Song Mingqin and Ye Bufan rejoined the group with three others. Upon learning about the affairs of the Overlord Blade Sect, Song Xinghai also became vigilant.
"Elders, according to the information from the Overlord Blade Sect disciples, there should be a herd of demonic beasts in this forest. Their sect lost their way because of the Razor Ice Hounds. It's nighttime now, so we should be even more careful."
Song Xinghai summoned the seven elders for a discussion. They all appeared indifferent, as if the matter didn't concern them.
"That's just bad luck for their Overlord Blade Sect. Our Crimson Sword Sect disciples have plenty of experience training outside. I don't think we need to be so fearful of everything," said Lin Houdao, the Grand Elder of the Crimson Sword Sect, waving his hand dismissively with great confidence.
"Half-step Core Formation, can you defeat it?" Song Mingqin was very displeased with Lin Houdao's attitude and immediately retorted.
Lin Houdao was slightly taken aback and replied, "Aren't you, the Supreme Elder, half-step Core Formation? With you here, why would we fear a half-step Core Formation Razor Ice Hound?"
Song Mingqin sneered and asked again, "What's your current realm?"
"Mid-stage Foundation Establishment," Lin Houdao stated proudly.
"Mid-stage Foundation Establishment is nothing," Song Mingqin cursed. "The Razor Ice Hound King is half-step Core Formation. There are likely several mid-stage Foundation Establishment Razor Ice Hounds. If a few of them ganged up on you, you'd be dead. Razor Ice Hounds are pack beasts, like wolves; never take them lightly."
"The Supreme Elder is correct." Lin Houdao's face turned very grim. However, Song Mingqin was the Supreme Elder and a half-step Core Formation cultivator, so he could only silently accept the scolding.
"The Supreme Elder's words have merit," Song Xinghai chimed in. "Furthermore, although the Earth Fiend Hall has grievances with the Overlord Blade Sect, as a force in the northwest, based on my knowledge, they never act according to convention. It is rumored that their sect leader, 'Living Yama,' is ruthless and is capable of robbery and murder."
"We will follow the Sect Leader's arrangements." The remaining silent elders, seeing Lin Houdao's fate, quickly voiced their support for Song Mingqin and Song Xinghai.
Ye Bufan watched their discussion from afar and couldn't help but shake his head. It was evident that the Crimson Sword Sect was currently being held together by Song Mingqin. If Song Mingqin were no longer present one day, this sect would fall into chaos.
Subsequently, Song Xinghai continued to discuss sect matters and future plans with the group. Only then did they resume their journey.
"Let's pick up the pace. We should reach our destination before dawn," Song Xinghai rallied all the Crimson Sword Sect disciples.
Ye Bufan still walked at the rear with Song Mingqin. However, Ye Bufan felt a growing sense of unease. His Dragon Emperor Token began to vibrate slightly at this moment.
"It seems that Living Yama is nearby," Ye Bufan took a deep breath. "I wonder if I can snatch the third Dragon Emperor Token from Living Yama. If I get it, I'll only have one left."
The thought of the immensely powerful energy of the Dragon Emperor Token made Ye Bufan slightly excited. If he could fully refine it, he might reach the Nascent Soul or Soul Transformation stage, or perhaps even the Spirit Severing stage.
The Crimson Sword Sect's group traveled at high speed. During this time, Ye Bufan learned from Song Mingqin that the Crimson Sword Sect and several other sects were allied. Each sect leader possessed a communication jade token, which allowed for communication by injecting spiritual power into it.
Song Xinghai informed the allied sect leaders about the Overlord Blade Sect's situation through the communication jade token. Coincidentally, another sect, the Heavenly Origin Sect, had also encountered scattered disciples of the Overlord Blade Sect.
Hearing Song Xinghai's words, Ye Bufan suddenly had an idea.
"I'm wondering if the Overlord Blade Sect encountering the Razor Ice Hounds is a bit too coincidental," Ye Bufan said to Song Mingqin. "We've been in the forest for some time, but we haven't encountered any Razor Ice Hounds or other demonic beasts. Doesn't Senior find it strange?"
Song Mingqin recalled their journey and looked at Ye Bufan in surprise.
"You mean..."
"Exactly. I'm thinking, could the Overlord Blade Sect's encounter with the Razor Ice Hounds have been secretly arranged by the Earth Fiend Hall?" Ye Bufan proposed.
"That's a possibility, but how can we confirm it?" Song Mingqin asked.
Ye Bufan pondered for a moment and said, "It's simple. We just need to know if the Overlord Blade Sect disciples rescued by other sects also encountered attacks from the Earth Fiend Hall. After all, we only encountered a few Earth Fiend Hall disciples earlier. If their goal was merely to reach the ancient ruins, they should have acted together. But we only met a few."
"That makes sense!"
Song Mingqin quickly asked Song Xinghai to confirm whether the Overlord Blade Sect disciples encountered by other sects had also been attacked by the Earth Fiend Hall.
Two minutes later, Song Xinghai provided a definitive answer: when those sects encountered the Overlord Blade Sect disciples, they were in the midst of a battle with members of the Earth Fiend Hall.
"It appears the Earth Fiend Hall had a premeditated plan," Song Mingqin remarked. "But given the Earth Fiend Hall's modus operandi, if they find out we've disrupted their plans, they will likely target our Crimson Sword Sect and the other sects that aided the Overlord Blade Sect next."
...
The sun slowly rose from behind the eastern mountains, and the air grew gradually cooler. Following Song Xinghai's lead, the people of the Crimson Sword Sect finally arrived at their destination for this journey—Dragon's Roar Valley.
This valley was rumored to produce a sound like a dragon's roar whenever the wind blew through it, hence its name.
Not long after the Crimson Sword Sect arrived, they saw another group approaching them in a grand procession.
"It's the Heavenly Origin Sect."
Recognizing the attire of the approaching individuals, Song Mingqin immediately identified them.
"Hmm?" Song Mingqin noticed that the leader of the Heavenly Origin Sect, their sect leader, had several wounds, and the disciples behind him were in even worse shape, some even supporting each other as they advanced. He couldn't help but feel puzzled.
"Sect Leader Chu, what happened?" Song Xinghai hurried forward to ask.
"Sect Leader Song, esteemed elders of the Crimson Sword Sect, Senior Mingqin." Chu Tai bowed with clasped fists to the group and sighed, saying, "We were attacked by the Earth Fiend Hall about an hour ago. I even had a close encounter with the Black and White Twin Fiends, subordinates of that Living Yama."
"Black and White Twin Fiends?" Song Mingqin narrowed his eyes. "I didn't expect them to be here as well. It's said their combined full-power strike is incredibly powerful, equivalent to an attack from a Core Formation stage cultivator."