Yu Ci observed that there were seven figures approaching through the sky, all of them Golden Elixir Cultivators. The one leading was particularly striking - dressed in snow-white robes, handsome and radiant. His Golden Elixir True Sha was incredibly pure, yet light as mist. It seemed as if he was constantly bathed in a fine spray of water, amplifying the colors around him. Yu Ci had never seen such an extraordinary sight before.
If this person was an elite disciple of a certain sect, his status would likely be no less than that of Senior Brother Zhou Yu!
Yu Ci felt a headache coming on, but there was no point in complaining now. He was about to activate the Fish-Dragon, utilizing its speed that was comparable to a Vacuum Walking Cultivator for a swift escape. However, just as the thought crossed his mind, he forcefully suppressed it. At the same time, a hearty laugh echoed from the void behind the Fish-Dragon:
"Younger Brother Ye seems to be in a bad mood today. It's quite unlike your reputation as the Jade Gentleman!"
It turned out that the speaker was not referring to the Fish-Dragon, but someone else. Yu Ci dared not be careless and quickly moved the Fish-Dragon to a more concealed location. Fortunately, this was a mountainous region. Even without vegetation, there were plenty of hiding places.
After ensuring everything was in order, he looked again and saw three Cultivators who had suddenly appeared, all dressed in secular attire. The leader was a large man, about nine feet tall. At first glance, he appeared mighty, but his face was like an inflated ball, squeezing his features into a comical bundle. However, his eyes were like narrow slits, emitting a chilling light that was quite intimidating.
Ye Ming in white was slightly surprised but quickly nodded, "So it's a Daoist friend from the Pan Emperor Sect. It's quite a coincidence to meet in this Sword Garden. We were just fooled by that Rakshasa Evil and lost our bearings for a moment. Please forgive us."
He openly admitted their embarrassing situation without any attempt to hide it. His candidness was worthy of his reputation as a gentleman.
The Fat Big Cultivator from the Pan Emperor Sect just chuckled coldly, "Rakshasa Evil? You mean disciples of Rakshasa Sect. Younger Brother Ye, your Half Mountain Island is quite ambitious, but it's like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. Don't you know your fate?"
Ye Ming had heard such words so often they had left callouses in his ears. He didn’t get angry but simply instructed his fellow sect members to spread out and search the surrounding mountains. Then he said, "There's no need for Daoist friend to worry. What are your plans here?"
"Hehe, there's a rumor that there's a Sword Cultivator's Legacy nearby. My brothers and I, being humble as we are, wanted to try our luck. What about you, Younger Brother Ye? If you're interested, we won't give way!"
Ye Ming shook his head. Half Mountain Island was a genuine Sword Cultivator Sect, and they had their own set of rules for the Sword Garden. They were not interested in so-called treasures. Seeing that the conversation was going nowhere, he stopped talking and silently watched his fellow sect members search the surrounding mountains.
During this time, the trio from the Pan Emperor Sect also lingered here. The Fat Big Cultivator watched with keen interest, while the two Fellow Sect Members behind him wore a typical gloom, maintaining silence from beginning to end.
"Could it really be Half Mountain Island?" Yu Ci, a male, stroked his chin in surprise.
His current position was relatively safe. The tomb chamber of the senior Lone Cultivator delved half a mile deep into the mountain, while the crevice where Yu Ci resided was even deeper, only accessible through Earth Escape. He was eighty percent confident that he wouldn't be discovered by these people. However, the words "Half Mountain Island" made his heart skip a beat.
Could it be the Half Mountain Island where Ye Bin, a female, and Ye Tu resided?
Back in Sky Rift Valley, he and Ye Tu had forged a bond through life and death. Moreover, the female immortal Ye Bin had branded his Divine Soul with the Great Mystical Powers of Half-Mountain Mirage Sword Intent, which had become an essential foundation for his Sword Way Cultivation Level progression. In terms of loyalty and gratitude, he had considerable connections with Half Mountain Island. According to etiquette, he should go out and meet these people, even if the three from the Pan Emperor Sect were a bit of an eyesore.
Yu Ci made a slight movement, but then suddenly felt something and quickly calmed down. Through the Fish-Dragon Perspective, he saw countless Sword Lights raining down from the distant sky, indicating that many people were arriving via Sword Control.
As the Sword Light approached, the figure at the forefront made Yu Ci shudder. The man had a heroic face with a Blood Pattern on his forehead that looked as if it was dripping blood. It was Xiao Fuyun. At this moment, he was no longer the furious and crazed figure from a few hours ago. Leading dozens of Sword Lights behind him, they landed one after another, creating an astonishing spectacle.
Seeing this, the Fat Big Cultivator from the Pan Emperor Sect chuckled, "The Eastern Orthodox Sect, truly deserving of being one of the three primary sects of the Demonic Sect, such prestige, such Sha energy!"
He didn't bother to hide his comment, and Xiao Fuyun, not being deaf, certainly heard it. However, he wasn't annoyed, instead, he responded with a hearty laugh, "So it's Brother Bu Cuo himself. The gathering of Pan Emperor's Three Swords in the Sword Garden is quite a sight!"
The Pan Emperor Sect was indeed one of the most prominent sects in the northern lands. In terms of prestige, though it couldn't compete with the Lichen Sect or the Eastern Orthodox Sect, it had a heritage that spanned thousands of years. As for Bu Cuo and the other two, they were well-known figures among the younger generation of the sect. They were renowned for their Combined Attack Technique, and although all three were at the Initial Stage of Golden Elixir Cultivation Level, they could compete with those at the Golden Elixir Upper Level once they formed the Combined Sword Array.
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Of course, Xiao Fuyun was not at all afraid of this. The Eastern Orthodox Sect was a branch established when the Northern Land Demon Gate split years ago, worshipping the Divine Lord of the Demon Sect, Self-Mastery and Enjoyment Heaven Demon King, also known as the "Original Demon Lord." It was considered the orthodox of the Demonic Sect. Although Xiao Fuyun was not yet a top-tier figure within the sect, his solid foundation allowed him to challenge and fight even the disciples of the Lichen Sect, not to mention others.
The fellow sect members standing behind him at this moment also provided him with such confidence. With a massive group of over forty people, there were twelve Golden Elixir cultivators, two of whom even surpassed him in cultivation level. In the Sword Garden, this was indeed a force to be reckoned with.
So, it was the Eastern Orthodox Sect.
Yu Ci also nodded in the crevice of the rocks. If Xiao Fuyun had mentioned this earlier, wouldn't he have known? Having spent several months at the Sect's Mountain Gate, if he didn't know about the Eastern Orthodox Sect, it would be as if he had wasted his time. However, Li You and Zhang Yan had only mentioned that the most formidable disciple of their generation in the Eastern Orthodox Sect was a man named Dong Cangzi, whose cultivation level was even higher than Senior Brother Zhou Yu's. But he didn't come this time. As for the likes of Xiao Fuyun, they had never discussed them.
At this moment, Xiao Fuyun also noticed Ye Ming and his group, and was somewhat surprised: "Mr. Ye, you're here too? Huh, is there any Sword Cultivator's Legacy here?"
Ye Ming was very cold towards him, just nodding his head, clearly unwilling to engage in conversation.
Seeing this, Xiao Fuyun was angered, but he quickly suppressed it, turning to Bu Cuo with a questioning look. Bu Cuo explained with a smile, and Xiao Fuyun pretended to suddenly understand: "Oh, oh, oh, from the Rakshasa Sect, no wonder. Taking on the troubles for the sect master, impressive, very impressive indeed!"
His strange tone was full of sarcasm, which anyone could detect. A shadow passed over Ye Ming's handsome face, and before he could respond, a long howl from the fellow sect members searching in the distance signaled an alarm. Ye Ming's body trembled slightly, he shot Xiao Fuyun a cold glance, and his body dispersed like a layer of mist, disappearing into thin air as the wind blew.
Although Xiao Fuyun had gained an upper hand in their verbal spar, he didn't push his advantage. Despite the distinction between them merely being the middle and upper tiers of the Golden Elixir, if it truly came down to Cultivation Level, even three of him combined might not withstand a single stroke from Ye Ming. Even if they took into account their respective Fellow Sect Members, they would at most achieve a Pyrrhic victory, despite having an absolute advantage.
After all, the reputation of the Half Mountain Island Cultivators for being few but elite, refined yet fearless was known far and wide. Xiao Fuyun was not keen on courting disaster out of the blue.
The Half Mountain Island Cultivator turned to leave abruptly, presumably having picked up on the trail of the Rakshasa Sect disciples and going after them. The once peaceful Sword Garden Grand Gathering had turned into a vengeance quest, which Xiao Fuyun and Bu Cuo found oddly unsurprising.
The deep and peculiar enmity between these two major Sects of the East Sea was such that any Cultivator here could recount three to five versions of the tale. Yet, the most entertaining version was one that Xiao and Bu tacitly agreed upon. They exchanged glances and chuckled.
However, Xiao Fuyun soon regained his solemnity, clearing his throat and saying, "Brother Bu, let's talk business. Your Pan Emperor Sect is closer to the North Wilderness. Do you know anything about the origin of the Heavy Weapon Sect?"
"Heavy Weapon Sect?"
Bu Cuo's spherical face twitched slightly before he feigned confusion, "What about the Heavy Weapon Sect?"
Xiao Fuyun chuckled, "They've crossed me!"
"Oh, I see."
Without prying further, Bu Cuo's chubby face quivered as he said, "The Heavy Weapon Sect has only recently begun to thrive in the North Wilderness over the past hundred years or so. Most of their Cultivators are recruited Lone Cultivators, with few homegrown disciples. They're a diverse bunch who act recklessly, which is rather annoying."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Fuyun sneered, "And here I thought they were something impressive. Just a newly established Sect, even resorting to recruiting Lone Cultivators. Their foundation is weak, hardly worth mentioning!"
Bu Cuo laughed in agreement, "Indeed, but they do have some strength to have established themselves in the North Wilderness. They seem to have a Master Artisan who gifts each new Cultivator with a so-called Battle Armor Weapon, which is quite formidable. The Heavy Weapon Sect got its name from this. Brother, if you're making enemies with them, you should be careful."
At this point, Xiao Fuyun's face twitched as if he had received some information. He looked into the distance, then burst into laughter, exclaiming, "Excellent! Let's see where you can run now."
Then he nodded at Bu Cuo, "I remember your advice, brother. I won't give him any chances. May fortune be as vast as the sea for you, farewell!"
"Haha, may your heart's desires come to fruition, young brother. No need for goodbyes, no need!"
Xiao Fuyun gave a slight nod to the three of the Pan Emperor Sect, leading his Fellow Sect Members away with Sword Control.
Once the wave of Sword Light disappeared into the sky, the smile had completely faded from Bu Cuo's chubby face. He whispered a few words to the two Fellow Sect Members behind him. Fish-Dragon was close, and Yu Ci saw the same cold expression on all three faces, undifferentiated by their varying sizes and shapes. He was taken aback.
But soon, a smile reappeared on Bu Cuo's face. He spoke softly, yet his voice was crystal clear, "The Daoist friend from the Rakshasa Sect, please come out. We three brothers have shielded you from disaster. Don't you have anything to show for it?"
The mountainside fell silent.
Bu Cuo's smile remained unchanged, after a brief pause, he continued, "The Rakshasa Sect is not skilled in the Sword Way. It's not easy for you to come in. Now you've been scattered by Half Mountain Island, it's not easy to find opportunities. So, we three brothers have found a Sword Cultivator's Tomb Room, protected by a Sword Array, and we need a Daoist friend who is an expert in Illusion Technique to help us infiltrate successfully. If the Daoist friend is willing, we'll take 80% of the tomb's yield and you'll get 20%. How about it?"
The surroundings remained silent. Bu Cuo frowned, without any apparent signal, the two Fellow Sect Members behind him suddenly drew their swords. The dark yellow Sword Light crisscrossed into the ground, the surface was undamaged, but Yu Ci, who was inside the mountain, felt a sudden heaviness, as if a magnetic force was pulling him down.
His heart jolted, thinking he had been exposed, but the three outside didn't make any further moves.
"Not here, strange. Could it be that what just happened was a decoy?"
Bu Cuo pondered, his chubby face expressionless again. The three simultaneously used Sword Control and left, heading in the direction Xiao Fuyun had gone.
In the rock crevice, Yu Ci didn't relax even as the three moved away. He silently took out his Talisman Plate. The Nine Luminaries Dragon Abyss Sword Talisman was ready but not activated. In such a cramped situation, the Talisman was the best choice.
As the Sword aura locked onto its target, a voice from deep within the rock layers rasped, "Elder Yu?"
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