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Tiger's Den operates under two circumstances: regular patrols and emergency assignments. According to the previous duty roster, today is not the day for Xu Feng's Ninth team to patrol, which means it must be the second possibility.
As expected, Yuan Yongyi said, “Huang Jingshan has spotted members of the Xiaoyao Sect. Tiger's Den has decided to dispatch three teams, and our Ninth team is one of them. Everyone prepare; we will leave shortly.”
The two new Late Golden Core Cultivators had only learned two formations and were acting as substitutes for Zhu and Xuan. They didn’t expect to be thrown into battle so soon, and felt a bit nervous; after all, they were going up against the Xiaoyao Sect, not some third-rate characters.
Before long, a large black eagle arrived, much bigger than the White Eagle from the Spirit Beast Manor. Upon seeing it, Xu Feng realized it was a Sixth-Level Monster, a beast capable of killing those in the Late Stage of Golden Core. Yuan Yongyi led ten team members onto the black eagle and flew towards Huang Jingshan.
Huang Jingshan is located six or seven thousand miles from Pingyang Valley, originally within the territory of Demon Ridge. After the battle between Demon Ridge and the Xiaoyao Sect, the demon sect was shattered and abandoned control over surrounding areas, becoming a group of loose cultivators who gathered sporadically. The Lianyun Mountain Range had not seen any activity from Demon Ridge for a long time, as if that sect had vanished entirely. However, if one thought it was truly gone, they would be gravely mistaken.
The Xiaoyao Sect and Pingyang Valley are located on either side of the entrance to the Lianyun Mountain Range, like two gates. Each sect occupies several thousand miles of territory and has expanded their influence deeper into the region, crossing through Demon Ridge to control more areas.
Originally called Kuang Mang Mountain, it was renamed to Huang Jingshan in memory of a senior from Pingyang Valley, Huang Jing, who sacrificed his life there.
The Xiaoyao Sect, however, has a different perspective; they also had pioneers who came to Kuang Mang Mountain, referring to it as Guo Rongshan. Both sects have crafted their own narratives regarding the ownership of Kuang Mang Mountain, leaving it unclear who is telling the truth.
The black eagle flew swiftly, reaching Huang Jingshan in less than two hours. The area around Huang Jingshan, spanning five hundred miles, is filled with towering trees and numerous mountain streams, creating a cool and dim environment favored by snakes.
As soon as the black eagle landed, a ten-zhang-long python noticed them. Its tail swept through the air, nearly hitting Xu Feng and the others. Displaying his strength at the Mid Stage of Nascent Soul, Yuan Yongyi unleashed several punches from afar, turning the giant python into minced meat.
After taking out a communication talisman to send a message, but receiving no response for a long time, his expression changed. He said, “The other two teams have already arrived but have not reported back. They may have encountered trouble. Everyone stay alert; if you see any members of the Xiaoyao Sect, kill them immediately. Our mission is to eliminate all outsiders entering Huang Jingshan.”
The ten team members exchanged glances; they could only hear part of what Yuan Yongyi said. They knew that two teams from Pingyang Valley had already perished here, and that meant the next death could be theirs... Despite having attained the level of Mid Stage of Nascent Soul, Yuan Yongyi did not seem fit to lead; he had already dampened morale before any fighting began.
They slowly advanced into the mountains, examining traces left behind in hopes of deducing what had happened and assessing their opponents' strength. Leading ahead by one or two miles was Yuan Yongyi, with Xu Feng and others following behind him.
After walking for about ten minutes without him looking back even once while maintaining his distance, concern arose in Xu Feng. It seemed that something was off with this leader.
In truth, anyone who reached the level of Late Stage of Golden Core was likely an old fox who had become quite cunning. Although it appeared that Yuan Yongyi was clearing a path for everyone, there were subtle hints that he might be pursuing personal interests. The others understood this but chose not to confront him; after all, if they encountered members of the Xiaoyao Sect, they would fight if they could win or flee if they couldn't—there was no way they would sacrifice themselves for him or for Pingyang Valley.
The signs of battle in the forest became increasingly evident as the smell of blood intensified; severed arms and legs were occasionally found along their path. After about twenty minutes of walking, they finally discovered their first corpse: a late-stage Golden Core cultivator hired by Pingyang Valley.
Pingyang Valley is just a ragtag group, and their clothing is not even uniform. The Xiaoyao Sect has always trained its own disciples, who wear their own robes, which is immediately obvious.
The corpse had been slashed several times, with two large holes in the chest and the heart turned to mush, but the limbs were intact, clearly not belonging to the owner of the severed limbs seen earlier.
In the distance, Yuan Yongyi suddenly accelerated, seemingly chasing something. In just a few moments, he vanished without a trace, leaving only Xu Feng and ten others behind. The two newcomers turned pale; without Yuan Yongyi, a Yuan Ying expert, to keep them safe, they feared what would happen if a Yuan Ying Cultivator from Xiaoyao Sect showed up. They would be doomed.
The others seemed to have anticipated this situation and did not show any signs of panic. Hong Feng walked alongside Liu Kuai, giving Xu Feng a look that suggested he should follow them.
The Seven Star Tiger Hunting Formation was already of little use; now that morale was low, who would still bother with formations? At critical moments, individual strength mattered most.
"Stop!" A cultivator suddenly raised his hand. His name was Gu Ying. He had once been a notorious thief who stole when he could and robbed when he couldn't. After hundreds of years of petty thievery, he had developed an exceptional sense of perception.
"There’s an ambush ahead," Gu Ying said gravely. "The enemy's strength is unknown, and with Deputy Hall Master Yuan absent, we should retreat. It’s too dangerous to proceed like this." Hong Feng, already injured, was eager to leave and immediately expressed his support.
Twenty meters behind them, a figure in light yellow suddenly appeared. "Since you’ve come this far, you can’t just leave empty-handed. If I let you go like this, wouldn’t I be at a loss?"
Hong Feng's face changed dramatically as he exclaimed, "It’s you!" The person was none other than Zhu Ban, the Xiaoyao Sect cultivator who had severely injured him. Zhu Ban was a Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivator.
Looking at Hong Feng, Zhu Ban said, "Well, well! Last time I let you escape; I didn’t expect to run into you again. We must be fated." Zhu Ban was on routine patrol duty for the Xiaoyao Sect, leading his team through Guo Rongshan.
It was unclear how Pingyang Valley had gotten wind of this but they sent people over as well. Unfortunately for them, they came in batches. Zhu Ban had set up an ambush beforehand; the first two teams from Pingyang Valley were caught off guard and killed by him while his side only lost four Late Stage of Golden Core cultivators.
This time, Zhu Ban's team was much stronger than that of Pingyang Valley. Including himself, there were three Yuan Ying Cultivators, one of whom was at the Mid Stage of Nascent Soul. There were over twenty cultivators at the Late Stage of Golden Core. With such strength and an ambush in place, it would be difficult for Pingyang Valley to escape unscathed.
"Clap! Clap!" Applause rang out. "Elder Zhu truly has a great strategy! This time we’ve taken out three batches from Pingyang Valley. This young master will definitely commend you for your efforts." A young male cultivator stepped out from the woods while more than twenty Late Golden Core Cultivators emerged around them, surrounding Xu Feng and the others completely.
They were in trouble; they were surrounded.
Zhu Ban bowed to the young cultivator and said, "Fourth Young Master, you flatter me. Eliminating the scoundrels from Pingyang Valley is my duty as a subordinate. I will certainly achieve new merits for you." Zhu Ban had already counted the group from Pingyang Valley as part of his accomplishments.
The young monk was none other than Xiao Hun, the Fourth Young Master of the Xiaoyao Sect. The Xiaoyao Sect had seven young masters, and ten years ago, when the sect was selecting a Young Master, the seven young masters fought fiercely against each other. In the end, the Third Young Master, Xiao Duan, triumphed over the others and claimed the title of Young Master. After losing power, Xiao Hun joined the camp of Eldest Son Xiao Li, hoping to assist him in overthrowing Xiao Duan and reclaiming the identity of Young Master.
This time, Xiao Hun had rallied several elders from Eldest Son's camp to launch an ambush at Kuang Mang Mountain, aiming to gain some merit and bolster Eldest Son's negotiating position.
Xu Feng scanned his surroundings, looking for an escape route. Zhu Ban laughed and said, "Stop looking; your leader isn't coming back. With two experts following him, how could he possibly return? Surrender your weapons and join us at Xiaoyao Sect, or there's only one outcome: death!"
The two newcomers exchanged glances, their eyes flickering with uncertainty. However, Hong Feng interjected, "Don't be foolish. Xiaoyao Sect doesn't trust outsiders. Even if you go over there, it would be worse than death." Upon hearing this, the newcomers' faces darkened.
With twenty against ten and an additional Yuan Ying Cultivator on their side, fighting was not an option anymore. They could only hope to escape; if they managed to flee, it would be luck; if not, they would have to accept their misfortune.
In the distance, sounds of fierce clashes mixed with angry roars could be heard as Yuan Yongyi engaged with Xiaoyao Sect members alone.
Xiao Hun's gaze turned cold. "Kill!"
More than twenty magical artifacts surged in from all directions to surround them. Zhu Ban kept a close watch on the scene, ready to strike at any moment.
"Run!" The ten members of Pingyang Valley dared not fight; each had already planned their escape route. At Xiao Hun's command, Xu Feng and the others took flight and scattered in all directions.
Ah!
As three of them broke through the encirclement, they were cut down by Xiaoyao Sect members on the spot, including the two newcomers—what a shameful start.
Ah!
Another individual managed to break free but was struck dead by Zhu Ban's palm as he arrived shortly after; his skull shattered beyond repair.
Xu Feng's strength was unmatched among his peers as he easily broke through the encirclement and dashed into the dense forest. Two Xiaoyao Sect cultivators shouted behind him as they pursued closely.
Zhu Ban watched Xu Feng's fleeing figure and let out a soft exclamation; he had already noticed Xu Feng's extraordinary abilities.
Xiao Hun said, "What, does Elder Zhu want to kill him?"
Zhu Ban replied, "I wouldn't dare. I will always protect Fourth Young Master." Xiao Hun only had the cultivation of the Late Stage of Golden Core, so Zhu Ban didn't dare to stray too far; if anything happened, he would be in trouble.
Xu Feng's escape route was opposite to Yuan Yongyi's, thus avoiding the two Yuan Ying Cultivators. As long as he didn't encounter both Yuan Ying Cultivators at the same time, Xu Feng was confident enough to kill someone at the Nascent Soul Early Stage.
Xu Feng's speed was neither fast nor slow, leading his pursuers for over ten miles until he reached a deserted area. He stopped and turned back with a cold smile.
"Can't run anymore, huh? Whether you run or not, you're still dead. Why bother exhausting yourselves? Come on, let me send you on your way."
"Something's off, Senior Brother. This guy has issues; be careful."
As the two approached, they saw Xu Feng's cold smile, which made them tense up. However, the two-on-one situation reignited their confidence.
Xu Feng changed his expression to a smile and gently said, "Aren't you tired? If you're tired, just take a break. Close your eyes; you'll fall asleep soon." Xu Feng appeared serene, like a living Buddha descending to the world.
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