The mysterious elder gave Lü Guichen and the beautiful woman from the Sword Alliance an extraordinary feeling, putting them both on edge. Though they had ceased fighting, each silently kept their attention fixed on the old man.
"Yuexi, you and I are old acquaintances. We both know neither can defeat the other—why not end today's battle here? I think both your people and mine could use some time to recover." Lü Guichen stood with his hands clasped behind his back, calling out in a clear voice toward the Sword Alliance woman.
The woman called Yuexi considered for a moment, then gave a gentle nod. "Fine."
"Knew you'd be reasonable." Lü Guichen laughed heartily, withdrawing his golden armor first and then stowing his short spear. He frowned and said, "Yuexi, I have a question that's been eating at me."
"If you've got something to say, say it. If you've got something to release, release it." Yuexi's beautiful face showed a trace of impatience, her words blunt and unceremonious.
Lü Guichen curled his lips, entirely unconcerned, and pointed downward with one finger. "Is this old fellow one of yours? A Sword Alliance man? How come I've never seen him before?"
At his question, Yuexi's expression turned strange, and she asked suspiciously, "He's not one of yours?"
Lü Guichen looked taken aback and slowly shook his head.
The two locked eyes, and in the next instant their gazes sharpened as they exclaimed in unison, "There was someone here all along?!"
The moment those words left their mouths, both transformed into streaks of rainbow light and lunged toward the old man below, who was picking through warship debris.
Neither Lü Guichen nor Yuexi knew what kind of place this was or what dangers lurked within.
But right now, right under their very noses, a native had suddenly appeared!
They naturally wanted to seize the initiative—grab the old man and extract information about this place before the other could. In such an unknown territory, having sufficient intelligence might grant an absolute advantage. They both understood this better than anyone.
Without another word, they struck simultaneously.
Two auras belonging to Sovereign King realm experts erupted outward, far more overwhelming than during their earlier battle. Both radiated an air of iron determination.
Lü Guichen and Yuexi had known each other for years, well-acquainted with each other's strengths, their power roughly equal. Almost at the same instant, they reached the old man—one seizing each of his arms—and glared at each other, neither willing to let go.
The old man had just picked up a piece of warship debris and hadn't yet placed it into his space ring when he was suddenly beset by disaster. He seemed frozen in shock, his body rigid and immobile.
Then his expression turned peculiar, a look of keen amusement flickering across his face. And there, in the midst of a standoff between two Sovereign King realm experts, he casually slipped the warship debris into his own space ring.
This strange display left both Lü Guichen and Yuexi momentarily stunned. The next instant, they realized something was terribly wrong.
To remain so nonchalant in the face of their combined confrontation—this old man was either a madman or someone so formidable that he simply didn't take them seriously.
The latter possibility seemed far more likely.
Lü Guichen and Yuexi simultaneously released their grip, wanting to put distance between themselves and this eccentric elder.
But at that very moment, a terrifying pulling force erupted from within the old man's body. His form seemed in an instant to transform into a swamp of sorts, causing Lü Guichen and Yuexi to sink deep into it, unable to break free.
The next moment, both felt their Holy Origin rapidly draining away, pouring in an unending stream into the old man's body.
The two were horrified beyond measure. Yuexi let out a piercing scream.
As the old man continued siphoning their power, his complexion grew increasingly ruddy, as if greatly nourished. Even his graying hair gradually regained its luster, turning dark and glossy.
The old man grinned, offering the two a faint smile—silent and eerie.
Only now did a truly dangerous aura begin radiating from the old man's body. As that aura spread outward, everyone present couldn't help but tremble, their fighting ceased dead in its tracks.
What seemed like the wailing of ghosts and the howling of wolves echoed in every ear. Eerie winds swept in gusts, and this old man, through the mere leakage of his aura alone, plunged them all as if into the depths of the Nine Hells—a form of spiritual torture worse than death itself.
"You two brats are far too disrespectful. Hmph—it's been many years since I've encountered such a lively scene. I'll grant you your lives this once. If you dare cross me again, I'll scatter your souls to the winds!" The old man let out a vicious laugh, his body shuddering once as an enormous shockwave burst forth from within him.
Lü Guichen and Yuexi screamed as they were blasted backward, tumbling through the air like kites with severed strings. Both spat out a mist of blood mid-flight, their expressions haggard and drained.
Having been frantically drained by the old man, they had very nearly lost their lives on the spot.
They steadied themselves and looked back at the old man, their eyes filled with a deep, overwhelming horror.
Yang Kai's eyes were trembling violently as well, scarcely able to believe what he had just witnessed.
He had personally experienced the vast cultivation Lü Guichen possessed. Under Lü Guichen's hand, he had stood absolutely no chance of resistance.
Lü Guichen was at minimum a Sovereign King Second Stage expert—possibly even Third Stage.
Yet such a mighty figure had been utterly laughable before that eerie elder, like a toddler facing an adult.
So what level of cultivation did this elder truly command? Yang Kai didn't dare to even imagine.