Yang Kai turned his head to look, curious about who would dare act so brazenly in front of Qu Changfeng.
When he saw the newcomer, he felt a flicker of surprise. The man's clothing was beyond humble—it could only be described as shabby—but the faint aura emanating from him seemed to surpass Qu Changfeng's by a noticeable margin, and it was remarkably sharp. Yang Kai vaguely sensed ripples of lightning energy rippling from the man's body.
This person cultivated lightning-attribute power, and had already achieved considerable mastery. His stature wasn't particularly imposing, but he was undoubtedly an expert, because his cultivation was at the same level as Qu Changfeng's—Saint King Stage Three.
Behind him followed two Return Void Realm experts, dressed in azure robes with a lightning bolt emblem on their chests. The lightning appeared to strike down from the ninth heaven, its might infinite, chilling the soul.
"So it's Brother Fang from the Lei Tai Sect. It's been too long, and you're still as shabby as ever—not afraid of embarrassing your Lei Tai Sect?" Qu Changfeng greeted with a smile that didn't reach his eyes.
Yang Kai's mind stirred, and he immediately understood who this plainly dressed man was.
Fang Tianzhong of the Lei Tai Sect! Like Qu Changfeng, he was one of the famous young geniuses of the entire Dark Star—the foremost prodigy of the Lei Tai Sect.
Geniuses, after all, always held themselves in high regard and disliked being on equal footing with others. These two were both geniuses of their respective sects, and there appeared to be some preexisting friction between them. Upon meeting, they naturally engaged in a war of words, trading barbs and veiled insults.
The two guards of the Treasure Gathering Tower stood nearby with helpless expressions. Had anyone else been this brazen in front of the tower, they would have stepped in to teach them a lesson long ago. But the status of Qu Changfeng and Fang Tianzhong was what it was—they didn't dare say a word.
Even Yang Kai, Wu Yi, and Yang Yan standing off to the side had become mere background decoration.
"I cultivate the Martial Dao and comprehend the Heavenly Dao. I'm not like you, Brother Qu, dressing up to show off and strutting around all day," Fang Tianzhong remarked coolly.
Qu Changfeng let out a cold snort, and his aura erupted with a thunderous surge, crashing toward Fang Tianzhong. Fang Tianzhong, naturally unwilling to be outdone, unleashed his own aura in response.
It was like two violent storms rising from flat ground and colliding head-on. The spiritual energy between heaven and earth surged chaotically before the Treasure Gathering Tower. The numerous experts inside sensed the disturbance and extended their divine senses to investigate—but upon learning that it was Qu Changfeng and Fang Tianzhong clashing, they quickly withdrew their spiritual consciousness, not wanting to get involved.
The two geniuses clashed as though no one else existed. Yang Kai's expression turned cold. He had originally felt some goodwill toward Fang Tianzhong, finding the man refreshingly unpretentious and far better than Qu Changfeng—but now that trace of goodwill evaporated instantly.
Had an ordinary Saint King Stage One cultivator been standing here, they would have been swept up in the clash of auras. Even if they weren't injured, they would have been thoroughly humiliated.
The two clearly hadn't considered Yang Kai, Wu Yi, or Yang Yan at all—they were only thinking about putting the other in their place.
The residual shockwave of their auras washed over them. Yang Kai snorted coldly and casually swept his hand forward.
A sound like something being split apart rang out. Yang Kai stood rooted to the spot, steady as a mountain. Not even his clothes or hair were disturbed. Behind him, Yang Yan and Wu Yi hadn't felt a thing.
"Hm?" Qu Changfeng and Fang Tianzhong simultaneously retracted their auras and turned to look at Yang Kai, both somewhat surprised.
Their auras hadn't been specifically directed at Yang Kai, but they still shouldn't have been something a mere Saint King Stage One cultivator could shrug off so easily. Seeing Yang Kai dismiss their residual shockwave without the slightest effort naturally caught them off guard.
But it was only surprise—Yang Kai's level of cultivation was still far beneath their notice.
"You two senior brothers really are close—one meeting and you're already inseparable. It's quite enviable." A voice like the tinkling of a silver bell rang out, clear and melodious. A woman in luxurious robes approached gracefully. Her skin was like congealed jade, her hands like tender shoots—she possessed an innate delicacy, as though a gust of wind might knock her down, instinctively making anyone who looked at her want to protect and cherish her. Her figure was perfect, a light purple gown tracing her curves just right, accentuating her elegance and nobility.
As she drew near, a wave of fragrant breeze washed over them, refreshing the mind and quickening the blood.
Though her words were teasing, neither Fang Tianzhong nor Qu Changfeng took offense. The latter even showed a delighted expression, his gaze burning as he looked toward the woman.
"Sudie greets both senior brothers." The woman offered a graceful bow, her small face flushed with a rosy hue that made it look as though a squeeze would bring water out. Her captivating eyes seemed to ensnare the soul, stirring the imagination.
"So it's Senior Sister Yin! It's been too long—your senior brother has missed you terribly." Qu Changfeng abandoned his confrontation with Fang Tianzhong without a second thought, laughing heartily.