440: farce

At this moment, Xiao Zhuo roughly understood the situation from the discussions of the surrounding caravan members.

The two who were fighting belonged to the same caravan and were once good friends, Cultivators acting as guards.

Han Zhen came from a declining Cultivation Family. One night, after getting drunk, he revealed the secret of his Family possessing a guanting token to his 'good brother' Ma Tie.

Thus, today's gamble came to be—Ma Tie wagered a 'Golden Condensation Pill', which aids in Breakthrough to the Golden Core Realm, against Han Zhen's guanting token.

Ma Tie usually hid his true strength, while Han Zhen was confident of victory. Coupled with a few taunting words, he accepted the bet.

Unexpectedly, the result was a huge surprise: Han Zhen lost but wanted to renege.

When Cultivators fight, who cares if you hide your strength or if you fight with all your might? The winner is king; this is the unchanging Law of the Cultivation World.

However, Xiao Zhuo's interest was piqued.

Spiritual Root had research value for him, and the Cultivation Techniques stored in the Changfeng Imperial Dynasty's Ten Thousand Scrolls Pavilion were equally appealing.

That was the Imperial Dynasty's important Legacy ground. Even though he had reached the Soul Transformation Realm, he wasn't entirely confident he could sneak in without being discovered.

But with a guanting token, the situation would be completely different.

Moreover, with his methods, why would he only copy one Cultivation Technique?

In the arena, Han Zhen was determined to renege, and the ferocity on Ma Tie's face grew stronger.

If killing Han Zhen wouldn't only prevent him from getting the guanting token but also attract the Imperial Dynasty's pursuit, he would have ended him with a Flying Sword long ago.

Seeing that Han Zhen was still unwilling to fulfill the agreement, a sharp glint flashed in Ma Tie's eyes: "Do you really think I wouldn't dare to touch you?"

"Do you dare?" Han Zhen still spoke defiantly.

"Hmph!" Ma Tie sneered, and a sword light flashed swiftly.

Chii!

Half of Han Zhen's palm fell to the ground.

"Ah—!" Han Zhen immediately clutched his hand and wailed miserably, his face flushed, and veins bulging.

"Han Zhen, since you won't shed tears until you see the coffin, don't blame me for being heartless." Ma Tie savored his pained, twisted expression, a morbid smile curling at the corner of his lips. "I wouldn't dare to kill you, but I can cripple you. Right now, it's just half a palm; you can still find a pill to reattach it. Next, it will be your entire arm, a leg, or even... your Spiritual Root."

Han Zhen felt a chill in his heart upon hearing this.

His entire Clan had been annihilated, and he had only escaped thanks to this guanting token. He had planned to blend into Wind Capital with the caravan but had fallen into such a desperate situation because of his inability to control his tongue after drinking.

In fact, it was more than just talking too much; it was also due to his own greed and arrogance.

He also knew that what Ma Tie said was true—although the other party couldn't kill him on the spot, if his cultivation was crippled and his Spiritual Root destroyed, he would eventually die anyway.

And in that case, Ma Tie still wouldn't get the guanting token.

This was the final ultimatum.

But he also understood that once he handed over the guanting token, he would have no chance of survival.

Without the protection of the token, Ma Tie would certainly not let him live.

"Alright... I'll hand it over! But I must wait until my injuries recover!" Han Zhen gritted his teeth.

"Heh, Han Zhen, do you take me for a fool?" Ma Tie's expression turned cold, and he raised his sword to strike at Han Zhen's severed arm—

Just then, an invisible pressure suddenly descended!

Ma Tie's Flying Sword was shaken by this force, flying backward on the spot and embedding itself into the ground not far away with a "clang."

He himself was pressed directly to the ground, unable to move.

A figure in a green robe appeared silently in the arena.

It was a middle-aged man with a short beard and a composed demeanor.

Xiao Zhuo, behind the crowd, his gaze subtly shifted—he hadn't expected someone to have the same idea as him and to act first.

Before anyone could react, the middle-aged man in green calmly spoke: "I didn't expect to pass by here and witness such a despicable play."

"This Senior is Elder Tai Zhao of the Di Kun Sect. Young friend, are you willing to make a deal with this Senior?"

As he spoke, his gaze fell upon Han Zhen, who was sprawled on the ground.

Han Zhen was already distraught. With this sudden turn of events, how could he care about the other party's background?

As long as he could save his life now, he would agree to any deal. He hastily replied: "Junior is willing! As long as Senior helps me kill this despicable scoundrel, Junior will agree to anything!"

Tai Zhao smiled with satisfaction: "Very good."

He shifted his gaze slightly, glancing at Ma Tie, who was suppressed by the pressure.

Ma Tie was terrified in his heart, never expecting to encounter such a powerful expert here. Before he could even beg for mercy—

"Bang!"

His entire body was instantly crushed by the terrifying Nascent Soul pressure, blood and flesh splattering everywhere.

Nascent Soul against Foundation Establishment was like the sky pressing down on an ant.

Tai Zhao didn't even make a move; he simply crushed him with pressure alone.

Such brutal methods clearly indicated he was not a benevolent person.

Han Zhen watched from the side, cold sweat pouring down, and a chill ran up his spine—he realized that he had probably just escaped a wolf's den only to fall into a tiger's mouth.

Tai Zhao looked at him with a smile, his tone leisurely: "Is young friend satisfied?"

It was as if he had not just killed a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, but merely brushed away a speck of dust.

"Satisfied! Satisfied!" Han Zhen nodded repeatedly, "What does Senior wish for Junior to do?"

Tai Zhao's face suddenly turned cold when he saw him feigning ignorance.

Not only him, but the surrounding onlookers also felt the temperature in the arena drop sharply and quickly retreated.

Some cautious ones even urged their companions to leave quickly.

Tai Zhao ignored the others, the severity in his eyes growing, as he stared at Han Zhen and said: "Since this Senior has already dealt with this despicable person for you, young friend should now take out the guanting token, release its recognition, and hand it over to this Senior, right?"

Indeed! Han Zhen's heart turned cold.

Although this person had only appeared for a dozen breaths, even he, as foolish as he was, could see that this Tai Zhao was a more ruthless character than Ma Tie.

Handing over the guanting token would still mean certain death for him.

His dry brain spun frantically, desperately trying to think of a way to save his life.

But how could Tai Zhao give him time?

With a grab of his large hand, Han Zhen was instantly pulled into the air, close to him.

A pale blue magical power hand appeared out of nowhere, gripping his throat and lifting him into mid-air.

"This Senior's patience is limited. Within three breaths, hand over the guanting token and release its recognition!" Tai Zhao's tone was chilling, no longer bothering with pretense. "This Senior promises not to kill you."

But the chilling killing intent emanating from him was clearly felt by even the onlookers.

Those who remained on the scene to watch the excitement at this point had some reliance. Someone whispered in discussion:

"The Di Kun Sect is merely a Body Integration Sect. Is a mere outer Elder of Nascent Soul Realm so arrogant?"

"Mere? Your Excellency is only of Golden Core Cultivation, yet you speak quite bravely."

"Heh, what's a Nascent Soul? Look closely at the emblem on me before you speak."

"So it's a steward of the Lu Family. My apologies, my apologies."

"It's a pity that no master from my Lu Family is here today, otherwise, how could Tai Zhao get such a bargain? A guanting token, once it enters Wind Capital, can at least be exchanged for a Heaven-Grade Cultivation Technique... He's truly stumbled upon good luck."

Tai Zhao's palm slowly tightened. Han Zhen was already struggling to breathe, only able to pat the magical power hand with his intact hand in vain.

Seeing that the time was right, Tai Zhao flicked his sleeve, and the magical power hand instantly dispersed.

Han Zhen fell to the ground, gasping for air, and at the same time, a jade tablet appeared in his hand.

The words "Guanting" were carved on the tablet, with Dao rhyme flowing, clearly not an ordinary item.

"Junior... is willing to hand over this token, I beg Senior to keep his promise!" Han Zhen said tremblingly, his body still shaking uncontrollably.

Tai Zhao saw the token, and a triumphant smile curled at the corner of his lips: "Of course, this Senior always keeps his word."

But his tone, no matter how one listened, carried a strange quality.

Han Zhen, however, seemed to grasp at a last straw, Barely able to condense true essence, and activated a hand seal.

The token slowly floated up, and a drop of crimson blood was forced out of it.

Before he could speak again, the token was snatched away in mid-air!

Tai Zhao toyed with the token, carefully confirming it was correct, then glanced at Han Zhen, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

Han Zhen had been staring intently at Tai Zhao since the token left his hand. Seeing this, his heart sank—the other party was indeed going to silence him!

In his terror, he unleashed an unprecedented potential, instantly casting a Escape to escape the area.

"Did this Senior permit you to leave?" Tai Zhao was unhurried, pressing down with another palm in mid-air.

The giant magical power palm reappeared in mid-air, looking as if it would instantly crush Han Zhen into meat paste.

Everyone almost anticipated the bloody scene that would follow—

However, the next moment, gasps of surprise erupted.

The giant magical power palm slammed down, missing its target, and heavily struck the ground, sending dust flying.

A figure appeared silently in the arena.

And at his feet was Han Zhen, completely limp and pale-faced.

Tai Zhao's eyes suddenly narrowed, and a chill ran through his heart.