C18 The Net Sect

"Swoosh! Swoosh!"

One by one, silhouettes emerged in the sky as numerous elders of the Star Cloud Sect made their appearance.

Opposite the Star Cloud Sect, a throng of dark figures loomed, with their leader clutching a hefty blade.

He surveyed the members of the Star Cloud Sect with a contemptuous sneer. "Has the Star Cloud Sect run out of warriors?"

The Dust Taoist bristled at their brazenness. "Who are you to act so insolently at the gates of the Star Cloud Sect?"

Members of the Net Sect stepped forward with a mocking laugh. "Tian Juezi."

The Dust Taoist had never sought trouble with members of other sects, nor did he wish to start now.

Tian Juezi scanned the Star Cloud Sect and realized that none present posed a threat to him. Were it not for the strong energy emanating from the rear mountain, they might have seized the chance to annihilate the Star Cloud Sect.

"A respectable sect isn't judged by us old timers. Do you have the courage to summon your younger experts?" he taunted.

With a gesture from him, a figure stepped forward. The Net Sect had brought a host of young disciples, seemingly eager for a confrontation.

The Dust Taoist sized up the disciple before him, recognizing that his power was comparable to that of the Second Prince. In the Star Cloud Sect, anyone who could match him would need to possess at least a purple Root. Out of hundreds, perhaps thousands tested, only one had achieved a purple Root.

Bai Yu wasn't even considered for the lineup. Disciples with a golden Root seldom appeared in such scenarios.

Should the Net Sect learn of such an extraordinary disciple among them, they would surely act swiftly to eliminate the threat.

"Second Prince, do not bring shame upon our sect," the Dust Taoist admonished.

Upon hearing his name, the Second Prince stepped forward, positioning himself before the crowd.

A man in black, marked by a scar over his eye, emerged from the group. His battle-hardened visage spoke of many conflicts endured.

The Star Cloud Sect's disciples were unseasoned, their movements betraying their inexperience. What better opportunity to hone their skills than against the Net Sect's challengers?

The Second Prince faced the man in black, his sneer cutting through the tension. "I suggest you leave now. It would be unfortunate if you were to get hurt in an unforeseen accident."

The man in black remained silent, his hands crossed over his chest, his eyes gleaming with menace.

Compared to him, the Second Prince's aura paled significantly.

Tian Juezi watched as the man in black's presence intensified and let out a light chuckle.

"Looks like you're in a bit of trouble."

The Second Prince had intended to unleash a torrent of threats, but to his horror, he noticed the man in black's figure beginning to fade.

"An afterimage?"

Bai Yu, accustomed to attacking with speed, prompted the Second Prince to react.

He spun and launched a side kick, colliding with his opponent.

"Thud..."

The sound of their first clash resonated with a dull thump.

Caught off guard, the Second Prince found himself at a slight disadvantage, his energy reversing course.

A sickly sweetness surged up his throat, threatening to expel his blood.

Tian Juezi watched the Second Prince's injury with glee. "Ready to concede?"

The Second Prince's eyes blazed with fury, as red as a tiger on the prowl.

His purple Root energy erupted, drawing the attention of the disciples around him.

The man in black took note of the Second Prince's abilities with interest.

"Ah, a disciple with the purple Root. Seems like you've stumbled upon a gem."

Tian Juezi's casual remark was a veiled prompt for the man in black to strike with lethal force.

Only by nipping the threat in the bud could the Net Sect ensure its continued expansion.

As the purple energy waves spread, the man in black was forced to project his energy outward.

Though their energies clashed, neither man moved an inch.

It seemed increasingly likely that they would encounter a problem.

Suddenly, the man in black vanished from sight.

No one could tell where he had gone, but numerous afterimages appeared around him.

At first, the Second Prince managed to parry a few blows, but he soon found himself on the defensive, taking hit after hit.

The Net Sect's onlookers watched the Star Cloud Sect's disciples falter, their faces twisted with cruel satisfaction.

This was the nature of single combat. Should the Star Cloud Sect's elders intervene,

the Net Sect's elders would not simply stand by. A great battle could very well be on the horizon.

In the blink of an eye, the Second Prince was subdued and pinned to the ground by them.

The Dust Taoist watched as the Second Prince was knocked down, feeling somewhat uneasy.

It was hard to believe that the person with the strongest Root present had been defeated.

Tian Juezi clapped his hands and stepped forward, "Your Star Cloud Sect doesn't measure up to our Net Sect."

After a moment of reflection, he added, "How about this... your Star Cloud Sect merges with our Net Sect?"

The crowd burst into laughter, clearly thinking that the Star Cloud Sect wasn't even worthy of merging.

The Dust Taoist gripped his fists tightly, taken aback that the Net Sect could harbor such individuals.

It was impressive enough when a prodigy emerged in the past, but now there seemed to be several.

The man in black from the Net Sect had achieved at least a purple Root.

He glanced towards Ouchen Mingyue, hoping that the other elders might decide to send her out.

Among the younger members, only Ouchen Mingyue was considered formidable.

If even she couldn't prevail, then the Star Cloud Sect would truly be no match for the Net Sect.

Tian Juezi gave them a dismissive look and challenged, "I'm giving you a chance. Send someone else."

The man in black kept a firm hold on the Second Prince, as if waiting for more challengers, a mocking smile on his face.

The Dust Taoist was seething, wishing he could take matters into his own hands and eliminate the man, his mood souring by the minute.

"What do we do now?"

Ouchen Mingyue's master approached the Dust Taoist and shared their predicament.

They had only just begun to practice the Secret Scripture, and entering the fray now could potentially ruin their cultivation base.

For the sake of the Star Cloud Sect's future, they simply couldn't afford to step into the ring at this moment.

Seeing no one come forward to accept the challenge, Tian Juezi signaled to the man in black, "If there are no challengers, then we shall take our leave."

With that, the man in black's hands transformed into claws, and he viciously struck at the Second Prince's back, aiming for the very seat of his Root.

"You've got some nerve, attempting to sabotage the very foundation of his cultivation."

Dust Taoist had just materialized in the sky when Tian Juezi also emerged, and the two collided in midair.

As they were under the impression that the Second Prince was about to be incapacitated, a detached voice rang out.

"If I remain unseen, do you truly believe I am blind to your actions?"

A forceful palm strike hit the man in black, sending him reeling back several steps.

The Second Prince was helped to his feet, and upon examination, his injuries seemed to be of no immediate concern.

"I've recently been accepted as a disciple by the sect. Challenging you shouldn't pose any issue. Send forth your most formidable contender. The one before... simply doesn't measure up."