'Great! That's a piece of Divinity Level equipment. Even though it is only a searching type, no one in this Holy Land should think about breaking it. That should give Julie a chance to retreat.'
Heavin didn't know what that was but didn't hold back at all.
*Clash!*
Heavin's God-Level beak hit the Divinity Level Search box head-on. As soon as that happened, Julie did her best to retreat. She was already happy that she timed the block well enough. But just a split of a second later, the Search Box began to crack! The crack began to spread all around the box until finally, it shattered!
Hanan and his group couldn't believe what they saw. How come there is something capable of breaking a Divinity Level Equipment? Still, Julie got the time she needed. Heavin does have a God-Level Beak, but it is not like he can control it with Spiritual Energy. All he does is basically point it in a direction and strike. That being said, he is far from being able to use that thing's real power. Thus, Julie was able to buy enough time to get away from him and save Tannin at that.
Julie felt like her heart had been pierced when the box broke apart. The only reason she dared to bring it out was that she genuinely believed that no one inside the Holy Land would ever be able to damage it. Otherwise, Julie wouldn't have risked destroying the only thing that could track the Holy Land's Artifact. Not only her, but even Hanan's entire group thought that she had the right idea at that moment. They, too, felt like that the box would never be broken.
"Do you have time to pay attention to others? Hahaha!"
Boom!
Laka and Hanan once more exchange another blow. The shock then sent both of them in two different directions.
"Enough, let's end this battle here!"
Laka just snorted, though.
"You are clearly in the losing end, and now you want to stop?"
However, Krune quickly accepted Hanan's idea.
"Laka, let then be. Continuing this battle will be pointless."
Laka looked at Krune, puzzled. Why would he stop since they will win for sure? Still, he did stop. Not only him, but the battle was ended in all fronts.
Hanan's group quickly gathered back together. Yet, it was evident that everyone is his team was seriously injured. As for Krune's group, they all seemed to be okay to continue.
After seeing that, Laka couldn't help but ask.
"Why did you stop us?"
The one to answer this question was Alacanta.
"Because Krune was right. Continuing this battle would be pointless. If we extended this fight, their group would retreat. As long as they put their all on fleeing, it would be way too hard to kill all of them. At most, we would be able to get rid of one or two at most. The best chance at killing someone was already lost when that girl intervened with that mysterious box."
"That is correct. Once Hanan escaped, he would become a great threat in the shadows. For example, he could simply go around rallying all cultivators and demon beasts saying that we got a treasure of the Holy Land. We might be able to cope with his group, but we definitely can't go against everyone in the Holy Land."
Hanan sighed in relief after hearing that. It seems like they won't need to go desperate.
Krune once more looked at Hanan before talking.
"Now then, I believe we do have the 'negotiation rights' you talked about, am I right?"
Hanan smiled bitterly but nodded in the end.
"Yes. If anything, the question here is whether my group has these rights or not. However, we will still try to do so."
Hanan then looked at Tannin before asking.
"Set up the Pseudo-Dimensional Realm Concealing Formation. We can't risk having anyone hearing what we are going to say."
Krune, who was already back in his human form, narrowed his eyes. Still, Feifei stopped him from intervening. As she looked at the formation that Tannin was creating, she could tell that it posed no risk for them. It was really a type of Space Concealing Formation.
Their battle had attracted quite some attention around. However, those far away didn't dare to approach. After all, both teams were too strong with several Peak Divine Path Realm. Not to mention the two Heavenly Divine Soul Owners. The concealing formation was being made so that none of them would hear their conversation.
Around an hour later, the space around Krune and Hanan's groups distorted, partially separating them from the Holy Land's Dimensional Realm. Hanan then asked for Tannin and Morjin to keep a look outside in case someone gets close. Seeing that, Alacanta quickly grabbed Laka and went outside as well.
"Shut up! Our agreement was to help to protect them. This thing involves a secret of the Holy Land, so the less we know, the better it is. Don't forget why we came here, it was all for the sake of the Dalin Universe's Five Slots."
Laka's expression was awful, but he still complied with Alacanta. He then stepped outside of the Concealing Formation and kept watch over the surroundings with her.
Hanan took out a Transparent Orb, the same one they used to talk with the Clan Head of the Frunkan Clan. After pouring enough Spiritual Energy, a white fog began to appear inside. Not too long after, it took the shape of a man's head.
The head looked around and noticed Krune's group together with Hanan. Immediately, he understood what was happening.
"It seems like you weren't able to defeat the group who got the Holy Land's Artifact."
Hanan quickly bowed.
"We let the Clan down. Sorry, Clan Head."
The man on the other side just shook his head.
"There is no need to apologize. I'm well aware of your abilities and loyalty. If even you were not able to do it without getting to this point, then no one else would."
Hanan and the others couldn't help but show a sad face. In the end, they were not able to accomplish the mission passed for them.
Hanan then proceeded to explain the entire situation.
The man in the Transparent Orb listened to it, quietly. Finally, he finished hearing the whole report and turned his attention to Krune's group.
"First, let me introduce myself. I'm the Frunkan Clan Head, Baren Frunkan."
Krune nodded and went direct to the point.
"It seems like your clan members already knew about the existence of the Holy Land Artifact. However, the other demon beasts and cultivators in the Holy Land don't seem to know anything about it. Thanks to that, I can guess that your objective from the very start was to get Little Arty. I can understand why you want him. After all, he is a God-Level Equipment and the core of the Holy Land at the same time. Anyone would want to put their hands on him."
"However, if this is all the reason you have to take Little Arty away, then I'm afraid I have to disappoint you. Little Arty has his own wishes, and he already accepted another master. That being said, I won't let anyone simply take him away."
Baren shook his head, though.
"The reason why we need him is not that simple. We paid an immeasurable price just to find out the day that the Holy Land would allow someone to go all the way up. However, we really didn't expect that someone also knew about it."
Little Arty immediately intervened.
"You are mistaken about this part. They had no idea about what was happening to the Holy Land, nor did they know about my existence. Believe it or not, I came to know my new master by chance. In a certain way, you could say that your group was unlucky."
Baren narrowed his eyes, but he didn't doubt Little Arty's words. After all, such a lie would change nothing about the actual situation. So it would be meaningless.
"I see... Anyway, let's put this matter aside."
Baren looked deeply at Krune, who seemed to be the leader of his group.
"I'll be straight, my Frunkan Clan is willing to pay any price as long as we can have the Holy Land Artifact."
Krune immediately shook his head.
"It seems like you have the wrong idea here. Our opinions matter little. All that I care about is whether Little Arty wants to go with you or not. If he says that he does, then I won't ask for anything in return. I will even keep it a secret if he wishes so. The one you need to convince is not me, but Little Arty himself."
Baren was taken aback by those words. Would someone who got to become the new master of a God-Level Equipment simply let it go like that.
However, he didn't have much time to think before Little Arty intervened.
"That's how things are. Let me make things clear. Nothing that you can get in the Lower Realms would be of any use for me, so keep that in mind. What I want to know is, what do you need me for? Depending on your answer, I might consider giving some help. However, since your clan members came out intending to kill my new master, you better have an excellent reason for that."
Baren began to feel a headache already. Things turned out completely different than what he imagined. Sure enough, Lower Realm riches were meaningless for a God-Level Equipment like Little Arty.