One was a cultivator at Ninth-Layer Perfection, the other a powerful Earth Immortal at the Late Stage of the Third Grade. The disparity was overwhelmingly vast! Upon hearing those words from Flaming Blade Duan River, almost no cultivator believed Lin Xuankong could survive peacefully in the future. After all, a powerful Earth Immortal at the Late Stage of the Third Grade had countless ways to secretly kill a cultivator at Ninth-Layer Perfection.

At that moment, the Lin Family Seven Tigers, who had always revered Lin Xuankong, flew swiftly toward him, led by Li Xiaohu. After the seven reached Lin Xuankong's side, each placed a hand on the Magical Artifacts at their waists, their expressions icy as they glared at Flaming Blade Duan River. Each of them possessed four Initial Tier Immortal Artifacts gifted by Lin Xuankong. This arsenal allowed the seven of them, despite being at Ninth-Layer Perfection, to suppress and defeat an Initial Tier Earth Immortal. However, the opponent facing them now was a powerful Earth Immortal at the Late Stage of the Third Grade! Yet, not a trace of fear showed on their faces, nor did any of them avert their gaze.

Floating to Lin Xuankong's side at the same time was Third Princess Xiaoo Ying'Er. She silently stopped beside him, took his right hand, and then looked resolutely at Flaming Blade Duan River.

As countless cultivators watched this scene unfold, many couldn't help but feel emotional and began whispering among themselves.

"Who would have thought that Mu Shiba not only possesses strength far exceeding those of the Same Tier, but also has so many brothers willing to live and die with him! To face an opponent at the Late Stage of the Third Grade and still dare to stand by his side... tsk, tsk!"

"Indeed. It's said that cultivators need only pursue great power for themselves and disregard worldly attachments. Yet, even a Ninth-Grade Earth Immortal cannot escape the end of their Lifespan. If we cultivators could find a few such kindred brothers on our path of cultivation, this life would not be lived in vain!"

"Sigh, easier said than done. The world is full of those who add icing to the cake, but how many are willing to send charcoal in snow? Let alone share life and death!"

"Even spouses flee their separate ways when disaster strikes, let alone friends and brothers! This Mu Shiba clearly offended an Earth Immortal at the Late Stage of the Third Grade, yet so many of his brothers stand up for him in this time of crisis. It's truly a remarkable thing!"

As the crowd expressed their sentiments, Flaming Blade Duan River watched the Lin Family Seven Tigers and Third Princess Xiaoo Ying'Er float over. His already grim face turned even more sullen. His gaze swept across the faces of Li Xiaohu and the others, his voice chilling to the bone. "Good, good, good! Since you're willing to die with this Mu Shiba, I will certainly not forget any of you when I settle scores in the future. I won't spare a single one!"

Just then, from high above in the clouds, the voice of Spiritual Crane Fairy Qu Qiao'Er suddenly rang out, "Fellow Daoist Duan," she began, "today is the disciple recruitment competition of our Spiritual Crane Immortal Sect. Given that it's a recruitment competition, casualties are inevitable when so many cultivators clash. By threatening Mu Shiba like this, are you not showing disrespect to our Spiritual Crane Immortal Sect? If every participant in the competition is to be threatened and unable to fight with their full strength, then what would be the point of holding our Spiritual Crane Immortal Sect's disciple recruitment competition at all?"

Qu Qiao'Er, who had always respectfully addressed Flaming Blade Duan River as Senior Brother Duan, now pointedly called him Fellow Daoist Duan. She was clearly displeased with his remarks. The Fire Spirit Immortal Sect might be prestigious, but this was, after all, the territory of the Spiritual Crane Immortal Sect. If they allowed Flaming Blade Duan River to flaunt his power here unchecked, the Spiritual Crane Immortal Sect's reputation would surely suffer in the eyes of many cultivators.

Upon hearing this, Flaming Blade Duan River's eyes flickered. A ruthless glint appeared in them as he looked up at Spiritual Crane Fairy Qu Qiao'Er. "Fellow Daoist Qu, I am, of course, aware that this is the Spiritual Crane Immortal Sect's disciple recruitment competition. That is precisely why I am tolerating this Mu Shiba's continued existence—until he leaves this place! But tell me, when did the Spiritual Crane Immortal Sect become so influential that I must be threatened by you for wanting to kill a cultivator who doesn't even belong to your sect?"

Spiritual Crane Fairy Qu Qiao'Er met Flaming Blade Duan River's gaze. A faint smile touched her lips, but her eyes were cold. "And what if this Mu Shiba passes the remaining rounds of the competition and becomes a disciple of our Spiritual Crane Immortal Sect, Fellow Daoist Duan? What then?"

Hearing this, Flaming Blade Duan River's expression faltered. After a few moments of silence, a vicious glint appeared in his eyes, and he sneered, "The Spiritual Crane Immortal Sect has such a grand reputation. Of course, I wouldn't openly kill one of its disciples!"

Spiritual Crane Fairy Qu Qiao'Er's expression turned cold. Not openly kill? That means he plans to assassinate... assassinate a disciple of the Spiritual Crane Immortal Sect? This Flaming Blade Duan River is utterly arrogant!

She was about to reprimand him when Sect Leader Li of the Spiritual Crane Immortal Sect beside her slightly raised his head. Spiritual Crane Fairy Qu Qiao'Er immediately fell silent and stared coldly at Flaming Blade Duan River.

Sect Leader Li, however, merely smiled and glanced at Flaming Blade Duan River before his gaze fell upon Lin Xuankong. He said softly, "This Fellow Daoist Mu is truly astonishing in both strength and methods. I am Li Daozuo, the Sect Leader of the Spiritual Crane Immortal Sect. I have been cultivating for 3,500 years, and in all that time, only once, within the Divine Dynasty Immortal Sect of the Central Divine Dynasty, have I seen a Transcendence Realm genius who—relying on True Qi far surpassing that of ordinary cultivators, exceptional talent, and two Second-Grade Immortal Artifacts—defeated five Initial Tier Earth Immortals!

"Later, that genius cultivator became one of the Four Celestial Kings of the Central Divine Dynasty's Divine Dynasty Immortal Sect, a formidable existence in the Central Divine Dynasty second only to the Ninth Grade Divine Lord. He was hailed as a legend by many Earth Immortals from the seventy-two Immortal Sects of the Central Divine Dynasty!

"I never imagined that after more than 2,000 years, another such stunning cultivator would emerge in our Spiritual Crane Immortal City, here in the Central Divine Dynasty's Western Region. This is truly a blessing for our Spiritual Crane Immortal City and a most fortunate event for the Central Divine Dynasty's Western Region!

"I imagine that after today's disciple recruitment competition, Fellow Daoist Mu's name will swiftly spread throughout Spiritual Crane Immortal City, across the Western Region, and through countless cultivator Dynasties!

"However, there is one matter about which I am quite curious. Might I trouble Fellow Daoist Mu for an answer?"

As Sect Leader Li finished speaking these words, the murderous expression on Flaming Blade Duan River's face couldn't help but shift. Sect Leader Li of the Spiritual Crane Immortal Sect held an extremely high status, comparable to the True Sect Leader of the Fire Spirit Immortal Sect, and his strength was far beyond what Duan River could match. Even thirty of himself wouldn't last ten breaths against this man! For Sect Leader Li to praise Mu Shiba so highly... if he himself continued to insist on killing Mu Shiba, this Sect Leader Li would probably, with a mere wave of his hand, cause him to lose all face and be thrown out of Spiritual Crane Immortal City!

At this thought, even though Flaming Blade Duan River felt incredibly frustrated, he dared not say anything more.

Lin Xuankong, on the other hand, smiled after hearing Sect Leader Li's words. He cupped his hands towards Sect Leader Li of the Spiritual Crane Immortal Sect, who was up in the clouds, and said, "Sect Leader Li, your praise truly makes Mu Shiba feel ashamed! Please, ask whatever you wish. Mu Shiba will answer anything he knows without reservation!"

At this moment, Lin Xuankong felt quite confident. He had already guessed what this Sect Leader Li of the Spiritual Crane Immortal Sect wanted to ask...

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