Jiang Chen swept his gaze across the area and found that most people had already gathered here — roughly fifty in total. All seven other members of Dan Qian Palace besides himself had already assembled together.
Vice Hall Master Shi Wangyue, who had originally stayed outside the Ancient Medicine Garden, had also entered with the third batch and was now together with Elder Yun Nie.
At this moment, Elder Yun Nie and the other three elders had positioned themselves at the four corners, shielding the sect's young talents in the central zone — clearly on high alert.
They were worried that those two wyverns might suddenly dive and launch an attack.
Upon seeing Jiang Chen, Elder Yun Nie quickly called out: "Jiang Chen, come over here."
Though Jiang Chen had no fear of those two wyverns, he couldn't afford to stand out at this moment either. He quickened his pace and entered the defensive perimeter the elders had set up.
Mu Gaoqi said through gritted teeth: "Wang Han lured those two monsters here — what malicious intent."
Jiang Chen smiled faintly but offered no explanation.
He thought to himself that Wang Han was clever enough. If he hadn't lured those two monsters here, he would have been done in by them eventually regardless.
After entering the defensive perimeter, Jiang Chen looked around once more.
He discovered that below the valley lay a vast lake, and everyone was currently on its eastern shore.
The lake was shrouded in a thin layer of mist, wisps of spiritual energy rising from its surface — mysterious and unfathomable, evoking a sense of infinite wonder.
The lake was like a sleeping beauty, brimming with a wondrous magnetism that drew everyone's curious gaze toward it, even as they watched the battle.
Within Jiang Chen's line of sight, the lake stretched out in emerald waves, boundless and vast. Near its center appeared to be a cluster of islands, abundant in spiritual energy, with currents of power swirling above them without cease.
Above the island, the rising spiritual energy manifested in layers of rosy clouds and auspicious light, making it appear supremely sacred — like a blessed immortal realm.
Jiang Chen understood clearly that this must be the true heart of Illusory Wave Mountain — the innermost core of the Ancient Medicine Garden.
Judging by the overwhelming aura of spiritual energy above the island, even from this great distance, the spiritual currents that drifted over were enough to make one's body and mind feel refreshed.
That was how rich the island's spiritual energy must be.
"So that island will become the focal point of contention for the final three days." Jiang Chen quietly assessed the situation and found that while the various sects were ostensibly engaging the two wyverns, they were in reality coveting that island.
At this moment, as the defensive perimeter below tightened and more Holy Realm powerhouses joined the fray, Dan Qian Palace's side saw two additional elders — besides Elder Yun Nie and Vice Hall Master Shi Wangyue — also enter the battle.
Those two wyverns were formidable, but facing an increasing number of Holy Realm cultivators, they were beginning to show signs of strain.
Following this, some of the more outstanding young talents from the Ten Thousand Phenomena Region grew eager to join the fight.
Over at the Sacred Sword Palace, Wang Han — having recovered from his earlier humiliation — had restored his pretentious air. He changed into a clean set of white robes and walked over toward Dan Qian Palace.
His eyes blazed with fury as he stared at Jiang Chen: "Brat, don't think this matter is settled."
Jiang Chen shrugged and gave a faint smile, utterly unconcerned.
It wasn't just Wang Han — even if Wang Jianyu of Sacred Sword Palace had threatened him in person, Jiang Chen would have treated it like a fart.
Seeing that Jiang Chen ignored him, Wang Han felt as if his fist had struck cotton. Seething inwardly, he suddenly caught sight of Shen Qinghong from the corner of his eye and let a cold smile curl at the corner of his mouth: "Brother Shen, as young talents of the Ten Thousand Phenomena Region, we should share the burden of our elders. As the foremost genius of Dan Qian Palace, surely you don't intend to stand by and watch indefinitely?"
Elder Yun Nie shot him a piercing glare: "Wang Han, if you want to go, then go. Why run your mouth?"
Wang Han still harbored some wariness toward Elder Yun Nie. He laughed aloud: "So the so-called foremost genius of Dan Qian Palace is nothing but a fraud? If that's the case, then just watch — watch as we talents of the Ten Thousand Phenomena Region take on those monsters!"
With that, Wang Han surged his true essence and launched himself into the air. His longsword blazed brilliant light, carving out a frost-white streak across the sky like a silver galaxy stretching from horizon to horizon!
The sword beam shot forth, slicing through the void and slashing toward the back of one of the wyverns.
With so many powerhouses besieging the two wyverns, Wang Han was merely seizing an opportunistic moment. The strike looked spectacular, but in truth it was nothing more than a sneak attack from behind.
Even so, the sneak attack alone was enough to make Shen Qinghong feel thoroughly depressed.
After all, Wang Han was a Holy Realm powerhouse who had already grasped the basics of flight. He himself remained just one small step short — unable to break into the Holy Realm!
At this level of combat, even if he wanted to join, he simply couldn't.
Clearly, Wang Han was deliberately provoking him, mocking him.
Shen Qinghong's face turned slightly pale, his eyes flickering as he watched the figures of powerhouses streak across the sky above. His heart felt as if it were being cut by a blade.
Proud and haughty as Shen Qinghong was, this journey to Illusory Wave Mountain had dealt him one humiliation after another, dealing a severe blow to his spirit.
Jiang Chen, whether intentionally or not, let out a soft chuckle: "Wang Han is about to have a stroke of bad luck!"
The words had barely left his lips when the other wyvern — apparently sensing Wang Han's aura — beat its massive wings in a savage sweep, forcing several Holy Realm cultivators around it to scatter.
It let out a long, piercing shriek, opened its maw, and unleashed countless arcs of purple lightning that slashed toward Wang Han with the speed of a thunderbolt.
The lightning erupted in a blinding flash, spreading across the void like countless purple serpents writhing through the air.
The Holy Realm cultivators near the wyvern reacted quickly, but even they couldn't match the speed of those descending lightning arcs.
Wang Han had been sneaking an attack on the other wyvern and was feeling smug when he suddenly sensed the sky-full of purple lightning crashing down upon him like a dark storm cloud.
His face went white with fright. Abandoning all pretense of dignity, he plummeted downward, letting himself drop straight out of the sky.