"Boss, more and more people are coming here. If they find out our identities, we'll have to flee for our lives."
The third brother looked at the increasing number of people around them. Although they hadn't interfered, they weren't good people. They had committed several bad deeds here, and even the admission tickets to the trading fair were obtained by robbing some unfortunate souls.
Hearing this, the boss's face grew darker. He never expected Zhou Yan to not only possess flying skills but also such formidable combat power. They were villains after all, and their greatest fear was exposure.
So, seeing the growing crowd, he could only reluctantly say in a low voice, "Let's retreat for now. We can't deal with this guy in a short time."
"Brother is absolutely right. We've never felt so cornered even when facing an expert at the eightieth heaven."
All three agreed. They considered themselves unlucky to encounter such a troublesome opponent this time and could only leave to find their next target.
The three feigned an attack and simultaneously unleashed three powerful energy blasts towards Zhou Yan. Zhou Yan, seeing this energy, wasn't anxious. He circulated his Star Shifting technique, redirected the three energy streams, and then sent them back towards his attackers.
"Damn it! What kind of skill is this!"
The three cursed. They had intended to use this move to retreat, but instead, the attack was forced back upon themselves.
Nothing could have been more infuriating. Their faces turned ashen, their eyes blazed, and they couldn't believe their opponent had so many tricks.
They admitted defeat this time, but they didn't believe their opponent could keep them here.
The three unleashed three more powerful attacks, intercepting the incoming energy.
"Boom!" The two sets of energies erupted with terrifying force.
"Withdraw!" The three transformed into streaks of light, attempting to escape into the distance.
"Don't think of leaving!" Zhou Yan shouted. He clenched his fist, and a terrifying bolt of lightning appeared in his hand. With a muffled thunderclap in the sky, a massive lightning strike rapidly descended upon them.
"Crack!"
A bolt of lightning appeared before them, forcing the three to dodge hastily. By the time they tried to leave again, Zhou Yan had already closed in.
Furthermore, besides Zhou Yan, there was a person in orange, an elder in red, and an unknown masked figure, who had surrounded the three.
The three bandits backed-to-back, growing wary. They inwardly cursed their misfortune. The elders of Ziwei Academy had made a move. Had their identities been exposed?
"We have no enmity with you, sirs. What is the meaning of this?" the three inquired quickly.
"This is Ziwei Academy's territory. As a member of Ziwei Academy, what business do you think this is of mine?" the person standing on a flying sword, whose name was unknown, declared, hands behind his back, adopting the demeanor of an unparalleled sword immortal.
"You three old geezers bullying a young junior, don't you find it shameful? I can't stand it," another elder in red, who appeared somewhat roguish despite his age, lay horizontally in the air, picking his ear with his pinky finger as he spoke.
"He is a student of our Ziwei Academy. You are bullying our Ziwei Academy's student and even attempting to kill him, how could I stand by and do nothing?" The last person was Leng Yue, who had recognized Zhou Yan's identity from his voice.
Leng Yue and the elder hadn't expected this person to also be from the academy, but they didn't know his identity. However, they were certain he was no ordinary individual.
"Teacher Leng Yue." Zhou Yan looked at Leng Yue's flower basket artifact, surprised that she would be passing through here. This wasn't the way to Ziwei Academy. He wondered why she was here.
Hearing Leng Yue's words, the elder said, "Since he is also a student of Ziwei Academy, we absolutely cannot let you off for attacking him."
The three became extremely anxious and quickly explained, "Sirs, please don't misunderstand. We just wanted to spar with him, just a friendly spar. We didn't have any serious intentions."
"Yes, we became friends through fighting. We're just friends."
"It was just a spar between friends, we had no ill will!"
Hearing this, Zhou Yan let out a hearty laugh. "Your acting is too poor. The elders are all intelligent people. Do you think they will be deceived by your few words?"
The elders clearly didn't believe the bandits' lies. The elder on the flying sword gestured with one hand, and eight treasure swords immediately appeared before him, each radiating immense power, indicating his extraordinary strength.
"Eight Immortals Sword Formation, Sword Immortal Wang Yixian!" Upon seeing the man make his move, the crowd in the distance exclaimed in awe.
"I didn't expect it to be him! He's the Grand Elder of Ziwei Academy! I heard his cultivation has reached the half-immortal realm. I never thought I'd see him. These three are seeking death by provoking him!" said Da Feng Xiao Shuo Wang.
"This is a true Earthly Immortal. When immortals do not appear, who dares to contend? This is a peak-level powerhouse."
The crowd, seeing that it was Wang Yixian, showed reverence and recounted some of his glorious deeds.
This completely deflated the three. How could they have known that a simple robbery would attract an Earthly Immortal near the pinnacle of existence? They were truly unlucky.
Facing an Earthly Immortal, escape was simply a pipe dream.
After seeing Wang Yixian make his move, the elder who was picking his ear straightened his posture and respectfully cupped his hands. "It is Elder Wang. My name is Gu Yuan."
"Leng Yue pays her respects to Elder Wang Yixian." Leng Yue also spoke respectfully.
They too hadn't expected to encounter Wang Yixian here. He was a legendary figure of Ziwei Academy, with unfathomable strength. If his territory hadn't fallen short of the requirements, perhaps breaking through the void wouldn't have been impossible.
"No need for formalities." Wang Yixian waved his hand, and a single immortal sword flew out, instantly obliterating the three without leaving a trace.
Then, Wang Yixian pointed his finger again, and a flying artifact in the distance attempting to escape instantly exploded, and all the people on board were annihilated by him.
With a wave of his hand, he eliminated these people. He retracted his hand, and the sword formation before him vanished. Wang Yixian placed his hands behind his back and looked at Zhou Yan again, saying, "Since you are a disciple of the academy, work hard. Your potential is very good."
"Thank you for your praise, Elder Wang Yixian. I will definitely work hard," Zhou Yan replied respectfully.
Wang Yixian transformed into a beam of light and vanished from everyone's sight in an instant. His speed was so incredible that their eyes could not follow him.
"This is who we should admire," Zhou Yan said, watching the direction Wang Yixian disappeared. Although he had only made two moves, the impact on Zhou Yan was profound. Such strength inspired awe and reverence.
After Wang Yixian left, the surrounding onlookers all looked at Zhou Yan with fervent gazes. Anyone praised by Wang Yixian was undoubtedly immensely potential. Perhaps in a few decades, he too could grow into someone like Wang Yixian.
"This old man is leaving too," Gu Yuan resumed his carefree demeanor and quickly disappeared.
Seeing the fiery gazes of the surrounding crowd, Leng Yue said to Zhou Yan, "Kid, get up here."
"Okay."
Zhou Yan quickly walked into Leng Yue's magical treasure, the flower basket.