Chapter 705: Internal Strife

"Isn't this a martial arts tournament? Why must it be a life-and-death struggle?" Han Li asked, somewhat puzzled, turning to Xi Yan for clarification.

"You may not know, honored immortal, but the Saya Assembly is not only a place for young elites of various tribes with excellent cultivation aptitudes to shine, but also a venue for major tribes to resolve inter-tribal disputes. Lord Sanmiao generally forbids private tribal wars, so they choose this method to settle matters. Thus, behind these life-and-death decisions, there are often disputes over territory and interests," Xi Yan explained.

"Oh, I see. This method of resolving conflicts is not a bad one," Han Li said, understanding immediately.

"These Grey Realm barbarians have a decent idea—simple and efficient. I like it," Shi Kongkong transmitted to Han Li, his expression unchanged.

"That this method works also shows that these people are mostly trustworthy. If it were in the Immortal Realm, with all the petty schemes among the races, both overt and covert, this method would likely be useless before conflicts escalated to an irreconcilable point," Han Li transmitted back.

"Indeed..." Shi Kongkong mused for a moment, then replied with a wry laugh.

As the two conversed through their minds, the two men on the stage had already begun fighting. The man from the Bone Tribe, who had stepped up first, exuded a noticeably stronger aura of baleful energy, his body wreathed in baleful qi, forcing the Water Tiger Tribe man to retreat step by step.

However, despite being at a disadvantage, the Water Tiger Tribe man showed no sign of panic; his eyes held a hint of excitement as he wielded a baleful trident, constantly dodging and maneuvering on the stage.

The Bone Tribe man pursued more and more fiercely, while the Water Tiger Tribe man dodged with increasing relish. Each dodge and evasion was fraught with danger, drawing gasps and cheers from the crowd below.

After watching for a while, Han Li found it strange. The Water Tiger Tribe man had been suppressing his aura all along, a classic feigned weakness tactic, and the Bone Tribe man's aura had also been dragged down from its peak. By all accounts, he should have counterattacked, but he refused to do so, continuing to cooperate with his opponent's movements, dodging perilously.

After another dozen or so exchanges, Han Li felt as if he were watching a circus act and grew bored. He shifted his gaze to the distant Boleng Lake.

At that moment, countless specks of light drifted across the sky above the lake, their reflections shimmering on the water like countless silver fish leaping.

Suddenly, Han Li's heart leaped.

Through the layers of the crowd, he glimpsed some unusual activity on the lake.

Just as he was about to take a closer look, a loud buzzing sound suddenly rang out from behind him.

With that sound, his sea of consciousness became dizzy and groggy, as if someone had struck him hard on the back of the head. But the words "Peak-Suppressing Divine Talisman" inscribed on the white snow peak standing in his sea of consciousness quickly lit up with dazzling light, transforming into a layer of bright light waves that swept outward, instantly calming all discomfort in his sea of consciousness.

Beside him, everyone, including Xi Yan, went limp and collapsed to the side.

Han Li glanced back and, from the corner of his eye, saw the Water Tiger Tribe man on the stone platform, blood flowing from all seven orifices of his face, holding aloft a black conch-like object, his eyes filled with fanaticism.

By the large tent, everyone had slumped in their chairs. Though their divine senses were still clear, they were almost completely unable to move.

At that moment, a hand reached out from beside Han Li, grabbing his sleeve and pulling downward.

He looked sideways and saw Shi Kongkong lying on the ground, signaling with his eyes for Han Li to fall down as well.

Han Li smiled helplessly to himself and pretended to collapse along with the others.

Then, from among the gathered Water Tiger Tribe people, a tall man in a gray cloak removed his hood, revealing a green, ape-like face.

Han Li's heart stirred, realizing that this man's appearance was very similar to the green-skinned apes he had seen in the ruins of the Truth Sect. However, this one's aura was clearly stronger, at the mid-Golden Immortal level, and his intelligence was evidently higher.

The tall man leaped onto the stone platform, walked over to the Water Tiger Tribe man, took the black conch from his hand, examined it for a moment, and carefully put it away.

The Water Tiger Tribe man, bleeding from all seven orifices, fell forward onto the ground, clearly dead.

At the edge of the large tent, the Water Tiger Tribe chieftain, no longer pretending, stood up from his chair, walked to the side of the green-skinned ape, bowed, and said, "Your Excellency's plans are truly ingenious; this old man is full of admiration."

"Mu Qiu, you old fiend, how dare you collude with the people of the Nicuodu Domain and betray the Heichi Domain?" Miao Xiu forced herself to shout, though her voice was weak and feeble.

"My apologies, Miss. The Bone Tribe has occupied my Water Tiger Tribe's ancestral lands for centuries and killed my younger brother Mu Xiu and my nephew Mu Hai. Such blood feuds cannot be settled by a single life at the Saya Assembly," the Water Tiger Tribe chieftain said expressionlessly.

With that, he walked over to Wu Heli, who had been fighting Mu Duo, raised a palm, and smashed his head into pieces.

The Water Tiger Clan members below the stone platform let out loud shouts and charged toward the area where the Bone-Piercing Clan was gathered. In an instant, cries of agony rang out continuously, and the stench of blood filled the air.

Inside the large tent, the chieftain of the Bone-Piercing Clan was so enraged that his eyes were split open, wailing incessantly.

"Was this act carried out on the orders of Grand Lord Gu, or was it your own Green Ape Clan's decision? Are you not afraid that our Black Tooth Domain will abandon neutrality and side with the Reincarnation Domain?" Miao Xiu asked through gritted teeth, flames of anger rising in her eyes.

"Hmph, don't think we don't know. The Reincarnation Domain has already sent someone to negotiate with your father. Siding with them is only a matter of time," the green-skinned ape finally spoke, his voice hoarse.

"If you want to accuse someone, you can always find a pretext. My father has always been unequivocally opposed to the Reincarnation Domain's propositions and has done his best to persuade allied states not to be deceived by them. How could he possibly side with the Reincarnation Domain?" Miao Xiu grew even more furious upon hearing this, rebuking.

"Your Black Tooth Domain is merely a small realm, and you've always thought too highly of yourselves. Since you dared to allow the Reincarnation Domain's envoy into your territory, don't blame us for using you as a sacrificial banner to warn others." The green-skinned ape sneered.

Having said that, he turned to look in the direction of Bolen Lake and let out a loud, clear call.

Suddenly, waves churned violently on the lake's surface. The Green Ape Clan and other Nizhata and tribal armies that had long been lurking in the water surged up from the lake, densely packed, numbering tens of thousands.

Once ashore, they rushed forward like a tide, charging into the various clans of the Black Tooth Domain and beginning a frenzied slaughter.

At that moment, the cries of battle truly shook the heavens, and blood flowed like a river.

Han Li and the Gray Lizard Clan were not too far from the lakeshore. Soon, those Nizhata armies would attack them, and then he and Shi Chuankong would have no choice but to resist. Once their identities as immortals were exposed, not only the Nizhata Domain's armies but even the various clans of the Black Tooth Domain would likely turn their spears against them and encircle them.

In the Gray Realm, no matter which faction, no matter how deep their hatred for each other, they had long reached a consensus on one point: at all times, disputes must be set aside to jointly resist the Immortal Realm.

Han Li was not truly afraid of these people; after all, with their abilities, they could still retreat unscathed. However, if it came to that, their identities would be difficult to continue concealing, and finding another opportunity to return to the Immortal Realm would become even more difficult.

"What do we do? We can't keep pretending..." Shi Chuankong transmitted, his tone quite anxious.

Han Li frowned slightly and did not reply. His gaze shifted to the stone platform, where he saw that the green-skinned ape had somehow produced a large spiked club and was smashing the heads of the Black Tooth Domain clan chieftains one by one.

Mu Qiu had bound the chieftain of the Bone-Piercing Clan before him. In his hand, a black long blade stained with white karmic fire was placed against the chieftain's neck and shoulder, about to sever his head.

The latter, however, stiffened his neck, his eyes full of hatred, but his face showed no fear.

The cries of anguish nearby grew louder and louder, and it seemed that the Nizhata Domain's tribal armies were about to reach the Gray Lizard Clan.

"Forget it, we can't hide our identities anymore. At worst, we'll slaughter all these Gray Realm people, then destroy the bodies and wipe out all traces, and leave here as soon as possible..." Shi Chuankong transmitted, his aura beginning to fluctuate unstably.

"Don't act rashly. I have a way." Han Li no longer hesitated and stopped him.

As soon as he spoke, while Shi Chuankong was still astonished, he saw a wisp of black mist rising from beneath Han Li, swirling in midair to form a black vortex that instantly flew far away and landed on the black stone platform.

Shi Chuankong's gaze sharpened. When he detected the aura emanating from the black mist, his expression suddenly changed.

It was actually a Gray Immortal with a Taiyi realm cultivation!

The black vortex swirled above the stone platform, then suddenly condensed, crashing down like a meteorite billowing with thick black smoke.

With a thunderous roar!

The black stone platform shook violently, splitting apart from the center, fracturing into countless pieces like a spiderweb.

At the center of the cracks, all the black mist converged and coalesced into a tall, handsome young man dressed in black tight-fitting clothes, lightly waving a black folding fan in his hand. The aura of a Taiyi Gray Immortal emanated from him without any concealment, spreading outward in layers of invisible ripples that continuously radiated from beneath his feet.

This person was none other than Mo Guang, who had taken possession of the Gray Immortal's corpse. However, before leaving the Flower Branch Cave Heaven, he had used a secret technique to change his appearance to this youthful face.

The people on the platform were caught off guard by this sudden turn of events, all looking with astonishment and suspicion at the black-clad man who had descended from the sky.

The green-skinned ape, holding the spiked club, studied Mo Guang for a moment, then his expression suddenly changed, and he exclaimed in shock:

"You... you are from the Void Harmony Clan? Impossible... How could there be someone from the Void Harmony Clan here?"

"The Void Harmony Clan... From your tone, it sounds like a formidable tribe..." Mo Guang chuckled upon hearing this.