Judging from the atmosphere at the scene, it was clear that neither Master Tie nor the female demon were there to reminisce with the people from Heavenly Spring Sacred Land and Heavenly Snow Sacred Domain. The group looked tense, as if they could start fighting at any moment.
Yang Zhen didn't know what had happened here, but he was basically certain that the Shameless Cat was nearby. The mark Yang Zhen left on Shameless Cat had just emitted another fluctuation, and what reassured Yang Zhen somewhat was that there was no longer any sense of danger in that fluctuation.
However, Yang Zhen still had some doubts. Since there was no danger, why hadn't that bastard, the Shameless Cat, come out yet? Was he hiding on the sidelines watching the show, just like him?
It's very possible!
While Yang Zhen was lost in thought, Lu Tianwei and Fang Zhongjian, two treacherous buddies, led a group of people toward Master Tie. Fang Zhongjian, in particular, had a smile on his face that clearly indicated he was up to no good; it was truly remarkable how he could pull off that expression so convincingly.
" Master Tie, we meet again."
Fang Zhongjian looked at Master Tie with a half-smile and said playfully, "I've long suspected you have a connection with Mountain and River Court, and I didn't expect you to actually come. I suppose you've guessed why we're here. So, hand over the item?"
Yang Zhen was taken aback and looked at Master Tie with a surprised expression. It turned out that his guess was correct. This Master Tie did indeed have connections with the Mountain and River Court, and it seemed that the connections were quite close.
At this moment, Lu Tianwei also spoke up, "Senior Tie, things have come to this point, so I won't say any more. We've already cleared everyone out of the surrounding area; we came here specifically for the Mountains and Rivers Painting. As long as you hand over the Mountain and Mountains and Rivers Painting, we absolutely will not interfere with your breaking of the Mountain and River Court's restrictions."
" Mountains and Rivers Painting?" Yang Zhen was taken aback, then his face lit up with joy. "Oh my, so there's a treasure here."
"What is the Mountains and Rivers Painting?" Feng Lingqiao asked curiously from the side.
Yang Zhen shook his head and said, "I don't know, but since it's been noticed by people from the Heavenly Spring Sacred Land and the Heavenly Snow Sacred Domain, it must be an extraordinary treasure. Let's continue."
As he spoke, Yang Zhen actually took out a set of table and chairs from his storage ring, and also set out a fruit platter. While doing so, he looked at the dumbfounded Feng Lingqiao and said, "Aren't you going to eat something?"
Feng Lingqiao sat down with a strange expression and said, "Aren't you worried?"
"Worried?" Yang Zhen was taken aback, looking at Feng Lingqiao with surprise and asking, "Worried about what? Is it the lives of Master Tie and that female demon, or who will ultimately win the so-called Mountains and Rivers Painting?"
Feng Lingqiao was taken aback by these words and hesitated before saying, "Shouldn't we be worried about something?"
Yang Zhen laughed heartily, shook his head, and said, "I'm the kind of person who never worries about anything."
What's the use of worrying? As long as you do your best, you won't have any regrets whether you succeed or not. So what's the point of worrying?
If you're reckless, then be reckless; if you can't, then wait and try again. Life is that simple.
At that moment, a hearty laugh rang out. Master Tie looked around, a mocking expression on his face. "Is this the behavior of a so-called great sect? If I don't give it to you, are you planning to forcibly take it?"
"Old man!"
Senior Brother Qi from Heavenly Spring Sacred Land suddenly snorted coldly, staring at Master Tie and saying, "You don't need to accuse us. In this situation, what can we do even if we forcibly seize it? The cultivation world is a dog-eat-dog world. If you were in my shoes, would you let go of such a good opportunity?"
A cold glint flashed in Master Tie's eyes, and he shook his head, saying, "No."
Senior Brother Qi laughed heartily, exchanged glances with Fang Zhongjian and the others, and said, "See? What did I tell you? This old man understands perfectly well. Why are we wasting our breath arguing with him? Let's just take it by force."
The others were taken aback. Although some hesitated slightly, they slowly moved closer to Master Tie.
Master Tie suddenly sighed heavily, spread his hands, and said, "You are all wrong. The Mountains and Rivers Painting is not in my possession right now."
Was it wrong?
Is the Mountains and Rivers Painting no longer in Master Tie's possession?
Everyone who was still slowly moving forward was stunned, staring blankly at Master Tie.
Fang Zhongjian sneered, a longsword appearing in his hand seemingly out of nowhere. Though not Saint Weapon, it gleamed coldly. He stared at Master Tie and said, "Old man, even now, are you still going to argue? I originally thought you were a straightforward person, though stubborn, but it turns out you're also someone who dares not act."
Master Tie and the female demon exchanged a glance, then suddenly burst into laughter, staring at Fang Zhongjian and saying, "Do you think you'd still be standing before me if the Mountains and Rivers Painting were in my hands?"
Upon hearing Master Tie's words, everyone was taken aback. Fang Zhongjian and Lu Tianwei exchanged a glance, both seeing the doubt in each other's eyes, and asked in deep voices:
" Master Tie, the people of Heavenly Spring Sacred Land and Heavenly Snow Sacred Domain are all here now. Even if you have the Mountains and Rivers Painting, can you kill us all? You say the Mountains and Rivers Painting isn't in your possession, then where is it?"
Master Tie pointed to the mountain behind them and said, "It's in there."
Everyone instinctively looked towards the mountain that Master Tie had pointed to, their expressions changing drastically. Fang Zhongjian coldly shouted, " Master Tie, do you think we'd believe that? If I'm not mistaken, that should be the Mustard Seed World of the Mountain and River Court. Once you break the seal, and the people of the Mountain and River Court are released, won't we all die here?"
Yang Zhen and Feng Lingqiao exchanged bewildered glances upon hearing this. The Mustard Seed World of the Mountain and River Court —what on earth was that?
Could it be that these major sects have sealed themselves within these Mustard Seed World and survived for tens of thousands of years?
At this moment, a mocking expression appeared on Master Tie's face as he said, "During the ancient times, when faced with the Great Tribulation of Heaven and Earth, all the major powers used their Mustard Seed World to seal away the truth. You people are all slumberers from before the ancient times. What, are you even afraid of an old man like me who is about to die?"
Fang Zhongjian and Lu Tianwei exchanged a glance, about to speak, when Master Tie suddenly continued, " The Zhongxu Academy has guarded the secret of the Mountain and River Court for so many years, and finally this day has come. I only wish to fulfill the last wishes of my ancestors. As for who will ultimately possess the Mountains and Rivers Painting..."
Master Tie chuckled coldly, a hint of self-mockery in his voice, gazing at the endless mountains as if muttering to himself, "As for who will ultimately own the Mountains and Rivers Painting, how could an old man like me possibly decide?"
Everyone's expression froze, staring at Master Tie with suspicion and uncertainty. Fang Zhongjian frowned and said, " Master Tie, are you telling the truth?"
Master Tie laughed heartily, glanced back at the female demon, and said in a deep voice, "It will take a full day to break the seal. Whether it's true or not, you can find out by watching from the sidelines. There are two layers of the seal. The people of the Mountain and River Court are inside the second layer. The first layer of the seal not only contains the Mountains and Rivers Painting, but also..."
"What else?" Fang Zhongjian's brow twitched.
Master Tie took a deep breath and said, enunciating each word clearly, "And the Ten-Thousand-Year Dao Source Fruit!"
What?
Everyone was shocked to hear this!