"Why haven't the Golden Core cultivators shown themselves at a time like this?" Ye Qingcheng, standing beside Ji Feiyang, couldn't help but complain, looking at the current battle situation.
Ye Qingyi chuckled and said, "The Golden Core cultivators who are unwilling to come out now are the same ones who fled the battlefield or didn't participate in the fight back then. What can you expect from them?"
"That's true, makes sense," Ye Qingcheng said. "What do we do with the Eight-Headed Serpent?"
Ye Qingyi smiled mysteriously and said, "Don't worry, this Eight-Headed Serpent can't stir up too much trouble. The most important thing is what the group behind the Eight-Headed Serpent intends to do."
Upon hearing this, Ye Qingcheng couldn't help but frown. Following Song Mingqin's suggestion, most of those who were more afraid of the Eight-Headed Serpent formed a search party for the people of Sakura Island, while the majority of the fearless were preparing to go down into the sinkhole to fight the Eight-Headed Serpent again.
"Senior Mingqin, why don't we wait for the Eight-Headed Serpent to come up?" some cultivators still asked with confusion.
Song Mingqin sighed softly and said, "I believe everyone has felt the aura of the Eight-Headed Serpent. It's been constantly climbing. Although it's currently in the late Foundation Establishment stage, even my half-step Golden Core struggles to deal with it. If we let it continue, its cultivation is very likely to break through to the Golden Core stage. Moreover, the Eight-Headed Serpent carries a trace of the bloodline power of the ancient divine beast Tengshe, making its skin exceptionally tough. Once it reaches the Golden Core stage, even Golden Core cultivators will have a headache dealing with it."
Ye Bufan listened to Song Mingqin's words and nodded in strong agreement. Although the Eight-Headed Serpent was being expelled, its divine beast bloodline power could not be ignored.
"Understood. We are willing to follow the arrangements of Immortal Sword Mingqin. For the sake of the Nine Provinces, we will not shirke our duty." Several cultivators exchanged glances, and the leader said excitedly to Song Mingqin.
Song Mingqin nodded, then turned back to Ye Bufan and said, "Ye Bufan, why don't you wait for our news here on the sinkhole? Senior Xiaoyao only has you as a disciple..."
Ye Bufan couldn't help but smile and quickly waved his hand at Song Mingqin.
"Senior Mingqin, there's no need. Since I am my master's disciple, you should naturally trust my strength and abilities. There's no need to give me special treatment," Ye Bufan said. "We will do as we should."
Song Mingqin was first stunned by Ye Bufan's words, then he chuckled. Ye Bufan's words greatly pleased him.
"As expected of Senior Xiaoyao's disciple," Song Mingqin said. "Alright then, after we go down, I won't bother with you. You just take care of yourself."
Ye Bufan nodded. Song Mingqin leaped up, supporting himself with his sword, and flew down into the sinkhole. The more than ten cultivators following him also flew down.
"Be careful." As Ye Bufan was about to set off, he received a sound transmission from Ye Qingyi, which surprised him. He looked back towards Ji Feiyang's tent and met Ye Qingyi's gaze. Ye Bufan then also flew into the sinkhole.
The sinkhole was about seven to eight hundred meters deep. Not long after entering, the light gradually diminished, and they were plunged into darkness.
Everyone could only rely on their spiritual sense to perceive each other's locations.
A flash of inspiration struck Ye Bufan. He extended his left hand, and the Purple Nether Cold Fire instantly appeared in his palm. The purple flames illuminated a space of two to three meters in front of Ye Bufan.
"Ye Bufan, you have the purple fire. How about leading us?" Song Mingqin transmitted to Ye Bufan.
"Certainly." Ye Bufan instantly accelerated and moved to the front of the team.
"Be careful." Song Mingqin deliberately walked alongside Ye Bufan, with the dozen or so cultivators following behind.
"Roar—"
A low growl echoed in the darkness, and everyone immediately became vigilant. Ye Bufan felt something observing them from the shadows.
"The Eight-Headed Serpent has lived in this darkness for years and has long adapted to it. Everyone must be careful," Song Mingqin said to the group.
"Ah—"
As soon as he finished speaking, a scream rang out, and one person was suddenly missing from the team.
"Everyone be careful. The Eight-Headed Serpent might be strengthening itself by diluting the true qi of cultivators," Song Mingqin said.
Ye Bufan spread out his spiritual sense, sensing everything around him. He heard a light breeze blowing from behind him. Ye Bufan spun around sharply, and the Purple Nether Cold Fire floated in the air, instantly illuminating a space of several dozen meters. The group saw a snake's tail flash past.
"Go!" Ye Bufan drew out a wisp of sword qi and sent it towards the tail, but it vanished into the darkness, and he could no longer sense its presence.
Song Mingqin looked at Ye Bufan with a very strange expression, his eyes showing some shock.
"You... have comprehended the Sword Domain?" Song Mingqin transmitted, his voice entering Ye Bufan's ears. He seemed somewhat doubtful, not entirely sure about his earlier perception.
Ye Bufan was shocked that Song Mingqin had discovered it. He then heard Song Mingqin say, "My swordsmanship was guided by Senior Xiaoyao. I have currently reached the realm of unity between man and sword, where the absence of a sword is superior to having one. Therefore, I am very sensitive to matters of the sword."
"The way of the sword is interconnected. I can vaguely sense the nascent form of your sword way from my own."
With Song Mingqin's explanation, Ye Bufan finally understood and no longer concealed it, transmitting the truth to Song Mingqin.
"Another underground city," Song Mingqin said. "It is said that Yu Xing of the underground city is already infinitely close to the Nascent Soul stage and only awaits the disappearance of the bottleneck to break through. Therefore, the entire cultivation world shows great respect to the underground city and even tries to befriend them."
Upon hearing this, Ye Bufan thought about asking Song Mingqin for guidance after the Eight-Headed Serpent matter was resolved.
"Ah—"
Another scream rang out, and Ye Bufan's Purple Nether Cold Fire instantly shot towards the sound.
Song Mingqin was even faster. With a turn, Ye Bufan felt an extremely domineering sword qi fly past him towards where the sound had disappeared.
Ye Bufan then injected true qi into the Purple Nether Cold Fire, and the entire space was illuminated again. The head of the Eight-Headed Serpent appeared. With a thought from Ye Bufan, the Purple Nether Cold Fire transformed into a sword and slashed towards it.
"Sizzling—"
The Purple Nether Cold Fire came into contact with the severed neck of the Eight-Headed Serpent, instantly producing a burnt smell. The surrounding temperature rose rapidly, and then became extremely cold. The head, struggling on the ground, broke free from the Purple Nether Cold Fire and fled towards the right side of the group.