Target for All Enemies

Jian Wubai's words weren't loud, but they were enough for the atmosphere in the plains to change.

The Sect Master of the Broad Wisdom Sect laughed out loud and smiled at Jian Wubai in a mocking fashion. "Sect Master Jian, what are you saying. My Broad Wisdom Sect has never been hiding."

He took a step to the side and let everyone see the youths behind him. "My Broad Wisdom Sect prides itself in being above board and honest. These youths are the culmination of the effort and hard work of the many proud instructors of my sect."

The faces of Jian Wubai and Pavilion Master Xiao of the Willow Tree Pavilion fell.

Above board and honest? Effort and hard work? What a joke! Out of everyone present, it would be hard to find even one person who believed those words!

However, all of the disciples behind Sect Master Guo of the Broad Wisdom Sect were indeed disciples of his sect. Although everyone knew that they came from an outside influence and hadn't been nurtured by the Broad Wisdom Sect, they were still members of that sect.

So, while it was frustrating for Sect Master Jian and Pavilion Master Xiao do see, they couldn't not do anything against it. Since the Broad Wisdom Sect wanted to let these disciples enter the Mystic Realm, they couldn't stop them without risking war with the Broad Wisdom Sect.

'What a bastard.', Zhang Baichi cursed in his heart. Of the disciples the Broad Wisdom Sect brought, not a single one practised the cultivation techniques of the Broad Wisdom Sect. Not a single one!

Zhang Baichi took a closer look at the disciples behind Sect Master Guo and none of them seemed to have even a bit of respect for Sect Master Guo.

A few of them even watched as if they were seeing a clown performing tricks.

It seemed as if the Broad Wisdom Sect hasn't allied itself with some outside influence but had instead been annexed. Sect Master Guo had led his own sect to become someone else's lapdog.

A deathly silence prevailed as the three Sect Masters stared off against each other.

A wronged and indignant look showed on the faces of the young woman from the Willow Tree Pavilion; Expressions of anger on the faces of the disciples of the Fleeting Storm Sword Sect; Blatant disregard and mockery on the faces of those from the Broad Wisdom Sect.

Still, even he had to admit that those few disciples were most likely enough to take on both groups from the Fleeting Storm Sword Sect and the Willow Tree Pavilion, even if the latter two teamed up.

The difference between those disciples, who had reached the peak of the Body Forging Realm and those of the other two sects, who haven't reached that level, was too great.

Those at the 8th Layer didn't even qualify to partake if a battle were to break out; Thus leading to a fight of about 10 against 10, with one sided having much stronger cultivators.

'That's if I don't join the fight. I can probably take them all at once…' a mischievous idea came to Zhang Baichi's mind. 'Should I stir up so trouble?'

No one knew what to say and could only accept being mocked by the disciples behind Sect Master Guo.

Zhang Baichi stared each of them up and down with a thoughtful expression on his face. "Master."

His voice drew the attention of everyone present. He looked at Jian Wubai with confusion written all over his face. "Why are you so concerned about those weaklings? Sure, they're at the 10th Layer, but they're still a nothing but a joke."

Jian Wubai frowned. He understood what Zhang Baichi was trying to do, but without knowing the exact strength of the opponents, this was way too dangerous. "Baichi, watch your mouth. Don't be disrespectful."

'We don't know how strong they are. Don't be stupid.', Jian Wubai's voice resounded in Zhang Baichi's, but he ignored the warning and looked at the disciples of the Broad Wisdom Sect instead.

These disciples' faced had long since fallen and they looked at Zhang Baichi with dark expressions. Zhang Baichi was not concerned, though. "Am I wrong, though? A bunch of third-rate cultivators from God knows where think they're good enough to look down upon my fellow disciples? Now that's a joke if I've ever heard one."

"Watch your mouth, brat.", one of the disciples spoke in a cold tone. He seemed to be the oldest of the ten disciples of the Broad Wisdom Sect and his face clearly showed his anger.

Sect Master Guo also stepped forward and looked at Zhang Baichi with cold eyes. "What a disrespectful little bastard. Is that what you teach your disciples, Jian Wubai?"

"Disrespectful? Oh please. Even your own disciples treat you like a clown. Why should I respect you?", Zhang Baichi sneered at Sect Master Guo. The Sect Master's expression darkened.

Before he could speak, Jian Wubai jumped in once more. "Zhang Baichi, stand down!"

Zhang Baichi looked at him with a confident glint in his eyes. Seeing this, Jian Wubai calmed down and spoke in a neutral voice. "Apologize to Sect Master Guo."

"Yes, Master.", Zhang Baichi took a step forward and cupped his fists. "My apologies, Sect Master Guo. It appears I've gone too far with my words."

Sect Master Guo sneered and looked at Jian Wubai. "I'll give you face and let the matter rest for now."

Jian Wubai nodded with a faint smile, but his smile faded soon after and looked toward the open plains with a serious expression. "It appears the Mystic Realm will open soon."

The other two Sect Masters also turned in the same direction with serious gazes, then back at their own disciples. "You all, prepare yourselves. The Mystic Realm will open in a few minutes at most."

All the disciples lined up in an orderly fashion behind their respective leaders.

Jian Wubai didn't say anything, but the disciples of the Fleeting Storm Sword Sect lined up behind Zhang Baichi just as well.

A storm kicked up in the open planes and the space in front of them seemed to vibrate. The three Sect masters each pulled a paper talisman out and threw it towards the spatial phenomenon.

The talismans lit up and created a formation in the air. Weird symbols drew a circle in mid-air and created a flickering image inside of it; This was a special pathway.

The three Sect Master provided their own Qi to maintain the spatial pathway through the talismans and looked at the disciples. None of them seemed strained by their work.

"The Mystic Realm has appeared a bit earlier than expected. All of you can enter through the portal.", Jian Wubai spoke and threw a paper talisman to each of the disciples of his sect.

"These talismans make a set. By holding on to them, you will be transported to the same random location within the Mystic Realm and won't be split up.", he explained.

Pavilion Master Xiao and Sect Master Guo threw similar sets of talismans to their disciples and also told them to stick together.

'Baichi, the group from the Broad Wisdom Sect won't let this rest. Be careful inside the Mystic Realm.', Jian Wubai's voice sounded in Zhang Baichi's head.

He bowed his head. "Don't worry Sect Master. We will surely bring great harvests during this trip."

The group of the Broad Wisdom Sect was the first to step into the spatial pathway as they didn't need Sect Master Guo to explain much to them.

Zhang Baichi and the group of the Fleeting Storm Sword Sect followed suit. When Zhang Baichi passed Jian Wubai, the latter pushed another talisman into his hand. 'Use this talisman to find the Willow Tree Pavilion's group.'

Zhang Baichi heard the sound transmission his Master sent him when he stepped into the portal.

Before, it painted a picture of an idyllic forest, but the scenery changed as Zhang Baichi stepped into the portal. It was like he was walking through nothing and there was no light to his sides, only a small opening at the end of the tunnel.

Step by step, Zhang Baichi neared the opening, ignoring the twisting feeling in his stomach as he walked through the spatial pathway. It didn't take long for him to reach the opening and step onto solid ground again.

Only, he was now standing in a completely different world; The surroundings were dark and damp. Solid stone laced the ceiling, walls and ground, though none of the stone seemed man-made. 'A cave?'

Zhang Baichi looked around after using Qi to make some light. He was indeed standing in a cave. There was no obvious exit, but he felt a light breeze from the path leading upwards.

One after the other, people appeared around him, some looking pale, other's panting heavily. 'Why are they this exhausted when I'm fine? Is everyone's experience in the spatial tunnel different?'

Three… Four… Seven… Nine.

One by one, everyone from the Fleeting Storm Sword Sect appeared within the small cave and no one was missing. Zhang Baichi mustered them quickly. Aside from himself, Lu Zheng, Yun Ye, Yu Hao and Lu Hao seemed fine. The remaining five people would need a short rest.

"Let's wait a while for everyone to catch their breath. It seems the way out is the path leading upwards. Lu Zheng, can you already tell where this is?", Zhang Baichi spoke in a calm tone.

Lu Zheng shook his head. "I can't tell anything about this cave, Brother Zhang. We'd have to go out first."

"Alright. Then let's rest first. Yu Hao, Yun Ye, can you check the path leading deeper into the cave? You just have to take a look; Don't go too far, but make sure there's no Demonbeasts laying in ambush."