"Senior Brother Li Xuan, you make the arrangements," Shi Hongyi said, turning to Li Xuan.
Li Xuan replied, "Our original plan was to wait here for the rest of our fellow disciples to arrive before entering. However, since Senior Brother Mingchi has already sent a message, we can only proceed inside as quickly as possible."
"It's likely that other factions' teams have already entered and disrupted some sort of balance. If that's the case, we should depart now."
As soon as he finished speaking, the two teams rapidly swept into the mountain range.
Deepest part of the Yinglong Cave Heaven.
Within several layers of barriers, ten disciples of Yue Mingchi sat cross-legged.
Anyone present would have been shocked to see Jian Tianrui, the Holy Son of the Xuan Sect, injured.
His pale complexion, even with Yue Mingchi's healing, could only slow the rapid progression of his injuries. His lips, dark and purplish, clearly indicated he had been poisoned.
"Junior Brother Tianrui, try to calm your mind and avoid excessive emotional fluctuation. The toxicity of this thousand-year toad poison can likely only be dispelled by Senior Uncle Yuanbai once we are outside."
Yue Mingchi withdrew his hands, fine beads of sweat on his brow. Clearly, healing Jian Tianrui was no easy task.
"Although Gongsun Li ranks relatively low among the Holy Sons of the Sacred Sect, his poison techniques are truly masterful. It seems we must remain wary of this individual after the Level Eight ruins open," Fu Yaojin said with a grave expression.
"Senior Sister Fu Yao's words are wise. However, those who can become Holy Sons are not easily dealt with. Although Junior Brother Tianrui was poisoned by that Gongsun Li, he still managed to heavily wound two Holy Sons of the Sacred Sect. Even if he recovers, his combat power will be significantly diminished."
"The teams from the Myriad Flowers Palace, the Ghost Prison Gate, and various other factions have already entered this place. Why have our Xuan Sect and Sacred Sect teams been so slow to arrive? Could something we are unaware of have happened outside?"
After Fu Yaojin finished speaking, Murong Ye nodded slightly, then frowned and looked at Yue Mingchi and the others.
"There are many barriers here. Even sending a message might be like a stone sinking into the sea. The information sent out earlier likely succeeded, otherwise, the teams from the Myriad Flowers Palace, the Ghost Prison Gate, and other factions wouldn't have all rushed here."
"The fact that both our Xuan Sect and Sacred Sect teams have not arrived, there is probably only one reason," Yue Mingchi mused for a moment before analyzing.
"Eldest Senior Brother means, besides ambushing us here, the Sacred Sect's teams are also ambushing our various peak teams outside?" Xie Yushan's eyes narrowed as he stood up abruptly.
"Although I am unwilling to admit it, this is likely the only explanation," Yue Mingchi nodded helplessly.
Xie Yushan and the others sighed in resignation. If that were the case, the losses for the Xuan Sect this time would be unprecedentedly huge.
For a moment, all their gazes turned towards the entrance, falling into silence.
A moment later, Fu Yaojin, looking at the entrance, suddenly's eyes lit up, and she exclaimed with surprise, "Look quickly, is that a disciple of our Xuan Sect?"
Yue Mingchi and the others also focused their gazes, and it was Xie Yushan who recognized him, then shouted excitedly, "It's Junior Brother Li Xuan! Huh? Behind Junior Brother Li Xuan, there are two more teams from our Xuan Sect!"
"It truly is Junior Brother Li Xuan! Have you noticed that the way the teams from other factions are looking at Junior Brother Li Xuan seems a bit different?" As Xie Yushan's excited voice faded, Yue Mingchi and the others also withdrew their gazes and nodded in agreement.
In an instant, Yue Mingchi and the others also noticed the different gazes of the disciples from other factions upon seeing Li Xuan and his group appear.
"Judging by this, perhaps Junior Brother Li Xuan and his group have made quite an impact outside. I imagine there's a story to tell us," Fu Yaojin said with a smile.
Then, with a flicker of movement, a red silhouette shot out from the barrier and quickly landed in front of Li Xuan and his group.
"Greetings, Senior Sister Jin," Li Xuan said. As soon as he saw Yue Mingchi and the others, a red light shot towards him. Upon clearly seeing who it was, Li Xuan and Wang Jingming, along with others, immediately bowed and said.
"No need for formalities. Eldest Senior Brother and I were wondering who would be the first to lead our Xuan Sect team here, and we never expected it to be you, a newcomer leading a team for the first time. Come, there are many restrictions in this deep inner area, I'll lead you."
Fu Yaojin smiled and nodded, then turned and walked towards the barrier where Yue Mingchi and the others were located.
Li Xuan and his group followed closely behind Fu Yaojin.
To Li Xuan's perception, after entering the mountain range, the restrictive aura in the depths had become increasingly powerful, as if trapped in a cage, unable to break free.
Under Fu Yaojin's guidance, Li Xuan and his group soon arrived at a barrier where Yue Mingchi, Xie Yushan, and nine others were located.
"We pay our respects to all Senior Brothers," Li Xuan and Wang Jingming, along with others, entered the barrier and bowed to Yue Mingchi and the others again.
Yue Mingchi and the others smiled and nodded, then waved their hands, saying, "Rise, all of you. We have jointly set up this barrier, which can accommodate our Xuan Sect team."
"However, the restrictions within are too strong, making it difficult to use divine sense, and we are unable to sense what is happening outside. Even sending messages was done before entering here. Has anything happened in the meantime?"
As Yue Mingchi finished speaking, dozens of disciples in green robes, including Wang Jingming and Shi Hongyi, immediately turned their gazes to Li Xuan.
Yue Mingchi and the other nine disciples' eyes flashed with curiosity. Their gazes were all fixed on Li Xuan, clearly understanding from their looks that something related to Li Xuan must have happened.
"Replying to Senior Brothers and Sisters, indeed, several things have occurred." As their gazes shifted to him, Li Xuan took a deep breath, finally understanding why he hadn't received any messages from outside.
Seeing everyone looking at him, Li Xuan recounted the Sacred Sect's ambush on the Xuan Sect team and the existence of the hidden Level Six ruins.
"Damn the Sacred Sect!" After listening to Li Xuan's account, Fu Yaojin and the others' expressions changed, showing anger.
"Our Xuan Sect and the Sacred Sect are already like fire and water. Even if it wasn't deliberate, we would have fought if we met. However, since the Sacred Sect chose to take the initiative, they must have had some leverage. In that case, our Xuan Sect's losses are likely not small."
"Junior Brother Li Xuan and Junior Brother Jingming are to be commended for bringing our Xuan Sect disciples to this place." Yue Mingchi, with the most composed expression among the nine, spoke and then cast a grateful glance at Li Xuan and Wang Jingming.
"Senior Brother Mingchi, if it weren't for Senior Brother Li Xuan this time, I'm afraid these two teams of ours wouldn't have been able to reach this place to rendezvous with Senior Brothers and Sisters," Wang Jingming said, stepping forward with a wry smile and cupping his fists.
"Senior Brother Li Xuan?" Hearing Wang Jingming's words, especially sensing the respect in them for Li Xuan, even Yue Mingchi's eyes showed a hint of surprise.
Wang Jingming was a high-level cultivator in the Dao Fusion realm, and according to Xuan Sect rules, Li Xuan was merely a newly initiated disciple. The fact that Wang Jingming, a top disciple, would address him respectfully as Senior Brother instantly piqued Yue Mingchi and the others' curiosity.
"Senior Brothers and Sisters, when Junior Brother brought the teams outside, I happened to encounter Junior Brother Hongyi and the others. After a brief chat, Wan Yuliang of the Sacred Sect arrived with his team."
"At that time, neither Junior Brother Hongyi nor I were a match for him. Even Junior Brother Xi Chuyun almost perished because of it. It was only when Senior Brother Li Xuan recovered and took action that Wan Yuliang and his entire team were eliminated," Wang Jingming explained.
"If my memory serves me correctly, in the competition between our Xuan Sect and the Sacred Sect five years ago, Junior Brother Jingming was defeated by that Wan Yuliang. It's understandable that Wan Yuliang's strength surpasses yours, perhaps due to some fortuitous encounter."
"It's just that I didn't expect that Wan Yuliang was so close to breaking through to the Dao One realm. However, it's good that he fell to Junior Brother Li Xuan, as he has removed a major enemy for our Xuan Sect in the future."
As the Holy Son of the Hongshang Peak, Wan Yuquan had some impression of Wang Jingming. Hearing his account, he smiled and said.
"Junior Brother Li Xuan is indeed remarkable. Zu Letian, Bai Luan, Wan Yuliang – these are all future Holy Son-level disciples of the Sacred Sect," Yue Mingchi said with a smile.
"Senior Brother, don't forget that the Great Elder of the Sacred Sect bears the surname Zu," Zhou Wenlun said with a more serious expression.
"You mean that Zu Letian is related to... this person?" Yue Mingchi, Fu Yaojin, and the others suddenly realized, their expressions replaced by a look of gravity.
Seeing the expressions of Yue Mingchi and the others, Li Xuan naturally guessed that Zu Letian likely had a connection with that Great Elder of the Sacred Sect.
"Junior Brother Li Xuan, do not worry. Our Xuan Sect and the Sacred Sect are inherently incompatible. If the Sacred Sect truly has some means, our Xuan Sect is not to be trifled with!"
Perhaps sensing Li Xuan's expression, Yue Mingchi spoke to comfort him.
Li Xuan nodded slightly, lost in thought.