Mantai slowly descended from the void, looking down from a commanding height at the blood-soaked Cangxue Palace Master below. He spoke indifferently, "Is this your strength? Cangxue Palace Master."
All parties were shocked. The Cangxue Palace Master had been defeated, and it was a crushing defeat.
Because Mantai, the chieftain of the Barbarian Tribe, was completely unharmed, not even out of breath. Standing in the heavens, he displayed boundless, imposing might.
Wasn't it said that the Body Refinement Path treasure manual cultivated by the Barbarian Tribe had severe flaws and carried terrifying hidden dangers? Why did Mantai show no such aftereffects when he struck? His blood and qi even seemed increasingly vigorous, making people deeply suspicious.
Could it be that the Barbarian Tribe had obtained the complete Body Refinement Path treasure manual?
This thought surfaced in the minds of many, but they immediately shook their heads, finding it unlikely. After all, those who acted back then involved several superpowers, with the participation of Great Powers, and it seemed there was even secret interference from ancient Divine Kings.
It was precisely their actions that directly led to the decline of the Barbarian Tribe. To say they had obtained the complete Body Refinement Path treasure manual now was simply impossible. Even with Mantai's promotion to a new Great Power, the current Barbarian Tribe would find it difficult to reclaim that half of the treasure manual from those superpowers.
But if that wasn't the case, how did Mantai advance to Great Power, and how did he defeat the Cangxue Palace Master, another Great Power, in this manner?
The crowd was utterly perplexed.
The Cangxue Palace Master shakily rose into the air, covered in blood, and gave a bitter smile. "I am defeated. Though we are both newly advanced Great Powers, I am far inferior to you!"
Today, he had formally experienced the fearsome nature of a Great Power from the Body Refinement Path. Although both were at the early Great Power stage, Mantai's physical body was extremely terrifying. He could clash head-on with his Great Power Dao weapons bare-handed. With every collision, he felt his dao techniques shattering and his entire body in pain. All of this demonstrated that the other's power completely overwhelmed his own.
Both at the early Great Power stage, yet he was far from being a match for his opponent.
If not for today's clash, he would never have believed this.
All parties were shaken. The Cangxue Palace Master actually admitted he was inferior to Mantai.
Didn't this prove that Mantai, though a newly advanced Great Power, possessed fearsome strength comparable to veteran Great Powers?
"Let's go," the Cangxue Palace Master said, sounding utterly dejected.
"Wait!"
Suddenly, Mantai spoke up, stopping the Cangxue Palace Master.
The latter paused his figure. "Mantai, what else do you want?"
"What else?" Mantai chuckled coldly. "Cangxue Palace Master, your Cangxue Palace came here with such a grand display. Surely it wasn't just to watch this Great Power battle between us. You probably wanted to defeat me and annihilate my Barbarian Tribe."
The powerhouses of Cangxue Palace immediately changed expressions.
A flicker of panic flashed deep in the Cangxue Palace Master's eyes, but his face showed cold fury. "Mantai, don't you dare slander us!"
This matter absolutely could not be admitted. Otherwise, if Mantai sought revenge, it would be a catastrophic disaster for the entire Cangxue Palace.
"Is that so?" Mantai sneered. How could he not know what the Cangxue Palace Master was thinking? He then took a step forward, the fearsome imposing might belonging to a Great Power slowly rising from his body, sweeping across the sky. "In that case, today my Barbarian Tribe gives your Cangxue Palace two choices. From now on, Cangxue Palace acknowledges itself as a subordinate force of my Barbarian Tribe. Otherwise, we go to war directly."
As his words fell, heaven and earth fell silent!
The Barbarian Tribe actually wanted to claim Cangxue Palace for itself, making it a subordinate force?
The powerhouses of Cangxue Palace were all furious, especially the Cangxue Palace Master, who was incensed. He coldly shouted, "Mantai, don't push people too far!"
"And what if I do push people too far?" Mantai revealed a hint of mockery, his sharp gaze sweeping across heaven and earth, looking at the various forces. He said coldly, "In the past, my Barbarian Tribe was friendly with all sides, never oppressing others. Yet we were oppressed everywhere by various parties. Now that you, Cangxue Palace Master, have become a Great Power, you even want to annihilate my Barbarian Tribe. The other forces that came probably also wanted to get a share of the spoils. Since that's the case, my Barbarian Tribe will change its previous style and take the initiative to strike!"
Boom—
As his voice fell, an aura of domineering, forceful might swept out, crashing into the powerhouses of Cangxue Palace.
Thump, thump, thump—
Like kites with cut strings, the Cangxue Palace powerhouses fell from the sky one after another.
The Cangxue Palace Master was even slapped away by him with a single palm, smashed into the ground, his injuries worsening, appearing exceptionally miserable and wretched.
Seeing this, all forces felt their hearts tremble.
The imposing might displayed by the Barbarian Tribe now was too fearsome. Moreover, they had completely abandoned their former gentle demeanor, becoming rigid and forceful, not even placing Cangxue Palace in their eyes.
But it was precisely this that made all parties revere them.
The Barbarian Tribe, now possessing a newly advanced Great Power, would undoubtedly suppress Cangxue Palace in the days to come, becoming the number one force in Eastern Victory's Thirteen States.
Furthermore, Cangxue Palace was highly likely to be annexed by the Barbarian Tribe.
At this moment, a Great Power from the Qianwu Ancient Country descended here. Looking at Mantai from a distance with a trace of gravity, he cupped his fists. "Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Mantai, on your advancement to Great Power."
"Great Power Qianyu, why is he here?"
The various powerhouses exclaimed in surprise. The arriving Great Power was Great Power Qianyu, a true high-ranking figure in the Qianwu Ancient Country, holding a position of considerable authority.
"The Qianwu Ancient Country sent Great Power Qianyu to congratulate Chieftain Mantai on his advancement. But why do I feel things aren't that simple?"
Many frowned, always feeling the situation wasn't as straightforward as imagined.
Mantai returned the courtesy. "Thank you. May I ask why Fellow Daoist Qianyu has come?"
Great Power Qianyu chuckled. "This time, I have come under His Majesty's orders specifically to congratulate you, Fellow Daoist, on your advancement to Great Power."
"I am grateful for His Majesty's concern. Please trouble Fellow Daoist Qianyu to return to the imperial capital and convey my thanks to His Majesty on my behalf."
"Good!"
Great Power Qianyu glanced at the blood-soaked Cangxue Palace Master. "Fellow Daoist, please spare Cangxue Palace this once. This matter is Cangxue Palace's own fault. Another day, I will personally order Cangxue Palace to make appropriate compensation to the Barbarian Tribe. Let this matter end here, how about that?"
The hearts of all forces shook. They finally understood Great Power Qianyu's intention: he was here to protect Cangxue Palace.
But they also understood the deeper meaning.
Now that the Barbarian Tribe had risen again, dominating Eastern Victory's Thirteen States, if Cangxue Palace's balancing influence was completely lost, they would become the unrivaled king of Eastern Victory's Thirteen States.
This was something the imperial family did not wish to see and would not allow.
Cangxue Palace must continue to exist.
Mantai, as the chieftain of the Barbarian Tribe, naturally understood this. He also knew that the current Barbarian Tribe was far from a match for the Qianwu Ancient Country. After a moment of silence, he nodded.
The two exchanged a few more words, and then Great Power Qianyu turned and left, tearing through the air.
Gazing at the departing figure of Great Power Qianyu, Mantai's eyes flickered, lost in thought.
That night, the Barbarian Tribe held a grand feast. Various forces from Eastern Victory's Thirteen States came to congratulate Chieftain Mantai on his advancement to Great Power and leading the Barbarian Tribe toward a more glorious future.
Only Cangxue Palace remained silent. That very night, they ordered a Heavenly King powerhouse to present a rich compensation, nearly one-fifth of Cangxue Palace's heritage, astonishing all the guests.