Zhai Yao had already extended courtesy before resorting to threats, his expression composed.
Hearing him speak, the opposing party's expressions shifted. They glanced at Cang Yan and the others, realizing the gravity of the situation. Though their combined numbers were no fewer than Cang Yan's group, and their cultivation levels were comparable, they were still two separate teams that would be difficult to coordinate. Cang Yan's group, on the other hand, was clearly a single unit. If a fight broke out, Cang Yan's people would certainly have a hard time, but they themselves would likely not escape unscathed.
The strong cultivators from both teams exchanged glances and, after a brief exchange of looks, quickly reached a consensus.
One of the teams shifted toward the other, ceding their original position.
Zhai Yao's eyes lit up with surprise. He had only made a passing suggestion and hadn't expected things to go this smoothly. He quickly said, "Thank you!"
As he spoke, Cang Yan and the others descended.
Stepping onto the flower petals, Yang Kai felt a sense of solidity beneath his feet.
Though this Millennium Demon Flower was composed entirely of energy rather than physical matter, its energy had been condensed to a density that was virtually tangible.
"The position has been yielded to you. How will you refine the medicinal liquid?" A powerful cultivator from the opposing side asked Zhai Yao, keeping a wary eye on Cang Yan's group.
"Wait a moment." Zhai Yao offered a slight smile without elaborating.
The expressions of the strong cultivators from both teams darkened. They gathered their True Yuan energy, silently guarding themselves, ready to strike at any moment.
After roughly ten breaths' time, right at the center of the pistil, a visible ripple of energy suddenly spread outward. As this ring of ripples expanded, everyone grew tense.
Zhai Yao suddenly leaned close to Yang Kai and whispered something. Yang Kai remained silent but gave a slight nod.
Then Zhai Yao issued another instruction to Cang Yan and the others.
This small exchange did not escape the surveillance of the two teams' cultivators. Someone immediately shouted angrily, "What scheme are you plotting? If you dare deceive us, you'll regret it!"
Zhai Yao chuckled. "Rest assured. You'll see how to refine the medicinal liquid soon enough. I won't deceive you."
"It had better be true!"
As they spoke, the ripples emanating from the pistil grew more frequent and more dense, like small stones being repeatedly dropped into the surface of a still lake.
From the pistil, those concentric ripples spread outward, and a profound, wondrous energy emanated from within.
"Go!" Zhai Yao suddenly barked. Yang Kai sprang into action, charging toward the pistil alongside him.
Both of them erupted to the peak of their speed. In the span of a single instant, they reached the very center of the expanding ripples.
What happened next left everyone dumbstruck. Their bodies sank as though plunging into deep water, and upon penetrating the center of the ripples, they vanished without a trace.
The strong cultivators of the two teams had been on constant guard, but they never anticipated such a bizarre occurrence. By the time they thought to intervene, it was already too late.
Furious, they were about to launch an attack against Cang Yan and the others, but Cang Yan spoke: "Hold."
"You villains — what more do you have to say?"
"I can allow your alchemists to enter as well. Refining the medicinal liquid can only be done inside. But you must guard this entrance alongside us. Surely you don't want too many competitors barging in?" Cang Yan said coolly, the saint grade greatsword in his hand blazing with fierce flames, projecting a formidable deterrent.
The others froze, then nodded without hesitation: "Agreed!"
"Please, go ahead." Cang Yan gestured.
The spirit grade alchemists from both teams hurriedly imitated Zhai Yao and Yang Kai's actions and charged into the pistil. The next instant, they too disappeared.
Four spirit grade alchemists vanishing into the pistil all at once naturally drew considerable attention.
Though no one understood the reason behind it, everyone keenly grasped the crucial point and vaguely sensed that this was the true method for refining the Millennium Demon Flower's medicinal liquid.
Countless hostile gazes turned their way. The next moment, an uncountable number of teams came rushing toward them.
Cang Yan bared his teeth in a savage grin. The saint grade greatsword in his hand suddenly transformed into a roaring fire dragon, surging forward to meet the incoming crowd with overwhelming force.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh…
Arrows were drawn and released. Countless invisible, powerful arrows shot forth like a swarm of locusts sweeping across the land.
Li Wan's small frame suddenly erupted with brilliant golden light. In the blink of an eye, his squat stature swelled to the towering proportions of a giant, and he stood before the group with a commanding, awe-inspiring presence.
Fei Yu parted her delicate lips, exhaling a mist from her crimson mouth. The mist suddenly coalesced into fanged serpents that wove through the crowd in fleeting movements. Any warrior who was bitten turned crimson-faced and dizzy, staggering about as though dead drunk.
The air was thick with a rich, intoxicating fragrance of wine.