"If the Black and White Twin Fiends unleash their full combined attack, it can reach the power of an early-stage Core Formation cultivator. How could the Tianyuan Sect have suffered so few casualties?" Ye Bufan furrowed his brows, quickly sensing something was amiss.
"Have the Hegemon Blade Sect arrived?" At this moment, a disciple of the Tianyuan Sect pointed towards the southwest and shouted.
The members of the Hegemon Blade Sect appeared sporadically from that direction, led by their sect master, Ying Yao.
"Sect Master Ying!" Song Xinghai greeted Ying Yao upon his arrival. The Sect Master of Tianyuan Sect, Chu Tai, also went forward to inquire about the Hegemon Blade Sect's situation.
"Alas, no need to speak of it. We encountered the Ox-Horse Twin Fiends on the way," Ying Yao sighed helplessly. "The Ox-Horse Twin Fiends, along with the Black and White Twin Fiends, are formidable subordinates of the Living Yama. We first encountered the Hairy Ice Dog, which greatly depleted the Hegemon Blade Sect's combat strength. After finally resolving the Hairy Ice Dog, the Ox-Horse Twin Fiends appeared. We fought fiercely and only barely managed to escape them."
Ye Bufan stood beside Song Mingqin, listening to Ying Yao recount their encounter.
"What's wrong?" Song Mingqin noticed Ye Bufan's expression change. Song Mingqin pulled Ye Bufan aside.
"Between the Black and White Twin Fiends and the Ox-Horse Twin Fiends, who is stronger?" Ye Bufan asked.
"Naturally, they are equally strong," Song Mingqin replied. "The Black and White Twin Fiends are two individuals, and the Ox-Horse Twin Fiends are also two. Their full combined techniques can rival the strike of a Core Formation expert."
As Song Mingqin finished speaking, his expression also shifted slightly. He looked back at Chu Tai and Ying Yao. They had sustained minor injuries, but their sect disciples had suffered considerable losses.
"You suspect..."
"Precisely! I fear this might be a plot by the Earth Fiend Hall. They clearly had the power to kill both sect masters without anyone noticing, yet they only injured them," Ye Bufan stated.
"So you're saying they intend to wear down the combat strength of our sects?" Song Mingqin inquired.
"I'm not entirely sure yet, but I have a bad feeling," Ye Bufan said. In addition to the current situation, he also felt that the energy of the Dragon Emperor Token within him was occasionally stirring. It was clear that the legendary Living Yama was likely nearby.
Upon seeing this, Song Mingqin quickly transmitted a message to Song Xinghai, informing him of Ye Bufan's thoughts.
Song Xinghai looked back at Ye Bufan and Song Mingqin. The three exchanged glances, then Song Xinghai spoke to the other two sect masters: "Two sect masters, something is not right about this situation. We must relocate immediately."
"What?" Chu Tai looked at Song Xinghai in confusion. "Sect Master Ying has just arrived, and we're leaving?"
"One of your sides encountered the Black and White Twin Fiends, and the other encountered the Ox-Horse Twin Fiends. You should know how powerful they are. Under their combined techniques, even cultivators at the late stage of Foundation Establishment would find it difficult to resist."
As Song Xinghai spoke, Ying Yao and Chu Tai immediately understood.
"However, two more sects haven't arrived yet," Ying Yao said. "If we leave now, it will be difficult for the remaining two sects to find us."
"We can contact them using communication jade slips," Song Xinghai replied.
"No! No, no," Ying Yao shook his head. "Since we set out, the sect masters of the Thunderclap Valley and the Bright Palace have only left us messages at the start. We haven't heard from them using communication jade slips since."
"Is it too late to realize this now?"
At this moment, a voice echoed out of thin air, reverberating around them.
Everyone used their spiritual sense to probe their surroundings. Soon, Ye Bufan detected people converging from all directions.
"Whoosh—"
From the forest, two figures, one black and one white, glided through the air and hovered in the trees.
From another direction, two more figures appeared, also stopping in the trees. One of them wore a bull mask, and the other wore a horse mask.
"Black and White Twin Fiends! Ox-Horse Twin Fiends!"
Song Mingqin narrowed his eyes, scanning the surroundings warily. Numerous heads were visible in the forest. Towards the Black and White Twin Fiends' direction were figures clad in black and white sect robes.
Towards the Ox-Horse Twin Fiends' direction, each sect disciple's clothing had a bull and horse embroidery on the left and right shoulders.
"This is trouble," Ye Bufan furrowed his brows, looking around, but he couldn't see the Living Yama anywhere.
"Black and White Twin Fiends! Ox-Horse Twin Fiends!" Song Mingqin roared. "You've all arrived, where is the Living Yama?"
"Why is this old man here?" Bai Sha, Bai Wushuang, saw Song Mingqin and couldn't help but frown. He transmitted to Hei Sha, Hei Wuyan.
"Who knows. But he's only at the Half-step Core Formation stage. We're not afraid of him. Can't the two of us combined handle him?" Hei Sha, Hei Wuyan replied.
"Who is that beside Song Mingqin?" Bai Wushuang shifted his gaze to Ye Bufan.
"So young, he's probably a new disciple Song Mingqin has taken in," Hei Wuyan speculated. "Otherwise, why would he be here?"
Bai Wushuang shook his head and said, "No, judging by their positions, he's not Song Mingqin's disciple. There's no master-disciple demeanor between them at all. In fact, I vaguely sense something about that person like he's our boss."
Hei Wuyan listened to Bai Wushuang's words and couldn't help but look at Ye Bufan.
"There is a bit," Hei Wuyan admitted. "My subconscious tells me this person is not simple."
"Grand Elder of the Scarlet Sword Sect, I didn't expect you to return for this ancient cultivation relic. I heard you've reached a critical juncture in breaking through to the Core Formation stage. Aren't you afraid of coming here and never returning, instead of staying in seclusion to cultivate?" Hei Wuyan said with a smile.
As he spoke, the Black and White Twin Fiends exchanged a look and chuckled. The Ox-Horse Twin Fiends opposite them also laughed.
"I think he also wants to obtain the inheritance within the ancient cultivation relic," shouted Niu Tou Tuo, Niu Feng.
"What is your objective?" Ying Yao fiercely questioned the four figures in the sky.
"Objective? Naturally, it's to prevent you from reaching the ancient ruins," Bai Wushuang laughed heartily.
"Just the four of you? You're dreaming!" At this moment, a figure flew rapidly from the horizon, finally landing among the major sects.
"Grand Elder!" Ying Yao of the Hegemon Blade Sect rejoiced upon seeing the newcomer.
"Old Qu!" Song Mingqin also called out happily upon seeing the person.