Just as the crowd was buzzing with discussion, the arrival of a group of over ten people instantly made the atmosphere in the area turn strange, complex, and peculiar. The expressions on the faces of those who felt immense sympathy and pity for Han Dong also became even more sympathetic, even more pitying, and even more helpless.
Because these ten-plus newcomers were none other than people from Yao Yue Palace, and moreover, they were several Elders of Yao Yue Palace. One of them was even Ziyu Daozun, an Elder with considerable influence in Yao Yue Palace who held the position of Executive Elder.
If that were all, it still wouldn't have made the crowd feel even more pity and sympathy for Han Dong. The real reason was that among these ten-plus people, there was also Han Dong's sworn rival.
That was a young and beautiful woman.
Everyone present knew her. Her name was Bi Lan.
She was not only a direct disciple of Yao Yue Palace but also one of the famous geniuses of the Great Northwest Frontier.
However, she was merely a genius.
Whether in terms of innate talent, destiny, or comprehension, she was far inferior to Han Dong. It was only by relying on the support of Elders within Yao Yue Palace that she dared to act arrogantly and domineeringly across the Great Northwest. And it was only by relying on the support of Yao Yue Palace Elders that she dared to repeatedly oppress and even humiliate Han Dong.
The situation in the area was already very unfavorable for Han Dong. Now, with the appearance of Ziyu Daozun and Bi Lan, not only would they not lend a helping hand, but it was highly likely they would add insult to injury.
Sure enough.
After they understood the situation, Bi Lan was the first to step forward. Staring at Han Dong, she sneered disdainfully, "Han Dong, if you're short on resources, you could have just told me. Why resort to snatching the crystal ore from the Seniors of Hei Feng Cave?"
"Stay out of my affairs!"
Han Dong knew Bi Lan's character well and naturally showed her no courtesy either.
"Hmph! Do you think I want to meddle in your affairs? As a disciple of our Yao Yue Palace, you have the audacity to shamelessly snatch the crystal ore from the Seniors of Hei Feng Cave. Do you have any idea how much this damages the reputation of our Yao Yue Palace?"
Bi Lan's words were particularly malicious. She started off with a round of reprimands, and from her speech, it was completely clear that she had never regarded Han Dong as the Heir Apparent of Yao Yue Palace. In her eyes, Han Dong was merely a disciple of Yao Yue Palace, nothing more.
"Bi Lan, which of your eyes saw Sister Han Dong snatch anyone's crystal ore?"
The one who spoke these words wasn't Han Dong, but Ouyang Ye. The young girl looked at Bi Lan with extreme disgust and said, "Moreover, Sister Han Dong isn't just a disciple of Yao Yue Palace; she is the Heir Apparent of Yao Yue Palace!"
"Heir Apparent? Hehehe..." Bi Lan laughed as if she had heard the funniest joke in the world, her laughter filled with unrestrained mockery and disdain. "Sorry, but this 'Heir Apparent' title of Han Dong's—from the Elders above to the disciples below in our Yao Yue Palace—not a single person acknowledges it!"
"Shameless!" Ouyang Ye snorted coldly, her expression full of contempt.
"You little wild girl, I've warned you many times. The affairs of our Yao Yue Palace are not for you to interfere in. If you dare speak out of turn again in the future, I won't let you off!"
"Won't let me off? With what? You?" Ouyang Ye was also someone who feared neither heaven nor earth. She retorted sharply, "Do you think your grandma here was scared into growing up? I'm afraid of you?"
"Seeking death!"
As Bi Lan raised her hand, a flash of light shimmered. A sliver of radiance shot toward Ouyang Ye like an arrow. Han Dong, standing nearby with quick reflexes, abruptly lifted her hand. The Frost-Ice Sword in her grasp instantly slashed through that sliver of radiance, causing it to dissipate and vanish.
"Han Dong! You dare raise a hand against me!" Bi Lan flew into a rage. Just as she was about to make a move, Ziyu Daozun behind her stopped her.
Ziyu Daozun was a middle-aged woman who appeared somewhat attractive. She glanced at Han Dong and said indifferently, "Han Dong, hand over the crystal ore."
"I obtained the crystal ore first. I will not hand it over to anyone!"
Han Dong remained as cold and icy as ever, standing proudly in mid-air. Her cold, beautiful face showed no trace of joy or anger. Whether facing the murderous intent of Hei Feng Cave, or the humiliating words from Bi Lan just now, or even now confronting the Enforcement Elder of Yao Yue Palace, she remained exactly the same.
Elder Ziyu rebuked angrily, "I am the Enforcement Elder of Yao Yue Palace! Do you dare defy my command?"
"Since you do not acknowledge me as the Heir Apparent of Yao Yue Palace," Han Dong's voice was cold and faint, "why should I acknowledge you as this Enforcement Elder?"
"How dare you!" Elder Ziyu was instantly enraged. Her Primordial Spirit erupted, the surging spiritual power around her body rolling violently as she glared viciously at Han Dong, breathing heavily.
She did not attack!
Not because she didn't want to, but because she didn't dare.
Because she knew she was no match for Han Dong. Even though she was a Primordial Spirit Daozun who had cultivated for a thousand years, it was still not enough.
Bi Lan wasn't enough either.
The other several Yao Yue Palace disciples in their entourage weren't enough either.
If it were otherwise, Han Dong would not have survived until now.
"Han Dong! I'm only advising you kindly out of respect for your master. Don't be so ungrateful. There are many experts from Hei Feng Cave inside the Peach Blossom Secret Realm. If you don't hand over the crystal ore, I'm afraid you won't be walking out of here today."
"Whether I can walk out of the Peach Blossom Secret Realm today has nothing to do with you." Han Dong responded with icy indifference.
Within the area, more and more people were drawn over, watching this scene and discussing animatedly. Someone who seemed not to understand asked aloud.
"The people of Yao Yue Palace have never acknowledged Han Dong as the Heir Apparent, right? Since that's the case, why bother stepping in to meddle in this affair? Why not just let the people from Hei Feng Cave kill Han Dong? Wouldn't that kill two birds with one stone—a perfect outcome?"
"Not acknowledging is one thing. Even if the people of Yao Yue Palace refuse to acknowledge it, the fact remains that Han Dong is the Heir Apparent personally taught by Palace Master Feiyan. No one can deny that. If Han Dong were truly killed by Hei Feng Cave here in the Peach Blossom Secret Realm today, where would the face of Yao Yue Palace be? Yao Yue Palace is already not what it used to be. If Han Dong, this widely known Heir Apparent, were killed in broad daylight, who would dare join Yao Yue Palace in the future? The entire Great Northwest Frontier would laugh at Yao Yue Palace."
"Moreover, this Ziyu and Bi Lan were never any good to begin with. Do you really think if they told Han Dong to hand over the crystal ore, they would actually give it to Hei Feng Cave? Hmph! They merely after a share of the benefits."
"Alas! So you're saying, whether Han Dong wants to or not, she has to hand over that crystal ore in her possession?"
"That's hard to say. Since Han Dong is ranked among the Ten Heavenly Prodigies of our Great Northwest Frontier, her strength is naturally extraordinary. Moreover, her destiny is especially mysterious. To this day, no one knows just how powerful her true strength is. Hei Feng Cave may have experts as numerous as clouds, but Han Dong is definitely not without the strength to fight."
"Besides..."
"Besides what?"
"Let's set aside whether the people from Hei Feng Cave have the ability to kill Han Dong. Even if they do, I doubt they have the courage."
"Oh? Is it because of Yao Yue Palace?"
"Yao Yue Palace is only one reason."
"What's the second?"
"Haven't you all heard some rumors lately?"
"Rumors? What rumors?"
"Rumors about Han Dong. The rumors say she has formed a Dao-companion bond with a truly remarkable person."
"You mean... that Chiyan Young Master Gu Qingfeng who died and came back to life, claiming to be the successor-disciple of Lord Chixiao?"