Both were Fifth-Order Open Heaven cultivators, but they had never actually fought each other. There had been no opportunity for confrontation within the No Old Realm, and back then, Zhao Baichuan had been nothing but deferential in Yang Kai's presence.
With Zhao Baichuan's timely intervention, Chen Tianfei managed to shake off Yue He without serious harm and quickly took his place at Zhao Baichuan's side alongside Bei Yushan. Meanwhile, the numerous lower-order Open Heaven cultivators from Red Star deployed a grand formation, their auras interlocking tightly to seal heaven and lock down the earth. Their figures shifted and weaved in constant motion, concealing the formation's true design for the moment—it remained unclear what kind of trick this formation actually held.
Sword Pavilion had its Sword Formation, and Red Star naturally had its own reserves of strength. Though Yang Kai had once served as Red Star's Sixth Manager, he had never been privy to the organization's deeper secrets.
"Brother Ouyang and Madam Qin…" Zhao Baichuan's brow furrowed slightly as he looked toward Yue He. "Are they alive or dead?"
He had originally been preparing to enter seclusion to refine the jade tablet controlling Qiaoqiao Grounds' grand formation, but before he could even begin, Chen Tianfei had sent word that Brother Ouyang and Madam Qin had gone silent—something must have happened.
He hadn't dared believe it at first. Red Star and the Flying Smoke Hall had just colluded to seize Qiaoqiao Grounds, and when he'd departed, both Brother Ouyang and Madam Qin had been perfectly fine. So little time had passed—what could possibly go wrong? Besides, no one else remained in the Qiaoqiao Grounds apart from their people. Who could have made a move against them?
When he tried contacting them and found that Chen Tianfei's report was accurate—they were completely unreachable—Zhao Baichuan realized something was seriously amiss.
He had no choice but to shelve the refinement of the jade tablet, conceal his presence, and lurk in the shadows to wait for an opportunity to act.
Yang Kai was merely a Emperor Realm cultivator, far below him in both strength and cultivation. There was no way the boy could have detected his presence.
Now, seeing Yue He and Yang Kai standing right here, Zhao Baichuan understood immediately—three of his most capable subordinates had been ambushed.
Yue He chuckled softly. "Them? Naturally, they're dead."
Zhao Baichuan's expression darkened. "Miss Yue He, coming here alone shows admirable courage, but it is hardly wisdom. Do you take Red Star for an organization with no one to answer for it?"
Though Yue He had Lu Xue and Yang Kai beside her, along with the Crimson Flood Dragon and the Earth Dragon, in Zhao Baichuan's eyes, only Yue He herself—as a Fifth-Order Open Heaven—posed any real threat. The rest were negligible. Deal with Yue He first, and the rest would be his to dispose of as he pleased.
Yue He smiled lightly. "Why would the Grand Manager test me? If I dared to appear, it's because I'm not afraid of you."
Zhao Baichuan spoke in a cold, measured tone. "You're confident you can beat this seat?" On his side stood one Fifth-Order Open Heaven, two Fourth-Orders, and dozens of lower-order cultivators arrayed in a war formation. Yue He and Yang Kai's side, by contrast, had only one Fifth-Order, one Fourth-Order, one Emperor Realm cultivator, and two exotic beasts. The disparity in both strength and numbers was overwhelming—there was no hope of victory whatsoever.
"Whether I can win or not won't be known until we fight," Yue He replied, her expression unchanged.
Zhao Baichuan straightened up. "Perhaps we can have a civilized discussion. There's no need for such violent measures."
Chen Tianfei stared in surprise. From the way the Grand Manager was speaking, it sounded like he wanted to turn enemies into allies. Was he not going to avenge the deaths of those three Managers?
Yue He blinked, then let out a soft laugh. "What did the Grand Manager have in mind?"
Zhao Baichuan said, "Red Star has recently acquired the Qiaoqiao Grounds. We're at a point where everything needs rebuilding, and we need capable hands. You killed three of my Managers—a debt that would ordinarily be settled in blood. However, if you're willing to swear a Dao Seal oath to join Red Star and serve us wholeheartedly without ulterior motive, then we'd all be one family. And what need is there for violence between family?"
Chen Tianfei's eyes lit up at this, secretly filled with admiration. As expected of the Grand Manager—his vision was far more expansive than his own.
All Chen Tianfei had been thinking about was killing the people in front of him: first, to avenge Brother Ouyang and the others, bolstering morale; second, to seize the wealth on Yang Kai's person and bolster Red Star's future development.
But if the Grand Manager's proposal went through, the benefits to Red Star would far outweigh a simple slaughter.
Yue He was a Fifth-Order Open Heaven after all, no slouch in combat. With her on their side, Red Star could ascend to a new level. And if she submitted, Yang Kai would be powerless to cause trouble—wouldn't all his wealth simply become Red Star's?
Solving the problem without bloodshed was inherently more elegant than a bloody battle.
But… would the people in front of them actually agree?
Sure enough, upon hearing the offer, Yue He broke into a fit of soft laughter. She turned her head to look at Yang Kai. "Young Master, the Grand Manager wants us to swear fealty to him."
Yang Kai kept a straight face and replied coolly, "Tell him to keep dreaming!"
Yue He turned back to Zhao Baichuan. "Grand Manager, you've heard my Young Master's answer."
Zhao Baichuan cast a cold glare at Yang Kai. "Boy, you only have one life, and you only get one chance. Don't throw it away!" He couldn't understand—why would a Fifth-Order Open Heaven like Yue He take orders from Yang Kai?
Yang Kai replied with brazen arrogance. "If you'd all get on your knees right now and beg for mercy—swearing a Dao Seal oath to follow my lead from this day forward—I might spare your pathetic lives. Otherwise, Brother Ouyang and Madam Qin will serve as your warning!"
Zhao Baichuan flew into a rage. "How dare you speak such nonsense, boy!"
Chen Tianfei saw the situation and knew negotiations had collapsed. He let out a sharp shout: "Attack!"
The moment the word left his lips, all the lower-order Open Heaven cultivators who had been encircling Yang Kai and the others simultaneously formed hand seals. In an instant, dozens of auras fused together into an invisible millstone, grinding toward the group to crush them.