Ahead, no one dared to speak. Wan Lei stood alone, facing tens of thousands of soldiers, yet his presence seemed to overwhelm the larger force. The Heavenly Tribulation Helmsman had not emerged nor uttered a sound.
Wan Lei also did not ascend to the high heavens to scout or release his divine sense.
At this moment, any cautious action would diminish his aura. He could only stride forward, unswayed, to embody the spirit of the Grand Alliance Leader of the Thunderwind Realm.
And this, he did.
Wan Lei held his head high, chest out, hands behind his back, walking forward with deliberate steps.
"Since you refuse to meet this seat, then this seat shall personally drag you out."
Observing the imposing Wan Lei, Wan Liu Chuan felt a touch of anxiety. He had initially expected Wan Lei to come and amiably discuss joining the alliance with the Heavenly Tribulation Helmsman.
Unexpectedly, upon his return, he was met with tens of thousands of troops, and the Helmsman was nowhere to be seen.
Moreover, Wan Lei was not speaking as cordially as Wan Liu Chuan had imagined; he was directly advancing with an intimidating presence.
Of course, in the eyes of Wan Liu Chuan and the assembled army, Wan Lei was imposing, but in the Grand Alliance Leader's own estimation, he was merely composed and unhurried.
The open space was not large, and the distance was not great. Soon, Wan Lei grew closer to them, until only three zhang remained between them.
Three zhang was approximately the distance for powerful cultivators to converse; any closer would make it difficult to defend against an attack.
This was also a distance of mutual respect.
Everyone expected Wan Lei to stop.
However,
He did not.
Wan Lei continued to advance unhurriedly, as if the path before him was merely flat ground, not an army composed of tens of thousands of elite assassins.
Or perhaps, they were merely tens of thousands of insignificant beings.
Wan Lei's steps remained unhurried, yet the faint sound of his footsteps seemed to explode like thunder in the ears of the tens of thousands present.
This man, like a demon god, drew nearer, and the fear in their hearts intensified to its peak.
They finally recalled the terrifying string of achievements attributed to this man.
Wan Lei took a step forward.
They remembered that this man had appeared in the public eye a decade ago and had remained undefeated to this day.
One step.
They remembered that with his Nascent Soul cultivation, he had killed Spirit Masters as easily as slaughtering dogs, even slaying ten Mahayana cultivators in a single battle.
One step.
They remembered that with his Mahayana cultivation, he had effortlessly crushed the tribulation-transcending elder, Huo Qingfeng.
One step.
They remembered that he had ventured alone into the perilous wilderness, a dragon's den, risking his life to record evidence of the Liu family's collusion with the demon race.
One step.
They remembered that he, by himself, had shattered the teleportation channel, preventing the Demon Lord's descent and saving the Thunderwind Realm from imminent collapse.
One step.
They remembered that he, as a descendant of the Thunder Emperor, had rebuilt the long-abandoned Thunder Emperor Hall, restoring its glory and ensuring that this foremost force from fifty thousand years ago remained the foremost force today.
One step.
They remembered that he had laid a trap and bait, and with the Thunder Emperor Hall alone, had annihilated eleven Demon Commanders and over a hundred thousand elite demon troops, inflicting heavy losses upon the demon race.
Finally, they began to retreat, all of them stepping backward, one after another.
They remembered that this man was invincible; no matter how formidable one's combat power, or how numerous one's forces, against this man, victory was impossible.
Fear was contagious.
Wan Lei advanced step by step. He had not spoken a word, had not exuded any pressure, nor had he even mobilized any lightning power or spiritual energy. He simply walked like an ordinary person, yet he caused tens of thousands of soldiers to retreat in fear.
Yes, this was their territory, their stronghold. Here, they possessed countless treasures and weapons, tens of thousands of comrades, and their Helmsman, a tribulation-transcending expert.
Yet, none of these provided them with the slightest sense of security.
Tens of thousands of people surged backward like a tide. Eventually, those in the center retreated to the sides, revealing the scene in the very center.
There stood a stone table, upon which were placed some wine and food.
Two stone stools were placed in front and back. A handsome young man in black was seated on the rear stool, holding a wine cup. A devilishly charming smile curved his thin lips as he watched Wan Lei approach with keen interest.
A tribulation-transcending expert.
The Heavenly Tribulation Helmsman.
"Grand Alliance Leader Wan certainly possesses impressive presence. Arriving alone at our Heavenly Tribulation headquarters, and with not a single move made, you have terrified tens of thousands of our elite assassins. Your aura, Grand Alliance Leader, is something I deeply admire and aspire to.
You honor my humble abode, Grand Alliance Leader. I am remiss in not greeting you earlier. I heard years ago of your fondness for the pleasures of the table, and I have prepared a small offering of wine. I hope you will not find it wanting."
Though the man in black spoke courteously, he did not rise, continuing to sip the fine wine in his cup.
Wan Liu Chuan stopped three zhang away from the man in black, cupping his hands.
"Wan Liu Chuan pays respects to the Helmsman."
He bowed not only to show respect but also to remind Wan Lei who this person was, suggesting he could perhaps temper his aura and sit down for a proper discussion.
Grand Alliance Leader Wan soon reached the stone table. The Helmsman extended a hand.
"Please, sit."
Grand Alliance Leader Wan looked at the Helmsman, his eyes indifferent, his expression solemn.
He did not sit. Instead, he reached out and directly overturned the table onto the Helmsman.
This act stunned the Helmsman, Wan Liu Chuan, and the tens of thousands present.
No one had expected the Grand Alliance Leader of the Thunderwind Realm, a person of such high standing, to overturn a table while a guest in someone else's home, and to do so directly onto the host.
Silence fell over the entire scene.
After a moment, the Helmsman recovered, then brushed off the scattered dishes from his person, shaking the wine-soaked fabric of his robes.
Following this, his signature devilishly charming smile reappeared.
"Grand Alliance Leader Wan has quite a temper."
"Why did you not come out to greet this seat at your Heavenly Tribulation headquarters?"
Grand Alliance Leader Wan stood with his hands behind his back, his imposing presence unmatched.
"Wan Lei, you have gone too far!"
Before the Helmsman could speak, an elder-like Mahayana cultivator stepped forward, pointing at Wan Lei and roaring in anger.
"Helmsman, if my memory serves me, this Wan Lei is on our Heavenly Tribulation's most-wanted list. Today, he has walked into a trap, and it is a prime opportunity for us to capture and kill him. I implore the Helmsman to act!"
The Helmsman turned his head, looking at the elder with an expression of utter bewilderment.
"Damn, I never realized you were this stupid before. Why are you saying something like this today? Didn't you see that Grand Alliance Leader Wan is clearly angered and has flipped the table? Didn't you see that I, having had a table overturned on me, didn't dare to utter a single word? And yet, you are the one who jumps out to speak? Are you a spy sent by the monkeys?
This fool's action also successfully drew Grand Alliance Leader Wan's attention.
Grand Alliance Leader Wan was unsure if this old man was always this brave or if it was at the Helmsman's instigation.
Grand Alliance Leader Wan looked at him and beckoned with his finger.
"Come here."