"Indeed!" Just as Ye Bufan had predicted, if such a spiritual mine was found within the Taiyi Divine Sect, then it was highly probable that a spiritual vein lay beneath the ground. If they could obtain the spiritual vein, that would be the greatest gain of this trip.
According to Lin Houdao, Ding Yi, driven by greed, had launched surprise attacks on the Scarlet Sword Sect and other righteous sects, then instructed the remaining disciples to enter the water to excavate the spiritual mine.
"But why did he want to annihilate you all?" Ye Qingcheng asked.
"Over the years, the Demonic Cult and our righteous sects have been in constant conflict, making them eager to eliminate us," Lin Houdao panted.
"When you entered, did you all head towards the waterfall together?" Ye Bufan inquired.
Lin Houdao shook his head and told Ye Bufan, "After encountering the Titan Ape, we split into two groups. A portion of the Tianxing Sect disciples, along with their Sect Master Yan Se, headed in this direction."
"Was that with the Black and White Fiends?" Ye Qingcheng asked.
"Yes," Lin Houdao replied. "Earlier, Ding Yi mentioned that Yan Se was held back by the Black and White Fiends. I don't know if that's true."
"It's likely false," Ye Bufan stated.
"On what grounds? Have you encountered them?" Lin Houdao asked curiously.
"No, but I suspect they entered the pavilion behind us," Ye Bufan explained. "When we arrived earlier, we saw several Demonic Cult disciples and Tianxing Sect disciples struggling to get out of there, their faces contorted in agony as they met their demise."
"There's something strange about this pavilion," Lin Houdao furrowed his brow upon hearing Ye Bufan's words.
"This pavilion was likely where the Taiyi Divine Sect disciples specifically cultivated their spiritual power back then, serving as a place of training. However, after so many years, the formations and even the restrictions within it are probably all damaged. Anyone entering with an unstable mind would likely perish," Ye Bufan said.
"Someone else is coming out," Ye Qingyi alerted them.
Ye Bufan and Lin Houdao and the others turned to see three figures rushing out from the pavilion. Leading the charge were a black and a white figure, with another person in pursuit behind them.
"It's the Black and White Fiends!" Lin Houdao exclaimed upon seeing them.
Behind the Black and White Fiends, the one pursuing them was none other than Yan Se, the Sect Master of the Tianxing Sect.
"Ye Bufan, quickly stop them! They have one of the keys to the teleportation array!" Yan Se shouted when he saw Ye Bufan.
Ye Bufan reacted swiftly, his body moving. In the next second, he blocked the path of the Black and White Fiends.
"Kid, get lost!" the Black Fiend roared and unleashed a palm strike towards Ye Bufan. The White Fiend seized the opportunity and dashed towards another direction.
"None of you will escape!"
Ye Bufan sneered. The Illusory Sound Demonic Eyes were released subtly. The White Fiend was shocked, but by the time he reacted, his gaze had already gone blank.
"No!"
The Black Fiend suddenly roared. The White Fiend instantly regained consciousness, but Ye Bufan was already in front of him.
The White Fiend unleashed a palm strike at Ye Bufan. Ye Bufan reciprocated with a palm strike of his own, and the White Fiend was sent flying back by the force from Ye Bufan's body.
"You brat, you're courting death!" The Black Fiend, seeing Ye Bufan knock back the White Fiend, became enraged. His fingernails visibly darkened and elongated, and he lunged at Ye Bufan with a claw.
"Nine Yin White Bone Claw?" Ye Bufan chuckled calmly. "I'll leave you without any fingernails."
Ye Bufan smiled faintly and charged towards the Black Fiend.
"Sword Release!"
Ye Bufan unleashed a palm strike, which appeared to be just a palm strike, but the palm wind was actually sword energy. As they collided, Ye Bufan's sword energy directly lopped off a section of the Black Fiend's fingernails, halving the force of his attack.
The Black Fiend spun in mid-air and kicked towards Ye Bufan. Ye Bufan's eyes narrowed as he noticed a dagger attached to the opponent's shoe, integrated with it.
"Get down!"
Ye Bufan leaped into the air, each hand unleashing a long, azure sword qi.
"Two Sleeves of Azure Snakes!"
The two streaks of azure sword qi, like two azure serpents, lunged with open jaws towards the Black Fiend, striking his chest heavily.
Instantly, two sword qi cuts appeared on the Black Fiend's chest from Ye Bufan's attack. The exchange happened in a flash. In the next second, Ye Bufan descended from the sky, slamming the Black Fiend to the ground.
At this moment, Yan Se had also reached the White Fiend and engaged him in combat.
"Brat, you die!"
The Black Fiend's true qi erupted, and he spat out a cloud of black gas. Two flying needles shot out from the black gas.
"When I was using poison, you weren't even born." Ye Bufan was protected by the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art, and with Lin Xiaoyao constantly using various poisons to temper his body, virtually no poison on the Blue Star could bind him.
"Clang!"
The Broken Sword appeared in front of Ye Bufan, blocking the two flying needles. The Black Fiend broke through the black gas and lunged at Ye Bufan with a palm strike.
"Thunder!"
Ye Bufan let out a fierce cry, and currents of electricity coursed around his body, accompanied by a faint rumbling sound like thunder.
"Rumble!"
Before the Black Fiend could touch Ye Bufan, his palm was pierced by Ye Bufan's Broken Sword. His entire body felt like it had been electrocuted, and he was slammed heavily onto the floor, creating a deep crater.
"Stop!" the White Fiend shouted at Ye Bufan.
Ye Bufan landed beside the Black Fiend, placing a foot on his chest. His true qi pressed down on the Black Fiend, rendering him completely unable to resist.
He didn't dare to look at the White Fiend, who was watching the Black Fiend with concern.
"Don't give him the item!" the Black Fiend shouted resentfully.
"This is not up to you." Ye Bufan increased his strength slightly, and the Black Fiend spat out a mouthful of blood.
"I'll give it to you! If you let him go, I'll give it to you immediately," the White Fiend said.
Ye Bufan tilted his head and looked at the White Fiend. "Fine, then give me the activation key for the teleportation array first."
"The key is in my hand, and I have the final say," the White Fiend stated, looking at Ye Bufan.
"Is that so?" Ye Bufan applied a little more pressure, and the Black Fiend coughed up more blood.
"The person is in my hand, so the initiative should be mine," Ye Bufan said to the White Fiend.
"You!" The White Fiend bit his lip, deliberating for a few seconds. "Then swear an oath, with the Heavenly Dao as witness, that after you obtain the teleportation array key, you will release him."
Seeing this, Ye Bufan couldn't help but smile. A Heavenly Dao oath, if violated, would trigger a lightning tribulation.
"Alright!" Ye Bufan took a deep breath and began to swear: "I swear by the Heavenly Dao, that once I obtain the teleportation array key, I will release the Black Fiend."
After speaking, Ye Bufan lightly cut his right hand with his left, and a drop of essence blood flew towards the sky, eventually dissipating. Ye Bufan faintly felt a sense of being bound by something.