The elder let out a dismissive roar and continued, "Since you're seeking death, go die yourselves. We won't accompany you!"
With that, the elder directly retreated and arrived at the Heavenly Star Sect's camp. At this moment, the people from the Heavenly Star Sect reported the situation to the elder, who then shifted his gaze to the Red Sword Sect, Heavenly Origin Sect, Bright Palace, and Overlord Blade Sect.
The elder vanished from the camp, and the next second, he appeared before Song Mingqin and his companions with a few people.
"Core Formation cultivator!" Ye Bufan's eyes lit up. "It seems that Living Yama is also a Core Formation realm expert. I just don't know what stage of Core Formation he's at."
"Senior Bai!" Song Mingqin and Qu Fei bowed with clasped fists upon seeing the elder. The sect leaders behind them also bowed to the elder.
"You may rise," the elder said, stroking his white beard.
"Elder Bai, what was that just now?" Chu Tai asked. "Did we cooperate with the Demonic Sect?"
"Previously, we sent people to scout the ancient ruins. Over several days, we discovered that each entry into the ancient cultivation ruins led to a different location. After several rounds, we found that these ancient cultivation ruins would teleport everyone to nine different places. We named them the Nine Heavens."
"Furthermore, each day, all factions would send ten people to scout ahead. Ten entered, but perhaps only one or two emerged, or sometimes none at all."
After countless scouting attempts, everyone collaboratively mapped out a general outline of the ruins.
"However, I never expected Living Yama to monopolize that map. We suffered a disadvantage in this regard. Finally, after negotiations between myself and Dai Baiyan, the Sect Master of Neon Villa, Living Yama proposed the idea of cooperating for exploration. He said he wouldn't give us the map, but he would lead us in according to the map's layout. So, early this morning, Dai Baiyan and I entered the ancient ruins with people from the Demonic Sect to scout."
"Living Yama is truly insidious!" Ying Yao cursed upon hearing this.
This elder was also a Grand Elder of the Heavenly Star Sect – Bai Zizhen. In his youth, he had entered an ancient cultivation ruin, obtained some rare treasures, and reached the Core Formation realm.
"Ying Yao, I heard you had a feud with the Earth Fiend Hall many years ago. You should be careful when you encounter White Yama this time," Bai Zizhen said, looking at Ying Yao and Qu Fei.
"Huh!" Bai Zizhen's gaze fell upon Qu Fei. "Youngster Qu, your aura..."
Qu Fei chuckled and said, "I was actually in seclusion, but upon receiving news that Ying Yao was ambushed, I rushed over. I estimate I'll break through at any moment."
Bai Zizhen nodded with satisfaction. "The younger generation is truly formidable. Our righteous cultivation sects of the Central Plains will depend on people like you in the future."
"Elder Bai," Song Mingqin said, bowing with clasped fists.
Bai Zizhen's gaze swept over Song Mingqin again. He snorted and said, "Young man, your speed is not bad either. If you had joined my Heavenly Star Sect back then instead of the Red Sword Sect, you might have already reached Core Formation."
"Elder Bai, that's in the past," Song Mingqin replied. "I have my own path to follow, and the Red Sword Sect is more suited for me."
Ye Bufan looked at Song Mingqin, surprised by this connection between him and the Heavenly Star Sect.
"Alright, once Sect Master Dai Baiyan of Neon Villa returns, we sects will discuss our strategies," Bai Zizhen said, glancing back at Dai Baiyan who was still negotiating with Living Yama.
"How many sects have arrived this time?" Bai Zizhen asked.
The sect leaders exchanged glances. Song Xinghai spoke, "We agreed on five sects, but we haven't been able to contact Thunder Valley."
"Someone else has arrived?" At this moment, a disciple of the Red Sword Sect rushed up and called out to Song Xinghai.
Everyone turned around and saw a group of people emerging from the valley behind them. They were all wearing blue robes, and each carried a hint of savagery.
"Hmm?" Ye Bufan looked at the newcomers. Besides the savage aura, Ye Bufan also sensed a deathly chill.
"It's people from Thunder Valley," Yan Yuzhu said.
"What's wrong?" Song Mingqin turned around and saw Ye Bufan frowning.
Ye Bufan glanced at Song Mingqin and said, "Nothing, I just feel their savage aura is too strong. There's also a deathly chill."
"You wouldn't know about this. Thunder Valley is located in a complex terrain prone to lightning tribulations. The place they inhabit can shield them from lightning strikes and also help them absorb lightning power, thereby tempering their bodies and advancing their cultivation," Song Mingqin explained.
"No, the deathly chill I'm referring to is that kind of deathly chill," Ye Bufan insisted.
Song Mingqin looked at Ye Bufan in confusion, then turned to gaze at the disciples from Thunder Valley from afar.
"The way they're walking..."
Song Mingqin's pupils suddenly widened, and he froze in place.
"Over a hundred people... could it be that all of them..." Song Mingqin couldn't believe it. He probed each of them with his spiritual sense.
"That's not right," Song Mingqin narrowed his eyes and looked at the elders and the Valley Master leading the Thunder Valley group.
"The elders and the Valley Master of Thunder Valley are walking normally," Ye Bufan stated.
"They..." Ye Bufan and Song Mingqin had a bad feeling, unwilling to believe that the people of Thunder Valley would betray their own disciples.
"Sect Master Lei Li, you've finally arrived," Chu Tai said, stepping forward to greet them. The elders of Thunder Valley exchanged glances, their eyes filled with vigilance.
Lei Li glanced back at them, gave them a look, and smiled, saying, "My disciples and elders were ambushed by the Earth Fiend Hall earlier and had to walk all the way here. It's natural for them to be wary of strangers."
"Some of the elders among them have rather strange auras," Ye Bufan said, frowning deeply. "There's no savage energy, but an unusually heavy deathly chill."
"People from Sakura Island?" Song Mingqin transmitted his voice to Ye Bufan.
"Song Mingqin, what's wrong? Why does your face look so strange?" At this moment, Qu Fei walked up to Song Mingqin and asked.
Seeing this, Song Mingqin gave him a look and a nod. They had a certain unspoken understanding.
Qu Fei's expression changed drastically, but he forced himself to suppress it, his eyes still drawn towards the direction of Thunder Valley.
"Hiss..."
Finally, Qu Fei let out a sharp intake of breath, his face turning extremely grim.