Not long after Xu Chuan entered the treasure vault, more and more powerful individuals began to arrive at the sparsely populated Northern Cold Mountain.
Who wouldn't be tempted by a treasure vault left behind by an Emperor?
If they could obtain treasures from it, they might soar to the heavens and become the strongest person in the entire Southern Domain!
Thus, in a very short period, the gate outside the treasure vault was surrounded by warriors.
"Is this the Emperor's treasure vault?"
"Who do you think is inside that so many powerful figures are rushing towards?"
"Who knows? But it must be something good!"
The surrounding warriors gazed at the gate, discussing in hushed tones.
Their journey here was merely to try their luck and witness the spectacle. Such a treasure vault had long been reserved for the powers of the Southern Domain, and they had no chance of entering it!
They were acutely aware of this fact.
"Look quickly, is that Elder Zhao Heng of the Three Suns Holy Land? The strongest beneath the Holy Lord of Three Suns!"
"Look there, look there, it's Yuwen Hao, the Sect Master of the Misty Sect!"
"People from the Great Desolation Dynasty have also arrived!"
"It seems this treasure vault has nothing to do with us. It will likely be divided amongst them."
The moment many renowned powerful figures appeared, a significant number of warriors completely abandoned their faint hopes, transforming into mere spectators.
Many others turned and left.
These individuals from powerful factions were at odds with each other, and a battle might erupt at any moment, making it impossible to leave once it started!
"This treasure vault belongs to my Three Suns Holy Land!" Zhao Heng, the Great Elder of the Three Suns Holy Land, spoke first, immediately claiming ownership of the entire vault. He was exceedingly arrogant, showing no regard for anyone else.
His audacious claim stemmed from two factors: firstly, he represented the Three Suns Holy Land, a colossal power in the Southern Domain; secondly, his own strength was immense, being a martial artist at the ninth level of the Heavenly King realm.
With such cultivation alone, he could look down upon many of the powerhouses present.
For a moment, all the sects and holy lands under the jurisdiction of the Three Suns Holy Land dared not speak out against him, though they were filled with indignation.
"Hmph!"
"Since when did the Southern Domain become the sole domain of your Three Suns Holy Land!"
Just as everyone thought the Three Suns Holy Land would claim ownership of the treasure vault, a voice echoed from afar, directly challenging Zhao Heng and showing no respect for him.
"Who is it?!"
Zhao Heng turned his head, his eyes sharp, wanting to see who dared to offend him and, more importantly, to teach them a bloody lesson!
Then, he saw a golden-winged roc flying rapidly from a distance, landing before the treasure vault's gate and transforming into a burly man.
Upon seeing this person, Zhao Heng's face instantly darkened, his gaze becoming sinister.
"I wondered who was spouting such nonsense, so it's you, you old scoundrel!" The burly man directly mocked Zhao Heng upon seeing him, giving him no quarter!
The enmity between the two ran deep, and their meeting was tantamount to an irreconcilable feud.
"You court death!" Hearing the burly man's taunt, Zhao Heng was enraged and raised his hand to attack him.
"You're just a defeated opponent, and you still dare to attack!"
The burly man paid no mind to Zhao Heng's attack.
He transformed his right hand into a wing, and then white light emanated from the feathers, turning the wing into a shield.
Zhao Heng's attack struck it, but to him, it felt no different from a tickle.
"After all these years, you've truly made no progress!" the burly man continued to mock after effortlessly blocking Zhao Heng's attack.
Everything he did seemed intended solely to enrage Zhao Heng.
Seeing that his attack had caused no damage to the burly man, Zhao Heng's face grew even darker, as if it could drip water.
"Die for me!"
Zhao Heng launched another attack, this time unleashing his full power, intending to heavily wound the burly man in one blow.
Facing this strike, the burly man also became serious.
Despite his words calling Zhao Heng a defeated opponent, he knew better than anyone how powerful Zhao Heng truly was.
Even he wouldn't dare to be careless against such a full-power strike and began preparing to block the attack.
Meanwhile, the warriors with lower cultivation levels around them began to flee in panic, filled with terror.
Such an attack, even if it were just the residual energy, could annihilate them completely, leaving no trace of their existence!
"Stop!"
Just as the attacks from the two were about to land, causing devastation, a woman's voice rang out.
Immediately afterward, everyone present witnessed a scene they would never forget.
A woman, clad in simple white snow attire and with a veil partially obscuring her face, appeared between the two. She then extended her hand and flicked her fingers, causing their attacks, imbued with world-shattering power, to instantly dissipate like dust.
Unlike the shock of the other warriors present, Zhao Heng and the burly man looked at the suddenly appearing woman with solemn expressions.
Only they themselves knew the immense power of their previous attacks.
Both were ninth-level Heavenly King realm powerhouses. When fully unleashed, their power was comparable to that of peak Heavenly King realm experts.
Yet, such an attack was easily blocked by the woman with no apparent effort!
Undoubtedly, the woman was a peerless expert at the Half-Emperor realm!
She was among the absolute elite of the entire Xuan Tian Continent!
Only such a powerful individual could possess such formidable strength.
For a moment, neither dared to engage further, fearing they might provoke this powerful presence.
Although they didn't know where this female Half-Emperor had come from, it didn't diminish their understanding of the might of a Half-Emperor.
"Fight again, and you die!"
The female expert spoke sparingly, her voice exceedingly cold, and her words sent shivers down the spines of everyone present.
She walked to the treasure vault's gate and began to examine it closely.
No one dared to disturb her; they could only let her study it.
After the time it took for an incense stick to burn, she spoke again.
"Let's work together to open the treasure vault gate. Everyone can enter. Each will rely on their own abilities and take what they need!"
The woman's words definitively settled the ownership of the treasure vault for this occasion.
Those warriors with weaker cultivation or no background were overjoyed upon hearing this.
Her words meant that as long as they collectively opened the gate, everyone present could enter the Emperor's treasure vault!
They too would have a chance to obtain treasures from it!
As for the warriors from the major factions, their first reaction was naturally reluctance.
With so many weaker individuals sharing the treasure vault, their own gains would be reduced.
However, due to the woman's overwhelming strength, everyone dared not speak out, harboring resentment but feeling helpless.
Subsequently, all the warriors present gathered together and began to break the treasure vault's gate. Without a key, their only recourse was brute force to enter.
Even so, it would take them some time to open the gate.
But this did not dampen the warriors' excitement. They all began to attack the gate with all their might, attempting to break it open.