Outcompeted, Huh?
"Look at Protector Yi's demeanor!"
"You don't even need to tell me. The Azure Cloud Sect is a sect with a thousand-year history in the Southern Frontier, and it has always had a very good reputation Southern Frontier. How could their protectors be bad?"
"Wow, I never imagined Protector Yi would be so selfless, saving all of us without any ulterior motives!"
While everyone was still discussing Yi Xuan, the leader of the Qianyuan Sect spoke up, "Everyone, everyone, please be quiet and listen to me!"
As one of the top sects in the Southern Frontier, the Qianyuan Sect naturally attracted everyone's attention. Therefore, everyone else stopped discussing and wanted to see what the disciples of the Qianyuan Sect had to say.
Seeing that everyone's attention was on him, the man spoke up, "I'm sure everyone is already aware of the cause and effect of this matter. The Gazing Immortal Sect actually wanted to monopolize the Artifact Ruins and even planned to destroy the core disciples of all sects in the Southern Frontier from now on. This attempt to destroy the foundation of my sect is something my Qianyuan Sect absolutely cannot tolerate!"
"Yes! We can't tolerate this!"
"My Clear Void Sect is no exception!"
"And my Vajra Gate too!"
Seeing that everyone agreed with his statement, the man smiled slightly and continued, "As for the kindness of the Azure Cloud Sect, the disciples of my Southern Frontier Border sects are not like those pigs and dogs from the Gazing Immortal Sect. It's just that we are currently in the Artifact Ruins and cannot repay it properly. Once we leave the Artifact Ruins and return to our sects, I will certainly report the kindness of the Azure Cloud Sect and Protector Yi to our sects!"
"That's right!"
"It's truly remarkable that the Qianyuan Sect has such a capable disciple who understands the bigger picture!"
"In that case, let's all disperse!"
Although Yi Xuan entered the cave, Yi Xuan was actually in front of the holographic projection, watching the situation outside the cave.
At first, Yi Xuan was quite satisfied with what the Qianyuan Sect disciple said, but as he listened, something felt off.
How did they manage to smooth things over with just a few words about repaying a debt of gratitude?
What do you mean by reporting back to the sect and its higher-ups? Isn't that just empty talk? Are you trying to draw a picture with water, not ink?
In any case, Yi Xuan didn't believe that these sect leaders would Yi Xuan afterward; at most, it would be just verbal thanks.
What happened next was even worse; they managed to get everyone to leave with just a few words.
It seems Yi Xuan went to great lengths for them, only to have them take advantage of him and then just walk away?
Those disciples of the Qianyuan Sect are truly eloquent; Zhuge Liang couldn't have been as eloquent as them when he debated with the Confucian scholars.
At most, Kongming could reduce Cao Cao's million-strong army to a mere 100,000 with just a few words, but this guy didn't even leave Yi Xuan with a good reputation.
When the other sects were preparing to leave, they surprisingly said that the disciples of the Qianyuan Sect were sensible and knew the bigger picture.
Yi Xuan, sitting in the stone cave, was furious, but he couldn't go out. If he pointed at everyone's noses and asked for favors, he would lose face big time.
"But! Everyone, it doesn't seem right for us to leave like this!" Just as the others were about to leave, the leader of the Azure Thunder Hall spoke up.
Upon hearing someone's rebuttal, the leader of the Qianyuan Sect smiled and cupped his hands, saying, "Then what insightful opinion does this esteemed disciple of the Azure Thunder Hall have?"
Despite his smiling face, he was inwardly cursing the disciples of the Azure Thunder Hall. The matter was almost resolved; everyone could have left happily without having to pay anything—just a blank check for the Azure Cloud Sect. What a perfect situation! But the Azure Thunder Hall had to interfere at this crucial moment.
The disciples of the Azure Thunder Hall bowed in return to the leader of the Qianyuan Sect, then said, "What the esteemed disciple of the Qianyuan Sect said is very true, but I feel it would be rather unethical of us to leave like this! Therefore, Azure Thunder Hall has decided that each of us will leave behind the three magical Law Artifact we found in this Artifact Ruins as a token of our gratitude to the Azure Cloud Sect and Immortal Master Yi!"
After saying this, the nine people from the Azure Thunder Hall handed over the twenty-seven Law Artifact to the disciples of the Azure Cloud Sect, and then flew towards the Stone Mountain without looking back.
Seeing this, Yi Xuan inside the cave burst into laughter. "Hahaha, the Azure Thunder Hall truly is my Azure Cloud Sect's best ally! Look at them, that's what true loyalty looks like! Now you've got what you need, haven't you? Let you experience the power of infighting!"
That's right, just as Yi Xuan thought. The people from the Azure Thunder Hall left behind their Law Artifact before departing, and none of the other sects dared to leave.
After all, there has been a precedent. If they don't express any opinion, it won't just be them who lose face, but also the sects behind them.
Later, when they leave, people will say, "Look, the Azure Cloud Sect saved them, and the Azure Thunder Hall was so generous, immediately giving them over twenty Law Artifact as a token of gratitude. And look at them, they just turned around and left! It's best to stay away from people like that!"
The Qianyuan Sect disciple standing in the middle was incredibly embarrassed. The twenty-seven Law Artifact from the Azure Thunder Hall felt like twenty-seven slaps to his face.
However, regardless of the circumstances, he was still a disciple of the Qianyuan Sect, and he couldn't show it no matter how awkward the situation was. So, he smiled and said, "I was being presumptuous. The disciples of the Azure Thunder Hall are so thoughtful! Yes! The Law Artifact we have are perfect gifts for the members of the Azure Cloud Sect as a token of our gratitude!"
After speaking, the disciples of the Qianyuan Sect, led by him, took out thirty Law Artifact and handed them to Yan Siruo and the others, then left without looking back.
Having learned from the example of the Qianyuan Sect, the disciples of other sects couldn't just turn back and leave, so they had no choice but to line up and hand over their Law Artifact. This left the Azure Cloud Sect members somewhat at a loss.
Meanwhile, Yi Xuan, inside the cave, was overjoyed. He knew this battle had been a devastating loss; not only was the Black Tortoise Yi Xuan to scrap metal, but the laser emitter had also been severely damaged after just one attack, as Yi Xuan had learned from his Butler. The Firmament, which carried the laser emitter, had also suffered considerable damage, in addition to the many ornithopters Yi Xuan had destroyed earlier.
There was also the High-Grade Spirit Stone consumed by the laser emitter. For a moment, Yi Xuan was even a little worried about whether his trip to the Artifact Ruins would be a profit or a loss.
Fortunately, the gifts from various sects added up to a considerable amount, Yi Xuan felt he hadn't lost out. Of course, the specific details couldn't be calculated within the Artifact Ruins; he would have to wait until Yi Xuan returned to his own base to get a more accurate estimate.
Although the situation outside was somewhat chaotic, fortunately, no one was in a hurry. An hour later, Yan Siruo entered the stone cave and said, "Protector Yi, the Law Artifact that many sects in the Southern Frontier have donated as a token of their gratitude are all outside. What do you think we should do with them?"
Yi Xuan nodded and looked at Yan Siruo, saying, "No rush, those things won't get lost even if they're left outside. Come on, let's go outside. I need to ask for your opinions on some things!"
After saying that, Yi Xuan led Yan Siruo out of the stone cave, where the other eight disciples were standing at the entrance waiting for Yi Xuan.