The two groups faced off against each other. The merchants in the hall began to stir, and quite a few fled outside. For a time, the scene descended into utter chaos. Li Qiang found it very strange. Why had no one from the Grand Alliance come out to intervene? Just as the two sides stood with swords drawn and bows bent, five people emerged from the inner hall. Li Qiang immediately sensed that two of them were experts.
Those two practically glided in, their feet neither touching the ground nor taking a step. Li Qiang judged that they must be cultivators. The slightly older one was a Green Tribe woman who looked like a young married woman. Her complexion was not the deep green typical of her tribe, but a pale, pinkish green, and a red flush between her brows lent her a touch of allure.
Close behind her followed a Green Tribe youth with a burly build. He wore dark green spiked armor and carried a large golden staff, his expression wooden.
As soon as the young woman entered the hall, she sneered coldly. "Well, well! Warriors of the Ladu Kingdom, warriors of the Fan Kingdom, and the blade wielders of the Banshou Trading House. How lively! Did you think the Grand Alliance had no one left, so you could come right to our door and bully us?"
The Green Tribe youth behind her also said, "Hmph! Just throw them out. They have no regard for anyone!"
Li Qiang quietly concealed himself behind a group of merchants and watched closely. Hearing the young woman's words, he learned who these people were and could not help feeling pleased. He had been worrying about how to find people from the Banshou Trading House, and these thuggish fellows actually turned out to be from that very trading house.
He quietly transmitted his voice to Paben. "In a moment, give those so-called blade wielders a good beating. Don't be afraid. I'm here." Watching Paben nod emphatically, Li Qiang suddenly found it funny. He was like an instigator, goading others into fighting.
When the merchants saw the young woman emerge, they could not help murmuring among themselves, and a buzz immediately filled the hall. Li Qiang heard a merchant in front of him say to his companion, "Oh my, she's the Grand Alliance's fourth chief! With her out here, things are going to get lively."
His companion asked, "Who? You don't mean that woman, do you?"
The merchant curled his lip and whispered, "Little brother, you've got a lot to learn. That's her. She's the Grand Alliance's fourth chief, in charge of security. She's incredibly formidable... I never imagined she'd be here."
Li Qiang reached out and patted the merchant's shoulder, asking softly, "Brother, what's this fourth chief's name?"
The merchant had been talking with gusto, and Li Qiang's pat startled him. Patting his chest, he said unhappily, "Hey, coming out of nowhere like that could scare someone to death..." He glanced around, then could not resist showing off again. Turning back, he said, "She's a famous expert of the Grand Alliance. Her name is Boboran. Some people also call her the Sea Soul Woman..."
His companion interrupted, "How come you know everything? Aren't you just making guesses?" The merchant lost face at his words, and the two began arguing in low voices, paying Li Qiang no further attention.
Boboran's party stopped between the two opposing sides. The warriors of the Ladu Kingdom delegation parted to make a path, and a young woman stepped out. She was precisely the mistress of the delegation whom Li Qiang had seen last time. Chief Steward Aji and the masked figure in blue followed closely behind her. She said with a smile, "Sister Bobo, greetings from your little sister."
Boboran paused. "You are...?"
"Heehee, I'm the head of the Ladu Kingdom delegation. I've long heard of your illustrious name from Big Sister An Shi, Sister Bobo. My name is Lanqiu."
A look of surprise appeared on Boboran's face. "So you're Little Sister Lanqiu. But why are you with the Ladu Kingdom delegation?"
"I'm from the Ladu Kingdom. Sister Bobo, sorry for disturbing you. We'll leave right away."
Li Qiang laughed inwardly. This girl was really interesting. First she claimed a connection, then she pushed the difficult problem onto someone else. What a fine move, retreating to advance. Sure enough, Boboran raised a hand to stop her. "Little Sister Lanqiu, wait..." An expression that was almost a smile appeared on her face. "Since you've come to your big sister's territory, there's no need to stand on ceremony. I'll take charge of everything!" Her tone was gentle, yet carried a domineering air.
Lanqiu took the opening and smiled. "Then I won't stand on ceremony with you, Sister."
The Fan Kingdom warriors could no longer contain themselves. Three men stepped out from among them. Their leader was a middle-aged man with a full beard. Most striking was the ornament on his head, shaped like a huge rooster's comb, with two white tasseled ribbons hanging from it all the way to his waist. His bare chest was covered in red bumps. The broad belt around his waist was at least eight inches wide, and the vest over his shoulders was broad and oversized. The weapon in his hand was strange as well, resembling a huge hammer.
Two young, burly men followed closely behind him. Each had a strange thing on his left hand, like a large black worm wrapped tightly around the entire arm. Two feeler-like appendages extended from the wrist, coiling and twisting ceaselessly, a sight that inspired dread.
The middle-aged man rested his huge hammer on his shoulder and roared viciously, "Hey, three-eyed woman! You'd best get out of the way and go cradle a baby. Keep your nose out of our Western Continent's affairs. What's so great about the Grand Alliance? Hmph, Princess Lanqiu, don't think you can escape just because the Grand Alliance is protecting you. Come back with us now, and everything can still be discussed. If you really insist on turning hostile..."
Boboran's expression changed at once. She gave a quiet instruction to an attendant behind her. The attendant raised his hands and clapped three times-clap, clap, clap. A piercing sound rang out around the hall. "Beep... beep..."
A merchant cried out in alarm, "The main doors have been sealed!" Suddenly, strange creaking and grinding noises came from the upper walls of the hall. Countless small square openings appeared, and countless Spine-Piercing Spears extended from them, aimed at the people inside. Everyone in the hall immediately grew frightened and uneasy.
Li Qiang silently admired it. This design was truly superb. The initiative lay entirely in the Grand Alliance's hands.
Someone ran out from the inner hall, came to Boboran's side, and whispered softly. Boboran nodded, swept her gaze over the middle-aged man, and said, "I never expected a famous figure from the Western Continent. Huzhi, aren't you impressive? To think experts of the Beast-Splitting Tribe have become the Fan Kingdom's accomplices. Very well. The Grand Alliance may be nothing special, but we still don't consider your Beast-Splitting Tribe worth our notice. One word from me would have every last one of you killed. But if I did that, you might die with your eyes still open in grievance. Since you're so formidable, I'll give you a chance. Lin Jing'er, have a match with him. Let me see just how capable the Beast-Splitting Tribe is."
The Green Tribe youth stepped forward at her call. He lightly waved his large golden staff before him a few times, and golden light flickered. He said proudly, "Huzhi, a word of warning. My staff is heavy. Don't blame me if I beat you to death."
Huzhi was furious. "You little brat who hasn't even grown any hair! Your grandpa's Heavenly Pole East isn't light either. If you get hurt, don't go crying to your mother." He summoned a subordinate and ordered, "Kuzhi, go deal with this little brat. Beat him to death." A crafty old fox, he first sent a subordinate to test Lin Jing'er.
"Wait!"
A man stepped out from among the Banshou Trading House's blade wielders and saluted Boboran. "Chief Bobo, our Banshou Trading House has always enjoyed a pleasant working relationship with the Grand Alliance. We aren't targeting the Ladu Kingdom delegation this time. We only want those few people." He pointed at Paben and the others.
Anger flared in Li Qiang's heart. This was bullying taken too far. Paben had already been separated from his wife and children, yet they still refused to let him go. He transmitted his voice to Paben and the others. "You lot beat them to death too. If you can't kill them, cripple them. Damn it, this is going too far!"
Boboran seemed somewhat wary of the Banshou Trading House. She pondered briefly, then said, "Very well, but you may not seize anyone inside the Grand Alliance. Once they leave the main doors, it's no longer the Grand Alliance's concern."
Princess Lanqiu could not help saying, "Sister Bobo, they..."
Boboran immediately cut her off. "Are they your subordinates?"
Princess Lanqiu shook her head. "No, but..."
Boboran would not let her say any more. "Good. As long as they aren't. Little Sister Lan, stay out of this. Here in the Grand Alliance, I make the decisions." Princess Lanqiu looked helplessly at Paben and the others and sighed.
Nashan suddenly burst out laughing. "What damned Banshou Trading House? Others may fear you, but I don't give a damn! Come, come, come, let your grandpa get acquainted with you." Ever since hearing Li Qiang's voice, his courage had surged, and naturally his words overflowed with bravado.
A trace of shame appeared on Boboran's face. "Good, you're a real man. Since you've put it that way, I'll give you a chance." She pointed at the Banshou Trading House's men. "You may fight, but one against one. You're not allowed to gang up on them with your greater numbers."
Tange was exceedingly shrewd. He said loudly, "Good, let's do that. First settle the grudge between the Ladu Kingdom and the Fan Kingdom. Then we'll have our matches." He had calculated it carefully. Once their contest began, the chances of new developments would greatly increase, and their boss could observe carefully from the sidelines. Stalling a little could only help, not hurt.
Li Qiang praised him inwardly. Tange was a talent, with a discerning eye and clear thinking. Boboran nodded. "Quite right. Let me see just how capable the Beast-Splitting Tribe's experts are. Lin Jing'er, fight him. There's no need to hold back." She still brooded over Huzhi's earlier words and intended to teach them a harsh lesson.
Lin Jing'er stamped his staff against the ground. "Come on!"
Li Qiang had a distinct feeling that there was something odd about his golden staff. As a member of the Chongxuan Sect, he was extremely sensitive to weapons and Law Treasures.
Kuzhi shouted, "Let me show you the might of our Beast-Splitting Tribe!" The tail of the strange worm on his left hand suddenly extended, wrapping around his upper body and rapidly forming scales. Its front section also covered his palm, turning from black to a vivid red over his hand. His entire arm seemed suddenly boneless, coiling like a snake.
Lin Jing'er had probably never seen anything so strange before. His expression grew solemn. With his free hand, he lightly tapped a fist-sized, green gemstone-like ornament on his chest. His dark green spiked armor suddenly transformed into a suit of pale green battle armor, gleaming with a cold light.
Li Qiang was slightly startled. A cultivator had to possess a Nascent Soul before being able to wear battle armor. Lin Jing'er clearly had not reached that level, so how could he wear it? It seemed there was still much to learn.
Once his arm had finished forming, Kuzhi gave a low shout and struck without the slightest warning. Lin Jing'er was caught off guard. He had not expected his opponent's arm to reach so far without his body moving. In the blink of an eye, the vivid red palm was already before his face! Lin Jing'er bent backward, flipping his staff around to thrust at Kuzhi's wrist.
Kuzhi secretly rejoiced. He stepped forward, suddenly changing the shape of his hand, which slipped past the staff's tip and chopped down like a sharp axe. Lin Jing'er's bent body flattened out horizontally, and he shot away like a skateboard. Li Qiang realized that Lin Jing'er was not skilled at fighting. It seemed he only knew how to fight with Law Treasures. Sure enough, the moment Lin Jing'er escaped his opponent's attack range, the golden staff in his hand began to radiate golden light.
Lin Jing'er gave a great shout. "Ha!"
A muffled boom exploded from the golden light of the whirling staff. The people in the hall could not help crying out as seven golden staff shadows flew forth. Kuzhi was shocked. He had never seen this kind of attack before. Li Qiang nodded slightly. This was more like it. Although this was only the lowest-level Law Treasure attack among cultivators, ordinary mortals would still find it very difficult to handle.
Kuzhi leaped up in panic, avoiding the four staff shadows aimed at his lower body, but there was no way he could dodge the other three in time. In desperation, he could only raise his hand to block. Huzhi shouted, "You can't block them! Dodge sideways!" Swinging Heavenly Pole East, he sent a ball of dark light hurtling straight at Lin Jing'er.
Boboran flew into a rage. With a sweep of her hand, she launched a disk-shaped object at Huzhi, its flight accompanied by a mournful, whistling wail.
An uproar immediately broke out in the hall. Kuzhi barely managed to twist sideways into a horizontal tumble, but still could not evade the final two staff shadows. One swept across his left leg. With a sharp crack, the leg was smashed to pieces. Strangely, not a single drop of blood flowed out, but the bones and muscles beneath the skin had been pulverized as though churned through a blender.
Before Kuzhi even felt the pain, his left hand had already met another staff shadow. As if struck by lightning, the black worm on his arm let out a piercing shriek.
Kuzhi tumbled to the ground, his face changing drastically. He screamed wildly, "Huzhi... Huzhi... kill me, hurry... ah... kill me..."
Huzhi had no attention to spare for him. He swung Heavenly Pole East, desperately defending against the disk Boboran had launched. Like a living thing, the disk circled nimbly above, below, and to either side. Greasy sweat covered Huzhi's face as he blocked left and parried right in a sorry state.
Kuzhi howled in terror. The black worm on his arm had begun devouring him in backlash. In the blink of an eye, his left hand vanished, and his shoulder visibly began to collapse as well. Lin Jing'er had probably never seen such a horrifying sight. With a loud cry, he sent a ball of light flying from his staff into Kuzhi's body.
Kuzhi's entire body shuddered violently. A trace of relief at his release appeared in his eyes. He had only managed to utter one word, "Thanks..." before his body exploded.
Boboran recalled her disk. "Huzhi, you're no match for me. You may leave. I don't want to kill every last one of you." Her tone was extremely mild. She beckoned Lin Jing'er over and glared fiercely at him, inwardly blaming the child for his ignorance. If Kuzhi had died from the black worm's backlash, the Grand Alliance could not have been blamed. Now that Lin Jing'er had struck him once more, this debt would certainly be laid at the Grand Alliance's door. This enmity had now been forged.
Huzhi's face was deathly pale. Turning to look at the countless Spine-Piercing Spears above the hall, he nodded nervously. "Fine... fine, hahaha... let's go!" Then he said to Boboran, "The Grand Alliance, haha, the Grand Alliance..." His venomous gaze swept over the crowd before he turned and led the Fan Kingdom warriors outside.
Boboran gave her subordinates a few quiet instructions. The sealed main doors opened, and the firing apertures high in the hall closed.
The Banshou Trading House's men slowly gathered around. Though Boboran had driven off the Fan Kingdom warriors, her mood was poor. She told Nashan and the others, "You may not use Spine-Piercing Spears inside the Grand Alliance. You may only compete with ordinary weapons. Otherwise, don't blame me for showing no mercy."
Boboran's words angered Li Qiang. The Banshou Trading House had over thirty men, while Nashan's side had only four. This was blatant bullying. Only by restraining himself again and again did he keep from stepping out. He condensed a thread of True Essence Power and quietly sent it to the ceiling. A peculiar laugh rang out from the top of the hall. "Hehe... hehe... bullying the weak and fearing the strong... so... the Grand Alliance is afraid of some Banshou Trading House... hehe... utterly pathetic!"
The merchants in the hall burst into an uproar. Everyone looked around, searching for the speaker. Boboran's scalp prickled. She knew that anyone capable of this True Essence Echo Technique had to be an expert cultivator. She grew even more uneasy. She had offended two parties in a single day, especially this latter cultivator. This was not something she could bear responsibility for.
After all, Boboran was a principal leader of the trading alliance, with broad experience and knowledge. She knew someone was displeased with what she had just said. With no alternative, she saluted the empty air. "Friend, the Grand Alliance is merely a trading association. Please forgive us if we have been remiss in any way. Please show yourself, friend, so we can speak face-to-face..." The hall immediately fell silent. A long while passed without a sound. Boboran could not help smiling bitterly.
Lin Jing'er blazed with fury and roared, "What sneaking creature are you? Get out here... if you've got the guts..."
Greatly alarmed, Boboran grabbed Lin Jing'er and rebuked him in a low voice. "Jing'er, shut your mouth! Who asked you to speak?"
Li Qiang quietly condensed a thread of True Essence Power into a ball and sent it beside Lin Jing'er's ear. With a slight stir of his will, a single word exploded beside Lin Jing'er's ear: "Scram!" The shock sent Lin Jing'er staggering repeatedly. He could hear nothing in one ear, his head buzzed wildly, and stars danced before his eyes. Terrified, he could barely form words. "You... you..."
That strange voice rang out again. "All right, the fighting can begin. Hey! Whatever Bobo, get weapons for both sides. Remember, one against one. If two men from the Banshou Trading House come out, don't blame me for starting a massacre... hehe, hurry up... I'm getting tired of waiting!"
Boboran did not know whether to laugh or cry. That tone sounded like someone who feared nothing more than a world without chaos. Just who was this person? She truly did not dare offend the mysterious speaker and immediately ordered her subordinates to bring out a large pile of melee weapons. Li Qiang looked them over. He had only seen the saber-shaped, axe-shaped, and spear-shaped ones before; the other weapons were unfamiliar to him. Boboran thought they were from the Western Continent, so all the weapons she had brought out were commonly used there.
Li Qiang transmitted his voice to Zhao Zhi. "Brother Zhao, you go first. Let the other three watch and learn. They all lack experience. Just cripple your opponent. Try not to kill him. If you can't stop yourself, hehe, I won't blame you." His intention was clear. Crippling a few of them would severely damage the other side's morale, while killing was not his habit.
Zhao Zhi grabbed Paben, who was about to charge forward. "I'll take the first match. Don't worry, you'll all get your turn." He walked forward and said nonchalantly, "Send over someone who's still breathing. Let your grandpa loosen up his muscles and bones."
The Banshou Trading House's men had actually already sensed that something was wrong. When Li Qiang's voice rang out from the ceiling earlier, they knew they had run into serious trouble. Seeing how fearful Boboran was, they knew that this mysterious person who remained hidden was the true expert. Now they felt suspended in midair, unable to go up or down, yet unable to refuse the challenge. With so many merchants watching, retreating now would ruin the Banshou Trading House's reputation.
This group from the Banshou Trading House consisted only of ordinary hired thugs, without a single expert among them. Relying on their numbers, they had pursued their quarry all the way into the Grand Alliance. They were accustomed to throwing their weight around. The Banshou Trading House's power was not something ordinary people could afford to provoke.
The blade wielders sent out a man carrying a short saber one foot eight inches long, with a small shield on his left arm. He too was from the Green Tribe. Raising his short saber fiercely, he said, "Hey, are you ready? I'll take you on."
Zhao Zhi clapped his hands and smiled. "Wait, I have a condition..." Looking at Boboran, he said, "I ask that the match may only stop when both sides agree, or when one side has completely lost the ability to fight..." He had already seen that the other side had no experts and wanted to take this opportunity to find practice opponents for Paben and the others.
Though Boboran did not understand his intention, she still nodded. "Very well, I have no objection. I just don't know whether the Banshou Trading House dares accept." The blade wielders howled in fury. When had any of them ever suffered such humiliation? They agreed on the spot.
Li Qiang found it secretly amusing. He understood at once and was very pleased with Zhao Zhi's idea. Paben and the others had almost no combat experience. Finding some weak opponents could quickly build their confidence.