John's face became incredibly cold as he heard the man say this. His father had obtained the technique for him, and so the man was essentially calling his father a thief.
Not only that, but his tone and attitude were completely overbearing, as if he didn't respect the Heavenly Lightning Sect at all.
The Heavenly Lightning sect and the Supreme Battle Sect were practically even in power in the Holy Lands, as they were both one of the Four Great Sects. They even had a relatively good relationship, in that they were not enemies by any means.
However, this man was giving the Heavenly Lightning Sect no face at the moment.
"John….what's going on? What is he talking about?" Leah couldn't help but ask in a slightly panicked tone.
She had never seen John use his Supreme Battle Art, and so was completely out of the loop. On top of that, the man's aura, which radiated a peak Heaven Tribulation cultivation, was pressing down on them with great power, intimidating her further.
John glanced towards Leah, and a small smile appeared on his face. "Don't worry about this. This man won't do anything to me," John replied in a confident tone.
The Supreme Battle Sect Elder heard this, and his serious face turned slightly dark. "You think I won't dare to do anything to you? Do you not know of the reputation of my Supreme Battle Sect? There isn't a single thing we dare not do," the man scoffed.
John's calm smile remained on his face as he looked at the man. Based on what he had heard of the Supreme Battle Sect, they were a sect of battle maniacs who truly did dare to do almost anything, including waltzing into another Great Sect to kidnap a disciple in broad daylight.
However, with his importance to the Heavenly Lightning Sect being at the absolute peak, John was not worried about a thing.
"Aren't you afraid of my Heavenly Lightning Sect retaliating against you and your sect for such a brazen action?" John asked, his voice tinged with amusement.
The man found John's lack of fear, and instead pure amusement, completely displeasing. Anger slightly began to well up inside him as he increased the pressure on John alone, looking to quell him with his aura alone.
However, John acted as if nothing had happened, because to him, nothing had. The man had increased his aura to intimidate a normal Late Core Formation youth. However, John was not a normal Late Core Formation youth, and the aura on him felt like a light rain at the moment.
However, the aura slightly leaked to Leah, Elliot and Adam, and John could tell that they were having a hard time struggling against it. He frowned as he saw this, and looked back up towards the man with a cold glare.
"Is this how your daring Supreme Battle Sect does things? They use a Heaven Tribulation Elder to bully youths in the Core Formation Realm? If that's the case, then I really look down on you and your sect," John stated.
"What did you say? You dare besmirch my glorious Supreme Battle Sect?" the man replied in an angered tone.
He was a vaunted Elder of the Supreme Battle Sect, and was used to those below him from sects other than his own looking up at him with awe, respect, and fear. It was the first time he had seen a youth like John completely disregard his position, and even repeatedly mock him.
However, the man could not argue against what John had said, as he truly was using his power to bully and intimidate those weaker than him. His powerful aura subsided, relieving the pressure off Leah, Elliot and Adam, as they all sighed deeply in relief.
"Regardless of what you say, you're coming with me," the man spoke up. "As for your Heavenly Lightning Sect, they would do the same thing if one of my sect's disciples had somehow cultivated the Heavenly Lightning Tome. They would send an Elder to take them back for questioning, as I am doing to you today."
"And what would your sect's response be to such an action?" John asked. "Would your sect roll over and let one of your disciples be kidnapped?"
"Of course not," the man bellowed out, as if John had once again insulted his Supreme Battle Sect. "However, do not compare the grit of our Supreme Battle Sect to your Heavenly Lightning Sect. While we may be equal in power, we are not equal in attitude and wills. Your sect would not dare to start a battle or war for a single disciple, while ours would. That is the difference between your sect and mine," the man explained with a prideful tone.
John nodded his head in slight agreement as he heard this. "It's true. My Heavenly Lightning Sect can be quite soft, as most of my fellow disciples, and even Elders came from pampered backgrounds and expect that to continue within the Heavenly Lightning Sect," John agreed.
A small smile once again appeared on his face, as if he was mocking the man. "However, that is not true for everyone in my sect. There are those within my sect that even you would fear to anger. Do not test your luck, or you will draw their ire, and that ire is not something you, or even your entire sect, can withstand" John replied.
The man frowned angrily as he heard this statement from John, which was demeaning his entire sect.
"You dare to besmirch my sect once again? Fine, in that case, I'm bringing you back with me now. Other than your Sect Leader, no one had the gall to stop me, and he sits in his palace all day, unconcerned of the happenings beneath him. Let's see who else from your sect dares to interfere," the man replied as he reached out towards John.
John felt an incredible power wrap around him, seeking to bring him away with the man. He was powerless against such an overwhelming might, but didn't even bother to struggle against it. The man's overbearing display of his aura surely didn't go unnoticed within the sect, and John knew those two would not allow him to be taken away by anyone.
"Hmph," a scoff suddenly filled the area. While it was a normal scoff, it contained incredible power which focused on the man from the Supreme Battle Sect.
John instantly felt the power that had wrapped around him dissipate as the man suddenly looked in a certain direction. His eyes narrowed as he looked at the person before him, who had appeared instantly and without any warning.
Her blue hair billowed in the wind, while her white and gold robe glowed brightly in the sunlight. Her face was a mix of amusement and displeasure as she looked at the man with disdain.
"So, I step away from the spotlight for a few years and you've already forgotten about me? It seems as though I didn't make enough of an impression last time, but after I'm done with you, I'm sure no one in these lands will forget again," her calm voice sounded out.
