced and showed no sign of backing down.
If we fight, then we fight. If we back down like this, who knows what people will say?
Seeing how defiant the group was, the white-robed cultivator's expression grew even more unpleasant.
He thought that by offering a way out, Han Xuanji would take the opportunity to back down, but to his surprise, the other party not only didn't appreciate it, but also kicked the way out away in front of everyone.
Aren't you afraid of dying?
However, as he quickly assessed the current situation, he still felt a sense of fear.
Wang Qing was no pushover; his strength was considered above average in the Ten Thousand Immortals Association. Yet, he was killed with a single palm strike, without even a chance to struggle. This level of strength had exceeded their expectations.
Even if they outnumbered the enemy, in a real fight, given the strength Han Xuanji had just displayed with his palm strike, plus the support from Lan Miao and the others, at least half of their dozen or so people would be killed.
Death in the Sacred Domain may not be fatal, but why bother?
Just as the two sides were locked in a stalemate, a gentle and steady voice came from behind the Ten Thousand Immortals Association Formation:
"Stop it, all of you."
The crowd parted automatically to both sides, and a man dressed in pristine white slowly walked forward.
He had a refined and gentle appearance, with a faint smile in his phoenix eyes. He was neither sharp nor arrogant, as if he had come not to mediate disputes, but to attend a moon-viewing gathering.
It was none other than Liu Wanxu, the vice president of the Ten Thousand Immortals Association.
Liu Wanxu first glanced at the spot where the lean man had disappeared, and finally his gaze fell on Han Xuanji.
He didn't rush to speak, but quietly observed Han Xuanji for a few moments, then shook his head slightly, a helpless bitter smile appearing on his face.
Originally, it was thought that although Wang Qing was incompetent, he still had some experience in leading a team to hunt Variant, and with more than a dozen elites helping him, even if he couldn't Moon-Swallowing Heavenly Wolf, nothing too serious would happen.
By the time he returns, the hunt should be complete.
When he arrived, he saw this situation and Wang Qing was nowhere to be found.
Liu Wanxu quickly learned what had happened from a member of the Ten Thousand Immortals Association.
When negotiations failed, they resorted to a sneak attack; to make matters worse, they were killed with a single blow.
They're more trouble than they're worth.
Liu Wanxu cursed inwardly.
Chi Yuan has several capable men under his command, Wang Qing one of them. However, Wang Qing is narrow-minded and always tries to take Evil Dao. Chi Yuan had warned him about this before, and today he finally met his match.
Seeing that someone had come forward to support them, the members of the Ten Thousand Immortals Association found their backbone.
"Fellow Daoist Han, fellow Daoists."
Liu Wanxu cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, his manners impeccable, and his face still wore that amiable smile.
"I have a general understanding of what happened. Wang Qing pretended to discuss things but actually launched a sneak attack, breaking the rules. This matter is the fault of my Ten Thousand Immortals Association."
He was killed by Fellow Daoist Han, which was his own fault.
" Ten Thousand Immortals Association not stand up for him, nor will he hold you all responsible. Moreover, the credit for hunting Moon-Swallowing Heavenly Wolf will naturally be attributed to you all."
He turned his gaze to Han Xuanji, his tone becoming more sincere:
"Fellow Daoist Han, on behalf of the Ten Thousand Immortals Association you all for what happened today."
In the subsequent hunt for the Variant, the Ten Thousand Immortals Association and each individual fought their own battles without interfering with each other.
What does Fellow Daoist Han think?
The vice-chairman's attitude was somewhat better than that of the white-robed cultivator from before, but the general meaning was similar.
Han Xuanji was no fool; she knew when to advance and when to retreat.
It's not that we have to fight to the death with the Ten Thousand Immortals Association.
The palm strike that killed Wang Qing had already achieved its effect of making an example of him. Now that Liu Wanxu had offered a way out, if he continued to press the matter, he would only appear aggressive.
He nodded slightly, his tone indifferent:
"Since Vice Master Liu has said so, let's leave it at that. However, let me make it clear beforehand that if the Ten Thousand Immortals Association comes looking for trouble again, I, Han, will not hold back."
Liu Wanxu sneered inwardly, thinking that Han Xuanji's arrogance was no less than that of Li Fu.
It'll be dealt with sooner or later.
However, his smile remained unchanged, and he nodded, saying:
"Nature."
He turned around and waved to the cultivators of the Ten Thousand Immortals Association behind him:
"Disperse, everyone. Continue hunting other Variant."
The crowd felt as if they had been granted a pardon, and they all lowered their heads and dispersed, none daring to look at Han Xuanji again.
Before leaving, Liu Wanxu glanced back at Han Xuanji one last time, a glint of something unreadable flashing in his phoenix eyes, before turning and departing as well.
After the members of the Ten Thousand Immortals Association had retreated far away, Zhou Yuan's tense shoulders finally relaxed, he let out a long breath, and said with a wry smile:
"It's finally over. If Liu Wanxu insisted on starting a war, the outcome would have been uncertain."
"Hmph, with Brother Han around, they wouldn't dare to be so arrogant."
Chen Fei already admired Han Xuanji, and now he was almost blindly devoted to her.
Lan Miao sheathed her sword without saying a word, but the admiration in her eyes was impossible to hide.
Thinking that I must practice diligently after returning home.
He was undoubtedly far inferior to Han Xuanji.
"It's thanks to everyone's presence that the other side doesn't dare to engage in a fight to the death."
Han Xuanji smiled slightly, but didn't say anything more about it.
He had originally planned to let those people leave after they paid a price, but he hadn't expected Liu Wanxu to show up in person. Now it was difficult to continue coercing them, and it would be hard to handle if things escalated.
His main goal for this trip was to sign in; he would stop when he felt like it.
However, he must not lose his composure, lest others take advantage of him and disgrace his master.
The spot where the Moon-Swallowing Heavenly Wolf died was covered in tiny specks of light, like millions of fireflies swept up by the night wind, drifting towards the divine tree that pierced the sky above the valley.
In Han Xuanji's hand, a long, silver-white sword silently appeared, its blade shimmering with a cool, moonlit glow. At the end of the hilt was a crescent-shaped horn, shrunk countless times in size—it was the Heavenly Wolf Moonlight Saber.
He reached out and grasped the hilt of the knife; it was icy cold to the touch, and the blade emitted a clear, resonant hum.
"This knife is good."
Han Xuanji casually twirled the sword, then tossed it to Zhou Yuan.
"You just guarded the left flank for me, so this knife is yours."
"There are ten drops of Heavenly Wolf Essence Blood; each of you here will receive two drops, which will be somewhat helpful in tempering your physical body."
Zhou Yuan, holding the Heavenly Wolf Moonlight Saber, was completely dumbfounded.
This knife is equivalent to a fifth-tier Dao artifact, and is quite valuable. In the Sacred Domain, its value is even higher, enough to exchange for a seventh-tier Dao artifact.
Han Xuanji's move was clearly intended to win people's hearts.
Zhou Yuan is a descendant of the Ten Directions Holy Lord, so he should know many secrets of the Ten Directions Immortal Hall. We should find a way to bring him in; it should be quite beneficial.
Zhou Yuan, unaware that his identity had been exposed, assumed that Han Xuanji valued him and was deeply moved.