Twenty years, for many, was a precious amount of time. If spirit ore was used on newly initiated disciples, it could cultivate a batch of them in a short period.
Everyone began frantically searching for spirit ore. At this moment, several more people emerged from the forest passage below, including Cen Ba, the Valley Master of Thunder Valley.
The moment Cen Ba appeared, Song Mingqin and Qu Fei fell silent. They thought the matter was settled, but unexpectedly, a man in samurai attire appeared behind Cen Ba. The man bowed to Cen Ba, and they were seen whispering something to each other.
"Has the fox's tail finally shown itself?" Qu Fei looked at Cen Ba, his voice turning much colder.
"Why would people from Sakura Island appear in the ancient cultivation ruins of our Kyushu land? How interesting," Meng Po looked at the Sakura Island person below, a complex look flashing in her eyes. No one knew what she was pondering.
"Stop," Huo Yanluo, appearing from who knows when, called out to the two from within the medicine garden not far from them.
"Huo Yanluo," Cen Ba felt a sense of foreboding upon seeing Huo Yanluo.
"Our Kyushu secret realm is not for those outside Kyushu to trespass," Huo Yanluo said, looking at the Sakura Island person behind Cen Ba.
"Hmph! Huo Yanluo, aren't you meddling a bit too much?" Cen Ba squinted at Huo Yanluo. "As the sect leader of a demonic sect, how dare you interfere in the affairs of the righteous path."
"I also disagree," Song Mingqin chimed in. "Sakura Island covets our Kyushu's treasures and has plotted many evils. Those not of Kyushu are forbidden from entering the Kyushu secret realm."
Huo Yanluo turned to look at Song Mingqin, their eyes meeting.
"Baga! This ancient cultivation ruin doesn't belong to just the two of you. Your words don't count, and whether I enter has nothing to do with you," the Sakura Island person berated Song Mingqin and Huo Yanluo fiercely.
"Are you speaking to me?" Huo Yanluo leaped up, and Cen Ba immediately appeared in front of Huo Yanluo.
"Don't think I'm afraid of you just because you're the sect leader of Disha Hall. My Thunder Valley isn't a pushover either," Cen Ba said coldly, staring at Huo Yanluo.
"Cen Ba, are you selling out your country?" Song Mingqin asked without reservation. "No matter how we fight with the demonic sect, it's an internal affair of our Kyushu land. The ancient cultivation ruins are ours. It's truly inappropriate for you to let someone from Sakura Island in."
"Nonsense!" Cen Ba cursed. "In the ancient era of cultivation, there were no distinctions between countries. That was an era of great harmony in cultivation, where there was no 'yours' or 'mine'."
"It's over, he's been brainwashed." Ye Bufan saw Cen Ba's state and knew that the esteemed Valley Master of Thunder Valley had been so thoroughly brainwashed by the people of Sakura Island.
"Valley Master Cen, for the great harmony of cultivation!" the Sakura Island person shouted from behind Cen Ba.
"You Baga, if you have the guts, say it to my face instead of hiding behind Cen Ba. Isn't it for the great harmony of cultivation? Then come out, and I'll discuss with you what 'great harmony of cultivation' means." Qu Fei squinted at Cen Ba. As soon as he finished speaking, he vanished from his original spot and appeared beside the Sakura Island person.
"You dare!" Cen Ba roared, his imposing aura erupting, revealing that he also possessed the cultivation of the Core Formation stage.
The Sakura Island person behind him also immediately entered a combat state. He hadn't expected the other party to be a Core Formation cultivator as well. Ye Bufan frowned. It seemed the people from Sakura Island were also interested in this ancient cultivation ruin. If they were to feast on the people of Kyushu here, there might also be a considerable number of cultivators from Sakura Country.
Cen Ba and Huo Yanluo began to fight, while the Sakura Island person engaged Qu Fei. Song Mingqin and Meng Po, seeing this, were about to help when they noticed three more figures appearing behind them. All three were dressed in Sakura Island attire, with the lowest cultivation being at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage.
"It seems the people from Sakura Island have found a way in first," Ye Bufan felt the situation becoming more troublesome.
"Sword Immortal Song, it appears those three will be handled by the two of us," Meng Po said with a slight smile. "Since we can't fight each other, let's compete by killing Sakura Island people."
Meng Po suddenly let out a burst of "Hahahaha" laughter, and the three Sakura Island people immediately looked towards Meng Po.
However, these three could never have imagined that Meng Po's laughter contained a sonic attack, as well as a mental power spell. Before the three could react to what was happening, they clutched their ears, feeling immensely uncomfortable.
Song Mingqin appeared before the three, intending to seize the opportunity to slay them with his sword. Two of the Core Formation stage Sakura Island cultivators immediately opened their eyes, having broken free from Meng Po's mental assault.
"Baga!"
With a furious shout, both drew their katanas and simultaneously slashed at Song Mingqin.
"Clang—"
Song Mingqin's sword collided with their swords, creating sparks.
"Insidious Kyushu cultivators, you are seeking death!" the two attacked Song Mingqin simultaneously. Their movements were perfectly synchronized, as if they had come from the same sect.
Song Mingqin took a deep breath, forming sword seals with both hands. A crimson long sword appeared behind him, and he engaged the two.
"Sword Immortal Song, hogging all the spoils isn't a good thing."
Meng Po appeared silently in the midst of the three. She then turned to one of the Sakura Island people.
"The matters between the demonic sect and your sects can wait. Let's deal with these people who are hostile to Kyushu first."
Meng Po smiled slightly and lightly danced her fingers in the air. Her fingernails visibly changed shape.
"Whoosh—"
The unexpectedly grown claws flew towards the two before them. Their faces paled in alarm, and they repeatedly blocked these claw projectiles with their katanas.
A long whip silently appeared in Meng Po's hand. The whip wrapped around one person's katana. Before the person could react, Meng Po yanked hard, sending their katana flying into the air.
"They say men from Sakura Island can't even hold a sword steady. It seems to be true," Meng Po said, covering her mouth and laughing, her mocking tone evident.
Song Mingqin also couldn't help but laugh upon hearing this.
The opponent, infuriated by Meng Po's words, had their face contorted with rage. The other person swung a sword at Meng Po, a move that drew in the surrounding spiritual energy with a domineering aura.
Song Mingqin's long sword blocked the attack, and relying on his understanding of swordsmanship, he forced the opponent's sword back.
Song Mingqin and Meng Po moved simultaneously. The two of them engaged the two Sakura Island individuals. As for Cen Ba of Thunder Valley, he couldn't hold on for more than a few moves against Huo Yanluo and gradually began to fall into a disadvantage.
"Just entering the Core Formation stage, and this is all you've got?" Huo Yanluo also made no secret of his mockery of Cen Ba.
"Pride comes before a fall!" Cen Ba said coldly, looking at Huo Yanluo. Immediately, his entire body was enveloped in lightning power, and he unleashed a punch towards Huo Yanluo. This punch formed a colossal fist of lightning that descended from the sky, smashing towards Huo Yanluo.
Huo Yanluo didn't even look. He extended one hand upwards. A layer of black gas enveloped his body and then gathered in his palm, merging into the lightning fist.
"Bang—" The two energies intertwined. Cen Ba's lightning fist began to deform and twist. Three seconds later, it exploded, the backlash of energy hitting Cen Ba. Cen Ba finally spat out a mouthful of blood and retreated several meters.
"Is that all..." Huo Yanluo looked at Cen Ba and made a welcoming gesture, as if to say, "You can continue attacking, and I will continue to make you suffer."