When Li Bei also discovered these intruders, he said with some nervousness, "Are you all, esteemed elders, planning to teach these blind men a lesson?"

"Whether they're blind or not is hard to say, but it seems this trip might be a wild goose chase," Wu Ding said. "If we push these people back, as for the Sky Sea Elixir..."

Upon hearing this, Li Bei knew that if Wu Ding wanted to make a move, he would need to offer something in return. Even if he didn't hand over the Sky Sea Elixir immediately, he had to make a promise. Li Bei said, "How about fifteen Sky Sea Elixirs for all of you?"

Wu Ding laughed and said, "That's more like it... twenty."

Li Bei looked embarrassed, while Elder Wu next to him summoned his magic sword to his hand, using his Spiritual Sense to investigate the intruders heading toward the outer hall. He said, "Prepare to engage."

These cultivators were generally at the Foundation Establishment Stage, with only a few having reached the Golden Core Stage, and even then they were just at the initial stage. Elder Wu alone could easily repel them.

Not long after, a group of cultivators emerged from within. Among them were both men and women, and one of them, Ye Fan had seen before. She was the robed woman who fought Han Qing'er on the grassland that day, seemingly someone from the Mingyuan Sect.

"It's them again. Uncle and elder masters, these opponents are tough, handle them with care," the robed woman said upon seeing Ye Fan and others. She was shocked, as she had suffered defeat at Han Qing'er's hands back then. She didn't expect to encounter them again after invading the Sky Sea Sect's base.

Li Bei wasn't worried about the robed woman; he was concerned about the experts from the Mingyuan Sect. From all directions emerged forty or fifty disciples of the Mingyuan Sect, blocking the entrances of the main hall like they were laying a trap.

"Little girl, it's you again," Wu Ding said with a playful smile. "Your cultivation looks good. I'm short of a disciple here. Are you interested in becoming my student?"

The robed woman spat and said, "Pah, what do you take me for, someone who betrays their sect just like that wench? Why don't you join the Mingyuan Sect and be my stool? Wherever I go, you can kneel on the ground and let me sit..."

"Slap, slap!"

Before the robed woman finished speaking, she received two crisp slaps on her face out of nowhere. Wu Ding had purposely taught this insolent woman a lesson.

"Huh?" The robed woman, still unaware of what had happened, touched her now swollen face, blood streaming from her mouth. She looked around and then at Wu Ding, who still wore a smile. She was dumbfounded, "Who hit me?"

Her mouth was swollen, making it hard for her to speak clearly.

Li Bei clasped his hands in salute and said, "Everyone, the item you are looking for is with me. Please do not destroy anything of the Sky Sea Sect. If you wish to engage, please do so outside!"

"Just go out because you say so? This Sky Sea Sect's mountain gate doesn't deserve to exist. Back then, when the three main sects attacked the Sky Sea Sect jointly, many of our disciples were injured or killed. Today is the day to settle that score," a sharp-voiced old man with a sharp and thin face and a goatee said from the opposite side.

Wu Ding laughed and said, "Oh, this old elder speaks so humorously. You attacked the Sky Sea Sect with force and suffered such losses, and yet you want to settle that score with the Sky Sea Sect?"

"Who are you?" the old man scrutinized Wu Ding.

"Me? Haha, just someone paid to resolve problems for others. Let me put it this way: my task is just to help the Sky Sea Sect defend its gate. If you leave now, I'll let bygones be bygones. But if you continue to pester, I'll repay you in kind!" Wu Ding spoke these words as if joking.

"Repay in kind?" The old man pondered these words, understanding that if they didn't harbor murderous intent, neither would this woman. But if they intended to kill to the last person, this woman would show no mercy either.

Originally, he thought little of Wu Ding and the others. Even if Li Bei was a Golden Core Stage expert, the Mingyuan Sect had brought three Golden Core Stage experts this time. It would be easy to kill Li Bei and take what they wanted.

However, apart from Li Bei, he couldn't assess the cultivation levels of the others. Since these people were invited by Li Bei, it's clear their levels of cultivation surpassed Li Bei.

The old man thought, "I've somewhat heard of or met many experts on Earth, where did these people suddenly come from?"

"Hand over the Copper Mirror's protector bell, and we can leave immediately." The old man, unlike the impulsive robed woman, took a cautious approach. Their strength was unpredictable, so it was best to first understand their origins and levels of cultivation.

Wu Ding shook her head, "As my task is to protect the Sky Sea Sect, it includes protecting its people and artifacts. Whatever Copper Mirror protector bell you are talking about is within my scope of protection."

"Courting death!" The old man remained silent, but a late Foundation Establishment Stage male disciple beside him quickly rushed toward Wu Ding, seemingly intending to pierce the outspoken woman with his magic sword.

But when he was halfway there, it was as if an invisible wall blocked him. He crashed into it headfirst, and the combined force of his charge and the spiritual energy wall knocked him out. He hung on the wall for a long time before falling to the ground, lying there unconscious.

"Huh?" The people from the Mingyuan Sect, witnessing this scene, retreated in surprise. They hadn't even noticed how that woman had acted.

Without lifting a finger, she could knock out a late Foundation Establishment Stage person. Her cultivation level had to be at least above the late Golden Core Stage.

Wu Ding appeared dissatisfied, glaring at Ye Fan beside her, blaming him, "Why did you take action, junior brother? I wanted to play with him a bit!"

The one who acted earlier wasn't Wu Ding but Ye Fan. Observing that the charging kid clearly intended to borrow strength for an attack, possibly ambushing him and Li Zhaojun, he couldn't allow Li Zhaojun to be at risk, so he simply used a swiftly advancing spiritual energy wall to knock the kid out first.

"I was helping senior sister, but if you don't appreciate it, do as you please." Ye Fan supported Li Zhaojun with one hand and made a 'please' gesture with the other, indicating that he wouldn't interfere anymore.

The old man realized the terrifying strength of these people. Even if he combined all the people he brought, they might not be a match for any one of them.

Now, unable to take Li Bei's protector bell, it was best to preserve their forces for another day, though it would be quite a blow to the Mingyuan Sect's reputation.

"Everyone, our Mingyuan Sect is one of the three ancient sects, with many comrades around the world. If you let us through today, the Mingyuan Sect will respect you in the future. But if you choose to make things difficult today, don't blame us for being rude!" the old man said sharply.

Wu Ding said, "Who asked for your courtesy? The door is over there. If you want to leave, there's still time."

"Uncle, let's do this!" The robed woman was very reluctant. She had been slapped without reason, and in front of so many fellow sect members, making her, the sect master's most favored disciple, quite embarrassed. She was the heir to the Mingyuan Sect's sect master.

"Come on, little girl. Weren't you saying you wanted me as a stool? Well, actually, this sister of yours is tired and needs a place to sit. I think your back looks comfortable enough!" Wu Ding said mockingly.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.