A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality: Immortal Realm

Chapter 705: Internal Conflict

"Aren't these supposed to be sparring matches? Why is there an option to fight to the death?" Han Li asked as he turned to Xi Yan.

"Allow me to explain, esteemed immortal. The Saya Festival is not only an occasion for the brightest cultivation prodigies of all of the tribes to make a name for themselves, it's also where many tribes settle their differences. Monarch San Miao prohibits battles between tribes, so this is where everyone settles vendettas and disputes," Xi Yan explained.

"I see. This is not a bad method of conflict resolution," Han Li replied with a nod.

"I have to agree with you on that one, Fellow Daoist Li. This is a very simple and efficient process," Shi Chuankong said to Han Li through voice transmission.

"The fact that this is feasible at all indicates that most of these tribes value their integrity. In the Immortal Realm, all of the tribes would've simply targeted each other without engaging in open battle, and vendettas would most likely escalate to the point where they're entirely unresolvable before such a method can be employed," Han Li replied.

Shi Chuankong contemplated this notion for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

At this point, the battle on the platform had already begun. Wu Heli's aura was clearly more powerful than his opponent's, and there was immense baleful qi swirling around his body as he forced Mu Ze back in retreat.

Despite this, Mu Ze remained calm and collected, and his eyes were still flashing with excitement as he ducked and weaved while wielding a trident.

The more ferocious Wu Heli's attacks became, the faster Mu Ze was forced to take evasive measures, and all of the spectators were cheering loudly at the enthralling battle.

Han Li was rather perplexed by what he was seeing. He could see that Mu Ze was suppressing his own aura, employing a classic tactic of luring the opponent into a false illusion of superiority. At this point, Wu Heli had already tired himself out from the ferocious assault that he was unleashing, and Mu Ze could easily retaliate for the kill, but he refused to do so for some reason, continuing to humor his opponent as he dodged from side to side.

After a while, Han Li felt as if he were a staged match, and he lost interest as he turned his gaze to Wave Edge Lake in the distance.

At this moment, there were still countless specks of flames drifting over the lake, and their light was reflected on the rippling waves down below, making it appear as if there were countless fluorescent fish swimming through the lake.

All of a sudden, Han Li spotted something rather strange on the surface of the lake.

Right as he was about to take a closer look, a thunderous buzzing sound suddenly rang out from behind him, and he was struck by a dull sensation in his mind, as if he had been dealt a heavy blow to the back of his head.

The Imperial Peak Spirit Restriction Talisman in his mind consciousness instantly lit up, releasing a burst of white light to quell the sensation of dullness.

Meanwhile, all of the Gray Lizard beings around him crumpled to the ground.

Out of the corner of his eye, Han Li could see that Mu Ze was standing on the stone platform with blood flowing out of all of his orifices, and he was holding a black seashell-like object aloft with a fervent look in his eyes.

Over at the tent, everyone was slumped in their chairs, and they were still conscious, but they were too feeble to move.

Right at this moment, Han Li felt a tug on his sleeve, and he turned to discover that Shi Chuankong was laying on the ground and was encouraging him to do the same.

Han Li was rather amused to see this, and he pretended to also slump to the ground like everyone else.

Right at this moment, a tall and imposing gray-robed figure among the Water Tiger beings lifted the hood of his cloak to reveal a set of azure ape-like features.

Han Li was surprised to discover that the man was very similar in appearance to the azure apes that he had encountered in the True Mantra Sect ruins. However, his aura indicated that he was at the mid-Golden Immortal Stage, and he was clearly more intelligent than the apes from back then.

The man leaped onto the platform, then strode over to Mu Ze's side and took the black seashell from him before carefully stowing it away.

Mu Ze immediately crumpled to the ground, clearly dead.

The chief of the Water Tiger Tribe rose to his feet from his chair in the tent, then made his way over to the azure ape-like being before extending a deep bow.

"Everything went exactly as you predicted. I am truly in awe of your foresight."

"Mu Qiu! How dare you collude with someone from the Nirarbuda Region? Are you betraying the Black Teeth Region?" Miao Xiu yelled in a furious voice, but she sounded very feeble.

"My apologies, Young Mistress, but the Bone Spike Tribe has forcibly occupied the territory of our Water Tiger Tribe for hundreds of years, and my brother and cousin also died by their hands. Such a vendetta cannot be settled with just a single life!" Mu Qiu said in an expressionless manner, then made his way over to Wu Heli before smashing his head into a pulp.

All of the Water Tiger beings below the platform erupted into thunderous cheers as they rushed toward the Bone Spike beings, and a one-sided massacre ensued, while the chief of the Bone Spike Tribe could only look on from inside the tent with a furious and devastated expression.

"Are you acting on the orders of Monarch Gu, or is your Azure Ape Tribe solely responsible? Are you not afraid that our Black Teeth Region will no longer remain neutral and ally ourselves with the Reincarnation Region?" Miao Xiu spat through gritted teeth.

"Don't bother with these empty threats. We already know that the Reincarnation Region has sent people to meet your father, and it's only a matter of time before you turn on our Nirarbuda Region," the Azure Ape being scoffed.

"You're just saying that to excuse your actions! My father has always been firmly against the Reincarnation Region's actions, and he's done everything in his power to persuade our allies against joining the Reincarnation Region!" Miao Xiu countered.

"Your Black Teeth Region has always thought far too highly of itself. This is what you get for allowing an envoy from the Reincarnation Region to set foot in your territory," the Azure Ape being said with a cold sneer.

He turned to Wave Edge Lake as he spoke, then let loose a loud roar, and the surface of the lake instantly began to churn incessantly as the Azure Ape beings and other Nirarbuda forces that were laying in ambush emerged from the depths, numbering in the tens of thousands.

Upon reaching the shore, they stormed toward the Black Teeth Region tribes, and a horrific massacre ensued.

Han Li and the Gray Lizard beings weren't very far away from the lake, and it wasn't going to take long before the Nirarbuda forces reached them. Neither Han Li nor Shi Chuankong would be able to defend themselves as doing so would expose them to be cultivators of the Immortal Realm, and if that were to happen, then they would be targeted by both the Nirarbuda and Black Teeth Region's forces.

In the Gray Realm, even the most vicious vendettas could temporarily be set aside in order to unite against the threat of the Immortal Realm.

Given Han Li and Shi Chuankong's powers, even if they were exposed, he was confident that they would be able to get away. However, in that scenario, their covers would be blown, and it would become much more difficult for them to find a way back to the Immortal Realm.

"What do we do? They're about to get to us," Shi Chuankong asked in an urgent manner through voice transmission.

Han Li's brows were slightly furrowed, and he didn't immediately respond. Instead, he was looking over at the Azure Ape being on the stone platform, who had summoned a large club, with which it was smashing the heads of the Black Teeth Region chiefs.

Mu Qiu was standing before the chief of the Bone Spike Tribe with a long black saber resting on his neck, preparing to decapitate him.

Despite the dire situation that the chief of the Bone Spike Tribe was in, there was no fear in his eyes at all as he met Mu Qiu's gaze with one of righteous fury.

As the Nirarbuda forces drew closer and closer, Shi Chuankong's agitation was mounting by the second, and even his aura fluctuations had become rather unstable as he said, "It looks like we're not going to be able to maintain our covers. If worse comes to worst, we'll just have to kill everyone here, then get away from this place."

"Don't be rash, I have a way out of this," Han Li immediately replied.

As soon as his voice trailed off, a plume of black mist rose up from beneath him, and it circled around in mid-air for a moment, then descended onto the black stone platform.

As soon as Shi Chuankong detected the aura emanating from the plume of black mist, his expression instantly changed drastically.

He could sense a High Zenith Stage Gray Immortal inside!

Upon arriving above the stone platform, the plume of mist instantly crashed violently down upon the platform, causing it to shatter into countless pieces as cracks spread over its entire surface.

The stone platform exploded violently from the center, following which all of the black mist converged to form a tall and handsome young man wearing a tight-fitting black robe.

He was holding a black folding fan, and his High Zenith Stage aura was completely unrestrained.

The man was none other than Mo Guang in his Gray Immortal body, but prior to emerging from the Flower Branch domain, he had adopted this youthful appearance.

Everyone was completely caught off guard by this abrupt turn of events, and on one knew what to make of Mo Guang's sudden emergence.

As soon as the club-wielding Azure Ape being's gaze fell upon Mo Guang, his expression instantly changed drastically as he exclaimed, "You're from the Void Integration Tribe! This is impossible! How could there be a Void Integration being here?"

"The Void Integration Tribe? Judging from your reaction, that seems like quite a powerful tribe," Mo Guang chuckled.

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