"That's absolutely impossible!"
A shout filled with anger rang out, and Wu Jitian strode forward, completely ignoring the people beside him. He reached out from under his sleeve and snatched the black Storage Ring from Chen Zhen's hand.
With the Heavenly Severing Steps about to be obtained, how could there be any more mishaps? If there were no problems, then at least he should personally investigate!
Grasping the Storage Ring in his palm, Wu Jitian sent a thought into it, and a surge of Spiritual Strength flowed into the Storage Ring, carefully exploring its interior inch by inch.
But as time passed, Wu Jitian, who was originally full of doubts, became even more gloomy.
Under Wu Jitian's soul probing, Xiao Yan's Storage Ring indeed did not contain any trace of the Heavenly Severing Steps, just as Chen Zhen had said.
"How is this possible! That guy from the Ghost Hall clearly said that the Heavenly Severing Steps is on this kid, so why isn't it here!"
Wu Jitian stared at Xiao Yan in disbelief, the Storage Ring in his palm cracking as he squeezed it. Fortunately, the material was special, so Wu Jitian managed to crush it.
"Boy! Tell me quickly, where exactly did you hide the Heavenly Severing Steps!"
Wu Jitian snorted angrily, stepped forward, grabbed Xiao Yan by the neck, lifted him up like a chicken, and said sternly to Xiao Yan with his face close to Xiao Yan's.
As Wu Jitian grabbed his neck, Xiao Yan's pale face quickly turned red. He grabbed Wu Jitian's wrist, which was twice his own size, with both hands. His bloodshot eyes stared at Wu Jitian's ferocious face. He shook his head with difficulty, and his hoarse voice was forced out from between his teeth.
"I have no idea..."
"Court death!"
Xiao Yan's words clearly enraged the hot-tempered Wu Jitian, who tightened his grip on Xiao Yan's neck, making a series of cracking sounds as if his cervical vertebrae were being crushed. Xiao Yan's head tilted back uncontrollably, and blood spurted from the corner of his mouth, flowing down onto Wu Jitian's hand.
"Snort!"
Stimulated by the crimson blood, Wu Jitian's figure flashed suddenly, and in an instant, he had already landed on the edge of the collapsing city wall.
With his arm bent back, Xiao Yan's body swung wildly uncontrollably under the former's palm. Then, the next moment, a glint flashed in Wu Jitian's eyes, and with a low shout, Wu Jitian's slightly bent arm suddenly shot out like a cannonball. Xiao Yan's body was slammed deep into the city wall by this tremendous force.
"Boom..."
After this attack, the overburdened city walls finally collapsed with a deafening roar.
A huge boulder crashed down on Wu Jitian, but he didn't budge. With a jolt, an invisible aura swept out, crushing and shattering all the surrounding rocks.
"Hmph! Tell me, where is the Heavenly Severing Steps?"
Looking indifferently at the weak Xiao Yan before him, Wu Jitian spoke in a low voice.
However, Xiao Yan still shook his head with difficulty at this.
"You bastard! You're asking for it!"
With a furious roar, Wu Jitian hurled Xiao Yan away. After several loud thuds and violent collisions, Xiao Yan finally crashed into the Withered Leaf Sect Ye Luotian.
He wore a silver headband that bound his silver hair back, his face was kind and ruddy, and his pair of cloudy old eyes shone with wisdom. The smile on his lips made people feel an inexplicable sense of goodwill towards him.
Facing Xiao Yan, Ye Luotian did not resort to violence like the others before him. In contrast, he was quite gentle and kind, like a benevolent old grandfather.
"Hehe, Xiao Yan, I also advise you to hand over the Heavenly Severing Steps. After all, your life is the most important thing. If you lose your life, even if you keep the Heavenly Severing Steps hidden, it will still be useless."
As they spoke, Ye Luotian, to Xiao Yan's astonishment, gently placed his withered hand on Xiao Yan's chest. As a wisp of greenish-blue Dou Qi surged into Xiao Yan's body, Xiao Yan's injuries began to slowly heal.
Ye Luotian was actually helping Xiao Yan heal his injuries!
"Hmph! Ye Luotian, you're such a good person! What, do you really think you're a savior, wanting to save everyone you meet? Why don't you choose to save all living beings instead of becoming the leader of this sect!"
Wu Jitian looked at Ye Luotian with disdain. Although the Withered Leaf Sect was on par with the Four Great Sects, it was the weakest of the four in every aspect, except for one thing.
In terms of killing, the Withered Leaf Sect is no match for the other three sects. But when it comes to saving lives, especially the Withered Leaf Sect Master Ye Luotian, who is a truly good person, he has saved countless people since he began cultivating, including some of the most famous experts in the Western Region.
And it is precisely for this reason that, although the Withered Leaf Sect, to which he belongs, ranks last among the four sects, it is different in that there are still many well-known experts from the Western Region within the Withered Leaf Sect. This allows the Withered Leaf Sect's overall strength to stand firmly among the four sects.
"Hehe, Sect Master Wu, you jest. I'm doing this all for the Heavenly Severing Steps. Rather than committing murder and evil deeds and ultimately failing to obtain the Heavenly Severing Steps, it's better for me to save another person, which would be a blessing for my sect. At the same time, I hope to persuade my young friend Xiao Yan to hand over the Heavenly Severing Steps. After all, it's better for everyone this way."
Despite Wu Jitian's angry shouts, Ye Luotian maintained a cheerful demeanor, appearing extremely dignified and kind. This even made Xiao Yan feel a sense of goodwill towards him.
"Hehe, young friend Xiao Yan, now that I have healed your injuries, I wonder if you would be willing to hand over the Heavenly Severing Steps? Don't worry, as long as you hand over the Heavenly Xiao Yan Heavenly Severing Steps, I will be the first to guarantee your safety. Besides, given our status, there's no need for us to kill a junior for something; it wouldn't be good for our reputation, would it?"
At the end of his words, Ye Luotian's gentle gaze swept across the entire room, lingering briefly on Chen Zhen before smiling and turning back to Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan struggled to his feet, glancing gratefully at Ye Luotian, who nodded slightly. Then, Xiao Yan sighed weakly, looking at Ye Luotian and saying in a low, helpless voice:
"I'm sorry, senior, but I truly don't have the item you need. Besides, you've already checked my Storage Ring, and it's definitely not there. Moreover, if I really had such a valuable item, I would never have kept it outside my personal Storage Ring, so..."
"Hmph! Xiao Yan, even now you're still resorting to clever words and stingy tactics. Since you're so eager to die, then I'll grant your wish!"
" Xiao Yan, prepare to die!"
With a sharp shout, Wu Jitian could no longer tolerate Xiao Yan continuing. In a flash, he appeared in the void above Xiao Yan, swung his sleeve, clenched his fist, and slammed it down hard on Xiao Yan's head.
If this attack lands, Xiao Yan will surely die!
"Hmph! Taiyi Star Disk! Activate!"
But, in the next instant, a cold shout filled with terrifying killing intent suddenly rang out between heaven and earth.
"Boom!"
The next moment, Wu Jitian's powerful punch landed squarely on a milky-white energy barrier.
"Click!"
With a violent tremor, a cracking sound suddenly rang out where Wu Jitian's fist met the energy barrier.
Immediately afterwards, the solid barrier that was strong enough to withstand the full force of an ordinary Dou Di expert shattered in the next moment.
Behind him, Luo Jin couldn't help but let a trickle of blood spill from the corner of his mouth. He glanced at the Taiyi Star Disk in his hand, which was covered in cracks, and coughed twice.
He exhausted all the power of the Taiyi Star Disk, plus his own Dou Qi, and barely managed to block Wu Jitian's punch. If the latter hadn't been wary of Luo Jin's identity and hadn't refrained from using his full strength, Luo Jin's fate would likely be uncertain.
"Sect Leader, I have no desire to be enemies with the Cloud-Hidden Pavilion. Please step aside!"
Wu Jitian frowned, his heart filled with uncertainty. If Luo Jin insisted on protecting Xiao Yan, then even if the four sects joined forces, they would probably find it difficult to harm Xiao Yan in the slightest.
"If you dare to touch him today, I guarantee that tomorrow, your Four Great Sects will be wiped out of the Western Region."
Luo Jin's face was pale, but he swept his gaze across the sect leaders of the Four Great Sects with a chilling expression, his dark eyes showing no fear whatsoever.
Luo Jin believes that if he says something, he can do it.
Similarly, the leaders of the Four Great Sects also dared not underestimate the weight of Luo Jin's words.
The four men frowned, exchanging bewildered glances. On one hand, there was the Heavenly Severing Steps, the key to opening the Heavenly Severing Ancient Tomb. On the other hand, they also had to face the Cloud-Hidden Pavilion, a colossal entity.
The power of the Cloud-Hidden Pavilion is no weaker than that of the Four Great Sects, and judging from Luo Jin's current appearance, he doesn't seem to be joking. If he really decides to kill, the Four Great Sects will be in real danger.
Destroying the foundation they'd built over most of their lives for the sake of Xiao Yan wouldn't be worth it for them.
"It seems that with the Pavilion Master here, we really can't touch Xiao Yan."
Chen Zhen squinted, staring at Xiao Yan behind Luo Jin, and whispered.
Jian Ming remained silent, while Ye Luotian, in a flash, had already returned to the group of four. Wu Jitian frowned slightly as he glanced at Luo Jin, then glared hatefully at Xiao Yan and said in a deep voice:
"Kid, let's see how long you can hide. If you're so capable, stay in the Cloud-Hidden Pavilion for the rest of your life and never come out, otherwise... hmph!"
"Since you have nothing else to say, please leave."
Luo Jin narrowed his eyes and said in a deep voice.
Upon hearing this, Wu Jitian gave a cold snort with a sinister expression, then turned and prepared to leave.
But, in the very next moment...
"Etc."