Chapter Thirty-Six: Making Peace

Yaoye gazed at the receding figures of his eldest and third senior brothers and sighed softly, “Eldest Brother, Third Brother, farewell forever. Let me win you a chance to escape!” His body shone with dazzling light, exuding an aura of unmatched determination. The demons locked in combat with him found this most unfortunate. “All of you, die with me!” Yaoye shouted, charging toward the assembled foes. Seeing his suicidal assault, the others scrambled to flee.

“Yaoye! Stop! Quickly, stop!” A voice echoed from the cave entrance. Overjoyed, Yaoye halted his attack and called out, “Dean Tang Ze! Is that you?”

Tang Ze hurried to Yaoye’s side, pressing his palm to Yaoye’s back to help him suppress the chaotic energy raging within him. “How could you be so foolish? Don’t you know this would kill you?” Tang Ze gazed at Yaoye, his face full of concern.

Yaoye slowly turned his head and asked, “Are my senior brothers safe?” Tang Ze reassured him, “With me here, you will all be fine. Don’t speak—focus on circulating your energy to suppress the turmoil inside you.”

Hearing that his senior brothers were safe, Yaoye’s taut nerves gradually relaxed. His vision darkened, and he collapsed toward the ground.

Tang Ze quickly caught him and carried him outside the cave. Outside, the battle raged fiercely. Seeing Tang Ze emerge with Yaoye in his arms, Liu Xin hurried over, her face full of pity as she looked at the unconscious Yaoye cradled against the dean’s chest.

“Liu Xin, take good care of Yaoye for me. I’ll be right back.” Gently, she received Yaoye from Tang Ze’s arms.

Tang Ze, his face clouded with anger, soared toward the center of the battlefield. “Damn you, demon clan! Betraying the alliance! And you fiends—how dare you come to the heart of our territory? Do you think we’re helpless?”

“Hmph! Do you think you alone can stop us? Look around—who do you think has more experts?” retorted the demon clan’s elder.

“Then let’s find out! I’ll kill as many of your young ones as it takes!” Tang Ze threatened.

“Old bastard! You wouldn’t dare!” The demon clan’s Grand Elder lost his composure. “If you kill our young, I’ll slaughter yours as well!”

Tang Ze sneered, “Do it, then! We’re all as good as dead anyway. Let’s see who takes more down with them!”

“You son of a—damn you, old bastard! You win!” The Grand Elder glared furiously. “Enough! Cease fighting, all of you!”

“I am Xuan Tiangang,” declared the old man. “I believe our reasons for leading our groups here are the same. Speak—how do you propose we resolve this?”

Tang Ze’s side paused their attacks. Tang Ze, curious, asked, “Then tell me—what is your purpose in coming here? Why did you capture so many villagers?”

Tang Ze, Xing Kai, and Li Chun stood side by side, facing Xuan Tiangang, the demon clan’s Grand Elder, and the leader of the demon beasts. Xuan Tiangang knew that no matter what, he could not persuade Tang Ze and his group to withdraw today.

“Very well, I’ll tell you. The Earth’s Heart Lotus has appeared here, but it is not yet mature. A mysterious energy barrier surrounds it. We used a demonic secret art—refining living souls—to try to open it early.”

At these words, Tang Ze brandished his sword and charged at Xuan Tiangang. “So that’s your plan? Refining living souls—how can you say it without shame! Are you not human yourself? Come, let’s fight a few hundred rounds!”

Xing Kai, seeing Tang Ze’s impulse, hurriedly restrained him. “What are you doing? Do you want us all killed? You’re not alone in your anger, but now is not the time. We can’t risk the safety of our juniors.”

Tang Ze, fuming, slowly lowered his sword.

“Listen to me,” Xuan Tiangang said. “If you agree not to interfere, not only will I let you leave unharmed, but I will offer generous gifts. What do you say?”

“We are no friends of yours,” Tang Ze replied coldly. “Everyone knows your clan cultivates the soul, and the Earth’s Heart Lotus is the finest treasure for such cultivation. There is no way we will withdraw!”

“Exactly!” Li Chun chimed in. “This treasure belongs to all. Why should we give it up just because of your empty promises? That’s nothing but wishful thinking!”

Xuan Tiangang ground his teeth in rage. “Then what do you propose?” If not for the fact that the other side’s number of top experts matched his own, he would have attacked already.

Seeing the situation deteriorate, Xing Kai quickly stepped between the two groups. “Gentlemen, let us calm down. I have a compromise. Xuan Tiangang, it is impossible for us to simply withdraw. Nor will we stand by and watch as you claim the Earth’s Heart Lotus. Here is my proposal: both sides will send only the younger generation to vie for the lotus. Whoever gains it shall have it. What say you?”

“Agreed!” Xuan Tiangang, confident in the abilities of his juniors, accepted Xing Kai’s terms without hesitation.