"Damn! Why did they run? Weren't they very arrogant?" On Song Mingqin's side, the Black and White Fiends also used their blood escape technique and fled from Song Mingqin's grasp.
"Everyone, quickly rest on the spot. We shouldn't stay here long." Song Xinghai, Ying Yao, and Chu Tai discussed a countermeasure and decided to temporarily relocate, heading directly towards the ancient cultivation ruins.
"What about the Thunder Valley and Bright Palace sects?" an elder from the Overlord Saber Sect asked, walking forward. "We can't contact them now. What if they encounter any problems?"
"We can't worry about that much now. This Earth Fiend Hall clearly doesn't want us to reach the ancient cultivation ruins. The more they act like this, the more it proves the importance of these ruins." Qu Fei flew to the Overlord Saber Sect's side and said, "As forces from the northwest, they must know more than we do."
"Old Qu is right," Song Mingqin said. "The Black and White Fiends and the Bull-Horse Twin Monks have reappeared, but the Living Yama is missing. This means he probably has something more important to do."
"I heard that the Living Yama was already on the verge of breaking through the Core Formation stage a few years ago. Could he have already reached it? Things like this wouldn't require him to personally appear." An elder from the Celestial Origin Sect, holding a whisk and with some wounds on his face, stepped forward.
Song Xinghai, Ying Yao, and Chu Tai exchanged glances. The Scarlet Sword Sect and the Overlord Saber Sect were fine, as they had an additional Grand Elder. However, the Celestial Origin Sect, apart from its sect master Chu Tai who was at the Half-step Core Formation stage, had three elders at the late Core Formation stage and three at the mid-Core Formation stage. They were arguably the weakest among the three sects.
Half an hour later, the three sects set off together. According to the sect divisions, and then by the elders within each sect, they proceeded in small teams.
Finally, at noon, everyone arrived at a vast valley.
According to the information Song Xinghai and the others had obtained, all they needed to do was pass through this huge valley to reach the entrance of the ancient cultivation ruins.
"Sect Master, there's movement in the forest behind us."
At this moment, a disciple from the Scarlet Sword Sect ran up to report the situation at the rear of the group to Song Xinghai.
"Hmm? Could it be the people from the Earth Fiend Hall chasing after us again?" Chu Tai frowned deeply.
"It shouldn't be. The Black and White Fiends and the Bull-Horse Twin Monks used their blood escape technique and injured their vital energy. They couldn't have recovered so quickly," Song Mingqin said. "I'll go see what's happening."
"I'll go too," Qu Fei also stepped forward.
"I'll come along as well," Ye Bufan said.
Upon seeing Ye Bufan, Qu Fei glanced at him with surprise. The three of them moved to the rear of the group.
"I say, young brother, from which sect do you hail? During the battle just now, I saw your techniques, and they didn't seem to belong to any of our sects," Qu Fei said, looking at Ye Bufan. "When you swing your sword, there's a slight shadow of Song Mingqin, yet it seems completely unrelated."
Song Mingqin chuckled upon hearing this and said, "Old Qu, after all these years, your eyes are still as sharp."
"Wait a moment."
Just as Song Mingqin was about to introduce Ye Bufan to Qu Fei, Qu Fei waved his hand and continued, "Let me try to guess."
"Your swordsmanship, to reach its current level, I recall you telling me that a senior expert named Lin Xiaoyao guided you. If I'm not mistaken, could this young friend be a disciple of that senior expert you mentioned?"
As he spoke, Qu Fei's gaze continuously swept over Ye Bufan.
"Old Qu, not bad, you guessed it," Song Mingqin clenched his fist and playfully hit Qu Fei.
"I see your methods are unlike anything I've encountered before. I'd love to spar with you sometime," Qu Fei said, his eyes sparkling as he looked at Ye Bufan.
'Fine!' Ye Bufan roared inwardly. He finally understood why these two could become friends. They both had an urge to try anything new they encountered.
"We'll see if there's an opportunity," Ye Bufan said with a chuckle. It was best to avoid such situations if possible.
Ye Bufan leaped forward first, entering the forest. Soon, he saw over thirty people in white robes cautiously making their way through the woods.
"It's people from the Bright Palace," Song Mingqin said, greatly surprised.
Ye Bufan had heard of the Bright Palace from Lin Xiaoyao. Its predecessor was the Bright Cult from ancient times. After the Bright Cult declined, the remaining members diligently sought knowledge and eventually founded the Bright Palace.
"Where is the Sect Master of the Bright Palace?" Qu Fei shouted sternly from within the forest. Immediately, a figure flew up from within the white robes, holding a scepter and smashing it heavily towards Qu Fei.
"Hey! You little girl, you're quite fierce!" Qu Fei easily blocked the attack. Beneath the white robe was a woman who appeared very young.
Upon seeing Qu Fei, the other party was stunned for a moment. She withdrew, landed, and cupped her fists in a salute to Qu Fei.
"Senior Qu! Senior Song!" Her gaze swept past Ye Bufan. Their eyes met, and they exchanged greetings.
"Yuzhu, let's dispense with the pleasantries. Your master and we are old friends. We're all allies," Song Mingqin said.
Yan Yuzhu, the Sect Master of the Bright Palace, entered the sect's secret realm for cultivation at the age of twenty-three and obtained the Pearl of Light from the Bright Cult. Through years of refining it, her cultivation steadily advanced, and she was now at the Half-step Core Formation stage.
"Yuzhu, looking at your speed, given some more time, you'll likely surpass us old bones," Qu Fei said.
"You two seniors are too kind," Yan Yuzhu replied.
"Come, come, let me introduce you to a genius. This is Ye Bufan, eighteen years old, at the late Core Formation stage," Song Mingqin pulled Ye Bufan over and introduced him.
Upon hearing that Ye Bufan was already at the late Core Formation stage at the age of eighteen, a peculiar expression flickered in Yan Yuzhu's eyes.
"Bright Palace, Yan Yuzhu."
Yan Yuzhu extended her hand to shake Ye Bufan's.
"No sect, Ye Bufan."
Ye Bufan politely extended his hand as well.
"Yuzhu, I heard from Xinghai that you lost contact with them. What happened?" Song Mingqin asked.
Yan Yuzhu sighed upon hearing this and said, "After entering the mountains, we encountered the Thousand Green Heavy Whale Sheep. After dealing with that demonic beast for a while, we unexpectedly fell into the ambush of Meng Po from the Earth Fiend Hall."
"Meng Po is here too?" Song Mingqin and Qu Fei exchanged glances. "If we count her, then several core members of the Earth Fiend Hall have arrived."
"Seniors, you encountered the Black and White Fiends and the Bull-Horse Twin Monks?" Yan Yuzhu frowned.