The Sakura Island people dispersed after searching for an hour without finding Ye Bufan and Yan Yuzhu, leaving only a small team to scout the surroundings.
The two unleashed their spiritual power and quickly scanned the area, discovering that a major camp of Sakura Island was not far from their location.
Thus, Ye Bufan and Yan Yuzhu decided to cooperate and create some "trouble" for the enemy's main camp.
"Whoosh—"
Ye Bufan summoned his remnant sword and moved silently through the forest. The scouting team left at the position where they had previously disappeared hadn't even reacted before they felt a chill in their throats and their lives were extinguished.
Yan Yuzhu also dealt with several people simultaneously, but this time she left one alive, only silencing his throat and crippling his limbs.
"So ruthless!" Ye Bufan was startled by Yan Yuzhu's methods. He realized that despite her beautiful, world-class appearance, she was truly ruthless when she attacked, the contrast being so extreme it frightened him.
The Sakura Island man glared at Ye Bufan and Yan Yuzhu with resentment.
"As you wished, I left one alive to gather information." Yan Yuzhu smiled gently at Ye Bufan, but recalling her ferocity when killing earlier, she couldn't help but shiver.
"Illusionary Sound Demonic Eyes!" The moment Ye Bufan met the Sakura Island man's gaze, his spiritual power forcefully invaded the man's mind. Ye Bufan obtained information about the deployment of their rear encampment.
"Done!" Ye Bufan said.
Yan Yuzhu nodded, and with a hand chop from a distance, she sliced across the man's neck, and he immediately lost consciousness on the ground.
"How was it?" Yan Yuzhu asked. "What are your plans now? I'll cooperate with you."
"Palace Master Yan, why are you cooperating with me so readily? It's a far cry from how you were when you were killing these Sakura Island people," Ye Bufan said with a wry smile.
Yan Yuzhu paused for a moment and then let out a soft sigh. "That's a good question. Let me think carefully. It's a feeling, a sense that my subconscious is telling me you are a trustworthy person."
From Yan Yuzhu, Ye Bufan learned that her cultivation method was related to sensory perception. Especially after obtaining the Pearl of Light, her perception of the outside world had become exceptionally strong. Simultaneously, her subconscious sixth sense amplified as her strength increased.
Therefore, when Yan Yuzhu interacted with others, her subconscious would usually have some changes; some felt comfortable, others uncomfortable, she had experienced all sorts of sensations. When interacting with Ye Bufan, Yan Yuzhu found it quite comfortable, and her sixth sense had no adverse reactions, so she chatted with him quite happily.
"This... could your physique be the Innate Dao Body?"
Hearing Yan Yuzhu's explanation, Ye Bufan immediately thought of Wang Xinyan and asked uncertainly.
"Eh! How do you know?" Yan Yuzhu looked at Ye Bufan in shock.
"I know someone else with the Innate Dao Body. She isn't a cultivator yet, but she should be soon." The image of Wang Xinyan appeared in Ye Bufan's mind.
"Really? Then she's a perfect fit for my Bright Palace!" Yan Yuzhu exclaimed. "If you have a chance, you can introduce her to me. I've always wanted to cultivate a candidate for the next sect leader, but my physique is too special. I didn't expect you to know someone like that."
"Alright."
Ye Bufan smiled faintly. He hadn't expected his trip to the northwest to help Wang Xinyan find a master. This way, even if the chaotic times arrived, Chu Mengyao and Wang Xinyan would have an additional layer of security for their lives.
After discussing personal matters, the two continued with their main task.
According to the memory of the Sakura Island man, they had distributed forces in the east, west, north, and south, with a cultivator at the middle stage of Core Formation guarding each location.
Therefore, Ye Bufan and Yan Yuzhu's plan was for Ye Bufan to draw their attention and lure away Yamamoto Ichiryu, while Yan Yuzhu would take the opportunity to cause disruption and destroy their provisions and tents.
Ye Bufan flew towards the Sakura Island formation, combining his Violet Nether Cold Flame and sword energy, hurling them from a distance towards the Sakura Island encampment.
The compressed sword energy and Violet Nether Cold Flame instantly ignited into fierce flames upon colliding with the cultivators.
"Enemy attack!" a Sakura Island cultivator shouted sharply, the sound instantly spreading throughout the entire encampment.
The next moment, Yamamoto Ichiryu descended from the sky and landed in front of Ye Bufan.
"Boy, you dare to come back?" Yamamoto Ichiryu coldly snorted. "A mere early Core Formation ant dares to sneak attack us. You're overestimating yourself."
Ye Bufan smiled faintly and said, "This isn't a sneak attack; it's a direct assault. Have you heard of a feint? I'm here to catch you off guard with a surprise return."
"Boy, you're seeking death!" Yamamoto Ichiryu's eyes were filled with killing intent.
Ye Bufan gave Yamamoto Ichiryu the middle finger and said, "Whether I'm seeking death or not is not for you to decide. My life is my own to command."
"Hmph! I hope you won't be kneeling and begging for mercy later." Yamamoto Ichiryu produced a feather fan. Ye Bufan smiled faintly, and as the opponent swung the fan towards him, Ye Bufan had already activated his sword domain.
"Hmm?" Yamamoto Ichiryu felt something was strange but couldn't quite pinpoint it.
"Whoosh—"
Soon, Yamamoto Ichiryu felt sword intent and sword energy coming at him from all directions. Ye Bufan smiled faintly.
Yamamoto Ichiryu attacked Ye Bufan with hesitation, but Ye Bufan easily neutralized it, and then his remnant sword appeared behind him.
"Two Sleeves of Green Snakes!"
Ye Bufan shouted. The remnant sword should have split into two, but Ye Bufan didn't expect the Black Tortoise Sword to appear again. It, along with the sword energy from the remnant sword, transformed into two giant green snakes that lunged towards Yamamoto Ichiryu.
"Presumptuous!" A vortex appeared behind Yamamoto Ichiryu. He swung his feather fan again, and the feathers on the fan turned into a circle, attempting to swallow the two giant snakes formed by the swords.
"Break!" Ye Bufan pointed his sword finger towards the sky. The sword domain rapidly contracted, and all the sword energy exploded onto the remnant sword and the Black Tortoise Sword, completely destroying Yamamoto Ichiryu's feather fan.
"Baka!"
Yamamoto Ichiryu shot into the sky. Ye Bufan smiled faintly, knowing his objective was achieved. He didn't linger to fight but feigned an escape, luring the opponent deeper into the forest.
"Trying to escape now? It's too late?" Yamamoto Ichiryu roared confidently.