The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 1027: Mudslinging of Both Sides

Mudslinging of Both Sides . . .

Cha Eun Xiao appeared lost in thought, and his demeanor seemed to convey to Li Zihao and Cha Tianchen that he harbored trepidation toward the individuals sent by both teams.

For Cha Tianchen and Li Zihao, Cha Eun Xiao's apprehension appeared perfectly reasonable. How could a young man not be frightened by the formidable elite groups accompanying him? Those with limited exposure and lesser life experiences often enjoy a smoother path. Ignorance indeed begets happiness.

...

Cha Eun Xiao and Han Bingxue strolled leisurely at the forefront, with the twenty men from both clans trailing behind. A visible boundary demarcated the two teams.

Cha Tianchen and Li Zihao lagged behind, surrounded by hundreds of their subordinates. Their collective perspective resembled that of individuals witnessing their brethren embark on an inexplicable, perilous journey, similar to watching brothers fall in battle for an unapparent cause.

Eventually, the twenty-two individuals approached the Mountain of All Medicines. After a sharp turn, they vanished from view.

They had ventured into the Manifestation Mystic Array.

An elderly man, a forefather of the Li Clan, turned to face Cha Tianchen. "Old Cha!"

Cha Tianchen responded, "Yes, what is it?"

The elderly man erupted in frustration. "This is infuriating! Stop exploiting me!"

ChaTianchen was left speechless.

The elderly man vented his grievances for a moment before recollecting the matter at hand. He smiled and inquired, "I heard that your great-grandson, Cha Nantian, has returned?"

Cha Tianchen's expression shifted. "Enough of this nonsense. What do you want?"

The elderly man expressed a sense of pity, seemingly eager for discord within Cha Clan. "It's truly a shame, Old Cha. Your great-grandson, he's such a fine young man. In fact, you should let him..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Cha Tianchen discerned his intentions. He shouted and rushed forward with a powerful fist.

The elderly man had anticipated this response. With a resounding thud, he blocked the incoming attack and countered with a swift kick. Two forefathers engaged in a chaotic confrontation.

The hundreds of accomplished cultivators from both clans seemed to disregard them, treating the two elderly men as though they were strangers to the clans. Over time, it became apparent that the duo had a peculiar connection. Despite being archenemies for centuries, they had been childhood adversaries, alternating between beating each other day by day. Today, they continued to fight, yet neither could deliver a fatal blow.

Whenever they encountered each other, combat inevitably ensued. While many believed they cherished this antagonistic relationship, it gradually became evident that the enmity in their hearts was profound. They wished for nothing more than to witness each other's demise. Despite their intense loathing, neither could claim victory over the other. They remained equals. ɴovᴇl_Firᴇ.ɴet

Cha Tianchen unquestionably stood as the most prominent figure among both Li Clan and Cha Clan, but he was only slightly more powerful than the elderly man from the Li Clan. To defeat the old man, Cha Tianchen needed a meticulously devised strategy. Yet, the prospect of killing the elderly man remained unattainable.

...

Cha Eun Xiao remained oblivious to the situation unfolding behind him, and even if he had been aware, he would have likely disregarded it. He and his companions ventured into an area shrouded in dense fog.

"This is the first layer of Heaven Treasure Mountain," the leader from Li Clan declared confidently as they traversed the fog, moving with apparent ease. Familiarity with this terrain was evident as they seemed capable of navigating it blindfolded. "There's nothing in the first layer... not even a blade of grass."

A middle-aged man from Cha Clan chimed in, his voice laced with cold detachment. "There used to be medicinal herbs in this area, but it's been over-exploited. There's nothing left now."

The Li Clan leader coughed before responding, "Not too far ahead, on the other side, the fog will thin out. That marks the second layer of the mountain, where there will be things to collect. The distance between the first and second layers encompasses roughly five thousand meters in altitude."

The head of Cha Clan's group interjected coldly, "What do you mean by 'not far away'? It's nearly a two-thousand-step uphill climb, followed by three hundred steps on flat ground, and then another eight hundred steps uphill to reach the second layer. It's not just five thousand meters in height; it's precisely 5,695 meters. Remember the number."

The Li Clan man's irritation was evident. "Cha Shangxin, must you be this antagonistic toward me all the time? Are you perpetually against me, or are you merely seeking entertainment?"

Cha Shangxin, from Cha Clan, responded icily, "I simply can't stand your ruthlessness. You seem to desire to extract every ounce of resources from this land while leaving nothing behind each time."

Li Chongshan, representing Li Clan, was indignant. "Do you mean to say we ripped through the entire first layer? Cha Shangxin, it was Cha Clan's tardiness that hindered them. They wanted a share of the spoils, but they couldn't blame us. There used to be Regeneration Ink Lotus on this layer, and perhaps some lotus seeds were present among the grass. We cleared the area to prevent losing any potential lotus cultivation opportunities, as the seeds are vital to growing the plants. You clearly understand nothing."

Cha Shangxin's response was laced with disdain. "Oh, really? So, we're unaware of the importance of lotus seeds? Li Chongshan, please enlighten us on how many acres of Regeneration Ink Lotus you've managed to cultivate. Despite dedicating one thousand two hundred acres to planting the grass, not a single piece of produce has surfaced... Don't think for a moment that we're ignorant of your futile efforts. The forces surrounding our region are well aware that the Li Clan is a group of inept fools!"

Li Chongshan seethed with anger, retorting, "Nonsense! Your vision is shortsighted! Just wait and see. It's only a matter of time before we succeed in cultivating the lotus."

Cha Shangxin wasn't done, prodding further, "Our vision may be short, but why didn't you bring back all the grasses from the second layer as well? After all, there should be more seeds there, right?"

Li Chongshan's fury escalated, and he trudged forward, exclaiming through clenched teeth, "We have an agreement between our clans. I can't violate it. But rest assured, when we're outside the mountain, I'll deal with you, Cha Shangxin. You'll see!"

Cha Eun Xiao had a hard time suppressing his laughter as he realized Li Clan had made a colossal blunder in the past.