Chapter 588: Two Overseas Dragons

“Don’t interfere. Let them go at it.”

Stopping Yu Yunko, who was about to intervene, Jiang Shaotian folded his arms and looked on with great interest.

As a bystander, he naturally understood the reason for their internal conflict—

Duobao’s group, having been suddenly ambushed, had completely seen red. Coupled with their heavy losses, they were desperate for revenge. If they could expand their victory while the enemy fled, it would be a huge boon for the upcoming attack on the Mist Rain Tower.

On Jinyun Valley’s side, they had been ambushed by the Azure Dragon Hall, and their opponent had been someone on the level of Wen Yangxi. Chen Che had exhausted nearly all his strength just to repel him. Given his own injuries, he simply couldn’t endure a second grueling battle and was unwilling to give chase.

Neither of them was wrong.

Both were acting in their own interests.

The only fault was the long-standing grudge between them. Duobao was also taking the opportunity to vent his anger and escalate the issue. But who would have thought that Chen Che wouldn’t back down? If a fight broke out, it would be detrimental to the Primordial Sect but beneficial to the Star-Picking Sect.

‘The war with an outside enemy just ended, and now we’re starting a civil war?’

‘Who do you think would win between the Pill Hall and the Sacrificial Hall, two of the major Halls?’

‘The Sacrificial Hall is basically the sharp sword of a faction. Under normal circumstances, the Sacrificial Hall would naturally be stronger. But Chen Che’s Pill Hall has Jinyun Valley backing it. That’s two Overseas Dragons!’

‘If they really fought, it’s hard to say.’

It wasn’t just Jiang Shaotian; the other Star-Picking Sect cultivators were also watching the two with leisurely interest. Their gazes were eager as they communicated via Divine Sense, clearly hoping the two would start fighting on the spot.

“You don’t go after the Mist Rain Tower cultivators, yet you dare to yell at me?”

His neck turned stiffly, almost mechanically, as Duobao’s gaze focused. He gnashed his teeth and nodded heavily, old and new grudges churning in his heart.

“Speaking of which, I’ve never witnessed your skills firsthand. Just now, Wen Yangxi called you the number one Sword Cultivator under the Primordial Sect. I’d quite like to see for myself if your skills are worthy of that title.”

Duobao’s voice was low, and besides jealousy, his tone carried a chilling undercurrent that made everyone’s skin crawl.

“You’re right. We have indeed never fought before!” Chen Che’s eyes were like the deep, starry sky, calm and undisturbed. “Why don’t we settle everything, once and for all, right here and now!”

Chen Che, for his part, also intended to settle their old and new scores together.

‘I exhausted myself to repel Wen Yangxi and was even pierced through by a Clawed Flood Dragon at the end. The moment the enemy fled, my Divine Sense nearly dissipated. Forget giving chase, I couldn’t even move my body.’

And yet, this idiot Duobao had baselessly accused him of being unwilling to pursue. ‘He’s probably planning to take advantage of my weakness to kill me.’

This fleeting thought of Chen Che’s was indeed correct, as Duobao did have such intentions.

“You’re unbelievably arrogant.” Duobao laughed in fury. “I’d like to see what right you have to settle things with me once and for all!”

“Where are the men of the Sacrificial Hall!?”

He stomped his foot, and among the Golden Cores who had rushed over with him earlier, more than ten stepped forward. In addition, there were several hundred Foundation Establishment True Masters, many of whom were at the Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer, and even some Great Perfection Cultivators.

Tang Linli was among them, stepping out with the crowd, his expression complicated. He was nominally part of Duobao’s private forces at this time and had no choice but to step forward.

Although the Sacrificial Hall didn’t have many members, they had all been handpicked by Duobao and were absolute elites.

“Trying to outnumber me? Hmph. Where is Jinyun Valley?”

Chen Che narrowed his eyes.

The Jinyun Valley cultivators, who had dispersed but had been silently watching the situation, now gathered behind him once more at his call. At the same time, the Golden Cores, including Xiao Chan, Meng Qianxun, and Zhao Shifeng, all stared fixedly at Duobao without a word.

In an instant, the two sides had gathered more than twenty Golden Cores and nearly a thousand Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

At this moment, Qiu Tianshui had finally realized what was happening. He stepped forward and started yelling at Duobao.

“Duobao, what are you trying to do? The great enemy is at our doorstep, and you want to start an internal conflict within the Sect?”

“Don’t pursue a desperate foe! Chief Chen had his reasons for not giving chase; you have no cause to blame him. Besides, the Mist Rain Tower had everything planned, from the ambush to the escape. What if you’d run into a second ambush by pursuing them?”

“Qiu Tianshui, this has nothing to do with you! Today, it’s either him or me…”

Duobao turned to glare at him sinisterly.

In fact, he had already seen Chen Che’s strength during the battle at Primordial City. Now, just three months later during the ambush in Chu State, Chen Che’s strength had climbed to another level. ‘If I let this brat keep growing, how powerful will he become?’

At the same time, he could also see that Chen Che was spent and heavily injured. That was why he first falsely accused him and slung mud to seize the moral high ground before making his move. Even if the Sect Leader investigated later, he could use the excuse that Chen Che was slacking in battle, or that he himself had seen red and lost his mind.

From start to finish, Duobao was being astute and vicious!

“Shut up!”

Before he could finish, Qiu Tianshui shouted grimly, “Duobao, if you say one more word, my Internal Affairs Hall will join Jinyun Valley and fight you today. Even if you want to cause trouble, you need to pick the right time and place!”

“Xingtang Hall, Artifact Hall, Talisman Hall… All you Chiefs, are you just going to stand by and do nothing while these two make a scene?”

After all, having spent hundreds of years together day in and day out, Qiu Tianshui could see right through Duobao’s intentions and exposed them on the spot.

Chen Jiyuan and the others, who had been waiting to watch the show, suddenly broke out in a cold sweat as they came to their senses.

‘That’s right. The ambush in Chu State was over, but the war to attack the Mist Rain Tower hadn’t even begun… The Star-Picking Sect is still on the sidelines. If we fight now, it’ll probably trigger an avalanche-like chain reaction.’

“Everyone, take a step back!”

“Duobao, Chief Chen also fought a grueling battle and has no strength left to pursue. Let’s take a headcount first…”

These people were all old hands.

They were experts at watching a show and experts at persuasion, giving both sides a way to back down gracefully.

Although Duobao was unwilling, and cursed Qiu Tianshui internally for ruining his plan, he could only back down for now. He gave Chen Che a deep look and waved his hand.

SWOOSH—

Immediately, the cultivators of the Sacrificial Hall behind him all dispersed.

“Chief Chen, don’t lower yourself to this idiot’s level. Go and rest for now.” Seeing Duobao’s side stand down, Qiu Tianshui finally turned to Chen Che. “Pill Hall, listen up! Search for the wounded immediately. Jinyun Valley, you may also stand down…”

But Chen Che did not move.

Nor did the crowd behind him.

Just as Qiu Tianshui was wondering how to persuade him, Chen Che waved his hand. Immediately, the crowd behind him, after a moment’s hesitation, retreated like a receding tide, though their faces showed anger and reluctance.

‘He commands such incredible authority…’

Seeing this, Jiang Shaotian, who had been watching the drama from afar, couldn’t help but narrow his eyes.

‘It’s not surprising that Jinyun Valley obeys his command. What is surprising is that the Pill Hall, which has only been under his control for a few months, is also completely obedient to him, even willing to confront the Sacrificial Hall.’

‘What a pity, what a pity!’

Then, Jiang Shaotian shook his head and sighed internally. He had been secretly hoping they would fight amongst themselves, but things hadn’t gone as he wished. However, since the matter was settled, he could now step forward and speak.

“Excellent, excellent. It is better to resolve enmity than to create it. It’s for the best that Chief Chen and Chief Duobao have ceased hostilities and made peace.”

The people from the Primordial Sect all rolled their eyes. No one paid him any mind.