Xu Yi firmly believed that the unexplained deaths of numerous cultivators must be suspicious.
As expected, when Ji Buwang, guided by his memory, led Xu Yi to the fourth location, they finally found a clue.
Here, only two corpses were placed, and their bodies showed no trace of injury. From the outside, they looked more like they had fallen asleep, their expressions peaceful.
"Ji Buwang, doesn't this scene remind you of..."
"You mean like the tragedy that occurred in the Western Water Domain's secret realm five hundred years ago."
"Yes."
Xu Yi nodded. She still remembered the sect's ancient records stating that after the secret realm closed five hundred years ago, the cultivators trapped inside reappeared having had their souls siphoned, leaving only empty shells.
It was exactly the same as the current situation.
Xu Yi had reason to suspect that the Soul-Enticing Bell had already appeared.
And that it was carrying out a new round of slaughter among the cultivators within the secret realm.
She even had a suspect in mind.
Xu Yi tilted her head slightly, her eyes meeting Ji Buwang's. They spoke in unison: "Jin Biao."
The suddenly disappeared Jin Biao had appeared before everyone when the residual light was at its most intense.
Considering Jin Biao clutching the unconscious Hong Shengyi tightly in his arms, Xu Yi could piece together the encounter between the real Jin Biao and Hong Shengyi.
A deep killing intent flashed in Xu Yi's eyes, and the Discipline Ruler at her waist trembled incessantly.
But that was merely Xu Yi's speculation.
To confirm this guess, Ji Buwang and Xu Yi visited more than a dozen other locations.
The corpses found in these places also had no obvious injuries and their faces were calm, clearly indicating they had died by the same hand.
Ji Buwang suddenly turned his head to look in the direction they had come from, his brow furrowed. "This is bad, we need to return quickly. Xuanqing Sect and the others could be in danger."
Xu Yi's eyelids twitched, and the killing intent in her eyes deepened.
"Let's go, back!"
...
"Senior Brother Long, are we just going to stay here?"
After Xu Yi and Ji Buwang left, a Xuanqing Sect disciple couldn't help but speak, his tone carrying a hint of complaint.
Although Senior Sister Xu and Senior Brother Lu had indeed helped them, they couldn't always be submissive and obedient, trailing behind the two like followers. This was truly damaging to Xuanqing Sect's prestige.
"Senior Brother Ma, this secret realm is full of dangers. Even Senior Brother Jin... If we roam around in this secret realm, we might attract even greater trouble."
Before Long Haotian could reply, Qu Xiaoxiao stood up and proactively retorted.
Long Haotian swallowed the words he was about to say and nodded in agreement.
He was currently responsible for the safety of the entire Xuanqing Sect team and naturally could not act impulsively.
"But we can't just do nothing," Senior Brother Ma exclaimed unwillingly. "Actually, I don't think we need to be overly cautious. After all, we have so many people now. Anyone who wants to provoke us will have to weigh it carefully."
After speaking, Ma Wencai scanned the surrounding disciples, hoping for their support.
"Ma Wencai, you're not a newly initiated disciple, yet you can utter such shallow words."
Chen Tao raised his eyelids and sneered dismissively.
"Chen Tao, what did I say wrong? With so many of us, even a Combined Body cultivator couldn't do anything to us. Why are you boosting others' morale while dampening our own?"
Ma Wencai, angered by Chen Tao's disdainful glance, stomped his feet.
He felt that Senior Brother Long and Chen Tao were too cautious, having lost the sharp edge of cultivators. Even if there was danger, they shouldn't stop here.
If they bravely took a step forward, they might even find a way to leave the secret realm, which was better than waiting here to die.
The Xuanqing Sect disciples looked left and right, their hearts inevitably wavering.
They all possessed the pride of disciples from the top five sects. For them, waiting was indeed a difficult trial.
Especially in this situation, where they had to follow the arrangements of disciples from two rival sects, they naturally felt some resistance.
It was only because Xu Yi had a good relationship with Xuanqing Sect, and Senior Brother Long also highly approved of Xu Yi's suggestions, that they hadn't voiced their opposition.
Now that someone had stepped forward, their thoughts also became active.
"Senior Brother Long, Senior Brother Chen, actually, I think Senior Brother Ma's words have some merit. Why don't you reconsider?"
"Yes, staying here long-term is not a foolproof plan."
"I think we can move together in a group. As long as we don't split up, there shouldn't be any accidents."
"..."
After a brief silence, the disciples began to voice their thoughts, most of them siding with Ma Wencai.
Seeing this, Qu Xiaoxiao's pretty face showed clear distress.
"Senior Brother Ma, Senior Sister Han, listen to me..."
She was eager to explain for Senior Brother Long, but her voice was drowned out by more voices.
Long Haotian swept his gaze across the disciples' faces and sighed inwardly.
Was it because his strength had not yet reached Senior Brother Jin's level, or because the abilities he displayed were not convincing enough to make his fellow disciples feel at ease?
Long Haotian could understand their anxiety, but he was also disappointed by it.
Because he felt it was a form of denial towards him.
What made it even more frustrating was that he had already foreseen that if they acted recklessly, they might very well walk into a dead end.
But the tragedy was that he could not object, because the hearts of the people were inclined that way.
"Senior Brother Long."
Long Haotian turned his head to look at Lu Ziang, who had spoken, and found, not unexpectedly, the hidden desire deep within his eyes.
Lu Ziang, like the other disciples, held the same idea.
Among everyone present, perhaps only he, Wang Yi'an, and Chen Tao shared the same opinion.
And their commonality was their absolute trust in Xu Yi.
Thinking of this, Long Haotian's expression suddenly faltered.
It seemed he had become too reliant on Xu Yi.
Clearly, when Xu Yi was not around, he, like Lu Ziang and others, had full confidence in his own judgment and was unwilling to be left behind.
But after Xu Yi appeared, he seemed to have lost confidence in himself and placed Xu Yi's words first.
Was this mindset correct?
A flicker of confusion passed through Long Haotian's eyes.
He didn't know if he should continue to persist.
"Senior Brother Long, Senior Brother Long? Did you hear me?"
Lu Ziang saw Long Haotian looking at him and was about to express his thoughts, when Long Haotian's gaze began to drift, clearly distracted.
He could only call out helplessly, waking Long Haotian from his thoughts.
Long Haotian snapped back to attention, bit his tongue lightly, and made a decision he might regret.
"We will follow the direction Senior Sister Xu and the others left."
That was the safest route.
Although others were still somewhat dissatisfied, they ultimately harbored a sense of awe towards the secret realm and did not raise any objections.
Qu Xiaoxiao lowered her head, looking somewhat sad.
She understood that this was not Long Haotian's wish, but in this situation, Senior Brother Long could only follow the majority's opinion.
Qu Xiaoxiao's eyes welled up. She could only remain silent, lifting Hong Shengyi with spiritual power, and follow behind the Xuanqing Sect team, silently praying that no more accidents would happen.