No one doubted that Ian Song had the power to seal the divine artifact. After all, the artifact’s visions had kept appearing and disappearing recently, proving that he possessed some secret method to suppress the artifact and prevent its visions from erupting.
If he really did completely seal the divine artifact, then no one else would ever have a chance to obtain it.
Unless they caught him.
But could they really catch him?
Thousands of Ancestral Immortals had searched for him all at once, yet not a single one managed to catch the guy.
Even if a fifteenth-layer Ancestral Immortal took action, they’d probably still have trouble catching him.
That’s why, when Ian Song made his threat, the Eight Great Clans of the Purple Dragon Domain had no choice but to take him seriously. They didn’t dare look down on him anymore.
For the sake of the divine artifact and the god-level cultivation method, the Eight Great Clans all gathered together.
Earlier, the Ling Family had been set up by Ian Song, and most of their buildings were wrecked. But once everyone calmed down, they still believed the middle section of the god-level cultivation method was in Ian Song’s hands.
Sterling Ling spoke up, full of venom: “That little thief is outrageously arrogant! He doesn’t even put our Eight Great Clans in his eyes and wants to make us fight each other. He’s dreaming!”
“That’s right! That little thief deserves to die!”
Xuanyuan Tao echoed.
But Sterling Ling didn’t give him a friendly look, just snorted coldly to show his displeasure. After all, it was Xuanyuan Tao who led all those Ancestral Immortals to the Ling Family demanding the cultivation method.
Xuanyuan Tao put on an apologetic face. “What’s wrong, Brother Ling? Still holding a grudge over what happened before? Right now, we should be united against our common enemy. Let’s deal with that little thief first!”
“Exactly! Let bygones be bygones. Brother Ling, Brother Xuanyuan have both been sincere—why keep chasing old grudges?” The Yao Family’s patriarch chimed in, trying to smooth things over. He’d also joined the crowd demanding the cultivation method from the Ling Family before, but the Yao Family had kept a lower profile.
“All right, everyone, let’s focus on how to handle that little thief!” suggested the Bu Family’s Grand Elder.
“That kid is way too cunning. We need to find a way to keep him in place—otherwise, if he runs off again, where are we supposed to find him?” said the Northstar Clan’s patriarch.
The Eight Great Clans of the Purple Dragon Domain were: Ling Family, Xuanyuan Clan, Yao Family, Bu Family, Northstar Clan, Rivers Clan, Easton Clan, and Nangong Family.
All eight clans jointly ruled the Purple Dragon Domain. Though there was plenty of friction between them, on the surface their relationships were quite close.
The proposal got the approval of all the major clans.
So they sent people out to publicly agree to Ian Song’s demands, but secretly, the Eight Great Clans dispatched Ancestral Immortals to track him down.
One day.
Two days.
Three days.
Ten days passed.
Ian Song still hadn’t replied, which left the Eight Great Clans puzzled. Was that kid on the run again?
Half a month later.
Ian Song sent word from the Barbarian Wastes, calling out to the Eight Great Clans of the Purple Dragon Domain: he wanted them to come to Cloudtwins City within three days and take part in a tournament. Whoever passed his test would win the Crimson Haze Divine Sword.
When the news broke, the Eight Great Clans rushed to respond, each sending more than ten Ancestral Immortals to Cloudtwins City.
And they got a piece of news that thrilled them: that little thief was actually swaggering around Cloudtwins City in broad daylight—not hiding in the shadows.
“This is our chance! Why not just capture that little thief right now?”
Someone suggested.
“That might not be wise!”
Another person said, “If that little thief’s bold enough to show up in Cloudtwins City, he must have something up his sleeve. If we act rashly and let him slip away, it’ll be even harder to catch him later!”
“That makes sense!”
Everyone nodded in agreement.
Cloudtwins City’s City Lord’s Mansion had now been taken over by Ian Song; as for the original city lord, Ian had naturally driven him out.
Inside one of the grand halls, Ian Song sat on the throne, flanked by two beautiful young women pouring him wine, while a group of immortal maidens danced for him.
Whether they were young attendants or dancers, all of them had belonged to the former city lord.
After driving out the old city lord, Ian Song naturally made use of their services without hesitation.
Suddenly, Ian Song set down his wine cup and called out to the crowd outside the hall: “Since you’re all here, why not come in and share a few drinks?”
“Ha ha!”
With loud laughter, five Ancestral Immortals entered the grand hall together.
There was a white-haired old man, a black-robed old woman, two middle-aged men, and a dignified middle-aged beauty.
Among them, the middle-aged beauty had the highest cultivation—she was at the third layer of the Ancestral Immortal Realm.
The old man and old woman were both at the second layer, while the two middle-aged men were only at the first.
“Remarkable! Truly remarkable! You knew we were coming, and yet you didn’t run!”
The middle-aged beauty said with a bright smile, though her tone was full of mockery.
Ian Song waved his hand, signaling the maids and dancers to withdraw.
Once they had left, he looked at the five and said, “You little fish aren’t even qualified to make me run!”