Ye Bufan followed the people from the Crimson Sword Sect, traveling towards a large mountain in the northwest. They traveled north for a day and a night, finally entering a primeval forest.
Upon entering the forest, Ye Bufan immediately felt that the spiritual energy around was even denser than outside.
"Such rich spiritual energy," Song Mingqin also felt the change. "It seems the spiritual energy has become more abundant due to the changes in this ancient cultivation relic."
Ye Bufan stood quietly to the side, holding some reservations about Song Mingqin's explanation.
Lin Xiaoyao had once told Ye Bufan that ancient cultivation relics could be understood as ancient cultivation sects or major factions. Their locations were carefully chosen, so there would definitely be so-called spirit mines beneath them.
Although spirit mines could be depleted, beneath them lay spirit veins, which could repair themselves. Given enough time, they would regenerate spirit mines. The spiritual energy within spirit mines was far more convenient for cultivation than refining spirit gathering pills.
"It seems I need to find some time to search for spirit veins," Ye Bufan mused about finding an opportunity to seek out spirit veins. Lin Xiaoyao had previously taught Ye Bufan the art of dragon seeking and acupoint locating, which could be perfectly applied to finding spirit veins.
"Let's go, we need to continue forward," Song Xinghai said. "We must rendezvous with people from other sects before daybreak."
"Yes!" the disciples of the Crimson Sword Sect shouted in unison, their faces filled with anticipation and excitement.
Ye Bufan sighed softly. The ancient cultivation relic was filled with countless restrictions. Lin Xiaoyao had told Ye Bufan that in his world, he had explored ancient relics in the celestial realm, which were extremely perilous. Ye Bufan dared not be careless, and he wondered how many of the people going there would survive in the end.
Song Xinghai led the way, with Song Mingqin and Ye Bufan at the rear. The remaining seven elders, each with their disciples, walked together within the formation.
The group from the Crimson Sword Sect, led by Song Xinghai, moved swiftly.
"Ah—"
"Clang, clang, clang—"
In the latter half of the night, several screams and sounds of fighting erupted from the depths of the forest.
"Stop!" Song Xinghai immediately halted. Ye Bufan and Song Mingqin moved to the front of the group.
"Xinghai, you stay here with the sect members and wait. I'll go investigate," Song Mingqin said.
"I should go," Song Xinghai replied.
"You are the Sect Master of the Crimson Sword Sect. With you here, they can feel at ease, and you can quickly lead them to retreat and rendezvous with the other sects," Song Mingqin said, patting Song Xinghai's shoulder. Seeing Song Mingqin's determination, Song Xinghai finally agreed.
"Senior Song, I'll go with you," Ye Bufan said, seeing Song Mingqin about to refuse. He quickly spoke before Song Mingqin could, "We can look out for each other, and our chances of success will be greater."
"That works too," Song Mingqin agreed.
The two quickly moved towards the direction of the sounds.
"Kid, I see you have something to say," Song Mingqin said to Ye Bufan on the way.
Ye Bufan smiled and said, "I just find it strange. It feels like only you and Song Xinghai manage affairs in the Crimson Sword Sect. Just now, when we were discussing, those elders didn't even step forward; they were all within their own groups."
Song Mingqin chuckled upon hearing this.
"You've noticed it too? It's just that Song Xinghai hasn't noticed, or perhaps he's unwilling to admit it," Song Mingqin said. "Over the years, those people have been doing a lot of underhanded things behind Song Xinghai's back. If I hadn't discovered it, Song Xinghai might not have been the Sect Master for so long."
"Oh?" Ye Bufan looked at Song Mingqin, surprised by the extent of internal strife within the Crimson Sword Sect.
"Alas, you'll understand more slowly later on."
As they spoke, Song Mingqin and Ye Bufan arrived at the source of the sounds. Here lay several corpses, and a battle was underway between several individuals.
Judging by their attire, they were from two different sects.
One sect had males wearing black sect robes and females wearing white sect robes. On the other side, everyone wore green robes and wielded long sabers.
"It's people from the Earth Fiend Hall and the Overlord Saber Sect," Song Mingqin said.
"Earth Fiend Hall? Isn't that the sect where the Living Yama is from?" Ye Bufan glanced forward again. The people from the Earth Fiend Hall were powerful fighters, only sustaining minor injuries. However, several disciples from the Overlord Saber Sect had already died, with the remaining ones fighting tenaciously.
"Never mind, the Grand Elder of the Overlord Saber Sect is an acquaintance of mine. I should help them secretly," Song Mingqin sighed and then concealed his face before appearing in the battle.
"Who dares to meddle in the affairs of the Earth Fiend Hall? Do you wish to die?" the disciples of the Earth Fiend Hall shouted arrogantly. Song Mingqin moved swiftly, his sword light flashing. Moments later, those disciples of the Earth Fiend Hall fell to the ground, dead.
"Thank you for saving our lives, Senior."
The remaining three disciples of the Overlord Saber Sect, upon seeing Song Mingqin, clasped their fists and knelt in gratitude.
"Get up. You all appear to be in the mid-to-late stages of Qi Condensation. Why are your Sect Master and elders not here?" Song Mingqin asked.
"We were separated from our Sect Master and elders," one disciple sighed. "I am their senior brother—Yu Fuhuan. May I know your esteemed name? We wish to report your life-saving grace to our Sect Master."
"Crimson Sword Sect, Song Mingqin," Song Mingqin replied.
"Yu Fuhuan, tell me what happened," Song Mingqin asked.
Yu Fuhuan recounted to Song Mingqin that during the day, the people of the Overlord Saber Sect were rushing towards their destination when they encountered a pack of Ice Bristle Dogs.
The disciples, encountering beasts larger than humans for the first time, were instantly thrown into a panic. Worse still, among the Ice Bristle Dogs, their king was a beast at the half-step Core Formation realm.
The Sect Master and elders fought to protect the disciples, but the Ice Bristle Dogs were too numerous. They charged into the crowd, engaging in combat with the disciples of the Overlord Saber Sect.
The disciples were scattered by the Ice Bristle Dogs. They fled and fought within the forest, gradually becoming separated from the main group.
"Around nightfall, we finally dealt with the Ice Bristle Dogs, but we became lost in the forest. It wasn't until just now that we encountered people from the Earth Fiend Hall. Upon hearing we were from the Overlord Saber Sect, they immediately attacked us, intending to kill us," Yu Fuhuan said.
Song Mingqin frowned, looking at the three individuals.
"There is some animosity between the Earth Fiend Hall and your Overlord Saber Sect. It's not safe for you three to stay here alone. Are you willing to join our Crimson Sword Sect's group? When all the sects have gathered, you can then reunite with your Sect Master and the others." Song Mingqin offered.
"Thank you, Senior Song," the three bowed their fists to Song Mingqin again.