The very next moment after Yang Kai's figure appeared, a series of sharp whistles cut through the air as several silhouettes streaked in, materializing abruptly above the spirit lake.
The group hovered in midair, none of them deliberately releasing their auras, yet the moment they appeared, every martial artist cultivating in the area was jolted and raised their heads to stare upward.
Once they made out the faces of the newcomers, a wave of sharp inhalations swept through the crowd.
"Gao Xueting of the Azure Sun Divine Temple!"
"Chen Wenhao of the Heavenly Martial Holy Land!"
"Feng Ming of the Wuhua Hall!"
"Zeng Yuan of the Seven Luminaries Commerce Association!"
"Lou Chi of the Ziyuan Commerce Association!"
"Even Lord Xiao from the Star God Palace has come!"
These six were familiar faces to countless martial artists in Maple Forest City. The last time the Luan Feng had manifested, it was these same six who had descended upon the city to investigate, and in the end they had overseen the opening of the Star God Palace's Five-Color Treasure Tower, allowing the martial artists of Maple Forest City to train within. Everyone had considered it a stroke of incredible fortune just to behold these exalted figures once, believing they would never have the chance to witness them again in this lifetime.
Yet who could have imagined that barely two years later, these six would gather together once more and return to Maple Forest City? For a small city like this, it was simply unthinkable.
Ordinarily, not even ten or twenty years would pass before a single Emperor Realm master passed through the area. But now, Emperor Realm powerhouses were showing up every few months.
The surroundings of the spirit lake fell utterly silent — so quiet one could hear a pin drop — as every pair of eyes gazed upward in reverence.
The six seemed to take note of the atmosphere. Lou Chi of the Ziyuan Commerce Association let out a low chuckle and said, "I've always felt that there was something unusual about this Maple Forest City. I've wanted to establish a branch here for some time now, but never had the leisure to see to it. It seems setting up a branch has become unavoidable."
There were indeed Ziyuan Commerce Association assets in Maple Forest City — the Spirit Pill Shop that Kang Siran had once managed belonged to them — but a branch and mere commercial assets were two entirely different things.
A branch represented a symbol of the association's presence and was sure to have a powerhouse stationed there to oversee operations. Assets, on the other hand, could be as small or large as needed. The Spirit Pill Shop had been a minuscule storefront — so insignificant that had Maple Forest City not repeatedly made headlines, Lou Chi would never have even heard of it.
And yet Lou Chi maintained thorough knowledge of the status of every single branch.
If the Ziyuan Commerce Association truly established a branch here, it would give Maple Forest City's economy an enormous boost. Given time, the city would no longer be an obscure backwater.
"Hindsight, much?" Zeng Yuan sneered. The Seven Luminaries Commerce Association and the Ziyuan Commerce Association were the two great trading organizations of the Southern Region, locked in fierce competition. Zeng Yuan and Lou Chi both held the position of vice president in their respective associations and naturally couldn't stand each other. Hearing Lou Chi's remark, he couldn't resist a barb: "If you were really so far-sighted, why are you only saying it now?"
Lou Chi narrowed his eyes at Zeng Yuan and snorted, "My extraordinary foresight is not something a mortal like you could ever hope to grasp."
"Keep bragging — it's free!" Zeng Yuan replied with undisguised contempt.
Lou Chi let out an angry shout and turned to face Xiao Yuyang. He cupped his fists and said, "Lord Xiao, I formally request permission to duel this horse-faced freak in a fight to the death!"
Zeng Yuan's eyebrows twitched, veins bulging across his forehead as he ground his teeth. "What did you just call me? Who are you calling a horse-faced freak?"
He pulled a long face, and his already elongated cheeks stretched even longer.
Lou Chi cast him a sidelong glance and snorted, "Well, who are you calling a fatso?"
Zeng Yuan sneered, "Can I not comment on the obvious? If you've got the guts, go ahead and cut off all that blubber." As he spoke, he cheerfully reached out and patted Lou Chi's great round belly.
Lou Chi stumbled back several steps and bellowed, "Hey! You horse-faced freak! Talking is one thing, but keep your hands to yourself!" He turned to Xiao Yuyang and said, "Lord Xiao, you saw that! This fellow goes too far. I swear I won't rest until one of us is dead!"
"All right, all right!" Xiao Yuyang broke into a sweat. "You're both businessmen — don't you understand the principle that harmony brings prosperity? Why must you start fighting the moment you meet? Is it really that amusing to let the younger generation down there make a joke of us?"
At his words, the two glanced downward and saw countless pairs of eyes staring up at them. Every single person had their mouth hanging open, looking absolutely stunned that Emperor Realm masters could behave in such a manner.
"Standing next to you two is truly embarrassing," Gao Xueting said with a look of pure disdain.
"Mm, our collective prestige has been dragged down considerably," Chen Wenhao added, his expression perfectly flat.
Feng Ming stood to the side snickering, a shrewd gleam in his eyes. Suddenly, his expression shifted and he turned to look off in a particular direction, saying with surprise, "Hoh? Isn't that the kid who refined the Tai Miao Pills? What's he doing in Maple Forest City?"
Following his gaze, the entire group turned to look at Yang Kai.
"It really is him." Xiao Yuyang smiled faintly. "Come to think of it... I always thought this kid looked familiar. So it's because we've seen him here in Maple Forest City before."
"That kid's a talent. The Ziyuan Commerce Association claims him!" Lou Chi's eyes lit up as he looked at Yang Kai.
Zeng Yuan snorted, "He probably already has a Sect. What makes you think you can poach him?"
Lou Chi let out a cold laugh. "When Lou Chi personally extends an invitation, which Sect would dare refuse? Horse-faced freak, let me make one thing clear — if you dare compete with me for him this time, I'll fight you to the bitter end."
Zeng Yuan furrowed his brow and fell silent, apparently weighing the potential gains and losses.