"Prepare to set off," Li Xuan said, rising from the ground after an hour of rest. Hearing this, everyone stood up, their earlier dejection dispelled by the hour of recuperation.
"We have half a day's journey left to reach the outer edge of the deep regions of the Yinglong Cave Heaven. However, we haven't encountered any Saint Sect teams along the way, so the chances of encountering them now are extremely high. It's even possible that some Saint Sect teams have already reached the outer edge of the deep regions."
"Furthermore, I haven't received any news from our Saint Son senior brothers for three days. It's likely the situation is not optimistic. Everyone must remain highly vigilant for the rest of the journey."
Li Xuan spoke with a grave expression, looking at everyone. His words cast a solemn atmosphere, and a killing intent emanated from each of them, clearly indicating they were ready for battle.
"Let's go!"
Li Xuan waved his hand, and his figure shot forward. His powerful divine sense instantly swept out, exploring the path ahead. The Xuan Sect disciples behind him followed in an orderly fashion, rapidly flying towards the outer edge of the deep regions of the Yinglong Cave Heaven.
On the outer edge of the deep regions.
A figure clad in white robes sat cross-legged on a cliff. His flowing black hair danced in the wind. Two men stood behind him.
The two men looked at the white-robed man by the cliff with a hint of respect, as if waiting for his command.
The man slowly opened his eyes, his voice deep and cold, "Are you prepared?"
"Reporting to Senior Brother Bai Luan, everything is ready. Once the Xuan Sect team arrives, they will all be kept here!" The man on the left bowed respectfully and clasped his fists.
"Three days ago, the team sent to Dragonfall Valley vanished. Has any news been gathered during this period?" Bai Luan asked again, his expression unchanged.
"Please forgive me, Senior Brother Bai Luan. No information has been found regarding Senior Brother Le Tian's situation. However, from the messages sent back by the smaller teams, it seems Senior Brother Le Tian's group encountered a powerful entity. Otherwise, teams from other factions would not have been able to hold them all there."
The man on the right immediately knelt down, his face pale, seemingly terrified of Bai Luan.
"Useless trash! How can you not handle such a small matter? What is the use of you to the sect?" Bai Luan's expression turned cold. With a raise of his hand, he slapped out.
*Bang!*
The man kneeling on the ground was flung heavily against the mountainside behind him, kicking up countless small stones and dust.
"Thank you for your mercy, Senior Brother Bai Luan!" Although the man spat blood, he quickly bowed after landing, his face filled with fear.
Bai Luan snorted, "If you weren't still somewhat useful for the major event to come, do you think you would still be alive? We'll put aside the matter of Zu Letian for now. If this major event is not handled properly, you will have no need to return to the sect."
"We obey your orders!" The two disciples bowed in unison, then stood up and quickly moved down the mountain.
After the two disciples left, Bai Luan looked into the distance and murmured, "Although Zu Letian's strength was somewhat lacking, he had already been at the peak of the Fusion Dao realm for five years. Now that the Saint Sons of various sects have entered the deepest parts, who could have killed him?"
"That Nine-Tailed Spirit Fox, could someone have discovered its whereabouts? No matter, when the teams from all sides arrive, it will become clear who killed our Saint Sect member."
"In this outer region where there are no Saint Sons, I, Bai Luan, am the foremost under the Saint Sons. How many of you faction leaders are my match? As for the one who killed Zu Letian, I am truly looking forward to meeting them."
...
Two hours later, Li Xuan, leading the Langya Peak team, suddenly sensed a dangerous aura and stopped.
Li Xuan frowned, closed his eyes slightly, and his divine sense once again explored the path ahead. Shi Hongyi and the others waited with bated breath.
"There is indeed an ambush. Judging by this, it seems we will have to face a major battle to enter the deep regions of the Yinglong Cave Heaven." A few breaths later, Li Xuan slowly opened his eyes, a clear look of solemnity on his face.
"The deep regions of the Yinglong Cave Heaven are just beyond the mountain range ahead. Both sides of this mountain range are forbidden zones we cannot enter. If we don't advance now, it seems there is no other way," Shi Hongyi said.
"Senior Brother Li Xuan, can we force our way through?" As soon as Shi Hongyi finished speaking, a young man in a green robe beside him asked.
Li Xuan shook his head and looked again at the mountain range ahead, "My perception has never been wrong. Even I would have to go all out to have a chance to break through this aura. If we all go together, there will likely be heavy casualties, and it's possible no one will be able to enter the mountain range."
"Then what? If we can't get in, are we just going to wait here?" Shi Hongyi asked anxiously.
Li Xuan pointed to the sky in the distance and said, "Have you noticed the fluctuations of formation patterns appearing in the sky above? If my divine sense weren't strong, I might not have detected this great formation."
"We are still on the outer edge of the great formation. If we advance another ten li, our retreat will be cut off, and we will be attacked by the formation. In addition, those who set up the ambush will likely strike from the shadows."
"A great formation!"
Shi Hongyi and the others looked up upon hearing this, but they saw nothing. Although they couldn't discern any problems, they naturally trusted Li Xuan's words.
Moreover, Shi Hongyi and the others knew that Li Xuan had no reason to deceive them. If even they couldn't detect the threat, then dealing with them would be effortless.
"Senior Brother Li Xuan, what do we do next?" After a period of unrest, Shi Hongyi and the others gradually calmed down. Their gazes were all fixed on Li Xuan.
Li Xuan looked again in the direction of the mountain range and slowly said, "For now, we can only wait."
"Wait? How do we wait?" Shi Hongyi asked, puzzled.
Li Xuan withdrew his gaze and said helplessly, "Besides this great formation, I also sensed an extremely terrifying aura. Although it's weaker than the aura of Senior Brother Yu Shan and the others, it's still not something we can contend with."
"Judging by this, it must be a Saint Sect team. For now, we can only wait for the other teams to arrive and then make a plan."
"In the battle at Dragonfall Valley earlier, ninety-three disciples of our Langya Peak perished. I don't want anyone else to die before my eyes. Therefore, I ask for your understanding."
As Li Xuan finished speaking, everyone fell silent.
If even Li Xuan said so, it indicated how strong the leader of the opposing force was. After a moment of silence, at Shi Hongyi's arrangement, everyone retreated twenty li and set up camp to wait.
On the cliff, Bai Luan seemed to sense the arrival of Li Xuan and his group. He then stood up and looked in the direction where Li Xuan and his group were. His deep voice slowly sounded.
"I didn't expect this Soul Slaying Formation to be discovered. However, this person's aura is a bit weak. It looks like they are waiting for reinforcements."
"Senior Brother Bai Luan, shall we attack?" The man to Bai Luan's left asked respectfully.
"Not yet. Since they are waiting for reinforcements, let them wait," Bai Luan said with a smile, waving his hand as if he had found something amusing and interesting.
"Yes!" The other man bowed in response.
"Currently, our Saint Sect senior brothers and the Xuan Sect's Saint Sons have reached a stalemate. They are completely unable to spare attention for matters here. With this Soul Slaying Formation, they absolutely cannot break through."
"Once the Level 8 Ruins open and with our support, all the Xuan Sect's Saint Sons will perish here. At that time, the Xuan Sect will be like a toothless tiger, left to be slaughtered by our Saint Sect!"
Bai Luan's voice echoed through the valley. His cold face, which had previously been emotionless, was now filled with immense fervor and excitement.
"And after this Sacred Origin Continent, it will be our Saint Sect's world!"