Dispute

Dispute . . . 

Qin Wentian carefully set his winecup down and let out a derisive snort, his gaze locked onto Skymist Hai. A faint smile graced his lips, but it bore an edge as sharp as the keenest blade.

"I've heard that Your Highness has cultivated for over 300 years and yet finds himself at a mere third-level of immortal foundation," Qin Wentian remarked lightly. His voice carried a subtle tone of mockery. Skymist Hai's cultivation progress had been lackluster, and it was evident that Princess Qing'er would soon surpass him. In essence, he was far from being a match for her, or Princess Glaze for that matter.

The idea of the two princesses dancing for him was nothing short of a jest.

This observation didn't escape the notice of those present. The Skymist Immortal Empire aimed to use this public humiliation to degrade the Evergreen Immortal Empire. Therefore, the question of whether Skymist Hai was worthy of the princesses was rendered irrelevant. Moreover, if the Evergreen Immortal Emperor truly chose to send a princess to the Skymist Immortal Empire, humiliation was inevitable. Skymist Hai's earlier remarks, though audacious and disrespectful, showcased the Skymist Immortal Empire's unyielding determination to succeed, even to the point of inviting experts from major powers to bear witness.

Although no one dared to confront Skymist Hai due to fear of being implicated, an unexpected voice broke the silence, delivering a stinging retort. That single sentence landed like a slap on Skymist Hai's face, deriding his subpar talent and rendering him unworthy of the two princesses.

"Who are you?" Skymist Hai's response was more curious than infuriated as he fixed his gaze on Qin Wentian.

"My identity is inconsequential," Qin Wentian replied.

"Indeed, it is unimportant," Skymist Hai agreed with a smile. "In the vast immortal realms, countless individuals perish or vanish every day without even knowing how they met their end. To the vast immortal realms, they are mere specks. Their absence goes unnoticed. Just as I'm asking now, who... are you?"

"You're absolutely right," Qin Wentian concurred, taking a sip of wine. "Leaving aside common folk, even princes from immortal empires are reduced to the same fate. When they die, the vast immortal realms couldn't care less about them. This especially applies to those destined for mediocrity. Even if they were to vanish, their absence wouldn't garner a second thought. Do you know why? It's because these individuals are utterly worthless. Their existence makes no difference in the grand scheme of things." Qin Wentian's laughter underscored the duel of cutting words, the clash of sharp intellects.

The onlookers watched in hushed anticipation. Those gathered here were no ordinary individuals; they all held esteemed positions. At the lowest end of the spectrum were the younger generations of immortal emperor-level powers. Each pair of eyes fixated on Qin Wentian, their curiosity piqued. He had dared to challenge the prince of the Skymist Immortal Empire with words, suggesting he was anything but a commoner. His vocal defense of the Evergreen Immortal Empire only fueled their suspicions. Perhaps, he had ties to the royal clan.

Skymist Hai also pondered this possibility. He maintained his gaze on Qin Wentian and wore a sardonic smile. "If Princess Qing'er and Princess Glaze were to marry into my Skymist Immortal Empire, they would become my concubines. What's wrong with having them dance for me? Even if I were a cripple, they'd still have to fulfill their wifely duties, wouldn't they?"

"You're truly lost in your own delusions," Qin Wentian scoffed. "Do you even understand your own worth?"

"The agreement between our empires has nothing to do with my worth," Skymist Hai retorted with chilling eyes. Qin Wentian's continuous mockery grated on his nerves, the words like sharp blades.

"Agreement?" Qin Wentian spoke with disdain. "An agreement established by a traitor from a previous generation of the Evergreen Immortal Empire? And your Skymist Immortal Empire expects the current Evergreen Immortal Emperor to honor it? Does this imply that your Skymist Immortal Empire will uphold any and all agreements made by past generations of the royal clan?"

"This is an agreement between two great immortal empires," Skymist Hai argued. "Furthermore, in the past, the Evergreen Immortal Empire partially fulfilled it. Some princesses from their realm married into my Skymist Immortal Empire as imperial concubines. Now that the Evergreen Immortal Emperor holds the reins, does he intend to renege on this agreement?" Skymist Hai sneered and continued, "As for you, your words are filled with disrespect. You insult not only me but also the people of my empire. Even if I were to take your life, I doubt anyone in your Evergreen Immortal Empire would dare to protest."

"End my life? With your feeble abilities?" Qin Wentian laughed, his gaze locked onto Skymist Hai. "If you can truly end my life, then I shall accept my fate."

As he stared at the unbridled contempt in Qin Wentian's smile, Skymist Hai's countenance grew increasingly severe. With a single wave of his hand, the beautiful dancers on the platform retreated. It was evident that Skymist Hai had exhausted his patience for their performance.

"You're quite the braggart," Skymist Hai said calmly. His eyes scanned the surroundings as he continued, "Among the heroes gathered here today, many are far superior to you. Your arrogance knows no bounds. I wonder if there are any here willing to teach this man a lesson on my behalf."

"I have no interest in the offspring of common kings and marquises," a young man from the Paragon Sword Sect declared. His words dripped with sharpness, reflecting his unwavering pride. Evidently, many present believed Qin Wentian to be a noble from the Evergreen Immortal Empire, which explained his audacious verbal confrontation with Skymist Hai, defending the honor of Princess Qing'er and Princess Glaze.

Amidst the gathering, those representing the Taihua Immortal Dynasty and Sky Demon Palace remained aloof, their interest minimal. To them, this was merely a spectacle, and if it entailed a mere sparring match, they might have shown interest. However, it was clear they had no intention of being entangled in the brewing tempest between the Skymist and Evergreen Immortal Empires.

Seated in quiet composure, Qin Wentian watched events unfold. Then, a figure rose from one of the pavilions. This individual possessed an extraordinary cultivation base, at the peak of the immortal foundation stage, exuding a vast and domineering aura. He hailed from the Solarsky Mountain, a major power located within the Skymist Immortal Empire's dominion.

"I'll offer you a polite reminder: refrain from meddling in affairs that don't concern you," Qin Wentian stated casually, continuing to pour wine without even a glance in the figure's direction.

The expert from the Solarsky Mountain stiffened as he met Qin Wentian's unwavering gaze. He hesitated for a moment before ultimately deciding to advance toward Qin Wentian's location. His aura surged like a blazing inferno, releasing scorching qi that threatened to ignite the atmosphere.

"Qi Da," Qin Wentian called out. In response, a young man from the Battle Saint Tribe beside him set down his wine cup and stood up. His body emitted a shimmering light, concealing his immense immortal might from the onlookers.

The two approached each other with measured steps, finally meeting at the center. In an instant, a ring of lightning and flames enveloped them, confining their clash. The destructive elements of fire and lightning surged toward Qi Da, but none of the attacks could breach the shimmering protective barrier surrounding him.

Spectators shifted their attention to the spectacle. The two experts exchanged blows within the confined circle, their actions generating stifling pressure that seemed capable of tearing the Juxian Tower apart.

"BOOM!" Lightning flashed as the two combatants vanished from the circle, reappearing high above. Many craned their necks to watch, but the brilliance was blinding. Resounding explosions echoed through the sky, and it felt as if the entire space might shatter.

Qin Wentian didn't need to watch the battle; he already knew the outcome.

As expected, a wail of anguish pierced the air moments later. The Solarsky Mountain expert plummeted, his immortal foundation in ruins. His fellow experts from the Solarsky Mountain sprang into action, their auras surging. Qi Da descended gracefully and stood protectively behind Qin Wentian, seemingly untouched by the preceding clash.

With the battle's conclusion, Qin Wentian emptied his wine cup and remarked, "I warned you not to meddle in matters that don't concern you."

The Solarsky Mountain experts stepped forward, their numbers increasing. A surge of formidable power radiated from Qi Da, akin to a hurricane, causing tiles to crack beneath his feet and nearby walls to crumble into dust.

"Swish~" An aura of tyranny swept through, emanating from an immortal king of the Solarsky Mountain. The instant he appeared, an oppressive pressure enshrouded Qin Wentian and his entourage. However, at that very moment, a thunderous voice echoed, "Who dares to display such insolence within our Evergreen Immortal Empire?"

As the resonating voice gradually faded, a commanding figure materialized in the sky, casting an unwavering gaze upon the immortal king representing the Solarsky Mountain. With a stern tone, he inquired, "Are you the instigator of this disturbance?"

"Have none of you witnessed him shattering the immortal foundation of my comrade earlier?" The immortal king from the Solarsky Mountain pointed accusatorily at the fallen figure, a once-exceptional expert who now lay crippled.

"No," the Evergreen Immortal Empire's immortal king replied nonchalantly. It was a blatant lie. He had witnessed every moment of the confrontation, carefully noting who aligned with their empire, who remained neutral, and who took sides.

"Could it be that you are deliberately protecting them because they hail from the Evergreen Immortal Empire?" The Solarsky Mountain expert insinuated.

The Evergreen Immortal Empire's immortal king turned his attention to Qin Wentian and questioned, "Are you individuals affiliated with our Evergreen Immortal Empire? I must admit, I have no knowledge of this."

"Some people are inclined to believe whatever suits their desires," Qin Wentian replied with a serene smile. His words sent ripples through the crowd, prompting curious glances to converge upon him. If he were not an Evergreen Immortal Empire native, how could he display such audacity? Defying a prince from the Skymist Immortal Empire, all for the honor of Princess Qing'er and Princess Glaze?

Among the major powers in the Eastern Regions, few could rival the Skymist Immortal Empire. If Qin Wentian did not hail from the Evergreen Immortal Empire, it suggested he belonged to a faction weaker than the Skymist Immortal Empire. In light of this, his boldness appeared boundless.

Even Skymist Hai couldn't help but reveal an icy, enigmatic smile.