But as much as everyone was tempted, they couldn't ignore the potential losses, so no one spoke up in agreement.
Among all the powers, the cultivators are undoubtedly the strongest. It's true that if all six factions joined forces, they could wipe out the cultivators—but whoever agrees first might become their main target.
If they did manage to destroy the cultivators, their own side might suffer such heavy losses that it wouldn't be worth it.
Master Taixuan suddenly spoke: "Everyone, hear me out. We cultivators don't seize territory, don't recruit followers, and don't serve the Yanhuang Republic, so we hardly conflict with your interests. But the Vampire Clan secretly controls Europe and feeds on humans. I have a proposal: why don't we join forces to wipe out the Vampires, and when this is over, march on Europe together and uproot them completely?
After it's done, our cultivator side won't take anything at all. What do you all think?"
Hearing this, Hilder's expression changed drastically. He cursed inwardly—this Master Taixuan is even more ruthless than him. Hilder had just incited everyone to wipe out the cultivators, and now this old fox was urging them to turn around and exterminate the Vampire Clan, even proposing to root them out from Europe. Ruthless, truly ruthless.
For a moment, he almost regretted bringing up the idea in the first place.
The leaders of the other five factions, however, were visibly intrigued. The cultivators may be powerful, but they rarely meddle in worldly affairs—or so everyone thinks. The Vampire Clan, on the other hand, dominates all of Europe.
If they could destroy the Vampire Clan and divide up Europe's territory, wouldn't that be perfect?
Up in the sky.
Ian Song gave Master Taixuan a deep look, thinking to himself, This old guy is no simple character. His skill at 'turning someone else's trick back on them' is truly masterful.
Still, the other five factions remained silent.
After all... whether it's Grand Duke Hilder or Master Taixuan, both stand at the very apex of this planet. The greatest hope for the other five factions is for both of them to die together.
Grand Duke Hilder suddenly laughed and said, "Alright, Master Taixuan, I was just joking with you."
Master Taixuan smiled as well. "Haha, I was joking too."
Two old foxes!
Everyone thought the same in their hearts.
Both Hilder and Master Taixuan knew that destroying the other wouldn't be easy. Since it couldn't be done cleanly, they didn't bother to keep pressing the issue and instead seemed to let bygones be bygones with a smile.
"Everyone, now let's discuss the ownership of this alien starship!" Hilder said loudly, his gaze greedy as he looked at the ship. This was a complete vessel, incredibly valuable.
There might even be aliens inside.
Most people who don't understand the Vampire Clan have a misconception: they think vampires have to drink huge amounts of blood to grow stronger.
But that's not true. Once they reach a certain rank, vampires stop drinking ordinary human blood. Of course, if they get the chance to drink an esper's essence blood, they won't hesitate.
Hilder has been stuck at the Grand Duke level for over a hundred years, unable to break through to Prince. The reason is simple: this planet's spiritual energy is far too thin. To advance, he needs to absorb a massive amount of energy, and here, that's impossible.
But with a starship, it's a whole different story. He could use it to travel the cosmos and find a planet rich in spiritual energy—then he could break through to Prince.
"This starship crashed in U.S. territory, so... it should belong to us!" Thunder God said stubbornly.
Hilder sneered, "Thunder God, do you still not see the reality here? Do you really think you few can monopolize the ship?"
Up above.
Ian watched them argue and figured it wasn't going to turn into a fight.
So he decided not to wait any longer.
With a single thought, his height and appearance shifted rapidly until he became an elderly white man.
Even though he wasn't afraid of these people, if he snatched the starship with his real face, it would definitely cause big trouble for the Yanhuang Republic.
He put away his Bronze Flying Sword.
Ian's body dropped straight toward the ground.
1000 meters.
800 meters.
500 meters.
The people below finally noticed Ian falling from the sky.
"Who is that?"
The seven factions instinctively looked up, sizing up Ian.
When he was only 300 meters from the ground, Ian suddenly punched downward.
A torrent of power poured from his fist. Sensing the invincible force behind that punch, everyone below suddenly turned pale.
"Quick, dodge!"
"Not good, move!"
Hilder and Master Taixuan shouted almost in unison. That punch was so strong it filled them with dread.
Boom!
His fist slammed into the desert, blasting out an elliptical crater dozens of meters deep and wide.
The reflected shockwave slowed Ian's descent considerably.
When he was about a hundred meters from the ground, he kicked sideways, shifting his trajectory and landing next to the starship. With a wave of his hand, he swept away the nearby U.S. experts.
"Crap, he's trying to steal the ship!"
The seven factions' faces all changed drastically.
The cultivators instantly unleashed dozens of rainbow-glimmering magic treasures, all flying straight at Ian.
The Dark Mages also cast powerful dark magic attacks toward Ian.
"A bunch of ants dare attack this god? Courting death!"
Ian snorted coldly, twisted his body, and unleashed dozens of punches.
Each punch carried immense power; together, their energy formed a massive black hole in front of him, instantly swallowing the cultivators' treasures and the Dark Mages' spells.
The cultivators' faces changed dramatically, and they hurriedly recalled their treasures.
When the black hole vanished, not only was the white-haired old man gone, but the starship had disappeared too.
"Who was that?"
Everyone was filled with an indescribable fury.
With a single teleport, Ian moved tens of kilometers away, then released his Silverglow Skiff, carrying the starship eastward.
A few minutes later, Ian had already returned to Yanhuang.
But instead of reporting to the President right away, he brought the starship to a primeval forest.
Finding a clearing, Ian set the ship down and called out, "Come out, everyone inside. I promise I won't hurt you."
Inside the starship.
Two maids looked at Princess Nys and asked, "Your Highness, should we go out?"
"Hmph!" Nys sneered disdainfully. "Of course not. That Aquastar native definitely wants to trick us out and steal our ship."
"But even if we stay inside, the ship's shield won't last much longer!" one maid whispered.
"I know." Nys waved irritably, then said naively, "Maybe that Aquastar native can't break our shield and will just leave?"
"Really?"
The two maids looked skeptical.
"Maybe that Aquastar native's just not very bright?" Nys argued stubbornly.
Outside the ship, Ian called out a few more times, but the three elves inside still had no intention of coming out.
"You really think those fools couldn't do anything to you, and I can't either?" Ian sneered. The Azure Lotus Sword appeared in his hand, and he channeled his sword energy, slashing fiercely at the starship.