241: conflict

"Who dares to come to my Liuli Holy Land and run wild!"

Just as Shen Lian's palm was about to strike the Barrier, a sudden, explosive shout was heard, followed immediately by a wall of Qi rising from the ground, meeting the extreme palm power head-on.

Boom—

With a thunderous explosion, the wall of Qi blocked the palm force for an instant, immediately kicking up a sky full of dust.

"Hmm?"

Shen Lian let out a low murmur, his Protective Aura spontaneously activating, sweeping away all the residual waves.

The moment the dust settled, a free-spirited figure was already blocking the entrance to the Glazed Immortal Realm.

"This person's cultivation has actually half-stepped into the Guiyi Realm?"

Seeing this scene, Song Yanran immediately felt a faint sense of pressure from the figure that had suddenly appeared.

Mu Qiuyuan also frowned: "It seems this Liuli Holy Land is truly full of hidden talents; to think such a strong expert exists here."

"This person needs extra attention."

"Sister, did you sense something unusual about this person?"

"Hmm, a trace of Origin power, faint and elusive; we must be extra vigilant."

Mu Qiuyuan and Song Yanran exchanged a glance, then quietly slipped into the crowd, trying to minimize their presence.

The newcomer stepped forward and pointed a finger at Shen Lian: "Was it you who just now intended to show disrespect to the Liuli Holy Land?"

Shen Lian raised his arm and waved it: "Daring to block Shen Lian's path, your courage is enough to be recorded in history."

"Hmm, what do you mean?"

"After you die, future generations will greatly admire your actions today in trying to block me. Dying in such a glorious manner is enough for you to smile in the afterlife."

The atmosphere instantly turned freezing cold.

The surrounding Cultivators were truly shocked beyond measure by Shen Lian's words.

Mu Qiuyuan couldn't help but whisper: "Damn it, this kid is definitely a lunatic. If I'm not mistaken, his cultivation is only at the Early Stage of the Limit-Breaking Realm. Even if he can beat a Cultivator at the third level of the Limit-Breaking Realm, he is definitely not on the same level as a half-step Guiyi Realm expert. Where on earth does he get the courage to speak like that? Is he tired of living?"

Song Yanran shook her head: "Don't you think this person named Shen Lian seems very similar in personality to Husband?"

"Not even close. How can he compare to Nickname?"

"No, I felt Husband's aura on him. What is Husband's personality like? Don't you and I know it well? It is to never surrender to the enemy, no matter how strong the opponent is."

"But I only see a lunatic wildly probing the edges of death." After saying this, Mu Qiuyuan paused for a moment and immediately corrected herself, "Although, perhaps not. He was that crazy even in front of a Peak Guiyi Realm expert, let alone a Peak Limit-Breaking Realm one."

Song Yanran gently smoothed a strand of hair hanging over her shoulder and suddenly smiled faintly: "Crazy? Let's see what confidence he has to dare to go crazy in front of such a strong expert."

At this moment, the newcomer was so angry that he laughed at Shen Lian's words: "Fellow Daoist, cultivation is not easy. Why risk your life like this? Considering your youth, I can give you one chance. As long as you kneel and apologize to the Holy Land for your previous rude behavior, then I, Song Qingshi, can let bygones be bygones regarding what you just did."

"Hahaha—"

As a result, the response to Song Qingshi was Shen Lian's mocking laughter.

"You want me to kneel and apologize to you? Can the Glazed Immortal Realm handle such a grand gesture?"

Song Qingshi frowned: "Every Cultivator who comes here to participate in the Jade Research must abide by the rules of the Liuli Holy Land. Otherwise, the Holy Land does not welcome such visitors."

Shen Lian's eyes darkened: "Rules? They might bind others, but can they bind Shen Lian? To me, all rules are merely man-made obstacles on the path forward, meant to be broken. Only rules established by true powerhouses have the authority to constrain the weak, while rules set by the weak are nothing more than a toddler taking their first steps—ridiculous and pathetic."

Song Qingshi's face turned livid: "Fellow Daoist, are you insulting my Liuli Holy Land?"

Shen Lian sneered: "Insult? Does your Liuli Holy Land even have the qualifications to deserve Shen Lian's insult? Where on earth do you get your confidence!"

Such an arrogant posture finally made Song Qingshi unable to maintain his refined image any longer.

"Since Fellow Daoist is so obsessed and unrepentant, then I would like to see if your strength, which can break rules, can gain the recognition of the world!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Lian immediately put his hands behind his back, standing tall with a cold and arrogant posture.

"Then let me see what kind of amazement the rules set by the weak can bring me. Come, use your full strength; don't let your short life be filled with regrets."

"Then please receive my move."

The True Qi in Song Qingshi's body instantly boiled. As he raised his fingertip, the surrounding Yuan power gathered completely.

Although Shen Lian had not moved, his entire body's spiritual power had already rapidly transformed into a supreme Yuan power, coordinating with the intensified operation of the Indestructible Dao God.

At this moment, a Heavenly Maiden Dharma Image appeared behind Song Qingshi, solemn and dignified. As it moved, it radiated an unrivaled, holy Yuan power.

Behind Shen Lian, however, appeared a Three-Headed, Six-Armed Dharma Image, filled with an aura that combined irritability, Yuan power, and demonic might.

"Hmm, that Dharma Image behind Shen Lian is..."

The moment she saw the Dharma Image appear behind Shen Lian, Song Yanran suddenly remembered something.

"That is not the Evil Contagion..."

Mu Qiuyuan suddenly recalled the epic battle against the Evil Contagion tens of thousands of years ago.

And the Dharma Image that appeared behind Shen Lian was actually nine parts similar to the true form of the Evil Contagion they had faced back then.

"It seems this Shen Lian has quite a few secrets."

"For safety's sake, we should find an opportunity to take him out."

"Don't be impulsive. Let's wait and see."

The two women's attention was now entirely focused on Shen Lian.

Seeing that the Aura Pressure emitted by both sides was making the surrounding Cultivators break out in cold sweat, and that a fierce conflict was about to erupt.

"All of you, stop!"

Another wave of sound came from the Void Realm.

The next moment, a Cultivator wearing a white flowing Daoist robe and holding a black wooden whisk floated down, stepping on a heavenly lotus.

Seeing the newcomer, Song Qingshi immediately withdrew his True Qi and respectfully bowed to him: "Disciple greets the Immortal Lord."

"Greetings, Immortal Lord Meng."

The other Cultivators bowed and paid their respects to the newcomer in unison, their eyes filled with adoration.

He was the master of the Glazed Immortal Realm, Meng Xingchen.

Song Yanran glanced at the newcomer and smiled slightly: "Sixth level of the Guiyi Realm; it seems the influence of this Glazed Immortal Realm is not small."

Mu Qiuyuan said disdainfully: "If my cultivation hadn't been damaged, I could take on a whole group of Cultivators with such cultivation with one hand."

Song Yanran smiled without speaking. What Mu Qiuyuan said was not false; it was indeed a fact.

"Young friend, has our Glazed Immortal Realm failed to host you properly, causing you to be so angry?"

Seeing that the impending battle was interrupted by external interference, Shen Lian felt disappointed.

He had to withdraw his True Qi and raised his hand to manifest his Dark Iron Folding Fan: "Since you invited ambitious people from all over the world to participate in the Jade Research Assembly, why did you shut everyone out?"

Meng Xingchen quickly said: "Apologies, this was indeed my oversight, keeping everyone waiting outside for so long. Please move to the Liuli Outer Hall immediately; I will prepare spirit tea and fruits to properly host you all. Everyone, please."

After speaking, he made a gesture of invitation.

However, no one dared to be the first to enter.

"Hmph."

Instead, Shen Lian snorted coldly and was the first to step into the entrance of the Glazed Immortal Realm without fear.