"The other party was injured because of Sakurajima, and our purpose in coming here is also for Sakurajima, and for Yamata no Orochi. Since we are cultivators of the Kyushu region, we should offer help when needed," Ye Qingyi said. "Don't let trivial matters overshadow important ones."
Ye Qingcheng nodded. In terms of social graces, Ye Qingcheng wasn't as knowledgeable as Ye Qingyi, so she followed Ye Qingyi's instructions.
Lin Zhi looked at the two disciples he had brought with him and sighed. "I'll contact the sect with the sect's jade token later. You two can return to the sect first."
"Senior Brother Lin!" The two disciples looked at Lin Zhi with a trace of unwillingness in their eyes.
This time, Lin Zhi had only brought two Qi Refining stage cultivators out to broaden their horizons. These two were disciples of the younger generation in his sect.
However, they hadn't expected the revival of Yamata no Orochi to be an elaborate plot by people from Sakurajima. This also made Lin Zhi abandon the idea of bringing them to the sinkhole to witness the subjugation of Yamata no Orochi. With the breakthrough on Blue Star imminent, it was more important to preserve the sect's strength.
This was also the mindset of various immortal cultivation families and sects after the revival of Yamata no Orochi; they were all preparing for the breakthrough of the bottleneck.
Lin Zhi found a way to settle the two sect disciples. Ye Bufan also gave them each a piece of jade that could save their lives at critical moments.
"Ye Bufan, is that jade you made really that amazing?" Ye Qingcheng saw that Ye Bufan had given away two pieces of jade without hesitation, and became interested in Ye Bufan's jade.
"Of course. I made it myself, and only I know how powerful it is," Ye Bufan replied.
"You can make these things too?" Ye Qingcheng's gaze towards Ye Bufan immediately changed.
Ye Bufan looked at Ye Qingcheng's expression and knew what she was thinking. So, Ye Bufan took out a piece of jade from his spatial jade pendant and handed it to Ye Qingcheng.
"You can try it," Ye Bufan said.
Ye Qingcheng took the jade stone and said to Lin Zhi, "Elder Lin, would you accompany me to test it?"
Ye Qingyi heard Ye Qingcheng's words and glared at her. "Qingcheng, don't be rude. Elder Lin is still injured."
"You won't spar with me. And Ye Bufan certainly won't. The only person here besides me is Elder Lin," Ye Qingcheng said. "Besides, I'm just asking Elder Lin. If he's unwilling, he'll refuse."
As Ye Qingcheng spoke, she made a funny face at Ye Qingyi. Lin Zhi couldn't help but laugh when he heard this. "I've heard a little about the reputation of young brother Ye Bufan. I'm actually curious to see if the things he makes are truly that amazing."
After speaking, Lin Zhi took the jade stone from Ye Qingcheng's hand, and the two walked aside to test it.
"Here I come!" Ye Qingcheng swung her long saber, launching an attack at Lin Zhi. Lin Zhi injected his true qi into the jade stone, which instantly flew up and exploded in front of them. A wave of heat swept over, and the power was immense.
"What a domineering force!" Ye Qingcheng was greatly alarmed and retreated quickly. Ye Bufan used his Inverse Absorption Palm against the energy, pushing it away.
Ye Qingcheng looked at the energy, her heart pounding with lingering fear. If the enemy were completely unprepared, such energy could even injure them, providing an opportunity to escape.
"This energy is very strange," Lin Zhi marveled, looking at it. "It's extremely hot, yet I feel a hint of coldness."
Ye Bufan smiled slightly. This was something he had researched himself. The energy within the current jade stones was compressed to the extreme using the Purple Nether Cold Fire, and then his own sword intent was integrated into the jade stones.
Once the jade stone was activated by true qi, the sword intent and the energy of the Purple Nether Cold Fire would combine and explode. The stronger the user, the greater the power.
"No way!" Ye Qingcheng looked at Ye Bufan in shock. "So, you not only refine medicine, but you also forge magical artifacts? This kind of skill is only possessed by artifact refiners."
At eighteen years old, being in the late stage of Foundation Establishment, coupled with the identities of an alchemist and an artifact refiner, Ye Qingyi looked at Ye Bufan with a complicated expression.
"Ye Bufan, do you have any more of these jade stones?" Ye Qingcheng asked.
"Not many," Ye Bufan replied.
Ye Qingyi stepped forward and stood beside Ye Bufan, smiling.
"Little Brother Ye, you've got some skills. Hiding your identity as an artifact refiner so well. Aren't you afraid of this getting out?" Ye Qingyi said.
"Since I've said it, I'm naturally not afraid of it being leaked," Ye Bufan replied.
"Little Brother Ye, I'd like to buy some jade stones from you. I wonder if you'd consider it?" Ye Qingyi asked.
"I really don't have many of these jade stones," Ye Bufan said with a wry smile.
"If you run out, you can make more. Give me a discounted price then." Ye Qingyi leaned closer to Ye Bufan's ear and said, "The price I'm offering isn't just any ordinary price."
After speaking, Ye Qingyi didn't forget to exhale gently into Ye Bufan's ear.
Ye Bufan shivered and instinctively took a step back. This made Ye Qingyi cover her mouth and laugh.
"Alright, alright, sister won't tease you anymore. Let's hurry on our way. Yamata no Orochi is about to revive, and we don't know what stage its restored strength will be at. We should get to the scene as soon as possible," Ye Qingyi said.
The four of them glanced north and then quickened their pace towards the north.
...
The next morning, a low roar echoed from the sinkhole, followed by sound waves rising from the sinkhole and spreading outwards.
The surrounding explosive sites and some equipment were instantly destroyed by the sound waves, and several cultivators with low cultivation bases coughed up blood and died on the spot under the impact of the sound waves.
Ji Feiyang stood up and looked at the tragic scene with a sigh.
Before everyone could react, a giant tail flew out from the sinkhole.
"Quick! Return to your positions!" Ji Feiyang shouted. Many people, enduring the severe pain caused by the sound waves, returned to their posts and prepared to fire cannons into the deep pit.
"Roar—"
Another fierce roar, and the sound waves rippled outwards again. Those who had just returned to their positions coughed up blood.
Ji Feiyang's expression turned grim, and he quickly led his men towards the explosive sites.
"I've arrived—"
At this moment, an old man's voice rang out. A silver light descended from the sky, and then several figures appeared in the air.
In the next second, several more groups of people appeared from all directions, all of them stopping at the edge of the sinkhole.