Someone stumbled and fell, but it didn't attract the attention of those around them. Everyone was focused on the vital crystals in front of them, and had no time to pay attention to the people around them.
However, the direction of the person's fall was directly in the direction of Jun 'er, who had just passed by.
Jun 'er couldn't see, but her senses were sharp. She cried out in alarm. "Careful!" She reached out with a small, tender hand to catch the person.
However, the person turned nimbly, and moved to the side of Jun 'er. To the others it looked like he was trying to avoid Jun' er, so as not to bump into her.
The Keeper and the Bookworm's attention was immediately drawn to Lan Jue.
"Don't move."
A deep, raspy voice rang out. A dagger glowing with a dark purple light was pressed against Jun 'er's neck.
At the same time, the man waved his hand, and the dozen vital crystals floating in the air fell into his grasp.
The Keeper and Bookworm's aura exploded from their bodies. It was like an avalanche of pressure, and it seemed to blot out the sky.
"I said, don't move. You know what poison is on my dagger.
If I cut through her aorta, not even the Clairvoyant can save her. "The deep voice was sinister, but the man's face didn't change.
"The Astral Phantom!" The Keeper's face was ashen.
He was certain because he could feel the aura of a Paragon on the man's body.
Otherwise, under the pressure of the Keeper and the Bookworm, the man wouldn't even have been able to move. But now they didn't dare move.
The Astral Phantom's current appearance wasn't his own. He'd always been adept at hiding himself, and revealing himself was a rare occasion. There were too many Paragons present, and he knew it was impossible to escape.
Still, he chose the most suitable method: to control the little girl in his hands.
Jun 'er was the Clairvoyant's heir, and her importance to Skyfire Avenue was obvious.
The Astral Phantom wasn't afraid of Skyfire Avenue's vengeance.
What's more, after his attack on Lan Jue, he'd already shed all pretense of cordiality with the Avenue.
"What do you want?" The Keeper asked.
"Nothing," the Astral Phantom said coldly.
Give me all the Life Crystals here, and I will leave. When I reach a safe place, I will release this child.
You should know that I am a man of my word. "
The Keeper sighed. "You have two choices. The first is to surrender. We'll spare your life in consideration of your future dealings with the aliens, but we'll place a restriction on you. You'll also be judged based on your future exploits against the aliens."
The Astral Phantom blinked. "Have you gone senile?
Now that I'm the one holding the hostage, have you suddenly become retarded? "
The Keeper didn't seem to hear him. "The other way is for you to defeat them, leave what you have, and go." As he spoke, he pointed a finger in a certain direction.
Over there, two people had appeared at the same time.
The two of them looked somewhat similar. One was colder, while the other was more elegant. The colder one was wearing a military uniform, and the four stars on his shoulders were particularly obvious. The more elegant one was wearing a suit, and he gave off a feeling of elegance and calmness. There was a mocking expression on his face.
They'd prepared?
The Astral Phantom's face darkened. If they'd prepared, then he'd been tricked. Then what about the child in his hands?
"You're so stupid, Uncle!
I'm the Clairvoyant, how could I not sense danger?
I felt it a few days ago. "
Jun 'er's voice was full of regret. Combined with her childish tone, it was full of sarcasm.
There was a flash of starlight, and Jun 'er vanished from the Astral Phantom's grasp. She reappeared beneath another beam of starlight. The Astral Sea Domain was a Domain left behind by the Clairvoyant. Although it could only remain in the Skyfire Museum, Jun' er, as the Clairvoyant's heir, could use it to her advantage.
Or rather, use it. This was the Clairvoyant's Domain, and it wasn't difficult to hide it from the Astral Phantom.
Lan Jue looked at the Astral Phantom. Her voice was soft. "When Jun 'er said she felt danger, the first person I thought of was you.
The only person who could sneak in here without being noticed, and the only one who'd be stupid enough to make a move was you.
All these years you've tried to assassinate my brother and I, and today we're going to settle that score. "
The cold, hard general was, of course, Lan Qing. He'd returned to Skyfire for a meeting of the highest echelons of the military. The elegant one was, of course, Lan Jue.
Jun 'er had told Lan Jue the day before that she sensed danger. Lan Jue had a quick grasp of the situation. Without question, the only person who could threaten Jun' er, the only person who would dare come to Skyfire Avenue and offend her, was this man.
For the sake of profit, he really wasn't afraid of death!
There was no hatred in Lan Jue's eyes as she looked at the Astral Phantom.
If it weren't for him, Qian Lin wouldn't have fallen into such danger to protect her. It was him who'd nearly taken her second love.
It was him who'd tried to assassinate her brother over and over again.
Everything was going according to plan, and he was here. Today was the day they'd settle their grudges.
The Astral Phantom waved his hand, tossing out the vital crystals he'd taken earlier. He was calm. Perhaps it was because he'd seen much of the world, but he wasn't surprised by the desperate situation he was in.
"If I beat the two of you, I can leave?"
The Astral Phantom asked coolly. He didn't look at Lan Jue, but rather at Lan Qing. He could sense that the Eastern Alliance's God of War, the man who'd survived so many attempts on his life, had broken through to that level.
It was indeed an existence that made people jealous!
"If you don't run, I'll be your only opponent." Lan Qing took a step forward, glaring coldly at the Astral Phantom.
His words immediately attracted the attention of everyone present.
Not everyone knew who Lan Qing was, but that didn't mean no one knew who he was.
"The Eastern Alliance's God of War, the God of Wisdom, Prometheus.
He's going to challenge the Astral Phantom? "Someone whispered.
Lucifer's ears were sharp, and he heard the name loud and clear. His face changed. The Eastern Alliance's God of War, the leader of the Eastern Alliance's younger generation, the hope of the future.
It was him?
But wasn't he a lieutenant general?
What's more, I've never heard of him becoming a Paragon?
The Terminator was just as puzzled. But then his eyes narrowed as he thought back to the satellite images of An Lun.
That golden light, was it a sign of his ascension?
If that was the case …
In times of peace, Lan Qing wouldn't reveal his strength so easily. He didn't want the Northern Alliance and Western Alliance to be wary of the Eastern Alliance.
But things were different now. Aliens, vital crystals, and the exuvium process – this was a crisis for humanity, but it was also an opportunity.
The Eastern Alliance had always been the weakest of the Major League, and it was important to take advantage of this opportunity. If they did, they could catch up to the Northern Alliance and Western Alliance.
Now wasn't the time to hide, it was time to flex their muscles.
Once the aliens arrived, it would be a matter of who was stronger.
For the time being, the Northern Alliance and Western Alliance wouldn't be able to deal with the Eastern Alliance.
If they didn't, the Western Alliance would have to resort to force for the sake of these hundreds of vital crystals.
No matter how much they said they didn't believe the Eastern Alliance's investigation, how could they not?
"Good!
It looks like you've broken through.
Since that's the case, let me see what level of strength you've reached. "The surrounding people had already dispersed, leaving a wide space in the middle of the arena.
Still, many were wary. This was a fight between Paragons, and if they were caught in the crossfire it would be a disaster.
But their worries didn't last long. In the sky above, an enormous star flared to life. A soft beam of light fell upon Lan Qing and the Astral Phantom.
From the outside, the two of them seemed to shrink, as if they'd been hit by some sort of shrinking spell.
Inside, Lan Qing and the Astral Phantom felt as if they'd entered an infinite universe. They couldn't feel the outside world.
The Astral Phantom sighed inwardly. He'd been too careless. He'd underestimated the Clairvoyant!
Even in death, the Clairvoyant had left behind such a powerful Domain.
It had been too risky.
He'd have to be more careful in the future.
Lan Qing's body slowly rose into the air. He watched the Astral Phantom from afar, in no hurry to make his move. Instead, his body began to glow with a faint light.