Above the vast expanse of clouds. The familiar figure of an old man clad in pure white robes could be seen staring at the commotion below him. Despite the distance of several miles. The old man's eyes seemed to pierce through the firmament and see through everything as a smile lifted on his lips.

"Never do anything you're good at for free, eh?" A light chuckle escaped from his lips and with a will from his part, the clouds formed tangible fixtures where he could sit and relax as he observed the commotion down below.

The disciples from the Thousand Swords Sect showcased their cooperation and trust with each other, forming groups, one part dealt with the incoming Ape Stampede while the others conserved their strength for the arrival of the Ape Vampire Count.

"Fucking hell, what are you guys doing there, huddling like there's no tomorrow?! Stand up and help us here!" A male disciple from the Thousand Swords Sect noticed that the disciples from the Paradyne Academy huddled together in a corner of the campsite.

The disciples from the Paradyne Academy harshly glared at his direction, "Are you retarded? How can we fight back when our cultivation bases are sealed?"

The disciple from the Thousand Swords Sect revealed a vicious smile, "Fight? Who said that we're gonna let you fight? You'll just be there and stall them for a bit..." He lunged and grabbed the disciple who retorted before throwing him towards the direction of a nearby Ape Vampire who caught the disciple and tore him into pieces amidst his despairing cries.

Everything happened too fast, everyone's eyes widened in shock and Senior Brother Kwydin's expression darkened and reddened in anger. Witnessing the indignance of the disciples from the Paradyne Academy. The disciple who threw the man earlier, snickered, "Look at your eyes...What'chu gonna do? Hmmph?! Fight me? Fight against me?!"

A cold light flashed by, and the wind whistled as it tore. Blood splashed on the ground, staining it in a crimson color.

"You...How did you..." The disciple from the Thousand Swords Sect stared at Kwydin with widened eyes. Holding his throat, blood endlessly dripped as his body soon lost its power and fell on the ground with a thud.

The stunned gazes of his fellow disciples focused on Senior Brother Kwydin. But he swiftly scolded them, "What are you doing standing there? Quick! Throw him towards those Ape!"

His fellow disciples regained their state of minds and hurled the body of the dead disciple towards a nearby Ape Vampire who tore it into pieces as a response. Retreating, they stared at Senior Brother Kwydin in amazement,

"Senior Brother, how did you do that, earlier? You're still sealed, right?" A male disciple couldn't keep his excitement and asked. Senior Brother Kwydin nodded his head and said, "I'm still sealed, however, I can use a part of my understanding when it comes to the Sword. I'll use it to attack that sealing formation at the center. Help me distract them..."

He unveiled his plan and the expressions of his fellow disciples brightened. However, they knew the difficulty of treading through troubled waters. Not only do they need to keep themselves safe from the disciples of the Thousand Swords Sect. They also had to make sure that no Ape Vampire could attack them from behind.

The remaining disciples of the Paradyne Academy, scattered and did their own work in their own way. Senior Brother One Strike noticed their actions, but he couldn't be bothered with them. Once they failed to kill the Ape Vampire, all of them would be dead anyway...

Several hundreds of meters away from the Thousand Swords Sect campsite, atop a tree branch. Dan could be seen carrying Annie in his arms. Staring at the campsite's direction, his expression turned strange, "This sudden Ape Stampede should be the work of that old geezer. However, just what does he mean by showing him something that is desirable for a Demonic Cultivator? Does he want me to massacre everyone here?"

Dan knitted his eyebrows and glanced at Annie's fair complexion. The robes that she wore indicated her affiliation with the Paradyne Academy. However, personally. She was a stranger. Though Dan wouldn't mind killing her, his nature doesn't let him accept senseless killings and thus, the dilemma.

Annie Thompson noticed Dan's peculiar gaze and she struggled under his embrace. With steaming hot cheeks, she shook her head and regained her clarity. Staring at the distant commotion, she knitted her eyebrows and revealed a solemn expression.

Turning towards Dan, she said, "Senior, earlier you said that you can easily solve that stampede once you intervened, right?" Her eyes shone in a complicated sheen and Dan stared at her with an indifferent expression.

Annie Thompson was a young woman whose beauty could compare with his wife and Charlotte. But right now, she looked bedraggled and pitiful with mud stains desecrating her robes along with her fair skin. Nevertheless, this didn't make her look less desirable. Instead, she could awaken the heroic hearts of men and she could manipulate them into protecting her.

Dan instantly went on guard and assumed an indifferent expression. Annie's eyes went dim in disappointment, she thought that revealing a moment of weakness could make him fall into her trap and have him do her bidding. Realizing that Dan wasn't just an average young man, Annie threw all ideas of trapping her and decided to strike an honest deal.

"Senior, I believe your claim that you're that powerful, so please, I ask you from the bottom of my heart. Help me save my fellow disciples..." Annie's expression went red, it was the first time that she asked someone so sincerely and she even bowed her head.

Dan witnessed her actions and couldn't help but be moved. Ever since he saw her. Dan knew that Annie was a young woman that had a different upbringing. With her pride that stuck deep inside her bones, she was someone that couldn't easily be subdued.

But right now, she decided to throw away her dignity and pride and begged for him to intervene. Dan opened his mouth to speak, but his figure froze when he felt a pair of eyes staring at him from above.

Annie kept her head low but opened her eyes and glanced at Dan's figure. Witnessing his indifferent expression, her heart couldn't help but tremble in the thought of him refusing her request. She felt confident and reached this far, but she didn't have any idea what she should do in the case that she failed.

"Hahaha," A cold chuckle disrupted the silence. Dan crossed his arms together and stretched his hand out, lifting her head. He stared right into her eyes and said, "Little Miss, didn't I say earlier that I won't do anything for free? If you want me to make my move, you should offer an equal amount of compensation..."

Annie's expression trembled, but the hope inside her eyes, intensified. At the least, Dan didn't deny her request and instead asked for remuneration. But still, the eyes that she used to look at Dan changed into disappointment.

With her beauty, she felt disappointment that Dan wouldn't do anything that he could in helping her and instead asked for his rewards. It could be said that Dan was a despicable bastard that would only move in the face of money.

Unbeknownst to her, Annie's figure looked cold as she said, "That's fine, I swear in my name and my cultivation base that I will definitely pay you back your deserved rewards..."

The peculiar sensation of Heaven and Earth enveloped her body as Dan nodded his head in satisfaction, "I'm gonna go and save them now, are you going to stay here or you'll come with me?" Dan glanced at Annie and the latter snorted, "Of course I will go with you,"

Dan lifted an eyebrow, "Are you sure? Those bastards can easily kill you with a slap in your current state,"

Annie stared at him for a moment before giving a light and cold chuckle, "It's fine, Senior will protect me there, right? Since Senior won't get any rewards once I'm killed..."

Dan shrugged and carried her in his arms once again as they sped towards the direction of the Thousand Swords Sect Campsite.